“That was before something came through it the moment it was open and attacked us. We have no idea what’s waiting for us on the other side.”
“If you are afraid, you may remain behind.”
“I’m not afraid,” said Kodiak, walking as quickly as he could to keep up with N’tho’s pace. “I simply want to know what we’re getting into.”
“There is only one way to find out, and that is to enter it.”
The various engineers and security personnel who had earlier been running around the humans’ airfield, frantic and confused, now stood still. They were all staring toward the sky. Some were taking notes, others were recording the event on small devices. Since the ground had ceased rumbling and the portal had opened, their initial concern had given way to curiosity.
“We need to confer with the others and determine the best course of action,” said Kodiak.
“As you wish. Arrange it and I will attend.”
“A Retriever,” said Captain Richards, clearly confused. “What the hell is a Retriever?”
In her office, Luther quickly outlined the Forerunner machine’s purpose. “It’s quite an extraordinary device,” he concluded.
“Extraordinary? It attacked us, and my ship’s commander had to blow it out of the sky.”
“It was simply doing what it was designed to do by the Forerunners. And when we get to the Ark—”
“That’s fantastic,” Richards interrupted, “but I can tell you right now we aren’t going anywhere. That Retriever came through blasting away, and where there’s one, there may be more. A lot more. So we’re staying put until I get some support from Home Fleet here. You understand me, Doctor?”
“To the letter, Captain,” replied Luther.
CHAPTER 7
* * *
The gathering, at N’tho’s request, was held on the Mayhem, the Sangheili vessel in low orbit above Earth. The bridge on N’tho’s corvette was quite large for a ship of its size and was easily able to accommodate everyone who had shown up: Captain Richards, Spartans Kodiak and Holt, Olympia Vale, Luther Mann, Usze ‘Taham, the Huragok, and Henry Lamb, as well as a number of Sangheili who appeared to staff the vessel’s control center. Richards had also brought her lieutenant, Carl Radeen, and a fireteam of marines with her, who were situated in the corvette’s hangar at the Condor they had used to board. When N’tho had asked why Richards felt the need to have troops accompanying her, she simply said, “It is standard procedure for a captain to have security protection when entering a Sangheili ship. My apologies if that offends you.”
“I take no offense at it at all,” N’tho said. “Were I in your position, entering a vessel that was captained by former enemies, I might be persuaded likewise. And may I add that I was quite impressed with the way your vessel handled the Retriever.”
“I wish we didn’t have to destroy it,” she said, “but I don’t believe we had a choice.”
“No, of course not—you did what was required. And now we must do the next thing that is required.”
“True,” said Richards. She was seated at one end of a long table, around which everyone had gathered. The corvette’s bridge was composed of an encompassing perimeter platform surrounding a number of control consoles, with a large holographic projection of the portal site at the very center. The conference table had appeared via risers just off to the side. “But for the time being, my superiors have deemed that this mission remain on hold until a supporting fleet can arrive.”
Luther Mann looked uncomfortably around the table, waiting for someone to say anything in protest. When no one did, however, he cleared his throat, deciding that he had to be the first to speak up. “But it was my impression that the entire purpose for this excavation was to do exactly what the Huragok over there managed to accomplish. It got the portal open. So why are we waiting around?”
“Yes, it did get the portal online,” said Richards, “and look what happened. We were instantly under attack. We have to assume that the longer the portal remains open, the greater the chance that we’ll get the same result. We have risk analysts at Sydney—”
“It could be argued that if we entered the portal now, we would be prepared for it and consequently not caught off guard so easily,” said N’tho.
“We cannot assume that,” Richards replied. “This time one of those machines got through. If we enter the portal, there’s no way we know exactly what we’ll find on the other side, but given the last two hours, quite probably more of those machines. And if we continue now, these things could come through from the opposite direction and shut down the portal behind us. Cut off our way back home.”
“That could be true,” Lamb said, sitting forward, “but what other option do we have? We don’t exactly have time on our side.”
“Clearly,” she continued, “nevertheless, this operation is being facilitated by ONI, and we’re calling the shots. Right now, there’s simply too much risk to Earth. The portal needs to be shored up by Fleet and examined until we have a clearer idea of what to expect.”
N’tho exchanged a glance with Usze ‘Taham, and it was Usze who responded. “I very much doubt that you will be able to convince us that your one world outweighs the value of a thousand others, whether human or not. You also need to understand that there are still those Sangheili who are very much opposed to the fact that we now have a peace treaty with the humans . . .”
“As there are humans who feel much the same regarding the Sangheili,” Richards shot back, and then added as an after-the-fact moderation: “No offense to present company. But our high view of Earth shouldn’t be terribly shocking to you, given the last thirty years . . . and given that history, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that there are those of my people who absolutely still carry hostility for you and your kind.”
“I am quite aware of that,” said N’tho. His gaze was fixed on Richards, but she couldn’t help but think that he was glancing at Spartan Kodiak as he said that. She wondered what, if anything, could have already gone on between the two of them, but decided that it wasn’t anything she could focus on right now.
