Author's Notes: Well, this one didn't take nearly as long as I feared it might, though it still isn't as fast as I'd like. Part of that is because it's a bit longer than the average EOE chapter so far. I hope you enjoy it.
0445, October 3, 2552, Local Time
Surface of Eridanus II, Inside the Echoes of Eternity:
After the harsh, brutal noise of the brief battle that had won them entrance into the Eternity, the silence of the ruined Covenant vessel was unsettling. Every now and then, glimmers of red would ghost across John's motion sensor display, but the aliens themselves were staying well out of sight. The appearance of a squad of Marines no doubt had them unsettled, but the fact that two Spartans were leading the Humans likely had them close to panic. Not even a grunt had been spotted since the slaughter just outside.
John just hoped the calm would last.
"We're still two levels below the control center," Cortana's voice broke into his thoughts. "Take the next ramp to your right."
"Copy. Have you been able to tap into the Covenant's communications yet?"
"Negative," she answered. "There are none. The ship's onboard battle net is completely scrambled. Nothing but white noise. If her external communications are in the same shape, that would explain why there aren't any other Covenant vessels already in orbit."
"It would also prove Admiral Marks' theory about why she tried to access the communications system of the Longsword that first found her," he said. "She has no other way to call for backup."
"Let's just hope they don't manage to fix any of her transmitters before we're out of here," the AI said, echoing his thoughts.
John paused at the intersection of the corridor they were in and the ramp that Cortana had indicated. He watched his motion sensor for a moment, and when no movement showed up, he switched to a left handed stance with his battle rifle and peered around the corner. It was clear. He motioned the insertion team forward.
At the top of the ramp, Cortana directed them to take a left, past the next intersection, and take another left. "There's another ramp one hundred meters ahead. The entrance to the control center will be at the top." She paused. "Wait!"
"Movement!" Linda warned, at the same time that John's sensors suddenly flared red.
Behind the Spartans, the Marines flattened themselves against the bulkheads, or went down on one knee on the deck, trying to make themselves as small as possible. There was a flurry of soft clicks as twenty trigger safeties were suddenly switched to "Fire."
The Master Chief stood against the bulkhead to his left, rifle leveled at the intersection, glancing at the display on his HUD every other second. There was a lot of red on his motion sensors, but none of it seemed to be coming their direction. "They're guarding the control center," he said softly. "I count at least twenty contacts, probably more." Even as he watched, another pair of red dots merged with the others. "They've guessed our destination."
"I was wondering when they were going to stiffen up," Mitchell muttered from across the corridor. "Please tell me we can use grenades."
"Inside the control center, I wouldn't recommend them," Cortana said. "We don't want to risk damaging the AI's systems. But those Covenant up there are outside the control center." Her voice took on a wry tone. "I don't see why we can't give them a fireworks display."
"Mitchell, Avery, Linda, one grenade each," John instructed as he pulled a fragmentation grenade off his own belt. "Linda, you'll throw yours with mine; Mitchell and Avery, throw yours at the same time after us. Quick succession; don't give them a chance to go for cover or throw them back. As soon as the last pair detonates, we're going around that corner. Shoot anything that moves. Stay low, stay against the bulkheads, and make sure your line of fire is clear."
He slung his battle rifle over his shoulder and pulled the pin on his grenade, holding it up in his right hand. Next to him, Linda did the same. "Ready… throw."
The two Spartan leaned around the corner and lobbed the explosives up the ramp.
"They've got barricades!" John warned Mitchell and Avery as he ducked back behind cover. "Give it some arc!"
Even as the first Grunts started squealing in dismay upon sighting the Spartans, the two Marines were tossing their own grenades, hard on the heels of the first. A plasma bolt narrowly missed Mitchell's head, but then they were both out of the line of fire and unslinging their rifles.
Whump-whump! Whump! Whump!
The grenades exploded with devastating force, sending a shockwave down the ramp, followed by a shower of fire, debris, and bodies.
Before the last chunks of metal had even fallen, John was stepping around the corner and starting up the ramp. A double tap dropped a wounded Grunt as it struggled to its feet. Another pair of shots penetrated a blue Elite's damaged shields, and a third shot killed it. Beside him, Linda's sniper rifle roared, instantly slaying a red Elite that was coming through the doors at the top of the ramp to reinforce the depleted defenders.
