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FICTION

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"The (un)expected one"

March 15 2526 - Hour 1320

GYSGT Logan 'Log' Sutton

Damascus Materials Testing, Vhalkem, Planet of Chi Ceti IV

Three grueling days.

Biko had been secured, but it would be a big lie to say it happened with little losses. The Covenant fought harshly and where the land forces found considerable resistance on the ground battles, the worst came from the battle up above our heads. Even as major ships were destroyed, the Covenant fighters managed to have a black eye of their own, destroying a few 'precious' Longswords. It was a victory, but a humbling one despite the advantages we got through the battle.

The Covenant still retained enough superiority through their technology and tactics which made anything we did to improve combat situations way too ineffective. At this point, it wasn't a matter of working on a solution, as that was already happening, but a matter of holding out until tech advancements reached out for the rest of the UNSC. It was going to take a while, shield-technology had been pushed to develop faster than in OTL, but there was no doubt in mind that it was still going to take months if not years to get a solution finalized. For all. Special forces? Obviously less time. The best had to get the best first.

"Are you impatient?"

I asked Sif, the AI's hologram pacing back and forth by my bedside, waiting for something to happen.

"Yes."

Something we learned of yesterday and something which led to some awkward conversations with the rest of the team. After all, we were about to get a new 'teammate'. And one that was going to be difficult to befriend considering the slight opposition from Gage and Arturo. By Cole's own words: "You asked for her entry, then perhaps she will fare the best under you." Which translated in: "Your request, your burden."

Not that I minded the fact I was going to get Alba in the squad, but I was perplexed by the chances of this being a critical piece of info that was going to raise some suspicions. Cole definitely knew that, and that was why he picked me. I had the reputation that he needed to endure the brunt of that controversial decision. And, perhaps, he hoped for me to surprise others again and actually turn a relatively awkward predicament into a good and positive one. I couldn't help but just realize I was becoming a bit of a problem-fixer in the UNSC, thus lessening the chances of ONI getting touchy-feely in an effort to secure favors and power.

Doctor Gerhardt was already testing out some modifications to a version of the BALMUNG suit which was meant to suit Alba the best. He took inspiration from the battle armor recovered from the Brutes, and added to the equation her physical characteristics so that he could draw out the 'best fit' for our newest rookie. Sif herself was waiting with some interest as she had her own queries that needed to be answered. Queries that, much to her dismay, I couldn't answer through my meta-knowledge. Of course she knew that I wasn't an encyclopedia, so she could understand if I didn't know things like the ones she was curious about with extreme precision.

Twenty minutes after that brief interaction saw the anticipated arrival unfold and... it was amusing. Alba was wearing a half-sleeved UNSC shirt that showed a bit of her lower belly since the size didn't completely cover up for her, and her dark-gray pants managed to keep her curves contained without making it look awkward. Lastly, a pair of black boots that were large and refitted to be compatible with her feet.

Alba paused as the guide stopped and gestured to her to approach us, then, as she got close enough to be in front of us, she slowly took position to salute.

"Private... First Class Alba, ready for duty."

...I cracked a smile. Was that effort to try and be polite? I could tell she was a bit mad at the fact she had to do this, so I blessed her with a bit of mercy.

"At ease, Private," I replied politely. "And please do use formality only if strictly necessary. Within this place, you are part of the team and thus this kind of stiffness is ill-advised during training and combat."

Her posture followed my order and she dropped out of the salute, relief washing over her face. I turned to look at the others and provided a quick introduction. All in all, nothing concerning came out of this. Rodriquez held a tense look, while Yevgenny had a stoic look on his face during the whole meeting. First came the tour, then a proper introduction to Doctor Gerhardt, and the researcher proved to be as giddy as he was before Alba came. Which then led her to be quite uneasy around him for a while.

That is until the doctor showed her her suit. Appearance-wise, it looked like the armors used by Jiralhanae Bodyguards, except it covered her full body rather than leave some elements exposed such as feet, fingers and eyes. The main color was a dark-gray with green stripes here and there.

Very fancy, and definitely good to hide the fact that a brute was working for us until Cole got the balls and the backup plans to go through with her official introduction to the high officers. That was just going to be a shitstorm. Still, Alba liked the suit. She stood close to it, palm pressing by the breastplate and fawning before the smoothness of the armor as she questioned the doctor more about it. Gerhardt looked happy about this phase, and managed to sneak some questions to further expand the suit to fit her physical prowess.

