Infinity Briefing Packet

The Briefing Packet, along with several related items.

The Infinity Briefing Packet is a booklet handed out to SPARTAN-IV personnel upon assignment to UNSC Infinity. This page describes the briefing packet received by Spartan Gabriel Thorne on February 6, 2558. Thorne wrote a journal entry to the last page of the booklet, describing his thoughts on his new status as a Spartan and the little history the supersoldiers had.

Contents[edit]

• Formal welcome by Infinity Spartan Commander, Sarah Palmer (accompanied by an informal, handwritten note by Palmer on the preceding page)
• UNSC Infinity schematic and information
• Aft Armory Notice with basic information on several weapons (MA5D assault rifle, BR85HB battle rifle, ARC-920 railgun, M739 SAW, M395 DMR, SRS99-S5 AM sniper rifle, M363 sticky detonator)
• Instructions for Spartan-IVs aboard Infinity by Chief Mechanized Repair Officer Gordon Kushner
• Spartan Specialist recruitment briefing by Commander Palmer
• Ship R&R opportunity schedule
• Gabriel Thorne's journal entry

Accompanying items[edit]

• Briefing sheet for one of Fireteam Majestic's missions on Requiem; either Operation: CHATTERBOX, THREE-CARD MONTE, LAND GRAB, ACADEMIC or ALL-SEEING EYE.^{[Note 1]}
• Restricted ONI message from Admiral Margaret Parangosky to Dr. Catherine Halsey, found on Infinity intraship network by Spartan Hoya
• War Games session summary
• Gabriel Thorne's MJOLNIR GEN2 requisition sheet

Excerpts[edit]

The following is a verbatim transcription of an official document for archival reasons. As the original content is transcribed word-for-word, any possible discrepancies and/or errors are included.

Palmer's note[edit]

In case you couldn't tell, the letter on the next page was written by a UNSC committee that still thinks of the Spartans as a Navy project, and not their own branch. Well, they wrote it and my bosses (in a fit of "play nice with the rest of the UNSC") made me sign it. But what the committee and my bosses didn't do was ship the thing out, leaving me the opportunity to add my own coda. So here it is: there are a lot of asses that need kicking in this galaxy, and the Spartans are the ones who are going to do the largest share. The only thing keeping humanity afloat most days is you and yours, Spartan. My advice: Do your job. Do it well. Come back home in one piece so we can do it all again tomorrow.

Palmer's letter[edit]

Monday, February 6, 2558

Spartan,

Welcome aboard the UNSC Infinity, and welcome to the next phase of your stellar career.

Cutting-edge technology, advanced weapon systems, and the finest personnel allow Infinity to act as the UNSC's flagship - a symbol of strength, and the vanguard of humanity's future.

A Spartan is no different. Spartans are recruited from across the UNSC because we want the best we can find, regardless of the branch of service, rank or training.

You chose enlistment with the Spartans because you knew you'd never find a bigger challenge anywhere else. And you were right.

Your sacrifice are many. You have survived augmentation routines that would kill most humans. Your march through hell has just begun.

You are a Spartan. Your potential and your skills are what enable Infinity to complete her mission and ensure humanity's survival in a hostile galaxy.

Serve with honor.

Spartan Sarah Palmer, Infinity Commander

Infinity[edit]

Aft Armory Notice[edit]

AFT ARMORY NOTICE

The UNSC Infinity offers a tremendous selection of weapons to develop a productive and efficient field kit for all S-IV personnel. Your familiarity with this selection should already be extensive but Section IX, Article 3940.2 of the United Earth Government's Full Disclosure Directive requires that this information be included as part of your integration into an S-IV service role onboard Infinity.

