Halo_ The Cole Protocol Part 1

THE COLE PROTOCOL.

Halo.

Tobias S. Buckell.

PROLOGUE.

THE RUBBLE, COVENANT OCCUPIED SYSTEM, 23 LIBRAE.

Ignatio Delgado ducked behind a bulkhead next to a set of cargo containers, the red paint peeling off their ribbed metal surfaces, just as a burst of plasma hit.The dull metal he hid behind glowed-hot tiny molten gobs dripping then spitting as they hit the cold deck near his feet."Melko?" he called out over the acrid sizzling.The answer came after a worrying pause: "Still here."His copilot made it behind the container. But that didn't change the problem coming right down their throats.The hold stretched up all around them-the core of a mile-long asteroid, slowly spun up to provide gravity, and recently hollowed out. Delgado and Melko stood on the inside wall of the rocky cylinder. The cargo area's metal walls sunk into the rock and it was crammed with spare supplies from other asteroids.Delgado pulled out his pistol and pressed the heavily engraved and personalized grip up to his cheek. His uncle had replaced the weapon's stock with some very rare oak back on Madrigal, and created a piece of art out of this standard-issue M6.That was before the Covenant forces had gla.s.sed Madrigal. Before humans had fled to the safety of the asteroids trailing the gas giant Hesiod that the Insurrectionists who had been hiding there called "the Rubble."Delgado kissed the scrollwork.Firing around the corner of the bulkhead, he leapt for the safety of the next stack of cargo containers.He caught a brief glimpse of his attackers-awkwardly tall, birdlike aliens with plasma pistols gripped strong in their talonlike hands. Their beady eyes stared right at him.The spiny quilled mohawks on their skulls twitched. The sound of plasma shots. .h.i.t the other side of the container and reverberated through the hold."Jackals," Delgado said with a wince. That was what most humans called these aliens, though they called themselves the Kig-Yar. Kig-Yar. They were just one of the alien races of the so-called Covenant. The ones who'd discovered humans hiding out near Hesiod in the Rubble after the destruction of Madrigal and, for some reason, chose not to wipe them out. They were just one of the alien races of the so-called Covenant. The ones who'd discovered humans hiding out near Hesiod in the Rubble after the destruction of Madrigal and, for some reason, chose not to wipe them out.They were as greedy for spoils as their human nickname suggested. Ruthless piracy raids from rogue Kig-Yar weren't uncommon in the Rubble.Melko Hollister leaned against the old container, his gray reservist's uniform specked with blood. "How many?""Three." Delgado looked at his old friend, worried. They'd flown their way around the Rubble's nooks and crannies together and helped each other stagger back from late night binges for years. They were close enough people often mistook them for brothers. "What happened to you? Looks like something ran you over.""Think I'm I'm in bad shape?" Melko coughed. "Should see the other guy." in bad shape?" Melko coughed. "Should see the other guy."Delgado kept his back to the container, gun aimed at the edge. "You killed one of them?""We turned the corner at the same time." Melko stepped back, chancing a glance around the other side of the container. He held his handgun in his right hand while his left clenched his stomach. "I fired first. I fired second. I fired the third time, too.""Where'd the blood come from?""One of the other Jackals fired fourth."Delgado shook his head. This had gotten out of control. He reached in his pocket and pulled out the instigator of all their troubles: a tiny chip, lying in the heart of a toughened case just smaller than his thumb.The information inside never used to be all that special, back when the planet Madrigal was a thriving Outer Colony world. Back before the Covenant destroyed it, and the survivors fled to the drifting rocks of the Rubble. Back before the United Nations s.p.a.ce Command abandoned them all. And back before Delgado ended up here.The location of Earth had been commonplace, buried in the heart of every ship making the long jumps back to the Inner Colonies and on to the home world."Here." Delgado handed the chip to Melko.Now, as far as anyone here knew, this chip contained the only known navigation maps that could get someone back. All the others had been destroyed, rooted out by viruses, or the ships they were on mysteriously disabled and all info wiped clean. All this had happened in the last week or so.It had radically changed things in the Rubble.Melko slipped the black oval into a thigh pocket. "Jackals are getting pushy, trying to sneak in here for it."They were. And Delgado didn't like it. Although the Kig-Yar here in the Rubble had been relatively peaceful, and even worked to help build the asteroid Habitats, deep down Delgado could never trust anything Covenant. Not after seeing the glowing remains of Madrigal from orbit as a child.This just confirmed a deeper suspicion. The Covenant were never up to any good, and Delgado's people were probably at risk.So, for Delgado, it was important the navigation data be kept from them at any cost.Delgado gauged the distance to the airlock from their cl.u.s.ter of containers. "Make the run, Melko, I'll hold them off. When you get on board Distancia, Distancia, blow the locks and make a hard run for it, in case there's a Jackal ship waiting. Start calling for help the moment you punch out." He held up the scrimshawed gun. "Me and blow the locks and make a hard run for it, in case there's a Jackal ship waiting. Start calling for help the moment you punch out." He held up the scrimshawed gun. "Me and Senora Sies Senora Sies here will hold them back." here will hold them back.""You can't..." Melko started."If I try running to the ship after you it'll slow everything down-they'll be able to come running in too. At the very least, this splits them, and confuses them. They'll be expecting us both to make a run for it."He hoped.Melko grabbed Delgado's arm. "Okay. But the moment you hear me cut free and the emergency overrides shut the doors, you bug out of here and keep clear of the Jackals."The asteroids of the Rubble were all connected to each other by flexible docking tubes. Once Distancia Distancia was away, Delgado planned to use those to get out of this storage facility and into the larger asteroid complex. was away, Delgado planned to use those to get out of this storage facility and into the larger asteroid complex.There were b.l.o.o.d.y smudge marks on Delgado's forearm. "No problem there."The sound of something crawling on top of one of the containers made Delgado look up."I guess it's time," Melko said. He handed over his plain handgun. "You'll need the extra firepower.""Thanks. Hey, mijo mijo," Delgado said. "See you on the other side. In three," and held out three fingers. Three... two...On one Melko leapt forward and threaded his way through the maze of containers that stood between him and the airlock. Delgado quickly followed.The Jackal on the top of the container ran forward, focused on Melko. It looked down, spotted Delgado aiming up at it, and raised its curved firearm to shoot.Too late. Delgado pulled the trigger three times and the large, birdlike alien screeched as the shots. .h.i.t home. Purple blood made a faint cloud in the air, and as the Jackal fell forward, an oval energy shield flickered on from a bracelet strapped to its right hand.Delgado had made it across a corridor to a gap in the containers.The other two Jackals would turn the corner any second. He dropped the empty magazine out of his handgun one-handed, keeping Melko's handgun aimed forward. He slid another magazine out of his pocket awkwardly with the fingers that still held Senora Sies, Senora Sies, wiggling the tip in until it clipped, and then shoving it home against his chest. wiggling the tip in until it clipped, and then shoving it home against his chest.He kept both up, aimed and ready, and as the Jackals turned the corner, he let off a withering burst of shots. The aliens slid to a stop and ducked back behind the container, but not before firing back.Metal splashed around Delgado, searing his ribs.But as he clutched at burned skin with a hand, he heard the thunderclap of explosive decompression from the other side of the containers. Air rustled, and then roared past as it was sucked out into the void past the open airlock Melko used when he'd cleared out.The Jackals shot clear of the corner, triple-jointed legs jerking and their oval energy shields flaring as they ran at Delgado.He emptied his magazines uselessly against their violet translucent shields and stood ready with gritted teeth as they lowered them to bring energy pistols to bear on him.A gray blur dropped down from a set of containers stacked four high behind the Jackals. Ma.s.sive boots struck the fused rock floor, leaving large dents in place and tossing up shattered rock.Delgado stared as the ma.s.sive gray statue with the gold-faced helmet shot the nearest Jackal in the torso with a full round of submachine-gun fire, point blank. Then it yanked the b.u.t.t of the gun up hard into the other Jackal's long, jagged-toothed jaw as it turned to face the sudden threat.The Jackal flew back, purple blood slinging up in a long arc above it in the air.The limp body of the alien landed at Delgado's feet with a crunch, then slid past him, slamming into the container at his back as the Jackal's blood rained to the ground.A long trail of slick purple wetness pointed back toward the tall, armored soldier that stood where the Jackal had been. The armor-plating, chipped, scarred, and dull with wear, shifted as it removed its helmet.It was a woman.She ran a gray-gauntleted hand over her tightly tied-back hair, surveying her handiwork. "Now that I've done you a favor," she said in a Slavic-accented voice, "I don't suppose you could return it and tell me where your friend is headed in that little s.p.a.ceship of yours?"Delgado felt something sticky and wet spreading down his side, and patted at it. His fingers came up red with his own blood. He shook his head and staggered, then slumped to the ground. Senora Sies Senora Sies and Melko's gun skittered away from him as he let go of them. and Melko's gun skittered away from him as he let go of them."d.a.m.n." The woman thudded her way over and crouched by him. She unfolded a small med kit and pulled out a can of bio-foam and some field dressings. She had very blue eyes for such an efficient killer, Delgado thought."What the h.e.l.l are you?" he asked, as she ripped his shirt open to spray the foam. It stung as it sealed the wound."A Spartan." She wrapped tape around his torso to hold the bandage on."I've heard rumors about Spartans out here. But figured if you really existed you'd be all off in the Inner Colonies now, fighting the Covenant for the UNSC. What are you doing out here, behind enemy lines?"Satisfied with her emergency medical work, the Spartan leaned back. "Some of us get more bizarre a.s.signments."There were always rumors that Spartan soldiers were around, sneaking about and causing trouble. But then, people also blamed gremlins in the equipment for causing random, unexplained trouble. One didn't believe it. Spartans were like boogey-men to the Insurrectionists."You're after the navigation data too, huh?" Delgado realized, wondering if the navigation data was the whole reason they were here, or if they somehow had gotten abandoned in the Rubble.The ma.s.sive Spartan smiled. "If the Jackals get their claws on that chip everyone will suffer." She leaned forward and placed a small pin into his open hand. The gauntlet was surprisingly careful and precise as she folded his hand into a fist, the device inside it. "If you ever want to hand it over, just trigger this beacon, we'll come calling. We'll certainly protect it better than you're doing right now."Delgado shook his head. He didn't trust the Kig-Yar. But the UNSC was far from loved out here, too.She sighed. "A shame." She scooted back and picked up Senora Sies Senora Sies and tilted it in her hands to examine it. and tilted it in her hands to examine it.Delgado held his hand up, and she gave it back to him. "Nice piece.""My uncle spent three weeks on it," Delgado gasped. His side still hurt."He's talented.""He was."The Spartan c.o.c.ked her head, listening to her earpiece. "Your backup has arrived.""Wait." Delgado tried to stand, but gave that up the moment he shifted and felt the pain rush up through him. "Who are you?"The Spartan stood, looming over him. "My name is Adriana. Spartan One-One-One.""Ignatio Delgado." Delgado held up his hand again. "Thank you."Adriana shook his offered hand, carefully. "You're welcome, Mr. Delgado. Just remember this. I was not here, and I certainly did not help you. There are no Spartans going b.u.mp in the night. Understand?"Ignatio didn't, really. He was feeling quite dizzy. But he nodded anyway. It seemed prudent, sitting on the floor in front of this t.i.tan in her suit of armor.Very prudent."Well then, Mr. Delgado." Adriana let go of his hand and pulled her helmet back on. The voice that came out from the helmet sounded powerful and amplified. "Good-bye."She leapt up onto the nearest container, then thudded off, leaving Delgado to wait for his rescuers.

