Chapter Text
The Valhalla was quiet, as the entire crew had abandoned ship on my order, I out of habit more than anything adjusted my uniform asking the Smart AI "Harken, what's that status of the enemy ships?"
The Image of the Ancient Viking King appeared, resting on his War axe he answered "Covenant ships are still CBDR, with the Valhalla, Admiral, they are rather upset after you mocked their gods and challenged them to come kill you."
Yes well I would much rather be on Reach safely behind a desk, but apparently I'm a "Tactical Genius" and "our only hope of holding the Covies back." I mean I knew I was unpopular after that whole misunderstanding involving nuclear warheads and a false surrender. But to think Command wanted me dead this badly. My Palms itch as the Valhalla adjusted itself in the upper part of the gas giant, looking out the windows of the bridge, I saw the rapidly approaching forms of the Covenant fleet, carrying enough firepower to glass a planet and coming to kill me.
A gentle voice says from behind me "Tea Admiral?"
I turn around and see my ever faithful and constantly below hygiene standards Aid, Feric Jurgen, who I am quite sure ordered onto a pelican when the Battle Group made a break for it, when my Genius plan to use the Gas Giant had not worked and now I'm doing something very stupid that will kill me.
As if reading my mind he stated simply "my place is by your side Admiral."
Well that was touching, it was a shame his loyalty was to a coward who was probably going to get him killed, taking the cup I sip the tea, the refreshing and bitter taste of Tanna fills my mouth, and I smile "thank you Feric." Normally I much prefer to maintain professionalism, but odds are we are about to die anyway, Harkon reported "Nuclear Armaments are ready for deployment Admiral."
I lean forward placing my cup down "stand by to launch."
The Convenient started to lock onto us as I said "fire everything!"
Hundreds of Nuclear Missiles fly out of the Valhalla and into the Gas Giant, my palms itch like mad, as I brace myself as Harkon says "stand by for slip space jump."
The Nukes go off, starting a chain reaction that is about to turn the Gas Giant into a star if only for a few seconds, but that will be all it takes.
I brace as the Gas Giant flares and I wonder if we will jump away in time.
Edited and Annotated by Amberly Vail, Office of Naval Intelligence:
Ciaphas Cole, as a historic figure is often remembered for his genius in void warfare and unflinching bravery, he is the hero of the UNSC, this is accurate, although it is noted, that Cole would not see himself that way.
In fact as you read this memoir it is highly likely you will come away with the impression that Cole was among the greatest cowards to ever wear a UNSC uniform, I ask you to take not Cole's words at face value, and instead look at his actions.
For in that form his true character will emerge.
"We are your salvation through destruction." the recording played, as I frowned, "Sir…what exactly did I just listen to?"
Admiral Monstrue ended the recording explaining "what you just heard Cole, was the sole message sent to UNSC Battle Group 4, when they went to make contact with the colony of Harvest after we lost contact with it. All but one of the ships was destroyed."
My palms started to itch "and you are sharing this with me because I am to lead the counter attack?"
Monstrue nodded "CENTCOM and ONI, agreed your the man for the Job, Rear Admiral…congratulations on your promotion."
Yea, some promotion, I can see this for what it is, I am expandable, a largely disgraced but still talented officer, if I succeed, all the better, but if I get my ass kicked, I get blamed for everything. Refusing an order like this is a great way to get unpersoned by ONI and they know it. (1)
"I understand sir…" I say with as much pride as I can manage, I made it through Officer training and my time on the front lines through dumb luck and far too much enthusiasm.
Monstrue handed over a pad "you have been put in command of the Valhalla, and of Battle Group X-Ray, you have 40 ships under your Command Rear Admiral…you are to retake the skies over Harvest, understood?"
I saluted, Monstrue, managing to somehow keep the bitter expression on my face "I wont let you down sir."
(1) : Cole is mostly correct about why he was chosen politically, but he neglected to mention that is well known for tactical improvisation and skills in dealing with the unknown and unexpected, an invaluable skill when fighting at the time unknown aliens.
I left Monstrue's office with a new set of stars on my shoulders and a grating desire to go back to my obscure office, the smell hit me before I could see him, as my ever odious aid asked "did you have a good meeting Rear Admiral?"
How exactly my ever foul smelling aid found out about my "promotion" when I only found out about it less than 5 minutes ago, would be concerning, but I have long gotten used to Jurgen somehow knowing about things before anyone tells him. "I have been assigned a Battle Group command." I say with little enthusiasm
Jurgen nodded pensively "makes sense Sir." As if my disgrace and last few years behind a desk were a mistake, the UNSC finally got around to rectifying, instead of the one piece of good luck I ever had.
