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Single perspective story, you read the thoughts and feelings from a single person's point of view. I'll make it clear who it is from the get-go.
Game Of Thrones Has Dragons And Torches; But Titanfall Has Northstars And Scorches!
Chapter One: The One That Brought More
"Beginning Phase Test Three in five minutes, all personnel to their designated positions," Blisk heard Marder through the PA system. "Remember your roles, we have much to do."
Another phase test, but this one held promise. "You're certain of this, Ash?" Blisk asked the pilot simulacrum as he walked by her to her spot in this test. "I'd hate to lose a decent pilot simply because you fancied the concept of traveling into the phase dimension, or whatever it is you bloody scientists call it."
"Is that worry I detect, Blisk?" she asked neutrally in her robotic voice. "As the one who fixed their formulas, I believe I have right to have some fun with their technology, and even get paid to do so."
Ever since they reached the research facility on planet Typhon, Ash had taken to the R&D department, even going further to make this 'Reaper Initiative' with the eggheads here. As long as it was on her time, and it wasn't hampering her work, then Blisk didn't give a damn. An advantage for a pilot simulacrum, they didn't need to sleep, so she had plenty of time.
"I was thinking more along the lines of not losing a lieutenant simply because she wanted to play with new IMC toys," he said as they walked into a warehouse-like area with a new, vanilla-white Stryder-class Titan in the center of it. They called it Ronin, a class of fast moving Titans that used massive swords. An outdated method, but the damage it put out when close in during a test spar was astounding.
"So you are worried." He could never know if she's amused or not, she always sounded the same. Experience emotions, she might; showing emotions, not in this lifetime. "I'll be sure to record this moment into my databanks." He couldn't even tell if she was joking or not.
She always sounded bored, even when she clearly said she was excited, which made it sound sarcastic with her monotonous voice. Ever since they arrived here to guard the damn place, she'd been having 'fun', or whatever it was she claims to feel. The Apex Predators were there to protect the facility, not take part in them.
The Militia had been gaining some ground recently, and this system was fairly on the edge of it, but was confidential information so very few knew about it. As part of their effort to keep it hidden, very few ships came here to keep people from noticing. Still, the Apex Predators were here as a precaution.
Blisk watched as Ash climbed into the Ronin's cockpit. "I don't feel like losing an ace, so this is your last chance, are you sure you want to go through with this?" Did he sound worried? Perhaps, but more proper pilots on their side meant more battles won, and more bonuses from the IMC.
"The previous two failed from mistakes on the human's end, but I, a simulacrum with a supercomputer instead of a brain, fixed it for this attempt. If it works, we both get paid. If it fails, you get paid as reparation." Well, if she puts it that way. . . "Worry about things later," she said as the hatch closed, and the mech stood.
"Installing Phase Drive onto Stryder Titan." The PA system blared as a ceiling crane rolled in with a large rectangular block the size of a human. It latched the machine on the back waist of the Ronin. "Clear the testing zone for Phase attempt three."
That was his cue to leave. "Ash, this is your last chance to let a MRVN handle the risk," he told the large Titan, but knew she could hear him inside. There shouldn't be an AI on this one, or perhaps something similar to keep track of certain gauges while the pilot didn't. Then again, this was Ash he was talking about, so the Titan had an AI by default with her at the helm.
"As if a mindless utility drone would understand what to do," Ash said through the loud speakers to Blisk. "If you wish to stay here and risk imploding, be my guest." Heh, what a bitch.
Blisk said nothing as he turned around to leave the area. "You're still worth something, Ash, so don't die on me yet, aye?" he shouted without turning to look at her nor stop his walk.
Just before the blast doors sealed shut, he heard her say, "I won't."
"Pilot, are you prepared for the test?" Marder said from the speakers inside the experimental Ronin. Ash had some respect for this human, especially his logic and reasoning for the use of science regardless of the value of human life in particular.
"Neural link established, nuclear power supply is green, and the connection to the Phase Drive shows a perfect link. Yes, I'm prepared for the test." This specific Titan wasn't outfitted with weapons or ordinance outside of the Phase option, which should only make her cease to exist, but also still exist, just in a different dimension of the same planet before coming back seconds later.
