Stage 10: All bets are off
Covenant Cruiser: Life and Sacrifice
Slip Space time difference 2 hours:
14:25 October 21, 2552
Slip Space to elite home world; Dorenth
Silence.
Rose never imagined it would be so quiet. Her thoughts seemed to scream at her in the dull silence of the room. The massive ship was now traveling through another dimension, but there was nothing to be heard. The engines were whisper quiet, and despite all of the marines on board, there was no sound. She sat up and looked at Wesley and saw that he had fallen asleep on the bench. She lowered her head again and examined the gun he had given her. The magnum sat nicely in her hand and she liked the way it felt. It wasn't as cumbersome as the battle rifle, and not as powerful, but it felt good in her hands. She wanted to shoot it, to pull the trigger and see how it felt. Wesley said it had a kick, but you never know until you've tried it.
She pulled back the slide until it clicked against the slide stop, exposing the chamber. A gold slug sat nicely in the barrel and shined marvelously in the light from the stage. She walked away from Wesley, and gently guided the slide back to its natural position. She walked to the lower level of the amphitheater and sat on the edge of the stage. She examined the gun closer, letting every inch of its design soak into her mind. Being an engineer, she understood machines and computers, and quickly recognized the safety and magazine release. Guns were simple, not complicated like rifles. She pressed the magazine release and the ammo slid smoothly from the handle. She quickly slapped it back in. It was nice design, clean and smooth.
She extended the gun with her right hand, and gazed down the smooth line of the barrel. Looking between the sights, she took aim at an odd diagram on the wall.
She imagined pulling the trigger, she imagined the kickback, and then she said, "Bang!" It was a childish act, she thought to herself, but it brought a smile to her face. She was starting to understand combat, despite the amount of trouble she had caused. But understanding it didn't mean she liked it, or enjoyed it. The more she thought of it, the more she once again realized that everything that was happening was because of her. She lowered the gun and tripped the safety.
"Eric." She softly mumbled.
"He's on the bridge." A voice stated from behind Rose. She turned and saw the image of Siren standing over her shoulder. "He's discussing the finer points of human-alien relations with one of the elites."
"That sounds right." Rose replied. She turned her attention back to the gun in her hand. Siren's image walked to the edge of the stage and sat beside Rose, looking toward her as if she wanted to know what was on her mind. "I don't understand anything about combat or strategy, but he's been learning it all his life."
"He's a soldier." Siren replied. "It's what he does. You should either accept that or leave him alone."
"You're awful personal for an AI." Rose stated.
"Actually, I'm a second generation smart AI." Siren smiled. "My subroutines are designed to understand variations in human emotional behaviors. It allows me talk to them when they can't seem to understand their own thoughts."
"Good for you." Rose sighed. "I guess that means that they left a lot of your host's mental and emotional scans intact. I know how a smart AI works, you were once human."
"Yes." Siren stated. She lowered her head and appeared to be troubled by the words. "Once, I was human. I wish they would have taken my past completely away from me, but they thought it would make me more capable to have emotions. I'm a virus form smart AI, what the hell do I need with emotions?"
Rose sat silent, staring in shock at the hologram that sat beside her.
"Sorry." Siren laughed. "I guess I'm a little too human for my own good."
"What do you remember about being human?" Rose questioned.
"Everything." Siren replied sharply. "Every minute of my former life… and death. There are some things you should never remember." Siren lowered her head and appeared as though she wanted to cry, but quickly raised her head and sighed. "But it is better being an AI. I can do several things at once, and still contribute to the cause."
"Who were you?" Rose pushed for more answers.
"A soldier that died on Troy." Siren sighed. "But let's not discuss that anymore."
"Sorry." Rose stated. She felt odd apologizing to an AI, but considering the amount of trauma that Siren must have experienced in her last life she felt justified for being sympathetic. "So why are you here, shouldn't you be monitoring the elites or something?" Rose questioned.
