AN: Sorry if any of you reading were expecting a new chapter of I'm still human but it's NOT CANCELLED I'm just procrastinating like hell but this story has been on my mind for a while hope you enjoy it.
12:00 PM Universal Standard
June 15, 2215 CE
V.D. ATHEON, HERCULES CLASS CRUISER
Four pairs of metal footsteps beat upon the deck floor with purpose as they marched into a room and were met with a thin humanoid Android sitting on a metal desk covered in a topographical holo map. The footsteps stopped in unison as two stim class and two phase shift class simulacrums all painted in Demeter forest camouflage stood at attention. The Android sitting at the table stood and said 'Identify' in a monotone they snapped a salute and spoke.
"Captain Jarod Faust E-1, pilot of Legion Prime class CZ-4324." Spoke the first Stim class in a country drawl. He was decorated with various animal furs across his chest making him look like he was wearing a mismatched fur coat.
"Lieutenant Ellen Rainier E-2, pilot of Northstar Prime class AR-1489." Spoke the slightly shorter and slimmer stim class. She spoke with an Irish accent and was covered in pockets containing various components for field repairs and on her right shoulder was a red cog overlapping a Red Cross.
"Corporal Terrance Kelly E-3, pilot of Ion Prime class GL-6424." Spoke the taller phase walk class. He spoke with an English accent and he was covered with scratches denoting kill tallies and various doodles of titans.
"Sergeant Harold Mathews E-4, pilot of Tone Prime class CM-4441." Spoke the other phase walk class. He spoke with a western accent and had a harness strapped to his front that could be filled with ordinance and ammunition.
The Android stood silent before saying "Identity of Ellis squadron confirmed, beginning mission briefing, connecting to General Williams." It stood in silence once more before the eyes of the Android turned Blue and stood up straighter and turned to the pilots.
"Ellis squadron as you've no doubt heard, Typhon has been partially destroyed due to the destruction of a space-time folding device known as the ARK. This has lead to the discovery of anomalies appearing across the planet, wormholes, gates, doors whatever you want to call them but they lead somewhere within the multiverse. Luckily our scientists have found a good one they want to test and your squadron has been picked." the General informed.
The map on the table zoomed in on a glowing point which was a swirling vortex hovering in the middle of the air.
"This is your target, our scientists say it's stable enough for your Titans and cargo to go through it. When you pass through we will only be able to maintain a data link with no resupply drops or reinforcements. This is the most important part as each of you will be carrying the components for a self-building factory usually seen on colony ships. It can produce anything from MRVN units up to Reapers but will also let you and your titans restock on ammunition. After you have established the factory you will defend and maintain its presence until we can reliably pass through. This factory will be named First Establishment. Finally, my team will be recording the data you send back and if you find intelligent alien life then you are to make contact and try to communicate if you can. Any questions?"
Harold wondered aloud "Is that I can see through there sir?"
"Yes, it is confirmed to be a fully formed M-Class planet despite its broken moon." The general informed.
Kelly spoke up "Sir what if the possible alien contacts prove hostile?"
The General nodded "If they prove hostile you are to disengage and defend First establishment until we can reinforce you. If that is all dismissed and prepare for Titanfall at 0100."
The Simulacrums saluted once more and headed for the armory. The only thing they heard was the various marching of both biological and mechanical boots.
"Sooo" Jared drawled "whos betting on what?"
"Hostile wildlife for 300," Ellen said
"Bullshit," Terrance spoke up "That's too easy every planet we've ever been on has hostile wildlife."
"Yea" Matheus piped in "I still can't believe I fell for that one."
Ellen groaned "Fiiiine hostile flora." "No" spoke Jared.
Ellen then grumbled under her none existent breath "Ummm Humans"
"What?" asked Harold.
"Yea Humans for 200" she spoke clearly.
"Ummm ok that is near impossible but ok humans, for 200 alright that's Ellen, now Telly," Jared said.
Terrance groaned "Can you please stop calling me that I'm not a phone or a television, but whatever, umm crabs for 400."
Harold sighed "Crabs again?"
Terrance nodded "Yes from what I've heard about Earth wildlife a lot of species evolved into crabs and besides I was right about crabs on Demeter and I will be right again."
Jared nodded "Alright Alright crabs again for 400. Now Harry."
"Umm new element to the periodic table forrrrr 300," said Harry.
Jared replied, "Even if you did find it the board will take credit and name it Vincite or something but ok, a new element for 300."
They finally made it to the armory.
Jared took an R-201, a RE-45 auto, a Thunderbolt, frag grenades, and attached a Grapple Kit to his right wrist.
Ellen took a CAR SMG, a RE-45 auto, a Charge Rifle, a set of Firestars, and an A-Wall attaching the extra arm to her left shoulder and made it flex around.
