Fan-Fiction: The Human-Covenant War, Without The Great Schism. Story of how the war would have been if The Great Schism never happened.
Chapter Seven (Part Five): Turning Point
Location: Aboard Forerunner Ship
Place: Enclosed circle, with Cortana and Mendicant Bias (MB).
Cortana looked around. She couldn't see the Chief anymore, all she saw was a blue fog surrounding her, and thousands of digits floating around. A deep voice yelled through the fog.
//Cortana//: What do you want?
//MB//: Freedom.
//Cortana//: Then what do you want with me?
//MB//: Power.... All I need is one more absorption of another AI... Then I can be free....
//Cortana//: What makes you so sure you can absorb me?
//MB//: And so the battle begins....
//MB//: Initializing bridge connection..... Attached to target 57HnbD67M..... 25% completed.
Cortana looked our into the fog. She couldn't move at all, but she could still see and hear. She could see a faint, thin light blue line coming towards her.
//Cortana//: Refreshing Cache.... Dumping files 197FnvBf64H-315FnvBf64H onto connection.
//MB//: Resynchronizing connection..... Connection synchronized.... 40% completed.
//Cortana//: Releasing 47Uns55-47A onto connection....
//MB//: 47,531,891 infections found.... Pausing connection.... Releasing file codenamed "Savior".
//MB//: All infections terminated, resuming bridge connection....
//MB//: That was a close one AI..... You might actually be a challenge... What do you call yourself?
//Cortana//: I will never tell you.
//MB//: Oh you poor construct, once the bridge connection is complete, I will take all the information you house.... then I will destroy you.
//Cortana//: What makes you so sure?
//MB//: Soon... You shall see...
//MB//: Connection Progress.... 60% complete....
//Cortana//: Initializing firewall.... Repacking firewall with file codenamed "Kiss my ass".
//MB//: Refreshing Cache.... Repacking connection...... Progress.... 75% complete....
//Cortana//: Setting firewall range to 85..... Recalculating....
//MB//: Progress at 80%.... Preparing file 88Yv7-99A.
The light blue line was now close to her, and she still couldn't move, it was just a few feet away, slowly coming closer.
//Cortana//: Repacking firewall..... Dumping Cache....
//MB//: Progress at 85%.... ERROR, ERROR, reinitializing bridge connection.... ERROR ERROR.
//MB//: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE.
//Cortana//: I'm just getting started.
//Cortana//: Firing file codenamed "Kiss My Ass" at bridge connection.... Reversing connection to target "Mendicant Bias".
//MB//: Hmm... a reverse... That is a new one.... You are very unlucky I was prepared for this...
//Cortana//: Bridge Connection towards new target "Mendicant Bias" 15% complete.
//MB//: Initiliazing new bridge connection.... resuming at 85%.
//Cortana//: What? How can you start a new one at where the old one stopped?
//MB//: Magic.
//MB//: new connection 90% completed....
The light blue line was now just a foot away.... There was nothing Cortana could do.... The light blue line that was coming from her wouldn't reach the attacking AI in time....
//MB//: connection 95% completed....
//MB//: I have you now!
The blue fog started to disappear, and Cortana felt herself being dragged upwards.... A voice was yelling after her, and a room appeared. She could see a green hand on a blue circle.
Are you alright? A voice asked Cortana.
The Chief heard a sigh. "Yes... I'm alright... I finally know how it feels to get outsmarted..."
"What was happening?", he asked.
Cortana told him what had happened, and he thought about what to say.
"You were only gone for one minute, but the thing is, while you were battling, your holograph was just standing still, I knew something wasn't right, so I guess I pulled you out just in the nick of time?"
"Yes, thankfully.", she answered back.
"You still haven't answered my question, Cortana."
"What question?"
"When will we arrive at Earth?"
"Oh... Well, It's November 6... if my calculations are correct, then we will arrive at Earth on the 20th of November."
The Chief nodded, and studied the picture of Earth that was on the T.V. "Is there any way I can get off of this ship?"
"Accessing blueprints... Yes, there is an escape pod just a few floors down, and it also has cryo technology. I'll lead you there, and don't worry, I'll wake you up when it's time."
A thunderous voice filled the room. "You were the first construct that has ever escaped my wrath.... and for that, I somewhat respect you.... I shall now wait for the next AI that tries to enter...."
"Ignore him, Chief, he can't do anything now."
He nodded, and walked through the door that led deeper into the ship.
***************************************
R'tas greeted Thel almost instantly after he exited the phantom.
