Prologue
Disclaimer: I don't own Vandread or the Armored Core games but I do own my OC and his neat looking Armored Core.
Vandread Raven
More than 10 years have passed since a major conflict known as the National Dismantlement War ended and several months have passed since the recent Lynx War ended. A league of corporations have taken control of Earth, to escape the pollution that poisons the surface caused by Kojima technology the League built massive floating platforms called Cradles. Only at 7,000 meters above the ground is the air clean and safe to breath, the surface of the planet has become a battlefield where corporations fight for the resource plants that provide power to the Cradles as the war came to a close giant humanoid weapons called Armored Core NEXTs allowed the League to establish their rule on the planet. Their pilots are called Lynx. (A/N: To the people who are new to the Armored Core games, a NEXT is a more technologically advanced Armored Core that can cause major damage and Lynx is just another name for a Raven.) Fearing the power and independence of these Lynx, the League left them behind on the poisoned land serving as foot soldiers for the never ending Economic War. They now work as mercenaries for an organization called Collared. While the League derive their power from enormous battle stations called Arms Forts, the once mighty Lynx became shadows of their former selves.
But some people have doubts about the Cradles one is an American teenage Lynx. His name is Keith Oswell he's been a NEXT pilot since he was 6 years old. Of course before that he was your ordinary kid. But when he turned 6 his parents died in a terrorist attack leaving him as the remaining member of the Oswell family. He wandered the streets for months before a girl named Katrina found him and took him in. Katrina was a year older than him, making her 7 at the time. After Keith registered as a NEXT pilot in Collared, Katrina immediately began training him in piloting, marksmanship, hand-to-hand combat, etc. His NEXT, Black Dragon, is of his own design. Over several weeks Keith quickly developed a friendship with Katrina and saw her as a mentor and mother figure like he never had since his real mother died. A month later his training was complete and was now a full-fledged Lynx.
10 years later…
Keith is now 16 years old and a highly respected pilot. His black hair is cut into a medium length just above his ears with hardly any running down the back of his neck due to a fire mishap while doing target practice with a pistol. His body is well muscular and built for his age; he wears a necklace around his neck with a ruby at the end given to him by Katrina herself. He wears it as a sign of respect to his mentor. His eyes have the deepest shade of blue ever known. He stands at a height of 5'6.
Katrina is 17 years old and has the curves of a young woman her long blue hair extends to the middle of her back; her breasts are well formed, not too big or small. Just around the right size. Her pretty violet eyes add a glow to her, her skin is cream colored. She has a body that most men would die to touch! However, the men who have received a savage kick to the face only Keith has managed to win her heart, which made others jealous of him not that he can't blame them Katrina is the prettiest female Lynx known!
The two are currently browsing through the list of available missions while enjoying a break after completing an escort mission all of the other assignments have been boring except for taking on Arms Forts and enemy NEXTs. Eventually one catches their attention, the mission's name is "Destroy Arteria Ulna." They choose that one and the briefing began. A man's voice appeared while the background of the screen changes to a series of flags holding the name "ORCA" wavering in a snowy sky, "Greetings, Maximilian Thermidor here. We want you to infiltrate GA America's Arteria facility, Ulna, and destroy it. This stands in the face of everything the Cradles stand for and will be considered an act of treason, with that understood I want you to listen to what I tell you. Some fled to the Cradles and live in the clean air others were abandoned, condemned to the Earth's poisonous surface maintaining this system is causing horrible pollution on the surface, that pollution will soon start bleeding into the atmosphere itself. The Cradles were only a temporary measure humankind has no future on this planet unless we stop them! You may think I'm an alarmist but I speak the truth if you believe in what I say then you must take this mission." The briefing ends.
Keith asked, "What do you think, Katrina? Should we accept this request?"
His mentor answered his question, "Well, the League is making everyone believe in what they are doing is right but they are lying through their teeth and I feel a sense of truth behind Thermidor's words. I say we accept this mission!" With the decision made, Keith and Katrina board their NEXTs and head for Arteria Ulna.
After 20 minutes they reach the target area. Keith and Katrina's operator, Serene Haze ordered, "Commence mission. Your target is miles above you so start climbing! You know what you're doing what it'll mean right?"
