Infinity Briefing Packet

The Infinity Briefing Packet is a booklet handed out to SPARTAN-IV personnel upon assignment to. 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

 * 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

 * Briefing sheet for one of Fireteam Majestic's missions on Requiem; either Operation: CHATTERBOX, THREE-CARD MONTE, LAND GRAB, ACADEMIC or ALL-SEEING EYE.
 * 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

Palmer's note
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

Palmer's letter
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
REGISTRY: INF-101 LENGTH: 5,694.2m (18,681.6ft) BEAM: 833.3m (2,733.9ft) HEIGHT: 1,041.2m (3,415.9ft) SUBLIGHT CONFIGURATION: XR-2 Boglin Fields: S81/X-DFR (Deuterium Fusion Reactor) TRANSLIGHT CONFIGURATION: Mark X Macedon/Z-PROTOTYPE #78720HDS (Remote Carriage) ARMOR PLATE COMPOSITION: Titanium-A3 Battleplate (490cm), Materials Group
 * IDENT/ENGINES

Total Crew: 17,151 Naval - 8,954 Marine - 6,021 Intelligence - 1,699 Civilian - 477
 * COMPLEMENT

CR-03, Series-8 MAC (4) M42 Archer (350 pods x 24 missiles) M75 Rapier (250 pods x 30 missiles) M96 Howler (500 pods x 20 missiles) PDS (830 guns, 70mm M965 PDN)
 * ARMAMENT

Cat-1 Primary Bays (275) Cat-2 Secondary Bays (140) Cat-3 Materiel Deployment Bays (108) Cat-8 Sub-Vessel Deployment Bays (10)
 * MASS DEPLOYMENT

R1295 Launching System/M9407 SOEIV (329) B854 Jettison Bays/M8823 HEVs (124) Cat-3 Materiel Deployment Bays (108) Cat-8 Sub-Vessel Deployment Bays (10)
 * SINGLE DEPLOYMENT

SKT-29 Class-8 EHL/C (8,900) RLT-85 Emergency Shuttlepods (12,570)
 * EMERGENCY DEPLOYMENT

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.
 * AFT ARMORY NOTICE

FROM THE DESK OF CHIEF MECHANIZED REPAIR OFFICER GORDON KUSHNER, UNSC INFINITY
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:

CARE FOR ARMOR a. All Spartan-IV Armor care is performed on S-Deck in the Armor Bay by qualified Class-61 Techs. Spartan-IVs are never to attempt any care or maintenance of the armor themselves.

b. Each set of Spartan-IV Armor can be outfitted with modifications that enhance the base functionality. Spartans can requisition mods based on mission needs or personal combat ability.

c. Individual armor pieces can be requisitioned for each Spartan based on mission need, but selecting based purely on cosmetic desires is discouraged. Any customization of armor color must conform to UNSC Equipment Code Rule 20.00.62.

EXERCISE a. Standard UNSC PT practices should still be followed. However, due to physical augmentations, basic gym equipment should be considered unsafe for use. All exercise must be performed only on Spartan-IV-class, operative-approved equipment, locked in the S-Deck Armor Bay.

SLEEP a. Spartan-IV-class operatives can expect to perform optimally with a minimum of two-and-one-half hours of sleep per forty-eight (48) hour cycle.

b. Cryosleep best practices for UNSC personnel are applicable to Spartan-IVs as well.

DIET a. All Spartan-IV-class operatives will consume meals only from the designated Mess Hall aboard Infinity. Spartan-IV meals are specially prepared with two guidelines in mind to meet the specific needs of each individual.
 * i. Each Spartan-IV has different caloric needs based on activity data gathered by his or her individual physiometer.
 * ii. Each Spartan-IV requires different levels of vitamins, nutritional supplements, and ancillary medications to aid in continued physiological well-being and reduce risk of future implant rejections.

CONTINUED MEDICAL CARE a. Before and after each sortie, Spartan-IV-class operatives shall report to S-Deck Armor bay for physiological scans, reviews, and treatment.

SHIP R&R OPPORTUNITY SCHEDULE
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
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
LAND GRAB CODENAME: LAND GRAB ASSIGNED TO: FIRETEAM MAJESTIC ASSIGNED BY: SPARTAN SARAH PALMER (IC) ASSIGNMENT DATE: FEBRUARY, 7, 2558 MISSION LOCATION: REQ-931-B

MISSION GOAL: FIRETEAM MAJESTIC will aid in the initial assault on COVENANT cultists holding continent loc req-931. At mission origin, FIRETEAM MAJESTIC will rendezvous with UNSC MARINE forces with explicit goal of eliminating all COVENANT forces and establishing a secure area for a research base to be established. FIRETEAM MAJESTIC has command of mission. All standard inter-agency secrecy practices are in effect.

