[Naked Crook]

ODST Nova Team moved through the corridors, on point, as they stayed alert for any potential hostiles. The secontion of the ship they were in was pretty deserted, and there was no sign of armed combat in the immediate area. Anubis: We are looking clear...no signs of any hostiles... Before Anubis could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by the sound of a maintenance shaft door opening on the wall behind them. Nova Team all turned around, with their weapons raised, as they looked at the maintenance hatch, and then watched as an officer crawled out of the hatch. Novak: Hold your fire. I am on your side! Apophis: Doctor Novak? Novak: The one and only... Novak crawled out of the maintence hatch, and dusted himself off. Apophis: What are you doing here? Novak: Well...we lost the med bay. The UNSC breeched the doors, killed the Marines in there, and captured my staff. Last I heard they were going to blow the place up. They somehow knew about The Guest Houses...and they were intent on destroying them with explosives. I tried to stop them by sealing them inside...but...I am not even sure if that stopped them. Novak scoffed. As he did, The Consultant stepped forward. The Consultant: Losing the Guest Houses is a major strategic loss. Black 1 interjected. Black 1: This entire ship is going to be a strategic loss by the sound of things. Novak: That is unfortunate. Losing The Ulterior Motive is very bad for our obscurity. Black 1: Well, after this, I doubt any of that will matter. If we can get Vanguard out of here...we basically win. Black 1 paused. Black 1: With that said...we are heading to the Prowler. Care to tag along? Novak: As if I would say no. Of course I am tagging along. Which way are we going? Black 1: We are heading for the Stairwell access. GOing to move down three decks from there. Novak nodded. However, as he did, Black 1 heard Kolya's voice over the comm line. Kolya: Kolya to Black Team, do you copy? Black 1 answer the message from Kolya, and responded. Black 1: Black 1 here. Go ahead Kolya. Kolya: What is your current position? Are you still with the Vanguard construct? Black 1: We are still with it. We have not lost it. However, our position has been compromised. We were in the elevator shaft heading down to the Prowler Bay, but we were shut down. We are proceeding on foot. Kolya: What deck are you on? Black 1: Deck 16. Kolya: Well, you are in luck. I am also on Deck 16...in the maintenance bay...which is located directly above the Prowler Bay. The maintence lift is still function, as it is on a different subsystem. A large team of Marines and ODSTs helped me secure the area. If you divert to the maintence bay, which should not be too far from your location, we can get you down to the Prowler with no fuss and no muss, in a matter of minutes. We will begin recalling the lift immediately in anticipation of your arrival. Dubhe time it! Black 1: Copy that. Black 1 out. Black 1 closed the comm line, as he turned and looked at Nova Team, as well as his comrades. Black 1: Listen up! We are diverting to the maintence bay. Kolya and a team of Marines and ODSTs have it on lockdown, and they can get us to the Prowler with no resistance. The Consultant: Well done on Kolya's part. Black 1: Yeah...Kolya is good for stuff like that. Nova Team looked at Black 1, as Osiris spoke up. Osiris: So...maintenance bay? Black 1: Yeah...maintenance bay. Lead the way Nova. Every member of Nova Team nodded, as they once again took point, as they sprinted through the corridors, heading towards the nearby maintenance bay. Black Team followed up on the rear, with The Consultant and Novak in between the two teams for protection. The trip took a few minutes, but eventually, the group showed up at the maintenance bay, and Kolya was there to greet them. As Nova Team, Black Team, and the two officers entered into the maintenance bay, with The Durance Shell in their possession, Kolya greeted them. Kolya: It is good to see that you guys made it, not that I was worried. Black 1 gave a shrug. Kolya: The maintenance lift is here, and it is on standby. Use it to get to the Prowler and get Vanguard to Firebase Mediterranean You guys have GOT to win this one for The Trust. The Consultant spoke up. The Consultant: Don't worry...once we get Vanguard to Mediterranean...it is all over...and we win. Kolya: Not quite... Kolya paused. Kolya: We still have teams working on moving the final piece out of Firebase Tropic. Until we do as Vanguard wanted, and reunite the "Index" with The Forge...we cannot start shit! Kolya paused. Kolya: We sent a ton of additional Pelicans to Firebase Tropic...including one that was carrying Yates, but the last we heard they had come under fire. We have no idea if they reached the surface or not...so we have no idea if Tropic has been secured, and we have no clue if we have recovered the Index. Anubis spoke up. Anubis: Once we get Vanguard to Mediterranean...Black Team and Nova Team will check it out, and we will find out for sure. Black 1: Yeah...what he said. Kolya nodded. Kolya: Good. Now...get to that Prowler! Black 1: Wait...Kolya? Kolya paused, as he looked at Black 1. Black 1: What about Spender? He is still on the bridge! Kolya sighed, as he turned and looked at all the Trust Marines and ODSTs he was with. Kolya: Form up on Vanguard...protect the construct at all costs! The Trust Marines and ODSTs nodded, as Kolya looked back at Black Team. Kolya: I will go back for Spender, and I will extract him off this ship. The Consultant: Alone? Kolya: Damn right! The Consultant: That is basically suicide... Kolya grinned, as he raised his right arm, and used his left hand to pull up his sleeve, to reveal a tatoo on his forearm which said simply read Z-002 Kolya: It is sorta what I was made to do... The consultant looked at the tatoo, and then back at Kolya, The Consultant: You are a...? Kolya: Yeah...I used to have a number. Still do...always will...I just like this uniform. Kolya grinned, as he walked passed The Consultant, and the others, and headed out into the corridor. Kolya: Don't worry. I will find Spender. You just worry about Vanguard! Kolya, without another word, took a few rapid steps, then bolted off into the corridor, leaving Nova Team and The Consultant in shock. The Consultant: Huh...who would have guess? Novak: I knew... Black 1: So did we. We were there when we recruited him. Black 1 shrugged, as he turned, and walked towards the maintenance lift, that was waiting for them. As Black Team, Nova Team, and the others stepped onto the lift with Vanguard's Durance Shell, and stood at the ready, one of the Marines activated the lift, and it began to move downwards. Black 1: Alright everyone...be at the ready. We are almost across the finish line! Meanwhile: Tye, Cameron, Dark, Nighthawk, and Anaconda had stopped descending the stairway when they reached the lower deck which contained the Prowler bay. Tye approach the door, extending his right hand to use a small control panel to open the door. The door opened to reveal a deserted, and quiet, corridor. Tye slowly stepped out of the corridor, and checked his corners. To his left, he saw an elecvator access, and to his right, he saw a straight corridor leading down towards the Prowler Bay. Tyber: Here we are... Tye stepped out of the stairwell, as he entered the corridor, and began to move towards the Prowler Bay. After a few steps, he broke out into a full sprint, running towards the door that would lead them to the Prowler Bay. As Tye sprinted off, the others followed suit, and took chase after Tye. Eventually, Tye, Cameron, Dark, Nighthawk, and Anaconda stood outside the door to the Prowler Bay. Nighthawk: We have to get inside. If we can sabotage any possible means of escape, then we can easily stop Black Team from getting Vanguard off this ship. Tye turned and looked at Nighthawk. Tyber: Agreed. Tye reached over and tried to open the bulkhead door, but the door had been locked. Tyber: Damn it...the door is sealed. Any ideas? Anaconda: Yeah...I have an idea... Anaconda stepped forward, as he grabbed the gravity Hammer off his back. Nighthawk looked at Tye, and the two Spartans. Nighthawk: Give the big guy some room. It may take a few hits to bring this door down.