"Good. IMC thanks you for your cooperation in this test, and will pay you greatly should this be a success." Should this be a success? She would've laughed at the thought for such doubt, if she had the arbitrary ability to laugh, that is. "Whenever you're ready pilot."
"Understood, commencing Phase in twenty seconds." At the arm of her seat, she pressed a few buttons, showing status and guages for the entire Titan. "Readings are favorable," she said to the scientists listening in, or 'eggheads' as Blisk and Kane called them. "Drive charging. Phasing in five. . . four. . . three. . . two. . . one."
Her sensors went haywire, but it was expected. Still, Ash did her best to keep things under control. "Exiting Phase Dimension in ten seconds," she told the scientists. . . No response, but that was also expected.
She was an AI, her mind worked far faster than that of a human, hence why she preferred a quick Stryder-class Titan over the behemoth Ogre-class, and the Atlas-class were simply still slower than she wished. Even with these thoughts, her computer cores were devoted to the task of reading the gauges, and altering the proper systems in rapid speed for the best condition.
If this was what was needed for all Phasing, no human can do this. Next attempt would feature a Titan AI for certain to handle this. Even with her, the neural link only did so much. To think there was a smaller version for pilots in the works, as well. Not for humans, that's for certain.
"Exiting Phase Dimension in three. . . two. . . one." The entire Titan shook as it exited, leaving the cockpit dark, and the outside sensors showed nothing. Typical human prototype engineering. "Commencing reboot for Ronin-class Titan. . ." There was no response, which was unexpected. Even if the Titan itself and its communications malfunctioned, she still had her own.
Perhaps they have as well, as odd it would be for her not to know about it. When the lights inside turned back on, so did the exterior sensors, and it was certainly a surprise, but not entirely unexpected.
Snow everywhere, and that was not where she should be on the planet, but the human scientists and herself had taken into consideration that she would teleport somewhere else on Typhon. While bothersome, it wasn't unaccounted for.
That being said, the test was a success.
Ash would've smirked if she had a mouth. The Phase Drive, borrowing from human terms, would need some tweaking, but it worked. Her cores were already altering already-made formulas for how much energy should actually flow into the Drive, because clearly it was too much.
As she was doing so, she checked her navigational systems, but it showed no map, just the compass. She would've let out a sigh if she was human. Still, it was odd. Satellites should've mapped the entire area. Now that she thought about that, she saw that she wasn't connected to any satellite.
Was she so far north that there was no satellite, or were the clouds too thick for a signal? No, that was nonsense that would've made sense five-hundred years ago, but not today. IMC tech was as cutting edge as they come, no cloud could stop that.
Regardless, with no navigational systems outside of a compass, no working communications, and a freezing climate, she inside her Titan walked south. When she returned to base, she'd have a word with the ARES division about their satellites here on Typhon.
Ash checked her navigational options. Radar was active, as was motion sensors, picking up small biological fauna of Typhon. When one passed in front of her, her outer cameras saw it was a kind of rodent. "A rabbit?" she wondered out loud, which was odd of her to do, but as was this situation.
The creature hurriedly escaped the red eyes of the Titan, but Ash still saw the long ears and snow-white fur. It wasn't similar to a rabbit, but was a rabbit. How could it exist on Typhon? Was the ARES division testing Earth fauna on Typhon? If so, why would it be this far up north, there were no outposts in the snowy regions.
She'd have pursed her lips if she had any, so instead she recorded the scene to bring it up to the lead scientist on this supposed discovery.
With that event recorded, she resumed her march south. Continuing her review of navigational options, she saw that she could use a terrestrial scan. It wouldn't do much, mostly scan the surface and a few meters beneath, usually used to find an energy signature of a fusion battery from a fallen Titan to be scavenged should it be needed.
Well, it was better than nothing. Ash commenced the procedure, and even redirected power to amplify its range to possible find any manmade structure. Not two seconds later, the air distorted from the pulse that went out, and it brought in a wealth of mapping information, but also something more. . .
What Ash saw had her review it again, and again, and again, and again. How was the entire ground lit up with energy? Not nuclear energy, it was. . . something else. She devoted more of her cores to process the new information.
