Halo Lighting System First Strike Games User Manual

Page 127

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ERIC NYLUNO

123

tivity overhead. Interface with the Spartans' biomonitors and

patch the output to the display on bay three."

She strolled over to a table, and a bank of holographic dis-

plays hummed to life, floating serenely. Graphs and figures

scrolled across them.

"Give me a spotlight here, prepare a sterilization field, and

lower the ambient lighting by forty percent. And a little Mahler,

please. Symphony number two."

"Yes, Doctor." Music drifted from the speakers.

Dr. Halsey examined the graphs, tapped tiny human-figure

icons, and summoned MRI images of" the Spartans' internal

structures—holographic bones, organs, and muscles appeared

and slowly rotated.

She winced at the extent of their injuries.

"Fred, you have a torn Achilles tendon and three cracked ribs.

Both kidneys have moderate contusions." She glanced at the rest

of the team's data and after a moment's consideration told him,

"You're fine.

"William, you have a cracked tibia and some internal bleed-

ing. Get some biofoam into that wound and avoid strenuous mo-

tions for the next day." She turned to face Fred and Will. "You

two are in the best shape. I want you to go to Level Aqua, Section

Lambda, and retrieve a few things."

"Yes, ma'am," Fred said.

Dr. Halsey was only a civilian, but the Spartans had always ac-

cepted her authority. Perhaps because she had acted as an equal

among the Fleet Admirals and Generals who were constantly

trying to co-opt her work. Or maybe it was more than that. She

wondered if the Spartans viewed her as some sort of mother fig-

ure. As much as this notion amused her, she doubted that they

viewed anyone outside their team as family. Not even her.

William retrieved a can of biofoam from the rover and in-

serted the tip into the tiny injection port in his armor—pushed it

through the skin between his fourth and fifth ribs. He filled his

abdominal cavity with the space-filling coagulant/antibacterial/

tissue-regenerative polymer.

"Cold?" she asked.

"Nothing worth noting, ma'am."

She nodded, not making much over William's courage. She'd

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