Chapter 1 the war takes its toll: Rains First Battle.

The days seem to never get any shorter, thought Rain. He had been on a march with the other 49 troops for weeks... It felt like much longer. He had only gained the rank of sergeant through training having never been in a real battle before. The troops were mostly privates, piloting modified shield Ligers that were painted tan, called Desert Ligers. Rain piloted a Blade liger Mk II. Only ranking officers piloted those. The commander of the group piloted a Mk III Blade Liger it was white and red insisted of the standard blue. All Mk III's were. It was a Zoid only given to VERY high ranking officials. Only the 2nd and 1st in command (in their group) had them. Rains full name, including his rank was Sergeant Rain Lincolon Stonedestroyer. Every day went on and on. The weeks felt like so much longer. He was marching with his troops in rows, through the barren desert. If they got lucky, on occasion they would see hills with grass nearby. They would sometimes make camp at those places. There had been one attack a year ago… It had changed Rain's life forever. His brother Clark, piloting a Blade Liger Mk III, was one of the best in the fleet. Republic soldiers looked up to him as a hero of the war. One day during an intense battle he had been killed by a mysterious Zoid. It was of Liger type, but was all black. The Zoid vanished just as soon as it had appeared. He was given a very big funeral. The fact that Clark had died meant that Rain and his brother Drake were now orphans. Drake left soon thereafter. He claimed he had to "find himself." Rain thought of Clarks mangled and mutilated body…he wept. One of the privates heard him. "Sir? Are you alright?" "I'm fine. Just reminiscing. "He continued deep in thought. He thought of all the times his brother would come to visit. He'd always leave sooner than expected. Rain rarely saw Clark. He barely even knew him. He remembers when he was little he was raised by Clark, but since the war he and drake had to take care of themselves: Rain was getting rather bored, though. He just marched too much. He hated it. He wanted to finally have the chance to avenge Clark's death. He sighed. He also thought about how hot it was. It was bad enough that during battle it required muscle to pilot the Zoids, but with such intense heat, it was almost too much to bear.

"AAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!" a piercing scream filled the enter com. In a great purple light Rain saw the 2nd in command's, Zoid disintegrated. "It's a ch…ch…charged particle cannon!!! That's insane!!..." Rain overheard this on the intercom. Rain then realized the one had said that had been hit by the blast as well. "What could cause such an attack as that?" He thought. Then he saw an army of saber tigers. The Ligers were about to get out of formation when, half of them were wiped out by another C.P. cannon blast. Rain was shocked! Such Senseless Destruction! The commander was in awe. So much so, he didn't notice a saber tiger behind him. Rain," Behind you sir!" He cut the Saber Tiger in half. The Commander sighed," Thank you Sergeant." Rain grinned," Any time sir." The commander nodded. "Attack!!!" he yelled. The battle had started. Rain used his Zoids blades to immobilize the enemy Zoids with extreme accuracy. "This is too easy," he said," something's not right. There is just no way could that be Saber Tigers that cause such an immense attack!" The Commander nodded," I agree Sergeant." Rain set his boosters forward to finish up the remaining Saber Tigers. In no time flat the Helic forces seemingly won the battle. Rain didn't get it. "This HAS to be a trap", he thought. Indeed, the very next thing that happened was another CPC Blast. It destroyed five more Desert Ligers. The Remaining soldiers were terrified. Then suddenly they caught a glimpse of a Tyrannosaur type Zoid, Painted Black and Red (to make a different coloration than the other 5 GS), Boosting forward in an instant. It was the Geno Saurer Mk II! It went over to the first Desert Liger and bit its head clean off. He glided with the boosters over to the next one and then used his claws to electrocute it. The next he stuck his claws into the Desert Liger and ripped it open. It then pulled out the Zoid Core, which is like the Zoids' Heart and Brain, and it proceeded to crush the core. The Remaining Desert Ligers were slaughtered as well. A couple were shot down by the Pulse Laser Cannon.

