Yes, the crate and palm reader are standard for what you were expecting. It is the weapons, ammo, and likely a few other goodies needed for the mission.
As soon as it reads your palm, the magnetic seals release. It can be locked again to the deck of the ship if you like. You can also add additional people to the reader that can be allowed to unlock the crate.
There are also several lockers available on the ship where equipment can be stored. Once the door to the locker is closed, there are air bags that will inflate to from the sides, top, and bottom to secure the contents