Keith said, "Yes we know what we're doing, Serene. Besides everyone knows that life on this planet won't last forever with holes in the ozone layer, tons of carbon dioxide being dumped into the atmosphere, the Sun slowly getting brighter by 10% every 1 billion years, tearing down rainforests, endangering animal species and all that. If it weren't for those damn Assault Cells crowding the Earth's orbit we would be finding new worlds to call home but we are stuck on this planet that we're supposed to be treating with respect! Instead it's the opposite we are damning this planet!"
Katrina chuckled, "Ha ha, man, Keith I haven't seen you that mad since the death of your parents. But I feel the same way as you do about the condition the Earth's in for now let's focus on the mission." Keith calms down and the two launch their attack on Arteria Ulna by first removing enemy units as they begin their ascent, when they reach the target they are greeted by enemy fire from a pair of Normals with high-caliber sniper rifles on their backs but Keith and Katrina know that a sniping weapon is ineffective at close-range so they use their respective NEXT's speed to rapidly close in and destroy the Normals with their laser blades. Next they commence with the destruction of the power regulators that direct energy to the Cradles, it only took a couple of rounds from Black Dragon's Gatling gun and Red Angel's machine gun to destroy them. Soon all of the regulators are trashed.
Serene said, "Confirmed, all targets destroyed! Mission complete."
They return to base and Thermidor said in a pleased voice, "You have shown me your answer. Welcome to ORCA!" Now all that the two have to do is wait for the next ORCA mission. After re-supplying Keith goes on a solo mission to destroy GA America's Arms Fort, Great Wall. It's the most powerful land-based weapon it is also big and nimble but Keith shouldn't underestimate it. Great Wall is equipped with powerful guns and heavy armor so the best method was to enter from the rear and destroy it from the inside. Once inside he would target its power source, after that it will set off a chain reaction that will blow the Arms Fort apart.
After a gruesome 80 minutes Great Wall is in ruins, Keith is beginning to think the League is overconfident to believe that Arms Forts are the perfect replacement but the NEXT pilot knows that these giants are nothing compared to a skilled Lynx! Sure the Arms Forts are bigger, have more firepower and can have thicker armor but they're also slow and manned by thousands of soldiers. Not to mention they take a lot longer to build!
The next day Keith and Katrina received a mission from Thermidor. It appears that the League has discovered the brigade's anti-satellite batteries, doubtless the League will send a group of Lynx in an attempt to destroy them; the Orca leader wants Keith and Katrina to coordinate with his men and defend the cannons.
Arriving at the site, they see an Orca NEXT already prepared for the fight. Its pilot Neo Nidius said, "You two are Collared's top ranked Lynx? I've heard of you. So Thermidor has approved you I hope you two live up to your reputations. I'll start the attack with my assault cannon but don't get in its line of fire. It won't end well!"
As soon as Katrina moves in to attack an aerial Arms Fort closing in on their position Keith picks up one the enemy's voice over his radio, "Ambient here, targets confirmed. Not a problem commencing attack!" Black Dragon's radar detects the enemy approaching at high-speed Keith manages to get a good look at the machine as it disengages its overed booster. The enemy Armored Core is a two-legged light model designed for excellent speed and mobility but the drawback with this design is that their defense is really low and can only carry light loads. It shouldn't take long to destroy this machine with the firepower Black Dragon has! The American Lynx watches out for possible ambushes remembering that Thermidor said the League of Corporations would be sending more than one enemy Lynx. Either way Keith, Katrina and Neo have to defend these anti-satellite batteries, for they will play an important role in Thermidor's "Closed Plan" so Black Dragon and Ambient start battling it out.
Keith switches to the multi-chain missile launcher and opens the vertical support missiles on Black Dragon's shoulders, after the black machine's FCS (Fire Control System) reaches its 10 lock max, Keith fires a barrage of missiles at Ambient, its pilot manages to dodge most of them but a few hit home and caused some major damage to her craft. Suddenly Serene informed, "NEXT detected! Closing in on our position, BFF Stix Quadropid!"
The incoming enemy cried, "Looks like you've noticed me, how perceptive of you. You're blessed with an excellent operator!" Neo recognizes that voice. It's none other than Wong-Shoa Long Neo knew it's just like that old man to prepare an ambush. Judging by his voice, the enemy Lynx must be in his late 40s or early 50s and his NEXT appears to be a four-legged model. Katrina starts her attack on him after destroying that aerial Arms Fort. She fires her two machine guns at Stix Quadropid, 40mm bullets come out while empty shells fall to the ground all the while moving Red Angel around to avoid counter-fire.
