- MaxRealflugel
- |
- Elder Mythic Member
Part 14
March 28th 2552, Forerunner defensive world
John casually jogged the last mile inside the extensive structure. His previous encounters with Forerunner technology had been extremely useful as most of the route had utilised teleporters and light bridges that spanned huge chasms that descended into an abyss of infinity.
Cortana had spent most of the journey remotely monitoring the immediate space surrounding the planet, and trawling yet more of the vast library of data that was stored here. Humanity could learn a lot from the secrets that were kept here.
“There it is chief.” Announced Cortana
John looked ahead and saw another door, similar to the one that secured the external part of the structure, but this one was even bigger than that one. This doorway was big enough for a Covenant cruiser.
“Can you open it?” John enquired
“Just a second…where is it? Ah there it is…open sesame!” barked Cortana
As John neared the doorway the giant frame shuddered and the doors began to part, revealing the darkened interior.
John slowed to a walk and cautiously paused at the entrance to the massive hangar bay.
“It’s Okay chief, its safe.”
John nodded but still proceeded with caution. There was every chance that a significant threat might lay just beyond the entrance. One that Cortana had not detected.
Inside was the largest hangar that John had ever laid eyes on. In the nearest section over half a kilometre away were several small vessels of Forerunner design, but another object, barely in sight, caught John’s attention.
“It’s a Forerunner battleship.” Announced Cortana
John tilted his head in amazement, “How do you know?”
“I’ve just gained access to the hangar inventory. There is quite a collection here chief, but only one warship still remains, the rest are supply and support craft along with a couple of shuttles.”
John stared again at the distant craft, “You said still remains. Does that mean you know what was here previously?
“The inventory lists a number of ships that were taken only a few days before we arrived, although I’m not sure by who, or how they arrived here.” Cortana continued looking in the database of ship movements. Some of the records dated back to before the dawn of mankind. “They took three warships, a multi-role vessel of some description and a handful of smaller support craft and shuttles.”
“Any idea on where they went?”
“No, none, but it’s possible that the movement of the Forerunner vessels was what alerted the other species to the planet’s location, and not the re-initialisation of the planetary systems.” Cortana surmised
“Can we take the battleship?” asked John
“I’m afraid it’s not that straight forward chief. The ship uses several different sub-systems to pilot, maintain and fire the weapons. It was obviously designed to be used by more than one monitor. The system that controls the vessel is extensive, and even though I could probably operate it, I would need to make several copies of myself and that would reduce my life-span to just a few months or even weeks.”
John was disappointed to hear that, but the last thing he wanted was to reduce Cortana’s existence to just a few weeks. He would need her help for more than that, a lot more if those aliens returned again. “Then we’ll go for one of the shuttles instead. I presume they have just one system to operate?”
“Yes.” Answered Cortana
John ran over to the nearest shuttle-like vessel. In a way it was similar to sections of the structures on halo. Two angles sections looked like wings, but john doubted that the Forerunners used anything as basic as aerodynamics to keep a ship in the air. A third angled section jutted into the air like the tail plane section of a short- sword close support aircraft and then the whole craft angled to a blunt point at the nose. Despite being a shuttle it was more than capable of carrying a whole Pelican in its cargo hold.
As John approached the shuttle a seamless doorway opened as if operated instinctively. John stepped inside, and the doorway closed behind him.
Inside were a series of almost irregularly placed chairs, all facing the forward section of the ship. A central chair stood out among the others, surrounded by more cabling and power conduits. Obviously a living monitor could pilot this ship for millennia.
John placed his armoured hand o the back of the chair, “I take it a monitor can pilot this thing whilst in stasis?”
“Not just that chief, the whole ship can be placed in a form of stasis. There’s even a directed energy system that can form slip-space bubbles around other objects. I presume for cargo or ejected life pods.”
John sat in one of the more forward positioned chairs, and was immediately secured without the use of a harness into the seat. Despite his body being locked into the chair he could still move his arms and head without any trouble. “I presume this is a safety feature Cortana?”
“Sorry chief, I’ll give you a little more warning next time.” Chuckled Cortana
Seeing that John was safely secured Cortana jumped from the comfort of his armour and into the ships systems – appearing as a hologram again on the central console.
“Take us out Cortana.” Ordered John
Cortana replied with the activation of the advanced gravity drive that the ship used. Unlike Covenant and Human vessels the shuttle could bend space and time with ease, creating slip-space openings of virtually any size and shape.
“Opening slip-space.” Cortana informed
Just beyond the shuttle a small pin prick of light appeared before growing in size. Its presence twisted and warped the nearby space into a thin rushing whirlpool of air. Cortana moved the ship forward just as the warped area before them reached the required size.
The nose of the ship seemed to stretch and a dull shudder resounded throughout the deck before settling into silence. There was a bust of light, then dark and then the twisted marble of slip-space. They were through.
John loosened his helmet before removing it. “How long before we reach Earth?” said John scratching his matted hair.
“I’m not taking us to Earth chief; I’m heading for the Elite home world.”
“Why?” frowned John
“If this new threat is going to return, then we need to make sure that what remains of the Covenant is going to help us. It’ll also give us a chance to warn them before returning to Earth.”
“The more advanced technology we have the better I presume.”
“Exactly” replied Cortana
“How long till we reach them?” asked John
“We’re just approaching the system now chief.”
John’s chin almost hit the floor; they had only been in slip-space for about six or seven minutes. His faced gradually when from a look of shock and disbelief to one of respect for the power and technology at their disposal, but despite this new found speed, there was little doubt in John’s mind that the enemy of the Forerunner also had this level of technology. His encounter with them had proved that they were more than just another bull’s eye painted figure in his sights. They were advanced, highly advanced and extremely dangerous, more so than the Covenant had been during the war.
“Dropping out of slip-space.” Announced Cortana
On the single view screen in front the display of the twisted space around them changed to a glittering star field with countless diamonds of pure white light.
In the image were two ships of Covenant design. One was a standard attack cruiser which was heavily damaged, and was impaled with several boarding craft, whilst the other was an assault carrier. Beyond them were another dozen or so ships all in working order.
“The undamaged ship is the Shadow of Intent-the Arbiters flagship chief.”
“Good, hail them.”
To be continued...
[Edited on 11.11.2008 6:02 AM PST]