PART I.

CHAPTER ONE.

UNSC DESTROYER ARMAGEDDON'S EDGE, ARMAGEDDON'S EDGE, OUTER FRINGES, ECTa.n.u.s 45 SYSTEM.

Out of the cyrogenic darkness came a deep, crisp-sounding, but slightly amused voice. "Wakey, wakey, Professor."Jacob Keyes sat up and took his first deep breath. The gel mat underneath him flexed as he coughed out medical-tasting fluid from his lungs, gasping for a second breath of air in between the dry retching."Lieutenant," Keyes coughed, his lungs protesting at his insistence of talking before they'd had a chance to clear themselves out fully. "Lieutenant Jacob Keyes." In the cla.s.sroom he was Instructor Keyes, but back here on the deck he wanted the proper rank accorded. He'd worked hard to get there in the years before he'd been a.s.signed to teaching due to injuries.He sat inside a long pod, one of many laid out in a row. The rest of the crew of the Armageddon's Edge Armageddon's Edge were just starting to crawl out of their own pods. were just starting to crawl out of their own pods.The crew members helped each other out, cracking jokes as some violently coughed up the fluid that they had breathed in to prevent their bodies from being damaged by the cold of the frozen sleep. The on-duty officer squatted next to Keyes. A thin Navy lifer, Edgar Sykes was a pale man in his mid-fifties, with short-cropped gray hair and dark brown eyes that squinted with amus.e.m.e.nt at the chance to give Keyes some grief."How was your date with the Admiral's wife, Lieutenant? Lieutenant? Been a while since you were put on ice?" Been a while since you were put on ice?"Some of the other crew, already standing and pulling on clothes, glanced over with grins. Keyes had been in the cla.s.sroom too long; he didn't get the joke."I'm sorry?" Keyes asked. "The Admiral's wife?"Sykes pointed at the pod. "A frosty bed?"Oh, Keyes thought. That's what the crew called the pods now. They'd just been called "freezers" the last time he'd shipped out. "Not something you forget easily," Keyes rasped, rubbing his arms for warmth. The chill of the cryogenic pod permeated every last cell. Even worse than the chill, however, were the old injuries from his time on the Meriwether Lewis Meriwether Lewis that flared up. The deep gouging plasma burn to his thigh, the shattered-then-rebuilt hand that he clenched and then opened again. They had sidelined him, and kept him in front of wide-eyed noncommissioned officers, playing the role of a cla.s.sroom drill sergeant. that flared up. The deep gouging plasma burn to his thigh, the shattered-then-rebuilt hand that he clenched and then opened again. They had sidelined him, and kept him in front of wide-eyed noncommissioned officers, playing the role of a cla.s.sroom drill sergeant.He carefully shifted himself to the side of the pod. The injuries had healed enough over time. Enough that on most days, now, they were only a faded memory, a twinge when he tried a little too hard in the gym. But the freezer seemed to bring it out more.Sykes reached out a hand to help him as he noticed Keyes' careful movement. Keyes looked at the man. "You asking me out on a date?"That got a few chuckles from the crew. Sykes nodded. "Alright, Keyes. Welcome aboard Armageddon's Edge." Armageddon's Edge." He turned to the crew. "What the h.e.l.l do you think He turned to the crew. "What the h.e.l.l do you think you're all you're all looking at?" looking at?"Eyes darted back as the crew resumed their tasks, and the chatter faded.A smartly pressed gray uniform lay on the side of Keyes' pod. He pulled it on, checking to make sure the double silver bars signifying Lieutenant were clipped on.It felt good to be back in uniform, especially on deck.As time pa.s.sed from his service aboard the Meriwether Lewis Meriwether Lewis he felt that the chances of being involved on the bridge of a ship again were slipping further away from him. It stung. he felt that the chances of being involved on the bridge of a ship again were slipping further away from him. It stung.Still, at forty, Keyes made sure to get up early for his ten-mile run, and he hit the weight room at least three times a week. He was terrified of getting soft.He'd learned, back when the Meriwether Lewis Meriwether Lewis had been boarded, that it gave him an edge. Even if the edge today remained his ability to outrun his students in physical training, it was still useful in that it earned their respect. had been boarded, that it gave him an edge. Even if the edge today remained his ability to outrun his students in physical training, it was still useful in that it earned their respect.Service was service. If the Navy needed Lieutenant Jacob Keyes to serve out the next couple of decades teaching navigators how to fly their ships, then that was what they needed him for.Everyone had their place, their role to play.With the alien forces destroying planet after planet, with people giving their lives just to slow them down, Keyes felt there was no room for self-pity.He reserved those darker moments for thinking about things like his sister, out there on the Outer Colony of Dwarka. Wondering about her fate ever since the colony had gone silent, too far away for the UNSC to even try to defend.When he'd gotten the orders to leave Luna, he'd only taken the time to visit his daughter, Miranda. The last time he'd had orders to ship out somewhere he hadn't had family of his own. He was just an eager, young man. Now it felt like he had to tear himself away. He'd grown accustomed to picking her up every day and bringing her back to the small on-base apartment they shared.He'd kissed Miranda good-bye and let her know she'd have to stay at the dorms in her school, just like all the other children with family on duty.She was a good Navy kid-she actually perked up at the news and asked what ship he was flying out on.Someone cleared their throat behind Keyes. He turned to find a man standing there in full pilot's kit, helmet slung under one arm. The pilot saluted. "Good morning, sir. I'm Petty Officer Jeffries. I'm taking you dirtside."Keyes leaned forward and tugged at the pilot's bedraggled uniform. "I hope you don't fly as sloppy as you dress." Some ships, like the Armageddon's Edge, Armageddon's Edge, ran a little off kilter. Captain's prerogative. What mattered to many at command was their battle performance, and Keyes had heard the ran a little off kilter. Captain's prerogative. What mattered to many at command was their battle performance, and Keyes had heard the Edge Edge had limped back to Earth with pride for a full refit after it had paired with another ship to take out a Covenant Destroyer. had limped back to Earth with pride for