Titanfall the Losing side episode 24 The seige of Angel City.
I do not own Titanfall, only this fanfic. Please enjoy.
AN/ So this is it, the endgame, the last chapters of this story and we are going into it with all guns blazing so strap in people. Into the firestorm.
I would also like to say viewer discretion, this chapter gets dark.
Kax Autto/ Hammer squad/ District 47/ Angel City.
Kax was standing on top of a five story building overlooking the city all around him, it was a bright sunny day with a few clouds in the sky. Kax took off his helmet and took in a deep breath and while exhaling looked over at a wing of Goblin gunships passing by his and his squads position. The IMC had fortified Angel city with some of it's best units and army's, everything from prestiged infantry and elite marine regiments to top of the line Specter leigons to their very best Pilot's. They were all cheakpoints, killzones and forticated buildings everywhere, looking down to ground level he saw IMC soldiers rushing around, getting into prepared positions and making last minute preparations, he also saw an IMC Ogre Titan walking across the street, making it's way to district 48. He could also hear other Titan's in or around the larger buildings either hiding or in the open waiting for the Militia arrive. A siren started throughout the city, meaning the invasion was imminent.
Hell the Militia had already arrived. Kax looked up to the skies again and could see flashes and fire trales in the heavens, the Militia fleet had already engaged with the IMC fleet obviously he had no idea who was gaining the upper hand at the moment, but judging from his past experience the IMC obviously had the better ships and crew but the Militia were unpredictable, numerous and would use the most unexpected and underhanded tactics to strike in the most effective way.
Kax heard the propulsion of a jump kit nearby and looking over his shoulder saw Harris walking towards him, he was smiling that goofy grin of his a grin that always said "I know it all sweetie, we both know that".
"Up in your thoughts again, sweetie?" Asked Harris as he stood shoulder to shoulder with Kax
"Yeah" replied Kax "We've bought some of our best here, will it be enough?"
"It should be" said Harris "We could end the war here if we hold them off"
"That's exactly what we said before Demeter" Said Kax before looking at Harris "Look how that turned out..."
Harris's grin faded and became stoic "I still remember them you know...Ricard, Jennina, Reyonso, Onely and Alice"
The mention of Alice made Kax visuably flinch, they had been lovers before Alice went M.I.A due to a defeat the Militia handed the IMC at the Specter Production Facility. To this day and dispite his best efforts Kax was unable to learn anything about Alice's location or even if she was still alive of not. Harris put a hand on his closest friends shoulder "I'm here for you Kax, I've always have been and always will be."
"I know, and I will always appreciate that" replied Kax.
Kax and Harris were survivors of the 40th Squadron, it's last two surviving Pilots. They had served together with Pilots that became a family, all while serving under Commander Graves when he hadn't gone traitor. They were a famous, effective and deadly force on the battlefield, they had fought when the Militia were on the brink of defeat at Fracture, fought when the Militia bounced back and destroyed the IMS Sentinel at Outpost 207, fought both Militia forces and the massive and lethal wildlife at Boneyard, fought on the radioactive sands of Demeter and also had fought at the destruction of the Cooperate Specter Production Facility. These ferocious battles witteld away at the 40th squadron until only them two were left. The IMC would not let them die off when they were two of it's most effective and prized fighting Pilots in the Titan core, so they were either given some leave, got called to do some secretive and special missions or were kept in a supportive role until the higher ups decided theat the 10th Special Operation Battalion recent losses provided the best use for their experiances.
"Remmember the last time we came here?" asked Harris.
"Yeah, when we had to hunt down that terrorist Barker" replied Kax.
"That was fun, running, diving and chasing after Militia forces inside the Harbour district sewers while the battle raged above us. We almost caught that cheeky, slippery boy Barker."
"I had MacAllen himself in my sights, had it not been for that expertly thrown frag grenade I would've put a hole through his head". Said Kax.
"Nearly had him, so dang close" repeated Harris".
Before Kax could say anything else a shout from below caught both Pilot's attention, they looked down to the ground to see a squad of IMC grunts pointing at the sky. Looking up, Kax and Harris saw drop pods tearing the sky like flaming arrows, racing each other down towards the city. There was dozens and dozens of them, each one held a squad of Militia grunts geard up and ready to liberate Angel city. As they made their way closer, they started to split off into small groups ready to pursue their objective when they land. A loud high buzzing sound was heard as a nearby Whirlwind AA turret spun up it's four gattling guns at let loose a mass of rounds at the approaching drop pods. Other Whirlwinds located all over the city did the same filling the skies with blazing hot lead like a fireworks display, the effect was instant and effective as Militia drop pods were blasted out of the sky, some were riddled with so many holes that survival was impossible, others were ripped apart into chunks with debris and bodies being flung out into the air while more simply exploded into bits and pieces. There was one drop pod that had been strafed and was spinning out of control, it plunged into one of the city walls a good 70ft above ground. Dispite the fierce and accurate fire the AA guns were putting up more Militia drop pods were racing towards the ground.
"Here they come" said Kax
"Once more unto the breach, dear freinds, once more" Harris quoted as the drop pods got closer and the shapes of Titanfall's became clear.
The first wave Militia drop pods and Titan's landed in specific areas across Angel city, districts 22, 7, 86, 50 and 30. The ground started to shake as the drop pods and Titanfalls landed, weapons fire became clear. The first shots in the seige the Angel City.
Another two jumpkit was heard as Roxy and Alex flew to the side of the Male pilots, they both had their full IMC pilots suits on with their helmets over their heads and holding their Kraber AP sniper rifles. All four pilots not noticing the Whirlwind AA gun closest to them had stopped firing.
"IMC forces have engaged the Militia across the Helician river, the factory districts, the rural areas at Siren and Kelian streets and the main highway at Gideon square" said Alex, her helmet making her voice near monotone.
"Our forces are moving in and surrounding them" Said Roxy as she rechecked her Kraber AP sniper rifle one last time "We are keeping most of our people in their positions for when the main force lands".
