Harvest Files: Arizona

Chapter 3: Suit Up

CHAPTER 3: Suit Up

A few days ago...

Zona sat up in his bunk abruptly after hearing the docking ring open. Another figure stepped in, this one not wearing armor. He wore the standard black outfit of the CIC with a large grey stripe down his sides. He had light brown hair and a stern look in his eyes. Arizona slumped back down.

"Oh, come for a visit Org?" Agent Oregon sighed out of annoyance.

"Zona, you know you should be standing at attention. A superior officer just entered the room." It was Arizona's turn to sigh out of annoyance as he stood as straight as he could and mocked a salute at Oregon. Org was still somewhat annoyed by this gesture.

"Zona, we have a new mission. Stop moping around and get your gear together. Briefing's in 20 minutes, so don't be late." As Oregon turned and walked out, Arizona let out an exasperated sigh and walked back to the cargo area, where he would step in the middle of a large, thin ring lined with robotic arms each equipped with a piece of Arizona's armor.

Arizona slipped off his shirt and jogging pants before tossing his untied boots into the corner of the room with a similar pair of boots. Underneath his clothes was a skin tight black gel-layer suit that separated his armor from his skin.

He slipped his feet into the boots on the floor, signaling the machine to whir and start up. The boots clamped around as four more mechanical arms brought his leg armor to his legs and clamped them on, taking extra care of the cod piece. He then slipped his hands, arms extended, into two gauntlets on either side, two arms securing the gauntlets while four more clamp on the rest of his armor on the arms. Two larger robotic arms unfolded and detached the main torso armor from the panel located behind him and clamped each piece on. Once his torso piece was secured, two smaller arms secured his shoulder pads on. Another arm descended and secured the helmet around his head.

Once his armor was fully equipped, the Heads Up Display in his helmet activated. He stepped out of the ring and walked over to a weapon crate, grabbing an MA37 assault rifle, M45 Tactical Shotgun, 3 frag grenades that he clipped to his belt, two plasma grenades he clipped to the back of his belt, and his trusty tungsten-infused titanium katana in its sheathe, that he clipped to his back. He checked that his Active Camouflage system was working, switching it on for five seconds before switching it back off.

Having all the gear he needed for this mission, he stepped out of the cargo area and walked along the Requiem's interior until he reached the docking hatch, where he exited the Requiem and walked towards the elevator at the end of the hall. Calling it, he slung the MA37 over his shoulder while he waited. When it opened, he stepped inside and pressed a key to the combat level and waited for the elevator to get moving.

Stepping out of the elevator, he entered the briefing room, where Oregon had already gathered Agent North Dakota, Agent Washington, and Agent Tennessee around the holotable, which displayed a large dam-like structure dotted with machine gun positions, artillery positions, and other forms of gun emplacements.

"Ah, Arizona, about time you showed up. I was about to begin the briefing. Take a place at the table." Arizona did as instructed and walked over by North. Oregon began the briefing.

"Alright gentlemen, this is a UNSC hydroelectric dam that has been taken over by Insurrectionist forces. This wouldn't be a significant target if it didn't supply power for a nearby UNSC nuke storage facility, which is currently running on emergency power and probably won't hold out much longer. If the power goes out, so do the security systems, which would mean-"

"Which would mean the Innies get free nukes," interrupted Tennessee.

"Precisely. We're splitting you guys into two teams of two: Team 1 and Team 2. Team 2 will distract the guards while Team 1 slips in quietly and switches the generators back on. Once that is complete, Team 1 will make their way back to Team 2 and regroup. Once you have, you are to steal a Warthog and a Scorpion and get down to the nuke storage facility and deal with the Innies assaulting the compound. Team 1 will consist of North and Zona. Team 2 will be Tenn and Wash. Any questions?" Wash and North raised their hands.

"Yes, North?"

"Org, we could just have Theta or Sigma get into their systems and switch the power back on without infiltrating."

"I know we could, North, but the director wants these guys taken out before they do anything drastic to get those nukes. Infiltration should be quiet until Team 2 causes a distraction. Understood?" Everyone nodded.

"Alright then, let's get this done and over with."