Ares

The SMG is the Assault Carbine, also known as the MA5K if I'm correct: http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/MA5K_Carbine In the latest Sparkcast, 343 said that the Assault Carbine is very similar to a classic Halo weapon, which was once a big shield drainer. It's not a Plasma Pistol or Covenant Carbine as those were already confirmed. It's either the above MA5K, which is like a miniature Assault Rifle (there's your SMG) or it's some new Plasma Rifle-esque weapon.

Maybe as an option. It reminds me of the Normandy in Mass Effect. Like, you wake up in a bed or cryo-tube thingy, and you can walk to places like the "Bridge" for online multiplayer, the "Personalized Scenario Training Program" for custom games, a "Theater" room, for "Playback of training events". Even a "Location Customization and Situational Awareness Training Facility", which would be Forge. It would be cool to see party members and maybe all online friends walking around too. This idea would be pretty cool, but there are a few flaws. The ship you walk around in would have to be relatively small. Smaller than the Normandy in Mass Effect anyway, considering there's only a handful of things you can really do. The actual Infinity is over 3 km long, so that would be sort of annoying to walk a mile to play Forge mode. It would take the streamlined quickness out of joining friends' parties, like in Reach and Halo 3. Other than that, I think it would be kind of cool.