As many times as Aviza had sat upon her bed and watched the stars shift elegantly as if alive through her viewing window, she would always find herself adrift with her own mind. Today was no different, her duties had been completed for the time being and once more found herself wanting to reflect upon her past. The tranquil infinite of space was a simple way to do so. It always listened intently, never spoke back, never questioned or judged her, was always there, and would remain to be long after Earth and humanity had vanished.

So lost in her mind, Aviza had not noticed the first ring from the door to her personal quarters. The second ring did manage to pull her from her semi-unconscious state of mind, though. Standing up slowly and carefully, she walked over to the light switch next to the door, gently pressing down upon its surface. Aviza's personal quarters illuminated with a soft but warm light, what she was most comfortable with. Pressing a button near the light switch, the door slid open with an almost inaudible hiss. Now standing in front of her was one of the ships ONI Operatives, the woman made direct eye contact with the Spartan before speaking in her normal, emotionless tone.

"Spartan Commander Aviza Morgestern, by orders of Captain Nickolas Colistis, you are ordered to report to the command deck of the ship with the rest of your squad while fully mission ready. The armory is aware of your arrival and will be ready to assist you. Thank you for your time, ma'am." The ONI Operative would salute Aviza before quickly turning and leaving the Spartan to herself. Aviza had heard the Captains announcement and was aware of when the Celestian made the slip space jump, but was not expecting to be called to active duty so quickly. She was guessing they would have twelve hours to a day to prepare, but it was clear the Captain wanted to get their assignment moving.

Within a few moments, Aviza had managed to take a shower, perform other daily tasks, be in the outfit all Spartans wore under their armor and heading directly towards the armory where her Mjolnir Powered Assault Armor/Argus [GEN2] and other equipment was waiting. Her chosen set of armor came from the highly secretive ONI division known as Watershed. Not even she knew much about the Watershed division, but was right out denied any other information she already had about them. It was better to not ask any questions, even more so when it was ONI, and merely be thankful for the chance to use such a suit of armor.

Getting into armor these days went much more smoothly and quickly, compared to the old days. New technology was to thank, along with better training and better armor. Aviza found herself fully equipped and mission ready in less than five minutes, which was a new record for herself and the team that helped her. They had brought this up to Aviza after she had finished, informing her that hopefully they could make the process even shorter with given time. The thought was a welcomed one, the faster the better, it would mean they would be able to fully gear Spartans and get them out into the field of battle much quicker, with obvious results.

Moving with a purpose, Aviza dodged passed fellow shipmates that crowded the halls of the Celestian. It appeared everyone on the ship had an assignment of their own before they arrived at the Erathellian system. This was no surprise, the magnitude of the assignment had said enough to really push everyone. It would not take long for Aviza to find the ships main lift, a large and heavily decorated elevator that had enough room in it to hold a few M12 Warthogs and their crew. Stepping inside, Aviza noticed that a number of normal UNSC marines were also on the lift, but these were pilots. Most likely on their way to the hanger, quite a few floors above them. As soon as the doors shut, the lift quickly ascended the multiple levels of the Celestian, gently coming to a stop at the main hanger. The UNSC pilots saluted Aviza before stepping off the lift and disappearing into the crowds of fellow soldiers who were all carrying out their own duties. The door would shut once more, now quickly taking Aviza to the command deck of the ship.

Whenever she visited the Command deck, Aviza took into account how different it looked and felt from the rest of the ship. Its design was much more clean and sleek looking. Instead of being brightly illuminated like most of the ship, this area was actually quite dark. Computers and monitors lined a good amount of its open space, all being manned by personnel who had received intensive training and knew exactly what they were doing. In the middle of the room was a massive holographic table that could be used to show all types of important information. Of course, this level of the ship had the best view, one that Aviza never got tired of seeing. From here, you could see most of the ship and most of its surroundings. Standing on a glass viewing platform overlooking the vast emptiness of space or whatever planet they were in orbit above, was something special to behold.