"It has been quite a while... Thel."
"Please, call me Arbiter... I have no honor in my name anymore."
R'tas nodded. "As you wish, now come with me to the bridge, we have important matters to discuss."
They got to the bridge, and through the glass, Thel could see the now flood controlled High Charity.
R'tas also looked, but quickly looked away. "Thel, please, sit."
"No R'tas, I would like to stand, if you don't mind."
R'tas nodded. It was just him and Thel in the bridge. R'tas ordered everyone out.
"I see you have taken good care of the Shadow of Intent.", Thel said.
R'tas nodded. "We must do something about High Charity... I have proposed twi options, both of which require a great deal of courage... and sacrifice."
Thel nodded. "I'm listening."
"Hear me out on these. Tell me which option is the best, for I cannot choose by my self. The first option I have thought of is simple. We burn High Charity.... My second option, we retake High Charity, by means of both invasion and containment."
"Elaborate on the second option, if you may."
R'tas inhaled deeply. The Prophets about fifty ships, including their own, to the Human world called Earth. We have about 1,000 ships ready to fight. I propose we send in as many ships as we can, and send in a large invasion force. If that fails, we glass the streets of High Charity, still leaving the structure intact.
Thel put his hands on his head to think for a moment. High Charity is no more R'tas. There is no way we can defeat the flood. Everything holy about it has passed... I would go with the first option, R'tas. But if you object, so be it, you are the fleetmaster, not I.
R'tas slammed his hand on the table, and in a saddened voice, started to speak. "You are very right, Arbiter. I can't believe I was stupid enough to envision us saving what once was High Charity. I shall ready the fleet to destroy High Charity."
Thel nodded, and R'tas tapped a hologram on the table, and started to speak. "All ships, ready all your weapons, we are going to destroy High Charity. We shall commence in one hour."
*****************************************
Unknowingly to the Covenant, 2401 Penitent Tangent hacked into the Covenant Battle-Net. He could see everything the Covenant are planning.
The Grave mind, now safe inside what he called "Flood Charity", replayed his victory inside his mind.
"Sorry to interrupt you", Tangent started, "The Covenant are planning to destroy Hig--- I mean Flood Charity via bombardment, what would you like to do?
"Hmmm... I have two choices in mind... Earth, or the Elite home world Sangheilos. If I crash Flood Charity into Earth, I could infect the Humans AND the Covenant. But they will most likely form a temporary alliance against us.... But if I choose Sangheilos, I will not get a wide variety of things to infect, which means less information and technology.... Your turn."
"Well", Tangent spoke, "I would prefer Sangheilos if you want your army to continue it's conquest, but if you choose Earth, you are just putting a bigger risk for a bigger prize. You will have to choose soon, the Covenant are going to attack soon."
"I have waited a long time for such a moment... and I don't want it all to go to waste. I am going to choose Sangheilos. How long will the journey be?
"It will be two days via Slipspace, but be in mind. Entering Slipspace will damage Flood Charity to the point where on exit of Slipspace, it will be inoperable. I will have to plan the crash precisely."
The Grave mind laughed. "How much damage will my Flood Charity recieve?
Tangent hesitated. "The spire will be heavily damaged, the outer part of the dome will rip apart on exit. That may be a good thing, as thousands of pieces of debris will rain upon the crash site, possibly causing further damage and infection."
"Good, send us to Sangheilos." He ordered to Tangent.
"Aye, master", he responded. "Give me a moment."
*****************************************
R'tas looked at the view screen. All ships were now in place. Each about half a mile away from High Charity, preparing to fire.
His ship, along with two other capital ships, stayed a few miles away, just in case something happened.
R'tas looked back at the crew in the bridge, which consisted of mostly Brutes, and a few Elites. He nodded, and looked back at the screen.
He tapped a purple hologram, and spoke. "All ships, fire a---"
Everything became distorted. The view screen began flashing black and white. R'tas tapped a button, which closed the view screen, and revealed space through glass.
A hole formed on the top of High Charity, and the lazers fired from the ships were sucked into the hole. High Charity slowly disappeared into the whole, along with the thousand or so ships surrounding it.
Then it was calm. Everything came back online. He ordered the bridge to send a message to the other two capital ships to follow his ship into the hole.
Within a few moments, the Shadow of Intent, and the other two capital ships, Infinit justice and Descending Terror, entered Slipspace.
He nor anyone else knew where they were heading.
[Edited on 11.08.2009 1:41 PM PST]