"Heh, we can see the main force now" replied Harris looking up, the dozens of Militia drop pods had become hundreds. A literal steel rain was descending upon Angel City, the Militia had come and will not rest until they have liberated it like the rest of the Frontier, or die trying.
"There are thousends of them" said Kax, an instinctual feeling was worming its way through his guts, he had known this feeling for a very long time. A type of feeling he'd get when something was about to go very, VERY wrong.
His instincts had been finely honed through the countless battles and skirmishes he had servived, from his time in the 40th Squadron, all the way up to the present. His knife sharp instincts always taught him to trust that feeling.
He looked up to the sky's again and while the others were talking about the best position to ambush the Militia force that landed in their district, he had noticed the AA fire from the Whirlwind turrets set up all across the city had ceased fire. Looking round, Kax saw the turret closest to them swerving to look at them, it's gattling guns still sped up to fire. A dawning horror overcame him and it felt like his heart skipped a beat as he shouted at the top of his voice.
"SCATTER! NOW!"
The other Pilots reacted instantly, their elite training kicking in as they jumped off the rooftop they were on, as the Whirlwind opened fire. Large, thick AA rounds peppered the roof mere seconds after they scatterd, the Whirlwind chose Alex to track as four large Gattling guns spewed death at over 3000rpm, per gun, sliced and penetrated the building a few mere feet and closing from were she was wall running.
Alex swore under her breath as she powered her jumpkit to full burst and lengthened her stride, wall running at maximum speed as she stayed ahead from certain death now inches behind her, she jumped from wall to wall expertly staying calm and in control while the AA rounds kept following her making rubble as they reduced brick and metal to shattered and broken debris. "Anyone want to tell me what's happening?" She asked over the vox.
"IMC air defences have gone down all over the city, reports of it are flooding in across the comms the Militia must of hacked into their security systems" replied Roxy "I'll take the fire away from your position Alex, you make your way to the Whirlwind terminal and either shut it down or hack it back onto our side".
Roxy used her grappling hook to swing herself around a building and used her momentum while powering her jumpkit to glide over to where Alex was still wall running. She fired her grappling hook again and it impaled the top floor of a tall building, while Alex jumped into the air twisting her body towards Roxy. The two female Pilots made a perfect criss cross in the air, the Whirlwind automated systems then went after Roxy spitting hot death at her whilst Alex flew away.
Alex used her momentum to wall run and climb her way to the top of the building where the Whirlwind AA gun was located but when she got to the top, she discovered that Kax and Harris had beaten her to it. Kax had his data knife inserted into the turrets terminal and was trying to hack the turret back to its original function.
"I can't hack in" said Kax "Whoever's done this either has some serious tech with them or is possibly the best damn hacker I've ever seen"
"These Whirlwinds have ODEN levels of security on them, they are supposed to be unhackable" said Harris.
"So much for that sorry excuse" grumbled Kax as he manually switched off the Whirlwind, which in turn let out a low metallic moan at its gattling guns came to a halt.
It was then that the IMC Pilots heard the firing of another Whirlwind and noticed it across the street, its was firing at an IMC position on the ground. Its four gattling guns making mincemeat out of several IMC grunt squads, its AA rounds reducing Human bodies to red paste. More IMC grunts were fighting back with there weapons, one even launched a missile from a Archer heavy rocket launcher at the turret. The missile struck the turret in the centre, doing some damage however the Whirlwind was designed to absorb hits from Titan weaponry thus it continued to blaze fire at the now retreating IMC grunts.
Harris took off towards the turret, not needing to be told what to do.
Roxy then landed where Kax and Alex was with was hand over the mic in her ear. "Affermitive" she said before turning to Alex.
"You ok Alex?" She asked.
"Peachy" Alex replied
"Good, were moving, over to district 50 to assist in the defence there. Let's go."
Travis Mercury/Alpha squad/ District 27/ Angel city
Travis held his position inside his Atlas as gunfire slowly but surely came to life across the city...his city. He was silent, lost to his own thoughts. Thoughts about Buck his adoptive father, their fight and if he was safe inside the fight club, thoughts about the Militia armies descending down upon them, thoughts about the IMC, thoughts about weather or not his city would survive what's coming, thoughts about his squad, Candice, Kax, Roxy, Nigel, Harris, Alex and Mason and how many enemies they would take down before potentially being overwhelmed.
"Pilot, judging from the activity from your frontal brain lobe, I access you are lost in your own thoughts. Logic dictates when the Pilot is not at his best in mental capacity it is best to...talk about it" Said Jeeves, his English butler voice had more life it since his internal upgrades compared to his cold but helpful voice from before, however the last three words of his sentence held an awkward tone to his voice, indicating the Titan was still learning about Human expression.
"Huh? Oh, um, I don't particularly know what to say to be honest." Replied Travis caught a bit off guard.
"May I guess what it is your thinking? Perhaps this city that is your home? Or maybe the vast amounts of Militia forces landing or about to land all over the battle space."
"Why do you care anyway?" Asked Travis pretending to ignore the correct questions Jeeves was talking about.
"Protocol three, protect the Pilot, from all threats including from within as well as without, your protection is essential for maximum efficiency within the field as well as Pilot Titan relationship".
"So in other words, I've got to tell you" sighed Travis as he slowly turned his Titan to the left looking at the various IMC forces around him. District 27 was in civilian turmes named Torvus Square, one of the many city centres that dot Angel city. There were IMC Grunt and Specter forces all over and taking up positions in and around the square from within the buildings to created pillboxes where Spitfire LMG's and granade launchers poked out. There were IMC Titans patrolling or in overwatch, two of them including his own were within the square itself and three more were in the surrounding area. Overhead Goblin dropships sped across the sky in a strafeing run towards one of the nearby hot zones, his squad of Candice, Nigel and Mason were on the nearby rooftops communicating with other squads.
"Negative Pilot, I am, recommending a discourse in order rid you of what is affecting your combat effectiveness, it currently stands at 52.31%. Not an ideal percentage before engaging in combat measures".
"Fine, it's about the city, my home, I'm wondering how much of it will servive the coming storm. Hell I'm not sure if we'll even win" said Travis, deciding to tell half of the truth and leaving out the fight he had with Buck but deciding if he and Jeeves were to become more efficient in partnership he would need to at least try to be open with the Titan.