"Spartan Commander Aviza Morgenstern, welcome to the command deck of the Celestian." Captain Colistis approached Aviza, offering a hand which the Spartan Commander carefully shook. "You are the first of your squad to arrive, which is nothing new." The captain flashed Aviza a quick smile before moving over to the large holographic table in the middle of the room. It currently showed the Erathellian Solar System in great detail. "I hear the rest of your squad will be here shortly. Once they arrive, I will explain the situation at hand and what our mission is in whole. Though just between you and I, Alyn chose to accompany you while on this mission. She has shown interest in doing so in the past but this time, I am allowing it. Having an AI merge with your armor systems can be disorienting at first, but I am sure you will have no problem adjusting to it. Just keep in mind that in a way, there are two of you in there now and I expect you both to watch other for each other." Aviza nodded her head once in acknowledgement. The fact that the ships advanced AI had chosen her to assist upon missions came as a surprise, even more so that the Captain allowed it this time around. "I understand sir, I have no doubt we will get along just fine. It is an honor to have such an advanced AI hand pick me." said Aviza, taking a few steps forward, placing her hands upon the large holographic table in front of her. For some reason, Alyn had not commented on the situation, but Aviza knew she was listening.

---

Helljumper, Helljumper, where you been.

Into more fights like this than most.

Looking casual at the next best thing to seven feet, clad in the sublayer of the most expensive armor known to humankind, cradling a rifle so small it looks like a toy isn't easy. Nik managed it somehow, his practiced motions looking almost languid as he meticulously inspected his weapon. Every moving part, every point of failure, down to checking that the ammo counter would function correctly. Not that he needed it, his HUD kept track. Not that he needed that, either. If you weren't keeping count you needed more training. The MA5K was quick and easy, the Magnum took half a thought. He could have field stripped and reassembled his old SOCOM with his eyes closed, but the M6H2 just wasn't that familiar yet. He'd resisted swapping over for an age and a half. It kicks, he used to argue. The SOCOM had an integrated suppressor and brake, it didn't move a hair when you fired. Made the next shot right on target. You could compensate, sure, but why bother? What good is that much extra range without a scope? You might as well switch to your primary if you're taking a shot that far.

Nik, someone finally had said, how long's it been since you felt a gun kick at all? Take the extra damn range.

Couldn't argue with that.

The boss had come through a couple minutes into the carbine's check but he wasn't even sure she noticed. Probably fine to let the techs do a rundown on it all, but it'd be a cold day in hell before Nik didn't check his own equipment. You drop behind lines without checking your own gear, anything that comes next is on you. Who's gonna offer you a replacement part? The Covenant? No, no. Personally double check. No, the orders were to report fully mission ready. If the boss didn't like the extra minute or two she could bring it up, and he'd be happy to have a long talk about the time a trooper dropped without checking his rifle.

He'd still be ready second, anyway.

When Nik was satisfied he set down the weapon and its magazines and uncoiled to his full, cross-a-room-in-a-single-stride height. It was time to get suited up. He hadn't been around for the old days, when putting on MJOLNIR took three techs and an act of God. Thank the big guy, honestly, he'd have rather dropped in his old ODST gear than stand there for however long. The Brokkr did it quick and easy, all he had to do was stand in place.

Recluse-type Gen 2 armor. Not that it had any marks or specs or anything like that, the thing didn't exist. Or it wouldn't, if he hadn't made a request. ONI probably trying to curry favor. Spooks planned years if not generations in advance like always, and they probably figured they could nab him after a few years. They used to have some Spartans working directly for them, and they'd never forgotten. Honestly, they probably still did. Not like the end of the war made them more forthcoming. Especially when depending on who you asked it never ended. Still he wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth; whoever made the thing, it ran like a Swiss watch. He'd insisted on a different helmet, though. Partially because the new one could get stomped on by a Hunter and never notice, but mostly for the fancy toys under the hood.

"Run an uplink check yet?" He asked the nearest tech, as soon as the LOCUS helmet was properly fitting around his head. "Don't wanna fly blind down there just because someone got dust on the networking gear."

"All clear, sir."

"Thanks."

Double check the gear. Always.

The rest he could check himself, though. There wouldn't be any feeds to coordinate until they dropped. He could check what assets were in the area during the briefing. Weapons were cleared, armor was cleared, uplink was green, Nik was good to go. So he finally started making his way to the Command Deck as ordered, passing orderly through the corridors. There wasn't a lot of room for him to go around; mostly people went around him, and he did his best not to look too spooky. Smile and a nod didn't do much from inside a closed helmet. The Celestian was a good ship, though, and it never felt too cramped on his way to the lift.

The Command Deck itself, about ten years ago, would've been the most impressive thing he'd ever seen. Now it was like just about any other, even if it was cleaner. See a dozen ships and you've pretty much seen 'em all.

"Captain. Boss." He said by way of greeting, crossing his arms when he came to a stop next to the holographic display. It wasn't unfamiliar, he'd been going over what data was available for a few hours before beginning his maintenance check. "How long until the drop, and where's the rest?"