"I am." Siren replied. "I've created multiple sub programs to monitor every human and alien on board, even the engineers."
"Those floating things which work on the ship?" Rose inwardly questioned. "They freak me out. They don't have legs, it's weird."
"They're harmless." Siren laughed. "Ah, she's finally here."
"Who?" Rose questioned. Siren pointed to the door at the top of the amphitheater and watched as a female figure walked into the room.
Melanie walked through the door and spotted Rose and Siren sitting on the stage. She sighed to herself and made her way toward Wesley's sleeping form. She kicked his boot and startled him awake.
"Private, the serge wants you on the bridge, ASAP." Melanie barked while saluting. "I'm here to watch Rose."
"Understood, Peters." Wesley yawned. He wiped the drool from his mouth and looked to Rose and Siren sitting on the stage. "I'll be back as soon as I can." Rose simply nodded her reply and Wesley ran off.
"Well don't just stand there, get down here and have a seat." Siren stated to Melanie.
"I'm not really in the mood to sit beside her." Melanie replied. "I'll stay here, if you don't mind."
"I do mind." Siren moaned. Rose nearly giggled at the sound of Siren attempting to whine. "I've been cooped up in this ship, scanning databases for the past few hours and now I feel like socializing. Besides, what else are you going to do? Hate everyone that tries to come between you and Eric?"
Rose gazed at Siren deeply but quickly turned to look at the fuming marine storming down the stairs. Melanie was pissed and Siren found it funny; the AI began to laugh loudly.
"If you had a face, I'd smash it in right now." Melanie stated as she gazed at the holographic image. She stood only a few inches from Siren and fumed with anger.
"If I had lips, I'd kiss you right now." Siren giggled. "It feels like I haven't seen you in a lifetime."
"Kiss me?" Melanie questioned in shock.
"You'd kiss me back, wouldn't you Mel?" Siren smiled.
"Mel?" A tear boiled down Melanie's face after hearing siren speak her childhood name.
"Kiss me Mel, you hot redheaded vixen?" Siren giggled as she stared into Melanie's eyes. Melanie stepped back, her eyes widened and she lifted her hand to cover her mouth.
"Kim?" Melanie questioned. Siren's expression changed from happy to horrified, as she heard the name escape Melanie's voice.
"Forgive me, Warrant officer." Siren pleaded as she looked away from Melanie. "I was merely being playful. I did not mean to remind you of something bad." Siren's image began to fade away. "I have things that I must deal with. I can no longer divide my processes in such away." Siren then vanished completely. Leaving Rose and a bewildered Melanie to contemplate what had just transpired.
Rose looked on as Melanie struggled to contain her confusion and tears. Rose was also struggling to understand what Siren meant about keeping everyone away from Eric. She slid off the stage and walked closer to Melanie. Melanie looked away from her.
"Do I know you?" Rose softly questioned.
"I guess you were too popular in college to remember us soldiers." Melanie quickly returned while drying her eyes on her sleeve. "The only person you seem to remember is Eric."
"You're Eric's friend from school." Rose stated. "You had a sister…"
"Kim." Melanie sighed. "She died on Troy, when the covenant caught us with a sneak attack."
"I'm sorry." Rose added. Rose wondered more and more about Troy, realizing that a lot seemed to have happened there. "But despite that, I don't think you have any right to be angry at me. If this has something to do with Eric then make your peace, otherwise leave me alone." Rose eyed the woman in front of her and was torn about Melanie's approach.
"Make my peace?" Melanie roared. "Listen you little bitch. You maybe a member of this squad but I won't let you influence Eric into making rash decisions. Not again."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Rose angrily countered. "If you haven't noticed, Eric hasn't really been giving me any attention since all of this started."
