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The Howling

Ark Subspace, "USNC Frigate Instinct and Behavior"

"Captain, there's nothing here now. They're gone."

It was as if someone had turned the detonate dial. Many Covenant and UNSC ships had entered the portal, but three had survived the supernova. The Marathon cruiser Shadow of Light, frigate Instinct and Behavior, and Forward Unto Dawn. Many human survivors were still floating within reaches of the Ark debris.

"Scan the danger zone one time."

Captain Mackenzie Smith had seen everything. Her bridge crew were just as traumatized as she was. What they feared most was that no one made it out of the blast zone.

"Ma'am. Scan registered two possible contacts. Here," The left forward view screen brightened. "And here."

The first contat resembled a Covenant Battlecruiser, but then again, there were more Loyalist and Seperatist ships in the system. The second resembled the shape of a long extinct Hammerhead shark without the fins and tail. Internal scans read stable atmosphere and active power cores. An intraternal scan of the gutted database concluded the ship was a stealth cruiser.

"What the armament status of both cruisers?" Smith asked.

Minutes passed slowly.

"Longrange scans can't conclude much at this range." Layla, the ships AI replied.

Mackenzie brought her left hand up to her forehead as if to rub it, slouched forward with her head in hand.

"Ma'am. I suggest we leave the system. Sensors show a large mass merging upon the Ark." The AI informed with bitterness.
"Forward screen, now!" Mackenzie ordered.

The mass was larger now. Much larger.