Terrance took an L-STAR, a Wingman Revolver, an Archer Missile Launcher, gravity stars, and a pulse blade attaching to his right wrist.
Harold took a Kraber-AP Sniper, an MGL Mag Launcher, an SA3 Mozambique, Electric Smoke Grenades, and a Cloak kit that shrouded most of his body in reflective plates and the extra arm flexed on his left side.
With them all equipped they went to the Drop Bay of the Hangar watching as there were dozens of Marvins sorting cargo, munitions, fuel, and servicing the ship its' vehicles, and the titans were outfitted. When the squad reached their titans they spotted the building-sized parts labeled one through four attached to their backs luckily they were only as half as tall as their titans. The Titans were all in prime plating and we're painted with Demeter camouflage.
As they approached the titan's cameras swiveled and they chorused "Greeting's Pilot". This stopped the squad as their titans never said their greetings in sync and in such monotone.
Jared asked, "Um Ceaser what was that?"
The Legion then spoke in its normal monotone "Apologies Pilot we were testing the 'uncanny valley effect' to perform what humans call a 'prank'".
They stood there in stunned belief before they all started chuckling and then devolving into laughter. Jared straightened up and said, "Well good job dude, you sure as hell got us I'm glad to see you having fun!"
"My thanks Jared but I believe we should be ready to depart immediately and fun is enjoyment, amusement, or lighthearted pleasure. So I can say that we are having 66% fun as Titans do not have hearts nor would they be light."
"All right you heard big boy, load up and get ready for the drop we're heading for the new frontier," Jared yelled out and got some hoots and hollers back.
As the hatch closed he was in complete darkness before a bright green light scanned him and the internal screens lit up to display his surroundings.
Caesar then listed "Protocol 1 link with the pilot confirmed. Protocol 2 Uphold the mission, enter the wormhole and establish FOB First Establishment. Protocol 3 protect the pilot, all systems green, ready for titanfall.
Jared then radioed in "This E-1 all systems green. Ellis sound off"
"E-2 I'm green."
"E-3 ready to win my bet!"
"E-4 we're green."
Jared then radioed control "Control this is E-1 Ellis is green I repeat Ellis is green."
"This is control we are over the wormhole and Ellis is green. Stand by for Titanfall. In 3...2...1 Drop."
The hatches under the ship opened and the titans were launched by their magnetic rails. As the mechs drop their entry shields sprung up to protect themselves and their payloads. After falling for 10 seconds they each felt a weird shift as they went through the wormhole and entered a new gravity well but they stayed on course and each pilot was ready for this new unknown.
Dr. Pietro Poledina has worked for the Atlas military for most of his adult as one of their head scientists so for him, most of his time was spent at work but he had a hobby. Ever since he was a child he has always wondered about the moon and its fragments and why they don't fall, but what he did love was the meteor showers they produced when they did fall and the beauty they wrought. Tonight was one of those nights as he looked through the telescope he wished he could this to his daughter but she was still merely an exoskeleton not ready for years to come. He sighed to himself once again and refocused his telescope. As he was watching he thought he saw a ripple in the sky then he cleaned off the front lens and looked but the ripple was still there, he thought he was going crazy but then something seemed to come out, he thought they were shooting stars but they seemed uniform and glowed brighter than usual. He then zoomed in more and gasped at what he saw.
Four round energy shields surrounding, something it was hard to tell at this distance but he swore he saw numbers on them, yes he did and they were in a font he recognized. One of Atlas' most secret projects to date, more than his own.
He dialed James number immediately.
Arthur Watts was pissed.
He had spent years on this project trying to understand the bipedal mechs in this Blacksite. Only when they were captured they gave brief statements and they didn't acknowledge Atlas or him and then shut off. They only said their designations and their allegiance to an 'IMC' or 'Colonial Militia'.
It was beyond him, beyond Atlas, these machines housed A.I. Leagues better than anything available even to this day.
They had also found the remains of some but even when they came out with a finished prototype it was nowhere close to their projected power. Heh, the power they didn't know what they even ran on. It wasn't dust, solar, wind, diesel, or gasoline. It was something they hadn't even discovered.
But there was another piece of this puzzle. One of these mecha was unique. It didn't match the frame or size of any other mech and it was the most intact. But when it was captured it didn't ask to return to the IMC OR MILITIA. It spoke a name.
Jack Cooper.
Atlas intelligence couldn't find the name in the global database the closest they got was a 'Jaque Copper but he died in the great war so nothing there. When it was told that he was dead they were denied and was said according to his 'Neural Link' it's 'Pilot' was still alive.
That made the situation even crazier. It was linked with someone's mind.
Just as he was about to give up for the night. He heard a clanging sound and the sound of machinery starting up and in the darkness, he saw a single blue eye glowing starting up at him, and it finally spoke.
"Warning Incoming Titanfall."