Author Notes: Sorry about not updating last night. Due to a mixup when I decided to add a new character (Featured here) part 6, which I have about 15 complete, became part 7, and part 8, which was about 10 complete, became part 9. Very confusing mixup. Adding to the above situation, I managed to finally get a copy of Nexus last night. So far, it's proving to be a good game. But I don't think ill twist the plot of Nexus into here. At least not until near the end anyways.
And since I bothered to include notes at the start of the chapter - I think I'll do a disclaimer as well.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the AC games, and i also don't own most of the characters featured here. However, I own the fact that I actually took the time and effort to develop a personality for them. But I suppose Agetec will say that since the characters are thiers, the personalities are thiers too. (Sigh)
"Andrew. This is Norman. I've got a mission request from Mirage, but I need some backup for it. Are you up for the job? If you are, take the mission request that I've sent you."
Andrew stared at the answering machine as it clicked off. Hmmm. A chance for some action. And I HAVE been a bit short on cash lately. Very well Norman. I accept your proposal. Andrew quickly found the mission request, and accepted.
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"Ralph. This is Norman. I've got a mission request from Mirage, but I need some backup for it. Are you up for the job? If you are, take the mission request that I've sent you."
Ralph stared at the answering machine as it clicked off. Norman. Why are you calling me? What could you possibly not do? Hmmm... Well, It should be entertaining, but hopefully my identity won't be exposed. Ralph quickly found the mission request, and accepted.
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As hard as he tried, Brad simply couldn't understand the purpose of the installation he was guarding. But it had obviously been important, as three other ravens had been hired to guard the place as well. They stuck me with a firepower-crazed maniac, an incompetent sore loser, and an average guy who happens to be a bit more talented than normal, even if his AC IS slow and cumbersome.
"BB, this is Barchetta. Reporting sectors A3 through B8 clear."
Brad sighed as the "average guy who happens to be a bit more talented than normal" reported. "Roger Barchetta. Continue sweeping, check B9 through D5."
"Yes sir. Commencing sweep." Brad smiled slightly. At least he's respectful.
"Shooting Star here. K6 to L3 clear."
"Roger that." Loser. "Continue sweeping. Make sure L4 through M2 are secure." Brad shook his head as the "incompetent sore loser" reported. So far he'd checked the least sectors out of the three.
"Yeah, yeah. Moving out." The A-4 raven grimaced, mentally adding Shooting Star to the list of people he never wanted to work with again.
"Drunkard reporting. Sectors T3 through W7 are green." Brad's eyebrows raised.
Either he's shitting me, or he's checked more sectors than those other two put together. Brad made sure that his communication went to only the third Raven. "Drunkard, are you absolutely sure? You have a tank AC."
"Yep, as sure as a cat who's stolen the milk." Brad winced at the statement, which didn't make any sense, and sounded horrible on top of that. The A-4 Raven threw caution out the window with his reply.
"OK, whatever you say. Make sure W8 to Z9 are OK."
"Sure thing boss. Moving out now." Although Drunkard was a "firepower crazed maniac," Brad couldn't help but like the man's attitude, the reckless sportiness was infectious, and Brad found himself grinning.
"I'm picking up something on the scanners in sector L6... it looks like it's an enemy."
"Roger Shooting Star. Target and engage at your discretion." Brad hoped the incompetent raven would be able to hold his own for a few minutes. "Reinforcements on the way."
"Bloody hell!" The bottom feeder replied "I don't need any friggin' reinforcements! I'll trash this guy in two minutes then we can all go out for pizza."
My guess? He'll be dead in about 5 seconds. Brad flipped the radio over to Kisaragi channels. "Commander. This is BB, I'm requesting reinforcements to be dispatched to the L6 sector. Tell them to hurry."
"Roger that BB. MT squads A1 through B3 mobilized."
Brad clicked back to the channel he used to address Drunkard and Barchetta privately. "How are you two doing?"
"Nothing so far. Sectors B9 through C7 are clear. Sweeping C8 now."
"Understood Barchetta. Alert me if you detect anything, got it?"
"Sure thing BB. You'll hear from me before the computer." Brad smiled, then turned to Drunkard.
"Drunkard, how are things holding up on your end?"
"Sectors T4 through U2 are clear. Scanning U3 as we speak."
"Excellent. Keep up the good work." Brad grinned this time, his spirits higher, despite the possible problem at Shooting star's end.
"Righty-o. Keeping up the good work." Drunkard's comm cut off with a snap.
Now, I hope that Shooting Star hasn't been killed yet.
