Cyberpunk: Spartan Walker

This way, please, Gillis said. After shaking his hand, he led them through a narrow corridor.

Twenty-seven years ago, the Master Chief and his team successfully completed the mission, although they did not have the Thunder Hammer armor. It had not been developed at that time, so no one here would know that John and Fred were members of the team that robbed the former governor of the base - the traitor Colonel Watts. But Gillis's guards stared at John as if they knew everything.

When Tommy stepped into the corridor, Ellie told him: This corridor was taken from a UNSC cargo ship. It was stripped from it and reinforced with a partition every ten meters. It has good air tightness and is solid. This place Can withstand heavy blows without deforming.”

It's also a good place for an ambush, Tommy said. If he were wearing armor at this time, he could use the motion detector to keep an eye on whether he was being followed. But then he remembered that his armor's motion detector had been damaged during the battle to defend the Justice, and no suitable parts had been replaced until now.

They were taken to a circular room. Half the opposite wall was retracted, revealing a crimson velvet drapery. The curtain was slowly pulled back to reveal a half-meter-thick window overlooking the asteroid belt. A group of rocks outside seemed to be dancing a gentle ballet, tumbling, spinning, colliding with each other and then slowly bouncing away.

Several men brought in a long table, spread silk cloth over it, and smoothed it out. Then, a group of women walked in with silver plates filled with fruits, steaming meats and chocolates; some of them were holding a dozen glass bottles, some of the spirits sloshing in them were as yellow as amber, and some were Some are red like gems, while others are clear and transparent. They all glanced at Tommy in unison.

Cushioned chairs were also brought in for them. Please. Gillis gestured to Halsey and pulled out a seat for her. Relax and sit down.

The Chief took a seat by the door, where he could see the room. After making sure the corridor was empty, Fred closed the door tightly.

Tommy checks to see if there is anyone hiding behind the curtain, or if there is surveillance equipment installed, or if there is a secret passage.

Ellie? he asked in a low voice from behind the curtain.

It seems safe, she said. I didn't detect anything. The walls are half a meter thick A-type titanium alloy armor.

Tommy sat next to the general and whispered to him: We are not in danger.

Dr. Halsey finally sat down in the chair provided for her and smoothed her skirt. Gillis gently pushed her chair to the edge of the table and offered a plate of round strawberries, which the doctor declined politely.

Tommy unceremoniously picked up a strawberry and bit it. Delicious, he commented, keeping his eyes on Gillis.

Gillis tilted his head uncomfortably. Our hydroponics facility—

With all due respect, Lord Governor, we don't have time for idle chatter, General Whitcomb said. The clock is ticking, and you may not realize how fast it is ticking.

Gillis sighed and sat down in a seat covered with gold leaf and black velvet. He raised his legs and put them on one of the armrests of the seat, crossing his hands behind his head. I'm listening with all my attention, General.

Okay, Whitcomb said, frowning at Gillis' disregard for the gravity of their predicament. General Whitcomb explained things clearly to him in concise and easy-to-understand words: the fall of Reach, the Covenant's search for an alien crystal, the chase and battle in the slip space, and the radiation that is difficult to determine. Will guide the Covenant through slip space. Find here.

As he spoke, Gillis put his feet back on the floor, his relaxed expression gradually turning serious. He leaned forward and leaned his elbows on the table, his comfortable smile slowly shrinking into a sad look.

Bloody Eliza! he yelled, waving a glass bottle off the table to the ground. The glass shattered, a crisp sound echoed in the room, red brandy splashed on the hardwood floor, and the rich aroma of raspberries and the woody aroma of the brandy immediately filled the room - but this did not make the atmosphere any better.

Tommy's hand was on the trousers where the M6D pistol was hidden. John and Fred immediately aimed at Gillis, but the general raised his hand to stop him.

'Bloody Eliza' is the patron saint of the vacuum. Ellie explained for Tommy in a timely manner, Widely revered by civilian pilots.

My guess, the general told Gillis, is that we have less than a day before they come for us.

So, Gillis said slowly, suppressing his anger, what do you suggest I do?

That's very simple, Lord Governor. You can help us, or you can find a way to kill me and my team members, and then take our spaceship to the black market to sell it for a good price. They will allow you to make a large profit. If the Covenant If you live long enough to earn your money back.

The general grabbed a glass bottle and poured a glass of wine, took a sip, and nodded appreciatively, Okay, if your wit is better than the artificial intelligence on our spacecraft - I doubt this - and if you catch up with us The AI ​​somehow destroyed the weapons on our ship before blowing your base to dust - which I also doubt - and then you're pitted against a Covenant fleet. I guess. They're not that easy to talk to. So sit down, have a drink, and let's discuss this like gentlemen.

Gillis put his face in his hands and began rubbing his temples.

Maybe you are thinking, the general said, your base has not been discovered for a long time. It has escaped the UNSC, it has escaped the Covenant, why can't it escape this time? But you have to know, we found it easily To find you, I think the Covenant will dig through every rock in this asteroid belt without batting an eye.

Governor Gillis picked up another bottle of wine, poured a full glass, and then drank it in one gulp. What about the other options? he asked coldly, I help you? Let's fight against the Covenant together? If they invade in a big way like you said, what's the difference between fighting or not fighting?

The general was silent, and Tommy knew it was his turn to speak: If you help us repair the ship so we can jump to Earth, I will take all your people away from here and guarantee you and your personnel amnesty. Tommy took out his identification card from his breast pocket and showed it to Gillis, I guarantee you as a colonel of the Military Intelligence Agency. If you know enough about the UNSC, you should understand the weight of my words.