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Terminal This fanfiction article, Merlin-D032, was written by Distant Tide. Please do not edit this fiction without the writer's permission.


"You were robbed of your life, kid. More so than any Delta I vetted. You don't have a tragic backstory like the others. You could've easily been anything else: a soldier, a civilian. You didn't need to become a Spartan. And yet here you are."
―Jefferson Korn to Merlin-D032, regarding the Spartan's lifepath.
Merlin-D032 Profile
Merlin-D032
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Name

Merlin Ljang-Boyd

Spartan Tag

Sierra-D032

Origin

Ballast (Vallejo)

Born

23 October 2545

PHYSICAL INFORMATION
Species

Human

Sex

Male

Height

193 centimeters (6 ft 4 in)

Weight

106 kilograms (234 lb)

Hair

Black

Eyes

Brown

Cyber

Modified IMC-Vestol Spartan neural implant, Smart AI Althea

OCCUPATIONAL INFORMATION
Faction
Branch

UNSC Navy Logo White UNSC Navy - ONI Seal 1 ONI

Unit
Rank

Ensign Ensign (UNSC Navy)

Skills

Close-quarters combat, Cyberwarfare, Electrician, Espionage, Expert marksmanship, Land navigation, Pathfinder, Reconnaissance

Battles
  • Imperial War
  • Oyster Point Bug War
  • Created Uprising
  • Silent Garden Race
Status

Alive, Absent without leave

  [Source]

Merlin-D032, born Merlin Ljang-Boyd, is a SPARTAN-III Delta Company commando, on-and-off lover of fellow Spartan Andra-D054, and owner of the starship Ambrose's Refuge.

Described as a mid-level performer compared to Spartans of similar capability, his personnel file appears unremarkable but noted his great capacity for empathy and a tendency towards injury and accidents. He specialized in intelligence/support roles as the scout and spotter for former Ferret Team Boson. Merlin focused on rounding out his skillset after Boson's dissolution, becoming a general capabilities Spartan operator.

As the orphaned son of government contractors, Merlin grew up in a sheltered home, later government orphanage, and missed the many horrors of the Covenant War. He graduated from Spartan training with average scores before being fashioned as a Ferret operator. Stationed on Earth in support of Internal Investigations Unit 419, he participated in several high-profile missions in North and South America. Following desertion of his Boson teammates, he and Andra-D054 joined the Office of Naval Intelligence assassination unit, VIOLET-III during the border war with the Imperium of Clarity and Operation: RUNIT DOME.

Stranded at the start of the Created conflict, Merlin found himself caught up in the Oyster Point Bug War and the race to capture the Silent Garden. Disturbed by his experience with Forerunner technologies, Merlin took some respite at the Avery Johnson Military Academy before joining Fireteam Stallion.

Career Service Vitae[]

DT MerlinPOSE3 2
Merlin-D032
UNSC-N Petty Officer Third Class
Petty Officer Third Class

NAME: Ljang-Boyd, Merlin
SPARTAN #: D032


    UNIT: VIOLET-III - Team Boson
    ROLE: Intelligence/Support
    ENLISTMENT DATE: ██████████
    LOCATION: ██████████

    GENDER: Male
    BIRTHPLACE: Ballast
    BIRTH DATE: 23 October ████
    BLOOD TYPE: A POS
    HEIGHT: 193 centimeters, 6 ft 4 in (2565)
    WEIGHT: 106 kilograms, 234 lb (2565)

Assessment

A war orphan from Ballast, Merlin Ljang-Boyd or "Merlin-D032" is a SPARTAN-III graduate of Delta Company and former member of defunct Team Boson. His parents were ONI contractors killed in separate wartime incidents; their deaths folded him into the ONI post-mortem care via lottery that also allowed his easy acquisition into the post-Onyx SPARTAN-III program. His performance and character fail to standout among peers and for observers, however, general opinions suggest him to be of a likeable personality and reliable enough as a deputy in a small Spartan team. His fraternization with Andra-D054 aside, he seems an individual just in need of the right motivation. Accident-prone to a notable degree.