Keith and Katrina decide to switch targets now Keith faces Wong-Shoa Long while Katrina deals with Lilium. A round from Quadropid's back mounted laser cannon strikes Black Dragon's Gatling gun, causing it spark. Fearing that the magazine drum will explode Keith jettisoned the weapon and resorts to using his laser blade. Keith cried, "Prepare to lose, scum!" He removes one of the four-legged NEXT's arms, leaving it with three weapons.
Red Angel's machine guns tear through Ambient's weak armor, deciding to end this battle Katrina activates her machine's Assault Armor, a cyan colored sphere of Kojima energy gathers then implodes before turning into a powerful blast, this attack effectively puts the enemy out of action.
The pilot informed, "Ambient has been disabled, mission failed. Forgive me, my master. Keith and Katrina have turned their backs on Collared!"
Serene said, "Confirmed. Ambient has been destroyed."
Lilium's partner said in regret, "Looks like this is the best I could do!"
Neo taunted, "You best high tail and run, Wong-Shoa Long. The battlefield is not a place for scheming old men!" The anti-satellite batteries have been successfully defended.
Around 5:20 p.m. the ORCA leader appears on worldwide television. He declared, "I am Maximilian Thermidor, I'm the leader of ORCA. We believe that what the League of Corporations is doing is nothing more than deception; the Cradles system isn't a permanent measure against the pollution that poisons Earth's surface. You citizens of the world are being fooled! We humans must make our own decisions and build our own futures. The crimes committed by these companies are robbing humanity of its future eventually they will destroy the entire planet, the National Dismantlement War and the Lynx War as well, were waged to hide their crimes. ORCA stands against them fighting now to purge those sins! It's too late for compromises, sacrifices must be made, the price we all must pay will be great, atonement shall not be easy, and the blame lies with all of us. Two fellow pilots have seen the errors of the League's ways and have joined our cause. You corporations will not stop us from freeing mankind itself of your chains of hypocrisy and to other NEXT pilots, we offer you a choice: Join us or stay out of our way!" The broadcast stops after that.
On May 8, 2010, Keith goes on another solo mission, this time his target is Answerer a high-tech Arms Fort developed by Interior Union and Omer Science Technology. It is armed with the latest Kojima weaponry and considerably stronger than any of the other Arms Forts Keith and Katrina had encountered but if Keith succeeds, Thermidor and the others will move to the final phase of the Closed Plan.
The 16 year old confronts the Answerer at Old Peace City. When he gets a visual on it, its shape is very unusual than any of the others. It's shaped like a pinecone but Keith heeds Thermidor's words about this behemoth's arsenal. As he fires up his main boosters and takes to the skies, his target begins its attack by launching Kojima missiles as he gets a better look. It seems that the Arms Fort's armament are divided into two sections. Underneath its support fins are laser cannons and spike-shaped missile launchers connected to a spire like base, the upper part is just armed with regular missiles. Keith focuses first on the ballistic missiles on both ends of the AF with his laser blade before destroying the remaining ones with his new right hand weapon. Suddenly his NEXT's sensors detects a massive amount of Kojima energy emanating from the behemoth's core. Serene exclaimed, "It's attacking with Assault Armor? Get out of there now!"
Keith gets out of the blast radius and said in disgust, "Sick, twisted bastards! They have gone too far this time!" The pilot takes out the Answerer by cutting off the support fins, this is turn causes the distribution of weight to shift. Eventually he removes nearly all of the fins with nothing to keep it afloat the Arms Fort plummets to the ground and Black Dragon used its overed booster to leave the combat zone.
Splendid with their results Thermidor gives Keith and Katrina the week off, as they won't launch their final attack on Arteria Cranium until then. The two head to a beach and enjoy watching the ocean. Keith is wearing swimsuit trunks and his mentor now friend has a cute bikini on. Katrina lays her head on Keith's shoulder the black-haired youth blushed from the contact, he knew her feelings for him are strong but he never expected that Katrina loved him so deeply. She said in a cute voice, "The ocean is beautiful, isn't it Keith?"
