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ERIC NYLUND
237
plasma turrets require refit. And worst, Ascendant Justice's en-
gines are crippled. We have less than three percent operational
thrust."
"Can the ship still jump to Slipspace? Are we stranded out
here?"
"A jump is possible," Cortana said. She shook her head the
way an older sister might when her baby brother asked a naive
question. "It wouldn't do us any good, though. The alien artifact
in Doctor Halsey's possession emits high levels of radiation in
Slipspace. This unknown radiation even penetrates your suit's
shields. I estimate lethal exposure in just under seventy-two
hours. Also, that radiation would serve as a beacon for any Cove-
nant ships prowling Slipspace, searching for us."
"So we're stuck between systems."
"Negative," Cortana replied, and her voice took on a new
chill. "Admiral Whitcomb is quite adamant that we risk another
Slipspace transition—regardless of the cost in human life. Other-
wise, it would be weeks before we would be able to contact
UNSC High Command."
HighCom? Two facts suddenly clicked into place: the Admi-
ral's need to contact the rest of the Admiralty—no matter the
price—and Dr. Halsey's attempts to revive Linda.
"What's compelling the Admiral's tactics, Cortana?"
Cortana's holographic outline softened. "I told you this be-
fore, Chief, but apparently it did not stick in your semiconscious
state." She then came into sharp focus and crossed her arms over
her chest. "The Covenant have discovered the location of Earth."
The Master Chief stood, suddenly wide awake and alert. He
set aside his pain and fatigue.
"Explain," he demanded.
Cortana outlined her discovery of the encoded subchannel
within normal Covenant communiques. She explained how the
Covenant's military orders were disseminated with startling effi-
ciently, and she then showed him symbols that represented the
coordinates for Sol... and Earth.
He stood mute and listened. The UNSC had worked so hard,
for so long, to preserve this secret. It was only a matter of time;
he had always known that the Covenant had to find Earth sooner