"Understandable Pilot.."
"Travis, my name is Travis, use it."
"Very well Travis, are you familiar with the ancient military strategist Sun Tzu?"
"No I'm not"
"Well Sun Tzu was reported to be one of the greatest minds of warfare and conquest from ancient China all the way up to the present day, many of his strategies and quotes have servived and are still taught or observed. One such quote is the following If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of 100 battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory you gain you will also suffer a defeat. If you neither know yourself or the enemy, you will succumb in every battle."
"Now I ask you Travis, do you know your enemy?" asked Jeeves
"Yes"
"Who is the ememy?"
"The Frontier Militia"
"Who are the Frontier Militia?"
"The Frontier Militia is the primary opponent of the IMC, they are made up of some of the most hardiest stock of the Frontier. Mercenaries, bandits, pirates, and other miscreants. But there ranks also swell with farmers, volunteers and disciplined soldiers from worlds the IMC hasn't conquered."
"How do they fight?"
"They mainly use overwhelming firepower and numbers to their advantage, while their most specialized units take down enemy pilots, commanders and objectives"
"What are there goals?"
"To drive the IMC out of the Frontier and create an Independent Frontier state"
"How will they achieve such goals?"
"Through attrition, they will try to drive the IMC out of every system, every world, every street. Until the Frontier is under their domain."
"So you know the enemy Travis, but do you kno.."
"Yes, yes I know myself" Interrupted Travis his annoyance beginning to show as he was asked so many questions by his Titan. "I know who I am, where I came from and what I do. As well as why I fight just...can I please have a moment of silence"
"As you wish pilot, I shall keep a respectful silence until you decide otherwise or until it is time to uphold protocol 2" Jeeves replied in his prim and proper British butler voice.
Travis understood what Jeeves was trying to do, and he did appreciate it. however he needed to sort himself out mentally first not listen to some long winded quote from a long dead Asian genral. He knew how the Militia fought and some of those tactics where dirty hence the reason why they were winning this war...at least for the time being, but he had to believe what Candice told him, that Angel City. His home. Will be the battlefield where the IMC will break the Militia forces like a defiant and ancient rock standing firm against a crashing sea.
Travis looked up to the skies, steel rain was falling upon them. Listening into the vox he could hear shouting and crisp orders from Grunt sargents, officers and IMC Pilot's as they engaged the first of the Militia's forces, and malfuntionimg AA batteries which left him frowning. One particular voice caught his attention however, it was from a Grunt making a contact report.
"Contact! Unknown forces attacking our positions at district 27, we are returning fire!" The grunt shouted down the mic.
"That's near were I am" mumbled Travis as while looking to the right he saw multiple squads or IMC grunts and Specters sprinting past his Titan, towards the sounds of gunfire coming from just a few streets away.
"Squad, move in with the grunts and take down that threat" the cold and decisive voice of Colonel Steven's orderd Travis's ear. Obeying, Travis moved his Atlas to keep up with the IMC ground forces. He crossed the streets and was about to turn the corner towards where the gunfight was happening, he could see a squad of grunts taking cover and returning fire at the enemy, one of them got shot in the arm that spun him and was carried into better cover. His was first IMC Titan to arrive in the hot zone and more were on the way, he turned the final corner and confronted his first enemy of his home.
Only they weren't enemies, not really.
"No..." whispered Travis as he saw civilians and freedom fighters armed with guns, pistols and makeshift weapons charging towards an IMC battle position. Some were armed with a pistols, planks of wood and a righteous rage of after living under the IMC'S tyranny for so long and finally getting the chance to take freedom back for themselves, after months of hiding and preparing with the help of Militia spy's saboteurs and Shadow Walkers while the IMC evacuated Angel city, they will take back what was theirs. There were dead bodies all over said street most of them civilian and freedom fighter alike, but some had the distinct white of IMC grunts having been overwhelmed and slaughterd by the bloodthirsty mob. IMC forces where quickly regrouping and surrounding said mob, both grunts and specters adding to the fire taking the freedom fighters down at an increased pace.
"This is just like Nexus"
One freedom fighter threw a frag granade he took from a dead IMC grunt and threw it at the IMC position he and his fellow revolutionaries were assaulting, it went off taking a few IMC grunts with it. The position was the swarmed mere seconds later, the grunts that were still alive and/or were still in fighting condition firing rapidly at the swarmers until their guns were empty. They were shot, stabbed or bludgeoned to death very soon afterwards.
The appearance of Travis's Atlas put pause to the freedom fighters assult, as one they threw themselves into whatever cover they could find. Travis's Atlas came under assult from a storm of small arms fire, mainly assault rifle and pistol rounds were bouncing off his sheilds. Said firepower didn't do anything to his Titan, it was like rain droplets hitting solid steel, however it was the ferosity of said firepower that left Travis stunned, these people...HIS PEOPLE were shooting at him with pure hatred in their hearts. He could see the snarls of anger on the freedom fighters faces as they shot at him, the determination in there eyes as he represented the very figure of their oppressors, even the rubble and curses thrown at him by his people who weren't armed had an effect on him. Looking into the crowd he thought he saw faces he knew, the son of a market trader he had met before, his father standing and cursing beside him, a girl who was close to his age who he had previously liked and a man who Travis had a few spares with at home before he got conscripted into the IMC, he was screaming as he empited his assault rifle into his Travis's Titan.
"I...I can't..." those words spilled out of him before he realised he said them.
And he couldn't, he wouldn't hurt those who he grew up with, regardless if they hated him.
With a few flicks of switches he brought his Titan's loudspeakers online.
"Attention, people of Angel city, lay down your weapons this is not your fight" he said to the enraged mob
The mob roared in reply. It was a sound of utter defiance against a hated enemy.
"I repeat, put down your weapons and surrender and you will not be harmed"
The storm or small arms doubled in its intensity, eating through their ammo supply and making Travis's Atlas's sheild light up a continues flash.
