Merlin-D032

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"I'm not the ideal Spartan. People like to remind me of that. Good for them."

- Merlin-D032 lamenting his lackluster reputation.

Merlin-D032, born Merlin Ljang-Boyd, is a Delta Company graduate and the significant other of Andra-D054. Sharp and emotionally perceptive, Merlin specialized in support and intelligence roles as Ferret Team Boson's point man, spotter, scout, and a resident klutz.

The orphaned son of ONI civilian contractors, Merlin grew up in a sheltered home and orphanage until he was recruited into the SPARTAN-III Program following a failed attack on, his homeworld. Merlin performed average in training, however, he developed a poor reputation for the friends and individuals he associated with. Though his poor choices often turned out fine, he graduated Spartan training with few distinctions.

A very loyal individual, Merlin was one of the last Spartans to hold onto the Team Boson mantle in its darkest hours. His highest certifications including and  were awarded due to his ongoing association with more qualified individuals rather than his own merits. With a lack of self-confidence and detractors on all sides, Merlin has struggled with doubts about his Spartan status and life purpose.

Missions

 * Operation: YOSEMITE - Observed


 * Operation: BAY KEEPER - Completed


 * Operation: BROOD PARASITE - Completed


 * Operation: RUNIT DOME - Failed

Kill Count
List of confirmed kills performed by Spartan Merlin Ljang-Boyd on behalf and in the service of the, the , and Humanity.
 * Human: 0


 * : 0


 * : 0


 * : 0


 * : 0


 * : 0

Nicknames

 * "Showerhead": Following a mishap involving the Camp Ambrose plumbing system, members of Team Anion assigned Merlin a nickname anagolous with "idiot." It was eventually adopted by the rest of SPARTAN-III Delta Company.

A Sheltered Life
Merlin Ljang-Boyd was born October 23, 2545, on the UEG Inner Colony world of Ballast. Rebecka Boyd, Merlin's mother, was an Earth-born immigrant of Russian-American descent following government employment to Vallejo. She was a civilian contractor for the Office of Naval Intelligence's Section II where she specialized in public relations research. Merlin's father, Cedric Ljang, was a Welsh-Chinese native of Ballast who served with the UNSC Navy before retiring to work for ONI's Prowler Corps as a security contractor.

As employees of ONI and the UEG Department of Defense, Merlin's parents spent most of their time forward-deployed and away from home. Merlin was usually raised in the care of government-sanctioned caretakers. While loved and cared for from afar, the lack of consistent parental figures forged Merlin's quiet personality and indifference towards authority.

Ballast was a prospering and secure colony world far from the Human-Covenant War's frontlines where his parents were often working. While often lonely, caretakers and neighbors would involve Merlin in their daily routines and activities leading to a wide range of experiences and acquaintances early on. He had a fair number of friends in daycare and preschool and was often praised by adults for his messy artwork.

Four years passed with on-and-off appearances from Merlin's parents, typically once or twice a year for periods of two weeks to a month due to their deployment schedules. In 2549, Merlin's mother was working on Paris IV when the Covenant began their assault there. During the chaos of evacuating her ONI Section II facility, she was cut down by plasma fire helping a fellow contractor escape the building.