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Halo Lighting System First Strike Games User Manual

Page 128

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124

HALO: FIRST STRIKE

always kept her admiration for her Spartans to herself. The last

thing she wanted was to do make them feel different. They got

enough "special" treatment from everyone else.

Dr. Halsey picked up a clipboard, tapped a few items onto

its display, and handed it to Fred. "New weapons arrived for

field-testing last week," she told him, "as well as parts for the

MJOLNIR Mark Five armor system. We'll swap them out for

your damaged components. Kalmiya, show them the way, please,

and give them access to the restricted areas."

"Yes, Doctor," Kalmiya said. The med bay doors opened.

"This way."

Fred studied the items on the clipboard. "Very, very good," he

said, and his voice was thick with satisfaction. He nodded, took a

long look at his teammates, and then he and Will departed.

Dr. Halsey returned to her medical readouts. "Vinh, you have

a torn deltoid muscle, three broken fingers, and a herniated disk.

Isaac, internal contusions and both shoulders have been dislo-

cated and reinserted incorrectly, which is pinching off the blood

vessels. I'll get you both fixed up in a moment, but first I want

you to survey the route we took here and suggest further perimeter

defenses."

"Yes, ma'am," they replied, cast a look at Kelly, and left.

Dr. Halsey concentrated on Kelly's internal scans. Her injuries

were by far the worst. She had seen that from the extremely low

blood pressure and high body temperature even before she'd

glanced at the MRI. There was moderate bleeding in her liver— a

fatal condition if not treated—and her right lung was com-

pletely collapsed. That the woman was still on her feet, let alone

fighting, was tantamount to an act of God.

Of course, that's what the SPARTAN-II project was all about,

wasn't it? Playing God for the greater good.

"Doctor Halsey," Kelly asked. "Where are the others?"

"As I said, they evacuated," she replied. "On the table, please.

I'm going to perform some minor repairs."

Kelly complied. "Then why aieyou still here, ma'am?"

Dr. Halsey picked up a curved, long-handled magnetic wrench,

built specifically to fit this, and only this, access panel. She in-

serted it and popped open a fist-sized section of Kelly's battered