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The following is a fan-based

FICTION

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"Revelation and Notification"

January 28 2526 - Hour 0812

GYSGT Logan 'Log' Sutton

Damascus Materials Testing, Vhalkem, Planet of Chi Ceti IV

Warning: This is going to be a 'make or break' chapter for many since it contains a scene that not many will like regarding a decision taken by Log towards Sif. It's not going to please everyone, but I believe it's just rightful considering how crucial their current relationship is.

"I thought you would have been happier for the promotion."

Gunnery Sergeant. For the good service on Harvest and aiding the retrieval of important data off from that facility. That and allowing a proper retreat without any injury. Sif wasn't wrong with that assumption, I would have cracked more smiles if I hadn't things in my mind keeping me uneasy about the near future.

Starting from the notion that the Covenants allowed Female Elites in their service, something that I was quite sure shouldn't have happened until much after this war. A change that was meant to happen three or so decades in the future... unfolding now. The ramifications were quite dreadful within the realm of numbers. How many females were recruited? And how much is that offered to their manpower pool? It meant more troops, it meant more 'specialized' troops.

Sighing, I blinked as Sif's little avatar shifted and was suddenly sitting with her legs crossed right onto my chest. I was lying on my bed, the silence of the room interrupted at times by the muffled noises of Serin training with her punching bag. She took my advice to build up her physical strength quite seriously from the looks of it. And I couldn't blame her for being this intense about it, especially when I had become living proof that we weren't going to stand well against these bastards in a fair physical fight. The AI's hummed and her weight was nonexistent due to her figure being born from light rather than physical matter, but the stare was what really made the entire exchange quite awkward. That's where the real weight lied.

"I was thinking about the data we found. Arcadia, the Ancient Civilization... I suppose the Navy will try to operate on it before the Covenant does anything about it."

"Not immediately," Sif argued. "It would be a priority to keep quiet about this discovery, not when the Covenant fleet is fully alerted and expecting us to 'desperately try to claim their holy sites' or something of the kind. From my own estimations, any mission tied to this matter will unfold in a few months. Long enough for the Covenant to have other issues to worry about."

I slowly nodded at this, but the AI was far from calm about this.

"And I can tell it's not just that."

Blinking, I gave her a confused look. "What?"

"Log, you might try to hide away that something is unnerving you, but I can tell you are worried about something else. And while you might say that I have no right to press you on this... I do have a right just as you have a right to help me through my own unique struggles. Please, tell me what's wrong."

That sounded quite... hurt. Did she think I was withholding info that she should know about? I was quite stunned by the mere notion Sif would grow so upset about it, especially since it was more of a probability than a legitimate reason to doubt my current mood. Nonetheless, I realized that we were soon going to reach the point where I would have to provide answers and... those answers could reach ears that weren't worthy of those.

I glanced again at Sif, the AI providing me with an anxious glance as she could tell I was stirring a stormful of thoughts just to get my words out. And... she didn't even know what I was meant to tell her. I felt it was a bit too early to bring up, that I could have waited on it. But... What if I didn't have a choice on the matter?

"It's not a simple matter. Not when this could easily create issues for the two of us."

"Worse than hiding my rampancy period?" Sif argued, expecting for what I was holding back to be less than that... and looking surprised when I gave her an awkward look. "Surely you don't mean that-"

"How safe are we from eavesdroppers right now?" I interrupted that question, raising the AI's intrigue through it.

"It's only us."

I nodded. "What... we will find in Arcadia is more coordinates, these ones leading us to a planet classified by the Ancient Civilization as Shield World 0459."

"That sounds awfully specific. How do you know this?"

And that's where the big bit had to come out. The make or break situation.

"That's because it was something I learned about from my home dimension. Which isn't exactly set in the 26th century."

... "Log. Is this a joke or-"

"The SPARTAN-II were recruited as children, indoctrinated into the role and provided with experimental augmentation that turned them into super-soldiers for ONI," I started to say, knowing I had to back up this claim with information that wasn't exactly open to the public. Or even to the whole UNSC in some instances. "The Covenant are after us because we are the true successor to the Ancient Civilization we learned about. They have an ancient AI which recognized us as the 'Reclaimers' but their greedy religious leaders are worried of losing their position of power, so they waved the truth into us being their version of Satan."

"...Oh? Is that so?"

"Yes."

There was a moment of tension. The moment of truth one would say and... I was surprised by what Sif replied to it.

"It would explain a few things but... how come you know this much?"

"Where I came from, the originary dimension before I was 'reborn' here, the timeline was told through media like games and... TV series."

No unease, no confusion, no skepticism, only... curiosity.

"You don't think this is too crazy?"

"Considering the data we found in Harvest, the Covenant and the fact you seem to have impressive luck?" She asked back with some sarcastic touch to it. "No. I would say it's incredible for a reason, but not beyond the logical thought. It's... your admission would just confute many dimensional theories, and validate a few considered improbable. Dimensions which can exist and we have 'proof' of it through media produced in our current dimension... this is incredibly messy."

