The Test (posted on behalf of Erich Zufruer)

<-Burst->*static, gun fire heaving breathing* LZ IS HOT, THE LZ IS HOT, COVER IS BL-Explosion nearby, grunting sounds. "Fu--Damn it--" Gun fire, static. "ABORT THIS MISSION I REPEAT ABORT COVER IS BLOWN, THEY KNOW YOU’RE COMI-explosion-

After the fight

Location: Unknown

“WAKE UP!” A voice yelled at Erich followed by a fist to his face then gut.

Erich let out a pained grunt gasping for air, The guards dropped him to the floor then left, That’s when a familiar voice broke the ambient noises.

“Hello Erich—Sorry for the man handling but it’s necessary for our little plan to work. Plus these Mercs don’t have much respect for spec-ops.”

“KESSERLING?!” Erich forced himself to stand up holding a hand to his gut “What plan? Why are you here?”

“The same reason you’re investigating that pseudo Alliance report, to finish what was started, to exterminate the final or rather one of the final survivors of Origin.”

“What?! That wasn’t the plan, I know you wanted Phoenix dead but not this soon, I haven’t even had time t—“

“I know what you did Erich.” Kesserling interrupted. “I’m not convinced you’re one hundred percent with this plan, you borrowed Harkens? Then he suffers from a heart attack? Erich do you think I’m stupid? Do you think ONI is stupid? Harkens had an implanted heart, it’s impossible for him to have a heart attack, and now his data pad is missing. I’m starting to think you’re playing double agent here.” 

Erich shook his head “No damn it, haven’t you ever done espionage before?! Earn their fucking trust THEN SPRING!”

“Oh? Is that so? Well then here’s a little test, to make sure they haven’t screwed your moral compass up with AI compassion.” Kesserling stepped aside, behind him was a frightened child, six years old at the most, it was crying for her mother. Kesserling stepped forward then handed Erich his pistol “That child is a class 5—Shoot it..”

Erich froze up not knowing what to do, he heard his formal training screaming at his head yet at the same time words that Phoenix and Ziebzen spoke also danced in his head.