The Claymore Faction
Raven.that's what I am, a Raven. We pledge allegiance to no one and work for everyone, all that matters is the money at the end, but not for me.it was never about the money.it was the thrill.the lick of death on my back during every time I strapped into my Armored Core.I used to embrace it until she came.until she came.
Prelude: Eden lost and found
I go by the name "Defect". I am a Raven of 23 years old, a Raven is a mercenary who works for corporations for money, parts and fame in the Arena. We pilot giant machines called Armored Cores which are fully customizable. We could make them look like humanoids, resemble tanks, or just have them look cool, it depends on every pilots taste in looks and weapons. Which means no two ACs look alike, and no two look a likes battle the same. Me, I prefer reverse jointed legs and mid weight Bipedal, the tanks and quad legged ones just don't suit me and hovers.well.hovers aren't that reliable when firing cannons, you stop for even a second and you're as good as chopped liver. Many Ravens start as MT (muscle tenser) pilots, mechs that are smaller and work for only one corporation, others just jump in without any experience and are often the first to get themselves killed. It's a hard life being a Raven, the kill rate is 8 deaths for every 10 that join, many either go bankrupt and a lot more die in missions. I've been a Raven for 2 years, enough to see my fill of new blood spilled, and I work for an earth raven's nest called "Claymore Faction". We were one of the first ones to discover that the earth's surface had healed. Long in earth's past warring nations fought for land and power and in turn destroyed the surface during the process. Earth's harsh toxic surface was deemed inhabitable and our "paradise" was lost. Many unknown numbers of colonies were set up underground in order for the human race to survive and others began to migrate to Mars after learning about the terra forming of the planet. One local corporation began to take note and began colonizing, from what I hear Zio Corporation is big there now. Its been an unknown amount of years we've been down here but when our "controller" shut down and opened the door to the surface, the whole population was shocked. Earth had healed itself during our lifetime's underground, and now with the gates to "Eden" open, we are entering a new era in human history. Our AC technology was lagging way behind many other colonies that we have found and made contact with, it was probably because we where more worried with surviving underground not destroying each other. Our technology began to rise with leaps and bounds, and our ACs were the first things to be upgraded. One particular Ravens nest by the name of "Global Cortex" was one of our main suppliers and the majority of us Ravens began using their parts. A dark cloud looms though.will we follow the same steps as our forefathers, or will we end up worst then they did?
Chapter 1: Weapon Check
MXG-XCB/75 right arm weapon, ammo amount 75
Said a mechanical voice from Defect's cockpit "Laser rifle check"
MLB-L5/003 left arm weapon
"Laser blade check
MWM-DM24/1 right back weapon, ammo amount 24
"Missiles check"
Energy Bar 100%, Radiator at 98% capability, Radar area scan set at 400 meters, Altitude at 3200, FCS set
"Only 98%? Hmm that piece of crap is usually at 40, lucky me" I slipped my helmet over my black hair, "all green here ready for transport drop" "Roger Defect, remember your mission is to protect the power plant not take it down with you" said a female voice over the communication link "I know I know, you don't need to bring that up again Jean" I replied, recalling an angry red head yelling at the top of her lungs, "not my fault it popped out infront of me while I was overboosting" holding back a crooked smile "well be careful not to get any deductions from your credit when the missions over, you know how much I hate losing money, especially when you're the one responsible" she paused and took a sip from her coffee, "you still owe me for covering your back" "how's about a date?" I chuckled "not in this life" she rolled her green eyes back, "good luck" I turned on my Video link that connected to my ACs head, and saw my targets, 5 reverse jointed MTs and 4 Jets circled around the power plant I was instructed to protect, I turned on my missiles and fired as soon as I got a lock. I got a jet and lucky me it crashed into a MT on the ground. Even with all the trees in the way this was gonna be quick. I boosted toward the closest MT and let my blade slice it in two, one half fell into a pond the other got tangled into a tree, the other 3 MTs took aim at me and fired. The bullets ricocheted off my core harmlessly only doing a total of 40 damage worth of AP "Pathetic" I responded with another missile blast that blew up the core of one and destroyed the headpiece of another. Switching to my rifle without skipping a beat I fired at the 2 jets above me before they could get a lock, both crashed into the power plant causing a tower to fall. "Opps" I said "damn it this always happens" I turnboosted toward my last opponent and shot him, his MT groaned and lurched forward into the dirt. "what a waste of ammo" I said to myself, "and a waste of money" as I looked at the toppled tower, "there had better be reinforcements or else I'm gonna be pissed"