"Not yet." Melanie snapped. "He was the best marine in this war and then my sister died. At that moment he couldn't stop thinking of you. No matter how hard we fought, the covenant pushed us back. We retreated from Troy just before it was glassed. He lost his focus and we lost nearly all of his platoon. He was promoted after that even though our battle was a failure. Then he left the front line to be with you. Sitting at a desk and pushing paper with ONI. That's not who he was or who he is."
"What does his decision have to do with me?" Rose screamed.
"It's all about you!" Melanie returned. "But you could never understand that. It was always your goals, your future and your career. He never told me everything, but he told me enough. He tried to get me to leave the front line with him, but I knew better. I'd rather have died on the battle field then wait for the covenant to come knocking on Earth's door."
"You're not making any sense." Rose moaned. Melanie sat up straight and shook her head loosely.
"You're clueless." Melanie sighed. She removed her helmet and softly sat on the front row seat, in front of Rose. "You two have been together for almost a month, and you still don't get it. Why would anyone give up what they are good at, just to sit at desk?"
"He is not in love with me." Rose snapped in return. Melanie looked at Rose curiously and sighed heavily.
"If you won't accept it, then tell him." Melanie smiled. "The man crossed the galaxy so that he would be by your side when the covenant came. I think he deserves to know how you feel."
"There's nothing to tell him." Rose replied. "I've been with him this past month, not you. He doesn't have those feelings for me."
"Then you're just as blind as you were in college." Melanie laughed. Rose sulked inwardly. Normally she was in control of situations and people didn't argue with her, but sitting in front of her was a woman that was mentally and physically tough. Marines were different then business men and women. Melanie was a soldier that had seen many battles, and it was only luck that she had teamed up with Eric again.
Chief Warrant officer Melanie Peters continued her tour of duty after the incident on Troy, in which a third of her platoon was slaughtered by a covenant sneak attack. She also lost her little sister during that conflict. Melanie's next station was soon to be Reach, but it was attacked before her ship could arrive. She, and the rest of her platoon, then returned to Earth, and once New Mombasa was attacked she quickly joined the recovery efforts. She then spotted Eric at Camp Charley and joined his squad.
Melanie pulled a canister from her back hip pouch and took out a small flask. She popped open the lid and took a sip from the canister. She quickly rubbed her nose to try and ward off the burn in her throat; a reflex to the strong shot of whiskey.
"I can say one thing though." Melanie smiled. "You have a good taste in men. You just suck at dealing with them." Melanie quickly closed the flask and tossed it to Rose. Shocked, Rose juggled the flask but grabbed it firmly before it tumbled to the ground. "Take a hit. I think we both need it." Rose followed through, allowing the strong alcohol to flow down her throat.
"Damn gal, don't kill it." Melanie laughed.
"Whiskey." Rose smiled, unaffected by the strong after taste. "My old friend." She closed the flask and spotted an inscription on the side of it. "Do or Die. What's that mean?"
Melanie took the flask from Rose and ran her thumb across the words, "It means that you only get one true chance to do something. If you don't do it, then forget it, otherwise you'll die miserable. So tell me something, Rose. What could have possibly made you decide to enlist? I know New Mombasa was where you worked and lived, but you were never a fan of the military."
"I made a mistake, a mistake that cost a lot of people there lives." Rose sulked as she sat beside Melanie. "I'm not here because I want to be, but because I have to be."
"That sucks." Melanie stated uncaringly.
"Can I ask you why you're still a Warrant officer?" Rose questioned sarcastically. "I'm not up to date with military ranking, but I know a warrant isn't the rank of a middle aged soldier who has been in the service for more then 15 years."
"Ouch." Melanie smiled. "That was a low blow. I was a second lieutenant until…" Melanie paused and let her eyes drift off into the darkness of the amphitheater. Her mind raced back to the day her sister died. Covenant forces surrounding their position. Marines were falling by the second and the shrieks of her sister etched into her mind. Eric held her, blood flowing from her missing arm.
