<strong>Lcpl Roman "Rome" Beneke</strong><br/><br/>The locker room buzzed with activity as the marines geared up, checked and re-checked their gear. Rome yanked open the door to his assigned locker and began donning his gear.<br/><br/>He had already dressed in the marine BDUs which use high-temperature dyes designed to absorb infrared radiation at different frequencies, effectively breaking up the wearer’s IR signature. His M3 combat boots consisted of a leather upper with a synthetic sole incorporating several layers of resin-bonded flexible Venlar micromesh to protect against boot sole penetration.<br/><br/>Rome grabbed the pair of armored greaves and vambrace set and quickly slipped them over his shins and forearms respectively, fastening the snuggly over his BDUs. He retrieved his M12 pattern Advanced Personal Armor from the locker, climbed in through the armor's side opening and then snapped the side straps shut. To test the fit, Rome began routine maneuvering checks, raising his arms, twisting and stretching, mimicking the movements he knew he would make or need to make during combat. It was a good, tight fit which covered all the vital organs without limiting his range of motion.<br/><br/>Next, he grabbed the M56 battle harness, lifted it over his head and slid into it, letting it slide down over his M12 APA before cinching the straps at the sides and shoulders nice and tight. He double checked the quick release fasteners located at either corner at the top of the battle harness’s blackened breastplate. His blood type, O positive, was stenciled in red at the top left corner of the breastplate. Painted in white at center mass was a particularly creepy looking Death’s Head design with the word ‘Minister’ painted above and ‘of Death’ below.<br/><br/>He grabbed the head mounted sighting system with the advanced E5 targeting lens and his M-111 helmet. He slipped on the HMS and adjusted for comfort, adjusted the boom mic angle then plugged the E5’s output connector into the port located at the right interior of the battle harness’s breastplate. Glancing over to Widow who was also gearing up, he stepped towards her and then turned so that his back was facing her.<strong>“Widow, plug me in?”</strong>The cable to his communications system dangled loosely behind his shoulder. He heard the pop and crackle of the comms system as they were plugged in and nodded to Widow.<br/><br/>Reaching into the locker once again, he grabbed his BiMex, polarized protective eyewear with non-reflective surface to protect against possible laser or, God forbid, nuclear flash. He slipped the shades on, grabbed his helmet and headed for the weapons locker to retrieve his frag grenades, ammunition drums and his beloved M56 which he affectionately called ‘Sexy’, though crudely scrawled along the length of the feed cover was the weapons full name, ‘Sexy Beast.’<br/><br/>He quickly clipped grenades to his web gear or stowed them in grenade pouches, grabbed an ammo belt with extra drums from his weapon and then mounted the M56’s mounting bracket into the combat harness’s arm mount. Reaching underneath the mounting bracket, Rome grabbed the coaxial cable power connector and plugged into the processor and power outlets located in the battle harness's breastplate. Painted onto either side of the frame of the stabilized articulation arm where the gun itself is clipped and secured are a pair of hatefilled, glaring red eyes and a fearsome, gaping jaw filled with jagged rows of teeth.<br/><br/>Rome noted the addition of the motion tracker view screen mounted on the right side of the M56 just ahead of the cocking handle. He flipped the thumb toggle switch Gizmo had installed near the rear handle and smiled wickedly as the motion tracker screen barked and strobed to life<strong>“ ‘Attta boy Gizmo. Fuckin’ badass!”</strong>He looked to Widow again and gestured to the motion tracker view screen.<strong>"That motherfucker works fast! Check this shit out!"</strong><br/><br/>After showing off the new side mounted motion tracker for a few seconds, he finally grabbed a couple of spare DV9 batteries stuffing them into an over sized cargo pocket, fastened his ammo belt, grabbed his helmet, and hauled ass to Bay 1.<br/><br/>As Rome entered Bay, pulling on his leather combat gloves, he noticed that nearly everyone else was already in formation so he hurried his pace a bit.<strong>"Never fear, Rome is hear! Line the fuckers up and I'll mow 'em down. Ain't that right Sexy?"</strong>He brought the M56 up to his face and planted a kiss on the barrel.<strong>"Hell yeah. Let's kick some ass! Where we headed Sarge?"</strong><br/><br/>As he passed by Gizmo, he gave him a wink and thumbs up before gesturing to the new motion tracker view screen mounted on the M56.