The front of the ghost was covered in plasma grenades like barnacles on a whale. Monica steered it straight into the middle of the last group and as first grenade exploded, leaped out. A thumb activated the shield which she had placed under her feet like a surf board. The blue shield burned away in a hiss of whit-hot plasma but kept her personal shields safe from the brunt of the attack. The kinetic impact propelled her high into the sky.

Under her, the ghost exploded, engulfing the remaining covenant grunts in supercharged plasma. They barely had time to scream.

The Elites roared in frustration and rolled away but it was too late. Their shields flickered and failed. That was the opening she needed.

Still airborne, Monica grabbed her pistol and used her last two bullets to take down them down. From the sky, almost everything was a head shot.

She braced for impact and hit the ground like a meteor, sending a corona of sand high into the sky.

When she stood, O’riley breathed a sigh of relief.

It was over.