A plasma grenade had landed in the center of the formation and she tried to get rid of it, but the grenade stuck to her hand. She ran from the squad, saving them, but sacrificing herself. Kim screamed as she ran from the formation, knowing she was going to die, knowing that she had to die. Eric chased after her and watched as the grenade fused and exploded. He dragged her body back to the formation while still under heavy covenant attack. Kim was also a second lieutenant, she was a Field Operations specialist and could crack any covenant transmission.
"I'm sorry." Rose quickly stated. "I didn't mean to bring up the memory." Melanie looked at Rose oddly, not realizing that she had been talking the whole time, and telling Rose about Kim. "But why did you get demoted?"
"That mission on Troy was considered Black Ops." Melanie replied. "We were all specialists and Eric was leading us. Had I been promoted then I would have wound up on a ship or behind a desk someplace like Eric did. The battlefield was where I wanted to be, not a desk. So I kicked the shit out of one of those ODST bastards when he looked at me funny. After a few fights, my colonel got the hint, and dropped me a few ranks. I wasn't the only one that used that trick to get held back, a lot of Eric's old college buds succeeded in staying in the fight. But Eric was the only one that moved up in rank."
"I see." Rose smiled. She then made a mental note not to get on Melanie's bad side.
"All hands to battle stations." Siren's voice stated over the ship wide com channel. "I repeat. All hands to battle stations."
"Battle station?" Rose pondered shockingly. "But I thought we where in slip space?"
"Happens all the time, babe." Melanie replied. "Let's go, we're on deck twelve. Just stick with me until Wesley gets back."
The bridge was filled with activity, but it was deathly silent. The elites and humans occupied their own spaces, and avoided contact with each other as much as possible. Atop the command pedestal stood Eric, Domadree and Gridolee. The three of them held their words and merely gazed into holographic videos around the pedestal.
The elites worked the ships systems, but it was Siren that was running the show. For now, she allowed the elites to run the ship as they pleased, knowing that if she needed to she could easily take command.
Eric quickly became annoyed with the quiet atmosphere and walked closer to ship master Domadree.
"So what is the Mirratord?" Eric questioned. "It's not listed in any of our intelligence reports."
Domadree turned toward Eric and looked down at him saying, "Simply put, we are the right hand of the elite high council. We do as they summon and we do not take orders from the prophets or the hierarchs. Until today we believed that the hierarchs knew not who we were."
"So an elite secret service." Eric commented. "Are you the leader?"
"No." Domadree stated. "I'm merely a high ranking second. My title as ship master was necessary for our… previous mission."
"Your previous mission?" Eric questioned.
"I would rather not discus it at this time." Domadree stated, turning his attention back to commanding the ship.
"Captain, I've detected echoes at the ships aft." Shouted an elite from his post.
"Confirmed." Siren replied. "The echo matches a cruiser class ship."
"Echo distance?" Domadree questioned.
"Four million and holding." The elite replied. "We are being tracked."
"Sergeant, you should advise your humans to prepare for battle." Domadree stated. "We have not reached covenant space yet, therefore I can only assume that this echo is a hostile ship."
"Siren, standby to call General Quarters." Eric sharply stated. "Melanie, get to the amphitheater and tell Wesley to get his ass up here; he's not answering his com. You stay with Rose and guard deck 12 if we go to battle readiness."
"Roger Serge." Melanie replied as she sprinted off the bridge. Eric was grateful to have her at his side again. She was always a skilled soldier, and her abilities would surely come in handy in the battles to come.
"What is this, General Quarters you speak of human?" Gridolee questioned with an annoyed tone.
"Calm down, it's just a terminology for battle stations aboard ship." Eric sharply replied. "We say that instead of barking orders to our troops."
"Do not try any foolish tactics human." Gridolee roared. "If you do anything to jeopardize our situation, you'll pay with your life."