EXPECTED RESISTANCE: UNKNOWN Expect COVENANT forces, with possible reinforcements

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT: UNSC MARINES UNSC vehicles as available ALL-SEEING EYE CODENAME: ALL-SEEING EYE ASSIGNED TO: FIRETEAM MAJESTIC ASSIGNED BY: SPARTAN SARAH PALMER [IC] ASSIGNMENT DATE: FEBRUARY 8, 2558 MISSION LOCATION: REQ-626-C

MISSION GOAL: Recon of location for possible base establishment. Identify any COVENANT cultist threats. Neutralize as required. INFINITY SCIENCE requests extensive exploration of location and recording of all environmental data via armor systems. FIRETEAM MAJESTIC is free from worry re: inter-agency secrecy practices as data scrub will be handled post-mission before passing to INFINITY SCIENCE.

EXPECTED RESISTANCE: UNKNOWN

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT: Additional weapons procured on site CHATTERBOX CODENAME: CHATTERBOX ASSIGNED TO: FIRETEAM MAJESTIC ASSIGNED BY: SPARTAN SARAH PALMER (IC) ASSIGNMENT DATE: FEBRUARY 9, 2558 MISSION LOCATION: REQ-814-D

MISSION GOAL: SENIOR INFINITY NAVAL STAFF requests base establishment at location: REQ-626-C. This requires removal of COVENANT cultists at both of these locations: REQ-814-B and REQ-814-D. FIRETEAM MAJESTIC will work in concert with CRIMSON TEAM, both operating under direct supervision of SPARTAN PALMER (IC). FIRETEAM MAJESTIC operations begin at REQ-814-D with focus on destroying COVENANT communications array.

EXPECTED RESISTANCE: HEAVY COVENANT resistance expected

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT: Additional weapons procured on site ACADEMIC CODENAME: ACADEMIC ASSIGNED TO: FIRETEAM MAJESTIC ASSIGNED BY: SPARTAN SARAH PALMER (IC) ASSIGNMENT DATE: FEBRUARY 10, 2558 MISSION LOCATION: REQ-815-A

MISSION GOAL: FIRETEAM MAJESTIC will advance on COVENANT cultist outpost with goal of eradicating all resistance at location. Recon reports COVENANT archaeology teams active at location. INFINITY SCIENCE requests extensive exploration of location and recording of all data via armor systems. FIRETEAM MAJESTIC is free from worry re: inter-agency secrecy practices as data scrub will be handled post-mission before passing to INFINITY SCIENCE

EXPECTED RESISTANCE: HEAVY COVENANT resistance expected

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT: Airstrikes available THREE-CARD MONTE CODENAME: THREE-CARD MONTE ASSIGNED TO: FIRETEAM MAJESTIC ASSIGNED BY: SPARTAN SARAH PALMER (IC) ASSIGNMENT DATE: FEBRUARY 11, 2558 MISSION LOCATION: REQ-822-D

MISSION GOAL: MAJESTIC is tasked with search-and-destroy on multiple COVENANT cultist outposts. Expect support from TOWER, CASTLE, and DOMINO TEAMS at locations REQ-822-A, REQ-822-B, REQ-822-C. All teams will work in concert, operating under direct supervision of SPARTAN PALMER (IC). COVENANT outposts are expected to contain data regarding requiem-cult leadership. Search for and retrieve this data. FIRETEAM MAJESTIC is free from worry re: inter-agency secrecy practices as data scrub will be handled post-mission before passing to INFINITY SCIENCE.

EXPECTED RESISTANCE: HEAVY COVENANT resistance expected

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT: Additional weapons on site

Restricted ONI Message
<> X18-23G21-01

RESTRICTED ONI MESSAGE

To: <>

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 <> that could engage the Covenant on it's own level. With brute force, with massive firepower, and with unflinching, unyielding ferocity.

We built it in the <>. 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 <>.

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, <> miles long. More powerful, deadlier than anything we, or the Covenant, could make spaceworthy.

Of course, the Spartans, or more accurately, <>, saved us. And your agency in this is not unappreciated - in some circles. They stopped the war before the <> 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 <> 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 <>. The <> 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 <>. Protect its crew. Protect Earth.

Regards,

M.

Trivia

 * 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.