(David Pov)
"What have you done to my armor?" Catherine's voice came through the screen the moment I came into the camera's view.
"Ask the Covenant," I said as I took a seat at the conference table in front of the display screen showing the doctor. I set my helmet down on the table, its visor facing the camera.
"Clearly," Halsey said with a hint of amusement. Her voice turned more thoughtful, "How have you been, David? It has been months since we last talked."
I thought for a moment, "Glad to have Alpha back at full strength," I paused before motioning to the obvious crack in my helmet, "Though I would be glad if our new friends stopped giving me surprises."
Halsey's voice dropped as she grew serious, "What do you mean?"
"I ran into a new alien, or rather a bunch of them," I said as I carefully chose my words, "When we return to UNSC-controlled space, I will send you the video of it. That combined with my report will be enough to give to the rest of us and the UNSC,"
She nodded, "Good… From the way you speak, I am assuming that Circinius IV is no longer UNSC space?" she added grimly
I stared at the pixelated eyes displayed on the screen, "They didn't stand a chance. We rescued who we could, but they started glassing it moments after we pulled out."
Halsey sighed, "Damn, that's the third so far this year," she murmured
But just as her eyes had softened, they sharpened once again, "These new aliens, tell me about them."
"Big, larger than Brutes and heavier too. I ran into two; they were separated but my gut's telling me that they operate in pairs," I recited, finding the most important details. They were mostly wrapped in what appeared to be their battleship armor and used plasma cannons. The creatures themselves, though, were made out of worms, like a giant ball of worms in the shape of a bipedal tank,"
I heard scribbles from the speakers as Halsey's eyes glanced down and her arm began making quick, sharp movements with her arm. She asked me a few more questions regarding the creature, and I acquiesced to all that I could remember.
"Heading nine-zzzt! Coordinates-###," the speaker of my helmet sparked to life for a brief moment as it briefly caught a conversation.
Halsey's eyes were drawn to it as she paused writing, "Fifteen years of the smartest material engineers' research undone in what amounts to a single night," she sighed
I couldn't help but give a slight smirk, "They don't make them like they used to," I joked
Halsey snorted, "Obviously not." She paused, "Titanium is just not good enough at dissipating the heat from their plasma."
"I don't suppose we can upgrade to the nanolaminate that the Covenant uses?" I threw out an idea. The nanolaminate, from my own experience, worked like magic against heat. It was stronger than titanium, too, while also being just as light.
Part of the reason why only attacks from the inside or concentrated strikes could take down their ships.
"Not even in the next thirty years. Just the infrastructure and research to make it usable for Spartans is astronomical, and ONI just finished paying the debts for the original program," she said, stretching her neck as she glanced to the ceiling off camera, "I am going to have to rush Project: AEGIS and Project: GUNGIR."
I shifted ever so slightly in my seat, "AEGIS?" I'd talked to the doctor previously about that project, but I couldn't help but feel skeptical, "Are you sure the power supply will be able to keep up? I'd rather not turn into an electrical fire from a fission reactor failure or a walking nuke,"
Catherine held up a hand to stop me, "I'll handle it, trust me," she said seriously, and I dropped the issue.
The doctor picked up a white coffee mug beside her, "I-no we will need you in this war… and besides I have someone I want you to meet," the last part she nearly mumbled as she took a swig of dark coffee. I barely heard, and judging by the fact she seemed almost reluctant to say it, I didn't press her on who or what she meant.
I nodded expressionless.
I heard a knock at the door behind me, "Captain, the Lieutenant wants you on the bridge."
"Sounds like our talk will be cut short," the doctor lamented, "I already dispatched a fresh set of Mjolnir to replace the damaged one. This time, please try not to break it. It may not seem like it, but budgets are stretched thin because of the war."
"I'll try," I nodded, standing up and picking up my helmet.
"And David," I turned around, helmet in hand to look at the screen, "It was good talking with you again," Catherine smiled, a rare occurrence genuinely for her.
I gave an equally rare smile, "You as well, doctor." I put my helmet on, "Stay safe,"
And with that, our chat ended.