"That's why I didn't want to talk about it," I argued flatly. "It's not easy."

"It's not," Sif agreed readily. "But... Why is this very reason causing you this kind of unease? What made you upset?"

...

"There is an aspect of the recent skirmish that left me confused as... it shouldn't have happened and I know it's not a change born from my meddling," I hummed quietly. "The bitch that roughed me up in Harvest? Her species shouldn't be allowing females in their military."

"Truly? That worries you?"

"The ramifications do," I argued dryly, almost annoyed by Sif's jab. "If a female is accepted in their ranks, then it would be valid to believe how there would be more soldiers to their ranks too. And if that's the case, then they have more manpower that they would have had in the 'original' timeline against us."

"Truth be told? It's not wrong thinking but... what if it was more of a rare case? After all, bribery and nobility are not beneath some species in the Covenant."

"Once again, they are rather adamant about it. Guys fight, chicks keep by the kitchen and with the kids."

"Patriarchal but... potentially influenced by her skills? She isn't exactly a bad fighter. And even though she failed to kill you, she still came close to it, and that's only going to reinforce that notion. And... Now I see the issue. That reputation could boost changes to include more of their females in the army. That's... troublesome."

I sighed, but before I could add more to it and ask how she was holding it that well when she suddenly stood up and almost 'huffed'.

"Gerhardt wishes to speak with you and Serin. He finished preparing the battle-armors."

I slowly nodded, standing up as the AI left her seat and 'allowed' me to leave the bed.

"Log?"

I blinked, glancing as she returned to her previous post, ready to shift to the laboratory's terminal.

"You believed in me when I reasoned with crazy. Of course I would believe you too- especially since I can tell by your data that you are the furthest thing from insane."

... "You sure know how to make me feel awkward about it, Sif."

She giggled. "With all due respect, sir, go to hell."

Chuckling, I felt most of my unease out of the system with that last response. As I left my room, I walked up to Serin's door and knocked twice.

"The doctor wants to talk with us, rookie."

I heard someone scrambling across the room, but didn't bother waiting as the girl was instantly following me as soon as I turned the corner for the labs. We eventually arrived at our destination and... Casper looked absolutely elated for some odd reason.

"So, what's the new upgrade about, Doctor?"

"Ja! The recordings detailing the field Experience from recent missions has given me enough to finally apply some changes to the armor. I've managed to add a couple of improvements that will further increase your strategic capacity," The researcher beamed brightly as he walked us to the BALMUNG armor. It didn't look much different, but I noticed two details that were new. "First, I finally managed to find proper lenses for the visor to include two special modes: Night Vision and Heat Vision."

"That could help when it comes to missions where vision is limited through normal sight," Serin commented positively and I nodded.

"And I suppose that's not just what you wanted us to see. In fact, I can tell it's only the 'sweetener' to open the full course."

"Oh Oh! Yes, that's indeed it!" The German scientist grinned as he lifted the left arm of the full suit, turning it and showing that something was attached to the wrist area. "The second addition is a Grappleshot. It's a bit experimental as of yet, I'm finishing fixing some of the minor issues tied to the weight but it should be fully operative by the next mission."

Serin looked like a little girl that got some expensive Christmas gifts which, truth be told, was fairly correct as a correlation considering this sounded like a late Christmas gift from the good doctor. Finally, it was the turn of the last but possibly best addition to the BALMUNG suit.

"Last but not least, the Series 8 Jetpack add-on. I've yet to finalize the fuel-acquisition module to restore its capacity once depleted by a fair margin, but right now the add-on is fully operative for use."

"That sounds impressive, Doctor. I suppose next up is the shielding."

"Ah! I'm still working on personal shielding and... I'm ashamed to say that the real issue is tied to finding the right source of energy to use to augment the constant presence of shields around the armor," The scientist admitted sheepishly. "Quite the troubling task, but not one I am willing to give up about. Give me four or five months from now, and I will give you something."

"It's still an... impressive improvement... sir?" Serin half-asked and I nodded.

"Rookie, there's no need to be this stiff while we're off from missions. Feel free to be a little less formal while we are off-duty."

She smiled shyly. "Got it."

I smiled back, but Gerhardt was far from done speaking.

"Also, I received communication that Admiral Cole wishes to speak with you regarding a situation you are somewhat 'tied' to, Herr Sutton. Something about a collaborator being now awake and... being quite uncooperative with anyone sent to talk with her beyond the one that brought her to safety."

I blinked in surprise. "Oh. I guess we will have to deal with that."

The researcher nodded and... I could tell this was going to be interesting. I mean, this was perhaps the first time I spoke with a Brute that wasn't planning to murder and eat me. I think that's progress for something interesting.

And I would also learn this collaborator didn't plan to just speak but also offer something equally intriguing that would change the course of war against the Covenant.

AN

I mentioned a special mission and... that's gonna happen next time. Thela's POV and I will introduce a new big character. She has a... fangirl. Can't tell more without making it too awkward.

P.S. Sif is just holding back questions since there's a lot to unpack, there will be questions coming up and Log will have a field day about it.