"Am I on the same planet?" she wondered out loud again. Slone would have the best day of her life if she saw Ash use human mannerisms. With that thought and memory deleted, she stared at the screen.
Typhon was scanned in more ways than one, but none had even a fraction of this result. She needed more tools and equipment for a proper scan, but they were out of her reach, and all she had was an underequipped, prototype Titan with a prototype Phase Drive.
Checking the status of the new device, it was in somewhat working condition. A few wires loose and some parts melted, but nothing she herself wouldn't be able to fix given the proper materials with what she had on hand.
She got out of the Ronin, snow crunching beneath her bladed legs. She checked herself and her equipment, which there wasn't much of. Running diagnostics, her body was in perfect condition, just as recorded before the Phase.
As for equipment, her jump kit was in fully working order, but her only weapons were her Data Knife and a P2016 pistol with two spare magazines she was issued. Not exactly something she could fend off a predator with, but she was a pilot. By default she was a weapon, and having a multi-ton Titan helped greatly. Weapons or not, a punch from it would kill any predator.
With that done, she walked to see the Phase Drive, and opened it to see the innards. Thankfully, it wasn't damaged beyond repair, and could do it then and there given some time, but first it needed to cool as some pieces were still glowing red hot.
'Two hours, just to be safe,' she thought, and sealed it back up. Ash crouched down and took a handful of soft snow, her sensors showed it was as cold as snow should be, and soft as sand as it sifted through her mechanical fingers. Yet, it held no radiation from the energy that was lighting up the earth beneath her. It was strange, and needed to be solved.
The IMC needed to hear of this and send research teams, fleets of them. It didn't look like it had a source, but science says that would be illogical. There was a source, they just needed to find it, be it ore or something else.
She jumped back in her Titan, and continued her way south with hopes of finding an outpost or a satellite signal, but this time running at the maximum speed her Titan allowed. Fortunately, this was a Stryder-class, so they moved fast, it was something she and Viper appreciated, although he did for different reasons.
Her terrestrial scan earlier provided a detailed map, which helped greatly in nimbly moving between trees and boulders without truly hampering her speed. In a few kilometers, she'd need to scan again.
However, reviewing her new map in full showed a kind of structure in the south, too large to be a natural occurrence, but there were still some odd readings coming from it.
Thirty minutes and many miles later, she reached it, and it was nothing anyone could've expected. She approached it in her Titan, and her scans showed that it was imbued with the same energy as the ground beneath her. Not a source, but it seemed to be almost a part of that energy.
She punched the massive wall, it cracked and broke. Picking up one of the larger shards of ice, it was no longer imbued with the energy. This was very bizarre, as there should still be some residual traces of it, but there was none. Illogical!
How could something with so much energy still be this cold? Just what was this energy? She needed the IMC's resources to find out, and she won't allow this wall to stop her.
She moved back a distance, and input move set into the AI-less Titan to help her get above it in a way Kane would've loved. She exited the Titan and climbed into its hand, and squatted, ready to fling herself at the right moment. When the Ronin reared her back, it aimed high, as she calculated, and thrust her forward.
Ash jumped to maximize the distance, and it proved accurate. Pulling out her knife, she reached the wall at the apex of her height, and stabbed into the ice. She was already halfway up the wall thanks to that, and she saw the Titan crouch and go to standby mode. If she needed him, she could send a rendezvous signal and have it come to her. Whatever computer in it would either climb the wall, or punch through it, so it's possible, it's just that it would take some time to do so with a wall this thick and tall.
Personal ocular systems back up, she climbed the massive structure with her knife and jump kit, so it wasn't difficult, if frustrating for how massive this structure was. Who could've built this, and why ice? There were hundreds of other materials to use, yet they chose ice, of all things.
It took less than twenty minutes to reach the top, and as the scans previously suggested, the wall was indeed several meters thick. Why? Who? How? She listed the several questions for later, likely only one of those could be answered when a science team arrives.
From the top, she could see forest, the speck that was her Titan, and a vague outline of a mountain through the fog. When she peered from the other side, the difference couldn't have been clearer. While it was still forested, it wasn't as dense. "What was on this side of the wall?"
She deleted the memory of asking that out loud arbitrarily.