a full refit after it had paired with another ship to take out a Covenant Destroyer.Still, Keyes felt it didn't hurt to make a point."Sir?""If you can't bother to fasten your b.u.t.tons, keep your insignia on straight, and follow procedure, why should I feel safe getting in your bird?""Sir, because my uniform doesn't have to drop soldiers off in hot zones. Sir."Keyes relented a little. "Okay, Jeffries. Let's see what you've got waiting for me."Petty Officer Jeffries approached a green, battle-scarred Pelican dropship squatting next to two others in the Armageddon's Edge's Armageddon's Edge's tight storage bay. The sides had been splashed and gouged by energy beams. Keyes followed the pilot as he walked under the high rear wings and engine nacelles up the ramp into the belly. tight storage bay. The sides had been splashed and gouged by energy beams. Keyes followed the pilot as he walked under the high rear wings and engine nacelles up the ramp into the belly.Jeffries walked past the webbing, storage bins, and the seats lining the walls to climb up into the c.o.c.kpit. "You can strap in behind me, sir." Jeffries said. "You don't have to ride back there. I don't want to get lonely on this trip. There's room under your feet for your kit bag."The ramp groaned as it slowly closed, the hold of the drop-ship darkening.Once it clanged shut and sealed, Jeffries tossed his helmet aside. "Don't have to stay airtight on this milk run. Not exactly leaping into combat today, are we?"No, thought Keyes, flashing back to the times he'd been in combat. They certainly weren't. Combat was men strapped shoulder to shoulder in the back, while you weaved and ducked a Pelican through anti-aircraft bursts. Your palms would be sweating and your breath heavy in the confined s.p.a.ce of your own helmet. Combat was when the c.o.c.kpit you were sitting in smelled of blood, and fear.Keyes clicked back to the present as Jeffries flicked and tapped the console in front of him, bringing the Pelican to life. In the copilot's seat Keyes kept an eye on things. Jeffries ran the systems check with a bewildering rapidity that could only come with practice and familiarity. There was a photo of a brunette with two boys taped to the side of the c.o.c.kpit window. Keyes pointed at it. "Your kids?""Yes sir. You have any?""A daughter," Keyes said.The four engines wound themselves up, a kick that shuddered through the entire frame of the Pelican."Gamma 54 to Armageddon's Edge, Armageddon's Edge, preflight check is green, systems nominal, flight plan filed. Permission to fly?" Jeffries sounded bored. preflight check is green, systems nominal, flight plan filed. Permission to fly?" Jeffries sounded bored."Gamma 54, hold tight for the trapdoor," came the breezy response from the bridge.The ship's bay doors opened to reveal the planet beneath. Thin, long clouds covered the unfamiliar green-and-brown-colored continental shapes. Keyes hadn't had time to read up much about his destination. He'd gotten his orders at lunch, and been bundled off and frozen in an Armageddon's Edge Armageddon's Edge cryogenic pod by dinner. cryogenic pod by dinner."What brings you out all the way from Luna to see the wonderful skies of Chi Rho, sir?" There wasn't a lot of room for a Pelican to move in the Armageddon's Edge's Armageddon's Edge's bay, but Jeffries gunned the four thrusters and the Pelican hopped up and forward, and then, just as abruptly, spun and dove through the bay doors. bay, but Jeffries gunned the four thrusters and the Pelican hopped up and forward, and then, just as abruptly, spun and dove through the bay doors.Jeffries was looking back over his shoulder at him, showing off that he could get out of the ship's bay without even paying attention. Keyes didn't give the pilot the satisfaction of a flinch. But Keyes was impressed. The dangerous stunt showed Jeffries could fly blind. And d.a.m.n well, too. "Orders, Petty Officer. Orders.""We go where they tell us, right?""You know it." Keyes glanced up through the shielded gla.s.s, catching a glimpse of the medium-sized ship that had taken him all the way from the home system. Craters pocked the ship's surface, and burn streaks crisscrossed the arrowhead-shaped nose of the ship. Despite a refit, the scars remained from the ship's last encounter.Armageddon's Edge dwindled away as Jeffries thundered them down in a long arc toward the atmosphere. The Pelican shook and shuddered as heat built up from atmospheric reentry. Streaks of glowing red filled the air. dwindled away as Jeffries thundered them down in a long arc toward the atmosphere. The Pelican shook and shuddered as heat built up from atmospheric reentry. Streaks of glowing red filled the air."Do you know if there are any training stations for patrol craft here, Jeffries?" Keyes asked suddenly.Jeffries checked a monitor, then glanced back. "Training stations? Here? Sir, Chi Rho is for repairs and drydocking. Support for the front line. There's no training out here. All you have to do is head out a few days and run into a Covenant long-range patrol-you'll get all the training you need.""I thought so." Keyes looked out through the red haze. Chi Rho was an Inner Colony world. Not as developed or as large as the mother planet, but still home to hundreds of millions of people on its primary continent and Earthlike surface.But Chi Rho was the closest Keyes had been in some time to that somewhat gray, invisible line where planets turned from the Inner Colonies to the Outer Colonies.With worlds scattered so far from each other, and travel being a long and sometimes dangerous affair, news traveled slowly, and most of it came through UNSC channels of late. Every citizen knew that the Covenant were slowly destroying human planets from orbit, world by world. Only the UNSC stood in their way, fighting for every b.l.o.o.d.y inch.And even the UNSC's official bulletins indicated that most of the Outer Colonies had been destroyed-gla.s.sed with incredibly powerful energy weapons, the likes of which the UNSC had never seen.Every day for the past nine years, since the first encounters with the aliens, the front line had moved closer to Chi Rho and the outer edge of the Inner Colonies.Keyes knew this was not where you trained green pilots.But his orders, strange as they were, said that he was to get out to Chi Rho at full speed for a training exercise.Even a follow-all-commands Navy lifer like Keyes knew the orders were a load of c.r.a.p. A cover for something else.And that something else might involve getting back aboard a ship, Keyes found himself daring to hope. Maybe even the recently patched up Armageddon's Edge. Armageddon's Edge.