"The Militia are coming! They won't show you any Mercy! Please!" Travis now shouted, getting desperate.
The mob seemed to cheer at the name of their liberators, some were now brave enough to start getting out of cover to throw rocks and granades at Travis's Titan.
"Please...just stop..." Travis's voice cracked as a knot formed in his throat.
XO-16 rounds came out of nowhere and tore apart a chunk of the mob, screams of rage and defiance became pain and fear as limbs were ripped off, torsos were blasted open and heads were blown apart, a rocket salvo came in afterwards and took down a larger portion of the now bewildered crowd, the explosives killing both civilian and freedom fighter alike in blasts of rubble and twisted, dismembered and burnt bodies. The crowd now split apart, half now fleeing from the new aggressor and the other staying to fight a seemingly losing battle.
Travis was horrified by what was happening, he turned his Titan to the right to see another IMC Atlas walking up beside him, it's XO-16 chaingun blazing away and another rocket salvo being launched from its rocket pods. The IMC emblem on proud display on its shoulder pauldron. Travis wanted to raise his Atlas's arm and smash the other Titan's XO-16 Chaingun aside, breaking it if he could then smash the IMC Atlas down with his Titan's own fists until it was nothing but a pulped and broken wreak, then pry open the cockpit himself and throttle the Pilot inside. But a cold and angry voice stopped him.
"Sargent Murcuary, please explain to me why you haven't fired your weapon in the time you've arrived at the combat zone?" The voice belonged to Colonel Steven and sounded both angry and steely.
"But, sir, they are civilians!"
"Dont give me that! There were armed and firing at you, that does not make them civilians sargent. Why am I being shown footage from both IMC ground forces and Titan Pilots of you DOING NOTHING! as you are fired upon by a hostile force."
Steven's voice wasn't shouting but it was all to easy to hear the utter disapproval and furious disdain in his voice.
"I grew up with these people sir! I can't...I cant just slaughter them! The Militia will.."
"The Militia are inside the city HERE AND NOW Sargent, there are multiple uprisings just like this all across the city, these people are Militia Murcury! They have chosen their side."
"I..no..I.."
"Let me make this perfectly clear to you sargent, these people have fired on you and have shown their true intentions. They are an enemy force and must be delt with with extreme prejudice, now either you engage the enemy as you were trained too, or I will personally kick you out if the Titan core! Do I make myself PERFECTLY CLEAR!"
"...yes sir"
Travis powered up his Arc cannon, it's rising low metallic whine was at that point one of the most painful things he had ever heard as he aimed it at a buch of freedom fighters, who were making a stand behind a car as IMC specters were closing in around them. He closed his eyes and felt his heart break as he realised the shot, it felt like an eternity before opened them but when he did he felt a cold, empty hatred grip him as he saw what was left of the freedom fighters.
Nothing but a mess of blood and torn masses of clothes were left, he stared at the result of his actions as his subconscious accused him.
"You fucking monster, look what you've done to them"
Like a robot Travis stoically turned his Atlas to target another bunch of Freedon fighters who were fleeing, his Arc cannon reducing all of them to bloody messes and torn rags, his subconscious accusing him again and again and again with each group he killed.
Travis moved his Atlas forward towards the end of the street, there he could see IMC grunts and specters cut off the last of freedom fighters in a circle and were closing in like a vice grip. After disintegrating another fleeing group, Travis noticed what appeared to be burning liquid and glass.
"Travis, confirmed hostile threat on building at 3' o clock" said Jeeves, his voice all buissness like in the current circumstances.
He turned his Atlas to the right and saw three freedom fighters, two of them were Male, one was female. All three were carrying molotov cocktails and were on a balcony of the third story of a six story building, but upon realising the IMC Atlas was turning towards them another Arc charge powering up, they turned to flee.
They did not get far enough.
The thick blood splatter on the windows was proof of that.
Travis turned back to see the last of the Freedom fighters were slaughterd by IMC forces, he saw men and women getting shot by IMC grunts and ripped apart by specters. Some had thrown down their weapons and surrendered, begging for their lives. They got a bullet to the head or cold metallic hands cut into their bodies as a reply.
Travis was numb to everything that was happening around him, filled with self loathing he turned away from the massacre. He contemplated running away, of abandoning Angel city, maybe it was better off with the Militia, the IMC didn't deserve this city...He didn't deserve this city, he had killed his own with advanced weaponry made by a greedy cooperation. Maybe Rosemary, MacAllen, and Graves were correct, maybe the Militia were the lesser of two evils, maybe he had chosen the wrong side after all.
Travis's self loathing stopped when he heard shouting and voices raised in alarm in the mic, he couldn't exactly understand what was being said but he thought he heard the jumbled words "Brace for impact!" "It's coming down!" and "Everybody take cover!".
He looked to the sky, and what he saw turned his guts to water.
Rosemary Jones/ Militia Capital ship Redeye/ 1st Militia fleet/ Above Angel city
Rosemary Jones walked on the platform of the Redeyes primary Titan drop facility, all around her Militia Pilot's were jumping into their Titans and performing final preparations. There were dozens and dozens of them each piloting a quick and nimble Stryder, a stalwart and adaptable Atlas or a massive and powerful Ogre.
She was dressed in her Pilot uniform of brown, orange and green with armor pads on her shins, knees, elbows, shoulders and chest. Her primary weapon was a fully modded SMART pistol with enhanced targeted, Extended mag and suppressor, her secondary weapons were a B3 Wingman and a combat knife, her blonde hair was tied back neatly in a bun and her blue eyes were focused. She held her helmet under one arm as she passed to the left of two ship workers talking about the drop zone areas the first wave would land in and ignored the loudspeakers demanding (again) that all Pilots report to their Titans for immediate drop.
She briefly remembered a few days ago when after a final contemplation she had decided to take up Commander Gates offer of joining the 6-4. She had told Gates her decision when the commander was taking her freind Yin through some advanced 6-4 tactics in the Titan simulator, Gates had embraced her in a motherly embrace and said "Welcome to the family" in her ear. Gates had introduced her to other 6-4 Pilots and said she will be fully inducted into the 6-4 after Angel city was taken but by all means, she was 6-4 now.
