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The following is a fan-based

FICTION

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"Not A Failure"

December 18 2525 - Hour 0511

FORMER [Serin-019] PFC Serin Celik

Damascus Materials Testing, Vhalkem, Planet of Chi Ceti IV

A failure. That's what she was.

Years of training, of expectations, of hard works... all coming down in a silent and yet tremendous crash.

Serin was no researcher, but she knew when one was about to give her bad news. She could see it in the faces of those that had been her brothers and sisters. In the face of her, that woman, the one that didn't even deign to give her that truth by person. It was so frustrating and the need of crying would come up from time to time.

She held strong, she still was- no, she once was a Spartan, but she still was the tough soldier trained by the project. Were the augmentations that important? Possibly, but she wasn't some trash that could be disposed. Not without a chance to help and fight for the ideals she had grown into.

A good part of her was frightened. Rightfully so. She had still failed, and she knew that ONI was going to get their hands on her. What was going to be her future? Considering her experience, not of the nice kind. Or so... she believed. It all started from a bizarre conversation between Mendez and an associate of Halsey.

'Failsafe', he called it in case one or two didn't make it through Project: ASTER. Serin knew she was a failure, but she had to admit, as Mendez was keen to remind her for the few months ensuing her current 'limbo' status, that she was a lucky failure at that. She was crippled by the project like many others that failed, but the Navy decided to 'pick up' the rejects and give them a chance. All of them were given the funds to be 'fixed', and given the opportunity to do more than just be dismayed by the sense of defeat.

Some were instantly re-assigned in lower echelons of either the Navy or the Marine Corps, while Serin... Serin didn't feel as lucky as Mendez wanted her to feel. Not when she was now meant to met with the chief of the project she was about to become part of. No augmentation this time around, but the notion that this doctor was a close associate with Halsey just didn't leave her at peace.

What were the chances that this would all go wrong? Many, or maybe not. Maybe she was blowing this out of proportions and... she needed a moment. A sigh, her eyes closed briefly and then... the ship finally landed.

She didn't have any issues making her way towards the entry as calmy as possible. Months of therapy and 'fixing' and here she was, moving on her own towards her possible doom. This facility, she heard this was where her 'siblings' were given the tools to fight. The MJOLNIR armors, the notion made her snort in amusement at the name. Between Greek correlations and Nordic references, Serin wondered what was the name of the project she was now assigned to.

The descent to the depths of the planet through the only elevator didn't help her dread as she felt... deprived from the chance of just 'running' away from this threat. The ride ended rather smoothly and shortly after it began. And she was actually surprised that there was just a single individual handling the whole project. At least, from a quick glance.

The doctor was busy groaning over some broken piece of machinery, looking fairly childish with that behavior but... oddly enough, soothing with how stupid the whole scene looked from afar. As she approached, the man seemed to realize he was no longer alone and-

"Oh! You're finally here!"

Joyous, almost too excited for her tastes, but the man didn't seem distrustful as he quickly apologized for the outburst and introduced himself. Casper Gerhardt was an eccentric scientist. Definitely more lively than Halsey and... less secretive. He was quite eager to 'learn from her' and how she was going to add more value to the overall project. Not a good way to start something professional, but Serin slowly accepted the notion this wasn't exactly a soldier, but a flamboyant researcher.

Through the introduction, she learned a few things, starting with the fact that she had a superior to keep track of. Much to her surprise, she ended up directly under the 'Hero of Harvest' or, as Mendez called him, 'A very lucky son of a bitch, the ideal Marine'. She knew little of Logan Sutton beyond this perspective, but his combat record didn't lie, he was an impressive soldier. Then again, some bits might have been exaggerated... but even in the general grasp of the matter, it was nothing short of incredible what he managed to achieve in a few months. And now she was set under him as a mere Private First Class.

Yes, 'lucky' my ass, Mendez...

The rest of the introduction day ended up being the 'first day of testing' as she was meant to use a 'Stable but old' version of the suit she was going to use in battle. The BALMUNG Mk. Ia was just... precious. Not the best, not the worst, but definitely a change for the good. Her actions were faster, more fluid, and not too 'fast' for her reaction time to be disoriented. It was all basic things, with Dr. Gerhardt prying as much information as he could through the test. By the end of that first day, Serin's unease had immensely lessened and she was confident that she was going to give as much as she received.

This chance, this opportunity- maybe it was because she was no longer forced into discipline as much as she had been back in Reach, but the young woman felt... giddy at the idea of helping and being worthy of that duty. To bear an armor, to fight for humanity and, hopefully, prove that she wasn't a failure for a second time.

The high command had been fairly clear about her current disposition, with her conditions giving her the 'boost' needed to serve a week-long training session to get accustomed with the suit and then be deployed were the real war was being fought and where she, hopefully, was going to make her first live engagement. Lying on her bed, easing down her nerves, Serin smiled at the ceiling.

It felt good to be given hope for once.

AN

Congratulations, Sutton, you got your own Kohai. Treat her well or she might end up taking over ONI and make your life a living hell~.

P.S. Next chapters are going to be longer. I tend to write little for specific characters that aren't MC when there's not much action since I like to leave much to the readers' imagination regarding some of their thoughts.