CHAPTER TWO.

CHI RHO, ECTa.n.u.s 45 SYSTEM.

Jeffries dropped out of his flight plan pattern and came in low over a large park, the tops of the trees whipping about in the fury of engine backwash. Birds scattered in their wake, rising to the sky in flocks of green and blue.He angled the Pelican back, flaring the craft out for a spectacular, bone-jarring landing that had Keyes grabbing the arms of his chair. Again, Jeffries was showing off.The engines whined down as he cut them, and dirt slowly settled back to the ground. Keyes considered giving Jeffries a hard time for the unusual approach, then decided against it.He wasn't this man's bridge crew. Just let it go, he told himself."I'll be here waiting for you when you get back, sir." Jeffries said. "Taking you to your next location."Keyes unsnapped himself from the copilot's seat. "Where are we going next?""Don't know, sir," Jeffries said, twisting back. "My orders are to wait for you to come back, and presumably you'll know where we're going next."Keyes walked up to the front of the c.o.c.kpit and looked out the window. "What is all that?"Out around the dirt patch they'd landed in, rows and rows of small wooden stakes had been sunk into the ground. Beyond them, what looked like young stalks of corn poked up through the tilled soil.But right near the woods, which Keyes could tell had been recently cut down, a large sign proclaimed the area as the Bacigalupi Memorial Nature Preserve. Bacigalupi Memorial Nature Preserve."VictoryGardens," Jeffries said. "Victory Farms is more like it, I guess. Anywhere you can grow crops and food, no matter the surface, we're using it. The Outer Colonies used to grow most of the food, so we're experiencing shortages here. I'll drop the ramp for you."Keyes walked to the back of the Pelican as daylight filled the inside. The ramp lowered to reveal a Warthog waiting for him, along with a completely dust-covered and annoyed-looking private in olive camo, a battle rifle slung under one arm. The private looked tiny compared to the bulky, armored, oversized all-terrain vehicle. Keyes had always liked the Warthog's metal tusks on either side of the tow winch, which were ostensibly metal guards.The private saluted. "Lieutenant Keyes?"Keyes nodded. "That's me.""Private Tom Gerencer. I'm your ride the rest of the way, sir." The marine hopped into the driver's seat of the ma.s.sive vehicle. Keyes followed. "Sorry about the drop-off point, but our main sites are overrun by tent cities. Traffic's snarled, so it's more of a pain than it's worth. Better to drop you straight in.""Tent cities?" Keyes stared at the marine sitting next to him. Had things really gotten this bad? He felt like his stomach had been kicked. Keyes and his neighbors often shuttled to Earth to visit relatives or to enjoy some fine dining and sightseeing. Meanwhile out here large numbers of people were living hand to mouth. Was the UNSC censoring so much that not even a whiff of all this had reached Earth? They must have been. This was dire stuff.Gerencer nodded. He drove them down the dirt road, spinning the large, grippy balloon tires as he gunned the Warthog toward another dirt road through the preserve. "Outer Colony refugees, sir. They keep piling up at s.p.a.ceports. Nowhere for them to go. We've shut down arenas, parking lots, even whole streets for them. Running out of tents, food, and a lot of people are running out of patience. It's ugly out there, sir. I've pulled a shift or two patrolling.""Patrolling?" Keyes asked. "What's the UNSC doing police work for?""The refugees are a drain, sir. We're planning an extended battle here, a few surprises for the Covenant if... or when they arrive. With the refugees on the surface, they're just costing us food and sitting out here like targets. Every ration they get is a ration we won't have when holding the line. How long bra.s.s will put up with all this chaos out here, I don't know."They roared on past several ma.s.sive JOTUN robotic combines, and then into a gap in the wooded area around the recently created farmland."Almost there," Gerencer said as they bounced over ruts and gaps in the dirt.With a final roar the Warthog leapt out into a small ring of trees. The marine idled them over a well-worn patch of mud.The ground rumbled underneath, and the edges rose around them as they slowly moved down a long shaft."Welcome to CampPatmos, Lieutenant." Gerencer grinned. "From here we plan how to open up a can of whup-a.s.s on the Covenant every hour of every day."Rows of Warthogs lined a metal cavern wall. Lurking behind them in the shadows were the marines' tank units, looking like squashed but hulkingly armored four-legged spiders dominated by two pairs of fore and aft treads and a long cab at its core. The barrels of their long cannons pointed menacingly at Keyes. Any Covenant landing on Chi Rho were in for a fierce fight. There were enough Scorpion M808B Battle Tanks for a full division."Lieutenant Keyes!" A strong voice shouted. "How good to see you."Keyes let his eyes adjust as he peered deeper into the gloom of the oversized hanger. A doorway between a pair of Mongoose quad bikes spilled light, and someone stood in the doorframe.Keyes hopped out of the Warthog, right leg tingling slightly. He briskly walked over, and swallowed. Even on a silhouette, it was hard to miss three stars on a uniform. Keyes knew who this would be. Only one vice admiral on Chi Rho. A man who'd volunteered to come out to the front, and agreed to take on any colony defense, no matter long the odds."Vice Admiral Jean Mawikizi. Sir! It's an honor." Keyes snapped a smart salute. Mawikizi had fought intense lost battles on three planets, getting lifted off each one under protest as they were being gla.s.sed.The stringy, yet short, dark-skinned Mawikizi returned the salute with a smile. "I pulled some serious strings to haul you out here this quick, Keyes." He held the door open for Keyes, and it banged shut behind them once the lieutenant stepped through. "Walk with me."The rough rock-tunneled corridor stretched out in front of them. Mawikizi led Keyes down past offices, shouldering past privates and officers who stood to attention as he walked by.Keyes glanced off down a subcorridor, seeing barracks in the distance. All well below ground, and recently constructed. Mawikizi spotted his glance. "They yanked me out of retirement in Burundi to run a battle fleet that's been getting pushed back almost every day. I'm drawing the line for that group here on Chi Rho. A last stand. We're burrowing down as deep as we can. They're going to have to come on down and flush us out man by man.""Sir, what about the refugees? And the gardens? I never imagined it was this bad."Mawikizi opened the door to his offices. "It's that bad. We've ordered local colonists to share the burden, but they believe the refugees had their chance to fight and survive. They're happy to give them land, but the locals here come from survivors of what used to be a rough planet. No handouts, just self-sufficient families spread out across the continents. They're not thrilled about being ordered to share... it's not their culture. Been some dust-ups, so we can't trust locals or refugees to police. We're trying to figure out where to move them to before the Covenant attacks. And before they get too comfortable here."The vice admiral's offices had windows and a balcony that looked out over a ma.s.sive shaft leading deeper into the ground. No doubt at the bottom Pelicans and other support craft lay stored, waiting to spiral up and out into battle when needed. "But when will the attack come? That's the question. The Covenant started gla.s.sing planets nine years ago. They could hit us next month, or another couple years down the road. In some ways, Lieutenant Keyes, we're all dead men walking and we know it."The outer offices were filled with the hum of smooth-working administration-privates murmuring into headsets, officers poring over holographic battle readouts; this was the center for a lot of frontier decisions.Keyes threaded past desks to the inner office, and the hum of activity disappeared with the thick blast-proof door creaking to a thud as Mawikizi shut it."Keyes, this is Commander Dmitri Zheng."Zheng, waiting by the conference table in the corner of the vice admiral's office, stood up and shook Keyes' hand. He was taller than Keyes, with sharp cheekbones, piercing gray eyes, and a shaved head. He looked about the same age as Keyes."Zheng's a frigate man, just coming forward to the front." The vice admiral sounded tired, Keyes thought. Five years of being back at the top must have worn him out. The man looked gaunt as he sat down at the small conference table. "Okay, gentlemen, let's get down to business."Mawikizi opened a letter-sized envelope and slid the contents across the table to Keyes. "Every shipboard Navy CO has to read this. It just went out recently. The order is spreading around to all vessels and all UNSC as we speak." Keyes pulled a plastic sheet out and read it.

