With a thump, the pelican landed in the hangar bay. The aft door dropped, and we stepped out. The Spartan bay on the Infinity was a madhouse of activity. Crimson had just returned ahead of us by just a little bit, as usual. What was unusual about this time was that they have Majestic with them, and another artifact.
"Looks like Crimson's building quite the collection of Forerunner artifacts," I remarked, not really surprised.
"Yeah. Maybe now Science would actually make some useful new gadgets for us to test," Ralph Stevens, the Spartan to my left, grumbled. He was a big man with a perpetual growl. He always seemed in a foul mood whenever we returned back to Infinty after an op. Probably something about always returning just after Crimson.
"Hey, come on man. Just because Crimson brings in all the Forerunner goods doesn't mean their better. It just means that they get all the cool stuff." Jack Robinson tried cheering him up. Didn't work, just as usuall. Robinson was the funny guy of the squad, or fireteam, or whatever this is. He had a comment for almost anything. I think he stays up most of the night just thinking up jokes and when they should be used for maximum effect. It had no use, everyone just ignores them anyways.
"Whatever, does it really matter? We're all on the same side anyways. Just as long as there is less Covies running around at the end of an op." Just what I expected from Mike Loman. All he seemed to care about was killing the Covies. I think it might have something to do with the fact that he watched the Covenant glass his home planet while he was ordered to withdraw. I think he just blamed himself.
"Officer on deck!" With my observation, the others snapped to position on the line. Commander Palmer walked up and returned the salute. "At ease, Atom. You did good today. Clearing out that Covie stronghold with no backup was impressive. You have the rest of the day off. I hope I can trust you enough not to get into much trouble."
"Yes, ma'am. We'll be good. Not sure how long though." Jack didn't seem to mind the glare I sent him. All I got was a little shrug.
"Good. And Spartan Thompson, your armor requisition is cleared. You might want to head down to the armory to pick up the armor." With that last remark, she walked away without waiting for a response. She walked over to where Crimson and Majestic we're waiting.
"Well, I'll see you guys later. Meet up at the mess in an hour?" With the commander gone, I turned to the others.
"Yeah, sure."
"Whatever."
"Don't be late."
I left the group, making my way to the back of the hangar. There was a tram set up that could take us where we wanted. It was a little while before I got to the armory, but it didn't matter. There were not too many pressing concerns in the armory. Usually it was just patching up holes in the armor or putting on a new coat of paint where it was burned off. The armor techs were waiting for me when I got off the tram.
"Spartan Nick Thompson?" The lead tech seemed satisfied with my small nod as confirmation of my identity. "Good. Now, if you'll follow me, we'll get that old armor off, and you can select the new pieces. Also, Science team asked me to add a few 'experimental' upgrades to your armor. When we're finished here, they want you to go see them on the science deck."
I sighed. "All right." It was a pain to go see them, they were a couple decks up and much farther aft from most of the attractions here on S-deck. It was always a fairly long trip.
I followed the head tech to one of the armor rigs. The large circles with robotic arms on them could assemble and deassemble the MJOLNIR armor much quicker than a tech with the right tools could. I stepped into the ring and let it reposition me, tilting back slightly so it could have better access to the armor. When it finished it's task, the arms with the armor pieces withdrew back into the floor, taking my old armor with it.
As I stepped out of the ring, the tech looked at me. "Science also requested that your undersuit get an upgrade as well. Something to do with more advanced crystalline layers and superconductors. Or something like that. Anyways, if you don't mind, you'll have to strip that undersuit. The new one is on that crate to the side." With that, the tech turned around, giving me some privacy. I quickly slipped out of the undersuit and put on the new one. Aside from being slightly thicker, there was no change. "Done."
"Good. Now i'll let you select your armor customizations then." I followed the scientist to a console. I keyed in my ID code, and the console opened up my available armor customizations. Deciding to try a new helmet, I picked the Pathfinder helmet. It had good visibility while providing less of a target than my old EVA helmet. I next chose HAZOP shoulder armor. The chestplate I decided on was the EVA, with the breach skin. I decided on the XG-89 Narrow armor for the legs, and the XV-27 Shifting armor for the forearms, customized with the circuit skin. With my selections confirmed, i walked back to the armor ring. I saw that the console needed verification three times from the tech before it was satisfied. All that did was make me wonder what sort of upgrades my armor would be getting.
Once I stepped back into the ring, it whirred up and began suiting me. After it was done, I stepped out and looked over my armor. Nothing really changed, it was still the steel grey color with ice blue highlights. Going to take off my helmet, I noticed something different about my right handplate. The palm had a small lens on it. I tried to ask the tech, but he didn't know what it was or what it was for. "I'm just here to make sure the machine doesn't malfunction again."
"Again? What do you mean 'again?'"
"Never mind, forget I said anything. Anyways, science is waiting for you."
"Right. I better get going. Thanks for your help."
With my new, slightly modified armor, I walked out of the armory and got back on the tram, this time headed for the elevators.
On the way, I called Jack. "I'm probably going to be late. Science made some additions to my armor, and they want to see me upstairs. Don't wait up."
"Yeah, sure. I'll tell the other guys. Any idea what the additions were, or when the rest of us can expect to get them?"
"No clue. I'm at the elevators now. I'll see you guys later."
Well, I'm back. Hopefully i won't abandon this one. If you have anyquestions about the story, ask. I'll try to answer any questions that don't have an impact on the plot or that I'm already planning on answering in the story. This story will have a similar voting system to the last one, but just to clarify, I'll state the rules.
1. Unless stated otherwise, you can only choose one option, no matter how many choices there are.
2. you get one voting entry per account, guest votes will be ignored.
3. Voting will last until I edit the chapter, saying that voting is closed. Most times that will be about a week. Results may or may not be posted.
4. You may either vote by submiting a review, or by PM to me. You choose.
5. In the vote submission, please include both the option letter or number and the option it's self. This will help eliminate confusion on my part.
Now that that's over, let's get on to the vote.
Vote #1: Shepard
This has gone on long enough. Look for results at the end of the third chapter