A small smile was on Rosemary's face as she reached her Titan and climbed in. It was a brand new Stryder, freshly made from one of the many Titan construction facilities the Militia now controlled, it had a winged emblem on its sides and top, it's Primary weapon was a Quad Rocket with a rapid fire attachment, it's ordanence was a cluster missile and tactical ability was electric smoke. She started it up and brought all systems online. When she was finished, her Titan was in perfect shape, sheilds were at optimum capacity, her dash core was ready to activate, her Titans systems were fully operational and her weapons and tactical ability ready to fire and use.
"Rosemary!"
Rosemary looked up and over to the voice that called her from the other end of the drop facility and saw her freind Yin looking at her smiling.
"Ready to liberate Angel city?"
"Of course!" Rosemary replied now smiling herself, she had to raise her voice over the tumult of activity happening around her.
"The IMC won't know what hit them! Especially with what we plan to hit them with!" Said Yin.
"It should be a simple mop up! If we sweep them aside that is, or it could be a seige. What do you think?"
Yin paused, her eyes looked up in concentration.
"Judgement, will take out their command centre on the ground! and while the IMC is confused and reeling, the main force will land and take them all out! If there are bastions of resistance, there will be few and far between!"
In ancient times, battles in the seas between factions that were at war with one another would sometimes employ the use of Fireships. Fireships were ships that were emptied of crew but filled to the brim with explosives, they were pulled into battle before being released at the enemy. If the enemy failed to destroy them before the Fireships reached their lines they were detonated and the resulting explosions would cause mass destruction and terror to their fleet, possibly winning the battle before it actually began.
The Militia were using such a Fireship. It was an IMC Mega carrier the Militia had maneged to capture at their Lagoon base in the Freeport system, after said Mega carrier made an emergency landing. The ship was repaired from the damage and re-named the 'Judgement' as it was used for just this purpose, not to smash into a fleet, but a planet and a specific target on that planet.
The IMC's Governmental enforcer building. The heart, brain and nervous system of the IMC's defence. Take that out and the IMC would be struck blind, deaf and immobilized, a perfect target for the Militia's main force to sweep in.
However, in order for this plan to work a Militia strike force would have to be sent planetside to keep the IMC occupied. This force will consists of Militia grunts from multiple infantry companies and the 6-4 to be used for Titan support.
The commander of this strike force, was Commander Gates. Rosemary looked to her right and passed Yin and a few other Titans until she saw her.
Gates, strapped into her Atlas Titan, her helmet on her head and talking to two other Militia Pilots. Her uniform was both smart and efficient, her armour coverd her chest and legs with multiple straps, gadgets and her weapons crossing over her arms, hands and stomach. She looked every inch the leader she was supposed to be and she will be by her side.
Yin looked at Gates as well "We'll both stick with her, we follow her directions and she'll keep us both alive in the grinder below us!"
Rosemary nodded, a red light suddenly came on within the drop facility. This light was to indicate that all personnel that were not pilots who were now all strapped into their Titan, were to evacuate immediately as Titanfall was about to start, Rosemary's Stryders cockpit seald shut and she could see though her Titans sight visor. She closed her eyes, took and deep breath and let it out slowly and let her mind wonder, she often like to think in the brief moments before she would get a brief from the Titans squad commander. She thought of the battle to come and the death blow the Militia would give the IMC, all she had to do was help keep the IMC busy alongside her 6-4 brothers and sisters until Judgement struck, the strike force was to strategically land in certain parts of Angel city to cause the most mischief and carnage but far enough from from Judgments main crash objective to (hopefully) not suffer not many casualties from the explosion, shockwave and fallout.
"He's down there" Rosemary thought to herself, she knew Travis Murcury was down in the city it was certain. Rosemary knew when she sees him and she WILL see him again, the headstong, hotheaded and brash young man she knew, would not be killed by an exploding Mega crusier crashing into the city. She expected to see him again, either on the battlefield as one of the surviving IMC pilots still resisting against her and the Militia or a as a captured prisoner of war. Again. But regardless he was a Pilot of such rare talent that the war on the Frontier would be entirely dependent upon men and women like him and herself, she would give him one last chance to join her in the Militia if not he will die by her hands once and for all.
"Travis, I'm coming for you" she said to herself
"All units, this is James MacAllen" her mic chimed with the voice of the man who was a father to her "It's begun ladies and gentlemen, today we take back Angel city once and for all. The last time we were here we had to evacuate Barker from the port district, but now we return as liberators, to snatch away the city from the IMC scum that occupy it and return it to the hands of the people. We all know the plan, distract the IMC long enough for Judgment to get in position then sweep aside what remains. Commander Gates, fill in the gaps"
"Affirmative MacAllen" Gates's British voice replied "Pilots of the 6-4 our primary objectives are districts 7, 22, 30, 50 and 86. We are to either take control of those districts or cause enough trouble to keep the IMC's eyes fixed upon us, when Judgement falls from the skies make sure you get yourselfs the best cover you can find, the explosion will probably knock your Titans off their feet. When the aftershocks subsided, regroup and press your assault and we will drive the IMC unto their kness."
"Good luck and gods speed" Gates said as the red light in the drop facility went green.
"Standby for Titanfall...in 3...2...1...drop"
Rosemary's Titan o's voice said before a sudden lurch of gravity took her, before she knew it Rosemary's Titan was falling into the planets atmosphere with dozens of others and drop pods. She kept her breathing under control as she looked out at the planet she was descending upon, it was blue that indicated oceans with bits of green and light brown which also showed forests and grassland. It was a beautiful world, a world that will know liberation from the IMC in a few days at most or a few hours at least. She could also see the stars, little twinkles of light that glowed eternally in the void of space, but they were rapidly disappearing as her Titan entered the planet's atmosphere she still kept her breathing under control as her Stryder began to shake and heat stared to glow on its void sheild. Her eyes were still closed as she fell through the atmosphere, but opened them when the shaking stopped, she was over Angel city and she could see the flak fire coming from some of the larger buildings rooftops, Bish should see to that soon enough, the ground rapidly increased to size as she inside her Titan prepared to land.
