Disclaimer: I don not own the following: Neon Genesis Evangelion, Robot Warlords, Armored Core, any other ideas I may have stolen, from anyone.

This is a prologue to a story I'm considering writing, it gives a bit of background to the world in which its set and the technology behind it, so just give it a look and tell me what you think of the scenario, organisations, technology etc. etc.

Most of the stuff is stolen from various other sources, as I said in the disclaimer. So please don't eat me….please…..

For all spelling and Grammar mistakes I apologise in advance

NGE: Ironman

Prologue

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ENSIS

ENSIS is an organisation formed pre-second impact, around the same time as GEHIRN. Unlike GEHIRN, ENSIS was founded by members of the UN opposed to Keel Lorenz and SEELE. Its existence is kept an absolute secret from all non-essential personnel; instead it does its dealings through a string of front companies. ENSIS has bases spread all over the world, but its central command centre is located in a purpose built facility in Siberia, disguised as part of an old soviet missile complex.

At first it was simply intended to be a tool for spying on the activities of GEHIRN and SEELE, but as evidence emerged of their true intentions in Antarctica, ENSIS' role changed to that of a military organisation. It mobilized to put a stop to GEHIRN and its activities in Antarctica, but the assault force arrived too late to prevent second impact.

After second impact, when GEHIRN became the new military organisation NERV, ENSIS was tasked with further investigating its activities. When the Evangelion project was discovered, plans were made to create a rival to this powerful weapon. Utilising past research into Arcolight technology, the Advanced War Engine (AWE) project was begun.

By the time of the first angel attack the project had succeeded in developing the first Advanced Arcocore Engine Unit, or ACU for short. While early tests were promising, the scientists found that their was a limit to how far the technology could be pushed without directly linking a human with the Arcocore. They began experimenting with partial neural links, but they found a curious similarity between the ACU's and the Evas, they could only be piloted by those born after the second impact.

Just before the attack of the tenth angel, ENSIS' pilot recruitment project, Piper at the Gates of Dawn, had found a large number of potential candidates for the first generation ACUs, and testing had begun at a special facility in South Africa, when ENSIS reached a breakthrough in developing the second generation Arcocore units. They had finally developed a way of creating a complete neural link between pilot and machine through the development of the 'Infinity Circuit'. The problem was the great mental stress imposed upon a pilot when initially connecting to the Arcocore. The group of young candidates chosen as pilots for the 2nd gen. ACUs all had one thing in common, a certain degree of 'mental instability', which led to one officer referring to them as "a bunch of psychos, maniacs and madmen". The ACUs they pilot have come to be known as 'Ironmen' due to the fact that they are almost entirely composed of metal, and unlike Evas have no 'organic' components whatsoever.

Tests with the ACUs begun just before the attack of the fourteenth angel, and continued until spies uncovered the plans for SEELEs mass produced Eva units. Production of the stable 1st generation ACUs was accelerated. However, before ENSIS could make a move NERV initiated third impact unexpectedly, and once again they were caught off guard. Third impact occurred.

Prologue

A few months after third impact when Shinji Ikari had rejected instrumentality, humankind had re-emerged form the sea of LCL, and a new globalised government born from the ashes of the old UN had undertaken the rebuilding of human society. Luckily, apart from a relatively small area of Japan that had become an extension of the Pacific Ocean, the world's cities and landscape had largely returned to normal. Even the climate had reverted back to pre second impact patterns, and Antarctica had begun to freeze once again.

For the Eva pilots, it should have been the end of their trials. The NEF (New Earth Federation), had agreed with the pilots that their role in the third impact would be kept secret, and they could continue to live their lives in a normal manner in the new city of Tokyo-4, renamed NeoTokyo by popular vote.

However, the discovery of Units 01 and 02 at the bottom of Tokyo-3 bay meant that they were required to once more take up the mantle of Eva pilots. The NEF chose to re-establish NERV, under the command of Kōzō Fuyutsuki, as an anti terrorist organization. Several nationalist and separatist factions sought to regain 'independence' from the NEF, through any means necessary.

ENSIS has restarted its ACU program, and is currently initiating tests on the infinity circuit to reduce mental stress. It too is working as a militant wing of the NEF, designated for fighting large scale engagements, its existence until such a time as its required still remains a closely guarded secret.

SEELE has reappeared; however, its leaders now no longer have the power of the UN behind them, and are suspected to be funding many of the terrorist groups against the NEF. The plans for the MP Evas still remain in their hands.

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The next section gives a bit of detail on the new technology that will appear in the fic, so skip it if you get bored of that sorta thing.