Further file addendum suspended due to CREATED activity.~
Service History
  • SPARTAN-III Delta Company
    • Marcus-D005 Accident
    • VIOLET-III reassessment
  • Internal Investigations
    Unit 419
    • Operation: YOSEMITE
    • New Phoenix security operations
    • Operation: UNDESIRABLES
    • Operation: BROOD PARASITE
    • Eternal Flame Hijacking Incident
  • Imperium of Clarity border conflict
    ("Imperial War")
    • Battle of Montak
    • Battle of Bineb II
    • Incursion on Soul Ascension
    • Invasion of Iradu
  • Created Uprising
    • Operation: RUNIT DOME
    • Oyster Point Bug War
    • Silent Garden Race
    • Battle of Franconia
    • Task Force Phoenix reassignment
    • Battle of Gilboan Citadel
    • Avery Johnson Military Academy

Earned Ranks[]

Insignia Rank Date Circumstance
UNSC-N Alt Petty Officer Third Class
Petty Officer Third Class
(E-4)
2557 SPARTAN-III Delta Company graduation.
Ensign
Ensign (O-1) 2560 De facto field-commission validated without OCS process.

Short Biography[]

The following is a summary of Spartan Merlin-D032's military service performance:

Note: Spartan-D032 is designated paygrade 'Ensign' per UNSC Navy regulation. Spartan-D032 is a current asset of Naval Intelligence, not Spartan Operations.

  • 2545: Born October 23rd to ONI civilian contractors Rebecka Boyd and Cedrick Ljang, raised on interior colony of Ballast in suburban family home from Ljang's family fish-farming business.
  • 2550: Ballast suffers its first Covenant incursion. Merlin spent weeks hiding in civilian bunkers with his off-duty father. Despite increased distress in Ljang-Boyd family, they remain on Ballast rather than evacuate due to increased UNSC security efforts and pre-existing military assignments.
  • 2552: Parents killed is separate combat incidents offworld. Orphaned, moved to Vallejo Military City-Base FCF. Acquired by ONI Beta-5 Division for SPARTAN-III project, Delta Company. Assigned special purpose UNSC Navy service ID Delta-032.
  • 2553 - 2557: Trained with Delta Company on ONI reserve world Argus V for four years while assigned to training unit Bravo-3, "Team Boson" under Lieutenant Commander Jefferson Korn. Assigned to Major Kyser Duceppe of Internal Investigations as Ferret operator following the unraveled "Delta Initiative" coup plot.
  • 2558: Ferret operations supporting Internal Investigations Unit 419 suspended after desertions from Team Boson by Spartan-D003 and Spartan-D107. Transferred as support element for Headhunters VIOLET-III during border war with Imperium of Clarity. Participated in suspended RUNIT DOME operation before Created uprising.
  • 2559: Reported MIA while stranded on Oyster Point in company of Spartan-B042. Later debriefings clarify exposure and participation in the Silent Garden race between elements of the Created, Cleansing Blade, Free Domain, Kru'desh Legion, Iskander Syndicate, and UNSC Task Force Phoenix.
  • 2561: Reinstated by UNSC Frontier Command, assigned to Avery Johnson Military Academy Spartan contingent. Field-promotion to Ensign by Spartan-B042 with UNSC Navy confirmation without OCS attendance. Joined B042's Team Stallion in pursuit of the Syndicate and Created remnants.

Parental Backgrounds[]

Rebecka Boyd[]

"How do I talk about my career on date night? I just claim to be a illusionist. Usually someone asks about party tricks and I just admit I do paperwork for the State."
―Rebecka Boyd
"Reyna... My son, please make sure he's okay... Get his father home. Keep him safe, please, for me... Please, just make sure he's safe."
―Rebecka Boyd's dying wish to Reyna Zhou-Romero.
DT Rebecka Boyd

Rebecka Boyd in 2545.

Rebecka Boyd: A Russo-Alaskan immigrant to Ballast born in the 2507, Rebecka moved out to the colonies in pursuit of more exciting career prospects after graduating from the St. Petersburg University of Humanities and Social Sciences with graduate degrees in Information Warfare and Public Policy. She joined the Office of Naval Intelligence, Section II in 2529 as a public relations analyst specializing in counter-Insurrectionist messaging but transitioned into general public relations as an AI-enabled wartime propagandist.