Her Titan landed with a crash and a rattle that shook her bones, but she had done this dozens of times before on dozens of battlefields and will continue to do so for as long as possible until the Frontier is fully liberated.
Within a split second Rosemary was focused as she stood her Titan up and its void sheild dissipated, she looked at her radar and saw the locations of allied Titan nearby. She was about to move when she noticed something metallic moving near the rubble her Stryder has created when it landed, after a moment she recognised it was a squad of half destroyed IMC specters, it appeared she had landed on top of them and out of the ten robot strong force only five were still alive, albeit in terrible condition.
But specters weren't alive, they were just another war machine the IMC creates to enforce its tyranny across the Frontier.
With as much sympathy as one would have to swat a nad, her Stryder Titan brought out its Quad rocket and with a few rockets blasted the rest of the specters to bits.
Rosemary's Stryder started to walk and then run towards its nearest allied location, dashing forward to increase it's pace further it saw a squad of IMC grunts who were rushing to a building to gain cover, one of them noticed her approaching Stryder and shouted a warning to the rest of his squad. The all opend fire as they ran, Rosemary didn't waste any time, launching several rockets at the grunt squad. They didn't make it to cover in time and were rag dolled by the explosions going off beside them, Rosemary saw one grunts body fly twisted and broken by one of her rockets into the wall of a building.
Rosemary then had to dash right into a different street as a rocket from a Archer heavy rocket launcher barely missed her, she came back around and dashed forward at maximum speed. She saw another specter squad that had taken up position at a roadblock and let loose with a concentrated burst of fire from her Quad rockets which both destroyed the specter squad and blasted apart the roadblock itself.
"All units in district 50 this Gates, split into your Titan squads, we will assault this district in a pincer movement. Jackson, you and your squad will go northeast and engage the IMC force converging on us there, Cynthia, you and your squad will go south and take out that command post located at grid 475 398."
"Understood commander/ yes ma'am" came the two reply's from the other Militia Titan pilots.
"Rosemary, Yin, to me"
"Acknowledged" said Rosemary
"On my way" said Yin
Rosemary immediately brought her Titan forwards and started to dash, she saw the location of Gates's Titan on her radar, it was close by and appeared to already be in contact with a IMC Titan. Rosemary sped round a corner and down a street with such speed and practised efficiency that it made her Syryder appear elegant to any onlookers weather it be freind or foe such as the skill of its pilot. Gates was just on the other side of a nearby building so Rosemary utilized all of her remaining dashes to almost fly through the air and smash through a wall and come to a halt with a stylish stop.
Gates's Atlas was standing over a knocked out IMC Stryder with its Pilot in her Atlas's hand, the Pilot was struggling feebly in its grip and with a sickeningly loud crackle of bones, the pilot went limp as the Militia Atlas crushed him and chucked him aside.
Gates's Atlas was armed with a XO-16 Chaingun with an accelerator attachment, it's tactical ability was Titan electric smoke and it's ordanence was Cluster missile.
"Rosemary, good to see you love" said Gates as another Militia Titan came into view behind her. It was Yin.
Yin's Titan was a Stryder like Rosemary's. It's Primary weapon was a 40mm cannon with an extended magazine, it's tactical ability was a practical wall and its ordanence was a rocket salvo.
"You too Rin" said Gates as her Atlas moved to a clearing and peaked out with it's XO-16 raised.
"What are your orders, commander?" Asked Rosemary as her Stryder made it's way to the opposite building of Gates.
"Rosemary please, not so formal" Gates replied, Rosemary could hear the smile in her voice.
"My sensers are picking incoming IMC forces coming in from the east" said Yin as she took a few pot shots at a nearby IMC grunt squad crossing the streets.
"We are moving up to engage them" replied Gates "I'll take the front you two keep to my sides, for the 6-4"
"For the 6-4!" Both female Pilots replied.
The three Militia Titans set off at a strong march, not bothering to keep to cover and making their intentions clear for all to see, their challenge was soon accepted as two IMC titans dashed into sight to meet them, one was an Atlas the other an Ogre. The Atlas was approaching from the left and armed with a Plasma railgun and the Ogre that approached from straight ahead was armed with a Triple threat granade launcher.
"Rosemary, take the one on the left, Yin assist me with this hostile approaching from the front" Orderd Gates. Both pilots followed her orders and Rosemary broke off to the left.
The IMC Atlas charged up a shot with it's Plasma railgun, Rosemary knew how to deal with this type of weapon. Speed and intensity was the way forward, she launched a cluster missile at the Atlas right when it was about to fire. The IMC Atlas had to bring up a partical wall and the cluster missile exploded against it, the munitions going off spoiling its aim and making the fully charged plasma round miss it's intended target, when the munitions cleared up the IMC Atlas noticed the Militia Stryder was missing. However the Atlas quickly learned that was not the case when multiple Quad rockets crashed into it's side making it stumble, the Atlas tried to dash away but the Stryder was to quick unloaded a full rapid fire rocket barrage into the Atlas's side and front when it turned to face the Stryder doing significant damage.
The IMC Atlas launched a barrage of slaved warheads at the Militia Stryder that maneged to dash away from some, but was hit by others. Reloading, Rosemary maneged to dash to cover and avoid a half charged plasma shot from the IMC Atlas before coming out of cover and firing again, a fresh load of rockets blazing away. The Atlas dashed backwards into a part of the road that was considered a roundabout and threw up another partical wall blocking the rockets and charging up another plasma shot, the building on its right making it invulnerable to flanking attempts from that side. Rosemary activated her Dash core and her Styders dash ability was maximised, she shot forward as if her Titan was shot out of a battleship void gun dashing forwards to the left and right constantly as the IMC Atlas opend fire, it's Plasma railgun on full charge fired in a thunder clap the shot just slicing through the rapidly dashing Stryders top shoulder pauldron.