"Xerox reporting in, AC detected commencing attack"
"Huzzah" I spoke directly to the pilot, "lets see what you got" a new pilot I suspect, I hate this part of the job but looks like I get a bonus for destroying an AC, I'll try to let him live "Here I come!!!" he shouted as he let loose an energy blade only achieving some lumber from the tree he just sliced "tisk tisk tisk" I nodded my head "after that overboost toward me you probably don't have enough energy to fire that rile there" I pointed my rifle at it, I was right, I got in close and showed him how its done, I slashed thru his missile pack on his back and caused a chain reaction. "****" he cursed, he then began to kneel down to fire his grenade cannon, "eat this!" and let loose a cannon blast, it was all for naught since he only shot thru air and causing another electric tower to topple, awww crap I thought more deductions "shoulda been a quad since now you're a sitting duck" with that I slashed thru his cannon barrel "Shut up!!" he responded "Look nestling (I always call new Ravens nestlings) your not gonna win against me just quit while your still alive" I shot at his head part rendering him inoperable, alive but inoperable, I couldn't bear to take another Raven's life" "What are you chicken? Come on I can still take yo-" then there was silence as his radar lay in a smoldering heap "Damn radar" I sent a message to Jean to pick me up all the while listening to my radiator making funny noises, and prepared for a scolding from her
"Everything ok Defect?" "Yeah now I can buy that new Icicle part I've always wanted" I was strolling thru the Barracks when Vent came along, he was an athletic tan colored man with a few lost teeth and black hair that could never be tamed
"Only now Defect?" Vent said as he slapped me on the back, "I don't know why you don't just sell that piece of crap you call an AC, its gotta be like what? 5 years obsolete?" he chuckled "Hey that's the only thing my dad left me" I replied dogging a nestling as he rushed past, "besides you know how I feel about changing parts, that piece of crap was the top ranked AC back in my fathers day" "yeah when we had shitty ass parts back then, come on the max AP it has is like what? 6000? These newer cores have way higher AP and Defense stats, your AC cant even hold a maximum weight of 4000, I'm telling ya its crap" "hey only 4 words for you Vent, I like em light" "yeah whatever" he said in a hearty laugh well take care, make sure that thing doesn't cave in on itself, ha ha ha" and with that Vent entered the dinning hall, the smell mystery meat reached my nose "I don't know how people can even stand that" shaking my head I headed to the closest vending machine and bought a burger.
Maybe I should upgrade I thought, then I could get a rank in the arena. I shrugged thru the corridors saying hi to fellow friends and comrades in arms, we've all fought together before as well as fight each other. One day you could save a fellow pilot, the next you could be in a life or death battle against them, it's the curse of the Raven, everyone is just a statistic in the end. I stopped by the registration office and took looked up the new raven, Xerox. Its just something I do when I meet a new Raven, I look them up and see how they started out, I turned on the screen and pressed "Recruits" on the screen, it didn't take long for me to find him only 17 new recruits this month
Real Name: Jeff Ward Age: 19 Hair color: Light Brown Eye color: Green Build: light Height: 5'7"
"hmm I'm 2 inches taller"
Handle: Xerox Main AC Name: Laminate Secondary AC Name: Arise Optional AC Name: None
Origin: Martian colony "Trent City"
"Martian huh? Wonder what he's doing here on Earth"
Arena Rank: none Total length as a Raven: 3 weeks Original Raven's nest: Nerves Concord Bio: A Martian Raven just transferred to earth, his father was a high ranking Arena competitor that was also Transferred to Earth. Became a Raven to follow the footsteps of his father and also wants glory in the arena. After the terrorist attack on Nerves Concord Xerox was seriously injured and was requested to be migrated to Claymore Faction under the supervision of D-2 ranked Arena Participant "Yuri". It seems that they are Brother and sister.
"Sister? I hope she wont have it in for me when I meet her in the arena.that is if I even get to the top 50" I told myself, wallowing in self pity "so it looks like I'm gonna have to upgrade now." I didn't like shopping, I had Jean do past shopping for me, I wonder if the women of the past enjoyed shopping to?