It then proceeded to fire apon Rain! Rain dodged the shots but once he was grabbed by the Geno Saurer's Claws! He was being pulled from the extended Cords connected to the claws of the Geno Saurer. The Geno Saurer Mk II than proceeded to raise its foot and stomped continuously on the Blade Liger Mk II. Then Suddenly the Commander inside his Blade Liger Mk III slammed into the Geno Saurer forcing it to move away from Rain's Zoid.

"You alright Rain?"

"Yes sir. Wait a sec, how do you know my name?"

"Your brother and I-"

The Geno Saurer Slammed into the Blade Liger Mk III sending it flying backward. "We're not finished Yet, Rain." The Voice from inside the Geno Saurer Mk II grinned. Rain," What the-?! Is that you Drake?!"

Drake grinned," So glad you could remember me dear brother." Rain shouted," WHY?! What's your reason for Joining Zenevas?!!" Tears trickled down his now sweaty body. "You know that Liger Was a Zenevas Zoid! They killed our brother Drake! But, you joined anyways?! How can you betray my trust like this?!" Drake smiled and laughed," You FOOL. Don't you get it?! I'll spell it out for you so even a pea brain such as yourself can understand!! Zoids are MADE for combat! The only way that this war will continue is if the Zenevas Continues to fight for dominance. Therefore, I am merely giving the Zoids what they want. The fact you beat my Men is admirable, however. I would have eventually anyways."

"What?! Don't you care about your comrades?!"

"Comrades?! No such thing. They, as all things, are expendable. No need for such weaklings to be under me! Besides very soon, I shall overthrow the Zenevas Emperor and Rule Zenevas as its new Supreme Leader! Jon me dear brother! Together we can overthrow the Emperor! We can rule it all together as brothers!"

Rain was enraged!

"Drake, you are mad!"

"No. I am wise. You are the Idiot who obviously doesn't understand fate! Silly baka! (Idiot) You were destined to join me! We both know of your love of Zoids! And How you always wanted to become a great Zoid Pilot!! You will live out your dreams to the fullest if you join my cause!

Rain was disgusted.

"Drake, go to hell!"

"I am very sorry that you feel that way. I suppose then I have no other choice but to kill you right now then."

Rain was still not understanding the situation he was in.

"Why?! Drake You know you can't kill your own brother!!"

Drake Laughed," Watch me!

He prepared his CP. Cannon. Rain was thrown aback.

"So! It was YOU who did that wasn't it?! Psh! Figures!"

"Yes I did. Dear brother, have you ever Played Chicken before? Let's play!"

Rain closed his eyes. But heard something and opened them. It was The Mk III! It ran forward and fired its Blade's cannon at the GS Mk II and the system on the GS overheated.

"Dang! I'll be back dear brother! This is far from over! I WILL finish this!"

He fired a flare and Vanished. Rain was shocked. He nearly died to his own Brother! At the same time, he was thankful.

"That's twice you saved me Commander!"

"Yeah, You owe me one."

"One, sir?"

"Yes Rain. The first one was to repay you for saving me from that Saber Tiger Earlier."

Rain blushed. Then he remembered something.

"How are we going to get back sir? Its only the two of us left?"

The commander Grinned," Don't worry about that, I radioed one of my best men, his name is stone, and he is sending a team to help see us home. But more importantly, I have an announcement I'd like to make." "To who?" thought Rain," I mean we're the only two people here." The commander seemed to have read his mind and smiled," This is necessary. Rain, For Valor in battle, and going beyond the call of duty, I hereby promote you, under such emergency circumstances, to second in command.. Come into my cockpit. Your Zoid is dead. Don't worry. You'll be receiving a Mk III now. Of course-"

Rain interrupted," Please excuse me sir, but while I accept the Rank, forgive me for this, I just want another Blade Liger Mk II. The strength is greater on the Mk III's but I Prefer the speed."

"So you noticed the Mk III sacrificed speed for strength? To know a Zoids' Limitations, you are truly a good pilot. I look Forward to the next time we have a mission together."

"Thank you sir. I hope I live up to your expectations. However, I would like to have a moment of silence for our comrades, who gave their lives today. May they be never forgotten."

"I know, son, I know."