"Gridolee!" Elder Bortello roared. "Your words shame the honor of the Mirratord. These humans have yet to show any ill-trust toward us, but you continue to induce suspicion. Domadree has informed me of your actions in the past, but I never thought this would be possible within the Mirratord." Elder Bortello cautiously walked up the ramp to the command pedestal and came face to face with Gridolee. The massive Mirratord warrior could only hang his head in shame for angering the elite elder.
"This time, the sergeant will not interfere with your lack of focus, Gridolee." Domadree stated. "We can not work alongside the humans if you are constantly reminding them of the past. Report to your quarters, immediately, and when this threat is dealt with, we will have a long talk."
"You shame me, Gridolee." Elder Bortello growled. "I see that it was mistake to allow one so young to join the ranks of the elite's finest warriors. Even our enemies deserve respect. This is one of the higher rules of the Mirratord." Elder Bortello reached out and removed one of Gridolee's plasma blade hilts; leaving him with only one sword.
"Forgive me elder." Gridolee understood his punishment, but it only fueled his hatred for the human's that stood around him. He held his head low as he walked from the command pedestal; daring not to appear taller then any elite on the bridge. He had shamed his superior officer and an elder, meaning that he had to have his head lower then any elite near him until the elder returned his blade.
Gridolee held his head low until he exited the bridge. The doors closed behind him and he stood tall again.
"Blood will be shed this day, humans." Gridolee snarled to himself. His distaste for the humans was at an all time high. His room was not far, all senior officer's quarters where stationed on the command deck. He shortly arrived at the hallway to his room and passed several groups of humans, talking amongst themselves and looking at him oddly. The talks of cease fire aboard the ship removed the humans' fear, and he hated that the humans did not fear his presence. He turned down the hall and ignored them. He arrived at his quarters and the door opened. As he stepped into the room he heard footsteps racing up the corridor toward him.
"A human, running, and alone." Gridolee thought to himself. He stepped into his door and lowered his posture. He left the door open and listened to the human's footsteps. He drowned out all of the ambient noise from the hallway, listening for other humans in the area. Waiting to hear if any other humans were around, but only the footsteps of the lone soldier filled his ears.
He waited.
Gridolee suddenly reached out with his left hand and grabbed the soldier that ran down the hall, just as he passed his open door. Gridolee could feel the soft thin skin of the human's neck in his hand and he pulled the frail creature into his room. The door closed and sealed shut.
The elite's monstrously large hand engulfed part of the man's face and his neck. His four fingers gripped tightly around his head, as the elite lifted him from the ground and growled deeply. Gridolee quickly slapped the human's weapon away and pinned him against the wall; gazing ferociously into his eyes. Fear, the human was rank with it. His smothered screams, his eyes expanded fully, and his pores flowed with sweat. The human kicked and clawed feverishly, but to little affect.
Gridolee began to think to himself; "This one human would go unnoticed for quite sometime if he was killed. No one would ever know what happened to him. I could spill his blood and his death would be a mystery. Eventually the humans would worry, and begin to look for him, and his body would be found. Fear would once again fill the pathetic creature's hearts. They would respect us and fear us." Gridolee liked his plan, and he liked the idea of smothering his hands in the crimson red blood of the terrified human he had in his grip. He slowly began to squeeze, and the man's pale white skin began to change color; first a deep red, then a slight blue blue. The man began to kick and squirm even more as he felt the intense pressure building up within his head.
"Unless you want me to feed this video onto the bridge, I suggest you let him go, now!" Siren stated through Gridolee's room speaker. Gridolee paused and stopped squeezing the human's head. He had forgotten about the construct and its ever watching eyes. "You can consider this your only warning from me, Lieutenant. If he dies I will vacuum all the air out of this room and kill you without a second thought."
Gridolee walked to the door, dragging the human with him. He opened the door and tossed the frail creature into the hallway. The man rolled and slammed into the opposite wall. The door hissed shut on Gridolee and Siren sealed him inside.
