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CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

0519 Hours, August 30, 2552 (Military Calendar)

UNSC Pillar of Autu

John felt it in his stoht lateral acceleration--that becas The Pillar of Autue bay felt it as well; they paused as they unloaded equipment from crates and readied the cryo tubes for their journey

The lateral ines ruh the hull of the ship

Kelly approached hi to enter Slipspace?"

"So did I Have Fred and Joshua continue to prep the tubes Have Linda get a tea on"

"Aye, sir"

The Master Chiefon spaceships The lack of control was disturbing He and the other Spartans were just extra cargo in a space battle

He hesitated as he reached for the intercom If Captain Keyes was involved in so he needed was an interruption

He pressed the button "Cortana? We’ve changed course Is there a problem?"

Instead of her voice, however, Captain Keyes spoke over the channel: "Captain Keyes to Spartan 117"

He replied, "Here, sir"

"There’s been a change in plans," Keyes said There was a long pause "This will be easier to explain face-to-face I’m on my way down to brief you Keyes out"

John turned and the other Spartans snapped to their tasks Those without specific orders checked and rechecked their weapons and asseear

They had all heard the Captain, however The sound receivers in their armor could pick up a whisper at a hundred meters

And the Spartans didn’t have to be told this was trouble

John clicked on the monitor near the intercom The fore camera showed the Pillar of Autumn had indeed turned about Reach’s sun blazed in the center of the screen They were heading back

Was so with the ship? No Captain Keyes wouldn’t be co to brief hi

The elevator doors opened and Captain Keyes stepped off the lift

"Captain on the deck!" the Master Chief shouted

The Spartans stood at attention

"At ease," Captain Keyes said The expression on the Captain’s face suggested that "ease" was the last thing on his mind He smoothed his thumb over the antique pipe the Master Chief had seen hilanced at the other Spartans "Let’s talk in private,"

he told the Master Chief in a low voice He walked to the monitor over the intercom

"Sir," the Master Chief said "Unless you wish to leave the deck, the Spartans will hear everything we say"

Keyes looked at the Spartans and frowned "I see Very well, your squad ht as well hear this now, too I don’t kno they found Reach--they bypassed a dozen Inner Colony worlds to get here It doesn’t "

"Sir? ‘They’?"

"The Covenant" He turned to the intercom "Cortana, display the last priority Alpha transmission"

A communiqué flickered on screen, and the Master Chief read:

United Nations Space Command ALPHA PRIORITY TRANSMISSION 04592Z-83

Encryption Code:Red