Next up in the standard list of greeting rookies I had Alba shown where important rooms such as the armory, the bathrooms, and the living quarters were. She was delighted to see that her bed was big enough to keep her from being too exposed by the edges. It had been one thing she lamented about during the first time we talked, so I thought it would have been just nice to provide her with that little comfort.

Time passed and soon the day went on with a similar

"...Sir, I have a question?"

I hummed. "What about?"

"If I was provoked in a spar and I refused, would it constitute as offensive by human culture?"

...

"What? Please, elaborate."

"I was challenged by Gage to a fight. He said that, within proper circumstances, this was necessary, but I was told by Serin this wasn't the case."

"That's because it isn't," I replied to the female Brute, giving her a serious look.

"I don't wish to cause trouble. I don't-"

"Want to be pushed away and get back to non-active duty?"

Her hesitation was confirmation of this much, and I nodded to her.

"It's a good mindset, just don't allow that fear to be the sole controller of your actions from now on. The point is, if you are provoked by words, then return by words," I advised her, stunning her with the limitations and concessions I was willing to accept in that regard. "If they try to attack you, then return things with the same exact amount of strength. Don't be the aggressor, but also don't be the victim."

Alba nodded slowly, gratitude flashing briefly before I glanced at Sif and sighed. "Please, do call the rest of the team. I believe it's such a lovely time for some extra exercise."

The AI merely nodded, but she mirrored my amusement as she could tell I planned something devious. And I did much to the entire group's chagrin.

"Give me push-ups until I say to stop."

That sounded sudden, but not out of the blue for the team as they all went through it. And it wasn't just Gage or Arturo, but also Michael, Felicia and Alba. Same for Serin and me. It was a bit confusing for me to join this, and I felt a bit awkward in handling the sudden exercise at this point of the day. It's been a few hours since Alba's arrival and we were close to dinner, so everyone was starving after a long day of training.

After twenty, Felicia spoke up in a somewhat uneasy mood.

"S-Sir, how much more?"

I offered a strained smile. "For as long as some people have to behave like children and try to play hard ball in this team," I replied. "Speaking of which, does anyone have to tell me something at the moment about our newest rookie?"

I expected Gage to speak up, but someone beat him to

"She is... good at throwing rocks?" Michael offered, getting a smug grin from Alba.

This was in reference to a little competition between the two. Baird actually asked if she was that strong in throwing rocks. And the two 'tanks' just decided to challenge each other by throwing rocks. That was harmless, especially since it was done in a room where it was just the two of them and the walls offered no ricochet with rocks. Also, where the rocks came from? Turns out Baird took a bit of a hobby to pick up rocks whenever a mission was over. Sometimes as souvenirs, at times as a means to have something to play around by the training room. Something distracting, something that wasn't using a gun or punching a bag. Alba won that competition by the way.

Gage, surprisingly enough, took offense at the compliment.

"S-She is the enemy, Mike."

"Was," Felicia remarked with a huff, confirming that it wasn't the first time he brought this up with the others without bringing it up to me. "Gage, you can't be serious-"

"She can backstab us at any time."

I blinked. "Can she?"

Gage turned to look at me, ready to reply and yet his voice faltered. "Sir-"

"I asked you a simple question, Gage. Can she backstab us at any time?"

He hesitated, but then he tried to reason about it. "I mean, she worked for-"

"Always the past tense, Gage. Tell me, did you even bother asking her why she joined the UNSC?"

There was no answer to that, so I decided to cut it short.

"I believe the right for that full story is up to Alba if she so desire to tell anyone, but let's make it quite simple: the Covenant aren't nice with some of their people, some traditions are pure crap in their military and Alba is pissed at them and thus wants to help us," I summarized as simply as I could, with my message understood from the other side from the silent nod from Gage. "My role as your superior doesn't grant me any right to impose respect. That's not within my duties, but I have one thing to order due to these circumstances since I believe this is what the new teammate wants: a chance to prove herself. Because that's what she didn't get in there. Do you get it?"

"Yes sir-"

"Louder."

"Sir, yes sir!"

I smiled. "Great. So, we're done with the push-ups," I finally ordered, ceasing the unplanned exercise much to the relief of the entire team. "And before dinner, a quick shower. We all stink dammit..."

I could tell distrust was still going to remain for a while, but I knew that the next few missions were going to help turn these flaws into something more positive.

AN

The Doctor will soon provide Alba with some equipment. Special stuff of the high-murder kind.