The questioned remained. On old Earth, the old nation of China built a massive wall to repel invaders, so was this made for the same reason? Could it have been from an ancient civilization the resided on Typhon several millennia ago? There was no evidence of ruins, but the IMC hadn't done nor intended to archeologically search this planet, although with this information, they would soon enough.
Looking down, the drop wasn't a small one, but her jump kit should be able to handle it. Proven with how the jump kit lit up when she jumped off. The thrusters slowly burning, but still slowing her to manageable levels.
She landed not a minute later with a crouch to disperse the force, the snow and bladed legs helped greatly in that regard. A quick diagnostic showed everything was working properly and undamaged, as well as her pistol and knife still there.
Ash saw her on-person navigational equipment, the map showing nothing but biological fauna, trees, and boulders. Looking up, the clouds were still thick and covered the sky. Thick clouds couldn't stop IMC satellites, not these. Was it the unknown energy disrupting them?
If that was true, she'd have to run far enough where the energy signature wasn't as thick, but the map with the energy from the Titan she superimposed on her own showed that it'd be a while before she could.
Her response to that? A full sprint forward to the edge of the map. She'd find a signal. If she didn't, then she'd have to use the same way she came here.
After that, though, she'd come back with more resources than a single Titan.
'This makes no sense,' Ash thought when she saw a pillar of smoke above the trees in the midday sky, but still made her way to it. If it was an IMC camp in the wilderness, how come none of them answered the radio calls she sent minutes ago? She still had the link to her Titan, yet not a single radio in this nearby camp? It could've been a forest fire, but the fact it was a lean pillar instead of a massive one told her otherwise.
A Militia camp? They still would've answered her call, even if it was with a search party and a lot of rifles. No, this was something else. The thinner the forest was getting, the more convinced she was.
She slowed as she approached the edge, what she saw was confusing and worrisome. To a simulacrum, things that didn't make sense were different than for human. Her mind was made with logic as a base, but this? This was illogical, which had her cores begin writing rational explanations.
Humans, but not the same humans she knew. No. Yes. No. Yes. No. Yes. No-
Ash deleted that line of thought, and began rewriting information she knew as fact. The more she stared at this small village, the more she saw people wear leather, wool, linen, and cotton, the more concerned she became. Where has the Phase Drive brought her?
These people used oxen and mules to move carts full of wooden logs, men with thick beards and axes praising one another for a great haul of lumber. A logging village, those ceased to exist centuries ago, replacing them were logging camps that-
Her systems cancelled that line of thought to bring rationality to this. She tried to take in as much information as she could, recording them for later analysis. Things like how the only ones in uniform wore swords on their belts and wooden shields on their arms. The only marking there was is a flag with a hairy giant wearing a tunic embroidied on it.
This was irrational, her systems kept repeating. On planet Typhon, no humans besides that of the IMC settled it. 'Then this isn't Typhon.' Her systems calmed then, but she didn't. She needed information, and she waited until she could.
A duo of laughing women held baskets of clothes walked themselves away from the group. Ash moved to follow them, but stayed behind the line of trees. Her motion tracker helped greatly, even when they moved between buildings. Soon enough, they exited the village, and she was behind them, keeping track of anyone who snuck up on them.
It didn't take long for the two to reach a creek before setting down their baskets and begin washing clothes in the water using stones. Keeping the motion tracker in mind if anyone decided to sneak up on her, she approached the two women slowly and silently.
"My ox of a husband would sooner chop of his legs than take us to Mole's Town," Ash heard the redheaded one say with a sigh. "Honestly, it'd be much safer there near the Knights Watch than out here. Besides, I hear Castle Black are always in demand of lumber, not that Byrn would see reason, anyway."
The brunette laughed. "Oh, Lyanna, you have it easy. My husband wants to join those Umber soldiers with hopes to be a knight, it was his dream since he was but a child, and now my son has joined him in that dream. Both of them want to leave for the Last Hearth, as if Lord Umber would allow common folk to be knights so easily. 'A woman wouldn't understand a man's dream!' he'd shout." Both of them laughed at her attempt for a masculine voice.
Their language was English, but it was odd, dated even. No one spoke like that, not even in the propaganda videos of either the IMC or Militia.
