DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE AC SERIES, AND I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE CHARACTERS IN THE FIC (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE EMPEROR AND HIS AC, ALONG WITH A FEW PARTS OF IT.)

EVERYTHING ELSE BELONGS TO THEIR RESPECTIVE CREATORS.

THIS HAPPENS AFTER THE EVENTS OF ACLR, BUT THERE ARE A FEW TWISTS (SOME OF THE PULVERIZERS STILL SURVIVING AFTER THE WAR ENDED, ETC.)

"The Emperor's Hand"

Chapter 1: Hell's Grave

It has been 2 years since the Internecine War ended.

At the aftermath of the battle, many were slain, and the world had been torn between the Alliance, who were logistically superior to any other power at the time, and the organization known as Vertex, who relied more on their skilled Raven pilots to do their work.

The remnants of the war-torn realm were controlled by other Ravens that became independent warlords, hiring others of their kind to sabotage the actions of both Alliance and Vertex forces.

Those few Ravens who were lucky enough to survive the war started to work for either the Alliance or Vertex, depending on their payments from accomplishing missions to sustain themselves in life.

The Raven known only as "Emperor," however, remained hidden from the rest of the world.

A bounty was raised on his head during the Internecine War, and ever since, countless Ravens had set their sights on his bounty, but he proved to be an elusive opponent, foiling their efforts.

Rumours had also circulated that, at his secret base in Antarctica, he was developing new AC equipment to use as an "ultimate weapon" of sorts, one that would bring both the Alliance and Vertex to his knees.

Many have come to challenge him, but all have failed.

Here is the story of one of those unlucky individuals to have earned his full ire, and also one of the few to tell of the tale.

08:00 hours, Antarctica

"And here I thought this was going to be easy," muttered the pilot of the AC known as Halimaw.

He had fought in many battles during the War, and was one of its few survivors.

But nothing could prepare him for his next encounter with death…

"And here I thought this mission would be easy," the pilot thought to himself, "but things just never seem to go my way…"

Suddenly, an object appeared on his radar screen.

"What the hell?" he exclaimed. "A contact this far south? Show me the visual, now!"

Another monitor glared to life, and the visual of the sight alone seemed to instill fear into his very soul.

The monitor showed a gargantuan research complex, its purposes unknown, but its origins certain.

This was the Raven outpost and AC garage known only as "Hell's Grave."

Many Ravens had heard of stories about the existence of this outpost, saying that it was the research outpost and personal AC hangar of the Raven known as "Emperor," and that his most secretive and revolutionary project for new AC weapons was started here.

If those stories were indeed true, then it could be a great place to restock his AC's ammo stores.

"It's amazing how the Unmanned Suicide Weapons and Pulverizers missed this outpost," the pilot said. "Maybe the occupants already moved on and left their ACs, parts and ammo behind…"

With this knowledge, he shifted Halimaw's boosters to full burn on a course to Hell's Grave's AC hangar entrance.

Meanwhile…

08:15 hours, Antarctica outpost and AC garage "Hell's Grave," Primary Command and Control Center, Floor 30

"Sir, we have a problem…," mused a man dressed in a black suit, staring intently at a recent radar screen photo, several klaxons blaring in the background.

"Yes?" replied another man sitting casually at the center's dining table, munching on a piece of steak that he himself had cooked a few minutes earlier. "What is it, brother? I was actually starting to enjoy my meal."

"The radar appears to have picked up a transient contact within the proximity of the base," answered the man who was still staring at the radar screen. "Sensors show it to be at 5 kilometers and closing."

"Is it an AC or a Pulverizer?" questioned the Raven, still eating his meal.

"By looking at the electrical signals emanating from it, I assume it to be an AC, sir," the communications officer replied. "The AC in question appears to be harbouring purely solid shell-based weaponry, mainly a linear rifle and bazooka, making a close-range battle unsuitable, to say the least. Other than that, it is equipped with a multi missile pack and a micro-missile pack, making a mid range battle with it difficult, but not impossible."

"Interesting," the Raven mused, tones of sarcasm hanging in his deep, tenor-like voice. "Very interesting, indeed…"

"What shall we do, brother?" inquired the communications officer, worried that his brother may have finally snapped after 4 years of confinement in the frozen wasteland they came to know as home.

"We shall let him see the culmination of 10 years of the research that we have spurned. He shall be the first to bear witness to the result of all our hard work. He shall be the first to feel the power of the Black Dragon in full force!" the Raven exclaimed with such temerity as if his words alone could already make his victory a reality. "Ready it in the hangar. I'm heading there right now.

And with that, his intimidating form disappeared into the shadows of the ominous-looking command and control center.

"Oh crap," the comm. officer muttered. "This is most probably going to end up in a mess. I just know it."

Author's Note- And so ends chapter 1 of this fic. Stand by for more coming up soon.