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HALO: FIRST STRIKE
I want them to target their plasma turrets just before they fire.
They have to drop a section of their shields for a fraction of a
second."
"Working," Cortana replied. "Without precise data, however,
I'll have to base my calculations on several assumptions." A
string of mathematics appeared on the weapons ops panel. "Give
me fire control."
John punched the auto override on the firing systems. "It's
yours," he said.
The Covenant cruiser's plasma turrets turned to track them as
the ship came to bear. They warmed, and Cortana fired all the
Longsword's ASGM-10 missiles.
White vapor trails snaked toward the target.
"Let's move!" the Chief said.
The Longsword accelerated into the debris field, following
the Pelican's path. The aft camera displayed the missiles racing
to their target. Antimissile laser fire stabbed though space, and
three of the missiles exploded into red fireballs. The Covenant's
plasma turret glowed white hot—about to fire—when the last
missile impacted. The explosion smeared across the hull.
At first the Chief thought it had hit the shield, but then he saw
that the explosion was inside the shimmering envelope of en-
ergy. The plasma turrets fired; their energy was immediately ab-
sorbed into the cloud of dust and vapor around the ship. Dull red
plasma ballooned inside the cruiser's shield, obscuring its sen-
sors. The ship listed to port, momentarily blind.
"That should keep them busy for a while," Cortana said.
The Longsword arced under a half-kilometer-wide metal
plate—just as a plasma bolt impacted and boiled the surface,
sending the plate sputtering and spinning through space.
"Or not," Cortana muttered. "Better let me drive."
The autopilot engaged, and the controls jerked out of the
Chief's hand. The Longsword's afterburners kicked in, and it ac-
celerated toward a field of tumbling rocks. Cortana rolled and
pitched, keeping the hull mere meters from the jagged surfaces.
The Chief hung on to the seat with one hand and pulled his
harness tight with the other. He moved the scanner display to the
center viewscreen and saw the two nearest Covenant cruisers
vectored toward his and the Pelican's position. The two UNSC