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“Petty Officer, run through the obstacle course,” Dr. Halsey said. “We will proceed to fit the otherSpartans. We don’t have a great deal of time left.”
John snapped a salute without thinking. His hand bounced off his helmet and a dull ache throbbed in his
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hand. His wrist would be bruised. If his bones hadn’t been reinforced, he knew they would have beenpulverized.
“Carefully, Petty Officer. Very carefully, please.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
John focused his mind on motion. He leaped over a three-meter-high wall. He punched at concretetargets—shattering them. He threw knives, sinking them up to their hafts into target dummies. He slidunder barbed wire as bullets zinged over his head. He stood, and let the rounds deflect off the armor. Tohis amazement, he actually dodged one or two of the rounds.
Soon the other Spartans joined him on the course. Everyone ran awkwardly through the obstacles,though they had no coordination. John expressed his worries to Dr. Halsey. “It will come to you soonenough. You’ve already received some subliminal training during your last cryo sleep—” Dr. Halseytold them, “—now all you need is time to get used to the suits.”
More worrisome to John was the realization that they’d have to learn how to work together all overagain. Their usual hand signals were too exaggerated now—a slight wave or tremble translated into full-force punches or uncontrolled vibrations. They would have to use the COM channels for the time being.
As soon as he thought of this, his suit tagged and monitored the other MJOLNIR suits. Their standard-issue UNSC neural chip—implanted in every UNSC soldier at induction—identified friendly soldiersand displayed them on their helmet HUDs. But this was different—all he had to do was concentrate onthem, and a secure COM channel opened. It was extremely efficient.
And much to his relief, after drilling for thirty minutes, the Spartans had recovered all of their originalgroup coordination, and more.
On one level, John moved the suit and, in return, it moved him. On another level, however,communication with his squad was so easy and natural, he could move and direct them as if they werean extension of his body.
Over the hangar’s speakers, the Spartans heard Dr. Halsey’s voice: “Spartans, so far so good. If anyoneis experiencing difficulties with the suit or its controls, please report in.”
“I think I’m in love,” Sam replied. “Oh—sorry, ma’am. I didn’t think that was an open channel.”
“Flawless amplification of speed and power,” Kelly said. “It’s like I’ve been training in this suit foryears.”
“Do we get to keep them?” John asked.
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“You’re the only ones who can use them, Petty Officer. Who else could we give them to? We—” Atechnician handed her a headset. “One moment, please. Report, Captain.”
Captain Wallace’s voice broke over the COM channels. “We have contact with the Covenant ship,ma’am. Extreme range. Their Slipspace engines must still be damaged. They are moving toward us vianormal space.”