Matt-038 (Halo Fanfiction)

Chapter 49: New Plan

Author's Note: If you have any tips writing tips, please feel free to comment.

Again, I gratefully accept constructive criticism as a means to help me develop my skills further as a writer.

--- --- --- --- ---

Chapter 49: New Plan

Location: Halo Control Room

D +68:03:27 (SPARTAN-II Blue Team Mission Clock)

The vast platform that extended out over the Control Room's black abyss felt small and confining as the two Spartans were attacked from every direction at once. Ruby-red energy beams sizzled, and the smell of ozone filled the air as the airborne Sentinels circled, searching for a chink in his armor. All they needed was one good hit, a chance to put the Spartans down, and they would be able not only to take their heads but the Index as well.

There was no time to consider Cortana's "mental state." There was still a mission to achieve: Protect Cortana and Crystal and keep Spark the hell away from the Index. For his part, Matt wove back and forth, conscious of the fact that the walkway had no rails, and how easy it would be to fall off the edge. That made hitting his targets a great deal more difficult. Still, he had seen the Flood bring Sentinels down, and figured that if the combat forms could do it, so could he. He decided to tackle the lowest machines first.

Matt was careful to get a good lead on each target. The assault rifle stuttered, and the nearest target exploded. He switched to the shotgun and fired methodically. Matt pumped a new round into the chamber and fired again. Thanks to the broad pattern provided by each shell, the pump gun soon proved itself to be an extremely effective weapon against the Sentinels.

One of the machines exploded, another hit the deck with a loud clang, and a third trailed smoke as it spiraled into the darkness below.

The battle became somewhat easier after that, as there was less and less incoming fire, and he was able to knock three more Sentinels out of the air in quick succession.

The Spartans started to move, reloading as they went. One especially persistent machine took advantage of the interlude to score three hits on Matt's back, which triggered the audible alarm and pushed his shield to the very edge.

With only four shells in his weapon, Matt turned, blew the Sentinel out of the air, and spun to nail another. Then, weapon raised, he turned in a circle, searching for more targets. There weren't any.

"So," the Chief said as he lowered the shotgun and pushed more shells into the receiver, "don't tell us—let us guess. You have a plan."

"Yes," Cortana replied unabashedly, "I do. We can't let the Monitor activate Halo. We have to stop him—we have to destroy Halo."

Matt nodded and flexed his stiff shoulders. "And how do we do that?"

"According to my analysis of the available data, I believe the best course of action is somewhat risky."

'Naturally,' Matt thought.

"An explosion of sufficient size," Cortana explained, "will help destabilize the ring—and will cut through a number of primary systems. We need to trigger a detonation on a large scale, however. A starship's fusion reactors going critical would do the job."

"I'm going to find out where the Pillar of Autumn went down," Crystal said. "If the ship's fusion reactors are still relatively intact, we can use them to destroy Halo."

"Is that all?" the Chief inquired dryly. "Sounds like a walk in the park. By the way, it's nice to have you back."

"It's nice to be back," Cortana said, and Matt knew she meant it.