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172
HALO: FIRST STRIKE
rithm. Alas, the Covenant's grasp of Maxwell's equations was
ironically inferior to human technology.
Cortana realized it was fortuitous she had shut down the
enemy AI before it leaked her new plasma guidance system. The
thought of every ship in the Covenant fleet refitted with im-
proved weaponry was too terrible to calculate.
She also realized that staying to fight was not the wisest
course. She considered taking on the rest of the Covenant forces;
with her improvements to the weapons systems, she might win,
too. But it wasn't worth the risk of the Covenant capturing her
refinements to their technology.
Cortana fired Ascendant Justice's aft plasma turrets, and
laser-like beams flickered across space. A squadron of Seraph
fighters disintegrated as they launched from the closest carrier.
Explosions bubbled and mushroomed inside the carrier's launch
bay.
She didn't stay to watch the fireworks.
Cortana dived at flank speed straight toward the center of
Reach. The surface of the planet raced toward her. She wondered
where the Chief was now, and if he was safe.
"I should have never told you to be careful," she whispered.
"You're incapable of that. I should have wished you victory.
That's what you're good at, John. Winning."
She initiated the Slipspace generator; space distorted, teased
apart, and light enveloped the flagship.