Michael Harrier heard an alarm go off in the Tracking Console. This was important news. A large contact had slipped into the area.
He took some biofoam on his wounds and limped towards the station. The sensors picked up the ship. A light appeared on the Communications console nearby.
Limping over, Michael listened to the incoming message.
Greetings comrades, my name is Vladimir Korovin and I would just love to make deals with all of you, what shall we discuss then?
We carry goods of all kinds. Weapons, spare parts, food, raw materials, televisions, plot devices, anything you can imagine! The only thing that isn't for sale is me and the ship! It is a very heavy Battleship that weighs several thousand metric tonnes, it has several fusion powered cannons (six in fact, four of them can fire forwards while the other two alternate between side and back). It also carries several hundred conventional medium range missiles and a dozen long range missiles, as well as 5 nuclear missiles. We also carry a sizable squadron of fighters (about 70 fighters). The ship itself is over 300 meters long, 50 meters wide and 60 meters high. Our armor is made from thick titanium, which hardens our ship from all but nuclear or continuous heavy conventional attacks.
Our crew consists of several hundred people from the Crossroads colony. They are fiercely loyal to me and the Red Syndicate and also have a deep abiding love of wealth. The crew helps to man the weapons, deal with sales, track incoming ships, and keep in contact with Crossroads.
As for our standing, we are mercenaries/arms dealers/traders/bankers. We don't take sides unless there is money to be made. We are neutral unless attacked first, or bribed into war. We will be sure to show up at every war zone peddling our wares
"Merchants. At a time like this, we get Merchants" Michael snorted. He took a deep breath and made a reply:
"This is temporary commander of the UNSC Column of Nuclear Winter. We've lost our AI system, most of the Bridge crew and our Captain has been captured. The second in command has not returned from her mission. We're in serious trouble. Our ship is drifting towards the nearest star and I don't know what to do to stop it. If you're selling things, can you sell me a solution? We've got nanite packs in our cargo bay if you're interested in trading, but we won't be for long if this shift keeps drifting"
I hope it works, he thought and then limped back to the weapons station to continue point defence.
Onboard The Infernal Mist
Lashee threw a plasma grenade into the next corridor. It stuck onto a Grunt. "It's stuck! Oooh ah! Get it offa me!" he screamed and ran towards his comrades.
"No! Run the other way idiot!" the Brute in charge yelled.
BOOM! Several Grunts were sent flying and the Brute's armour and shields were taken off in the explosion.
With a roar, the Brute charged towards the Elite. Lashee grabbed him by the neck and snapped it, overpowering the iron grip of the Brute with ease. "15th and the strongest" she commented, walking past the corpses and the blood splatters all over the wall.
Grigor said "I don't get what you mean ma'am"
"It's my species. I'm the 15th experiment. The other 14 were failures. Never lived long or at all" Lashee explained "I'm the lucky one"
"Oh" Grigor replied and left it at that.
It's nice to know a few things about your fellow crew members. That's what Captain Dragonhelper said
A Brute Mauler went off near him. Grigor turned and aimed his Spartan Laser. He then lowered it. A black Special Ops Grunt was holding the Mauler and he wasn't firing at the two soldiers. He was aiming at a wall. "Just wanted to signal you guys. My radio is broken" the Grunt squeaked.
"Welcome to the party Chuck. Did you bring the vodka?" Grigor said
"I didn't know this was a special occasion. I sure hope there's a food nipple waiting for me back on starship" Chuck replied.
"You have worked up a big Grunty thirst. It's you alright, come on, we've got a traitor to put to justice" Grigor said.
"It's not a traitor you'll have to put down. Debra has fallen victim to the Flood and has our Captain" Chuck explained "During the distraction and realisation of their leader, my captors let me out of their grip. In the confusion, I fled the Control Room. Captain Dragonhelper didn't follow me out. He must still be trapped in the Bridge or..."
"Or what?" Grigor asked, then regretted doing that. "Oh... I see... shoot! We better hurry!"
Grigor, Lashee and Chuck headed for the Control Room. Chuck knew the quickest route as they crossed the third floor of the fighter bay. In a nearby cluster of crates, Chuck threw a grenade in. "Can't be too careful. Something might ambush us there" he said.
The destroyed Pelican was still on the deck, but a Phantom was hovering over it.
Brutes and Jackals were fleeing towards the Phantom. An incoming rocket smashed into the side of the dropship and one of the side cannons were blown off.
Just then, a fuel rod gun barrage hit the Phantom from the roof. Smaller explosions rippled across the skin and there was a loud whirring as the reactors went critical.
The Phantom then exploded into a bright blue fireball and smashed onto the deck. Flood combat forms quickly filled it up.
Lashee mumbled something. Grigor stared for a few seconds then went up to one of the doors. It opened with a dull hum and a Grunt's body was sent flying out from it. A Flood Tank form was in the room. It saw the gathered soldiers and picked up a strong scent from Lashee.
It roared in delight and charged. However, at this time, Grigor was charging up the Spartan Laser. With a WHOOMPH! it smashed a giant laser into the Flood form and cut it in half.
"You've got to be careful. Flood smell Lashee, Flood get Lashee. They don't care about everyone else when they smell her" Chuck said
"You mean we're walking around with a 8ft tall Flood Dinner?" Grigor asked
"Quite correct. But combat forms I can handle. The Infection Forms, they're nasty. They are the only real threat to my species. In seconds, they can kill us. It has been worked out that a second after attachment, it's an injury, will heal over time, two seconds, it's a serious injury which diminishes strength and takes longer to heal, three, we're in a short coma, four, it's a long coma and five is death. Flood can't control us like you guys can be, but they sure find us a good meal." Lashee explained.
"You heard the lady. We're killing ALL infection forms and any Flood Pure Form that's in that big Tank Form. They can spew out Infection Forms" Chuck said to Grigor. "And try not to take their arms off. That will cause the Infection Form inside to eject"
The corridors to the Bridge though were covered in a green slime and green pods were popping out of the walls. "We can only hope Captain Dragonhelper is human. It's a most likely chance he's been infected and brought to the Flood's side" Lashee said.
Elsewhere on the Mist
Raffja was heading for the Phantom Dropship. However, he was on the third floor of the fighter bay. He was about to open a set of doors when they did so themselves. He quickly took cover behind a series of stacked up crates and observed the incoming figures.
A gas-sucker, a human and one of those Separatist scum, he thought. He raised his Carbine and was ready to fire at the human, when a grenade was thrown into the cluster of crates. Thinking fast, Raffja ducked into the nearest open crate and sealed the lid. The humming of a Plasma Grenade went off and scorched the lid of crate.
Raffja made a loud scream, imitating dying and it seemed the figures kept moving. He waited a few units and got out from the crate. The figures were gone.
I should tail them. That gas-sucker looked familiar, he thought. He then recalled the brief moment he saw the Grunt. "A UNSC logo on his uniform! That was Paypay! I better make him pay!" he whispered and headed towards the Control Room...
It is a very heavy Battleship that weighs several thousand metric tonnes, it has several fusion powered cannons (six in fact, four of them can fire forwards while the other two alternate between side and back). It also carries several hundred conventional medium range missiles and a dozen long range missiles, as well as 5 nuclear missiles. We also carry a sizable squadron of fighters (about 70 fighters). The ship itself is over 300 meters long, 50 meters wide and 60 meters high. Our armor is made from thick titanium, which hardens our ship from all but nuclear or continuous heavy conventional attacks.
