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318
HALO: FIRST STRIKE
John turned toward the far end of the great room and spotted a
band of translucent material on the far wall. It led to the repair
bays and air locks beyond. That was their exit.
He glanced at his mission timer: 8:42. They'd have to get
there fast.
His gaze locked onto the Banshees in the air. He searched for
Linda, posted somewhere in the odd geometry of this station. She
could be anywhere along several kilometers of cityscape.
John clicked on his COM. "Linda, do not reply. The Covenant
are triangulating on our signals. I'm hoping they do and send a
few of those Banshees to reconnoiter. When they get close to the
heat-exchange plant, take them out—we'll need their vehicles."
There was no answer. Did that mean Linda understood and
was in a position to help? Or was she dead?
As John hoped, three Banshees peeled off the search forma-
tion, circling the temple and turning toward them.
John waved Fred and Will out of the elevator and into the for-
est of steaming pipes. They scattered, took cover, and aimed at
the incoming Banshees.
The Banshees spread out, slowed... but then banked, return-
ing to the temple.
John clicked his COM three times.
The Elite pilots immediately wheeled about and accelerated
toward their position. One Banshee flier nosed into a classic
strafing dive. Its plasma cannons warmed and crackled with en-
ergy, indicating an imminent discharge.
There was a spray of blood in the flier, then the pilot fell for-
ward and pushed the accelerator to full. The Banshee careened
through the air at maximum velocity—crashing into a
water-recovery tower, and wobbled to the ground.
"Linda," John muttered and tried to spot her. Judging from the
blood spray, she'd managed to send a round through the tiny ex-
posed area of the cockpit, and inflicted a lethal ricochet. He
looked for her position; most likely the shot had come from be-
hind and above. There were numerous catwalks running across
the length of the massive room. She had to be on one of them.
The two remaining Banshees accelerated toward Blue Team.
Their plasma cannons flickered, and they leveled into a flat
trajectory.