By the time a surviving Jackal had gotten to its feet and brought its weapon up, the Spartans were nearly at the top of the ramp. John dropped it with a single shot, and a second grunt fell with a squeal as Linda butt-stroked it with her rifle. She shot it as it fell, just to make sure.
The doors hissed open again and a pair of Jackals started to emerge. A rifle barked behind them, and the first alien took the round in the forehead. It crumpled in a shower of purple, and the second quickly retreated. The doors closed, and the insertion team was once again alone, standing amidst the carnage.
"Nice shot, Dupont," Avery said dryly.
The cinnamon-haired girl shrugged in embarrassment. "It was too easy," she muttered. "Where's the rest of 'em? If this is really the control center, wouldn't they put up more of a fight?"
"She has a point," Linda said as she quickly reloaded.
"This is the control center," Cortana said. "And there are more Covenant inside… but not enough. Unless there were much higher casualties during the crash than I'm estimating, there should be a lot more firepower here to stop us."
"Ambush?" Mitchell suggested.
"Likely," John replied. "This force was probably just to test us."
"And?" the Gunnery Sergeant prompted.
"They know we mean business. They'll try to surprise us, hit us hard and fast when we least expect it."
"You think they'll risk tearing up the control center?" Linda asked.
"If they think they're going to lose, yes," he said. "They'd rather have the AI destroyed than let it fall into our hands, just like we would with our own AIs."
"Standard compartment clearing formation?" Mitchell said.
"Negative," the Master Chief answered. "It's too big. There's a lot of open space. Your only cover will be the pillars supporting the second level, and the maintenance section trench in the middle. Linda and I are through first to lay down cover fire. Mitchell, you'll take nine Marines on the right, Avery, the other nine to the left. Spread out and keep moving, but don't get cut off from your party. Get to those pillars for cover. Watch for snipers on the second level."
"Got it," Mitchell said.
"Understood," Avery added.
John stepped up in front of the doors, just far enough back so that the automatic sensors wouldn't activate and open them. Linda was on his right, and behind them the Marines split up and lined up along the bulkheads.
John held up his right fist, waiting until everyone was ready. Then he dropped it. "Move."
As he took his first step, the doors slid open in front of him quietly. Almost immediately, green plasma fire started streaking toward them, the bolts hissing as they slashed past close enough to heat the air around them. A company of Grunts were blazing away at them from the cover of the maintenance trench, while on either side of them, four Jackals were split up into two teams, using their energy shields for cover and spraying fire just as quickly.
"Take the Jackals!" he said to Linda as the two Spartans charged through the door. He opened up on the Grunts, firing until he was out of ammo. Still moving forward, he dropped the empty clip and slammed another one in its place. Though at least three of the Grunts had been too slow and were now sprawled dead on the deck, most of them had ducked under cover to avoid his barrage. Now, thinking he was still reloading, they popped back up, just in time to meet his second volley. Four more of them toppled to the deck amid sprays of bright blue blood, and the remaining few broke and ran with squeals of terror.
On his right, Linda squeezed off a single shot, dropping a Jackal that was holding its shield just a bit too low. Surprised by its companion's sudden demise, the second alien glanced down at the body, unwittingly dropping its guard just enough. The chamber echoed with the distinctive boom of the sniper rifle, and it, too, went down.
Behind the Spartans, the Marines were just now entering the compartment, struggling to keep up with the faster soldiers. The two parties took to the flanks, battle rifles blazing as they spotted more Grunts and a pair of Elites lurking in the shadows. Blue and green fire lashed back at them, and one of the Marines in Avery's squad went down hard as he got caught in the sights of an Elite's plasma rifle. But then they were behind cover, shooting at everything that showed itself, and lobbing grenades after the targets that ducked behind cover. The command center filled with white light as one of the fragmentation grenades set off the cache of plasma grenades an unlucky Grunt had been hiding next to. Bodies, weapons, crates, and pieces of deck plate fell like a deadly rain, killing several of the surviving Covenant, and sending the rest scrambling out of the compartment.
