User:TheLostJedi/Jack-099

Tyler-096 was a United Nations Space Command SPARTAN-II supersoldier who didn't survive the augmentation process. His legacy continued in the form of the "Smart" Artificial Intelligence named Durden that was created after his death.

Personality and Description
Charismatic and strong willed, Tyler was one of the more outspoken candidates taken in to the SPARTAN-II Program. Despite his athleticism, he came to suit the role of a grenadier in Gold Team and after intent study on explosives, became the demolitions advisor of his squad. Durden later inherited most of Tyler's personality, but was far more cynical than the original Spartan trainee.

Early Life
Tyler was born on the 17th August 2511 on Earth. At the age of six he was discovered by Dr. Catherine Halsey as one of 150 suitable candidates for the SPARTAN-II project. After she had received the funding to train 75 of the candidates, he was abducted in 2517 and like the others, was replaced by a Flash Clone that later died of seemingly natural causes.

SPARTAN-II Program
Training began on Reach with the rest of the Spartans and Tyler participated in rigorous training exercises taught by Chief Petty Officer Franklin Mendez. During his education from the AI Déjà, Tyler often sought to learn more about the compounds of explosive materials and became dedicated to his interest in demolitions. When Spartan teams were formed, he was conscripted in to Gold Team, where he fulfilled his role as a grenadier and demolitions specialist in the squad. Unfortunately when the Spartans underwent physical augmentation on the 9th March 2525, he was one of the 30 candidates that died in the process.

Artificial Legacy
At the suggestion of one of Dr. Halsey's protégés, permission was requested to use the candidates who had died during augmentation for the creation of "Smart" AIs that could assist the Spartans. With the approval of ONI, the AI known as Durden was created from Tyler-096. Integration with the teams was with finesse but the presence of Durden and the other AIs had an unforeseen advantage of helping the young soldiers lessen the bereavement of their lost friends. Soon the first assignment for Gold Team was in perspective and Durden was attached to the squad.

Operation: LIGHTSWITCH
"The first rule of Extraction Club is, you do not talk about Extraction Club. The second rule of Extraction Club is, you DO NOT talk about Extraction Club. The eighth rule of Extraction Club is, if this is your first night at Extraction Club, you HAVE to be abducted."

- Durden

Gold Team were instructed to capture a suspected informant for the Eridanus Rebels, the ONI officer and Lieutenant David Byrne. Sources placed him on the gambling hotspot Gilgamesh and Durden was sent with Gold Team to assist in his retrieval. After touching down on a nearby building, Gold Team zip-lined on to the roof of The Lux Hotel, a resort connected to the infamous Lux Casino which the Lieutenant visited. Durden however remained on the adjacent building, onboard the team's Pelican with the pilot Maria-062.

As Gold Team waited for Byrne to arrive in his suite, New Assyria Law Enforcement officers discovered their dropship and approached it with caution. Unaware of the existence or purpose of the elite Spartan unit, two policemen entered the Pelican bay door and attempted to arrest Maria. However Durden, after reciting the rules of Extraction Club, sealled the doors, providing Maria with a distraction enough for her to turn and down both men. The rest of Gold Team returned with Byrne and they left with the extra cargo.

ONI later debriefed and returned the NA Law Enforcement officers, whilst its assumed that Durden continued to aid the Spartans for the next seven years, until the tragic termination of the "Smart" AI was destined to occur. By this time however its most likely that they had come to accept the passing of their once dear friend.

Trivia

 * Tyler's names, appearance, date of birth and Spartan tag are homages to the novel Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk, originally published on the 17th August 1996.