Cyberpunk: Spartan Walker

The Master Chief looked at the tablet, then at his teammates. They were right, for the first time they knew where and when the Covenant would be. If they could hit the Covenant hard, it might be possible to stop Earth before they were attacked, delaying the end of the world.

The Master Chief issued a series of orders: Before the mission begins, there are three things that need to be prepared: reinstall Linda's armor as soon as possible; search for every pistol, rifle, and all ammunition packages and explosives on this ship. Then tow them to the Justice's berthing bay; harden a Phantom troop carrier and prepare it for flight to jump from slipspace to regular space.

John's tone turned solemn, Then, I will present this plan to General Whitcomb - let him realize that this is the only way out. We will fly directly to the Covenant's base camp and launch the first counterattack!

****

0440 hours, September 13, 2552, military calendar (corrected date)

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

The clock is ticking.

Dr. Halsey could feel the Covenant closing in on them, her window of opportunity shrinking to just a tiny hole. She had a few things to take care of before she could leave—before she could start doing the things she couldn't stop.

Case was the first thing to be addressed. It was true that she felt deeply for him, but she knew that his loyalty to humanity was unwavering and his courage unparalleled. The carnage on Reach failed to scare him, nor could the Flood in Halo break him. So Halsey gave him one last gift - a hug.

Someone is approaching this pollution-free room, and judging from the heavy footsteps, it can only be a Spartan warrior wearing Mjolnir armor.

Kelly appeared, waving from the other side of the glass partition that separated the clean room from the rest of Medical Bay Four. Dr. Halsey opened the door and let her in.

I was ordered to come for treatment, doctor, she said.

Kelly couldn't help but hesitate for a moment when she saw that the area where the doctor had been working was not sterilized: polystyrene foam cups were placed haphazardly on the surgical instrument tray; laser-printed documents curled and slid out of the physiological monitor; The radioactive crystal found on Reach is placed on a nearby instrument tray.

I thought the crystal was in the nuclear reactor, Kelly said hesitantly, behind the radiation protection device.

It's perfectly safe— Dr. Halsey said, as long as we're in regular space. She picked up the crystal and stuffed it nonchalantly into her coat pocket.

Please lie down, Kelly. The doctor pointed to the treatment chair, Just a few more injections and we will complete your burn treatment.

Kelly sighed and slowly lay down on the reclining chair.

Dr. Halsey removed a cloth covering two syringes. There are two injection holes on the port of Kelly's Thor Hammer armor, which are connected to the subclavian vein and femoral vein respectively. The doctor spotted these two injection holes and inserted the needle. You have to insist on physical therapy. Corticosteroids will clear up most of the trauma, and your flexibility will be fully restored in another week. She instructed.

A week? Kelly grumbled, struggling to stand up. Doctor, I need to fully recover as soon as possible. The Master Chief has a mission-

Dr. Halsey started the syringes and they hissed into Kelly. Her whole body relaxed and she fell back onto the table, unconscious.

No, Kelly, the doctor whispered, you are not going to carry out the Master Chief's mission, but mine.

The sedative coursing through her bloodstream was enough to knock a strong Helltrooper unconscious for most of a day. Halsey estimated that Kelly would be comatose for more than two hours, and by then the situation would be irreversible.

Dr. Halsey turned a monitor to face him. She initiated an amnestic command—erasing Cortana's memory of her research into old MI Corps defensive codes. She folded the printed research results and stuffed them into her pocket.

Cortana?

Yes, Doctor? she replied, sounding a little troubled coming from the room's speakers.

Please determine Locklear's location and ask him to report immediately.

Notified, Dr. Halsey.

Thank you, Cortana. Nothing's wrong. She added, her voice low enough that only she could hear, For my sake, take good care of them.

Dr. Halsey adjusted the examination table so that it was stable, and then filled its base with medical instruments and equipment. On top of the instruments she placed a bag containing four automatic rifles and sixteen full magazines.

She found a cup of lukewarm coffee, raised her neck and drank it all - the taste was particularly bitter today.

Corporal Locklear appeared at the open entrance to the ready room. Hi, Doctor. Cortana said you were looking for me? He said briefly and stiffly, touching his bald head with his hand, I'm a little busy right now, and Colonel Price is also looking for me, so if this can wait - —”

Whatever you're doing, Dr. Halsey told him, isn't important. She nodded toward Kelly, who was lying down. I need you to help me get Spartan-087 to the berth. go.

Is she okay? he asked, taking a step closer to her.

She's fine, but I have to move her to the asteroid base. To complete her treatment, one of their equipment will have to be used.

Locklear was doubtful, But I just saw her——

She's fine, Dr. Halsey assured him, just sedated. The process... was excruciating, even though she was a Spartan.

Locklear looked Dr. Halsey straight in the eye and nodded, accepting the explanation. He pushed the medical examination table through the door, the medical cabin, and entered the elevator where he had been waiting for a long time.

Dr. Halsey followed.

When the elevator door closed, she turned to the corporal and said, Please hold out your hand.

He looked confused, but still held out a hand.

Dr. Halsey grasped the hand, palm up, and placed the long, glowing blue artifact on his palm. The light emitted by this alien artifact shone on their faces, making the interior of the elevator look even more deserted. This is what the Covenant is trying so hard to get. They ripped Reach apart to find it. They tracked us into slipspace, and Polaski died protecting this thing.

She stared at Locklear closely, gauging his reaction, and saw that he was a little moved after hearing the last words. It worked.