Chapter 10

Location: ONI HQ, Australia, Earth.

Captain Gurney stood before five ONI spooks. Not a good thing considering that these people could have you trialled for treason for just flinching at the wrong time. They were sat around a huge oak table with seven empty chairs. He had beads of sweat dripping down his forehead and he didn't dare wipe it off.

"Come on then Captain, we are very busy." The closest one said.

"Right, as you know the Prophet of Truth landed on Earth but the rest of his fleet have exited Earth space on an outbound vector that would take them to Harvest. Now this may not sound important but we intercepted several transmissions speaking of a downed Covenant ship that fell on Harvest during the battle and its navigation database was not destroyed. They also said it had information about their home world called Gun'uoy'dunhi. Our AI's have tried to translate it and the closest they came was, Holy Place Of Birth. If we get to Harvest first and find that ship then we might have a chance to locate their home world and take the fight to their doorstep. I strongly recommend that you let me take some ships to there and find that navigation crystal." He said carefully choosing his words. He turned to a screen board next to him to give him a view of Harvest.

"The ship is said to be around here." He told them and a red circle appeared in the surface of the rotating gas giant. "It would take my ships around five hours of uninterrupted slipspace to get there in the fastest possible time." He said and he looked pleadingly at them. He already knew the answer but he tried anyway.

"Please wait outside whilst we discuss this matter." The spook with grey hair told him. Gurney turned and headed for the door. It slid open silently as he neared it. There was a bench against the wall and he used it. As he sat down the door slid shut again. There were three Marines posted outside the door. Each held a new MA8B rifle and had a Dominator as a side-arm. He sat there with his head in his hands for eight minutes until he was called back in. as he stood up he dreaded the word that was going to deny him his request. He entered the dimly lit room and he looked at the nearest spook. The one at the far end spoke this time however.

"We have decided to accept your request." He said plainly. Gurney's heart lifted. "However, you will not be taking a UNSC ship. You will be taking Truth's ship. It landed in Africa over the Gazeeb Cover. There has been no-one entering or exiting it for some time so if you get there soon you should be able to sneak aboard and use it to exit to Harvest. When in Slipspace you will get everyone in the bridge and vent all atmosphere from the ship, apart from the bridge, just to get rid of any extra Covenant that are on board. Any questions?" he asked.

"No sir!" he replied with a hint of eagerness in his voice.

"Good, right then. You will have two platoons of ODSTs to take with you. You will need an X5Y Jet to get you there fast enough. I suggest you take your squad and ODSTs to the nearest airport. It is a ten minute drive from here." He explained.

"Sir yes Sir." And he turned on his heel and left.

The Warthog column was two minutes away from the airport. Each of these forty-nine Warthogs had their chain guns removed and replaced with two seats. Gurney struggled to keep his vehicle on the road. The column was tightly packed and they needed to get as fast as possible and this was the only way. At the airport they would get the Warthogs into the plane and there they would have their guns refitted. It would take half an hour to get to Africa in this jet. It flew at thirty thousand five hundred miles an hour. They drove between two skyscrapers and rounded the next corner and the airport came into view. They sped up towards it and parked under the jet. It had three Locusts attached to the back of it. Everyone made sure they had stripped their vehicle of any spare ammo and weapons and had slung them over their shoulders before entering the plane. Gurney was the last to enter. He had a Shark, an MA8B and two Dominators. He had ten extra clips of ammo and another load of rockets. He climbed the steps and just saw the door on the back of the massive jet open for the Warthogs to be pushed in. he hurried in and the door sealed behind him. He moved through the hustle and the crowded space and told everyone to spread out to avoid injuries. He placed his Shark in one of the roof racks and the extra load with it. Others were doing the same. People were stowing SN-44S rifles, Punishers, Sharks and even some portable turrets. After the Warthogs had been loaded and everyone was seated the jet took off with incredible speed. Once they were safely in the air Gurney got up off his bench and turned to face everyone.

"Right everyone listen up. When we get to Africa we get back in the 'Hogs and go for a little road trip. Truth's ship is currently situated over the Gazeeb Cover waiting for us. We need to go and meet her. We know that the GravLift is still working so that is our point of entry. When we get in get to the bridge. Once everyone is in the bridge then we vent all atmosphere out of the ship to kill any remaining Covenant. When done we will take off and set a slipspace course for Harvest. Anyone who doesn't understand?" he shouted through the plane. No spoke up. "Good. Ready yourselves as we will be arriving shortly." He told them and he sat down. He checked his MA8B and his Dominators for full clips.

After twenty-seven minutes the pilot spoke through the microphone,

"Thank you for flying UNSC airways," he said mockingly, "we hope you had a good flight and I hope we kick some alien ass!" and everyone started laughing. As the doors opened everyone jumped out. They filed round to the back of the plane where they got back in the Warthogs and drove towards the Gazeeb Cover. After another ten minutes of driving the base loomed into view. Truths ship could be seen hovering thirty meters off the ground. There was a purple-pink beam that reached down and grabbed the floor. A big brass gate was seen and was covered in scorch marks. The Warthogs stopped outside it and the three engineers hopped out of the 'Hogs and put three satchel charges on the hinges. They rushed back to the vehicles and pushed the detonators. There was an almighty BANG followed by and slam and then a huge cloud of dust swept over them. After the dust had cleared the gate was lying on the floor and beyond it lay the base of the GravLift which had been stocked with their eerie purple metallic boxes which gave off a faint luminous glow. The Warthogs drove off and were surrounded by a green mist. The smell was sickening, it was decaying flesh. Gurney would have held his hand over his mouth had he not been driving. What the hell happe-

"Contacts!" the gunner yelled and seven Phantoms flew overhead. They fired their pulse lasers and were greeted with forty nine anti aircraft guns. Their guns were blown out of the sky and one of the crafts arced up and landed on top of another one. The crushed Phantom flew into the floor and exploded sending dirt and metal scattering. The remaining ones turned round for a strafe run. Three Warthogs went up in flames and melted as their bodywork was sizzling away.

"You want more!" SGT Griff yelled as he fired until his arms were numb. "Come get it you alien bastards!" and he turned his aim to the next Phantom. Another two Warthogs went up in flames and Captain keyed the team freq,

"Attention, follow me and don't try anything heroic. I don't wanna lose anymore men. That's an order." He yelled through gritted teeth.

"Ah shit" the PVT next to him said as something wet made a puddle on the seat. Gurneys hands were numb as he manoeuvred through the buildings ad wreckages. He heard an explosion behind and a Phantom soared overhead and slammed into a building. It collapsed upon itself and sent fist sized bricks flying towards them. One flew straight through his windshield and hit the PVT squarely in the forehead. He slumped over and didn't move, blood pouring from his face. After another five minutes of a wild goose chase the Phantoms had finally been blown out of the sky… but at a cost. Eight of the Warthogs had been destroyed and seven other men had been critically injured. They drove through the base until they reached the base of the GravLift. The lift was big enough for a Warthog to fit through so he thought of another plan.

"OK everyone. This is it. Everyone get ready, and follow me. I want the 'Hogs comin' up last. If the shit hits the fan then they can be our back-up. Lets go." He told them all and he felt his stomach lurch as he was pulled inside the ship.