Now it was Luther who chimed in. “Look, the Halo Array is counting down to fire, and the Ark remains our best—actually, very likely our only—way of preventing that. There was just one Sentinel sent through the portal, and it’s clear that its intention was not immediately hostile. It was mining for resources. We destroyed it, and there haven’t been any others in the interim, so I’m inclined to believe that whatever was happening before has since abated. Given the stakes, and the fact that we don’t really know how long it’s going to take to get to the Ark and actually conduct this expedition, I don’t understand why we’re wasting time. We should be heading through the portal. Right now.”
“Doctor, let me be clear if I wasn’t earlier,” Richards replied with a grave tone. “We’re not heading through the portal until we’ve gotten the all-clear from my superiors. This site and this operation’s viability are their jurisdiction and theirs alone. Not yours and not the Sangheili’s. Once ONI’s evaluated the risk and determined that Earth’s security can be maintained, we’ll continue with the operation as planned and take Endeavor to the Ark.”
“That is unfortunate to hear,” said N’tho. “We were assured of some manner of cooperation, but given the cost of such a delay, it seems an amendment is in order. We will just have to get to the Ark via a different means.”
“And what means is that?” said Richards.
“Obviously,” said N’tho, “we are going to use the Mayhem to leave through the Excession immediately.”
Richards shook her head in exasperation. “We’ve been through this. This is our operation, and we’re calling the shots. Heading through the portal now is not going to happen. We could wind up faced with an entire army of those things, or worse, an army could be deployed against Earth.”
“It is a chance we are willing to take,” said N’tho. “I am quite convinced that the power of my ship would be more th
an sufficient to deal with another threat, but I would be compelled to proceed even if I knew it wasn’t. Surely you do not believe that your world’s safety is worth risking the annihilation of all thinking life in the galaxy? I assure you, it is not.”
“With all due respect, N’tho, you are welcome to feel that way, but that’s hardly a binding decision upon ONI and the UNSC,” said Richards. “This expedition must be a joint effort between yourselves and our government. You do not have the authority to proceed however you wish.”
“I do not have authority?” N’tho sounded both surprised and amused. “May I ask on what grounds you make that assumption? So far as I can determine, this discussion has not led me to believe that this is anything resembling a joint effort. We activated the portal, and we can go through it whenever we please.”
“All right,” said Richards, clearly doing everything in her power to maintain her composure. “I’ll put this as straightforwardly as I can: you cannot enter the portal because I am telling you that you cannot. I am an acting proxy for the Commander-in-Chief of the Office of Naval Intelligence in this room, and I am operationally in charge of this mission. As such, I have the authority to fully represent the UNSC’s position here, and I am telling you that if you attempt to violate this order and you refuse to stand down, you will be contravening the peace accords of 2553 and breaking the stipulations of that agreement regarding the sovereignty of Sol territories. Such an effort would be considered an act of war. Do you understand that?”
“Yes,” N’tho said.
Richards still wasn’t satisfied. “So I’ve presented my wishes in a sufficiently clear manner? In that, there can be no misunderstanding?”
“Yes, you have made yourself abundantly clear,” N’tho assured her.
“Do you have anything to say in response?”
“I do indeed,” N’tho said. He placed his hands on his armrests. “I would suggest you remain seated. Please hold on.”
“Wh-what do you mean?” Richards brow furrowed in confusion. “I don’t—”
It was at that moment that the engines of the vessel roared to life. The upward thrusters flared and Mayhem moved aggressively forward. The ship had been hovering stationary several kilometers above the Kenyan savannah, a good distance north of the portal site—but in a matter of seconds, all that began to change.
Instantly Richards was on her feet, as were Spartans Kodiak and Holt. Everyone else in the room had quickly understood N’tho’s instructions and remained in their chairs. The only one who wasn’t the least put out by the ship’s unexpected movement was the Huragok, who simply hung there in the middle of the room. Even its tentacles weren’t shaking.
“Stop this ship, immediately!” bellowed Richards.
“I do not believe that will be necessary,” N’tho said with calm. “This has already been planned prior to your setting foot on this vessel. I decided to allow you to come along out of respect for our alliance. You could consider thanking me, although I will not view it as a breach of etiquette if you opt not to do so.”
Richards started to turn toward the door into the room, but N’tho continued with his mild detachment: “I would be careful were I you, Captain. Yes, you do have troops in our hangar, but what will you have them do? Order them to fight their way through the corridors of my ship? My ship? Do you truly believe that to be the wisest course of action?”
“You’re intending to go through the portal right now?” she said, and at the same time she reached for her communications link.
“I would not bother with that,” said N’tho. “I have already instructed my communications officer to block any attempt you might make to speak with your vessel. Consider this a boon. If your vessel attempted to interfere with the Mayhem’s path, it would not end well for those aboard. I have no desire to destroy your ship or kill more humans.”
“You,” she said as stiffly as she could manage, “are kidnapping a line officer of the UNSC.”
