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Johnson suggested that they destroy what the analysts believed to be [[Mjern-pattern agricultural support ship|agricultural support ship]]s, but Fred pointed out that they weren't even sure of that and they could be petting zoos for all they knew. 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. When she revealed that she had realized this when they first arrived four days ago, Johnson questioned why she had waited so long to tell them this. Halsey 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 that there could be spies still on the ''Vanishing Point'', Linda asked why they were still living. To this, Halsey explained that she did not know who the individual spies were or if they were even on the ship at the moment. Despite Blue Team's worries that the spies might have gotten access to their armor, they prepared to follow through on their part of the mission, now targeting the three air-skimmers instead.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}} | Johnson suggested that they destroy what the analysts believed to be [[Mjern-pattern agricultural support ship|agricultural support ship]]s, but Fred pointed out that they weren't even sure of that and they could be petting zoos for all they knew. 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. When she revealed that she had realized this when they first arrived four days ago, Johnson questioned why she had waited so long to tell them this. Halsey 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 that there could be spies still on the ''Vanishing Point'', Linda asked why they were still living. To this, Halsey explained that she did not know who the individual spies were or if they were even on the ship at the moment. Despite Blue Team's worries that the spies might have gotten access to their armor, they prepared to follow through on their part of the mission, now targeting the three air-skimmers instead.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS19}} | ||
As the ''Vanishing Point'' neared the drop-off point, John gave the signal for Blue Team and Johnson to grab their HAVOKs and board their Banshees. Meanwhile, a remotely piloted Baselard powered up on the hangar deck ahead of them. Moments before launch, a decoy flight of three Baselards streamed past the hangar aperture with a Banshee squadron on their tails. The ''Vanishing Point'' cold-launched a salvo of pre-targeted [[Archer missile|M42 Archer missiles]], using compressed air to push them from their launch tubes, 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 panicked and scattered, giving the three manned Baselards a chance to escape. John gave Blue Team the order to launch | As the ''Vanishing Point'' neared the drop-off point, John gave the signal for Blue Team and Johnson to grab their HAVOKs and board their Banshees. Meanwhile, a remotely piloted Baselard powered up on the hangar deck ahead of them. Moments before launch, a decoy flight of three Baselards streamed past the hangar aperture with a Banshee squadron on their tails. The ''Vanishing Point'' cold-launched a salvo of pre-targeted [[Archer missile|M42 Archer missiles]], using compressed air to push them from their launch tubes, 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 panicked and scattered, giving the three manned Baselards a chance to escape. John gave Blue Team the order to launch their five Banshees and fall in behind the alien fighter squadron before firing on the remote-controlled Baselard until it self-destructed into a large fireball to 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 one responded, a trio of Banshees broke from the main squadron to investigate the new arrivals visually. However, John was able to convince 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}} | ||
Shortly after this, Gold and Green Teams deployed from Baselards to attack the equipment freighters as planned. Moments later, the freighters began exploding while the Covenant fighters and [[Proselytization network|battlenet]] began to panic. 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 the craft escorting them no longer had the capability to intercept transmissions, Fred-104 exclaimed his disgust at the Banshees' lack of radiation shielding over [[TEAMCOM]]. After some discussion, it was decided that Blue Team would go EV from their derelict Banshees and intercept the three air-skimmers as they passed by. John-117 would board the first vessel, Kelly-087 the second, and Fred-104 the third while Linda and Johnson held back to cover them with their M99 Stanchions. However, Linda questioned how they planned to bypass the vessels' energy shields. John explained that since the air-skimmers were still retracting their collection cones, he believed that their shields had to be down while skimming gas. They simply had to reach the vessels before the cones were fully retracted. John ordered Linda and Johnson to focus on protecting Kelly and Fred, but Johnson refused. Linda explained that she was close enough to Fred and Kelly to cover them most of the way, and Johnson told John that he needed to get over his hero complex. John began to argue, but Johnson stated that he was already committed to the vector he was on and there was no way for him to turn back. As John grew angrier, Linda interjected, informing John that it was her who made the snap decision that Johnson would cover him, and that John could yell at her later. 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.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS20}} | Shortly after this, Gold and Green Teams deployed from Baselards to attack the equipment freighters as planned. Moments later, the freighters began exploding while the Covenant fighters and [[Proselytization network|battlenet]] began to panic. 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 the craft escorting them no longer had the capability to intercept transmissions, Fred-104 exclaimed his disgust at the Banshees' lack of radiation shielding over [[TEAMCOM]]. After some discussion, it was decided that Blue Team would go EV from their derelict Banshees and intercept the three air-skimmers as they passed by. John-117 would board the first vessel, Kelly-087 the second, and Fred-104 the third while Linda and Johnson held back to cover them with their M99 Stanchions. However, Linda questioned how they planned to bypass the vessels' energy shields. John explained that since the air-skimmers were still retracting their collection cones, he believed that their shields had to be down while skimming gas. They simply had to reach the vessels before the cones were fully retracted. John ordered Linda and Johnson to focus on protecting Kelly and Fred, but Johnson refused. Linda explained that she was close enough to Fred and Kelly to cover them most of the way, and Johnson told John that he needed to get over his hero complex. John began to argue, but Johnson stated that he was already committed to the vector he was on and there was no way for him to turn back. As John grew angrier, Linda interjected, informing John that it was her who made the snap decision that Johnson would cover him, and that John could yell at her later. 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.{{Ref/Reuse|HSS20}} | ||