After the dust was cleared Samael opened the locker, as it opened air rushed out due to the pressure seal. Inside the locker were several clean black under-suits and several additional draws for other items. Samael looked over the things inside the locker and ran his hands over the under-suits.
The fabric was soft to the touch but Samael knew that this was how it was made. It is soft on the skin but was constructed with metal fibers making it more resistant than normal clothes. It was also made to give shock troopers full use of their augmentations and cybernetics.
"You remember how to put all this on?" Angel said as she leaned on Samael's back.
"I remember."Samael said as he turned and walked to the other end of the room. As he walked over to the door it slid open automatically. The next room was covered in white tiles and had a drain centered in the floor. Samael removed the suit he had on and walked into the room till he was in the center.
"Looking good 231. Your body has not aged a day." Angel said as she walked out in front of him looking at his body.
"Angel, just start it up." Samael said.
"Why do you think I can start it up?" Angel asked as she walked over to Samael.
"I know you have already remotely accessed the facility. Just start it up." Samael said as he looked over at Angel.
"Ok ok. You know I can't say no to you." Angel said as she drew circles on his chest with her finger. After a moment loud sounds could be heard coming from all corners of the room. Several tiles moved down and revealed water sprayers.
A thin solution sprayed from the sprayers drenching Samael in the liquid. It was boiling hot turning his skin red as he was soaked. He did not react as it switched to a dark red solution cooling off his body and washing away the remaining solution.
"Ready for the second step?" Angel said as she walked around Samael.
"Let's get this over with." Samael said as he blinked.
"Ok." Angel said as the sprayers shot out a dark yellow solution that made a sizzling sound when it made contact with his skin. He could feel it burning away the top layers of his skin revealing the clean skin underneath.
The sprayers retracted and several thin mechanical arms descended from the ceiling. They grabbed onto his head and neck and began to shave his head. They were fast and did not waste time, for as soon as they were done they sprayed down his body with water.
"Well there goes the nice hair of yours 231." Angel said as Samael turned to leave the room. He walked over to the locker and took one of the under-suits out and put it on. It fit tight to the skin and matched all the contours of his body.
"Prep the sarcophagus." Samael said as he closed the under-suit up.
"It gives me chills to hear you say that 231. But it is ready when you are." Angel said as she hopped up onto the desk and crossed her legs.
"Let's begin." Samael said as he walked over the machine that was in the center of the floor. As he stopped moving the machine opened up and arms came out of the floor and ceiling. They grabbed his ankles and wrists lifting him into the air as other arms moved out of the machine.
The arms began to assemble a framework around Samael's body. The thin strips of medal are welded together and attached to each other. As they built the armor framework around his body he thought about the war.
The shock trooper armor was given the name sarcophagus for it would be the trooper's coffin when they die. It was made of several parts, the first layer was the under suit. It was durable and sealed the body from chemical attacks, adding another layer of protection.
The next layer was the framework. It surrounds most of the body and will be used to mount all other plates for the armor. The framework only covers large parts of the body and does not impact movement much.
After the framework was constructed came the armor plates. The side facing the body was a gel designed to absorb impacts and help repeal the armor if penetrated. The gel is also a triggered explosive that the trooper would use if they perish in combat. On the outside of the plate was a composite metal designed to be lightweight but extremely durable.
The last layer is the tactical gear, a complex network of pouches and webbing to mount all the needed gear. Its standard load-out for storage was a drop leg pouch and a low profile bag on their back plate. There are also several pouches for all the ammo they would need and a holster for the pistol.
After the armor was attached, Samael raised his head as the neck guard and chin were attached. At the same time the back of the neck guard was connected. When both parts meet they begin to fuse together the rest of the helmet is placed onto his head and locked down.
Samael grabbed the last arm before it could connect the face-mask to the rest of the helmet. After he grabbed it the arms lowered him down and retreated back into the ceiling and floor. He then attacked the mask onto his belt and walked out of the center of the room.
He watched as his heads up display began to update and sync with the armor giving him the status of each plate. As it updated, Angel walked around him looking at the armor. Samael rolled his shoulders, He could feel the plates digging into his skin.
It was a familiar pain, the suits did not hinder movement. But some plates would dig into their skin often drawing blood due to the fit of the armor. But he was used to it and would not even feel it.
"Did you miss your armor?" Angel asked as Samael walked back over to the open locker. As he looked at the locker he pulled up a live camera feed of the building where Stella was being held.
