Matt-038 (Halo Fanfiction)

Chapter 68: Slipspace Battle

Author's Note: If you have any tips writing tips, please feel free to comment.

Again, I gratefully accept constructive criticism as a means to help me develop my skills further as a writer.

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Chapter 68: Slipspace Battle

Location: Captured Covenant dropship, near flagship Ascendant Justice, in anomalous Slipspace bubble

Date:Time Record Anomaly Error

Date Unknown

Time Unknown

The faintly blue luminous walls of the Covenant dropship pressed in, which made Matt feel slightly claustrophobic. It was ironic when he stopped to think about it because he was always inside his skin-tight armor. His fellow Spartans sat in the bay beside him, motionless.

John, Blue-Two for this mission, was Matt's second in command. He was a better leader than Matt ever would be. However, John had told him otherwise despite what had happened the previous times Matt had been in command.

Fred, designated Blue-Three on this mission, was Matt's third in command. He had fought in more than 120 campaigns, was a great leader and a quick thinker. Sometimes he took the responsibility of his command too seriously, though, empathizing too deeply with any wounded member of his team.

Li, Blue-Four, was the team's zero-gee combat specialist. He had trained extensively with microgravity equipment and martial arts at the UNSC's extreme-conditions facility on Chiron in orbit about Mars. He was as much at home in free fall as the rest of them were on solid land, and Matt was glad to have him on this mission.

Anton, Blue-Five, had Matt worried. He spent most of his life with his feet firmly planted on the ground. He'd cross-trained in tracking, camouflage, and stealth, and had been used almost exclusively on ground-based operations. More than once he had expressed discomfort in zero-gee situations.

Will, Blue-Six, was quiet but had never failed to complete his mission. He wasn't always that way, though. When he was younger he was the one with the jokes and riddles that kept the team's spirits high. Something had hardened in him over the years... as it had in them all. But with Will, something special had been lost.

Grace, Blue-Seven, had a knack for explosives. She could shape a charge to cut through a single steel bolt with only a whisper sound or rig a hundred thousand liters of kerosene to blow into a firestorm from hell. Ironically her temper was nonexistent.

Matt opened a COM channel. "Give me a systems check, Blue Team."

Six acknowledgment lights winked on.

"This reminds me of the underwater mission Chief Mendez sent us on at Emerald Cove," Fred whispered. "When he sabotaged half our air tanks? And we ended up stealing his."

"And after," Anton said, laughing, "we ditched him and camped on that island. It was a week with nothing to do but light bonfires, bake clams, and surf."

"Mmmmm," Grace added, "calamari."

Matt wondered if Emerald Cove even existed anymore. The UNSC had abandoned that colony a decade ago. The Covenant had most likely glassed that world.

"Blue Team." Polaski's voice broke over the COM. "Local conditions are as calm as they're going to get. Exiting in three... two... one!"

Matt felt the acceleration in the pit of his stomach. He rose, moved to the hatch, and popped it open.