Welcome to the New Age
EDP Secret Training Bunkers
2028
"Yawn. Hello men I am Dr. Archy Taylors and I will be showing you what new toys the EDP has in box."
"First we have the RT-1 Heavy Platform a mobile Artillery Unit. It is managed by a crew of five men and can be sent over any terrain."
"Next is the AS-20, since the main enemy for any Pact nation would be the IS this platform was built for anti-air capabilities."
"Now for the fun stuff. To have infantry directly counter ISes we have the Watcher Armour. With it regenerative qualities this suit will repair itself over time. IS 'small' arms fire should bounce right off. Also it is equipped with a jump jet to provide even more combat options on the field."
"Your primary weapon will be the DP-2 a coil rifle with two functions, one super powered long range option and a mid-range automatic one. It hold 50 rounds per mag, but can shoot any ferrous projectile that you can fit in it."
"To answer all your questions these do come from technology we acquired from the Odyssey's main computer so honestly we just rebuilt and restyled these weapons."
"Doctor?"
"Yes soldier."
"What are the capabilities of the Odyssey since you were on the main voyage?"
"Well it has four bombardment cannons and a main ion cannon. These weapons would devastate any non Pact country, but it is no longer in this system. It has gone to talk with our allies among the stars."
"So conclude orientation for Anti IS team Alpha good luck and Godspeed."
Timeline
2029
EDP rolls out its first Anti-IS team 'Alpha'. South American countries join the Pact. The Pact shuts itself off from the world.
2030
IS academy celebrates it's 10th anniversary. Most IS countries from the ISA or the International Stratos Alliance.
2031
Tensions rise in the Alliance over proper weapons in IS battles (Weapons Standardized).
2032
US start to test out its own mech, prototype keep on lockdown.
2033
Russia annexes parts of Kazakhstan for unknown reasons.
Real reason is due to scientists finding two damaged spacecraft and the best Pact minds are looking them over and refitting them.
2034
US announces a colony on Mars, but do not expect travel there very soon.
2035
No new news.
2036
Pact unveils its newest addition to its arsenal the exo armour Christof.
2037
Ichika is discover to be the only male to be able to use the IS and is shipped of the the all girls school IS Academy.
Late 2037
A young teen was selected to pilot the Cristof and as an act of good faith and global participation is sent to the Academy.
2038
News show in Japan (Translated using Odyssey Translation Technologies)
"The alliance known as the Pact made up of Russia and the Americas now known as the Union have come out of their self imposed isolation with the Chairman of the Pact announcing to the world that they are returning to the world stage and will push for international cooperation. ISA countries breath a sigh of relief as the once closed borders of the Pact are open, loved ones not seen in years have been reunited. What was it like under the Pact rule reports are sketchy at best, but the Pact seems like a modern Utopia." The newswoman finished.
The channel changes
"Now time for men's hour. Sports and entertainment coming your wa-""We interrupt this broadcast to inform your smart ladies out there that tonight will be a two hour special one life behind the rule of man! Tune in."
Changes again
"As a former IS rep. I can say nothing they bring to counter us will work, those men have the head so far up they think they can see daylight."
"Ah and your view Miss Ranen?"
"Pact is more secretive than the old North Korean state and probably have the same bite."
"And what of the male IS pilot."
"What of it one man out of millions I guess it's in the realm of possibilities. Still will just be a footnote in our history just like the Pact.
TV turns off
Chifuyu shook her head. The Pact comes out of hiding to ask for admittance to the school for one of its pilots. Of course she would take that offer never know. The Pact seemed nice and just wanting to be friends of be left alone, but of course the ISA women would not stand for it 'Men in charge' they say 'it is not the dark ages any more.' But she knew better, that ship alone could wipe out everyone and thing from orbit and the IS would not stand a chance. For now she had to make sure her brother made it out of this madness alive. Maybe another boy at the school would good for Ichika at least they would be friends out of a common problem.
(End Translation Program)
Union, US proper, Christof Op HQ
PFC Daniel Parker age 15
"Uof" the boy had just received a punch from on of the best fighters in the platoon. He staggered back to the edge and went on one knee.
"Kid you ok?" This attacker asked.
"You got me good that time, you win." 'Ding, ding' the bell chimed. The kid named Daniel Parker picked himself off the mat and staggered over to the water fountain.
"You we in for 8 seconds longer than you use to."
"Oh hey Sarge, what can I say I take life by the horns."
"What do you think of you upcoming assignment?"
"Going to a school full of women? Every man's dream and nightmare." All present shiver at the thought.
"Don't worry just act tough and it will be fine."
"Act? I am tough. Tougher than some. I get to have the suit!"
"I think they just wanted some kid to have the million dollar suit to make it easy on the insurance."
"Oh haha." The two walked into the big board room. The room showed all assets they had and where the assets were.