"Miss is not the term I would use." Samael said as he opened up some of the draws. The first one was full of magazines for both a rifle and his pistol.
"So what would you say it is like?" Angel said as she ran a finger between the plates so Samael could feel it.
"It's like returning to a home you never asked for. Something you know inside and out, but never asked to know in the first place." Samael said as he began putting magazines in their matching pouches.
"Interesting. I can see how it would feel like that." Angel said as she hugged him from behind.
"Are you ok Angel?" Samael asked as he finished putting the last magazine in its pocket.
"Ya I just wanted to give you a hug. I know that I give you a hard time but I really don't know what I would do without you. If you were to forget about me I would be lost." Angel said, thinking about all the forgotten equipment in the bunker.
"We all have a purpose and a job to do. I can't say I will be around forever or that I will even make it to see the next dawn. But so long as I still draw breath I will never leave a comrade behind." Samael said as he looked around at the remaining lockers.
"Promise me that you won't delete me 231." Angel said, her voice trembling a little.
"You were entrusted to me as my assistant and you have always been here to help me. I would never delete you Angel." Samael said as he opened the next draw and took out some medical packs.
"I will hold you to that." Angel said as she let go of him, so he could attach the medical packs to the armor.
"You are emotional today Angel." Samael said as he took out the drop leg bag and attached it to his leg.
"I don't think so. I have been asleep for five years. Five. I think I am entitled to have a moment 231." Angel said as she poked him in his side.
"That is a fair assessment." Samael said as he grabbed his pistol and put it into the drop leg holster. With all the pouches and quick load locations filled he had his full combat load. Six magazines for his pistol, seven magazines standard for the rifle, five magazines penetrator rounds, five under barrel high explosive, 3 under barrel bunker penetrator, and three anti-personnel grenades.
It was enough ammo to take down a company of soldiers if used properly. Samael closed up the locker and walked over to the gun rack. Angel had followed him over moving to his side to watch him pick up his rifle. He waited for a moment looking at the rack of identical rifles.
The rifle the shock troopers used was stripped down. All user comfort was removed leaving only raw efficiency. It sported an integrated under barrel large caliber multi-purpose launcher. That was offset by the bull-pup configuration of the rifle, this gave it a shorter appearance but longer barrel.
The standard ammo for the rifle was a 700 grain projectile at 950 meters per second making its standard round devastating anything except for armored vehicles. The penetrator round used puts all others to shame sporting a 780 grain projectile at 1500 meters per second meaning it has the power to break and damage anything but a medium or heavy tank.
After looking over his rifle he grabbed it and shouldered it pointing it at the ground. The second his hand touched the pistol grip of the rifle a projectile pathway appeared on his HUD. It was accompanied by an ammo type indicator and rounds in the magazine. He picked up a magazine from the gun rack and slammed it into the rifle charging it after it was fully inserted.
The indicator changed and read forty-five rounds in the magazine of standard ammo. He then used his off hand to grab the one point sling built into his shoulder armor and clipped it onto the rifle. After it was clipped on he lifted it up and opened the under barrel launcher and slid a high explosive round into it before locking it into the armed position.
"A master with his tools of the trade. It brings back a lot of memories for me seeing you like this 231." Angle said as she ran her fingers across the rifle.
"Let's go. We are going to be taking the beast." Samael said as he turned and started to move to another door.
"We are? Yes I love it when you drive 231." Angel said as she walked next to him, putting her arms behind her back and pushing her chest forward.
"It is going to be the fastest way to get there. It has been too long since she was taken. I need to act as soon as I get there." Samael said, as the door opened revealing a garage with a large vehicle in the center.
The vehicle had three axles one in the front and two in the back. The boxy appearance helped the mean looking aesthetic of the vehicle and short front end. Samael walked around to the back tapping the two fuel can on the back checking to see if they were full. He then walked over to the driver's side and opened the door looking inside.
The inside had room for four in the main cab and a fifth one could be in the turret seat. The center of the vehicle was taken up by a large bump that covered the vehicle's massive engine. Keeping it safe in the worst of firefights.
Samael got into the driver's seat and put his right hand on the gear controls. Prompting the vehicle to start and all the displays to appear on his HUD. Angel had moved to the passenger seat and opened up some holographic displays for the vehicle.
"Are you ready to go save her 231?" Angel asked as the doors to the exit ramp opened and Samael put on the face mask.
"I am always ready." Samael said as the vehicle kicked into gear and started to move forward.