"I think we got 'em!" Mitchell called as he dropped a fleeing Grunt.
It was then that John's motions sensors picked up half a dozen new targets. Some were above, on the second level, but the rest… were behind them.
"Behind! Behind!" he shouted as he turned, while directing Linda's attention to the second level, where even now the snipers were opening fire. "Cloaked Elites behind us!"
The Marines started to turn, but it was too late. A trio of the hidden aliens surged from their hiding places against the bulkheads, energy swords blazing into existence as they charged. John emptied his clip into the nearest one, starting to reload and reacquire a new target even before the body hit the deck, but even he wasn't fast enough.
One of the Marines screamed as the nearest Elite ran her through with its blade. Even as she was lifted from her feet and slammed back against one of the pillars, she dropped her rifle and drew her pistol, emptying the clip into the monster's face. The alien went down, but the Corporal it had attacked stopped moving moments later as she bled out.
Mitchell himself nearly lost his legs as the third Elite swept its blade low. He dove to one side with millimeters to spare, spraying fire from his rifle. His shots went wide, but it startled the alien into hesitation just long enough for Avery, Dupont, and three other Marines to finish it off.
At the same time, Linda was exchanging fire with the three targets up on the second level. John's HUD told him that one was down, but the other two were proving harder to kill. He brought his rifle up and scanned the level above. One of the Elites suddenly popped out right in his sights, but before he could squeeze his trigger, a round from Linda's rifle stopped the alien cold in its tracks, and a second shot sent its body tumbling to the main deck.
"Reload!" Linda called.
John moved to flank her for a better covering position, but even as he did, a burst of blue fire washed over the female Spartan's shields. She dropped her reload clip as she dove to one side. "Covering fire!" John ordered, and the Marines spilled out from under the cover of the second platform and took up firing positions.
The Elite was either bold, or stupid. It leaned back out for another shot, and caught no less than forty rounds. It gave a groan that sounded vaguely disappointed and collapsed to the deck.
John scanned the room quickly, making sure it was clear. No threats presented themselves. "Fan out," he told the Marines. "Secure this command center." He leaned down and pulled Linda up by her hand. "You all right?"
"I'm fine," she replied. "My armor's a little scorched, but shields are recharging and all indicators are green."
"I thought I recommended no grenades in the command center," Cortana said stiffly.
"Hey, we got the job done," Avery replied with a matching tone. "If we hadn't used grenades, we'd still be getting slaughtered in here."
John waved her off; he didn't have time for arguments right now. "Gunnery Sergeant, report," he said as he headed for what he hoped would be the command center's main console.
"Compartment secure," Mitchell said grimly. "But we lost two more. Private McDonnell and Corporal Alexander. Everybody else is good, though."
"Keep your sights on those doors," the Master Chief answered, hoping Mitchell didn't take him to be as unfeeling as he sounded. "I don't want any surprises while we extract this AI. Cortana, we need a way to pull Eternity's AI out and store it safely until we can get home and give her to ONI. Ideas?"
"Use the memory card in Linda's suit," Cortana said immediately. "I can make sure the connection with her armor's system is cut off, so the AI won't give her any grief. That's the only way I can think of, unless you want two of us running around in your head."
"Thanks, but no," John said. "This console… will it do?"
"Looks good," she answered. "Plug me in."
"Watch out for any defenses the AI has erected for herself."
"Hey, it's me," she said with a tone that practically dripped with a mixture of confidence and wry indignation.
John pulled her card from the slot in his helmet, and plugged it into a nearly identical slot on the console. It looked like the Covenant had gotten ideas for more than their AIs from the humans. The interface was almost exactly the same as that found on most UNSC ships.
"I'm in," Cortana's voice came from a speaker seconds later. "That's odd… I'm not detecting any defenses."
"Good. Maybe she's shut down. Linda," he said, holding out his hand. "Your memory card."
The other Spartan removed her card and held it out to John.
"No need," Cortana said in profound disgust.
Her tone surprised John so much that he didn't even notice when Linda pressed her card into his hand. "What's wrong?"
"You're not going to like this."
"Tell me."
"She's not here."