I fold my arms behind my back in a pose that I hope makes me look like the wise and regal Admiral I pretend to be, saying "Jurgen, I want to be ready to depart within the day, how soon can I have my things aboard the Valhalla?" While I have no real desire to rush off and face powerful aliens, I need to go quickly otherwise the Admirals would accuse me of stalling for time. (2)
Jurgen said simply "I will have you packed and ready to depart within the hour Admiral."
In spite of myself a small smile crosses my face, I don't deserve Jurgen truly, he is the finest Aid a man could ask for. "Thank you Jurgen, please see to it, I want to inspect my new ship."
Jurgen shrugs "just doing my duty sir, see you in the black." he promptly saluted, before departing to handle the task of bringing what I have to my new ship.
(02): this is just Ciaphas being paranoid, no one expected him to make ready as fast as he did.
I requested a pelican from the Valhalla, and one arrived rather promptly which is always a good sign, at least the brass did not stick me with a green crew, or at least the kind of ship that has been sitting in dry dock for years, not doing anything but looking pretty as part of Reach's defense fleet.
I boarded the Pelican returning the salute from the pilot before blasting off towards the ship, the fact she is called the Valhalla is not terribly encouraging (3) still I was pleasantly surprised when I saw her out of the window. She was a Valiant Class Battle Cruiser (4) just over a Kilometer and half long, and equipped with every kind of weapon the UNSC has, it was clear that while I am a scape goat, someone somewhere, wants me to succeed, or at least succeed enough, to not give me a ship made from chewing gum and duct tape.
(03): Valhalla is the name of the Viking after life, usually reserved for warriors who die in great battle.
(04): Cole refers to the Valiant class as a Battle Cruiser as opposed to its actual designation of Super Heavy Cruiser; this is fairly common among Naval officers.
The Valhalla drops out of Slip-space in Epsilon Indi, the rest of the battle group appearing around us, as one of the bridge crew called "Admiral, single unidentified ship in orbit, it matches the reports given about the enemy."
"All ahead forward…we are going to slingshot using Harvest's gravity…" I ordered carefully, this was not right…just one ship, they had an entire battle group waiting for us before. The ships roar forward, flinging us around the planet and towards the Enemy ship it was big, bigger than the Valhalla by about 500 meters. (5)
We closed in and I closed my eyes before ordering "fix Baynots!"
"Aye Sir, all ships opening fire." Someone reported as MAC rounds and Archer missiles filled the air flying towards the enemy ship.
Jurgen handed me a cup saying "Tea Admiral?" I find that Tanna is not only a relaxing beverage but the crew in general benefits from me looking like I am calm and in control. Helps them think I know what I am doing at least.
I accept the cup with a simple "thank you Jurgen." I took a sip of the delicate testing Tanna, before the bridge reported "all rounds impacted…no effect Admiral…some kind of Energy field stopped our rounds."
Well that is just cheating, "enemy ship is opening fire…multiple friendly ships hit, returning fire…no effect." the reports echo in the bridge. It was clear something had to change or we were done.
"Are the enemy shooting through their shield?" I ask, narrowing my eyes, my palms itching.
A second later someone replied "no sir, it seems there is a gap every time the ship opens fire."
"All ships, target the shield opening…we hit it all together." I say with as much gusto as I can manage, my hands calmly and itching up a storm.
A strike of purple flies past the window, as MAC Rounds, and archer missiles open fire again, the report came in "Hit! minor damage to enemy ship! " They just took 40 MAC's!? "Enemy ship CBDR Admiral! They are getting ready to fire again! Admiral Recommend a retreat!" tempting, but No I am the scape goat for this after all, if I order a retreat the blow back will not be pretty, and I doubt it will be contained to just me. It was do or die time.
I exhale, ordering "all ships load Shiva's, and launch them into the shield opening!" if dozens of nukes are not enough to stop this damn ship nothing will be.
"aye Admiral…this is a Nuclear Mission order…" The bridge is tense, as the nukes are loaded across the battle group.
More purple streaks fly by as damage reports come in from the Battle Group. "Launch!" I order in a commanding voice. As the nukes are launched from every still active ship towards the purple alien vessel.
"Impact in ten seconds sir…9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1…impact." there was a bright white flash and for a second the entire bridge held its breath. I watch the radar screen, currently radiation blanked, my palms itched…before it updated. "Target destroyed sir…"
I let out an exhale as the bridge cheered around me, I sip my Tanna to calm my own nerves, 27 ships were undamaged, one took minor damage, all others were destroyed…and that was against just one ship.
(5): the ship in question is a Rasus-pattern interdictor, also known as the Covenant battle ship.
"Stand down General Quarters…good work everyone, start Search and Rescue, see if any of our people from the ships that got hit made it." I sip my tea, willing my hands to stop shaking, maybe with this victory, the UNSC will not need me as a scapegoat anymore. Search and rescue began, as the Battle group made ready to jump back to Reach for repairs and Debrief, with any luck, this will be the last we see of those aliens.