Rosemary's Stryder dashed past the Atlas's partical sheild and slid round to the left, her Titans feet tearing through metal railings and bushes alike as she opend fire again from the side taking maximum advantage of the IMC Atlas's limited firepower and her unlimited speed, this time she aimed low, blasting her rockets at the enemy Titans legs. Under the rocket barrage the Atlas's right leg buckled and broke apart forcing it to one knee.
Seeing her chance and with her Dash core turning offline, Rosemary ran forward to deliver the killing blow however the IMC pilot inside the Atlas ejected and landed on a roof of a nearby building. Finishing off the Atlas with another cluster missile, Rosemary turned to track that Pilot down who was getting a charge rifle ready to fire.
He fired and the blast hit her Titan in the chest, ignoring the damage icon in her cockpit Rosemary chased down the IMC pilot. She let loose a few rockets at the IMC Pilot who jumped off the building as its roof was blasted apart and started wall running from building to building. Rosemary didn't let up as her Quad rocket are through its ammunition blasting massive holes in the buildings the IMC pilot was only a split second ago.
Rosemary's Stryder stopped firing to reload as it now dashed to keep up with the increasing speed of the IMC pilot. Noticing the sudden pause in firepower being shot at him, the IMC pilot landed on the roof of another building to fire his Charge rifle at the Militia Stryder however an unknown force tackled him from the side forcing him down, fully reloaded Rosemary looked up to see the IMC pilot lying dead on his side, two figures coming out of cloak behind him. They were both wearing Militia pilot uniform but modified for stealth and infiltration, two sets of red visor slits stared at Rosemary and she stared right back.
"We have got your back pilot" said one of them to her on the mic, its voice (it's because the voice was to distorted to be identified as male or female) was deep and dark.
"Shadow runners" said Rosemary. The Shadow runners were the elite infiltrators, saboteurs and battlefield assassins of the Militia, their main objective was to infiltrate an IMC colony's, city's and factory's to gain infomation, leads of important IMC personnel and to incite rebellion within the population. Even the most docile and contempt population of a IMC world can be filled with righteous anger when enlightened to the IMC's tyranny and turned to the Militia's side if the Shadow runners stay long enough, eventually the people will fully revolt with the Shadow runners leading the way, overwhelming the local IMC garrison and assassinating or arresting the local governor. But it is on the battlefield where the Shadow runners shine best, stalking their primary prey, IMC Pilots, like the wildcats of distant Earth before quickly closing in for the kill, and that is in the best case scenario. The worst case was getting captured by them nobody knows what type of interrogation and/or torture the Shadow runners employ but the IMC has had many of it's Pilot's go MIA on the battlefield only to identify them fighting for the Militia a few weeks later after a run in with the Shadow runners.
They were the most stealthy, cunning, charismatic and deadly warriors in the Militia's arsenal.
The Shadow runners both disappeared in their cloaks as if they were never there and Rosemary turned her Stryder away, looking at her radar she picked up Gates and Yin fighting the IMC Ogre a few clicks away in the front car park of a skyscraper, she stared dashing again making quick time to her commander passing through streets and city blocks.
She then noticed activity straight ahead of her and slowed her dashing run to a walk, there was a large crowd of people ahead of her filling the streets. They were all armed with a mixture of guns and melee weapons at the sight of her approaching Stryder the crowd let out a cheer having at last seen their liberators come for them and cleared a way for her to pass, the Shadow runners have obviously done their job very well as some of the crowd...no the small army that has been hiding in Angel citys deepest tunnels for weeks on end to stay out of IMC patrols and evacuation procedures tried to reach up and touch her Titan as she past by, as she cleared them she started to dash away, the small army of freedom fighters following behind her.
Rosemary noticed a destroyed building on her far left, made her way to and climbed over it, only to suddenly dash forwards to avoid another Militia Stryder that was flying backwards. It was Yin's Stryder, and it had a large dent in its frontal armor.
Yin's Chinese cursing filled the mic as her Titan righted itself. While Rosemary was fighting the IMC Atlas, Gates and Yin took on the Ogre. At first both the Militia Titan's tried to outflank the Ogre but it's Pilot was skilled and had successfully fought them off, next both Gates and Yin had tried to overwhelm the IMC Titan with sheer fire power from their XO-16 Chaingun and 40mm cannon respectively, but Ogres were designed to take punishment and soldiered through it keeping both Titans back with volleys of Triple threat granades and Multi target missiles. The Ogre then had maneged to bait Yin into a trap by letting her think it was weak on the right side of it's body only to level a punch at the Militia Stryder when it got close.
While this was also happening IMC and Militia ground troops were fighting in the surrounding area and the buildings that were not destroyed, were now showing the signs of damage. Each bullet impact, rocket blast and frag granade added to the desecration of a once bustling city, bodies in white and brown uniform and the husks of specteres were strewn across the place, behind upturned and destroyed cars, behind stripped hedges, blown to bits in the damaged or destroyed surrounding buildings or lying in the open as they were shot while out of cover. But the battle was still raging as the IMC forces fought to halt the Militia assault and the Militia forces fought to secure the area and drive to IMC back.
Rosemary sighted the IMC Ogre and opend fire with her Quad rocket, multiple rockets being launched at the large Titan who brought up a vortex sheild to catch with one arm and with the other sent two volleys of granades at Gates, who promptly dashed aside from the following explosions. The IMC Ogre then used it's one dash ability to hurl itself towards Gates as she was getting close while releasing the rockets in its Vortex sheild towards Rosemary, she had already dashed clear as Gates's Atlas raised an arm to succesfully block the punch and raised it's XO-16 Chaingun into the Ogres face and let loose.
The accelerated rounds tore chunks out of the front armor of the Ogre but in reply it raised and struck a knee into Gates's Atlas's midsection, the force of the blow lifted the Atlas into the air for a brief send before it let out electric smoke and disengaged. The Ogre could ignore the electric smoke futher damaging its electrics but not when rockets a Cluster missile and 40mm cannon shells from behind made it stumble, all that munitions tearing ribbons of armor out of it's back and exposing internal circuitry.
