Just for kicks, here's Pent's AC, Lavaitean. You can't do this in the game, but Pent's model is modified so the MG is in the left hand, and the blade is on the right.
Head: CHD-SKYEYE
Core: CCM-00-STO
Arms: MAL-GALE
Legs: CCM-D2-SNSK
Booster: CBT-FLEET
FCS: VREX-ND-2
Radiator: RMR-ICICLE
Inside: None
Extension: KWEL-SILENT
Back R. Unit: None
Back L. Unit: CWC-GNS-15
L. Arm Unit: MWG-MG/1000
R. Arm Unit: MLB-MOONLIGHT
Optional Units: OP-INTENSIFY
Color Scheme:
Head: Base: R-0, G-150, B-100
Aid: R-0, G-150, B-100
Optional: R-0, G-40, B-110
Detail: all 0
Joint: all 200
Core: Base: R-0, G-150, B-100
Aid: R-0, G-40, B-110
Optional: All 0
Detail: R-20, G-70, B-95
Joint: R-20, G-70, B-95
Arms: Base: R-20, G-150, B-100
Aid: R-0, G-40, B-110
Optional: R-20, G-70, B-95
Detail: All 0
Joint: R-20, G-70, B-95
Legs: Base: R-0, G-150, B-100
Aid: R-0, G-40, B-110
Optional: R-75, G-75, B-75
Detail: All 200
Joint: R-20, G-70, B-95
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Mirage's abandoned warehouses stood like bastions of the city, silently standing watch. I parked my car at the entrance to the place and proceeded through the torn gate on foot. The buildings were originally a drab gray, but acid rain damage caused long yellow marks along the sides of the wall, giving it a striped appearance. Loading docks stuck out from the warehouse at equal intervals. It was easy to imagine this place bustling with activity, furiously producing AC parts to compete with Crest and Kisaragi.
I passed the first building and reached the center of the warehouse plaza. The front door of the command building was open, so I figured that's where I was supposed to go. My footsteps echoed mightily off of the steel walls around me. Whoever was waiting for me knew that I was coming. However, though I didn't know what I was walking into, I didn't feel afraid.
The doorway was finally in front of me. A glow crept from the portal, stopping where the slightly ajar door cut it off. I began to walk towards the door, but hesitated and stopped just before entering. What I could discover in here would change my life, without a doubt. The purpose of my life, or the part of it I remember, was to discover my past. I was now standing at the possible threshold of the answers I had sought for two years. But what will I find when I cross this threshold? I felt fear now, for the first time in my memory. The things I find in that room could destroy me. It could destroy all of me.
I pushed through these thoughts as I pushed through the door. Fear would not hold me. I wouldn't live my life in the dark anymore. No, I couldn't. I'm not certain of what I'll find in that room, but the thing I am certain of is that if I pass this opportunity up, I will regret it for the rest of my life.
I stepped into a darkened office. A swiveling chair with a large backrest was turned away from me behind a mahogany desk. A computer monitor sat on the desk and cast a blue glow on the chair and the wall beyond it. The desk was clear other than the monitor. Three large file cabinets lined the left side of the wall, each easily capable of holding a thousand documents. The fear was gone, but in it's place confusion festered. What the hell was this about?
The chair swung around, and a small man came into view. I suddenly had a strong feeling of deja-vu. I knew this man. His thin face, his lopsided grin, and especially his eyes, which shone with an unusual intelligence. He chuckled once, and grinned even more. Then, he spoke. "Hello, brother."
With that statement, the world fell apart. Images flooded my mind. I saw white halls and white rooms, and men in white coats. I felt fear and anger and happiness and anxiousness and contentment all at the same time. I came to the realization that there were more of me. Even more things appeared in my head, too fast to recognize. The things... they were drowning me. I panicked and struggled to breathe, but couldn't.
I fought and fought, and everything went black.
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I was in a soft chair. I moved around a bit, and found that I was in a tight area. The word cockpit sprang to mind. I realized where I was then, but I still didn't know how I'd gotten there. I glanced around at the familiar surroundings. I think I muttered something, because another voice spoke out of nowhere to me.