"That elite is going to be one serious pain in my ass." Siren stated in the hallway intercom. She then switched channels and spoke into the marines helmet com. "You alright, Wesley?"
Wesley sat up and leaned against the wall. His head was throbbing from the intense pressure of Gridolee's grip. His eyes blanked as he stared at the door across from him. What had just happened to him? Shock quickly began to consume him as his limbs began to tremble uncontrollably. He was running down the hall, and suddenly something grabbed him, something from the darkness. His head was hurting and he was being smothered. He couldn't scream or fight it.
The deep black eyes of a monster, was all that he could remember. Wesley tried to stand up, but he lost control of his legs and fell to the floor.
"Private, stay put." Siren stated into his com. "A med team is on the way. Just relax, you're going into shock."
"Distance?" Domadree demanded from his command crew.
"Three million and closing, captain." An elite roared.
"Communications?" Domadree questioned.
"None." Another elite replied.
"Damn it." Eric stated. "They're running silent and coming up our butts."
"Sergeant, I will attempt to contact them, but if they see you and the other humans then there may be some confusion if they are allies." Domadree stated.
"Understood." Eric stated as he began to walk of the pedestal. "Red Squad, clear the bridge; double time." The marines all gathered their gear and quickly emptied the bridge. Once Eric exited, the door quickly hissed shut.
"Communications, hail them." Domadree stated.
"They are responding captain." The com officer replied. A video screen appeared in front of the command pedestal and the image of a highly decorated brute displayed on screen.
"Life and Sacrifice, you have not been given permission to leave the human world." The brute roared. "Why have you abandoned your post?"
"The hierarchs decided that we needed to return." Domadree stated. "Surely you have heard that the holy prophet of Regret has left the human world?"
"The hierarchs would not recall this attack, elite." The brute snarled, letting his teeth shine in the transmission; a show of aggression.
"Do not play ignorant brute, we know the situation." Domadree stated.
"Do you?" The brute laughed. "I don't believe you have any idea of what is happening. Your time has come, prepare to die."
"Captain, four slip space incursions appearing in our path." Siren stated. "They're materializing." The forward screen showed four cruisers all matching the size of the Life and Sacrifice. "Weapons powered, plasma inductors pressurized, and decks sealed. We are ready for combat." The bridge door opened and Red Squad returned.
Eric climbed to the top of the pedestal and stated; "Siren, sound General Quarters, and find Wesley."
"All hands to battle stations." Siren's voice stated over the ship wide com channel. "I repeat. All hands to battle stations." Siren then switched to Eric's private com.
"Eric, there's been a situation." Siren stated to Eric. "Private Williams has been injured and is on his way to a makeshift medical bay on the command deck. It appears that the covenant decided not to put medical facilities on their cruisers."
"What happened, Siren?" Eric smirked. "Did he trip and fall?" Eric chuckled to himself, but Siren's words quickly silenced him.
"Gridolee happened." Siren stated. "He nearly killed him in frustration for being kicked off the bridge."
"Where is he?" Eric stated.
"Wesley is in…" Siren was quickly cut off.
"Gridolee, where's Gridolee?" Eric quietly stated into his helmet com.
"I… I'm not going to tell you." Siren softly mumbled.
"Say that again." Eric demanded. Siren remained silent and returned to her primary functions of defending the ship.
"Captain two of the forward ships are reducing speed, and arming plasma cannons." An elite stated. "Shall we fire?"
"Captain, I can target and recalibrate the plasma cannons much faster if you give me control." Siren added.
"Very well." Domadree stated. "Weapons, let the construct take control. Helm, take the ship to coordinates 300, 000, 300." Domadree keyed in the spatial grid of the slip space tunnel and verified his coordinates. He then looked back toward the helmsman and added, "Once we reach the coordinates, reduce speed by half and bring us directly over the pursuing ship."
"Yes captain." The elite returned.
"Captain, weapons ready to fire." Siren returned.