Rebecka married Cedric Ljang, a Ballast native in 2543, after a fruitful but distant workplace relationship. Rebecka gave birth to her only son, Merlin Ljang-Boyd in 2545 but was rarely home to raise him. She moved to Paris IV to be closer to the frontlines and job requirements for war perceptions analysis and public engagement. While working on projects alongside Doctor Reyna Zhou-Romero, her facility was attacked in the Covenant invasion of Paris IV in 2549. She died trying to escape an Elite incursion team through an evacuation tunnel.

She left a few choice words with Dr. Romero, asking her fellow co-worker to look after her orphaned son. Her final request potentially spurned on Merlin's eventual Spartanhood.

Cedric Ljang[]

"The quote under my name in my school yearbook was 'don't forget to feed the fish' after my family said it so many times upon leaving home. My neighbors had a dog, I had ten thousand Ballast flounder."
―Cedric Ljang
"Most people want a say in how they go out. My advice: don't join the Navy; the largest wartime killer of UNSC personnel is space transits."
―Cedric Ljang on choosing a military career path.
DT Cedrick Ljang

Cedrick Ljang in 2545.

Cedrick Ljang: A Ballast native from a generational family of fishermen and fish farmers tracing their lineage back to Han-Mongol expats in Eastern Africa. Cedrick was born in late 2503, spending his youth close to the sea. Rather than continue as part of the family business he pursued a adventurous future in the stars, becoming a UNSC Marine and later a infantry officer through the Reach Naval Officers Academy.

Rarely staying in one place and rarely home on Ballast, he found enjoyment as a war tourist, taking volunteer postings close to the front in the final years of the Insurrection. The lack of predictability with the onset Covenant invasion in 2525 and after made him take a hard look at his career path as he felt a great fear of dying during naval transits. He transitioned into the private sector as part of ONI Security in 2530, starting work on ONI ground facilities before finding a place in shipboard security for the ONI Prowler Corps.

By 2535, he served on ONI prowlers as head of security. While no fault of his own, the Covenant Navy's fleet developed poaching capabilities against ONI prowlers and by late-Covenant war could detect stealth vessels even under the best of cloaked conditions. During the Covenant's second invasion of Arcadia, Cedrick and the crew of the UNSC Black Widow were atomized by a plasma torpedo. He was declared deceased on September 10, 2549.

Gallery[]

Character Traits[]

Personality[]

Physical Description[]

Merlin is a youthful-looking Spartan of below-average stature capable of blending in with the normal human population, his estimated growth spurt cutting off a half-foot beneath Spartan-IVs. His physicality can be a positive or negative attribute depending on circumstances but is likely a consequence of his genetics and response to Project CRYSANTHEMUM cocktails, or possibly inconsistent use of growth hormones during early Spartan-III training. His height along with most of Team Boson benefitted during undercover operations on Earth and again for Merlin while hiding among the ranks of BDS during the Oyster Point Bug War.

Physically, Merlin has an unassuming appearance with intermingled genetic traits from both east and west Eurasia. With black hair and brown eyes, he rarely stands out. His hair often borders on breaking grooming regulations, appearing like a bedhead or short mop due to lack of maintenance. However, Merlin is capable of cleaning up and avoids growing out his short stubble. He has a somewhat babyish facial complexion much like other new Spartans though many Delta Company graduates were given growth hormones following recruitment.

His most striking feature are the many recent, healing scars left from accidents and combat but reinforce his accident-prone reputation. His friends on occasion also reference his larger ears after a comment from Shima-D011 said they would "bring him good fortune." Merlin also has a basic athletic build lacking talent for any particular sports or athletic feats. He underperformed among his fellow Spartans pre- and post-augmentation but could hold his own.

Even in Mjolnir power armor, his speed as a supersoldier is often outmatched by underdog opponents like Simon-G294, a shorter and older SPARTAN-III known for using poorly-maintained SPI armor. Merlin favored Mark V-Bravo Mjolnir armor after his graduation, even after access to GEN2 and GEN3 iterations though he worked within the technological advancements of the times.

Physical Measurements:
  • 2558:
    • Height: 183 centimeters | 6 feet, 0 inches
    • Weight: 90 kilograms | 198 pounds
  • 2565:
    • Height: 193 centimeters | 6 feet, 4 inches
    • Weight: 106 kilograms | 234 pounds

Equipment[]

Personal Effects[]

DT GITS double katar

Merlin's Sangheili-derived push dagger from Rio de Janeiro.

