A/N: I know it's short. It's more of an opener. Please be aware, this takes place entirely on Earth. All anime mentions have been removed, as has all plot armor. Aside from a few changes I made, the Zoids are almost exactly like their canon Battle Story versions.

Conflict: Zoids

Season One

" 'From Sea to Shining Sea.' Yea…like that helped us any." - Anonymous PAC Citizen

Prologue

Russia built the first Zoid. China bought a copy of the blueprints and began making their own. Eventually, the US and NATO began producing their own. China drove the economy into making as many as possible, as well as buying or conquering smaller nations, which eventually wrecked it their economy. To keep themselves sustained, they tried to call in the US debt. The US said fuck off, and war began.

Under the provisions of the North Atlantic Treaty, NATO got involved and Russia sold Irkutsk and Kamchatka to the new Oriental Alliance, so they could strike at the US from the Bering Land Bridge, officially dubbed Beringia, created to support the transcontinental bullet rain. Due to being on constant defense, the US broke ties with NATO and formed the Pan-American Coalition. What started as the Zoids War had now became World War Three.

Australia stayed out of it, their new Emperor content with taking the islands of the ocean, while Russia reverted to a Tsardom. The US leaving NATO destroyed the economy of Europe. Three years after that, King Roger III of Great Britain seized control of the European Union and began directing the hatred of the people toward the OA.

That was five and a half years ago. The Alliance is fighting a defensive war on the Western Front, holding off the might of the Union, while the Eastern Front is sending hordes of troops toward the Coalition's primary defense base. The war has reached a stalemate and something has to give sooner or later...

Episode One

The old-fashioned phone on the wall rang with a loud screech, designed to get the attention of those nearby. The Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge, a young Technical Sergeant, picked up the phone.

"Go ahead."

From the other end of the line, he heard the voice of the radar specialist.

"Hey Sergeant, you might want to come take a look at this. I think I've got a radar ghost coming off the feed from 4."

The Tech Sergeant replaced the phone and made his way through the cramped steel corridors, sliding past workstations and equipment, till he leaned over the shoulder of the Senior Airman manning the radar station. The SRA replayed the recording to the point he'd mentioned, where a weak blip appeared for a split-second. The TSGT glanced at the co-ordinates, then punched in a radio frequency. There was a reason Radar, Communications, and Aerial Reconnaissance were all next to each other.

"Eagle Eye 4, this is Whiskey Romeo 27. Can you get us eyes on this location?"

The Airman First Class manning the Recon station transmitted the co-ordinates to Eagle Eye 4.

"Roger, WR27. Wait one."

3,000 feet below WR27, a massive metallic whale, and about 4 miles south-west, a blue, metallic pterosaur-like aircraft called a Pteras, with a Radar Dome on its back, slowly cruised toward the location requested. Once close enough, the lenses of the powerful camera mounted on the chest of the Zoid focused on the ground far below. At first the camera didn't pick anything up, but then noticed a slight rippling effect that lasted only for a brief moment. The pilot switched the camera from normal to UV, which caused his heart to skip a beat.

"27, we've got a platoon-size element of stealthed Helcats on the move. My guess is they're moving towards Ebinay."

The radar erupted with sources moving behind the panther-like Helcats. The camera revealed metallic raptors, wolves, stegosaurs, and a multitude of other creatures, including the ominous forms of large metal bats. The pilot practically yelled into the radio mic, though he'd switched to the main frequency used by HQ.

"Ebinay Main, Ebinay Main, this is Eagle Eye 4! We have an enemy force heading towards Ebinay. Size roughly two plus battalions with air support. ETA 45 mikes."

10 miles east of the Pteras, a massive airfield came to life with the sound of an air raid siren.

"Scramble, scramble scramble! This is not a drill!"

The shrieking klaxon woke Tobias up with a start, the sound clawing into his very bones. He ran his fingers through his shaggy blond hair, which was just out of normal regs. He ripped open his closet, grabbed a grey flight suit, and slid it on. He touched his lucky eagle feather, then stepped into the hall, almost running into a woman with bright red hair.

"Tobias! Bout time! The other two are already in the hangar. You're late for the briefing. I suggest you hurry.

The woman, 1st Lieutenant Cassandra Mulhollon, was his wingman. Tobias nodded an understanding, then hurried towards the hangar, though breaking off to the left into the briefing room, where Colonel Robert Jackson, Commander of the 432 Strike Wing and Base Commander, was about to give a mission brief to key leaders, which would be broadcast over secure radio frequencies to the rest of the troops. He glanced at Tobias.

"Glad you could deign to join us, Captain Winters."