Part of my consciousness told me that this was a dream, but the fact didn't really seem to matter. Besides, I had to reach... somewhere. There was always something to do, some goal to achieve. I just had to figure out what it was, and do it. But then there was the voice. I had to deal with the voice...
"Who is that? What are you doing here?" I asked.
There was a second of quietness, and then the voice spoke again.
"Statement – I am Dalmin. I am this Armored Core's onboard artificial intelligence. My functions include interfacing with the systems of this Armored Core to enhance performance, providing detailed combat intelligence to the pilot, as well as performing maintenance checks and other such menial duties."
I thought about that for a moment. Then I asked it who I was.
"Statement – You are Master Pent."
So my name was Pent. It did seem familiar. I continued my questioning. "Um, Dalmin, you said you enhance performance. What does this Armored Core thing do?"
"Statement – An Armored Core consists of a central unit, or core, and the various enhancements and required parts that attach to them. They are massive humanoid vehicular combat units that are exceedingly adaptable to a large amount of combat situations. Would you like to hear the history of the Armored Core, and how they have played a role in recent history?"
I said that I would. Knowledge is an essential weapon... though I don't know where I heard that.
"Very well, sir. They were created for military application approximately one hundred and thirty-three years ago. However, when the Third World War scoured almost all of Earth's surface, mankind descended into the subterranean realm to escape the nuclear holocaust. They lived under the control of the massive computer known as The Controller. At this point, all form of government and their militaries collapsed. They were not needed, as The Controller dictated all matters of all human's lives.
"In that age, the three factions of power at that time, the corporations of Crest, Mirage, and Kisaragi, employed a group of mercenaries, called Ravens, to battle for supremacy. All of these Ravens piloted Armored Core units. This way of life continued for many years, resulting in countless human casualties. But then, a new power emerged. A group of revolutionaries known as the Union rebelled against The Controller, and a massive war began. One of the Ravens, already well-known for his skill, played a large part in the battles against the Controller. Though he faced terrible opposition he prevailed and eventually destroyed The Controller. That hero was known by the name Wolfe.
"When The Controller was destroyed, approximately forty-two years ago, the subterranean world the people had built was falling apart. All of mankind was evacuated to the surface, where a miraculous cleansing of land had taken place while humans lived in their underground shelter. This migration is known as the Ascension. They rebuilt and prospered on the surface. In the first few years after the Ascension, the corporations still ruled. Soon after, however, their power began to lessen. Crest dissolved completely without The Controller to aid them, but Mirage and Kisaragi are both still major players in the events of the continent. The Union evolved into the Orin Party and seized power. They set up a democratic government, and renamed the continent of North America to Orinia.
"It was discovered that more underground strongholds existed. Orinia sent out search and rescue squads organized from the ranks of the Ravens. The hero Wolfe led the expedition to the Asian continent. On that mission, however, he disappeared. No one has seen him since. Even without his help, within the next few years, the Asian, European, African and South American continents had surface colonies. The Raven mercenary group continued to exist, and the Arena that they fought in became a global attraction. It is now the year 2187 AD. You are in an Armored Core cockpit right now."
I soaked in all of this information. It all sounded right. But what do I do now?
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I opened my eyes. The man who was in the chair earlier was crouching over my prone body. He looked worried. I thought about saying something, but nothing came to mind. I managed a strangled, "Huh?"
He grinned, and looked relieved. "You had me concerned," he said. "All of a sudden you just swooned and fell over. Part of that may be my fault, though. Do you think you can stand?"
I told him I probably could. He stood and helped me to my feet.
"I have this feeling that I know you. Who are you?" I questioned.
"You can call me Vahn. It's good that you recognize me. We spent many years of our lives together. But you'll get those memories back soon. Right now, we need to leave the premises of this warehouse as soon as..."
"Wait," I interrupted. "Why? And what's with all of this deceptive secret agent crap you've been pulling on me?"
"All will be explained soon enough. You need to trust me for now. You want to learn about your past, right? The only way you're finding anything out is if you come with me. Now come on!" He ran out of the door. With an exasperated sigh, I followed him.
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I'm hard at work on part 5. Not that many people are reading and anticipating, but, y'know...