Editing Armor Testing

{{Title|''Armor Testing''}}
{{Era|RW}}
[[File:HGN 1.jpg|thumb|300px|Maria prepares to throw a mock grenade.]]
'''''Armor Testing''''' is the second story in the ''[[Halo Graphic Novel]]'', written by Jay Faerber, and illustrated by Ed Lee (colors) and Andrew Robinson (pencils). The story depicts a scene shortly prior to the start of ''[[Halo 2]]'', showcasing the testing and evaluation of the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI|MJOLNIR Mark VI]] armor before it is sent to be used by the [[John-117|Master Chief]].{{Ref/Site|Id=Announce|URL=http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=7867|Site=Bungie.net|Page=Bungie Official Announcement|D=13|M=10|Y=2014}}

==Official summary==
{{Article quote|The only way to test [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]] armor, is to send a Spartan. The question is what's really being tested? The power of the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI|Mjolnir Mark VI]] battle armor, or the mettle of the [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers|ODSTs]] trying to find its weaknesses?{{Ref/Reuse|Announce}}}}

==Plot synopsis==
{{Spoiler/begin}}
[[File:HGN 4.jpg|thumb|062 equips her Sniper Rifle and fires, as UNSC officers watch in awe.]]
[[Maria-062]] stands in a [[D77 Pelican|Pelican]] dropship in a low orbit around [[Earth]], awaiting for permission to commence an orbital drop from an unnamed [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] senior officer. On the [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]]'s mark, Spartan-062 leaps from the craft and plummets towards the Earth. Meanwhile, [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] personnel at the [[Special Warfare Center]] in [[Songnam]] of the [[Wikipedia:Kyonggi Province|Kyonggi Province]] monitor Maria's biosigns and her [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI|MJOLNIR Mark VI]], which is being tested.

Shortly after breaking through the cloud layer, Spartan-062 overrides the carapace safeties and withdraws her [[SRS99C-S2 AM sniper rifle]], and opens fire upon a group of holographic [[Covenant]] troops. At an elevation of {{Convert|4000|ft|m|sp=us}}, the [[airfoil carapace]] opens and Spartan-062 glides to the surface as her [[parafoil]] opens, only to ditch it a little earlier than planned due to the hostile presence.

Upon landing, Spartan-062 is immediately attacked by two [[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper|ODSTs]], one opening fire with an [[M7 SMG]] loaded with [[Paint pellet gun|paint pellet rounds]] and the other lunging at her with a [[Humbler stun device]]. Spartan-062's [[Energy shielding|energy shields]] flare and she reacts instantly. Grabbing the wrist of the ODST wielding the Humbler, Spartan-062 uses him as a [[human]] shield, simultaneously delivering a powerful kick to the ODST with the SMG. The other ODSTs open fire, but are absorbed by the hostage ODST's suit.

The Spartan ditches the ODST as the rounds strike her body and rolls for cover behind some rocks. As the ODST with the Humbler struggles to scramble back to his feet, Spartan-062 hurls a [[M9 fragmentation grenade|fragmentation grenade]] into the middle of the ODSTs, neutralizing [[Echo One (ODST)|Echo One]] through [[Echo Five|Five]]. The sole survivor of the blast, [[Echo Six]], makes a run for it and he's quickly "gunned" down by Maria, but not before initiating the "Bulgogi Gambit". 

[[File:HGN 2.jpg|thumb|left|Maria's boot steps on the floor of the building.]]
Maria runs past his "body" and leaps into a building, designated structure Alpha-Two, through an open window, kicking aside the ODST gunner positioned there as she swings inside. An ODST just outside the door thumbs a detonator and the room Maria is in bursts into flames. Maria, unscathed by the flames that are deflected by her shields, follows him in pursuit and into a group of waiting ODSTs who apparently subdue her.

Back at the Special Warfare Center, Spartan-062 walks in without a helmet followed by the ODSTs from the combat exercise. Maria and the unnamed senior officer exchange salutes and discuss the performance of the armor, which is to be shipped to [[Master Chief Petty Officer]] [[John-117]] on [[Cairo Station (station)|Cairo Station]] upon receiving her seal of approval. Maria is very happy at hearing this, commenting that she thinks they will all sleep better at night once the Master Chief has the armor. The senior officer also tries to persuade her into re-enlisting, but she politely turns down the offer, stating that she wants to start a family.
{{Clear}}
{{Spoiler/end}}

==Appearances==
{{Featurelist|secondcolumn=title-5
|title-1=Characters|
*[[John-117]] {{Mo}}
*[[Maria-062]] {{1st}}
*[[Unidentified Navy captain (Seongnam)|Unidentified Navy captain]] {{1st}}
*[[Echo One (ODST)|Echo One]] {{1st}}
*[[Echo Two (ODST)|Echo Two]] {{1st}}
*[[Echo Three (ODST)|Echo Three]] {{1st}}
*[[Echo Four (ODST)|Echo Four]] {{1st}}
*[[Echo Five]] {{1st}}
*[[Echo Six]] {{1st}}

|title-2=Species|
*[[Human]]
*[[Kig-Yar]] {{C|Hologram-only}}
*[[Sangheili]] {{C|Hologram-only}}
*[[Unggoy]] {{C|Hologram-only}}

|title-3=Organizations|
*[[United Nations Space Command]]
**[[UNSC Navy]]
***[[UNSC Operational Test and Evaluation Center]] {{1st}}
**[[UNSC Marine Corps]]
***[[Orbital Drop Shock Trooper]]s
****[[340th ODST Combat Training Unit]]
*****[[Echo Team (ODST)|Echo Team]]
*****[[Kilo Team]]

|title-4=Locations|
*[[Milky Way]]
**[[Epsilon Eridani system]]
***[[Reach]] {{Mo}}
**[[Sol system]]
***[[Earth]]
****[[Korea]]
*****[[Songnam]] {{1st}}

|title-5=Events|

|title-6=Weapons|
*[[Humbler stun device]]
*[[M247 general purpose machine gun]]
*[[SRS99C-S2 AM sniper rifle]]
*[[Paint pellet gun]]

|title-7=Vehicles|
;Covenant
*{{Pattern|Karo'etba|Ghost}}
*{{Pattern|Muz|Wraith}}

;Human
*[[D77 Pelican]]
*{{Class|Moncton|orbital weapon platform}}
**[[Cairo Station (station)|Cairo Station]] {{Mo}}

|title-8=Technology and equipment|
*[[Airfoil carapace]]
*[[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI]]
**[[Hydrostatic gel]] {{Mo}}
*[[ODST armor]]
*[[Oracle scope]]
*[[Smart-linking|Smart scope]]
*[[Tactical training round]]
*[[Parafoil]]
*[[Sangheili harness]]
**[[Combat harness]] {{C|Hologram-only}}
}}

==Trivia==
''Armor Testing'' was the only short in the ''Halo Graphic Novel'' to get its own external merchandise; the [[Joyride Studios/Halo 2 Exclusives|''Halo 2'' Exclusives]] series of action figures included an ODST of the 340th Combat Training Unit, as depicted in the comic. Accordingly, the ODST has paint-splattered armour.

==Gallery==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes|gallerypage=Armor Testing images}}
<gallery>
File:Humbler.jpg|One of the ODSTs attacking S-062 with a humbler.
File:Tacticaltrainingrounds.jpg|Maria firing paint pellet rounds from two SMGs.
File:HGN 3.jpg|Flames flicker about Maria's shields.
</gallery>

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{HGN}}
[[Category:Halo Graphic Novel]]
[[Category:Canon]]