United Nations s.p.a.ce Command Emergency Priority Order 098831A-1Encryption Code : RedPublic Key: FILE /FIRST LIGHT/From: UNSC/NAVCOM Fleet H. T. WardTo: ALL UNSC PERSONNELSubject: General Order 098831A-1 ("The Cole Protocol")Cla.s.sification: RESTRICTED (BGX Directive) The Cole ProtocolTo safeguard the Inner Colonies and Earth, all UNSC vessels or stations must not be captured with intact navigation databases that may lead covenant forces to human civilian population centers.

If any Covenant forces are detected:1. Activate selective purge of databases on all ship-based and planetary data networks .2. Initiate triple-screen check to insure all data has been erased and all backups neutralized.3. Execute viral data scavengers (Download from UNSCTTP://EPWW:COLEPROTOCOL/Virtualscav/fbr.091)4. If retreating from Covenant forces, all ships must enter Slipstream s.p.a.ce with randomized vectors NOT directed toward Earth, the Inner Colonies, or any other human population center.5. In case of imminent capture by Covenant forces, all UNSC ships MUST self-destruct.Violation of this directive will be considered an act of TREASON, and pursuant to UNSC Military Law articles JAG 845-P and JAG 7556-L, such violations are punishable by life imprisonment or execution.

Keyes looked back up at Mawikizi. "Admiral Cole thinks we're taking some serious. .h.i.ts." He thought for a second and realized that since Cole's major victory at the Battle of Harvest four years ago, there'd been no big victories."The order is spreading throughout the UNSC. Keeping Inner Colony and Earth locations secret has become a top priority, particularly here near the front. And that, Lieutenant Keyes, is where you come in."I sat in on the board when they sidelined you. I voted for you to stay on your ship. I am most sorry about the medical disqualification from active duty.""So am I, sir." Keyes ma.s.saged his leg."It is a waste to me, just a waste, to leave you in a cla.s.sroom back on Luna. You are a good tactician, Keyes. I have read your papers and looked at your training. More important, you charged boarders on the Meriwether Lewis Meriwether Lewis with nothing more than a pistol and a barbaric yawp. I like that, Keyes. You stand strong when you need to." with nothing more than a pistol and a barbaric yawp. I like that, Keyes. You stand strong when you need to.""Thank you, sir." Keyes was still waiting to hear what came next. A rush of adrenaline was building. He might be getting back on a ship!At the least, maybe a staff position advising fleet movements and strategy on Vice Admiral Mawikizi's team. He'd have to move Miranda out from Luna to a closer Inner Colony. Not here, too close to the front, but close enough he could easily visit her on leave."So, we have an offer for you, Keyes." Mawikizi glanced over at Commander Zheng, who'd been watching the exchange in silence.Zheng tapped a b.u.t.ton hidden in the table and a scale model of a frigate flickered into existence in front of the three men. Like any other frigate it looked like a bulky rifle with its magazine removed. Only one with two barrels, one on top of each other in front.Unlike the dull gun-metal gray of most, this frigate was midnight black. Toward the bow, the numerals FFG-209 had been overlayed by the computer. Farther back, near the center, was the frigate's name: Midsummer Night. Midsummer Night."She's a light frigate." Zheng stated the obvious. "With a few tricks up her sleeves." A faint smile cracked his stony exterior as he said that."Night is a long-range stealth ship," Mawikizi said. "Like a Prowler, but she packs more of a punch." is a long-range stealth ship," Mawikizi said. "Like a Prowler, but she packs more of a punch.""But it's frigate-slow," Zheng finished. "She also has the ability to deliver a large complement of marines and orbital-drop shock troopers, giving her a wider variety of mission abilities.""Which will come in handy," said a fourth voice from behind them. Keyes twisted in his chair, surprised that they'd been snuck up on so easily."Major Akio Watanabe, of the Prowler Corps. ONI," Zheng introduced the addition.Keyes hadn't heard the door open. But then, that was a spook for you. The Office of Naval Intelligence didn't believe in announcing themselves to the world; they really liked sneaking up on people.A point of professional pride, no doubt.Keyes still found it creepy and annoying.Watanabe slid into a vacant chair. He wore long sleeves and a high-collared form of gray uniform. His dark black eyes seemed to look through people into the distance. "I arrived... just in time, I see." He looked around. "I take it, Vice Admiral, our agreement is still in effect?"Mawikizi looked truly disgruntled. He sighed. "I stand by my word, Major Watanabe."Zheng tapped a b.u.t.ton, and the scale hologram of the Midsummer Night Midsummer Night faded away. "The ship begins her shakedown cruise today, Lieutenant Keyes. We'll be helping enforce the Cole Protocol for the first three days, getting a feel for the ship." faded away. "The ship begins her shakedown cruise today, Lieutenant Keyes. We'll be helping enforce the Cole Protocol for the first three days, getting a feel for the ship."Zheng turned to Watanabe. The major nodded. "After that, there will be sealed orders for the bridge crew that will be available to me after the quick shakedown cruise."Keyes frowned and turned to the Admiral. "Sir, we'll be working for ONI?"Mawikizi pursed his lips. "Only initially. A professional exchange for helping us stealth the frigate.""It'll be a brief mission," Watanabe promised. He glanced at Zheng, who'd folded his arms. "Then I'll be out of your hair and you and the vice admiral can play with your new little toy."Keyes looked over at Mawikizi. The old Burundian looked like he'd found bird c.r.a.p on his freshly polished staff car. Then he looked at Keyes and grinned. "Zheng and I'd like you to be on the bridge. We're planning for very long recon and long-range Covenant hara.s.sment, taking down targets of opportunity, and just causing general h.e.l.l. We want you because of your excellence in long-range navigation and your tactical skills, as we'll be using the Night Night in ways frigates aren't usually used. We need someone who can really work with Zheng to think outside the box." in ways frigates aren't usually used. We need someone who can really work with Zheng to think outside the box.""How long-range?""Very," Mawikizi repeated. "I know you have family, but we don't have a lot of time for you to make a decision."Keyes leaned forward. "I won't lie to you, sir," he muttered. "It's a hard thing to ask me to leave my daughter." Raising Miranda had been the brightest point of being stuck in the Academy.Now that he was faced with a potential position on a ship, Keyes wondered if he'd just been focusing on what he couldn't have, and not on what he really had."I know," Mawikizi said. "I know.""On the other hand, defending our worlds from the Covenant is the best form of fathering I can think of," Keyes finished. "I'd be honored to serve aboard the Midsummer Night. Midsummer Night. Thank you for giving me the option." Technically they didn't have to ask. It had been a courtesy because he was medaled and taken off the line. Thank you for giving me the option." Technically they didn't have to ask. It had been a courtesy because he was medaled and taken off the line.They'd made a good choice. There was a lot more bite left in this dog, Keyes thought."I have one favor to ask, if I may," Keyes continued. "The Pelican pilot who flew me here. I'd like him transferred to the Midsummer Night Midsummer Night."Commander Zheng looked at Vice Admiral Mawikizi, who shrugged. "I don't see why not. You know the pilot?""Never met him before. But he's a h.e.l.l of a flyer and if we're going to be doing unorthodox missions, he might come in handy. His name is Jeffries.""Consider it done." Mawikizi stood up, as did Keyes and Zheng, then finally Watanabe. The vice admiral shook Keyes' hand. "Glad to have you aboard, Lieutenant.""Thrilled to be aboard, sir."And he was, Keyes realized. Thrilled to be back on the line.