DT Merlin D032 Trunk

Merlin maintained a relatively neat footlocker during his travels. It was eventually lost after the UNSC Infinity's destruction at Zeta Halo.

  • "Classical Adventure Novels: Brought up under safe conditions compared to most Spartan trainees, Merlin obsessed over reading fiction and adventuring. Becoming a Spartan and everything following was his adventure, but he always made room for reading. His trunk often contained print novels raided from starship libraries and planet side book sales.
  • "Derived Katar": A Sangheili-style push dagger Merlin acquired during his visit to Rio de Janeiro's Low Benefaction camp. At first considered a collectible, he kept the weapon on his person even in the field and progressively saw greater use after greater exposure to alien cultures on the frontier.
  • "Master Chief Action Figurine": A child at heart, Merlin and his friends in Team Boson acquired children's products during their stay in New Phoenix in an attempt to somewhat reclaim their lost childhoods. He kept a Big M Studio Master Chief figurine as a desk display, remembering and continuing to worship the mythological propaganda of Spartans despite being one.
  • "Pax River Poster": Merlin's time at the Patuxent River Military Academy taught him to appreciate and contextualize his life as a Spartan compared to regular military and civilians. The school left a lasting impression, offering him a chance to enjoy himself in a military environment he lacked through Spartan training. He added a school poster to his personal effects, remembering fonder times when Team Boson was mostly innocent and whole.
  • "Photographs": Laminated copies of Merlin's favorite images. One of Team Boson during post-augmentation, long-range reconnaissance patrol-training. Another team photo in Rio de Janeiro during an undercover operation months before the Spartan team disbanded.
  • "St. Petersburg Collegiate Ring": The St. Petersburg University graduation ring of Rebecka Boyd, Merlin's mother. Lacking any distinct stones, the interior of the ring is styled coincidentally like a Halo ring. A particular memento Merlin kept safe after his mother's death and took with him everywhere. Buried in his late mother's garden, hidden in a grove of trees near Camp Ambrose, worn beneath his armor and through cryostasis, and strapped to his trunk while on voyage. It was among the only personal items he managed to keep from his trunk after his final stay aboard the UNSC Infinity.

Nicknames and Callsigns[]

  • "Bozo-Two": A twist on his role as deputy of Spartan Team Boson, so-called Boson-2. SPARTAN-III Delta Company referred to Boson as "Bozos" as part of their unique in-culture.
  • "Dee-Thirty-Two": Merlin's Spartan tag generated a dozen short-hand nicknames over the course of his career. Also fit for use with some UNSC three-letter designations (D32).
  • "MRLN/D032": Merlin's TEAMCOM four-letter designation.
  • "Lucky/Lucky Charm: Merlin's Create-era nickname among Spartan-IVs at the Avery Johnson Military Academy and after due to his seemingly odd ability to cause and attract trouble but escape with only minor damage to himself.
  • "Merlin Patel": Merlin's cover name while in brief attendance at the Patuxent River Military Academy. Masquerading as a senior year cadet, he helped probe a potential Insurrectionist plot and revealed a promising, former Delta Company non-recruit.
  • "Orphan 1-5": Team Boson's radio designation during their stay in New Phoenix and supporting Internal Investigations Unit 419. Assigned by an ill-meaning UNSC Army colonel aware of Team Boson's true nature. It became a unappreciated inside joke for Unit 419 towards Team Boson.
  • "Pisshead": A uncontextualized Spartan-IV nickname given to Merlin based on his Delta Company compatriots referring to him as "Showerhead."
  • "Showerhead": Following a series of pranks and mishaps involving the Camp Ambrose plumbing system, members of Team Anion assigned Merlin a nickname analogous with "idiot." Showerhead was later adopted by the rest of SPARTAN-III Delta Company.

Quotes[]

Relationships[]

Family Figures[]

  • Cedric Ljang:
  • Rebecka Boyd:

Team Boson[]

Team Boson Family

Spartan Team Boson in 2557, clad in a mix of MJOLNIR armor variants. From left to right: Andra-D054, Daniele-D003 (top), Merlin-D032 (bottom), Roxanne-D107, and Zachariah-D111.

Main article: Team Boson

Commanding Officers[]

Delta Company[]

Other Spartans[]

Artificial Life[]

See Also[]

Notable Links[]

Literary Appearances[]

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