[h2][b]Vael 'Virisusai - Assimilator Bridge[/b][/h2]

[hr]

Having already experienced it once, Vael was prepared for the teleportation to the Assimilator’s bridge. He did not know what kind of layout to expect from the bridge, but he still knew his intentions for how to carry out the attack. To be successful in their overall objectives, they would need to act quickly and decisively. 

The boarding party was beamed aboard into the very [i]middle[/i] of the enemy’s bridge, leaving themselves surrounded on nearly all sides. However, Vael did not consider them to be at a disadvantage. They had the element of surprise, and from the position they had taken, the Imperial bridge crew had precious few options for cover from them. Meanwhile, the boarding team had taken deployable cover from the Glasgow with them, though Vael himself was not yet actually making use of it. He stood tall over the rest, quickly taking aim with his plasma rifle. The armored clone guards were the greatest immediate threat to them, but they were not Vael’s first target. He did not know precisely which console controlled communications, so he first fired upon any member of the bridge crew that were at or near a console. His priority was to prevent them from calling for help. The control consoles seemed to mostly be found in “pits” recessed down into the floor, with walkways between them, and so for those that Vael first targeted, there was little hope for escape. Their unarmored uniforms did nothing to protect them, nor obscure the gruesome holes his plasma rifle burned through them. 

Even without taking cover, the biotic barriers and other defenses provided by Vael’s allies made it more difficult for the enemy to find an angle on him. He did take two hits from blaster bolts, but showed little visible concern as his shields flared up around him. As a high-ranking commander, Vael had the strongest energy shielding available to a Sangheili warrior. He could afford to take hits; his enemy could not. He could take the opportunity to do as much damage as he could while the enemy was still scrambling for cover. And more than that, by presenting an obvious and intimidating target for the enemy, he could draw fire away from his more vulnerable allies. He could not be sure of the protective capabilities of the armor of [i]all[/i] of his allies, but he did know that, while the UNSC soldiers next to him did have somewhat protective physical armor, it still paled in comparison to energy shielding.