Cyberpunk: Spartan Walker

When the heavy latch inside the locker retracted, even the wall made a buzzing sound due to resonance. Finally, with a bang, the sound disappeared.

Kalmia said: The lockers are open and the safety devices are off. Spartans, please feel free to take them.

Please close the outside door, Fred said to her.

The door leading to the corridor slowly closed and then locked, and Will walked to him at this time. They stood next to the lockers and each opened a locker, just in case there were any traps inside that Kalmiya had not been able to close.

Fred looked inside and saw a rack full of pistols. They are not standard high-explosive pistols. The barrels are extremely large and long - at least 30% larger than the normal size - and have plastic steel handles that can change shape according to the owner's hand.

He grabbed one - the barrel part felt heavier, but the bullet wasn't loaded yet. He saw three boxes containing magazines at the bottom of the cabinet. He opened a box and took out a magazine. This new, large-caliber pistol fired bullets as big as his thumb. When he loaded the magazine, there was a crisp click sound.

The weight of the pistol is now very balanced and feels much better in the hand than holding a standard carry pistol.

He flipped the safety off and turned to see what Will had found.

Will was examining a rifle covered in plastic. He took the gun out of the cabinet, peeled off the shell, put it on his shoulder, and nodded with satisfaction.

Unlike the MA5B rifle, this rifle has a longer barrel and stock, and the muzzle brake has been reduced. The rifle is equipped with optical sights. Will picked up a magazine and inserted it into the receiver.

He rested the rifle on his shoulder again, squinting and looking ahead through the sights. Auto zoom, awesome!

Then, Will and Fred exchanged inspections of the new weapons in their hands. Fred liked the feel of the new rifle, but he was unsure of how powerful it would be - he hoped it would be powerful enough to make up for the new gun's reduced magazine capacity.

They filled two bags with new handguns, rifles and ammunition, then walked over to small metal boxes and lifted their lids.

The first suitcase contained some explosive packets. Fred grabbed three bags and tied them around his neck with a rope, I think we can use them.

Will knelt beside the second box. Inside were some plastic boxes with a label that read V-MODEL followed by a long series of serial numbers. This is certainly something Dr. Halsey would have wanted, he said.

There was a vibration on the floor - Fred immediately became alert, because such a solid steel floor vibrated, indicating that he was in serious trouble.

The communication channel opened, and along with the static noise came Dr. Halsey's anxious voice: Hurry back to the laboratory as soon as possible. I may have found a way out! Hurry!

The vaults of the room were twisting, and the rumble of thunder came through the walls.

It's explosions, Will said. They're coming.

Bring those boxes, Fred ordered. He rushed to the door. Open the door! he shouted to Kalmiya, waiting for the door to open slowly. He scanned the corridors up and down, then ran back to the lab.

When they arrived at the medical center, all the lights went out, and Fred saw only the light on Kelly's helmet cutting through the thick darkness, illuminating the dust flying in all directions. She held Dr. Halsey against her shoulder, and blood flowed from the doctor's nostrils. Daisy was standing guard holding a BR55 combat rifle.

Her office collapsed, Kelly told them. The beam missed her by a centimeter.

Dr. Halsey raised her head and whispered: I'm fine, really. She pushed Kelly away and stood unsteadily.

Fred picked her up and put her on the examination table. With all due respect, ma'am, you are in trouble.

The aftermath of another explosion came - this time more intense than the previous one, and many crooked cracks appeared on the cement wall.

Winn and Isaac jumped into the room. There's a huge influx of enemy troops, Winn reported.

Get down, Dr. Halsey said. She handed Fred a palm-sized tablet. There was a map on its display. But it wasn't for the base. We have to go down.

Fred wondered if Dr. Halsey was delirious.

Take the elevator down to the Sigma area and Jun will meet us there, she explained. We then seal it off. We can't let them follow us.

Kelly, stay where you are, Fred ordered. He grabbed two new pistols, loaded them with ammunition, and threw them to Kelly along with the other three magazines. Guess here's your chance to test them out.

Kelly stared at the new weapon and whistled softly.

Fred opened the bag containing the new rifle and handed the weapon inside to his teammates. Will, you have the remaining parts and ammunition on your back.

Got it, Will said, slinging them over his shoulders.

Those bags, right over there, Dr. Halsey said, pointing to the four duffel bags, are medical supplies, food and water. We need them too.

Will picked them up too.

There's something else, Dr. Halsey whispered. We can't give them access to MI records. She tapped the tablet, then said to Kalmiya, Start Operation White Glove. Use Radiate rays into the memory chips of all computers, erasing the information on them. Protocol file access password β-f-99874.

Dr. Halsey closed his eyes thoughtfully, then said, Not all AIs have fail-safes, my dear Kalmiya, only the important AIs do.

I understand, Doctor. After a slight pause, the artificial intelligence said faintly, The voice and fingerprint have been authenticated. The fail-safe code has been authenticated. I am glad to have worked with you for so long, Dr. Halsey.

Me too, Kalmiya. She straightened her back and continued: The fail-safe unlocking code: 'World Destruction'. Give us a three-minute countdown.

A three-minute light blue timer appeared on Fred's heads-up display.

Dr. Halsey turned and looked at him. I have activated the detonation device of the explosive storage warehouse below the base, and the entire building will be blown up. We must go down to the original titanium mine tunnel.

Fred wished she had consulted with him before she only left them three minutes. But then again, Dr. Halsey knows what's most critical, what secrets are buried in the base, and what disasters will happen if the Covenant masters those secrets.