Chapter 4: Stowaway

Angel steered her ship towards the LCF fleet which was still out of radar range. Suddenly a plasma bolt missed her ship by centimeters. Checking her radar she identified two hostiles as the Covenant fighters, Seraphs. Activating her shields she jinxed as a deadly bolt just missed her. Locking on one of the Seraphs she fired a HEM (Highly Explosive Missile). The Seraph bucked and turned but it was doomed for sure as an explosion lit the sky. The other Seraph banked left to get on her six but she jinxed to her right to leave the Seraph turning the wrong way. The two 90mm cannons on Angel's deadly craft vomited fire as the last Seraph started up in flames. Checking her radar she saw that there were still two more Seraphs coming her way. Activating her 100mm Chain Gun under the nose of her Black Hawk she turned her ship to face the side of the deadly Covenant Seraph. The nose of the Black Hawk was illuminated as the Chain Gun burst into life firing armor piercing bullets streaking the doomed Seraph. Smoke trailed behind the ship before the engines totally were disabled. Leaving the stranded fighter she turned to face its companion. Deciding to have some fun she used a UNSC non-approved tactic which used usually harmless firearms. It was very hard and was only used by the highest ranked pilots. Angel fired a usually harmless chaff at the Seraph. The chaff surged into the overworked engines which blew up as debris flew everywhere until only burnt, scrap pieces of metal were left floating in the dark realm of space. Angel turned to the stranded Seraph and used her powerful tractor beam to tow the damaged craft.

"This is BH-3. I am bringing in a Covenant fighter. Requesting for landing," she radioed to the battleship Lightning Strike.

"Affirmative. We will prepare a squad of technicians and scientists for the study of the Covenant aircraft," the bay operator replied.

"The pilot may be still alive."

"We will then assist with a group of veteran marines."

"Affirmative," Angel acknowledged as she steered the Black Hawk to the SOH (Special Operation Hangar) on the battleship. Activating the landing gear she used the hover engines to slowly bring her into the hangar with the Seraph behind her. After landing her craft she directed the Covenant Seraph to land. Angel jumped out of the cockpit and greeted the veteran marines.

"Sergeant Banks reporting sir!" the sergeant addressed Angel indicating to the markings making her a superior.

"At ease soldier," she answered taking her flight helmet off. The GIs were equipped with modified stun guns to take care of the Elite pilot. As soon as a technician with a remote opened the cockpit Sergeant Banks fired his gun once. The Elite slumped down stunned as a scientist quickly gave him a sleeping needle to immobilize him for a longer period. A group of medics with a hover stretcher took the Elite probably to the RC (Research Centre). The technicians scurried over to the Seraph taking notes and samples. Angel walked to Captain Jimmy's office to report knowing that she would be greeted by many questions.

"Jeffrey, you're objective is now only 400 metres away."

"Okay, Kelsey," Jeffrey said in a very bored voice even though he was very tense. Using his scope on his S2 AM sniper rifle he saw that it was guarded by a few Elites so he had to use stealth. A hover truck came driving along and Jeffrey saw that all of the Elites checked it out. Suddenly he had a plan. He ran towards the hangar but stopped and hid behind a bush. Another truck came in and when the Elites were checking it out Jeffrey activated his active camouflage. Knowing he had only 30 seconds he ran towards the side of the building and climbed up a ladder. With 20 seconds left he ran across the roof of the hangar looking for an air duct. Finally he found what he wanted. Jeffrey climbed into the dark confined spaces of the air duct.

"Kelsey do you know where a console is?" Jeffrey whispered through his helmet to Kelsey.

"Go to your left," Kelsey directed as Jeffrey turned to his left.

"If you want to be crushed," Kelsey continued annoyingly.

"Kelsey, now tell me the truth," Jeffrey ordered angrily.

"Alright just keep going forwards," she replied, this time she was being sincere. Jeffrey crawled through the cramped space until he reached a Covenant console covered with cryptic symbols.

"What now?" Jeffrey asked intrigued by the symbols on the little console.

"Plug me in," Kelsey said as Jeffrey plugged in his DP into the plug core. Suddenly everything went dark because there was a blackout.

"What did you do?" asked Jeffrey as he activated his night vision.

"I made a short circuit to give you time to get in a cargo ship!" Kelsey shouted angrily. Jeffrey ignored her and he began crawling towards the hangar bay. Jeffrey opened the duct's grate and silently jumped in. Using his night vision he saw that the hangar was a vast, broad room with freighters and cargo ships. The guards were using their flashlights but Jeffrey just avoided them. After making his way he was just about to get in a crate when a grunt turned and pointed his flashlight at him. Luckily he only saw Jeffrey's hand but he set off the alarm screaming loudly, "Human!"

"Look what you've done," Kelsey whispered angrily as Jeffrey loaded his MA7B. The Elite grunted some things but Jeffrey had his translator still activated from the encounter with the patrol.

"Use the infra red system," Jeffrey heard through the translator.

"Oh no, we're stuffed," Jeffrey moaned as he checked his armor. He was about to open the crate when a grunt shouted, "All clear!"

"Huh?" Jeffrey sounded as he sighed relieved that he wasn't going to be caught.

"Your suit. It doesn't give off heat remember?" reminded Kelsey.

"Thank God," Jeffrey whispered as he thanked Dr Brian for the first time for giving him this suit. It wouldn't be the last time either.

"Shhh," Kelsey muttered as the crate was lifted up. Jeffrey held his breath as the crate was loaded into a cargo ship.

"Did you drop off Jeffrey safely?" Captain Jimmy asked Angel as a puff of smoke escaped from his cigar in his office in the Lighting Strike battleship.

"Yes sir," she replied as she was asked question after question.

"Good," he replied as he put down his cigar.

"I have bad news for you Angel but Reach has been glassed (been burnt by Covenant lasers)."

"But that's where my parents live!" Angel cried tears streaming down her eyes.

"I know but only 2 456 people out of the 250 964 survived."

"Only that much?" Angel asked trying to stifle the stream of tears.

"Yes Angel," Captain Jimmy replied. He knew that his family was dead but many years of military experience told him that he must show strength to fellow soldiers.

"What about the Spartan –II s?" asked Angel still failing to stop crying.

"All were killed while they were in cyro-sleep but John -117 the leader or Master Chief is now MIA (Missing In Action)," Jimmy informed Angel who was choking.

"The Pillar of Autumn escaped but we do not know its location or if Master Chief was on it as it escaped."

"So all of them are dead?" Angel said choking and coughing loudly.

"Probably, so that means that Earth is where we will make our final stand," Captain Jimmy replied solemnly.

"You're dismissed and you are now off duty until I assign you to another mission."

Angel walked out of the room sniffing loudly.