Jeffries waited for him, his legs propped up on the controls of the Pelican. When he heard Keyes board the dropship he sat up. "Know where we're going, sir?"Keyes smiled as he stepped up behind the pilot's chair, looking at the Warthog that had dropped him off barreling away down the fields. "Yes, Mr. Jeffries, I do. Hail Midsummer Night. Midsummer Night. They'll give you coordinates." They'll give you coordinates.""Yes, sir.""Also, do you know anything about Commander Dmitri Zheng?""Zheng?" Jeffries thought for a second. "He's been all over the rumornet lately. He was from one of the Outer Colonies. Captained a frigate for a short while.""A short while?" Keyes didn't like the sound of that."He rammed a Covenant destroyer.""Sometimes that's the only option you have...""That was after after he'd been ordered to retreat. The only reason he wasn't court-martialed was because he disabled it long enough for another ship to finish it off with a MAC. They fished him out of the debris." he'd been ordered to retreat. The only reason he wasn't court-martialed was because he disabled it long enough for another ship to finish it off with a MAC. They fished him out of the debris."Keyes mulled that over. He was going to be serving with this man. Maybe he shouldn't have jumped to saying "yes" so quickly."You know why he did it, sir?" Jeffries continued. "Rumor has it he's mad with grief. Covenant burned his home world, while he was out on a patrol, seven years ago. Never been the same since.""Okay, that's enough," Keyes said. The conversation was sliding into innuendo; he didn't need to be poisoned against his future commanding officer. There'd be plenty of time to get to know Zheng once aboard. And maybe this was why Keyes had been called back in, to add a bit of strategy and calm into Zheng's style. "Oh, and one more thing, Mr. Jeffries?""Sir?""When you fly me, a commanding officer, out of a military installation, you will will follow the flight plan you were given. Failure to do so, including dropping out of radar range near tree level, means they have every right to swat you out of the sky like a bug. We are, after all, on a world near the front. You yourself indicated that to me." The steel in his voice surprised even him. "In the event that we were to be shot down for violating the flight plan, I would personally hunt you down from beyond the grave, soldier, and make your life a miserable thing to behold. Do you get me, soldier?" follow the flight plan you were given. Failure to do so, including dropping out of radar range near tree level, means they have every right to swat you out of the sky like a bug. We are, after all, on a world near the front. You yourself indicated that to me." The steel in his voice surprised even him. "In the event that we were to be shot down for violating the flight plan, I would personally hunt you down from beyond the grave, soldier, and make your life a miserable thing to behold. Do you get me, soldier?"Jeffries kept his gaze dead ahead through the windshield. "Yes sir.""Lastly, you will will don your full flight gear. Were this Pelican to be holed, while don your full flight gear. Were this Pelican to be holed, while I I might be gasping for air, I fully expect you to be able to fulfill your mission-even if your mission is as meaningless as being my personal, full-time chauffeur. We clear, Jeffries?" might be gasping for air, I fully expect you to be able to fulfill your mission-even if your mission is as meaningless as being my personal, full-time chauffeur. We clear, Jeffries?""Crystal, sir."Keyes clipped himself into the copilot's chair and listened to the Pelican's engines warm up. He was bridge crew on a stealth ship, with a mystery mission from the ONI in three days.It was good to be back."All right, Mr. Jeffries, take this bird up."Keyes leaned back in his chair, enjoying the sensation of thrust. Three days to shake out the frigate and chase civilians to enforce the Cole Protocol seemed straightforward enough. A nice way to ease back into ship life.

CHAPTER THREE.

OAKS CENTRAL HABITAT, THE RUBBLE, 23 LIBRAE.

