>>6177283Mission profile dependent. In this case you're entering a known hostile area in the full expectation that there may be danger - it would be a dereliction of duty not to provide you with basic protection. Especially since Team #2, Mox and a gaggle of teenage ARstreamers are all relying on you. So it's as much for their sake as yours.
>>6177288Sorry Agent Devonshire, the sword isn't "optional". Everyone gets one because it's standard issue - the White Moon may have cybernetic chassis units, which are often very resilient to bullets due to their heavy armor and lack of vitals to penetrate. A sword is a surprisingly effective close quarters counter to such system, as the larger wound channel and ability to precise target vulnerabilities let you dismantle such systems where bullets may fail to penetrate or score a vital.
Secondly, a lot of people in this day and age are augmented in various ways and may seek to close distance to close quarters or engage otherwise in situations where they seek to exploit talents that make direct target acquisition via guns harder. Not to mention the environment is often cluttered and constrained.
The knife is an acceptable substitute and fair pairing with a C7, but you might also need something larger and sharper. Luckily, light-weight titanium-alumium-polymer meta-material alloy enhanced non-descript cool swords are fairly portable.