"AC Mystery identified." Brad stared at the computer in shocked disbelief. Nameless? What the hell is he doing here?!?
Shooting Star's cocky grin could almost be heard through the transmission. "Door to L6 opening, this guy's meat!"
"Shooting Star. Get kingfisher out of there now! You don't stand a chance against this guy!!"
"HOLY SHIT!!!!" The bottom-feeder had just stepped into a situation far beyond his ability to handle. Brad let out an annoyed snort and slammed the console of his AC.
"Shooting Star! This is a direct order! WITHDRAW RIGHT NOW YOU IDIOT!!" Bursts of machine-gun fire could be heard over the comm, as well as Shooting Star's furious cursing as he attempted to deal with the incredible firepower and mobility of Nameless' AC.
"OH MY JESUS! STUPID WEAPON MALFUNCTION!!!!" Shooting Star's furious scream could be heard as Kingfisher met its end at the hands of Nameless' double machine guns. A sore loser to the end. Brad took a few seconds to reflect, then quickly took control of the situation.
"Commander. We have a situation here. Dispatch more reinforcements to sectors L4 and 5. There's a E-30 raven running amok in there."
"Understood BB. B4 through C9 are being mobilized now." Brad nodded grimly at the commander's statement, then turned to Drunkard and Barchetta's channels.
"Drunkard, Barchetta. Listen to me, Nameless is somewhere in this installation. We don't know who or what he's after, so exercise utmost caution."
The festive mood abruptly struck from the mission, only two "Roger."s answered him.
"AC Painkiller identified." Brad almost choked at the computer's sublime proclamation. Exile??! What the hell is HE doing here too!?!? We're in deep shit. I might be able to defeat one of the, but I can't take out both of them. And I know for a fact that neither Drunkard or Barchetta could take on of those two out. Mystery and Painkiller will just spin circles around them while tearing them to pieces.
"Barchetta reporting, I've detected an enemy in sector D4. It appears to be an AC. I'm preparing to intercept."
"It is an AC. By the name of Painkiller."
"Exile? What would he want here?" Barchetta's voice came over the comm, a ghost of its former self.
"I don't know. But it's our job to take care of these guys. Good luck."
"Roger that. I'll do the best I can." A door opening could be heard, then the staccato roar of a machine gun, with the occasional bellows of a grenade launcher mixed in.
Brad said a silent prayer for the Raven, then turned his attention to other issues.
"Drunkard. What's your status?"
"I think there's an enemy AC in Z9. I'm trying to verify that now."
"Commander." Brad radioed the Kisaragi officer in charge of the operation. "What's the status on the squads sent to intercept Mystery?"
"Bad. They're taking heavy losses and Nameless doesn't show any signs of slowing down."
Brad sighed. "I see." turning back to Drunkard, he tried to assess the situation again. "Drunkard, what's your status?"
"I'm in sector Z8 now. Approaching Z9." Drunkard sounded a bit nervous, rightfully so when two of Cortex's best pilots were slaughtering his allies.
"Barchetta here." The roar of the machine gun and bellow of grenades were replaced with warnings going out of control in the background. "He got me good. I can't fight anymore." Brad frowned, then nodded as if the other Raven could see him. "Get him for me, alright BB?" The A-4 Raven didn't get a chance to reply as Karma's systems failed from the incredible amounts of abuse heaped upon the AC.
Damn you Exile. I'll see that you pay for this. "Mystery has managed to bypass our defenses, and is moving into sector S3 now!" The commander's voice pulled Brad out of his thoughts. The door to the room opened, and a battered Mystery trooped into the room. Brad flipped his radio so it transmitted to everyone.
"I don't like you very much. But I'll make sure you're avenged... Shooting Star."
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Drunkard was a bit nervous. As his AC trundled slowly through sector Z8, he was on the lookout for another Raven. He was hoping that the two Ace pilots had brought a rookie with them, as cannon fodder or something.
"I don't like you very much. But I'll make sure you're avenged... Shooting Star."
Drunkard frowned as he heard that. With BB distracted he would have to identify the enemy machine himself, and as his computers weren't tied into the network that ran throughout the base, he would have to be in the same room to find out what, or who he was up against. As he reached the door leading into Z9, his nervousness was at an all-time high, and he could smell the stink of sweat and fear in his cockpit. I'm going to need a hot shower after this. Reckless reached out to the doors and pressed the open button quietly, the door gave a shudder and slid open.