"If everything go south at least the cavalry will be there soon."
"Kid I would hope so, but I don't think Tabane Shinonono herself would understand this tech, hell we just cobbled it together for the hell of it to say we have something to match the IS. Did you know that will be the one and only Christof model armour. Everyone likes the Watcher suit better."
"So I am the Union's collective middle finger at the ISA nations."
"You may just live through this after all."
"Well it's a Ten hour flight to Japan better get to the plane." Daniel saluted his CO and walked off to his awaiting plane.
This plane would be the first US plane to touch Japanese soil in almost ten years. To Daniel though it was less exciting he felt he was walking to his own funeral. The Christof was made to mock the IS and nothing else so if he did good it would show the ISA who boss and if he failed, knock on wood, EDP would just trash it and focus on some other avenue to under mind the ISA. The plane was now in low orbit and Daniel could feel the effects as he tightened his belt that anchored him to his seat. The Earth look so peaceful from orbit is awed him everytime he saw it.
A few hours passed and gravity was restored as they reentered the atmosphere over Tokyo Bay. Four IS became its honor guard escort the rest of the way in and landed alongside it on the Tarmac. The ambassadors of Japan and ISA countries stood waiting for their new 'honored' guest from the new world. The door to the plane opened and Daniel stepped out and walked up to the line of people. He reached for his gauntlet a device on his arm that allowed him to comput on the fly.
(Activating Translation Software)
"Hello welcome to Japan." The Japanese ambassador says. "Hope you have a good time here."
"Thank you." Daniel said. "I also bring greetings from inside the Pact. We hope for good relations with the rest of this world." And he performed a slight bow.
"So where is the rumor pilot?" She asked looking up at the plane.
"Standing right before ya ma'am." He does a short hand salute.
"Well to be expected," another ambassador muttered.
"Damn the Pact our social structure is weak enough as it is," some other ambassador said.
"Oh and yes I should tell you the Christof is a one of a kind. It will be the only IS like platform the Union will create. Though I can't speak for Russia." That seemed to relive a few of the ambassador.
"So when will the Pact Chairman visit?" The Japanese one asked.
"After me a team of ambassadors will come and most likely a you'll meet one of the floating islands out in the Pacific Ocean. They are independent of the Pact so we ignore each other most of the time."
"Follow me to the car and I will show you to the school."
A good two hour drive through heavy traffic and a monorail trip to reach the island where the school was.
"Yawn wow the traffic was worse than LA in rush hour. I haven't been in a ground car in over six years." The ambassador who seemed now to be playing tour guide looked at me with a curious expression.
"We travel using either the port system or skycar depending on where we are going nowadays so it was quite nostalgic to be riding a hydrocarbon powered vehicle." She now had a worried look on her face
"Ma'am you should loosen up or you'll get wrinkles at a younger age." She blushes slightly.
"Ambassador." A chilly voice said from behind them. It was Chifuyu. The ambassador tensed up.
"He-e-ll-o Miss Orimura." She stuttered out.
"Sigh. I'm not going to bite you, look the kid is not even scared." Chifuyu continued.
The ambassador regain her senses. "Sorry ma'am you startled me."
"It's ok Maya. You coming back to work here again right?"
"Yes, oh and here is the Pact's pilot uhmm..."
"The names Parker, Daniel Parker."
"Hmm you Japanese is very good even you accent is up to date. Your smarter than you look kid even more than my brother."
"Oh I am not speak Japanese ma'am, but English you just hear it as Japanese due to the Universal Translator I have on my gauntlet here." He taps his forearm and give a tired yawn.
"Pact has some cool gadgets." Chifuyu responded.
"I am tried is there some where I can bunk down for the rest of the day?"
"Yes follow me." They started through the academy's many hallways it was still summer so the new term had not started yet and very few of the students were on the campus. "You will share a room with my brother, Ichika, he is the only man with a IS. Please try to make friends with him."
"Oh I don't see any problem with that." She hands him a small card.
"This will get you into your room. Do not lose it."
"Ok." It glows for a second and disappears.
Chifuyu was dumbfounded by this 'where did it go?' she thought.
"Ok now for my next trick." And it reappeared in his hand.
"Not even going to ask."
"Good cause I can't explain it."
"But can you explain your suit?" She asked as he opened the door.
"Not now. To sleepy."
"My brother will be here in morning you two should get to know each other. I am certain you will become good friends." Click the door to the room shut.
The Next Day
Two boys the only boys in the room sat across each other eating their food making meaningless small talk.
"So you're the only Male IS pilot in the world."
"Yep."
"Well I am Daniel and I happen to be the representative from the Union and the only other man here and I want to be your friend."
"Sounds good."
"Shoot we better get going class or the teacher will have our head."
"Hehe we'll be fine as long as it's not my sister."
