Cyberpunk: Spartan Walker

"Allow me to speak, General," the Master Chief said.

"Permission. If you have anything to say, just say it."

"I don't want to contradict you, sir, but maybe this isn't supposed to be a peaceful voyage, and maybe we shouldn't take it easy either."

General Whitcomb leaned forward and his expression became solemn, "I have a feeling I won't like this point of view. But tell me your reasons, Master Chief."

The Master Chief briefly explained his battle plan: how they would invade the enemy fleet rendezvous area on a Covenant troop transport; then infiltrate their command and control center, the "Unyielding Priest", and destroy it; That would hopefully seriously weaken the Covenant's power, or at least slow down their invasion, and even buy enough time for Earth to strengthen its defenses.

The general looked straight at the sergeant major and replied decisively: "The combat request is not approved."

"Please approve, sir." He still stood upright and at attention.

The other Spartans also stood at attention with a snap, as motionless as stones. Seeing this, Rebecca glared at Tommy angrily, while Whitcomb frowned and sighed.

"I understand your enthusiasm, Master Chief, really, but I will not risk transporting the Spartans to the Covenant rendezvous point," the general explained. "If we lose this ship, Earth will never be able to lose it." It’s time for a warning.”

"Sir," the Master Chief replied, "we will jump individually from slipspace to regular space. Once the dropship is free from the gravitational influence of the Gettysburg and the Justice, the slipspace field will subside and we will Just enter regular space. You don't even need to stop, you just need to adjust the course slightly and correct the flight path of the Gettysburg."

"Have you ever tried to jump such a small ship out of slip space before?" the general asked, his thick eyebrows knitted tightly together.

"Yes, sir," Cortana said. "Our slipspace probes have been doing this kind of thing, but if it were a spaceship, the shear stress and radiation would be quite large." She paused and asked John Look, "However, a Spartan wearing 'Mjolnir' armor should be able to survive."

Rebecca's face suddenly tensed up. "I don't--"

"'Should'," the general repeated, his face grim. "As much as I admire your courage, Master Chief, I must deny your request. You need Cortana to breach the Covenant's security system, and she must pilot The ship returns to Earth. Because she carries information about Halo, Flood, and Covenant technology, she is too valuable to risk."

"Understood, sir," John replied, "I didn't consider that."

"General, you seem to have forgotten me." Ellie's voice sounded in the communication channel. "Although I am directing the crew to complete the repair work, it does not mean that I can't hear voices elsewhere."

Whitcomb shook his head. "There are too many of them. They will fight in separate teams, and you only have one."

"General, I have another way." Ellie paused, "I found a file copy algorithm in the Covenant artificial intelligence on the Justice, and successfully used it to copy my language translation program. I It can be used to copy part of my infiltration program into the memory processing model in the Mjolnir armor. Not a complete copy - otherwise there will be copy errors and other side effects - but it will allow Spartan squads to use me Part of their capabilities. I think that’s enough to get them past the Covenant’s security barriers.”

General Whitcomb sighed deeply, stood up and walked to the counter, then returned to the table with a bottle of whiskey and three intact crystal glasses. "I assume you Spartans won't join me for a drink, will you?" "Yes, sir." John answered for his team, "Thank you, sir."

"So are we," Carter said.

The general placed the wine glass in front of the sergeant and himself, but he did not rush to pour the wine. Instead, he put the bottle down and shook his head, as if he had suddenly lost all interest in drinking. "Have you ever thought, Master Chief, Captain Noble, that your team is going to have to rely entirely on its own strength? And that my first and only choice is to return to Earth?"

The Master Chief and the Noble Captain looked at each other and said in unison: "We are willing to take risks."

"'Risk,'" the general whispered, "that's a one-way ticket, kid. But if you're willing to do it, if you can delay the Covenant's attack on Earth, it might be a worthwhile deal."

The Master Chief didn't answer. He and his fellow Spartans had survived impossible odds before. Yet the General was right: there seemed to be something final about the mission that told John he wouldn't succeed. That's also acceptable. Sacrificing a few Spartans in exchange for the lives of billions of people on Earth makes more sense.

General Whitcomb stood up and said, "Very well, Master Chief, combat request approved."

****
  In the corridor heading to the berthing cabin, Tommy saw that Rebecca had something to say to him, so he broke away from the team and turned into a remote passage.

The private communication channel opened with a bang, and Anton's teasing voice came from inside: "It seems you are in big trouble."

"I don't have time to talk nonsense with you." Tommy said angrily, which received a series of laughter from Anton.

Tommy took off his helmet, and as soon as he turned around, Rebecca forced him to the edge of the bulkhead.

"Are you kidding?!" Rebecca pointed at Tommy and shouted at him, her voice echoing in the empty corridor. "Are you crazy? Going on that death mission?"

"Becca, I-"

"You go die, and what about me? I will spend the rest of my life like a wretch, living in confusion with my longing for you?!"

"No, that's not what I meant." Tommy bent down slightly, put his hands on her shoulders, and said seriously: "This is the fate of all Spartans, and it is also my fate. Beca, For the continuation of humanity, we will never look back.”

"Why?" Rebecca asked in confusion, "Why are you fighting for such an illusory thing? Can't you be more selfish? Just treat it as if it's for yourself."

"If everyone had this idea, humanity would never be what it is today. It is those warriors who have fought successively that humanity has persisted for twenty-seven years." Tommy touched her cheek and said softly to her, "This is It is the responsibility of every Spartan warrior. If we don't do these things, how can we still do them?" His tone turned solemn, "A dozen for billions is a very cost-effective deal. You If you have been a mercenary before, you should be able to understand this account."