Ignatio Delgado walked slowly toward his copilot's funeral dressed in a full suit, a tie uncomfortably snug around his neck. The painful plasma burns on his torso still hurt but he felt compelled to attend.The parks existed on the inside of a hollowed-out asteroid; look up and you were looking down on the treetops of the other side of the park.Maria Esquival intercepted him near a grove of tiny trees."Hey, Nacho." She grabbed his hand. Only Maria called him by that nickname, because only Maria knew him from back when he was a grubby little kid running around the surface of Madrigal. Back then she'd been a sc.r.a.ppy tomboy from just down the street with her hair pulled back in a functional pony-tail. "You really shouldn't be here.""He was my best friend."Maria squeezed his hand. "I know. But they still don't want you here. You have to respect his family's wishes."In the distance, the Hollister family had their backs to him. All dressed in black, surrounding a small urn, they were adding his ashes to the ground near one of the trees that gave the habitat its name.They blamed Delgado for Melko's death. The copilot had succ.u.mbed to his wounds before anyone had gotten to Distancia. Distancia. An unnecessary death, his family thought. They could care less about protecting the data that led back to Earth. They'd fought for self-rule from among the depths of this system for generations. Let the aliens have Earth, let it burn. They didn't care. An unnecessary death, his family thought. They could care less about protecting the data that led back to Earth. They'd fought for self-rule from among the depths of this system for generations. Let the aliens have Earth, let it burn. They didn't care."Come on," Maria said, guiding him away."Do you you think he died in vain?" Delgado asked. think he died in vain?" Delgado asked.Maria kept moving him along. "It's not for me to say, Nacho. But I've known both of you long enough to know that you both stood by each other to do what you each thought was right. So pay them no attention. They're grieving."Maria had been with Delgado when their parents had rushed them to the large fields outside Nueva Lima, bundling them aboard a fat cargo ship as their crying parents told them they'd be on the next ship following them.They'd been crammed into the hold with all the other scared children, trying to figure out what was happening. Delgado had been fourteen. Maria had been planning her quinceahera. quinceahera.They'd held each other when the air outside turned white-hot, and the cargo ship shook and rattled. And when it had reached orbit, the shocked pilot's voice filled the hold, telling them that the entire surface of Madrigal had been "gla.s.sed."All because of the war between the UNSC and the Covenant.They strolled along, heading toward a man, who appeared to be waiting for them by one of the habitat's famous large oak trees. His dark eyes taking in the funeral in the distance. He wore casual overalls, and a cap.Maria stopped. "My brother needs to talk to you, though he refuses to tell me about what.""Don't take it so personally, Maria. It's council business."Nine Security Council members were voted into position by the citizens of the Rubble. They handled the entire structure's defenses, along with the AI Juliana.Diego and the Council had chosen Delgado and Melko on short notice to protect the navigation when the Nav data started disappearing. With their years of piloting cargo throughout the Rubble, they knew it all inside and out. The council felt secrecy was their best option. With their volunteer defense forces and open nature, trying to put the chip under iron-tight guard would raise attention and create a big target.But after this latest mishap, Delgado was convinced someone on the Council was leaking the location."You slumming it, Diego?" This was not the usual, tightly tailored man that Delgado expected.Diego grimaced. "Keeping a low profile, Ignatio." He kissed his sister on the cheek, and she left the copse of trees to walk alone across the manicured gra.s.s toward the funeral."What do you need?" Delgado finally asked, watching Maria."You seem convinced that someone on the Security Council is leaking information about the location of the navigation data. You've been sniffing around, kicking up attention, trying to figure it out." Diego started walking out from the park toward the large airlocks at the end of Oaks Central Habitat. "When we decided to use you to move the data, and keep it safe, we were figuring on your keeping a low profile. That was the whole d.a.m.n point, Ignatio.""Someone is leaking it," Delgado said. "Those Jackals knew exactly where it was. This was the second time they made a play to get at it, and they were d.a.m.n close. If I hadn't decided to move the data earlier than the date I gave the Security Council, those Jackals would have had it. You know, whoever leaked that murdered Melko. And I want them to pay." is leaking it," Delgado said. "Those Jackals knew exactly where it was. This was the second time they made a play to get at it, and they were d.a.m.n close. If I hadn't decided to move the data earlier than the date I gave the Security Council, those Jackals would have had it. You know, whoever leaked that murdered Melko. And I want them to pay."They pa.s.sed by the giant rolling axle of the join between the docking tubes and the asteroid's slow-spinning hub."I understand what you're doing, Ignatio. But the only people who knew where the navigation data was are the Security Council members. To suggest that one of us leaked it is serious.""I know that," Delgado said as they walked into a ma.s.sive, clear tube. From here they could see other asteroids connected to Oak Park. The connected structures faded off into the distance like a giant's tinker toy set.Artificial gravity faded away, and the two men grabbed the railings running along the tube as they hung in the air. In the center of the docking tube, pods zipped along with goods and pa.s.sengers moving from rocky habitat to habitat. "A lot of people wouldn't mind handing over the chart data to the Kig-Yar. They're offering us power, money, and Covenant technology for it.""And what about you, Diego?" Delgado asked. "You in favor of that?"Diego slowed down and came to a stop in the busy tube. He looked off at the looming orb of the gas giant Hesiod in the distance. "I think that if we hand over the chart data, our usefulness to the Kig-Yar is over. That's why I've worked so hard to keep the data concealed. That's why I asked you to help me do it. Most of the Council agrees.""Most?" Delgado seized on the word. Diego was being surprisingly moderate for an old Insurrectionist.Diego handed him a cigar, letting it hang in the air thanks to the lack of artificial gravity. Delgado looked down. "A Sweet William? I didn't realize there were any left.""A Council member gave me one of these. Hinted around that he could get me more, said he had a smuggling operation out of Charybdis IX with one of his ships. He says that the UNSC Navy has been getting ready to crack down on slips.p.a.ce jumps by citizens. They want everything to be militarized." Diego practically spat the last word. "This Council member has been shipping weapons of some sort he purchased from the Covenant for brother Insurrectionists back in the colonies, but he's worried that whatever is destroying the navigation data throughout the Rubble may get to him. He wants to give it to the Kig-Yar before something happens. He claims he's making his last smuggling trip now. Afterwards, he wants to give the Kig-Yar his ship, and the navigation data aboard it. I'm getting this secondhand, but it looks like he's trying to bribe a majority Council vote for selling the navigation data.""You're going to let that happen?""I had Juliana hunt for a likely candidate among recent ship activity." Diego smiled referring to the Rubble's AI. "She came up with one. The ship's name was Kestrel. Kestrel. It is the only known ship that could still be in the colonies and able to make it back. It hasn't returned to dock, as far as we can tell. All our other smuggling ships have been destroyed, or had their data erased. We're truly cut off from the rest of humanity." It is the only known ship that could still be in the colonies and able to make it back. It hasn't returned to dock, as far as we can tell. All our other smuggling ships have been destroyed, or had their data erased. We're truly cut off from the rest of humanity.""Your Council member could have been lying; he could have just found some boxes of Sweet Williams.""Maybe," Diego said. "But Juliana thinks the Kestrel Kestrel is our ship." is our ship.""So what do you want me to do?" Delgado handed the cigar back by b.u.mping it back through the air at Diego."Find out more about the Kestrel, Kestrel, Ignatio. See if they were really working for a Council member. Find out if they've snuck back into the Rubble. Because if you can connect them to our Council member, then I can move against him. There are better things to be trading for those weapons. Like... medicine instead of d.a.m.ned cigars." Diego crushed the cigar, and the pieces of tobacco flakes hung in the air between them. "And since I'm giving you this lead, please work hard to keep it quiet." Ignatio. See if they were really working for a Council member. Find out if they've snuck back into the Rubble. Because if you can connect them to our Council member, then I can move against him. There are better things to be trading for those weapons. Like... medicine instead of d.a.m.ned cigars." Diego crushed the cigar, and the pieces of tobacco flakes hung in the air between them. "And since I'm giving you this lead, please work hard to keep it quiet.""I can do that." Delgado brushed the crushed cigar out of the air between them. "What's his name?"Diego sighed. He looked very reluctant to be giving out a name of a fellow Security Council member. Maybe he was having second thoughts. He turned and looked out of the tube. The entire collection of tubes and asteroids housed the remains of Madrigal's proud colony: its people.It was called the Rubble because that's what it had once been. Detritus, rubble, rocks, and slag left over from the creation of the solar system, trailing the gas giant Hesiod."You've done a lot for me, Diego, I appreciate everything," Delgado said. Diego had taken in both Maria and Delgado when they arrived those years ago, after Madrigal was destroyed. Diego had joined the Insurrectionists years before Madrigal was gla.s.sed, and he'd been the only person waiting for them after they'd fled the planet. Delgado owed Diego a lot. But before everything changed, Diego planted bombs in pa.s.senger ships, s.p.a.ceports, and on stations. He'd smuggled and pirated, and everything that implied. Delgado always felt a sense of awkwardness, accepting what his hard-working parents, had they lived, would have called blood money. There was a tension in his friendship with Diego. But then, maybe that wasn't fair. Since the fall of Madrigal, Diego had thrown himself at the idea of the Rubble. Delgado changed the tone of his words. "So please give me the name. I won't kill the man. I'll bring him to justice. We're not the rabble we used to be, we've changed since the Fall of Madrigal."Back then, the Rubble had just been a ma.s.sive Insurrectionist military base, quartered and scattered throughout the asteroids trailing the gas giant in a trojan orbit.But in short time, using s.p.a.ceships, raw materials, and anything they could lay their hands on that hadn't been destroyed by the Covenant, they'd built the Rubble that they were now looking out on. It was something to be proud of."I know." Diego turned back to him. "Doesn't make it easier. The man you're looking to link the Kestrel Kestrel to is Peter Bonifacio." to is Peter Bonifacio."Delgado looked down the length of the tube. Bonifacio did a lot of smuggling back before the Covenant gla.s.sed Madrigal. Now he was reduced to occasional sneaks back to the Inner Colonies, though even those trips had become too dangerous as he lost ship after ship to both UNSC and Covenant forces. Delgado had moved stuff from asteroid to asteroid for the man, who always paid late. How he'd managed to get on the ballot to be voted onto the Security Council Delgado had never understood."Consider it done," Delgado said. Halfway around the clear tube a series of streamlined transit cars sped up, moving pa.s.sengers inside from one habitat to another on a maglev track. "Good. Thank you. And Delgado? You'll need to be careful." Delgado nodded. The two men shook hands, and then floated to go off their separate ways. Diego with sadness in his eyes. Delgado with fire and vengeance.