"Ichika you notice we are being stared down?" Daniel whispered to Ichika.
"Did you just feel it too?"
"Yeah. This is hell."
"Ok now quiet down now. My name is Maya Yamada and I am the homeroom teacher's aide."
'Oh it's her from when I arrived.' Daniel thought.
"Ok now lets introduce ourselves." And she went down the list and when she came to O for Orimura, he was off elsewhere in his mind. "Ichika? Ichika?"
"Yo Ichika!" Daniel yelled into his friend's ear.
"Huh, what, who died!" Giggles were heard throughout the room.
"It you turn to introduce yourself. I started at A and now we are at O."
"Sorry, I am Ichika Orimura. The one and only IS pilot in the world." He stood up and slowly went back down.
"Now Mr. Parker?"
"Ok I am Daniel Parker from the Union homeland America. I pilot the Christof suit. I come here as an act of good faith between the two major blocs on the planet. The Christof is close to an IS so yeah... thanks for listening." He sat down.
Miss Yamada just finish having everyone introduce themselves when another woman walked in, it was Chifuyu. "How is it going in here?"
"Oh very good."
"Ring, ring" the end of homeroom bell rung and people filed out of their classrooms. Daniel grab Ichika and rendered them invisible to most. They found an empty courtyard and declocked.
"Nice trick teach me some time?"
"I see if I could get you a Union made gauntlet. PDA, translator, and a weak phase engine."
"Any other cool gadgets?"
"I'll let up know when we need it ok adds to the cool factor of it."
"Ichika!" A girl walked up to the two.
"Oh hi Houki Nice to see you again."
"You recognized me!" She was in apparent glee.
"Your hair is the same that's how it remember you." Ichika said. "Oh and this here is Daniel an American."
"No a Unioner or a Pactsman the EDP is under the control of the Chairman and the Parliament. See their are two types of people in the Pact: Feds and Unioner. East and West. Asia and Americas."
"Oh..." Ichika nodded his head
"Sorry, sorry I forgot our culture was isolated from you guy for years so it is not surprising you do not know it."
"So Daniel what was it like in the Union?" Houki asked
"Depends on where you live."
"Your home."
"Raised by soldiers and the on site nurses I am named after the one of the great members of the Odyssey voyage. Daniel Parker, sniper extraordinaire. Took on a camp of Farron and came out alive!"
"Aliens!?" The two Japanese teens asked.
"Yes the Pact has been engaging interstellar foe since 2005."
"So that's why you turned down the IS cores my sister could never figure that one out. You guys just don't need it." Houki stated.
"Oh yeah you're the sister of the inventor of the IS and with all respect to you sister, gave the women of the ISA bigger Egos than most heads of nations."
Ichika laughed at this. "Sorry Houki that is to true. Pre-IS history was my area in middle school. Heck even the Germans have reverted back into their Pre-WWII mentality, trying to out tech everyone."
"Ichika catch!" Daniel tossed Ichika a small watch.
"What is it?"
"It's a prefab of a very very weak phase engine. Just in case. Peace out!" Daniel activated his and started back to class.
"Well Houki um, I uh, heard you won the kendo championship."
"Oh you did where-re did you hear that?"
"The paper."
"Oh oh." 'Ring, ring' the two started to return to their classroom.
"... You Brits have not changed why do you think we rebelled!"
"You stupid man, you have none of you power here!"
"God save the Queen! For the love of God shut up!"
"Men are weak in this world I bet you suit could not hold a candle to mine!"
"Do you have a spaceship? Does Britain explore the stars. No you children do so go home you old maid!"
"Ok! Order in this classroom!" Chifuyu and Maya walk in. They immediately quieted down.
"Uh students we have one more thing left to do." Maya started. "You need to pick the class representative for the interclass tournament in a few weeks."
"I say Ichika!" One said.
"No Daniel." Another said.
The room was filled with Ichikas and Daniels for a few minutes.
"Ladies, ladies calm down. It has to be Ichika because I do not and cannot pilot an IS remember."
"Traitor." Ichika jab at Daniel.
"I got them quite though."
"True."
"I will not stand for this. Men should not be in charge it will make us look weak."
Daniel turned around to look at the Brit. "First off what is your name?"
"I come from the great Alcott family I am Cecilia Alcott. Remember it well weak man!"
"And second just why are you standing?"
"What are you talking about."
"You said you would not stand for it yet you got up on you feet." Half the class including Ichika let out a laugh.
"Fine I challenge you to a fight Mr. Parker! A duel and winner gets to decide the representative."
"Fine by me." He turns to the teachers, "Any problem's. You'll get to see the one and only Christof in action"
Maya shook her head and Chifuyu said," Ok this US-British no hold bar grudge match will take place in a week and objections." Silence across the room. "Ok now we can start the lesson. In 2018..."
