Chapter Twenty: Yesterday's Enemy

"I'm not going to sugarcoat it, ladies and gentlemen. We're living on borrowed time."

It wasn't the way any of us were hoping the briefing would begin, but I didn't think it was all that surprising, given the nature of the attack the Face the Stars had just endured. As I stood back against the bulkhead, opposite the holotable all the senior officers aboard ship were clustered around - including Captain Dakhati, Commander Aròn and my XO, myself, Willis, and Lieutenant Commander Lloyd - I folded my arms across my chest. What I really wanted now right after the fighting was some hot chow and a shower, but we had more pressing matters to deal with first - like how the Covenant had known we were here, why they'd chosen to go after us, and how and when we could rendezvous with the Swords now that our meeting place had been compromised.

And of course, there was the issue of us being inside a damaged ship.

"The Stars took a sizable hit in our skirmish with the Covenant," the captain said. "Half the stairwell between Decks Five and Six was demolished, and an entire segment of Six had to be sealed off, as it's now open to vacuum. For all intents and purposes, we are flying with a gaping wound." He released a sigh, staring at the shut-off holotable. "Our temporary patch-up job will work for now, but I'm not sure it will hold until our scheduled rendezvous with the Swords. Not without more extensive repairs."

Everyone took a moment to digest that. When no one seemed to be breaking the silence, I decided to go for it.

"So what's the plan, sir?" I asked.

Dakhati gestured to Lloyd. "I'll let the spook answer that one."

My buddy gave the ship's captain a small nod and stepped forward. "I've just been given the go-ahead from HighCom to give those of you in this room - and us alone - this information. We currently have a contact on the ground on Sanghelios. A human, one of us," he clarified before anyone could ask. "He's keeping an eye out on the situation there, and the various factions, so that we're not going in blind when we land."

On the far left, closer to Dakhati, I saw my husband tense up. I think both our minds went to exactly the same place - the contact had to be a spook, given the nature of the mission, and only one name seemed the most obvious choice. Except I knew for a fact that my ex wouldn't be there. Or so he'd said.

I hoped for my marriage's sake it was someone else.

"He also sent along some intel during the attack," Caleb went on, ignorant of the silent bomb that had gone off between Willis and I. "He let us know our RV point and messages to the Swords had been compromised, which is how the Covenant found us." The ONI officer turned to face Dakhati again. "Sir?"

"You're wondering what we're doing to combat this," Captain Dakhati surmised. "We're in the process of setting up a new meeting point with our Sangheili allies - place, date, and time. It will be handled quickly, given our status, but will no longer be discussed via any official channels. It'll be taken care of in person by our UNSC contact on the surface, to avoid interception. He will speak to only one senior member of the group, and orders and details will be issued on a need-to-know-basis only, and with as little lead time as we can get away with."

"That should help if there's a mole," Commander Aròn added, and Dakhati nodded.

"Yes, which is our primary suspicion at this time. Any questions?"

"Yes, sir," Willis said. "What are our orders in the meantime?"

"And when's the new rendezvous?" Major Delaney wanted to know.

"Orders are largely the same, Major Hawk, with the exception of additional Marines and pilots being placed on standby at all times," Dakhati answered. "We'll have two companies on rotation instead of one, and three squadrons at the ready instead of two. We may also run a brief flight pattern around the ship at odd intervals, just in case."

The captain motioned to his XO, and Commander Aròn took the lead. "As for our new RV point, we've received confirmation that it will happen in the next two to three days. We have not firmed up a time, but we do have a location, hopefully beyond prying eyes. More information will follow as we get closer."

"What about the repairs?" I asked. I hated being inside perfectly functional ships, of any kind - a structurally questionable one was definitely not my cup of tea. Especially after my harrowing experience in space. As soon as possible, I wanted out.

Captain Dakhati nodded again. "Good question. I have spoken with our senior technicians and engineers; we should be able to hold off on any large-scale fixes comfortably for two days. More than that is ill-advised, however, so we are counting on the Swords arriving early rather than late."

I stood back and frowned. It was a gamble then, with all our lives. I didn't like it. Although I wasn't sure what else could be done for us this far outside UNSC-occupied space. We were in enemy territory now for sure. The Swords showing up early was just about all we could bank on.

"Anything further?" Dakhati asked then. No one raised any other concerns. "Very well. Continue your preparations with your pilots and Marines. Aròn will get the altered schedule out to Colonel Cooper and Major Hawk shortly. You're dismissed." He glanced over at the spook. "Commander Lloyd, please remain a moment longer."

As the rest of us filed out, I watched the ship's XO return to the bridge - it was just down the corridor from the briefing room. Major Delaney came out next.

"Well...I hope you've got your fingers crossed that this bucket holds together, Colonel."

I chuckled nervously. "Here's hoping, right?"

Delaney shook his head. "All due respect to the captain, ma'am, but I don't understand how that's a plan. But, I guess I can't say we're not used to living on the edge in our line of work."

"Yup. Some more than most."

"I heard you were caught in the breach. That must've been...terrifying."

"You have no idea."

"Major Delaney," a voice said beside us then. "Mind if I borrow the colonel for a sec?"

My XO gestured with his hand and stepped back. "Not at all, Hawk. She's all yours." He gave me a slight nod of acknowledgment, then turned to go.

