Cyberpunk: Spartan Walker

Today is really great. I met a senior agent from the Military Intelligence Agency. Gillis laughed, and the warm smile filled his face again, and then he asked: Then what evidence do you have to prove this? Thing: The mighty planet Reach has fallen, do you have a mysterious alien crystal, or are the Covenant on their way here?

Tommy, they're coming! Ellie suddenly exclaimed in the earphone, A Covenant cruiser is approaching us quickly on the third planet in Eridanus!

We've got company. Tommy said, striding to the window and opening the curtain with a clatter, pointing outside, There!

The engines of the Covenant shined with dazzling blue light, and the spacecraft with a beast-like outline adjusted its direction and accelerated towards the asteroid belt.

That's the evidence you want, Lord Governor! General Whitcomb roared.

****

2000 hours, September 12, 2552, military calendar (corrected date)

Somewhere in the constellation Eridanus, aboard the combination ship Gettysburg-Infinite Justice.

All personnel are on board, Cortana reported.

Okay, Cortana, Case said, Lieutenant Dominic, notify the entire crew to enter combat alert.

The atmosphere on the bridge of the Infinite Justice began to become frenzied, and the orange lights kept flashing. Although the officers all had thick dark circles under their eyes - they had not had much rest since they escaped from the halo. This ship The huge battleship alone is far from enough - but with the stimulation of adrenaline, they can cheer up again.

Cortana's figure flashed on the holographic image display platform next to the star map. The Covenant cruisers are only two hundred thousand kilometers away from us, she reported, and they are approaching quickly along an interception route.

Case issued the order: Lieutenant Hiyoshi Kazuko, check the weapons list to see what else we have; Second Lieutenant Lovell, let us deviate from the enemy's route, coordinates 180, 270.

Yes, coordinates 180, 270, the ensign replied. Tiredness failed to trap him, and his fingers danced nimbly on the navigation console. During this time, Cortana adjusted the operating system of the Covenant flagship to make it more in line with the operating habits of human warships. Steering, sir.

Gettysburg - The Immortal Justice turned around and flew deep into the asteroid belt.

Lieutenant Kazuko Hiyoshi meticulously dragged the squares and circles on the weapons console, then he carefully looked over the Gettysburg's weapons inventory.

Governor Gillis appears on the third holographic display in front. His face was calm, and his lips were closed so that only a thin white line could be seen.

Mr. Governor, Colonel Keyes said, his voice smooth and high, showing his absolute authority in commanding the battleship, I will command the Gettysburg to attack as soon as the enemy ship enters the maximum range of the plasma cannon. Attack, that will blow up the enemy cruiser's shields. I want you to work with our AI to launch one of your nuclear bombs while the enemy ship's shields are blown - blowing them to pieces.

Smart tactic, Gillis said, parting his lips with a sarcastic smile. There's just one problem. We don't have nuclear weapons. All you detected in the asteroid belt were neutron radiation emitters. He shrugged. We're just scaring people.

Case smashed his mouth. Shrewd enough, Mr. Governor.

It doesn't matter, just use the seven plasma cannons on your ship, Captain. Governor Gillis suggested, That's enough.

Case looked at him and smiled bitterly. It was just a tactical deception. We only had one cannon. And it didn't work very well.

It seems like we both overestimated each other, Gillis said. In other circumstances, this might be a funny thing.

Indeed. Case then said to Lieutenant Dominic: Try saying hello to the Covenant cruiser. Maybe we can scare it too.

The Covenant is responding, the lieutenant replied. In addition to some religious rhetoric, they are demanding that we deactivate combat readiness and return the artifact or they will open fire.

Give them our answer, Case said. Fire when ready, Lieutenant Hiyoshi Kazuko.

The turrets on the Supreme Justice began to heat up, and the plasma gathered into a thin red line and moved forward rapidly——

——then spread out and flew into a huge spiral over the bow of the Gettysburg. These ultra-high temperature gases melted the remaining pieces of the spacecraft's A-type titanium alloy armor, exposing the skeleton of its upper structure.

Status report! Case shouted.

Analyzing, Cortana replied. The plasma turret is out of action. Please wait, sir.

I can use my fleet to engage the enemy. Gillis said vaguely.

Keyes scanned the screens in front of him: Gillis, the approaching Covenant cruisers, and the rocky asteroid field like an invisible torrent. He narrowed his eyes, then said, I'm afraid they'll blow you away before you even sneeze, Mr. Governor. None of your weapons can penetrate their shields. No—I'll drive them away. , and evacuate your people.”

Understood, Captain. Gillis arched an eyebrow gracefully and bowed, Thank you.

Lieutenant Hall, fly as fast as you can. Lieutenant Lovell, turn ninety degrees and approach the moon-sized rock two thousand kilometers away from the port side.

Yes, sir, full speed ahead.

Yes, sir, change course.

Gettysburg - The Immortal Justice slid towards the boulder as Covenant cruisers rapidly approached them. As they circled the dark side of the asteroid, the enemy ship disappeared from the display.

New route. Turn 180 degrees, Case ordered. Input all emergency power into the engines, and then shut down all systems.

The thrusters turned the spacecraft in a circle. The rumbling vibrations penetrated the no longer solid hull, and the speed of the spacecraft became slower and slower, and finally stopped and hid behind the rock.

All programs are being shut down, Lieutenant Hall reported.

Sir, we are too passive in doing this. Lieutenant Lovell said, In a ship-to-ship battle, traditional tactics advocate speed and flexibility.

It's a different story in this asteroid belt, Case replied, but it's good that you focus on staying flexible. Point our bow toward the center of this asteroid and reverse backward.

Start the thrusters. Reverse reverse, Lieutenant Hall said.

The spacecraft slowly adjusted its angle, aimed at the center of the huge asteroid, and retreated.