Drunkard grinned as he was faced with a mysterious blue AC. The machine's hand ended in 5 barrels, the trademark of Mirage's FINGER machine gun. A chaingun and grenade launcher were attached to the machine's back, which gave it good firepower in middle range combat. A medium build indicated that it was a middleweight, despite the fact that it had a lightweight core and smaller arms. Drunkard couldn't put his finger on it, but he swore that he'd seen that AC somewhere before.
It's nothing, probably just some rookie with a lot of money. Those ARE expensive parts after all.
"AC Godhand identified."
Drunkard's throat abruptly went dry. Now he knew where he'd seen that AC before. It belonged to the A-1 Raven, Omega.
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AC Analysis: Godhand-
Description: A medium weight AC. Exceptionally powerful set of back weapons, and it's capable of dishing out serious damage with its right and left hand weapons.
Tech Base: Armored Core 3: Silent Line
Head: CHD-02-TIE
Core: MCL-SS/RAY
Arms: CAL-44-EAS
Legs: MLM-SPINE
Booster: MBT-NI/GULL
FCS: VREX-ST-12
Generator: MGP-VE905
Radiator: RMR-SA44
Inside: N/A
Extension: N/A
Arm Unit R: MWG-MG/FINGER
Arm Unit L: MLB-MOONLIGHT
Back Unit R: CWC-GNC-15
Back Unit L: CWC-CNG-300
Optional Parts: OP-S-SCR
OP-E/SCR
OP-ECMP
OP-LFCS
OP-L/TRN
Colors:
Uniform Color Scheme
Base; R: 0
G: 100
B: 100
Aid; R: 0
G: 0
B: 0
Optional; R: 0
G: 50
B: 50
Detail; R: 110
G: 120
B: 0
Joint; R: 110
G: 110
B: 110
Other Attributes: The pilot is PLUS, so the AC doesn't need to kneel to use either of its back weapons. It's also capable of shooting waves of MOONLIGHT energy. Even though it uses the OP-INTENSIFY in the game, in here the pilot himself is PLUS, so it uses other optional parts.
Author Notes: I'm trying to make this guy in Nexus (Which I got yesterday in fact), but no PLUS, no dice.
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Drunkard tried to swallow, but found his throat too dry. Suddenly he heard the dry scratch of a comm being activated.
"You are already dead." With the chilling words spoken, Godhand overboosted forwards. Drunkard screamed and charged into combat, all else forgotten.
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Drunkard's scream momentarily distracted Brad, which gave Mystery a chance to lodge a linear cannon slug in the side of Tyrant. The raven cursed and swung his spread bazooka in line with the pink AC, giving it a point-blank dosage of heavy explosive projectiles. Mystery reeled back, falling on its behind before it had a chance to recover. After that, it never got a chance to recover again, as Brad showered it with rockets and bazooka fire, then slammed his laserblade through the other machine's head, ensuring that it would never fight again. He then dropped Tyrant's spread Bazooka, and picked Mystery up by the legs, flinging the corpse of the AC into a corner. After retrieving his spread bazooka, he radioed the commander again.
"How's containing Exile going?"
The commander sounded haggard and stressed. "It's going very badly. It looks like you're going to have to intercept him as well."
Damn.
"Drunkard here! This guy is really good! I'm not going to be able to hold out against him for long!" The other Raven's panicked cry came over the comm, and Brad could hear warnings flaring in the background.
"I missed which AC that was. Who are you facing?"
"It's Omega, the #1 ranking Raven in the arena!" Drunkard's comm cut off again, and Brad found his throat dry.
Nameless... Exile... Omega... why are those three here? This installation must be more important than I first thought.
"Painkillerhas reached sector S3. Prepare to intercept him BB."
"Roger. I'm ready to take him out."
Exile's black and white AC floated through the door, its armor battered and scorched from fighting its way through Barchetta and numerous MTs. Brad grimaced and prepared for combat. Ready or not, here he comes. Painkiller boosted forwards, and Brad prepared himself for a fight.
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What a sorry excuse for a raven. If this installation was as important as the Mirage rep said it was, they're either under defending it on purpose, or they didn't expect an attack from us.
Omega winced as Nameless screamed, his AC downed by the shower of projectiles from Tyrant. He hoped that his friend was still alive, but couldn't count on it. So BB is here. Maybe they weren't as ill prepared as I first thought.
As Godhand stepped through the door to Z8, it was greeted by a dozen heavily armed MTs. No, they were prepared after all. A spray of chaingun rounds and moonlight waves decimated the ranks of the MTs, leaving only two of them standing. Omega easily finished them off with his FINGER, the burst from the machine gun slicing the first MT in half and blowing the head off of the other MT. Unfortunately, it wasn't nearly enough.