Willis and I came to a halt in the passageway while my second-in-command moved on. My husband waited until Delaney was out of earshot before turning to face me. Then he folded his arms across his chest.

"An ONI contact on the surface?" he asked in an even tone. I immediately held my hands up.

"I don't know anything about that, Will. Honest. If it is Ethan, then he lied to me." I let out a quick breath. "The last time we talked, when we were still on base on Mars - when we said goodbye - he told me he was off this mission. Permanently."

"Right." My husband's tone hardened. "And are we above thinking that little prick might not do something like lie to your face?"

"I...no. I don't know." I threw my hands up again and met his gaze. "I don't know, Will," I repeated. "I'm not sure what else I can say. He was court-ordered to be transferred, and that should be that."

Willis said nothing for a while as we stood there. His expression gave nothing away, except for the fact that he was obviously troubled by the possibility. His arms were still folded tight.

"Okay," he finally said. He seemed to deflate and released a long sigh before looking at me. "It sounds like it's...probably not him. And if it is, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

I nodded slowly. "All right."

He surprised me then by gently pulling up my chin and giving me a quick kiss, now that we were alone in the corridor. "We better get back to it, Coop."

I stood there a moment longer as he walked away, still reeling. At the fight, the news...everything. Most of all, I wondered who exactly we'd be encountering once we touched down on the Elites' homeworld.

Apparently, the Swords of Sanghelios were nothing if not true to their word, which was promising. Two days later, the announcement came straight from the bridge over the shipboard COM.

"Attention all: friendly Sangheili vessel on approach. Officers, get to your assigned posts, and prepare your men and women for transfer."

I was below decks with Delaney and all our cargo when I heard Dakhati's voice. My XO looked over at me right away.

"Go time, huh?"

"Looks like it. You've got things down here?"

"Yes, ma'am. We'll be ready."

I gave him a curt nod and took off at a jog towards the elevators, hoping this time would be for real - and that we weren't running into yet another trap.

Things seemed to be going better this time. Up on the bridge, Commander Aròn informed me they already had a visual of the Swords' ship.

"And, we've confirmed with Flight Leader, as well," she told me as we stood waiting for Lloyd. "He's your husband, correct?"

"Yes," I answered, clasping my hands behind my back once I'd put on my cover and secured my sidearm to my hip. "Although things have been...complicated lately."

She frowned at that but I didn't elaborate - and I wouldn't have had the chance to anyway. As soon as the spook arrived, Captain Dakhati came to stand beside us, too.

"The cavalry arrived right on time," he said to us. "I've just spoken with Flight Leader. Their command shuttle is on its way."

Willis was clearly popular today. We'd spent last night apart, although we'd seen each other briefly before he'd gone out with three of his squadrons, as ordered. It just so happened that the Swords had appeared at the same time.

"Sir, they've landed," one of the bridge officers, a Navy lieutenant, said to Dakhati. "Our security is escorting them up from the hangar bay now."

While we waited I took in a deep breath. This was going to be the first time in years that I'd seen an Elite up close and not had express orders to kill it. I thought of the Sangheili I'd worked with in the last year of the War - Atalom 'Kuatee, and briefly, others - but I'd had nothing close to that experience for the last eight years. It was going to be interesting teaming up again.

Despite the recent false alarm, I didn't feel quite prepared.

So I couldn't help my visceral reaction when five of our former enemies - one in gleaming white armor in the center, with two darker-armored compatriots in front, and two behind - were shown onto the bridge by a squad of MPs.

As our security detail dispersed, positioning themselves in strategic places on the bridge, effectively surrounding us and our new allies, the dark-armored Elites did the same around their chief officer. Two stood beside the white-armored Elite on either side.

For our part, Captain Dakhati stepped forward first and extended his hand. "Welcome to the Stars, Shipmaster 'Vettel."

The Elite in white armor gave a grunt before taking it. "Shipmaster Dakhati. It is an honor."

"This is my bridge crew," Dakhati said, gesturing to his junior officers at their consoles - all of whom seemed awed at seeing a Sangheili, as an ally, up close. It was hard to imagine, but many were too young to have fought even in the final year of the Human-Covenant conflict. "And my executive officer, Commander Aròn."

"You have our thanks for the escort to Sanghelios, Shipmaster," Aròn said.

'Vettel stared at her, but did not reply.

"Also here to greet you is our ground commander, Lieutenant Colonel Cooper."

I gave him a look and a slight nod, keeping my hands clasped behind me.

"And beside her is our intelligence officer, Lieutenant Commander Lloyd."

"Welcome, Shipmaster," my friend said.

"Are you and your men ready to board the Glory in War, Shipmaster?" 'Vettel asked, turning his attention back to our captain.

But Dakhati motioned to me. "Actually, that falls under Colonel Cooper's purview."

The white-armored Elite fixed his gaze on me again, awaiting a response.

"We're ready," I affirmed.

"Very good. We will be waiting for your men - your Marines - in your ship's bay." The Elite turned to leave, but then faced me again, cocking his head to the side. "You are truly prepared to fight your own brothers on our world?"

At that I snorted. "They stopped being our brothers long ago, Shipmaster. We're just as ready to fight them as we are the Covenant, the Prometheans...or any faction of your species that still wants to wipe us off the map."

The shipmaster clicked his mandibles. "You do not mince words, Colonel."

"Don't need to," I said to him, my voice going low. "I've already killed many rebels myself."

There was no going back after that.