Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Shattered Glass. Enjoy the 2000-word chapter. I don't own Halo, Bungie, Bioware, and 343 do.
(UNSC Punic Class Supercarrier, Goliath, Armstrong Nebula, Vamshi System.)
"Admiral?" Benson questioned which caused Gadge to groan in annoyance. "We've arrived at the edge of the system." Benson put in as Gadge got dressed.
He marched out in his black dress uniform and walked to the bridge. Gadge yawned and rubbed at his eyes.
"Status?" Gadge questioned and placed his cap atop his head.
"We're holding position at the edge of the system." Benson reported while they walked to the bridge. "There's a small fleet at the planet closest to the system's sun. Their holding position, but we've been monitoring for any signs of detection." Benson added as they entered the bridge.
Gadge walked to the bridge window. He looked out at the system and crossed his arms. He could see faint specks distance which he guessed was the enemy fleet.
Gadge turned to the holotable and walked to it. Gadge studied the figures on it.
There was a quartet of Covenant light cruisers and a larger cruiser with Seraph escorts. Gadge studied the dozen smaller insect vessels which were shown to be 171 meters according to the table. They looked like hornets without wings to Gadge, it almost made him wonder of the Covenant mistook them for their own vessels.
"Those smaller ships are Geth?" Gadge questioned and got a nod from Benson. "Don't launch anything yet… Let me think." Gadge ordered as he studied the hologram.
He didn't know anything about the Geth warships. They were an unknown factor in things… But Gadge did have the inklings of an idea in his head.
"Move us close to the second planet and get a group of Broadswords ready…" Gadge ordered and then pushed himself away from the holotable. "When they draw their fire? I want MAC guns fired. The key to winning is taking them out before they fire heavy weapons." Gadge stated and rubbed at his chin.
"And the Geth?" Gadge heard from Dorian who had the same massive smile across his face as always.
"We deal with them as we deal with them… Charge the Goliath's main gun." Gadge stated and crossed his arms.
If Gadge didn't have to worry about the Covenant's long ranged guns? He'd be more willing to engage the fleet at short range. If he could disable the Covenant ships quick? Then it'd be a short and deceive victory.
"Incoming transmission." Benson reported from his station. "It's from Hackett's flagship, sir." Benson added which caused Gadge to hum.
"Play it." Gadge ordered and rubbed at his chin.
"Vice Admiral?" Hacket questioned which caused Gadge to cross his arms behind his back. "I've heard your fleet just entered the Vamshi system. Have you engaged the fleet yet?" Hacket asked as Gadge cracked his fingers.
"Not yet, admiral." Gadge responded and walked to the holotable. "Covenant ships outmatch UNSC ships in firepower. I'm trying to engage them before they engage us. Once they get a plasma torpedo or energy projector blast off? It will cut through one of our ships like paper." Gadge stated and then looked to the side.
"Lieutenant?" Gadge questioned and turned to Dorian. "MAC cannon charge? I want their heavy cruiser targeted as soon as you have a bead on it." Gadge ordered and let out a yawn.
"40%, sir." Dorian reported from his station, Gadge nodded.
"I'll send a few ships for backup if I have them." Hacket reported which got a shake of the head from Gadge.
"Only if you think it's worth it, sir." Gadge said before a siren blared. "Dorian, get the point defense up! Fire the main gun! Are those fighters deployed?" Gadge questioned and got a nod from Sandra as the Ensign hummed.
"Hitting the light cruisers now, sir." Sandra reported as Gadge looked at the heavy cruiser.
The round had shattered the shields and deformed the nose of the vessel but did nothing else. The squadron of 7 Broadswords opened fire, Gadge watched a pair of Seraphs burst into flames as they exploded into scrap.
"Hellion just opened fire… One light cruiser down." Gadge heard from Sandra and watched one of the light cruisers break in half, fires consumed the ship as it fell from orbit.
The other Covenant warships moved to attack them. The broadswords circled around, their m6088 ST/MMP missiles punched holes in the armored cruiser's hull. The cruiser opened fire with its pulse lasers.
Gadge watched the lasers shear one of the fighters in half. He heard a scream before the comm line snapped off. Gadge cursed but continued to focus on the battle. One life for a cruiser so far? He wished the pilot was still alive… But he'd take the trade.
"Cruiser Morningstar moving in and firing archers." Gadge heard from Sandra. "Hellion just released Longswords… Another light cruiser damaged and down." Sandra stated which made Gadge nod.
The Geth warships moved to engage them while the damaged armored cruiser limped towards the surface.
"Sir, plasma torpedo towards Hellion!" Sandra yelled before Gadge turned to the window.
A torpedo moved towards the Marathon- Class Heavy Cruiser. The cruiser launched its emergency thrusters to boost out of the way. Gadge watched the torpedo smash through part of the vessel, causing fires to explode outward from the cruiser.
"Fire MAC gun at that cruiser!" Gadge bellowed and cursed inwardly.
A pair of Longswords were caught in the crossfire of the single light cruiser. Goliath's main gun fired, reducing the cruiser to debris. The remaining Longsword and Broadsword fighters moved to engage the Geth vessels.
"Hellion, do you copy?" Gadge questioned and looked at the massive scar the vessel had across it.
"We're still alive, sir." Gadge heard which caused him to let out a sigh of relief. "Going to need time to repair, I'll see how much spare plates we have." Gadge heard from Hellion's captain.