CHAPTER FOUR.

OUTER FRINGES, ECTa.n.u.s 45 SYSTEM.

Keyes rode the copilot's seat as Jeffries expertly guided a Pelican full of orbital-drop shock troopers into the inky depths of s.p.a.ce between the Midsummer Night Midsummer Night and the tattered-looking civilian cargo hauler and the tattered-looking civilian cargo hauler Finnegan's Wake. Finnegan's Wake.Finnegan's Wake had been slowly edging its way toward the periphery of the Ecta.n.u.s 45 outer system ever since it left Chi Rho, getting ready for a jump. Zheng had shadowed the freighter long enough to make sure it wasn't an in-system trip. had been slowly edging its way toward the periphery of the Ecta.n.u.s 45 outer system ever since it left Chi Rho, getting ready for a jump. Zheng had shadowed the freighter long enough to make sure it wasn't an in-system trip.It wasn't. The ship, unaware it was being followed, had headed off well clear of this system's ecliptic plane.A surprise shot across the bows from the Midsummer Night Midsummer Night convinced them to not try accelerating and to allow convinced them to not try accelerating and to allow Midsummer Night Midsummer Night to match speed so they could sling the Pelican over. to match speed so they could sling the Pelican over.Jeffries came in nice and easy, pa.s.sing over the hull to the other side of the civilian ship and then slipping the Pelican into the cargo ship's hold."Check your equipment!" the ODST platoon commander Canfield shouted. "Look sharp."In the Pelican's hold ODSTs stirred, unclipped their safety belts, and lined up. They'd been bugging Zheng about not getting a chance to board the previous three civilian ships the Midsummer Night Midsummer Night had stopped, so the commander had finally agreed to let them get some action in. had stopped, so the commander had finally agreed to let them get some action in."They're still running a check on the ship's registry," Can-field called out from the back. "But we're ready to rock, sir.""Sure you don't want to wait for their full report, First Lieutenant?" Keyes asked.Keyes kicked himself for the rookie att.i.tude he'd had just forty-eight hours ago, when he'd thought he had an easy three days ahead of him. True, this was a shakeout, prior to a real-live mission with possible action thanks to the ONI spook and his mysterious sealed orders.But that hadn't stopped one exploding pipe and a radiation leak, and several crew from ending up in the infirmary. Two of the point guns on the starboard hull were out. A number of on/off magnets on the MAC, in essence a railgun, were failing, preventing them from getting the full power of the ma.s.sive cannon.The Finnegan's Wake Finnegan's Wake didn't know it, but at the moment, thanks to a partially shut-down reactor that the engineers were working on, they could've easily outrun the didn't know it, but at the moment, thanks to a partially shut-down reactor that the engineers were working on, they could've easily outrun the Midsummer Night. Midsummer Night."h.e.l.l no, sir, I'm all for going in," Canfield said. He vibrated with energy. Keyes had a feeling Canfield wanted some action, and now. He'd have to keep an eye on him, make sure Canfield didn't get overly rough with some civilian."Okay, Canfield, let's get this show on the road, then." Keyes unclipped from his seat, and Canfield stepped forward, waiting for his cue. Keyes nodded at him. Time to give the civvies something to gape at. Impress upon them the absolute seriousness seriousness that the UNSC was taking about the Cole Protocol. And that included sending an officer to oversee the boarding. that the UNSC was taking about the Cole Protocol. And that included sending an officer to oversee the boarding.Canfield spat chew out on the grated floor of the Pelican and shouted, "Lock and load h.e.l.ljumpers!"Keyes turned to the c.o.c.kpit. "Drop the ramp, Mr. Jeffries. Hard and quick, as long as it's clear.""Dropping the ramp, sir."The ODSTs of the 105th, or h.e.l.ljumpers as they were also called, clad in black vacuum-rated armor, mirror-faced helmets and all, streamed out. They scattered through the hold of the freighter and its containers, picking targets. They were quick and quiet, with no chatter, and focused on the whole process.Keyes strode down the ramp into a canyon between the containers. He glanced in through the tough, scratched window of one of them. Nothing to see but labeled boxes.The captain of the freighter and three of his crew stood with their arms folded at the edge of their bay, watching the ODSTs."Sir, are you the captain of this ship?" Keyes asked.The ascetic man nodded a shock of blond hair. "We did nothing wrong. We've made the jump to-"Keyes held up a hand. "You