Arcolight Technology

Arcolight technology relies, as its name suggests, on arcolight. Arcolight was discovered when ENSIS scientists were investigating the AT-Field phenomenon. They found that AT-Fields were partly composed of a strange particle that was unlike anything seen before. This particle was called Arcolight, because of the way in which they work, they can create an 'arc' of light between them, and from this they can actually create energy, something believed impossible. The scientists failed in their efforts to replicate an actual AT-Field, but succeeded in creating something which would prove to be far more useful, an Arcolight generator.

Through much extensive testing, the research team managed to manipulate the Arcolights to create a field similar to an AT-Field. They eventually created a way of manipulating the Arcolights using the human mind, via a link to a specially designed computer. They found however, that attempting to create a link between the computer and the human mind caused great mental stress to the user, and that it created a permanent link between man and machine. This killed the test pilots, as there was no way their minds could handle talking to the computer directly. The scientists then found a way of creating a partial link to the computer, which only focused a small part of the pilots mind into the generator.

Arcolight generators produce arcolight fields, which act as a shield around their source. They can neutralize AT-Fields to some extent, depending on their strength, but the main purpose is to provide constant power to whatever is linked to the generator, where the Arcolights are most active.

Arcocore

Arcocore refers to the central system of an ACU. The Arcocore is comprised of the arcolight generator, the link computer, life support, all main systems and the cockpit.

There is a difference between 1st gen. cores and 2nd gen. cores, the first has only a partial neural link between pilot and machine, which enables the generation of an arcolight field and assisted running of weapon systems. The second has a full neural link, which bonds the pilot permanently to the unit and incorporates a more powerful computer. These cores can create a more powerful Arcolight field, and allows the pilot to manipulate it around the machine.

ACUs

First Generation Units

In appearance the first generation ACUs look similar to the mech on the cover of the ps2 game Robot Warlords, and stand approximately 2/3rds the height of an Eva. They have basic Arcocore capabilities, and the command models have radio jammers built into the head section. The cockpit is buried in the upper chest. Standard coloring is field grey, with command units painted in black.

They move in a semi fluid manner, not with the ease of an Eva, and do not require an external power source due to the effects of the Arcolight generator. In combat, they rely on using ranged weapons, as their speed makes hand to hand combat unfeasible.

Second Generation Units

In appearance the second generation ACUs differ from each other, each one based on the same basic model but with varying additions. A good representation of a second gen. is the picture on the cover of the ps2 game Armored Core 3 (yes I know, steal, steal, steal, but hey, that's what a disclaimer is for). All units have in built radio jammers, and fully active Arcocores. They stand the full height of an Eva, and move in a fluid, if heavy, way. They cannot 'jump' as an Eva can, but instead use jet boosters. They also incorporate several basic weapon systems as standard, including machine cannons and arm blades. There is no standard coloring, this will be specified later. The cockpits are fixed within the cores, with a complete eject sequence that would destroy the unit if used. They have both long and close range capabilities, but can be specialized for either.

ACU Armaments

Brief description of the weapons that will appear in the story (if written…) this list is in no way definitive, some may be added later on in the story.

ACU Standard Assault Rifle-A burst fire assault rifle, built for range with medium power, standard armament of 1st gen. ACUs.

ACU Heavy Support Cannon-The cannon fulfils the role of a heavy weapon. High powered and designed for use against other ACUs. 1st gen weapon.

Axus Machine Cannon-A chain gun mounted on one arm, it requires a large amount of ammunition in a prolonged engagement. Often chosen as a commander's weapon.

Axus Heavy Rifle-Single shot rifle designated for sniper use.

DUA Automatic rifle-Standard automatic rifle of second generation units, built for power, not range or accuracy

DUA Assualt cannon-Similar to the rifle, but longer range and higher accuracy.

Axus missile system-Shoulder mounted missile system designed for use with the 2nd gen. units

Chainblades/Handarms

A chainblade is a hand held weapon that is similar to a kind of chainsaw. In appearance, they often represent bulky single edged swords, with the cutting edge being replaced by one, or two chainsaw blades that move in opposite directions. ACUs also utilize a range of knives and blades similar to the progressive knife, but not as strong.(if you look up 'chainswords' on Google you'll see what I mean)

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A/N:That's the explanation done, sorry if it reads a bit like a Wikipedia article, but that's sorta what it was based around. I'm not trying to make the Evas look obsolete, on the contrary the story will most likely revolve around the Evas and their pilots but this whole thing was to introduce the world in which the story takes place, rather than have to explain everything as it appears later on.

Anyway, ill see what people think of the scenario before I start writing, because id like to have some idea of which angle to take with it, so please leave a review.

As for updates, that kinda depends on how much interest there is, but I'll probably pick it up in about a week, because I'm going to try and write something within this universe I've created…….long authors note……