Chapter 2

UNSC Pelican DropShip call sign Charlie 2-6

Unknown Star System, 2563, September, 19th

Departing from the Spirit of Fire's hanger bay

Chief Petty officer Sarah, known by her flight mates as Soaring Hammer, flipped the start up switch of her Pelican dropship even as the ground pounders ran up the gangplank into the Pelican's blood tray.

"This is Charlie 2-6, Ready for takeoff," muttered Sarah into her mike as the status light flashed green in front of her controls.

"Copy that Charlie 2-6, uploading nav data on forerunner vessel. Caution is advised, over," replied Serina with a hint of amusement as she watched the airlock crews scurry to the safety of their vacuum gears.

Sarah flipped another switch, igniting the thruster of her Pelican and bringing the dropship around to join the other pilots while choruses of acknowledgment filled the comm channel. Behind her the hydraulics of the Pelican ground to a halt as they sealed up the Pelican.

"Let's get this over with," said another pilot," I got a case of beer waiting for me in my bunk."

"Yeah and a poster of a Diana waiting for you," snickered another pilot.

"Alright cut the crap," shouted the wing leader as her Pelican twitched.

Serina then interrupted. "Opening airlock doors," she said, amusement in her voice.

The airlock cycled open and the Pelican fired their thrusters to full thrust. Below them, two flights of Shortswords exited their bays, thrusters flaring. One even did a barrel roll as he raced to join his flight.

"Show off," muttered Sarah as she slid her Pelican into formation.

"I can hear you, you know?" replied the Shortsword pilot as he wiggled his single ship's wing in a mock salute.

"Yeah, yeah. Eyes in front Joseph before you smack into a meteor" replied Sarah and a burst of laughter filled the channel.

"Flight Bravo taking the lead," said a Shortsword pilot, giggles in her voice. An entire flight of Shortswords opened their throttle wide, pushing the agile single ships to the front.

"Alright marines, ETA damn quick, so hang on to your lunch" said Sarah as she fired up the engines. The door behind her slid open as Lieutenant Sanders slid through.

"Well that's one way to start a mission" said the Lt as he smiled and observed the space through the view screen. Sarah grinned and concentrated on piloting.

Minutes later the Forerunner vessel filled the screens as the collection of ships flew closer.

"God, that thing's huge," muttered Joseph through the comms.

"Be glad you don't have to clear it deck by deck" snickered another pilot.

Sarah was about to add another snicker to Joseph's comment went suddenly his Shortsword blew up.

"What the Hell!? Evasive maneuvers everyone!" shouted one of Bravo's pilots before a laser flew by Sarah's cockpit missing her bird's topside by mere inches.

Suddenly through an open com channel, "Incoming unidentified vessels, identify yourselves or be destroyed… Warning system failure code 32-0-09-30." Before the channel cut off.

"Okay, was it me, or did a Forerunner AI try to shoot us up?" asked Sarah as she slid her Pelican back into formation. Silence answered her questions.

"Charlie 2-6, be advised. Priority one package onboard. Do you copy, over?" said Serina as she went through the sensor data about the Forerunner's laser.

"Copy that Serina, Priority one confirmed, orders from the captain?" replied Sarah as she shook herself out of her shock.

"Keep the package safe pilot, we lose her, we're stuck here" came captain Cutter's voice.

"Roger that sir" replied Sarah before she pulled the Pelican into a high gee maneuver in anticipation of another wave of lasers. The Bravo flight winked their green acknowledge lights, the silence showing their grief for the lost of a fellow pilot.

After ten minutes of full throttle, the eight remaining Shortswords of Bravo flight pulled up and took a defensive formation above the Pelicans.

"Coming into contact with Forerunner vessel. Recommend you check your space gear, marines." said Sarah as she flipped off the dropship's thruster. Extending the landing gear, Sarah slowly brought the Pelican into contact with the keyship, a dull 'Thunk' signaling contact between the pelican and the ancient vessel.

"Alright, Ready when you are Lt," said Sarah as she put her finger on the switch in preparation for opening the rear hatch.

"Open the hatch, we're ready" radioed Sanders as his vacuum suit sealed with hiss. The atmosphere was pumped back into their tank before the rear hatch eased open silently in the vacuum. The Marines filed out the Pelican, weapons up and ready to fire.

"Looks clear, Lt," said another marine

"Alright, company on me, regroup at the airlock. Doctor, mind getting that airlock open?" Asked Sanders as he surveyed the surroundings.

Anders nodded, almost unnoticed by the lieutenant as she swung her bulky armored vacuum suit towards the holograms floating above the surface of the Forerunner metal.

"Give me a moment, I'll try to access the airlock controls and get us a way into the ship" said Anders as she quickly started tapping at the Forerunner hieroglyphs.

As Anders worked, the gathered marines gazed around taking in the view of space with a few curiously examining the hull of the Forerunner vessel.

"Got it," said Anders as a huge hole started to open up beneath the company's feet. A few marines panicked and waved their hands to balance themselves but it only served to make them spin around uncomfortably.

Sighing at the sight, Lieutenant Sanders ordered, "Marines, activate your suits' magnetic boots. I'd rather not lose men before we even get inside."

His men, chagrined, complied and they stuck to the Hull before anyone could float off.

The men gathered there stared into the airlock and turned on their tac lights.

"Alright, move in Marines. Mind giving some support, Sarah?" asked Sanders as he walked in with first squad.

"My pleasure, sir," she replied, as her Pelican lifted off the hull and rotated to face the airlock. Seconds later the Pelican's powerful floodlights came on. "Looks all clear from up here," called out Sarah as she scanned the area with the Pelican's sensor suite.

"Alright, move in and secure the area." The marines moved inside, their tac lights playing across the silvery metal of the airlock.

"Area secure sir," said a marine before another set of Forerunner hieroglyphs sprung to life in front of him.

"You might want to tell the doc to take a look at this," added the marine as Anders made her way into the airlock. This one took her longer to access as the Forerunner language moved across the hologram. With a final swipe of her hand, the holograms disappeared. There was a mild vibration as the outer airlock cycled shut, sealing the team in.

There was a telltale hiss of atmosphere as the airlock slowly pressurized. A marine waved a tactical ARGUS detector to test the air and the result came back breathable.

"It's safe to take off the suits sir." reported the marine.

"Okay people, take off the suits. Doctor I expect you to open the inner airlock so my company can pass through. No point for us to breach the other airlock to just get stuck here"

The ODST nearby snickered at the Lt's joke while Anders shook her head in amusement, before reactivating the Forerunner's control panel. Seconds later the inner airlock groaned and protested loudly as they slowly slid apart.

As the doors slid open, blue hued lights flickered on, bathing a monstrous room with light. The lieutenant and his squad were the first ones through. They scanned the area and motioned the others to follow.

"Holy shit" muttered a marine as they stepped inside... Suddenly the airlock behind them slammed shut with a resounding bang.

"Anyone get the idea that this might be a trap?" suggested Sarah as her Pelican twitched, the fore 80mm autocannon swinging from side to side.