Raven.that's what I am, a Raven. We pledge allegiance to no one and work for everyone, all that matters is the money at the end, but not for me.it was never about the money.it was the thrill.the lick of death on my back during every time I strapped into my Armored Core.I used to embrace it until she came.until she came.
Prelude: Eden lost and found
I go by the name "Defect". I am a Raven of 23 years old, a Raven is a mercenary who works for corporations for money, parts and fame in the Arena. We pilot giant machines called Armored Cores which are fully customizable. We could make them look like humanoids, resemble tanks, or just have them look cool, it depends on every pilots taste in looks and weapons. Which means no two ACs look alike, and no two look a likes battle the same. Me, I prefer reverse jointed legs and mid weight Bipedal, the tanks and quad legged ones just don't suit me and hovers.well.hovers aren't that reliable when firing cannons, you stop for even a second and you're as good as chopped liver. Many Ravens start as MT (muscle tenser) pilots, mechs that are smaller and work for only one corporation, others just jump in without any experience and are often the first to get themselves killed. It's a hard life being a Raven, the kill rate is 8 deaths for every 10 that join, many either go bankrupt and a lot more die in missions. I've been a Raven for 2 years, enough to see my fill of new blood spilled, and I work for an earth raven's nest called "Claymore Faction". We were one of the first ones to discover that the earth's surface had healed. Long in earth's past warring nations fought for land and power and in turn destroyed the surface during the process. Earth's harsh toxic surface was deemed inhabitable and our "paradise" was lost. Many unknown numbers of colonies were set up underground in order for the human race to survive and others began to migrate to Mars after learning about the terra forming of the planet. One local corporation began to take note and began colonizing, from what I hear Zio Corporation is big there now. Its been an unknown amount of years we've been down here but when our "controller" shut down and opened the door to the surface, the whole population was shocked. Earth had healed itself during our lifetime's underground, and now with the gates to "Eden" open, we are entering a new era in human history. Our AC technology was lagging way behind many other colonies that we have found and made contact with, it was probably because we where more worried with surviving underground not destroying each other. Our technology began to rise with leaps and bounds, and our ACs were the first things to be upgraded. One particular Ravens nest by the name of "Global Cortex" was one of our main suppliers and the majority of us Ravens began using their parts. A dark cloud looms though.will we follow the same steps as our forefathers, or will we end up worst then they did?
Chapter 1: Weapon Check
MXG-XCB/75 right arm weapon, ammo amount 75
Said a mechanical voice from Defect's cockpit "Laser rifle check"
MLB-L5/003 left arm weapon
"Laser blade check
MWM-DM24/1 right back weapon, ammo amount 24
"Missiles check"
Energy Bar 100%, Radiator at 98% capability, Radar area scan set at 400 meters, Altitude at 3200, FCS set
"Only 98%? Hmm that piece of crap is usually at 40, lucky me" I slipped my helmet over my black hair, "all green here ready for transport drop" "Roger Defect, remember your mission is to protect the power plant not take it down with you" said a female voice over the communication link "I know I know, you don't need to bring that up again Jean" I replied, recalling an angry red head yelling at the top of her lungs, "not my fault it popped out infront of me while I was overboosting" holding back a crooked smile "well be careful not to get any deductions from your credit when the missions over, you know how much I hate losing money, especially when you're the one responsible" she paused and took a sip from her coffee, "you still owe me for covering your back" "how's about a date?" I chuckled "not in this life" she rolled her green eyes back, "good luck" I turned on my Video link that connected to my ACs head, and saw my targets, 5 reverse jointed MTs and 4 Jets circled around the power plant I was instructed to protect, I turned on my missiles and fired as soon as I got a lock. I got a jet and lucky me it crashed into a MT on the ground. Even with all the trees in the way this was gonna be quick. I boosted toward the closest MT and let my blade slice it in two, one half fell into a pond the other got tangled into a tree, the other 3 MTs took aim at me and fired. The bullets ricocheted off my core harmlessly only doing a total of 40 damage worth of AP "Pathetic" I responded with another missile blast that blew up the core of one and destroyed the headpiece of another. Switching to my rifle without skipping a beat I fired at the 2 jets above me before they could get a lock, both crashed into the power plant causing a tower to fall. "Opps" I said "damn it this always happens" I turnboosted toward my last opponent and shot him, his MT groaned and lurched forward into the dirt. "what a waste of ammo" I said to myself, "and a waste of money" as I looked at the toppled tower, "there had better be reinforcements or else I'm gonna be pissed"