“In truth, I am abducting a significant number of humans against their will,” N’tho said. “However, since I am undertaking the mutually beneficial endeavor of attempting to save the entirety of both our species, I am hoping that sooner or later, you will overlook this tactic as you contemplate the greater good, as well as the fact that you’re still alive.”
Without hesitation, Spartan Kodiak reached into his holster and extracted his pistol. He aimed it straight at N’tho and said, “Bring us back down right now or you die.”
No one in the room moved to interfere. It was entirely possible they were too intimidated. Kodiak was fully decked out in his Spartan armor, except for his helmet. Slowly N’tho stood up as the room continued to shake around them, the corvette continuing its course toward the portal. “After sparing my life, this is how you wish to end matters between us?”
“I’m not doing anything,” said Kodiak, the gun remaining level. “You’re bringing this all on yourself.”
Sparing his life . . . ? Luther thought. What’s he talking about? Apparently, he wasn’t the only one taken aback by the comment, as the captain seemed to do a double take as well.
“You will not fire upon me,” N’tho assured him.
“And why is that?”
Out of nowhere, a tentacle whipped out and encircled Kodiak’s hand before he could pull the trigger, yanking the weapon out of his hand and sending it hurtling across the room. Usze casually grabbed it midair, as though Drifts had intended for him to receive it. He did not aim it at Kodiak but simply held it loosely at his side.
The Huragok lowered its tentacle and returned to its detached floating. Kodiak snarled: “I thought those things didn’t fight!”
“They are capable of responding to an immediate threat,” N’tho said. “In this case, it perceived that threat as you. The rest of you likewise have weapons,” he said, inclining his head toward the others in the room. “Are you also going to threaten me? Do you truly want all-out war here and now?”
There was no response.
N’tho turned to a Sangheili near him. “Navigator, are we ready?”
“Yes, Commander” came the brisk reply.
Most of the room was still trying to figure out what was happening. Kodiak, for his part, seemed fixed in his own world of frustration.
Richards took a step forward and leaned on the conference table. “Do you have the slightest idea what you’re doing? Again, this is an act of war.”
“Yes,” said N’tho matter-of-factly. He came around to Richards, and it seemed to Luther that the Sangheili had grown several inches taller. “And when we manage to save the galaxy, you are welcome either to condemn me or else to claim credit for yourself. Whichever path you choose is of little interest to me. I was given a task, and I will complete it.”
N’tho and the other Elites turned to face the viewport and various monitors, apparently entirely unconcerned and leaving the humans to stare at one another.
“So. I guess we’re going to the Ark a little sooner than planned,” said Luther Mann, quietly to himself. “Let’s hope it’s a smooth ride.”
By all accounts, it wasn’t.
The Mayhem continued forward, though cautiously. The portal’s immense energy output had created a series of violent storms on the outskirts of the artifact, so Mayhem would have to carefully thread the needle. N’tho had taken residence on the bridge’s outer platform and was now surrounded by several of his officers. There were very few of them here, though—the vessel was, for the most part, highly automated. A crew of ten or more at most was required for operations. Three Sangheili were at their stations as N’tho strode to the middle of the bridge and stared at the large holographic version of the artifact and the portal it was projecting, as well as the location of Mayhem and other nearby human vessels that seemed aloof to the Sangheili ship. Through the expansive viewport, the portal could be seen in its full glory, a dark, spherical cloud of blackness immediately before them. The Huragok was floating nearby, and N’tho noticed that Olympia Val
e and Luther Mann had stepped over to communicate with it.
> Luther asked Drifts Randomly. >
> the Huragok replied.
> He shook his head. >
Usze, who was standing behind him, said: “The Huragok has been doing far more than simply repairing the equipment. It has been bonding with it, overriding its security systems and deceiving it into thinking that another ship, one to which the artifact is compliant, was requesting entry.”
“The keyship?”
“Yes, but that is likely not all that was done,” Usze guardedly replied. “The truth is that there are elements to it that even the Sangheili and the Covenant did not understand. Drifts Randomly does understand, but it is not truly capable, I believe, of properly explaining it.”
> Luther asked the Huragok.
> it asked.
Luther appeared to contemplate that response, but ultimately decided against it. >
Now Captain Richards and Spartan Kodiak had stepped onto the bridge as well, having warily rendezvoused with their troops in the hangar bay. N’tho fired her a glance, and Richards, aware of the niceties of how one is to conduct oneself on someone else’s ship, said formally, “Permission to come aboard.”
“You are already here, but permission is granted,” N’tho said indifferently. “You may go wherever you wish on this ship, as long as you do not cause any trouble.”
“We’re being kidnapped. Why should I wish to start trouble?”
“You realize that I could have undertaken this mission on my own initiative,” N’tho reminded her. “The fact that you are here is not an abduction but a . . . courtesy.”
“I think we’ll have to disagree on the definition of courtesy,” Richards continued. “Though I am surprised how quickly you discarded our species’ mutual peace accords for control of this operation.”