Gadge sighed and surveyed the battle. A Heavy cruiser damaged and a trio of fighters down. Gadge was glad at least it was only that bad. He sighed and turned to the surface of the planet.
He watched a Geth warship explode. Another opened fire which missed the nimble fighters who punched holes in these ships. Gadge turned to Sandra.
"Have Zeus dispatch fighters to finish off that ship." Gadge ordered and rubbed at his temples. "Then order Longswords to eliminate that base…" Gadge added and sighed.
The battle didn't have major losses, Gadge was glad about that… However? He wasn't going to let the Covenant destroy a major warship in his fleet.
"Open a channel to Admiral Hacket." Gadge ordered while looking at the wreckage of Geth and Covenant ships. "Ask him if there's any Titanium. We're get Hellion on its feet… Then move on the other planets." Gadge stated with a sigh.
"Perhaps we should contact Sierra 087?" Gadge heard from Benson while he hummed.
"Get me a line to them…" Gadge ordered and rubbed at his temples. "See if you can find any titanium, we're not moving till Saren's forces here are gone… And Hellion is back on its feet." Gadge stated and walked back to the captain's chair.
(SSV Normandy, Therum.)
"Sierra 087? This is Goliath actual, what's your status?" Gadge questioned as the Alliance Frigate approached the planet.
"Approaching to locate Doctor Liara T'Soni, sir." Kelly stated which caused Gadge to hum. "Things ok on your end?" Kelly questioned which was answered a moment later as the Admiral opened his lips.
"Hellion is disabled and we lost several pilots." Gadge responded before clearing his lips. "We're patching up Hellion, then moving to Feros. I'm talking with Admiral Hacket now about moving on Saren's other outposts." Gadge added which caused him to hum.
Kelly could only imagine what Saren had planned for them. She decided to focus on dealing with Saren's soldiers.
(With Gadge)
Gadge looked down at the planet and hummed. He could only imagine what was going through Saren's mind. He had a lot to focus on things at the moment.
"Vice Admiral?" Gadge heard before turning to be greeted by a hologram of Admiral Hacket. "I heard your handling one of the outposts now." Hacket stated which caused Gadge to shake his head.
"We routed their fleet, but one damaged one of our heavy cruisers." Gadge put in and rubbed at his temples. "I'm going to see Hellion repaired then head to Feros." Gadge added and cracked his fingers.
"And the other 3 outposts?" Hacket questioned and watched Gadge look to the window.
"I'll deal with them when I can, Admiral." Gadge responded and leaned on the window. "I am curious why you want me to do this…. Besides the trust issue. The alliance can't operate out here?" Gadge questioned while he continued to slowly to walk to the window.
"It's partly because of that." Hacket stated which caused Gadge to turn back to him. "The other reason is to clear Shepard from dealing with anything that isn't Saren." Hacket put in as Gadge nodded.
"You got the Covenant reports I sent you?" Gadge questioned and watched a pair of Longswords fly by.
Gadge guessed the rest of the Geth and Covenant were eliminated.
"Yes… And I have a mission." Hacket put in while Gadge watched as the rest of the Longswords appeared. "I'll cut you a deal, Vice Admiral." Hacket stated as Gadge raised an eyebrow.
"Didn't you already make a deal?" Gadge questioned as Hacket rubbed at his chin.
"Yes, but since you need resources and I have a few missions that need plausible deniability?" Hacket questioned while Gadge nodded. "I'll handle one of the outposts, I'd like to see how dangerous the Covenant are…. Are you aware of Admiral Kahoku? I've heard a squad of marines under his watch were kidnapped." Hacket put in as Gadge shook his head.
"There's plenty of officers in the alliance I don't know, Admiral." Gadge stated before awaiting a response. "You want them recovered. I'm going to guess their behind enemy lines?" Gadge asked and looked at Admiral Hacket.
The man didn't expose any emotion but it was clear he wanted to know what happened. The man looked like someone who looked after his men first… Like Gadge did.
"I'll get them home…" Gadge stated and turned away from the window. "I'm going to guess you want me to handle one other outpost? What about the third one?" Gadge questioned while folding his hands behind him.
"The Council will probably have found out about that outpost considering its on one of their worlds…" Hacket put in while Gadge nodded. "That will eliminate most of Saren's forces. How long till your repairs are done?" Hacket put in which caused Gadge to hum.
"3 hours or so I'm guessing." Gadge put in and hummed placing a hand on the window. "Our ships use titanium for armor. Without it? We cannot repair any damage done; I hope there is titanium around here?" Gadge questioned which caused Hacket to nod.
"I'll send you a ship with it…" Hacket said as Gadge nodded. "We have a lot to talk after this. You sound like you're thinking of something big." Hacket added while Gadge hummed.
"If Saren has so many Geth and soldiers?" Gadge mused to Hacket. "I'll tell you my theory when we're done. Word of advice? The Covenant use long range plasma weapons. I'd try to knock them out before they fire. That's why I wanted to distract them with fighters… Sadly seems I was a bit off with attacking them." Gadge mused to himself.
Gadge decided to weigh his options at the moment.
Author Notes
Phew. Another chapter done! I want to point out that each chapter for the story will be 2000-3000 words. For the person who posted a guest view going 'TRASH!' or insults… Dude? That's not going to do anything to me. Next chapter will be in 2-10 weeks and will show more of Gadge and Hacket talking and discussing tactics and explore more of his past… As well as set up his next move and his bond with Kelly. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!