The teen nodded, "Yes, it is. It's a shame that others will not understand how fragile its beauty is." They look at each other and Katrina places a hand on top of his then they kissed one another, they stayed like that for a few minutes before they broke for air. After that, they hug the feeling of Katrina's breasts pressing against his chest sends his hormones skyrocketing but Keith suppresses them. Katrina suggests to her friend that they'd go to Cradle 04 for a bite to eat, as this will be the last time they see this system in service.
1 week later, D-Day has come for the Cradles! The two Lynx enter Arteria Cranium after receiving a message from Thermidor stating that he died when he came here and also said that another of his followers, Malzel, won't return alive from his mission at Big Box. That leaves Keith and Katrina as the surviving members of ORCA, he asks them to take the Cranium in his place. When they reach its heart another pair of enemy NEXTs are waiting for them but these guys were different they're more skilled and cautious. One of the pilots is named Adam Archer an extremely dangerous terrorist and the other is Wynne D. Fanchon, a highly skilled pilot who has never failed a mission like Keith. The American teens know they might not survive this. The four start fighting and for 60 agonizing minutes they exchange fire damaging each other's NEXTs. Black Dragon's weapons are nearly out of ammo and its 07-Moonlight is the only one left ready to be used. This is a bad situation Keith is in! He is exhausted by all of the maneuvers as Adam closes in for the kill Katrina comes to her friend's aid, taking a round from the enemy's grenade cannon. The shell pierces Red Angel's Primal Armor and explodes on its core the blast enters the cockpit and shrapnel hit Katrina. Her scream allowed Keith to recover his strength. He watches in horror as Red Angel falls to the ground enraged by the sight, Keith goes berserk on Adam. Cutting off Black Heart's weaponry before using his unit's hands to slam Black Heart against a wall repeatedly. After the tenth time its body is badly damaged and electricity arches around the downed unit, Keith now turns his attention towards Fanchon. Black Dragon's red eyes glow with fury in response to its pilot's anger. He yelled, "You killed Katrina! It's over for you, Wynne D!" One violent slash from the 07-Moonlight laser blade puts her machine out of action. Both targets have been destroyed.
Serene informed, "So ends phase 1 of the Closed Plan. You are the sole remaining member of ORCA!"
Fanchon said, "To treasure a life…is that something to laugh at? Everything is twisted! You, this world, everything!"
Keith responded, "Nobody said that the world is perfect, Wynne D. Fanchon. You should've stayed out of ORCA's way and now you paid the price!" He gets out of Black Dragon and opens the hatch to Red Angel's cockpit and unbuckles Katrina's unconscious body from her seat. Keith enters Black Dragon again and seals the hatch and leaves the facility before Red Angel explodes.
ORCA took control of Arteria Cranium, without the energy needed to support them the Cradles came crashing down to Earth. In the devastation and poisoned air of the planet's surface, infants coughed in the arms of their despairing mothers while the anti-satellite batteries continue their steady charge, the sins of the corporations purged. Even though humanity is decimated they will discover a new frontier: Outer Space. A new direction at last! It will be a time of growth, ambition and war.
Keith stands on Black Dragon's core holding Katrina in his arms bridal style while watching the cannons fire more rounds up into the planet's orbit ridding it of Assault Cells. Suddenly his friend's eyes open to see the sight. She asked, "What is that?"
Keith answered, "Those are the anti-satellite batteries, Katrina. We took Arteria Cranium this is phase one of the Closed Plan, these cannons are clearing our path to space so we can leave this dying planet and colonize new ones up there." Suddenly Katrina's breathing becomes labor, Keith could only watch as Katrina died in his arms. Just when he thought he could put the past behind him, it comes back to haunt Keith. He lost another loved one! Later that day a funeral is held for Katrina, to her fellow pilots she was like a sister to them, only Keith doesn't attend the funeral he didn't want to show himself though he watches it through a monitor in his machine. On May 15, Keith watches the cannons fire one last round but just as he prepares to leave a blinding white light comes out of nowhere and envelops him. From this moment on his life will never be the same.
To be continued…
Okay, first off I'm a huge fan of the Armored Core game series and of the Vandread anime. I had a feeling that these two franchises had the ability to work as a crossover so I decided to create this story.
Second, this is my first fan fiction so reviews are welcome as long as they're appropriate. I don't know what pairings I should do yet.
Third, I decided to revise the prologue to make it more interesting I also added some battle scenes here. Plus I described a little of my character's history, more of his past will be revealed in later chapters. I'm nearly halfway done with chapter 1.
Until then,
Vader 23A