Raven's Ark

Once named Global Cortex, Raven's Ark, called Ark for shot is the world's 'mediating' organization. At first, it had been the sole owner of all Armored Core pilots, calling them 'Ravens'. To this day, they hold the impressive boast of being one of the most powerful organizations in the world due to the number of pilots it boasts. As for its purpose, it only has one: lend their power to those who can afford it. If money makes the world go around, then it's Ravens who do all the moving.

Chapter 1

It was an odd memory, considering the importance that the night brought. To many, it was a night for rest, a night that went by between closing their eyes and opening them again in the morning. However, to one man this was a night worth remembrance. It was dark, that was easy to bring to mind. Even through the darkness, the clouds were visible as the pale moonlight leaked through them. From the open areas, columns of silver shone down to the ground, granting pale illumination to the earth around. All was quiet except for two battle MTs, humanoid machines of great size piloted by soldiers slowly made their way across an endless fields of grass. Each one almost seemed to glow in the pale light, showing their bulky forms as well as the rifles held in their mechanical hands. One stopped and faced the horizon to the southeast, almost longing to be away from this placid field to places better. Soon afterward, the second stopped and looked at his companion. The radio cackled to life in both MTs and a voice patched through. Though distorted, it was easily placed as a man's voice.

"What is it?" he asked. The other MT pilot did not respond and simply continued to look into the distance. Suddenly, a shot was fired and a live shell impacted on the ground next to the MT. It swung around with its weapon to the ready, only to see its partner standing with a smoking gun.

"What was that for?" the other MT pilot asked, this one female. Both MTs lowered their weapons.

"I asked you a question, private."

"I didn't hear you."

"That was obvious. Now, answer my question." There was a pause after this.

"I thought I saw something on my scanners," the woman finally answered.

"What did it look like?"

"I didn't get a chance to scan."

"Just ignore it. Nobody knows that we're out here anyway. Even if anyone did, we're on a scouting mission. There's no reason to come here. Now come on, we need to get back on our patrol."

"Yes Sir." At this, both MTs turned back to their original path and began walking again. Soon afterward, the MT stopped again.

"What is it this time?" the man asked with a tired voice.

"I definitely have something Sir! I'm scanning it now… It's a carrier plane to the Southeast." Both MTs turned and faced the direction to see a tiny blip of light in the distance. It was definitely a carrier of some sorts. Suddenly, another blip appeared on the MTs' radars and a dim figure dropped from the plane. When the object landed, another one was dropped and a third blip appeared on the radar. The second landed close to the first and both were hidden in shadow. Suddenly, a bust of light appeared from both objects and they started to become larger each passing second.

"Come on!" the male MT pilot yelled. "Move out!" With that, both began to boost backwards to get away, but the two objects both stopped out of the MTs' firing range. The MTs stopped in turn, watching the strange figures. One was like them, human in appearance with a rifle in its right hand and a strange weapon on its left. The other had four legs and was noticeable lower, wielding strange weapons instead of arms. The radio cackled to life again, but this time, a different voice came on it.

"This is AC Roman Candle on an open channel. Both AC Poltergeist and I have entered the mission area. Commencing operation. You know the drill kid. I'm strictly an observer. All you have to do is wipe out the MT patrols occupying the area. After that, you'll officially be a Raven. Good luck." Immediately after the radio died out, the boosters on the humanoid AC flared on and it shot forward. There was no need for command; the MTs were first to fire.

Poltergeist tried to strafe to the left, but the movements were too slow and the rifle shells slammed into the armor, making noticeable dents. Without hesitation it then raised its right hand rifle and shot three quick bursts towards the MTs. Two shots missed and the last embedded itself into the chest of one MT. It was unfazed. Poltergeist simply continued to dash forward and soon began to fire wildly from its rifle, its pilot hoping that a flurried assault would do better than precise aim. Through the unfortunate luck that plagues beginners and makes them think highly of themselves, many of the fired shells embedded themselves into each of the MTs, causing massive visible damage to them. One of the mammoth machines hunched over and smoke began pouring from its joints. A scream came from the open channel right before the MT exploded. The other MT, piloted by the woman, looked from the wreckage of what was a MT to the AC. Poltergeist stopped its dash and looked at the burning metal.

"That was my commander you bastard," she said with an acid tone to her voice. She raised her weapon to the AC and began to fire madly at it. One last word came on the radio as this happened.

"Die."

The AC jumped up and used its boosters to hover farther back from the MT.

"I don't think so," a voice calmly said in response. The MT was about ready to fire another shell at the AC, but was met with a rocket before it could. The entire machine shook from the force and the explosion blinded the woman. When the smoke cleared, the MT pilot barely had time to see Poltergeist appear in front of her, a blade of pure energy rippling from its left arm. With one quick horizontal slash, the saber ripped the MT in half by the waist. The top flew a small distance away and smashed onto the ground. A hatch opened on the MT and the pilot scrambled out and ran in vain for her life. Shortly afterward, her MT exploded. The shrapnel from the explosion soared through the air and sliced into her. The woman clutched her stomach and fell onto the ground. Blood spilled everywhere and her vision began to dim. Before she passed out, she could barely make out the figure of an AC standing over her. Inside the AC, the radio came to life and the voice of Roman Candle's pilot came on.

"Don't stop there. You still have three patrols of MTs left to the east." Poltergeist activated its boosters and sped off to finish the mission. The final three patrols were no challenge and were each dispatched quickly enough. Within a few moments, Poltergeist came back to Roman Candle, showing a good bit of damage from its encounters.. The voice of Poltergeist's pilot came on the radio.

"This is AC Poltergeist. Done." A response came almost immediately.

"AC Roman Candle here. Congratulations Poltergeist, welcome to the ranks of mercenaries. Welcome to the Ravens. Wait here, the plane will arrive shortly."

"Please," Poltergeist's pilot said, "Call me Zephin."

To those who read this before, you know me and my insecure writing. . I really though I could do better, so I'm trying that out. I'm going to be writing this again, except better. It won't be exactly the same, so don't feel like I'm cheating you. I'll do what I can, so thanks for waiting. o:3