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| As they watched the eight other Spartans begin the battle, Johnson suggested that they destroy what the analysts believed to be {{Pattern|Mjern|agricultural support ship}}s, but Fred pointed out that they weren't even sure of that and the dome-topped vessels could be petting zoos for all they knew. Still, Johnson argued that could destroy all of the "petting zoos," and they'd be stuck without whatever they needed them for. However, Dr. Halsey walked over and informed the group that she had identified the fleet's munition supply vessels as the three large "[[Bladder ship|air-skimmer]]s" that were dipping in and out of Etalan's upper atmosphere. Despite having come to this conclusion only minutes after they had arrived on March 22, she explained that she had kept it to herself so as to not alert Nyeto and his subordinates—whom she had deduced were Insurrectionist spies—to their plan. Hearing this, Linda asked why the spies on the ''Vanishing Point'' were still living, but Halsey admitted that she did not know who the individual spies were and if there were any currently on the stealth cruiser. When she mentioned that the spies had managed to plant surveillance devices in her lab, Fred became concerned that they might have tampered with their armor. Eventually, Halsey admitted that they could have possibly accessed the maintenance module where the armor had been stored. Regardless, their armor appeared to be unmolested and Blue Team prepared to follow through on their part of the mission, now targeting the three "air-skimmers" instead.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}} | | As they watched the eight other Spartans begin the battle, Johnson suggested that they destroy what the analysts believed to be {{Pattern|Mjern|agricultural support ship}}s, but Fred pointed out that they weren't even sure of that and the dome-topped vessels could be petting zoos for all they knew. Still, Johnson argued that could destroy all of the "petting zoos," and they'd be stuck without whatever they needed them for. However, Dr. Halsey walked over and informed the group that she had identified the fleet's munition supply vessels as the three large "[[Bladder ship|air-skimmer]]s" that were dipping in and out of Etalan's upper atmosphere. Despite having come to this conclusion only minutes after they had arrived on March 22, she explained that she had kept it to herself so as to not alert Nyeto and his subordinates—whom she had deduced were Insurrectionist spies—to their plan. Hearing this, Linda asked why the spies on the ''Vanishing Point'' were still living, but Halsey admitted that she did not know who the individual spies were and if there were any currently on the stealth cruiser. When she mentioned that the spies had managed to plant surveillance devices in her lab, Fred became concerned that they might have tampered with their armor. Eventually, Halsey admitted that they could have possibly accessed the maintenance module where the armor had been stored. Regardless, their armor appeared to be unmolested and Blue Team prepared to follow through on their part of the mission, now targeting the three "air-skimmers" instead.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}} |
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| With the ''Vanishing Point'' nearing the designated drop-off point, John signaled Blue Team and Johnson to grab their HAVOKs and board their Banshees. Meanwhile, a remotely piloted Baselard powered up on the hangar deck just ahead of them. Moments before launch, a decoy flight of three manned Baselards soared past the hangar aperture with a Banshee squadron hot on their tails. The ''Vanishing Point'' cold-launched a salvo of pre-targeted [[Archer missile|M42 Archer missiles]], and an instant later, the remote Baselard shot out of the hangar. It fired its two Archer missiles at the Banshee squadron as the ''Vanishing Point''{{'}}s missiles activated and flew after the Banshees as well. The Banshees scattered, giving the three manned Baselards a chance to escape. John gave Blue Team the order to launch their Banshees and fall in behind the alien fighter squadron before firing on the remote-controlled Baselard until it self-destructed into a fireball that helped distract the Covenant forces as the ''Vanishing Point'' slipped away. Sangheili voices filled the cockpits of Blue Team's Banshees, no doubt questioning where they came from. When no response was given, a three Banshees broke from the main squadron to investigate the new arrivals at close range. However, John convinced the aliens that their communications equipment had been damaged by feigning communication with a wiggle of his Banshee.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS20|HSS|Chapter=20}}
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| Shortly after this, Gold and Green Teams deployed from their Baselards to attack the equipment freighters as planned. Moments later, the targeted freighters began exploding while panic ensued among the Covenant fighters and their [[Proselytization network|battlenet]]. The fourth explosion was so close to the Banshee squadron that they were all—including the Banshees piloted by Blue Team—disabled by the [[electromagnetic pulse]]. Since those escorting them no longer had the capability to intercept any of their transmissions, Fred exclaimed disgust at the Banshees' lack of radiation shielding over TEAMCOM. After some discussion, Blue Team decided that they would go EV and intercept the three air-skimmers as they passed by. John would board the first vessel, Kelly the second, and Fred the third while Linda and Johnson held back to cover them with their M99 Stanchions. Fred pointed out the absurd difficulty of reaching the vessels and then getting clear of the blast, to which Linda responded that technically they did not have to get clear, but she would miss Fred's wisecracks if he was killed. John ordered Linda and Johnson to focus on protecting Kelly and Fred, but Johnson refused as Linda had already decided that Johnson should cover John while she covered Fred and Kelly, who were close enough for her to support. Leaving the squadron of adrift Banshees behind, Johnson's HAVOK nuke—which he had left aboard his Banshee—detonated, killing any potential witnesses aboard the other craft and covering their approach for the air-skimmers. Meanwhile, the two escort prowlers arrived to recover Gold and Green Teams. Assuming the vessels were preparing for another attack run on the logistics fleet, the Covenant attacked the prowlers and the Baselards accompanying them. Nearing the lead bladder ship, John fired his [[thruster]]s to slow his approach, alerting the vessel's fighter screen to his presence. Eight Banshees began speeding toward him. Over fifty kilometers from the Banshees, Johnson scared one off with his Stanchion fire, but the rest continued on their course, starting to fire on John with their plasma cannons. When their shots were becoming a bit too accurate, John fired at them with the [[M301 grenade launcher|underbarrel grenade launcher]] on his [[MA5C assault rifle]]. It only halted their fire briefly, and they soon regained visual. Seeing that Johnson would not be able to take them all out at this range, John altered his flight path and accelerated toward the lead bladder ship. As he neared the vessel, he prepared his HAVOK with a timer and let it float next to him on the same trajectory. At seven kilometers above the ship, John activated his primary thruster, speeding away as fast as possible. The HAVOK detonated so close that it elevated his [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark IV|MJOLNIR armor]]'s exterior temperature well above the danger level.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS20}} Fred and Kelly likewise managed to destroy their targeted vessels before Blue Team was recovered by the ''Vanishing Point'' or its escort prowlers.{{Ref/Novel|Id=HSS21|HSS|Chapter=21}}
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