Bullseye
The Pelican drifted through the energy shield covering the hangar, rotating as it did so to display the open ramp at its back. Standing inside was a small, four man squad of ODST’s and a woman who was very clearly ONI. She descended the ramp first, utterly oblivious to Tarbus who was watching her with a gaze so intense it could have melted the floor she walked on. The woman walked up in front of the Prophet.
”Gol Mron. Acting Lesser Prophet of Abiding Humility. I am here to take you into ONI custody pending charges for your unwarranted attack on the human colony of Rhodes.”
The Prophet said nothing. He merely stared at her with a look of distaste. It didn’t seem to phase her at all. The ODST’s lined up behind her. “Now. If you would please follow my honour guard here back onboard.” He still continued to just glare at her. Lucy watched as the spook gave her a subtle eye flick. The message was clear. ‘Encourage him to cooperate please.’
She nudged him in the back. He let out an annoyed noise but began moving the chair forward. Tarbus watched in abject silence. Every hair on his body bristling at what was happening, and how he was powerless to stop it. The ONI agent re-boarded the Pelican first, offering her hand in an inviting gesture to the Prophet. He scowled at the false niceties but obliged. Only once they were securely inside did Lucy remove the blade from his neck. She no longer needed to threaten him. The ODST’s had that covered as they marched back up the ramp, half of them pointing their guns towards him.
Tom was the last to board. He stood on the end of the ramp and nodded back to Tarbus. “Pleasure doing business with you.” Lucy could tell the Chieftain wanted nothing more than to tear his head off. Tom backed up the ramp and continued to stare at the brute as the hatch sealed closed.
”We’re all aboard.” the ONI operative said into her wrist. “Punch it.” The Pelican shook violently as it lifted quickly off the deck and rocketed out of the cruisers hangar.
Tom opened a line to Wanzay. “Commander. The Prophet is secured and we’re aboard the Pelican, heading for the rendezvous. ”
A full few seconds passed before he replied. “Good. Our sensors are still indicating that the cruiser’s shields are down. Open the Pelican’s rear door so the Prophet can see this.”
“Sir?” Tom asked.
“Comply with the order Spartan.”
“Yes sir.” Tom said. Lucy could hear it in his voice. He was ready to move onto the next assignment, and to be as far away from commander Wanzay as it could put him. He reached over and struck the hatch release with the side of his fist.
“What are you doing!?” the ONI spook demanded, standing up from her mission of reading a long litany of charges to the Prophet, a list he seemed supremely disinterested in.
“Following orders.” Tom replied. “Hey holy one! Over here! Commander wants you to see this.” The Prophet turned around with a great look of disdain written across his face. Beyond the hatch could be seen the receding bulk that was the cruiser. “What do you vermin insist upon now-“ he began.
A loud crack filled the air. The sound of something smashing through the atmosphere. A second later a MAC round broke the cloud layer above and smashed into the ship. It detonated its high explosive yield before it could exit the other side. Explosions ripped their way down the length of the vessel, ripping her apart from stem to stern. An overwhelming sense of satisfaction overcame Lucy. That Chieftain would never get his chance for revenge now. She looked back to see a look of abject horror on the Prophet’s face. An even greater sense of satisfaction washed over her at the sight.
A series of whooping noises escaped the ODST’s as what was left of the cruiser lost the ability to maintain altitude and plummeted into the vitrified earth below, crashing down beside the smoking ruins of the Jovian. A great plume of fine microglass particles blustered up over the wreck, carried upward in the enormous dust cloud it jettisoned skyward.
“I believe the commander has made his point.” the ONI spook said to the Prophet. She was quick on the uptake apparently. “Continued resistance on your part is no longer a fruitful endeavour. I hope you will be more compliant moving forward.”
The Prophet simply continued to gaze aghast at the ruins of his tiny empire. Lucy looked at Tom and he looked back at her. She nudged her head at the door control. He nodded and pressed it again. The aft door sealed shut once more.
“So.” the spook said. “Now that we have your full and undivided attention, ONI has a few questions for you.” The Prophet seemed to be lost in a world of his own thoughts. He was completely oblivious to everyone around him. The spook rolled her eyes and looked at Lucy. “Can I get some assistance here Spartan?”
Lucy nodded and reached towards the Prophet. As her gauntleted hand approached him, he returned to his senses with a jerk, recoiling away from her. She pointed at the spook behind him. He simply glowered at her with a mix of hatred and revulsion. Tom sighed. He placed his hand on the side of the chair and physically rotated it himself. The Prophet’s gaze snapped to him as he was turned around. Even after the spin had ended, and his chair was settled, the prophet continued to glare at him. The spook snapped her fingers loudly. The Prophet’s head snapped to look at her.
“Listen here Gol. ONI has questions for you. And you're going to answer them. I have a very long list of them here. From learning what you were excavating, to uncovering what your long term plans were. My superiors are all very interested to learn these things. And with time they most assuredly will. But one question stands out above them all. By far the most pressing mystery on even ONI’s lips. And one which only you can answer.” She paused to square the Prophet’s eyes with her own. “Where are the rest of the San’Shyum?”
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