Chapter 331 - 328 — The Assault

Chapter 331: Chapter 328 — The Assault

Chapter 328 — The Assault

The assault vessel remained at the edge of the human formation for several more seconds.

Then Gaius turned toward the others.

"Move."

Titus, Metaurus, and the other Bladeguard Veterans followed him toward the launcher.

The Dreadnought entered first.

The launcher was enormous, specifically reinforced to accommodate his massive frame alongside the rest of the assault team. It had originally been designed for Gaius, but Tony and Halsey’s modifications had transformed it into something capable of carrying an entire Space Marine assault team.

One by one, they secured themselves into the restraints.

Titus locked himself into position.

Metaurus checked the restraints around his armor.

The other Bladeguard Veterans did the same.

The Dreadnought’s massive frame settled into the center of the launcher as additional restraints locked around him.

Gaius took the final position.

The restraints closed.

"All personnel secured," JARVIS announced.

Gaius looked toward the tactical display.

"Report."

"Estimated flagship shield strength: twenty percent."

Another barrage struck the Covenant vessel.

The ship’s shields flared across the display.

"fifteen percent."

Gaius nodded.

"Enemy response?"

"Multiple Covenant vessels have detected our movement and are attempting to intercept."

The assault vessel suddenly accelerated.

Unlike before, there was no reason to remain hidden.

JARVIS increased the ship’s speed and began plotting a direct approach toward the Covenant formation.

The assault vessel moved between the outermost human ships, using the ongoing battle as cover.

Covenant weapons immediately turned toward them.

Plasma bolts crossed their path.

JARVIS reacted instantly.

The ship shifted around one attack.

Then another.

Then another.

Its movements were precise enough that the incoming fire seemed almost predictable.

Gaius understood why.

JARVIS was controlling the ship.

It knew exactly where every human vessel was firing.

It knew the trajectories of its own weapons.

Every time one of the nearby UNSC ships fired, JARVIS already accounted for the projectile’s path before plotting the assault vessel’s next maneuver.

The assault ship fired back as it advanced.

Its weapons struck Covenant vessels attempting to intercept it, forcing several ships to break formation.

"Distance to target?" Gaius asked.

"Six thousand kilometers."

"Continue."

The flagship grew larger on the tactical display.

"Five thousand."

Covenant fire intensified.

JARVIS rolled the assault vessel beneath a volley of plasma.

Another attack passed above them.

The ship accelerated again.

"Four thousand."

Titus looked toward the targeting display.

"Can we launch now?"

JARVIS answered immediately.

"Negative. Current firing angle is obstructed by two Covenant vessels."

Gaius waited.

The assault vessel shifted position.

One of the Covenant escorts moved across their projected trajectory.

JARVIS adjusted again.

"Three thousand five hundred kilometers."

The escort moved away.

The flagship suddenly became fully visible through the targeting system.

JARVIS spoke immediately.

"Clear trajectory."

Gaius looked toward the others.

"Prepare."

The restraints tightened.

The launcher began powering up.

The entire structure vibrated as energy flowed into the mechanism.

"Flagship shield strength: twelve percent."

Gaius looked toward the tactical display one final time.

"Launch."

The launcher fired.

The entire assault section released with tremendous force, sending Gaius, Titus, Metaurus, the Bladeguard Veterans, and the Dreadnought hurtling directly toward the Covenant flagship.

Behind them, the assault vessel immediately broke away and returned toward the human formation.

Ahead of them was the wounded Covenant flagship.

And now there was nothing between them.

Aboard the Covenant flagship, the first warning came too late.

"Hierarch!"

Regret turned toward the tactical display.

One of the human vessels had broken away from the outer edge of the human formation.

It was moving fast.

Far too fast.

"What is it doing?"

The Sangheili officer stared at the incoming data.

"It has altered course toward us."

Regret’s eyes narrowed.

The vessel was no longer maintaining the human defensive formation.

It was accelerating directly toward the Covenant fleet.

"Destroy it."