The cold plasma curls of slip space roared around the six covenant cruisers. The life and Sacrifice quickly rose to the upper edge of the slip space threshold. The trailing brute ship increased its speed and closed in; firing its plasma torpedoes toward the Life and Sacrifice. The Life and Sacrifice reduced speed and the brute ship roared beneath the ship. The plasma torpedoes arched passed the ship and could not track them. The life ans Sacrifice slipped effortlessly between the torpedoes, and they soon faded after loosing track of their targets. The two ships rubbed shields and rocked from the impact.
"Construct, fire all lower turrets." Domadree yelled. "Helm, increase speed and bare to 150, 010, 100." The Life and Sacrifice's lower weapons fired concentrated beams of focused plasma and the relative closeness made the shields useless. The brute controlled ship buckled and imploded as its hull crumbled upon itself. It faded from view as it shattered hull tumbled into the void of slip space.
"Excellent, they over shot us." Eric sighed.
"We are not done yet." Domadree replied.
"Incoming fire!" An elite roared.
"Evade." Domadree screamed.
"It is too close." The elite returned.
"Brace for impact." Domadree shouted. The ship rocked from the impact of the plasma torpedo but the ship held its ground. "Status report."
"Shields at 70 percent and… rising." The elite curiously stated. "We were hit from all four ships, how is this possible?"
"Don't think, react." Eric snapped. "There are still four ships out there!"
"Helm, increase speed by forty units and put us directly between all four ships." Domadree ordered. "They fired their aft turrets and they will need time to recharge. Construct, target the upper left ship and fire with the forward turrets."
The Life and Sacrifice plowed ahead firing it's fully charged upper turrets. Siren's modifications allowed the concentrated plasma to tear through the ships shields and pierce the hull.
"Captain, target one is listing but still intact." Another elite roared. "They are arming turrets. The other ships are spinning on their centers, turning to face us!"
"Clever." Domadree stated. He watched as the other three ships turned 180 degrees and pointed their forward turrets at the Life and sacrifice. "But the stupid brutes will sacrifice speed with that trick. Helm increase engines another forty units. Construct, prepare mid turrets and aft turrets."
"Incoming." Eric shouted.
"Helm, evade to 76 mark 2." Domadree roared as he double checked his navigations display.
"Torpedo evaded, but it is tracking." An elite roared. "Our relative speed is giving us an advantage."
"Helm, realign to center, bare 000, 211, 000." Domadree barked. "Construct, target the three undamaged ships with our mid section turrets. Helm, after we fire bare to 22 mark 8." The ship rose to the center of the four brute ship's formation, and the mid turrets cut through their shields. One ship snapped from the blow to its mid section, and began to tear apart. The other two ships began to list but leveled out as their crews regain control. The life and Sacrifice then rolled toward the first ship they crippled, and scraped passed it by only three thousand feet.
Suddenly the crippled ship was engulfed by the plasma torpedo that was still pursuing the Life and Sacrifice. The relative closeness to the ship caused the torpedo to alter its target. The crippled ship began to bloom and spark as its hull melted away. The ship's inner frame became exposed and it quickly drifted off into the edge of the slip stream. It was then ripped from existence within the plasma engulfed fringes of slip space.
"Construct, fire aft turrets at the remaining two targets." Domadree roared. The aft turrets powered and focused beams of plasma split them from stem to stern. The two ships imploded sending charred fragments into all directions. "Helm, return the ship to axis center and recalibrate engine speed to normal."
"Captain, all threats neutralized." Siren stated. The humans all began to cheer as the elites watched; confused at the human's show of relief.
"How were we able to survive this?" Domadree pondered. "We were out numbered, but evenly matched. Clearly the brutes had the upper hand."