Like an enraged behemoth the IMC Ogre swung around and out of the electric smoke and launched several bursts of Multi target missiles at the two Militia Stryders while realoding its Thriple threat, Yin's Titan dased away to avoid the missiles while Rosemary's activated her Titan's eclectic smoke to dissipated the lock on, the missiles falling and detonating beside and behind her. Rosemary responded by marching forward her Quad rocket launching rocket after rocket at the IMC Ogre, who had now reloaded it's primary weapon and fired a few vollys of granades.
Behind her the small army of freedom fighters had followed her into the battle via the destroyed building or through other streets were charging into the fray, a lone Shadow runner leading them. The Militia strike force along side the freedom fighters and Shadow runners operating in the unseen places were starting to rout the IMC ground forces.
The IMC Ogre was fighting for it's life as it was forced to dash to the right as Rosemary's Stryder seemingly outpaced it's granades and continued to blast it with rockets while Gates's Atlas opened fire again with it's XO-16 Chaingun and Yin attached it's side with a rocket salvo and multiple 40mm rounds. It brought up its vortex sheild and maneged to catch some of the ordanence being fired at it and sent it back at Gates. The Atlas didn't dash but more sun on it's heal all full 360 degrees to avoid getting hit, the Ogre dashed back again trying to fire it's Triple threat but a good shot from Yin blew its weapon arm off, it was then a rocket from Rosemary's Quad rocket hit the Ogre Titans cockpit ripping half of it away and exposing the Pilot beneath, struggling in his restraints.
Rosemary didn't let the IMC pilot escape this time, with a cold smile on her lips she dased forward one last time towards the critical Ogre, who In turn tried to raise it's other arm but it was grabbed by Gates and with a yank of Titan strength, ripped the other arm off. Rosemary tore off the remains of the cockpit and grabbed the IMC Pilot inside.
She yanked him out with the snapping of harnesses and restraints and kicked the destroyed Ogre into a Hammond industries monument, completely crushing it.
"He put up a good fight" said Gates as her Titan approached Rosemary's side.
"It would almost be a waste to kill him" said Yin as she joined the two.
The IMC pilot, battered, bruised and exhausted looked up at the three Militia Titans staring at him, their red lenses cold and disspationate.
"Make it quick" said Gates "He deserves that much"
Rosemary dropped the IMC Pilot to the ground and with a single rocket, made his ending quick and painless.
"Our troops have cleared the area of IMC" said Yin looking around at the destruction their battle had wrought and at the Militia forces, securing the area.
"Good job, both of you" said Gates "You do the 6-4 proud"
"I'm slightly surprised there wasn't more IMC" said Rosemary turning her Titan away from what was left of it's victim "Did any of you two see the crowd? They helped drive out the IMC ground forces, they fight well"
"High praise indeed coming from you Rose" Yin chuckled
"They are rising up all over the city" replied Gates " Thousend of them an...wait...it's started"
"What?" Asked Yin
"Judgement is coming" said Rosemary
From the clouds above a light started to shine, it grew in size and intensity in each passing second. It was as if God himself decided to take personal action in this attack. Only it wasn't God, but it certainly looked divine as the heavens opend and falling to earth was an IMC mega carrier, it was coverd in the flames of re-entry into a planet atmosphere which gave it a shine as if it was a newly born star. Anyone who had the eyes or optic sight to look directly at the ship would of noticed the words 'Judgment' on its side as it plummeted downwards.
The gunfire that was heard across the city quickly stopped as a high pitched scream eminated from the Judgement, the sound of scorching hot metal rading at the wind as it heralded the beginning of the end, it's target seemed to rush up to meet it, the IMC Govermental enforcer building and all of the doomed souls inside was to be ground zero for what was to come next.
"Everyone! Take cover!" Shouted Gates to Rosemary and Yin over the mic and with her Titan's loudspeakers to any grunt, freedom fighter and Shadow runner that could still hear her over the loud and terrifying metallic death scream of the descending Judgment, everyone turned and ran finding the best and structurally robust cover they could find in their immediate surroundings.
Judgement had come, for the IMC.
The instant the captured IMC Mega carrier hit the Enforcer building, it and everything around it within a mile radius was atomized in a few nano seconds. Sound seemed to fall behind as a blinding light took the entire city, the shockwave came first knocking men and Titan's and buildings to the ground, entire skyscrapers were struck down like dominoes, falling apart as extreme force and heat wrented and twisted them apart. Cars, lorries, soldiers, spectres, rubble and Titans were thrown through the air, though next came the sound as the sound barrier finally caught up as an utterly deafening noise that was of complete and utter, unrelenting, total destruction shook the world to its crust, deafening any uncovers earlobes and bringing men to their knees.
While the now deleted Govermental enforcer building was the Judgements main target, it came down at an angel and thus it continued on rapidly plowing through the city and disintegrating entire districts as it went, buildings that were still intact were hurtled as if chucked by a giant. When Judgement finally came to a halt it wasn't even recognizable as a ship anyone just a heap on molton metal that had crashed it's way across a third of the city, from above it looked like a jagged molten scar.
But it wasn't over yet.
From above rubble that had been thrown through the air now crashed down upon the shakened city, some of said rubble was blown half way to orbit before gravity finally took it's hold. Angel City now experience an bombardment from the skies. Rubble crashed into buildings, causing more to collapse, some had flattened entire squads of IMC grunts, specters and even Titans, it was a hellish scene, where once it appeared something devine had come to Angel city now it looked like an apocalypse had taken it's place. Even the sky looked bleak as the fallout from the crash started to descend through the ravaged streets.
With one blow of shock and awe the Militia had single handedly wiped out an uncountable number of the IMC's defenders, took down it's hierarchy, seatherd its communications and left them reeling.
But it wasn't over yet.
A.N/ Done it, finally. I hope you lovely people enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed typing it. I dont think anyone has thought of a Space ships being used as a weapon in a Titanfall fanfic before, so I guess it's a first from me :D
If you have any questions regarding this chapter then please don't hesitate to review or send me a PM, it would be lovely to speak with you.
This first chapter of the final showdown is completed, what will happen next? Well you'll have to wait (hopefully not too long) to find out.
Kind regards. Golden Sheath, out.