[center][h3]Andromedai and EliteCommander collab[/h3][/center]
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[center][h2][b]Spartan Aviza, Shih, and Vael 'Virisusai[/b][/h2][/center]

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The M510 Mammoth was a Siegeworks ultra-heavy assault platform vehicle that Aviza had heard about but had never seen in action before. It was apparently the largest ground vehicle that the UNSC had in its ordnance. This particular Mammoth had been heavily modified to serve as a mobile base for Aegis Team, having its mini-mac cannon removed, along with other modifications. Aviza found herself standing alongside the massive vehicle, peering up at it and wondering what it was like to drive one of them. [color=00aeef]“They removed the mini-mac cannon and installed heavy modifications into the Mammoth? I wonder what other changes were made.”[/color] thought Aviza to herself as she moved to the rear of the vehicle and peered into the back of it, where supplies were being loaded by a Prime Mover and other UNSC ground forces. 

Aviza had still been inspecting the Mammoth with great interest when Major Robinson had announced that she had been chosen for the Smart A.I., Shih. The Spartan Four was unsure how to respond to the information at first but then approached the Major and took the offered data-crystal-drive, plugging it into the back of her helmet very carefully. [color=00aeef]“It is my honor to have this opportunity, Major Robinson.”[/color] said Spartan Aviza, with a slight nod of her head. When she had plugged the data-crystal-drive into her armor, she had not felt anything, but could instantly notice her suits systems rebooting, clearly much more was happening behind the scenes. [color=00aeef]“Shih? I have never been paired with a smart A.I. before, is there anything I should know before we depart on our mission?”[/color] asked Aviza. 

There were no further questions, and Aviza was now making her way towards their designated D77-TC Pelican, [color=00aeef]“Let’s move out Aegis.”[/color] Once onboard, she would strap herself into a vacant seat near the cockpit and await departure.

As the others were loading onto the Pelican, Shih ran a quick diagnostic of her new environment to get herself settled in. Of course, her new environment was not only the suit, but Aviza’s mind. [color=lime]”Anything you should know? Well, I suppose I would say that I [i]prefer[/i] you keep your head out of the line of fire, but I imagine you already knew that.”[/color] She replied. To hear Shih’s voice would be a strange thing for one who had never experienced such a close melding of two intelligences. The AI linked directly into her neural implant. Shih’s voice did not come through Aviza’s helmet, but rather she could ‘hear’ it within her mind.

Having Shih meld her intelligence with her own via the neural implant was a disorienting experience at first for Spartan Aviza. [color=00aeef]“This is going to take a short while for me to get used to Shih, the whole experience is slightly disorienting.”[/color] said Aviza as she used the UI built into her helmet to check over important mission details. For the current mission, she had chosen to bring along her usual loadout which consisted of a SRS99-S5 AM, MA5D ICWS with an Underslung Shotgun, and a couple grenades of variety. Of course, she had brought along her advanced medical kit as well, with other equipment that she felt would prove beneficial. 

Again, Shih’s voice came to Aviza like thoughts within her own mind. [color=lime]“Don’t worry, Spartan, considering that you have never had an AI with you before, I would find it more concerning if you [i]were[/i] already accustomed to having extra voices in your head.”[/color]

 Shih took another moment to review the mission files and other data that Aviza had considered relevant to the mission. Though, a “moment” for the AI was essentially instantaneous. [color=lime]”I see you have brought along several medical and anatomical references for multiple former-Covenant species. I do not doubt that you are probably [i]already[/i] more qualified for that than the majority of Sangheili medics, but you may have trouble convincing the Sangheili, at least, to accept your help, should it come to that. They are notorious for their taboos against spilling blood.”[/color]

[color=00aeef]“They will have to put their beliefs aside for the good of the mission, I can’t just let them bleed out or allow them to not have their injuries tended to. Do you honestly think they will give me trouble when in a life threatening situation?”[/color] said Spartan Aviza as she attempted to see out the back of the D77-TC Pelicans small rear window.  [color=00aeef]“By the way, what is our current estimated time of arrival upon the inner surface of Sarcophagus? I would like to update the rest of Aegis before too long.”[/color] Aviza nodded once at Grikgar’s comment about being ready for the mission ahead of them. 

[color=lime]”Considering that Sangheili have been known to allow themselves to bleed to death rather than accept help from a medic…I am going to give that one a strong [i]’maybe’[/i].”[/color] Shih answered. [color=lime]”Though, if it helps you feel better, I can confirm that the Arbiter has ordered his warriors to allow themselves to be healed ‘at any cost’. Evidently, he recognizes that they no longer have the numbers to just allow themselves to die.”[/color]

 As she was speaking, Shih performed a quick analysis of their planned flight path. [color=lime]“At the average speed of a Heron dropship under load, it should take three minutes and thirty-eight seconds to reach the planned landing zone. From there, we will have at least a day of travel over ground in the Mammoth, through largely desert terrain. I should also warn you not to let down your guard on the way. Most of the animals may not be a threat to the Mammoth, but Forerunner constructs on Sarcophagus can be hostile.”[/color]

[color=00aeef]“ETA is three minutes Aegis.”[/color] said Spartan Aviza as she moved to the D77-TC Pelicans cockpit to get a better view of the inside of the Forerunner construct. She had heard of Shield World 0006 before, but had never seen the manufactured structure with her own eyes, until now. [color=00aeef]“I wonder how long it took the Forerunners to build such a structure.”[/color] thought Aviza, knowing that her thoughts were no longer private, and now shared with Shih. 

[color=lime]”Even with all we have learned about the Forerunners, I cannot even begin to answer that question. They were a species beyond even what [i]I[/i]can understand, which is quite a lot, by the way. Seeing a megastructure like this, it is a wonder that they could have ever been defeated, even by-”[/color] Shih’s response was cut short by the sudden panic of their pilot.
 
It was alarming how fast everything happened. They had been flying over a rocky desert towards their landing zone, but with little warning nor time to react, Forerunner sentinels could be seen speeding by the Pelican outside the cockpit. [color=lightblue]“Contacts!”[/color] The pilot shouted. He started with evasive maneuvers, but again, there was little he could have done to stop it. A group of five sentinels flew around the front of the Pelican, then all focused their beams on the right-side wing as they flew past. [color=lightblue]“We’re hit, strap in!”[/color]
 
The Pelican did not entirely lose control, but the sentinels’ attack had left one thruster on the right side destroyed, and the other at the rear damaged. The pilot was still able to slow their descent, so the landing was not [i]too[/i] dangerous, but it was still a crash that came with a jarring impact.
 
The Heron carrying their Mammoth diverted away from the swarm of sentinels to drop the vehicle at the closest safe location, so for the moment, the team would have to defend themselves without it. Once they were on the ground, Vael quickly stood up from his seat. The landing had not been…pleasant, but he had only mild pain to show for it.
 
[color=orange]”This world’s warriors have not taken kindly to our intrusion.”[/color] Vael remarked as he took his plasma rifle in hand. [color=orange]”I have fought machines like these before. Aside from their own weapons, plasma weapons are some of the most effective against them. We should make sure as many of us are armed with them as possible. Your projectile weapons can destroy them, but it takes many more hits. One of you Humans may use my carbine; it does not work as well as plasma, but it still should be more effective. Otherwise, fast-firing weapons that can overwhelm their shields will be more effective than your precision weapons.”[/color]