"Xerox reporting in, AC detected commencing attack"
"Huzzah" I spoke directly to the pilot, "lets see what you got" a new pilot I suspect, I hate this part of the job but looks like I get a bonus for destroying an AC, I'll try to let him live "Here I come!!!" he shouted as he let loose an energy blade only achieving some lumber from the tree he just sliced "tisk tisk tisk" I nodded my head "after that overboost toward me you probably don't have enough energy to fire that rile there" I pointed my rifle at it, I was right, I got in close and showed him how its done, I slashed thru his missile pack on his back and caused a chain reaction. "****" he cursed, he then began to kneel down to fire his grenade cannon, "eat this!" and let loose a cannon blast, it was all for naught since he only shot thru air and causing another electric tower to topple, awww crap I thought more deductions "shoulda been a quad since now you're a sitting duck" with that I slashed thru his cannon barrel "Shut up!!" he responded "Look nestling (I always call new Ravens nestlings) your not gonna win against me just quit while your still alive" I shot at his head part rendering him inoperable, alive but inoperable, I couldn't bear to take another Raven's life" "What are you chicken? Come on I can still take yo-" then there was silence as his radar lay in a smoldering heap "Damn radar" I sent a message to Jean to pick me up all the while listening to my radiator making funny noises, and prepared for a scolding from her
"Everything ok Defect?" "Yeah now I can buy that new Icicle part I've always wanted" I was strolling thru the Barracks when Vent came along, he was an athletic tan colored man with a few lost teeth and black hair that could never be tamed
"Only now Defect?" Vent said as he slapped me on the back, "I don't know why you don't just sell that piece of crap you call an AC, its gotta be like what? 5 years obsolete?" he chuckled "Hey that's the only thing my dad left me" I replied dogging a nestling as he rushed past, "besides you know how I feel about changing parts, that piece of crap was the top ranked AC back in my fathers day" "yeah when we had shitty ass parts back then, come on the max AP it has is like what? 6000? These newer cores have way higher AP and Defense stats, your AC cant even hold a maximum weight of 4000, I'm telling ya its crap" "hey only 4 words for you Vent, I like em light" "yeah whatever" he said in a hearty laugh well take care, make sure that thing doesn't cave in on itself, ha ha ha" and with that Vent entered the dinning hall, the smell mystery meat reached my nose "I don't know how people can even stand that" shaking my head I headed to the closest vending machine and bought a burger.
Maybe I should upgrade I thought, then I could get a rank in the arena. I shrugged thru the corridors saying hi to fellow friends and comrades in arms, we've all fought together before as well as fight each other. One day you could save a fellow pilot, the next you could be in a life or death battle against them, it's the curse of the Raven, everyone is just a statistic in the end. I stopped by the registration office and took looked up the new raven, Xerox. Its just something I do when I meet a new Raven, I look them up and see how they started out, I turned on the screen and pressed "Recruits" on the screen, it didn't take long for me to find him only 17 new recruits this month
Real Name: Jeff Ward Age: 19 Hair color: Light Brown Eye color: Green Build: light Height: 5'7"
"hmm I'm 2 inches taller"
Handle: Xerox Main AC Name: Laminate Secondary AC Name: Arise Optional AC Name: None
Origin: Martian colony "Trent City"
"Martian huh? Wonder what he's doing here on Earth"
Arena Rank: none Total length as a Raven: 3 weeks Original Raven's nest: Nerves Concord Bio: A Martian Raven just transferred to earth, his father was a high ranking Arena competitor that was also Transferred to Earth. Became a Raven to follow the footsteps of his father and also wants glory in the arena. After the terrorist attack on Nerves Concord Xerox was seriously injured and was requested to be migrated to Claymore Faction under the supervision of D-2 ranked Arena Participant "Yuri". It seems that they are Brother and sister.
"Sister? I hope she wont have it in for me when I meet her in the arena.that is if I even get to the top 50" I told myself, wallowing in self pity "so it looks like I'm gonna have to upgrade now." I didn't like shopping, I had Jean do past shopping for me, I wonder if the women of the past enjoyed shopping to?