ASSAULT RIFLE
MA5D Individual Combat Weapon System		The MA5D ICWS is an exceptionally resilient gas-operated, magazine-fed automatic rifle designed to execute close-quarters combat with lethal efficiency, regardless of counter-op environmental conditions.
CARTRIDGE:	M118 FMJ-AP, 7.52 x 51mm
MAGAZINE:	32 rounds
LENGTH:	99.9 cm
HEIGHT:	27.4 cm
WIDTH:	7.8 cm
WEIGHT:	7.1 kg
COST:	1693.00 cR

BATTLE RIFLE
BR85 Heavy-Barrel Service Rifle
CARTRIDGE:	M634 X-HP-SAP, 9.5 x 40 mm
MAGAZINE:	36 rounds
LENGTH:	99.2 cm
HEIGHT:	29.9 cm
WIDTH:	6.1 cm
WEIGHT:	7.6 kg
COST:	1906.00 cR
The BR85HB Service Rifle is a gas-operated, magazine-fed semi-automatic rifle optimized for three-round burst firing, and has proven to be extraordinarily effective against dissipative energy shielding on both exotic and domestic armor types.

RAILGUN
Asymmetric Recoilless Carbine-920
CARTRIDGE:	M645 FTP-HE, 16 mm x 65 mm
MAGAZINE:	1 slug
LENGTH:	110.8 cm
HEIGHT:	31.9 cm
WIDTH:	7.4 cm
WEIGHT:	14.9 kg
COST:	63405.00 cR
The ARC-920 is a compact-channel linear accelerator that fires a high-explosive round at incredible speed, delivering both kinetic and explosive force to hard and soft targets.

SNIPER RIFLE
Sniper Rifle System 99-Series 5 Anti-Matériel
CARTRIDGE:	M232 APDSDS, 14.5 mm x 114 mm
MAGAZINE:	4 rounds
LENGTH:	161.3 cm
HEIGHT:	35.1 cm
WIDTH:	23.2 cm
WEIGHT:	15.6 kg
COST:	8141.00 cR
The SRS99-S5 AM is a gas-operated, magazine-fed, semi-automatic sniper rifle with exceptional accuracy and the ability to simultaneously breach both energy-shielding and high-density armor, making immediate kills nearly effortless when this weapon is properly utilized.

STICKY DETONATOR
M363 Remote Projectile Detonator
CARTRIDGE:	M9030 HEI/RD, 12 cm
MAGAZINE:	1 charge
LENGTH:	52.9 cm
HEIGHT:	25.2 cm
WIDTH:	12.3 cm
WEIGHT:	6.8 kg
COST:	6950.00 cR
The M363 RPD is a low-profile, single-shot weapon which launches a magnetically latched explosive that the operator can then remotely detonate when at a safe distance.

SAW
M739 Light Machine Gun
CARTRIDGE:	M118 FMJ-AP, 7.62 x 51mm
MAGAZINE:	64-128 rounds
LENGTH:	116.4 cm
HEIGHT:	31.3 cm
WIDTH:	23.2 cm
WEIGHT:	9.6 kg
COST:	3182.00 cR
The M739 LMG, or SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon), is a gas-operated, drum-fed, fully automatic machine gun that provides incredible, sustained fire in the field, capable of suppressing even the most heavily armored of infantry targets.

DMR
M395 Designated Marksman Rifle
CARTRIDGE:	M118 FMJ-AP, 7.62 x 51mm
MAGAZINE:	15 rounds
LENGTH:	119.2 cm
HEIGHT:	31.9 cm
WIDTH:	7.3 cm
WEIGHT:	8.5 kg
COST:	1833.00 cR
The M395 DMR is a gas-operated, magazine-fed marksman rifle that maintains a smart-linked, telescopic, rail-mounted sight for scout personnel. The DMR favors mid-range to long-range combat with impressive stopping power.

Specialist recruitment letter[edit]

Restricted ONI message[edit]

<<REDACTED DATE>> X18-23021-01

RESTRICTED ONI MESSAGE

To: <<REDACTED CIVILIAN RECIPIENT>>

I realize this is an awkward note. We're both old and wise enough to know there's no love lost between us, but I do know that, differences aside, you do care about our success. I also realize you're not here under ideal conditions. You should accept both the reasoning behind and, bluntly, your own responsibility, for this matter.

When we started this project, it was a desperate dream. Create a <<REDACTED>> that could engage the Covenant on its own level. With brute force, with massive firepower, and with unflinching, unyielding ferocity.

We built it in the <<REDACTED>>. Hidden from view at the very outer periphery of our Solar System. It was one of the best-kept secrets  in the history of human endeavor. We pulled it together in utter darkness from rock and iron and ice. It simply couldn't have been built in any other way. The tonnage alone would have beggared mountains on <<REDACTED>>.

