[Naked Crook]

============================================================= New Harmony – The Cloak and Dagger – 1500 Km From the Planet of New Harmony – Main Bridge – 1530 Hours - October 9th 2555 ============================================================= Jennifer listened to the comm chatter, and her interest was peaked when she heard the recommendation come from Kaliht. Kaliht: This is Absolute Silence, I've got a suggestion. If all Covenant designed ships could initiate the Energy Projector's at the same time and focus on a specific point on the shield, alongside whatever resources you Humans have at your disposal, it could create a hole. Big enough for potentially several of your "warheads", or perhaps boarding parties. Without saying a word, Jennifer looked up at The Consultant. The Consultant: That could work. If we hit The Bismarck with every Shiva warhead we can muster, and the Elites and Brutes focus their fire on a specific spot on The Bismarck, we might be able to punch a hole in their shields large enough to do some damage. Jennifer slammer her palm on the edge of the holotable, as she nodded. Jennifer: Let's do it! Jennifer turned to face the front of the bridge, as she spoke to The Dreadhawk and The King Raven. Jennifer: Rear Admiral Burke...Captain Hayes...I am going need the two of you to bring all of your Shiva warheads online, and get them ready for deployment! Stand by for my order to fire. Burke: Copy that, Jennifer. Our Shiva launchers are hot. Waiting for your signal. Hayes: Likewise. We are ready to fire. Just say the word! Jennifer nodded. Jennifer: Alright gentlemen...triangulate your targeting coordinates with The Brutes and the Elites, and fire at will! Just as Jennifer said this, she heard comm chatter from The Brutes. Brutus: Bring our ship to broadside, and coordinate fire with the Sangheili! After a moment, Brute spoke up again. Brutus: Commencing fire... When Jennifer heard this, she gave the order. Jennifer: Fire! Jennifer turned back to the holotable, as she watched as The Brutes, Elites, and her own ships fired a second volley at The Bismarck. Jennifer waited anxiously for the report to come in. As The Brutes and Elites targeted their energy projectors at The Bismarck, pounding a single point in their shield grid as the Shiva missiles impacted around where The Brutes and Elites were striking. Jennifer watched as each Shiva missile made contact with the shields, but, her heart skipped a beat when the combined firepower of all three sides managed to punch a hole in the shield grid. Sensor Officer: Ma'am! We broke through. I am showing hull damage on The Bismarck! We have breached their ablative armor, and we have cut into their hull! Jennifer grinned, as she slammed both of her hands together, making a single clap. Jennifer: Son of a bitch! Jennifer grinned, as she looked at her tactical officer. Jennifer: Hit that ship with EVERYTHING we have! Do not give them an inch of breathing room! Jennifer grinned, as she turned back to the holotable. However, he grin faded, when she saw that The Bismarck began to return fire. Sensor Officer: Ma'am...we have incoming... The Sensor Officer paused. Sensor Officer: We have thousands of incoming warheads, mixed variety! We have Archers incoming on ONI Targets, and Shivas and HAVOKs going towards the Covenant ships. Auxiliary rail guns are also targeting The Covenant ships. The Consultant interjected. The Consultant: During the design process for The Bismarck, we found that combining intensive and concentrated fire between Shivas, HAVOKs, and railgun rounds, did wonders to severely damage Covenant shields. Jennifer: Noted. Jennifer looked at her tactical officer. Jennifer: Bring all point defense cannons online, and prioritize targets on those Shiva Warheads. Shoot down as many of those Shiva Warheads as you can. We cannot risk The Elites or The Brutes sustaining any significant casualties. The Consultant raised an eyebrow. The Consultant: That is being a little too generous with our lives, don't you think? We are the ones without shields. Jennifer: Be that as it may, we have to send a very clear message that we are serious about this alliance. Hopefully, they see it that way too. if we have to take a few scratches on our hull...so be it! The Consultant: A few? ============================================================= New Harmony – Planet Surface – Ruins of The City of Monastir – 1530 Hours - October 9th 2555 ============================================================= Xyrho: Very well, Rah'jesh. I will remain here with the Humans and the Brutes, and we will cover your flank. Make haste towards our Phantoms, and protect them. Xyrho then looked at Barrabus. Xyrho: We must also move towards our Phantoms. However, we must slow the advance of these clones, in order to buy Rah'jesh the time he needs to secure our evac! Barrabus: I am aware of that... Barrabus growled, as he fired off his Spikers, taking down an incoming Brute clone. Barrabus: We should regroup with my Honor Guards, to bolster our numbers. If we are to slow the advance of The Trust, we will need as many weapons as possible! Xyrho: Agreed! Director Vernette then spoke up. Vernette: I can move my forces in the same direction that your Spec-Ops Commander went. If we take the same path that he did, we should be able to more easily link up with the Honor Guards, cover the flank, and move towards the evac point, all at the same time. Xyrho: An excellent plan! Vernette nodded, as he then turned to face Nova Team, Corvo, and Cameron. Vernette: Corvo, Take Cameron and Nova Team, and begin to move out in the same direction that the Spec-Ops commander did. Barrabus, Xyrho, and I will cover you. Once you find a defensible position, hold it, and provide the three of us the cover we need to move out. Corvo: Understood sir. Corvo then looked at Cameron and Nova Team. Corvo: Alright boys! Move out! Follow the Spec-Ops Commander! Move fast and stay close! As soon as Corvo gave the order, Cameron stood up, and began to draw a bit of fire, layhing down a fully automatic barrage on The Elite and Brute clones. As Nova Team and Corvo left cover, and began to follow the path that Rah'jesh had taken just moments earlier, Cameron ceased his fire, and quickly caught up with them. At this point, Vernette, Xyrho, and Barrabus all took the opportunity to emerge from cover, and take down several clones, we precise and well aimed shots. Barrabus: Let's just hope that Rah'jesh is able to secure those Phantoms. If not, we will need to find an alternate path off this world.