"At least your husband has dreams, Sarah. Byrn was born here and would die here, and he'd remain a woodcutter to his last dying breath." She heard her sigh, then speak almost fondly. "How that buffoon captured my heart, I'd never know."
Ash had enough. She ran at the two women and jumped. The black-haired one, Sarah, turned first, and didn't have the chance to react as Ash kicked her bladed foot on her face. Sarah slammed down, knocked out or dead. Before the other could scream, Ash twisted around wrapping her mechanical fingers around her neck and put her to the ground.
The woman was on the dirt, gasping for air, trying to rip away the hand that held her neck. Ash withdrew her knife and pointed between her eyes. "You scream, you die. Understood?" Fear evident on her face, but she nodded through the tears. Ash placed the tip of her knife on her for head, and she squirmed at the feeling of the sharp tip.
The moment she loosed her grip, Lyanna gasped and sobbed, but subdued her resistance, even if she did still grip Ash's wrist. Fear raked her entire body, Ash knew her mask only amplified it, as did her unnatural voice. As long as she got answers, she didn't care.
"You will answer my questions, and when I'm done asking, you and your friend can leave," Ash said. "Lie to me, and I'll kill you both. You have answers, so you're worth something. Don't disappoint me." The woman shook, but did no more than that. "What planet am I on?"
"I-I-I don't kn- Hng!" Ash pushed the knife in slightly, drawing a line of blood. "I swear by the Gods I don't know!" Didn't know her own planet? "I-I'm from Mole's Town, s-south of Castle Black, I swear!" She wasn't shouting as much as she was crying.
"You're disappointing me," Ash said, causing her to whimper and sob even more. "Tell me where I am." She kept watch on her radar. The village nearby wasn't close enough to hear her cries, but it was close enough to be a concern.
Lyanna swallowed hard. "Y-You're in Bowtown, which resides in the N-North. Please d-don-" Ash tuned out her pleads and begging.
She quieted when Ash squeezed her neck, and loosed up again. "I'm going to say a list of names, you nod when you recognize them." Lyanna nodded lightly. "Interstellar Mining Corporation." She shook her head. "Militia of the Frontier." Another shake of the head. "Hammond Robotics." She hesitated, but shook her head. Ash felt the woman's pulse race from all the negatives. "Battle of Demeter."
"Please, I don't know-" Ash squeezed her neck once more. This was no regular scenario, and as far as she could tell, this woman wouldn't dare lie to her. She hasn't yet. "I s-swear-" she tried to say through the choke.
Still, Ash loosened her grip once more, allowing her to gasp for air. "Thank you for your cooperation," Ash said, seeing her evident relief. "I look forward to working with you in the near future." She was panicked again, but it wouldn't last. Ash drew away the knife, flipped it, and slammed the hilt to the side of Lyanna's head, knocking her out.
"L-Lyan. . . na," Ash heard the other woman come to. When she looked to her, her jaw was clearly broken as it hung limply from her head. She was dazed from the looks of her, likely from a concussion, but that would end soon as well.
Ash drew her pistol, and shot a round between Sarah's eyes. She fell into the creek, causing a stream of blood to form in the water. People of that village would've heard that, so Ash ran north to the ice wall with the woman over her shoulder.
This situation was a problem, but may also prove to be an opportunity. She had a source of information on her shoulder, and she had to bring it to the IMC. They'll certainly want to look at this place once she gets back to tell them of it.
The new algorithm for she made the Phase Drive should do.
"Marder," Blisk greeted when he entered the man's office. He didn't wait for permission to take a seat in front of the desk.
"Commander Blisk," Marder greeted back, and took his own seat. "I'm sorry to hear for what happened to your pilot." Yeah, sure he was. "As per our contract, you'll be receiving a sum of credits as reparation for the lost pilot."
Good, they were on the same page then. A real shame, though, Ash had been an effective pilot, it'd take a while to replace her with someone equally strong. Ah well, she always had a problem with new toys, and that's what did her in.
"That was never in question," Blisk replied with a nod. "I'll also be taking a pilot from your personal army to replace her." These ARES division bastards had their own 'guards', so to speak, a few noteworthy Titan pilots being some of them.
