After getting patched up, Tar stalked over to one of the clusters of ex-Covenant storage crates, littered with weapons and equipment. Pushing to the front, she snatched up plasma grenades and tucked them away in her armour. They’d pack more punch against materiel than her usual spike grenades.

Tar grabbed a jetpack and slung it over one arm. She was still without her armour, clad in just her thin underdressings. She leaned over and pulled a carbine out of its housing in a third crate, along with plenty of ammo. Lastly, she slapped her customary Maulers on each thigh.

Tar turned and nearly jumped when she found the armourer’s apprentice standing in front of her. He held her mended cuirass - with only a fleetingly short time to spare, they had just magnetised metal patches to it as a temporary measure. She grunted with indifference and raised both arms, guns and equipment hanging off them.

The armourer’s apprentice tentatively approached, holding the cuirass out in front of him. When it got close to her skin, the back flaps wrapped snugly around her with a satisfying *clank*. The interlocking parts shimmied around until they made a perfect fit around their owner’s torso.

“Give the armourer my thanks.” Tar hissed, striding round the youth and heading for the armoured column. She fastened her jetpack as she went.

She’d only just arrived back with the rest of her team when Vael gave the order to mount up. Tar roared, raising her carbine into the air and shouting for the chaotic mass of rallying troops.

“Glory awaits us! Take it, it's yours!” It got a smattering of encouraging replies from the crowd. The Commando bashed her new carbine against her chest to raise more noise, before jogging towards the front of the column where she’d take a turret in a Wraith.