Kathrine Vail
UNSC Celestian Bridge

"Right behind ya, big guy~" came a cheery, albeit filtered response. The voice in question belonged to one Kathrine Vail, clad in her own suit of the eponymous MJOLNIR armor. Intruder class. A classic look with some nice tech under the hood. Kat had gravitated to the angular suit as soon as she'd seen one, and had painted it and her helmet a striking crimson with grey accents. Speaking of her helmet, it too was an iconic design. Mark V, with all the latest firmware and software patches to keep it functioning smoothly with the Gen2 BIOS. Even the VISR had been brought up to modern standards, it's gold-orange sheen a striking contrast to the red of the Titanium armor. Some thought it an archaic design, but most agreed that it was hard to argue with a helmet that had so successfully served in the most grueling of conditions and kept on ticking.

Across her back rested an M395 DMR. A powerful mid to long range rifle, it struck a balance somewhere between the BR-85 and the SRS99-S5. A bit of an unusual weapon for someone who specialised in CQC but ever since Requiem the youthful Spartan-IV had been a bit leery of getting too close to anything forerunner. Not to mention she was still getting fully adjusted to her Dominant hand prosthetic. The advanced robotic limb was practically the most advanced one could get, but it still wasn't -hers-. On her left thigh, held in place by mag strips built into the armor, was an M20 PDW submachine gun. This had been her preferred weapon before her arm had been amputated, and she was still deadly with it. Up close it chewed through shields, armor, and flesh with impunity, and unlike the older M7, was even fairly accurate at range.

She gave Nikolai a subtle nudge to the shoulder as she came up from behind the taller Spartan.

Mariana woke up early that morning, she started to get changed into the undersuit that all of the Spartan IV's wore which helped attaching the pieces of various armor that they wore. Once she was finished getting changed Mariana started to make her way down the hallway towards the mess hall. She was pretty hungry right now as well, and she remembered that they would be going on their first mission as well once Mariana had finished up her lunch she started to make her way towards the Spartan Deck where they had the on the ship. She started to head down there rather quickly seeing some of the other Spartans on the deck were either doing some maintenance on their armor, or some techs were helping getting it on.

She gave a smile towards one of the techs that was there, and motioned for her to get onto the machine that fitted the Spartan's armor on. She leaned back as the little arms were putting the pieces together. It didn't take to long and eventually she was able to get off, and smiled towards the techs before making her way over towards the bridge. She had her helmet tucked under her arm as Mariana made her way to the bridge to meet up with the rest of the team.

Alyia

With its distinctive metallic report of mechanisms swinging free the entrance to the bridge opened once more, admitting the next member of the Spartan squad onto the command deck. Her armored footsteps, reverberating on the deck plating, followed shortly thereafter as Alyia strode onto the bridge proper.

She was clad in her own suit of the advanced Mjolnir combat armor which the rest of the Spartans had arrived in, both similar and yet markedly different from those worn by her comrades-in-arms. In the Marines armor was interchangeable, and nearly disposable in some cases. In full battle dress one soldier was indistinguishable from the next, it offered a sort of solidarity among those in the Corps; they all fought together under a common banner. Every one of them had been through the same regimented training, so everyone one of them earned the armor. When it came down to it, that meant every single marine knew they could rely on one another as much as they could rely on their own flesh and blood.

And while Alyia was no longer a jarhead, past lives had a way of sticking around. It was... different for Spartans. Individual talent was fostered, their differences are what made them strong, and even stronger while working together as whole. The Mjolnir armor she wore now, neck to toe with matching helmet tucked under one arm, was proof of that. Uniquely colored and even more uniquely designed, it was nonetheless recognizable as part of the whole because of it. Of course, there were far more important differences than just the fact that their armor did not match.

Her armor in the marines had been heavy, not a fact that any would begrudge after it saved their lives, Mjolnir was heavier and yet it felt like it weighed nothing. She knew consciously that part of it was the armor itself, and part her own greatly enhanced capabilities, but it was difficult to shake the feeling of vulnerability from the apparent lack of heft to it. A good weapon kicked and good armor made you work for it.

Now no weapons kicked so much, and the armor helped her work.

It was different.

"Reporting in," Alyia announced, as she slid in place next to Kathrine. While not as heavy as it once was, her accented still ever so slightly colored her words as she spoke. Her gaze flicked from the others nearby before finally settling on the captain himself.