Chapter 10

The alarm was sounding, alerting everyone on the ship of our impending engagement. As we were walking I saw crewmen running through the halls trying to prepare the Concrescence for combat. Just then I heard a transmission on my personal radio from the rebels.

"Lieutenant, this is the Arbiter. Do you read me?" the Arbiter said.

"Loud and clear, Arbiter. Go ahead," I replied.

"Prepare your ship's MAC gun. We're about to take a carrier's shield out." I heard some alarms go off and several Grunts were screaming on his side of the radio.

"What's going on over there? Are you guys okay?"

"Our shields are taking a beating since we're focusing on charging our cannons. Just get your MAC gun ready and don't worry about us."

"Roger that, Arbiter." We then arrived to the bridge. "I need the MAC gun online ASAP, men."

"MAC gun online in five, sir," a crewman replied. He pushed some buttons at his station. "Okay, sir. MAC gun is ready to fire."

"Waiting for your signal, Arbiter." I radioed. I heard footsteps and turned around to meet my squad.

"Got a present for you, sir," Davis said. She then handed me my pistol and ammo.

"Thanks." I then put everything in its place on my suit. I looked up and saw Amanda smiling.

"That's not the present, sir. Brad, get up here." Cummins walked up, holding a rocket launcher and several rockets. "This is." A big grin came onto my face.

"It must be my birthday." I slung the launcher and ammo over my shoulder. "Get a boarding craft ready, cause we're jumping on the next cruiser." Two big plasma explosions hit the cruiser in front of us.

"Lieutenant, fire into that hole in the shield," Arbiter said. I walked over to the MAC gun controls and pointed on the screen at where the hole was.

"Fire right in there," I told the gunner. The ship rocked a little, telling us that the MAC gun had fired. "If I've studied Covenant cruisers enough, I'd say that shot's going to hit the reactor. If that's the case, everyone look away." Everyone covered their eyes completely or looked away from the window. I turned around and after a second I saw a bright blue light.

"It will take several minutes for our cannons to recharge."

"Not soon enough, Arbiter. That thing has cannons, too. We're boarding that cruiser and blowing it from the inside. You in?"

"Of course we are. Elites, prepare to board the cruiser. I'll alert you when we're ready."

"Arbiter, use what guns you can to hit the shields around the docking bays. Prep the MAC gun for another shot. We'll go on ahead, then. I need to kill something. Marines, move to the boarding craft. I'll be there in a second."

"Good idea. Concentrate fire on the docking bays." I then saw several shots hit the shield around the docking bays. "Fire where those shots hit." I then started sprinting to the hangar.

"Shield's down, Lieutenant. You have about thirty seconds until it closes up," Colonel radioed to me. I jumped in the ship and the door closed behind me. "Never mind, the rebels are still firing and keeping it open. You've got a few minutes now. Good luck."

"Sir, luck doesn't exist for the ODST's. We're just so good that it seems like we're real lucky. Full speed, pilot. Aw, dammit, Keyes. What are you doing on here?"

"Since we arrived on the Concrescence, your mission's over. Now I'm just another member of the UNSC, as is Johnson. We have a right to get on this bird," Miranda replied.

"Well I would have let Johnson come along because he knows how to fight the Covenant. Your ability to, however, is still in question."

"Sir, I believe that I've proven myself in combat, since I remember saving your ass from the Flood. Or do you not recall that moment?"

"The Flood and the Covenant are entirely different enemies. Do you know a Brute's weak spot? How about a Jackals'? No? I think I've proven my point."

"Like it matters, sir," Nicholson piped in. "We're on our way to that cruiser and she's with us, so looks like she'll get her chance."

"Fine. Just so you know, you'll want to shoot a Jackal in the little hole on the side of their shield that they shoot from. For Brutes, you need to shoot their helmet off and give them an old-fashioned headshot. If one goes into quarterback mode," I patted my rocket launcher, "just leave his furry ass to me."

"Landing in ten seconds, sir," the pilot said. Everyone turned their safeties off and readied their guns. "Five… four… three… two… one…" the ship shook violently as we landed in the docking bay. The doors opened just enough and I shot a rocket out the opening to clear our exit. And here comes the fun part, I thought.