The order was immediate.

Multiple Covenant vessels turned toward the approaching ship.

Plasma batteries opened fire.

Energy weapons flashed across the darkness.

The assault vessel continued forward.

Its movements were precise.

It rolled beneath one volley.

Adjusted around another.

A third wave of plasma passed behind it.

"How is it avoiding our fire?" Regret demanded.

"We are still attempting to track it, Holy One."

Another volley was fired.

The human vessel changed direction again.

It slipped between the incoming fire and continued accelerating.

Then one of the Covenant escorts reported something.

"Hierarch."

Regret turned.

"The vessel is not attempting to engage us."

"Then what is it doing?"

The officer stared at the tactical display.

"It’s coming directly toward the flagship."

Regret’s expression hardened.

"Increase defensive fire."

More Covenant vessels turned toward the approaching craft.

The surrounding escorts opened fire as well.

The battlefield around the flagship suddenly filled with plasma.

Yet the human vessel continued coming.

Closer.

Faster.

The ship was now clearly visible on the tactical display.

Regret watched it approach.

There was something wrong with the maneuver.

It was too deliberate.

Too focused.

Then the sensor officer spoke.

"Hierarch..."

Regret looked toward him.

"The vessel’s weapon systems are not firing at us."

Regret’s eyes narrowed.

"Then why is it approaching?"

The officer hesitated.

"We believe it is attempting to reach launch range."

Regret stared at the vessel.

"Launch range?"

Before the officer could answer, another sensor alert appeared.

"Holy One!"

Regret turned toward the tactical display.

"An object has been ejected from the human vessel."

His attention sharpened.

"Ejected?"

The display updated.

A second object had appeared.

It was much smaller than the assault vessel, but its acceleration was far greater.

Regret watched as the object broke away from the human ship and began racing directly toward the flagship.

The assault vessel immediately changed course, pulling away from the formation.

Regret’s eyes narrowed.

The human ship had never intended to reach the flagship itself.

It had only been positioning itself to launch whatever that object was.

"Identify it."

The officer stared at the sensor readings.

"We cannot, Holy One."

The object continued accelerating.

"It’s too fast."

Regret watched its trajectory.

Straight toward them.

Straight toward the flagship.

Then he understood.

"It’s a boarding craft."

The realization came too late.

"Destroy it!"

The order echoed across the command network.

Covenant weapons immediately turned toward the incoming craft.

Plasma bolts streaked through the darkness.

One struck the craft’s outer armor.

The entire vessel shook violently, but its trajectory barely changed.

Another shot passed beneath it.

Then another.

The craft suddenly altered its course, slipping between the incoming fire with precise movements.

Regret’s eyes narrowed.

"Fire again!"

More Covenant weapons opened up.

The distance rapidly disappeared.

"Five thousand kilometers!"

The Sangheili officer called out the range.

"Four thousand!"

The surrounding escorts attempted to reposition, trying to place themselves between the approaching craft and the flagship.

They were too slow.

"Three thousand!"

Regret stared at the incoming craft.

Then he noticed its size.

This was not a conventional boarding craft.

It was enormous.

Far too large for a normal boarding team.

His expression changed.

"What are they sending?"

No one answered.

"Two thousand kilometers!"

The craft continued straight toward the flagship.

Regret clenched his fist.

"Fire on it!"

The Covenant fleet unleashed another barrage.

Several shots struck the craft.

Armor flashed beneath the impacts.

But it kept coming.

Closer.

Closer.

Then the tactical display finally gave Regret a clearer reading.

Something massive is definitely contained within that craft.

For a brief moment, he remembered the previous report.

The golden warrior.

The flagship.

Nine minutes.

His eyes widened.

"No..."

The craft was almost upon them.

"Brace the ship!"

It slammed into the Covenant flagship’s weakened shields.

BOOOOM!

The entire shield barrier erupted in a blinding flash.

The flagship shook violently as the impact tore through the weakened energy field.

Then the boarding craft punched through.

~~~

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