"Let's just say you had an angel on your side." Siren laughed. "I was able to focus shield strength to the areas where the plasma torpedoes would impact, greatly reducing the result. And thanks to my older sister, Cortana, I was quickly able to alter the plasma inductors to produce a more powerful, and accurate, plasma turret. I've scanned local relative space and there are no signs of brute reinforcement, and I was successfully able to jam all five brute ships, so they were not able to send out transmission."
"I see." Domadree stated in awe. "You humans have a very resourceful construct aiding you." He stated to Eric.
"Sometimes, but normally they're just a pain in my ass." Eric roared. "Captain, where is Gridolee's room? He and I have unfinished business."
"I recommend you avoid him, sergeant." Domadree stated. "He does not like your kind. I only wish I knew where his hatred brews from."
"Thirty years of war can bring out the worst in any soldier, captain." Eric replied. "Even the best warrior can give in to hate."
"If you wish to speak with him, please allow Elder Bartello to accompany you." Domadree stated as he looked to the elder standing below the command pedestal.
"I would gladly assist you, sergeant." The elder added.
"Not this time." Eric stated. "This is between warriors. Something I'm sure you understand."
"His quarters are not far." Domadree stated. "Once you leave the bridge, bare to your right, fallow the corridor until it splits, then bare left. His door is the second one to your right."
"Thanks, I'll be back shortly." Eric stated.
"I fear for your safety, sergeant." Domadree added.
"Noted." Eric stated. Eric left the bridge and soon arrived at Gridolee's door. Several marines fallowed him but he waved them off. He stood at the door and knocked.
"He can't open it." Siren replied into his com.
"Then you open it." Eric barked.
"Why Eric?" Siren questioned. "If you go in there, he will kill you."
"I gave you an order, Siren." Eric snapped. "Obey it."
"I will not obey that order, Eric." Siren stated. "I won't let you throw your life away. No matter how strong you think you are you can't handle him. Colonel Ackerson may have given you some upgrades, but don't get arrogant. You know your limits."
"You're stubborn, you know that?" Eric sighed.
"It takes one to know one." Siren returned.
Eric giggled and replied, "Funny, an old friend of mine use to say that. Now open this door, I don't want to do this, but I have to. If I don't stand up to these elites, this will only cause problems later on for us. Check your data on elites. You know that we can't let them think we fear them. Now open the door."
"Promise me one thing, Eric." Siren pleaded. "If it gets out of control, I can call for support?"
"If I die in here, the only person that needs to know is the captain." Eric replied. "Then I want you to tell Wesley and Peters to take command of this operation."
"If you die in that room all hell is going to break loose." Siren replied. "This ship will become a battlefield."
"Then you better make sure that everyone knows that I did this, and Gridolee killed me, not the other elites." Eric returned. "Make sure Peters and the captain know what happened. They'll know how to handle this, but I don't think I'm going to die; at least not today. Now open it up."
The door quickly hissed open, and Gridolee sat upon his oddly shaped seat. He gazed at Eric with a wicked snarl, but did not stand.
"Here to avenge your fellow warrior, sergeant?" Gridolee snarled.
"You know, I promised you a fight earlier, didn't I?" Eric stepped into the room and tossed his side arm and battle riffle into the hall. "Shall we dance… big boy!" Gridolee rose from his seat and towered over Eric. He removed his blade and tossed it out of the door. He twisted his arm guard and shut down his personal shield. If an elite could smile, then Gridolee's smirk could best be summed up as an expression of happiness. Finally he would get what he wanted.
Eric exploded with unrelenting aggression toward the monstrous elite. Gridolee roared his approval and charged back at the small human before him. The two warriors collided and the door to Gridolee's room slammed shut; roars and screams echoed from within the sealed room. The thud of bodies slamming against the walls reverberated in the hallway.
"Melanie, Rose, get to the command deck, and hurry!" Siren nervously stated into the hallway com system of the twelfth deck.
"Siren?" Rose questioned, hearing the horrified tone in Siren's voice.
"It's Eric, you have to stop him. The elite might kill him!"
To be continued…