Cyberpunk: Spartan Walker

"Then what do you want me to do with it?"

"Keep it safe," she told him, "defend it with your life. Because if the Covenant ever gets hold of it, they can jump through slipspace a hundred times faster than they can now. Do you understand?" "

Locklear's large hands grasped the crystal tightly. "Not entirely, Doctor, but I can keep it." He paused, his forehead creased in confusion, "But why me? Why not ask one of your Spartans to do it?"

"'My' Spartan," Dr. Halsey replied in a low voice, "has to obey the order and turn it over to Tommy, Colonel Price, who will risk taking it back to MI[-]. Even though the Covenant might take it, he had to take the gamble."

Locklear snorted, "Yeah, but I'd turn it in if he ordered it. What's the big deal? We're almost home."

"'Almost,'" Dr. Halsey repeated, giving him a small smile, "but once you jump, the crystal will radiate, like a glowing signal. The Covenant will find the ship and this time before the jump In fault space, they might win the battle."

Locklear's face contorted.

She met his cold eyes for a moment, then finally let go of his hand. "I know that no matter what the cost, you will keep this thing from falling into the hands of the enemy."

He nodded solemnly. "I understand what you are thinking, doctor. Clearly." There was a hint of respect in his words, "I know what I have to do. Don't worry."

"Good," she said.

The elevator door opened.Locklear put the crystal into his fanny pack and wheeled the medical examination table into the Gettysburg's berthing bay. "Where are you going to put her?"

The berth is like a honeycomb, with busy scenes everywhere: hundreds of Governor Gillis' people are running in and out of the aisles with tablet computers and multi-functional site scanners in their hands; robots are loaded with huge shooter-type missiles, spider-shaped missiles, etc. Antillon mines, as well as several small tanks of liquid deuterium prepared for the Gettysburg's auxiliary reactor; three Longsword fighter aircraft are being repaired: the spaceship with only the exoskeleton "bang" landed on the deck, and the transported The titanium plates were welded into place on the spacecraft by Covenant engineers, and their dexterous tentacles danced, bringing up waves of phantoms.

"There," Dr. Halsey told Locklear, "take her up to that heavy conveyor belt."

Locklear shrugged and pushed the heavy examination table forward.

On the heavy conveyor belt, Dr. Halsey motioned for Locklear to stop. "I guess let's just stop here."

"But, Doctor, I think this is still some distance from your destination."

"It doesn't matter, that's all. I can handle the rest by myself."

"Okay, it's all up to you, doctor." Locklear just raised his legs to return to the elevator, but stopped again. "By the way, when we were talking you said when 'you' jumped into slip space, you meant when 'we' jumped into slip space, right?"

Dr. Halsey stared at him expressionlessly for a moment, then she pressed a button on the armrest, the conveyor belt started running, and the blast door between the two slowly closed with a hissing sound.

She turned around. There was no one here, and the end of the conveyor belt pointed towards Governor Gillis' Bat-class cruiser.It rested on the deck like a sleeping bat, its strangely curved invisible surface creating heavy shadows.

The conveyor belt brought Dr. Halsey and the medical examination table to a stop at the port door of the spacecraft.It was sealed so tightly that not even a single crack could be seen.She took the laser-printed document out of her pocket and reviewed its contents. Then she touched a recessed button in the hull, where a steel plate protruded from the side, holding a keyboard.After typing in a long string of passwords, she pressed the Enter key.

The hatch opened to both sides with a hissing sound, the gangway lowered automatically, and the woody aroma of brandy came from inside the spacecraft.

She smiled. "Actually, even Cortana can't crack the Military Intelligence code." She connected the crane next to the hatch to the four corners of the medical examination table. When the medical examination table was pulled into the spacecraft by the crane, she stepped on it with one foot. Going up the gangway, the other foot was suspended in the air by the crisp sound of the Magnum pistol's safety being opened.

Tommy's warning voice came from behind the doctor. "If I were you, Doctor, I wouldn't go one step further."

She turned around and saw Tommy wearing black "Thunder Hammer" armor standing ten meters away from her. He also had a backpack full of weapons and ammunition on his shoulder, and the black muzzle of the gun was pointed at hers. The head - at this distance, there was no way he could miss.

Her eyeballs slid to the right three times and then up again.

"Good afternoon, Dr. Halsey." The Gettysburg's artificial intelligence, Gerald, whispered in her ear through the speaker on the side of the glasses, "It seems that you are in trouble and need help. ?"

"Of course," Halsey shouted to Tommy, "Tommy, Lo-1023895, I violated this rule, and I'm willing to go with you."

"Received, doctor, Lo-1023895, the maintenance code for the joint lock of the 'Thor's Hammer' armor is being cracked." Gerald said, his voice was inaudible.

"Military Intelligence doesn't have this rule, doctor, nonsense can't change the fact that you betrayed us." Tommy's finger was on the trigger, "Now, put Kelly down and follow me, Parangoski The Admiral will take care of you."

Halsey's body shuddered, the word "Parangoski" bringing back the deepest fear in her heart.

"It's done, doctor, waiting for your command." Gerald said.

Tommy pointed to Halsey's pocket, "Where did the slip space crystal go?"

"Locklear, I gave it to her for safekeeping." Halsey said with a smile, "Didn't he give it to you?"

"Locklear? What did you say to him-"

A dazzling blue light lit up from the observation window on the side of the docking cabin, and there was a dull bang, followed by a shuddering vibration.

Just as Tommy was slightly dazed, Dr. Halsey fell down the gangway and shouted: "Lock down, Gerald!"

The Magnum pistol roared and misfired. It clattered to the ground, while Tommy remained frozen in the shooting position. "What did you do to me?!" he asked sharply.

"A little trick, Tommy." Halsey climbed up and walked towards Tommy. Now was the best time to put the safety on Sergeant Johnson. "Even if you are a Spartan, you still use the armor I designed." She said, "The artificial intelligence chip should be in your armor now." (End of Chapter)