But out there, where the Sun's wan light is as frozen and distant and pale as a specter, we lit our last torch. Our final hope. A starship, <<REDACTED>> miles long. More powerful, deadlier than anything we, or the Covenant, could make spaceworthy.

Of course, the Spartans, or more accurately, <<REDACTED>>, saved us. And your agency in this is not unappreciated - in some circles. They stopped the war before the <<REDACTED>> was complete. The brief moments of peace we had were not wasted. Some of us knew this couldn't last. So we kept going. And now our desperate dream is real.

But things have changed. We are not fighting the kind of war we all lived through. So <<REDACTED>> has become something new. It has become a missive we fire out into the Universe that will give our enemies a simple warning: we are not afraid. We will not shrink from battle. We will not be cowed. We will meet force with greater force. We are Humanity. And we are ascendant.

The engines work because you <<REDACTED>>. The <<REDACTED>> was completed because of your research. But this is bigger than you. Bigger than us. I have no right to ask anything of you on a personal level, so I am appealing to you on a professional level.

Take care of <<REDACTED>>. Protect its crew. Protect Earth.

Regards,
M.

War Games Session Summary[edit]

MJOLNIR GEN2 requisition sheet[edit]

As per Regulation 3A-950, recruited personnel have access to one (1) Mjolnir armor configuration unit upon enlistment within the Spartan branch. The credit provision extends to only one (1) armor system and cannot be reserved or reused at any point in time afterward. Activation of this requisition form confirms acceptance of Droblin Priority requirements.

SPARTAN GABRIEL THORNE > > Based on your field assessment rating, the following Mjolnir armor kits are recommended for initial requisition:

FROM THE DESK OF CHIEF MECHANIZED REPAIR OFFICER GORDON KUSHNER, UNSC INFINITY[edit]

All Spartan-IV-class operatives must take the following measures in order to maintain their bodies' healthfulness following their participation in the Spartan-IV Augmentation Program:

SHIP R&R OPPORTUNITY SCHEDULE[edit]

Greetings, all Infinity crew members! The following dates are a great time for you to plan your R&R. Please clear all requests for time off with your supervising officers at least 14 days in advance. Note that all events are subject to change should Infinity's operations require.

Thorne's journal entry[edit]

Feb 6 '58
I’m a Spartan now, after months of surgery and training just so I could survive using the armor. So here I am, sitting on Infinity, sore as hell from the War Games runs today. Commander Palmer says we’re on the line at 0500, but wouldn't say what to expect. I learned in the Army that when somebody high up wants you ready, but won’t tell you why, it means a fight is coming. I was reading up on how, 500 years ago, a military group called the “Air Force” split off the Army to form its own branch. It got me thinking about how little Spartan history there is. I can tell you that Carl Spaatz was the Air Force’s first Chief of Staff. But when I try to find out where 117 came from, there’s nothing. Not his real name, or how he trained. I can’t even find out for sure if there were other S-IIs. Some say there were, but others say the Master Chief was the only one. It’s almost as hard to piece together the story of the Spartan-IIIs—just a few mentions from around when the Covenant hit Reach. Us, though, the Spartan-IVs - we’re official as can be. Like with Infinity, the UNSC press corps can’t enough of talking about how we’re the best of the best. But even then, there are rumors. Where we’re stationed. How we’re recruiting more to build our forces. Maybe someday, when I’m retired, I’ll tell the real story of the Spartan-IVs. And I’ll tell everyone how damn proud I felt tonight, here, on Infinity.

Mission briefings[edit]

Trivia[edit]

• A real-world facsimile of the Infinity Briefing Packet was included in the Halo 4 Limited Edition, similar to Dr. Halsey's personal journal that shipped with the special editions of Halo: Reach.
• In his journal entry, Thorne expresses uncertainty as to whether John-117 was the only Spartan-II. However, ONI Section II began promoting the Spartan-IIs' existence to the public beginning in 2547, at which point there were still dozens of active Spartan-IIs.

Gallery[edit]

• 

  Academic Mission Briefing

• 

  The War Games scoreboard included in the packet.

Notes[edit]

Sources[edit]