"No, you won't," Marder said matter-of-factly. "You will get what we agreed upon, and not a credit more. The only reason you're getting that much is because of your Pilot, Ash, was of great help and we documented several-"
"I'd rather take half the credits than listen to another of your long-winded lectures, Marder," Blisk interrupted. "We'll just agree the contract is enough, no need to talk me into submission, aye?" Marder frowned, but said nothing. They both knew their positions and the value of the other.
Money traded for protection, and it was a good trade for both of them. Especially when there was news of the 6-4 allying themselves with the Militia, and even Blisk had to admit they were a problematic group. Hence why he needed pilots like A-
Blisk's thoughts were interrupted by the PA system. "Attention all personnel, Experimental Ronin Titan has returned, all personnel related to the Phase Drive test to their designated positions. Titan maintenance crews and MRVNs to the testing area." Well, that was unexpected.
Both Blisk and Marder stood, and walked out to reach where the initial test took place.
"Looks like I won't need to pay you those reparations," Marder said neutrally. "You'll still get paid if the Phasing was a success however, so you can look forward to that." Bastard knew he was looking forward to it.
It didn't matter, Kuben knew Marder never cared for money. He looked too far to the future to care about credits. Since he didn't mind, the Apex Predators would be more than happy to lighten his wallet.
The automatic doors of the testing area opened, and revealed the familiar Titan he saw previously, surrounded by MRVNs and engineers tending to it. However, there was also a few IMC soldiers there.
"Take the woman to the medical bay for treatment, and prepare her for interrogation later when she comes to. She'll be compliant, I'm sure of it," Blisk heard the familiar robotic, monotone voice. He then saw two soldiers drag an unconscious woman by the shoulders away.
"You're late," Blisk said as he looked to Ash's white mask.
"Blame the scientists here. They don't know how to build a proper Phase Drive and I had to fix it for them," she replied, which had him smirking.
Marder stepped forward. "Who's that woman?" he asked. "More importantly, where'd she come from?" That was also an important question. Last he heard, Ronin was a one seat Titan.
Ash didn't answer that one, but instead, she asked her own question. "How long would it take for you to replicate that very Phase Drive I used to have the same effect on different vehicles, and even a carrier?" What kind of question was that? She was planning something, clearly.
"Pilot, if we built it before, we can build it again, and more in a short while," Marder said, impatient. "Now tell me where that woman came from, that's an order." For once, Blisk agreed with Marder to cut the bullshit.
"A different world," was her answer. "Or I suppose it's better to say from a different dimension, but I can't confirm it."
Blisk blinked, then looked to the black box that was the Phase Drive being unloaded from the Titan. He could practically feel how busy the next few weeks were going to be.
"You're saying you were teleported to another dimension in a world that held humans." Marder didn't sound annoyed, but rather curious. Bloody intellectuals and their diplomas.
She nodded. "I've sent the information I gathered to you and your division. You'll learn that what I found to be very interesting, and worth digging into. Though I will recommend this, replicate that Phase Drive, and prepare men, machines, and resources to make an outpost in deep snow."
Marder kept his lips in a thin line, not happy nor annoyed at the suggestion, and held his gaze to the simulacrum. He raised his wrist, and began pressing buttons on the computer device on it. It seemed he was skimming at images, and more than once raised his brows to a few of them.
Once he dropped his arm, he looked to Ash again. "Good work, Pilot. It seems we have new initiative added to our plans." He then looked the Ronin. "As a reward, I'll give you this Titan and its intended weaponry, do with it as you wish." He turned and walked away, speaking into his earpiece, and from what it sounded like, he was preparing a large group of people for a trip.
Blisk sighed. "Well, looks like we have work to do," he said almost tiredly, then punched her shoulder lightly. "Come on, you can tell me about it as we debrief you with the rest of the eggheads, aye?"
For a moment, he thought he heard her sigh, but that was certainly just a trick of the wind.
You have no idea how much I wanted a story like this to happen.
Anybody here who can speak German willing to help me out for some lines for Richter? I'd like to not use Google Translate if I can, for accuracy's sake. Nothing big, just to translate the rare line he'd say in German.
What Titan is your main? Papa Scorch is mine.