Tobias mumbled an apology and sat down. Captain Tobias Winters, Angel Lead, was the Commander of the 101st Storm Sworder Flight, part of the 10th Special Operations Task Flight. He was also on a very short list for Major.

"As I was saying, we have a medium force of Alliance Zoids inbound, supported by a single battery of artillery and a flight of Pteras Bombers. Whiskey Romeo 2 also reports a few Redlers in the mix, as well as an escort of Air-to-Air configured Zabats. As of right now, no high-speed targets have been spotted, but that's subject to change. 2-10 Cavalry will remain on standby in case. 2-7 Infantry will lead the charge, supported by Charlie Battery, 6-12 Field Artillery. 1-16 Armor will remain around the perimeter of Ebinay, keeping the enemy at least 3 kilometers from the base.

"Close Air Support will be provided by a flight of Redlers and Pteras Bombers, led by myself. A Whale King Alpha, callsign Whiskey Alpha Zero Two, is approximately 90 minutes out and will be available for targets upon arrival. 1-16 has targeting priority on both CAS and the Alpha. The 101st Sworders will be riding herd on the CAS. The 82nd Raynos Squadron will have a flight on standby if need be. Both flights will be available for Show of Force if CAS is unavailable.

"Remember that there will be Fast Action Maintenance Teams moving about the battlefield, so check your targets before you pull the triggers. Alright boys and girls, lets go kick some Asian ass."

"Oi, ass clown, lets go!"

Sergeant Jarid Caymen, of 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, 2-7 Infantry Regiment, shook his head to clear it. He was sitting in the cockpit of his Blade Liger "Grey Death." The speaker was a linebacker-sized man, who had already hopped into the cockpit of a bright red Command Wolf, his orange and white mohawk clashing with the paint on his Zoid. The speaker, one Private Anderson King, was one of the soldiers assigned to SGT Caymen's team, and probably the one giving Jarid the most trouble. Just as he was about to respond to the rather brutish comment, Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Zajac, the Battalion Commander, burst into the hangar, heading for his Shield Liger, followed by Command Sergeant Major Brian Seamon. The Sergeant Major, trained after 25 years to cry commands, let his voice carry throughout the hangar, the authority in his voice causing everyone, regardless of rank, to stand up straighter.

"Mount up, ladies! We're going first. Lets show these maggots just how the Infantry gets shit done!"

Those not already prepared almost tripped over themselves trying to get in their Zoids. Jarid chuckled and locked his harness in place, Grey closing the orange canopy. It didn't take long for the entire battalion to signal their readiness. LTC Zajac came over the radio to give the green light.

"Assassins…Roll out!"

With a thunderous roar, the Assassin Battalion charged from the hangar, their trigger fingers already itching for action.

Maylin Feng was getting frustrated. She hated inactivity, especially when she was told to remain silent and out of sight of the enemy until further notice. The brass had decided that they'd lure a small contingent of Coalition forces out, destroy them with a surprise attack with Jagers and Saix, then flee before the rest of them caught on and sent in reinforcements. While she wasn't a tactician, she knew that the plan was bound to fail. They may have dispatched a bunch of Zabats to keep the aerial reconnaissance busy, but the Coalition tended to be demons in the skies. Rumors had it that they had a new aerial combat Zoid. She wouldn't put it past them, seeing as they loved anything that flew. Almost as much as they loved anything that came in close for the kill.

"Don't get me wrong though, Jade. I do like your claws. And that you are fast enough to get on top of them before they notice. You're just not as much of a melee killer as their murdering Blade Ligers."

The jade Liger Zero Jager she sat in gave a low growl in agreement. As the second fastest ground Zoid in existence, he also hated being still and quiet. He preferred to be running at top speed, roaring his intent to the world around him. Maylin's hatred of the Pan-American Coalition had rubbed off on her Zoid, the Liger getting more and more ruthless with every battle. There was talk of Maylin getting transferred to the Western Front to fight the European Union, but it was hard to get permission to cut the orders, as she was rather effective at fighting the Coalition. Her psych profile marked it up to her best friend being killed in battle against a grey Blade Liger.

"Attention Ambush Unit. The enemy has sent a single battalion out to meet us. A single battery of Cannon Tortoises and support units are moving into position, but no other threats reported. Expect enemy air support. Cha, out."

Maylin groaned. She'd forgotten that General Cha was running this abortion of a mission. She wondered if he'd use his precious Assault Hover to cover the retreat.

Probably not. He wouldn't want to scratch the paint.

Before she could find something more to grumble about, a green light flashed on her control panel. It was the signal to go.

"Alright Jade, let's rack up some more kills."

Jade Dragon, Maylin's Liger Zero Jager, stood up, threw its head back, and roared for the world to hear.