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Even though Exile was defeated, his downed AC tossed in a careless fashion to the corner of the room, Brad was starting to get pissed off. He didn't like losing. And he sensed that exactly that was about to happen. He growled in frustration and gripped the controls of the AC a little too tightly, sensing defeat just around the corner. And not liking it one bit.
"All the MTs have been defeated. You're on your own." The commander's voice sounded defeated, and Brad could understand why. You're not going to beat me you fucker. I don't care how good you are. The A-4 Raven didn't even bothering to answer the commander, directing all his animosity at the other Raven. You and your two buddies here may think you're all high and mighty. But you're just some shitheads who happen to have a bit of talent. I'm surprised Ace didn't squash your pathetic ass a few years back.
Brad watched the doors as they opened, revealing a largely undamaged Godhand, although the AC had dropped the FINGER earlier.
"I figured that you'd defeat them." The blue AC's head turned to survey its two fallen comrades.
"Yeah, they didn't put up much of a fight." Brad looked at his gague, Tyrant still had 3836 AP left. It should be enough to defeat this pathetic fucker.
"Nevertheless, I can tell your AC is damaged. They're not incompetent pilots."
"No. But you are. And I'll make sure you don't walk away from this place alive." Brad's voice dripped with venom, his annoyance at being forced onto the losing side of the fight slowly taking him over.
"So be it. Let's fight." Omega's AC boosted forwards, the chaingun on its shoulder spewing a stream of rounds at Tyrant, which quickly strafed to the left, releasing a grenade shot that Godhand easily dodged. Brad growled in frustration and ground his teeth.
Omega sighed as the poorly executed grenade shot flew by him. He steeled himself for the next onslaught as Tyrant unleashed a flurry of rockets and bazooka shots. Although some hits managed to blast chunks of armor off Godhand, he was still in good shape for a fight. The blue AC closed in on its quarry, chaingun blazing away. Tyrant took a few more rounds, but was still able to fight, which it proved as its green blade blazed to life and slashed at Godhand, who had closed hoping for a chance to use the MOONLIGHT.
The green blade sliced through empty space. Godhand boosted backwards to the other side of the room as his chaingun spat another series of rounds, inflicting minor damage on BB's AC. Brad glanced at the gague again. Still 2705 AP left. Enough to kill this bastard. He quickly triggered a blade wave, the 2551 model blade on his arm spewing a disc of green energy at Omega's AC, which sliced it in half with the moonlight. Brad growled again and ground his teeth, letting out a wordless shout of fury as a grenade from Godhand blew his AC back a few steps. Tyrant quickly recovered and launched its last spread bazooka shot at its tormentor, throwing the useless weapon at the AC.
Omega was caught off guard by the unorthodox attack, and the heavy weapon clanged off Godhand's head, denting the appendage and knocking the machine over. Omega quickly wrestled the blue AC to its feet, and started spitting chaingun rounds at the other AC again, strafing left and right to avoid the bursts of grenade fire cast at him.
Brad was far beyond pissed now. He was downright infuriated. Despite everything he had tried, Omega was showing him that he was a superior pilot in every way. And brad didn't like that at all. As he ran out of rockets, the rocket launcher on his back was the next projectile that joined the barrage, although it missed horribly. The grenade launcher was running low on ammo, but Brad kept shooting anyways, convinced that he'd hit Omega sometime soon if only he kept shooting. However, the grenade launcher ran out of ammo, and he hadn't scored one hit. As it ejected, Tyrant wrapped both its hands around the weapon, then overboosted over to Godhand, who simply waited for it knowingly.
As the massive grenade launcher was swung like a bat, Omega did what came naturally to him, he blocked with the moonlight. The grenade launcher was shorn in half by the force of its own impact, and the first piece flew off harmlessly, the second still firmly clenched in Tyrant's hands. The reverse jointed AC looked at it stupidly for a moment, then hurled it at Godhand and boosted over to Mystery's corpse, ripping off the FINGER and sticking its own hand into the weapon, Godhand in hot pursuit.
Tyrant twisted around and unleashed a near-point-blank burst of machine gun fire into Godhand's chest. The smaller AC staggered back, then aimed its grenade launcher at the bigger AC and fired, the weapon blowing Tyrant's right arm off and forcing it to stagger back. Brad shouted wordlessly again before kicking his AC into overboost, the blade shining out of his left arm and scything down towards Godhand.
Omega sighed as the furious warrior's AC streaked towards him. Time to end this pointless charade. The moonlight flashed in a burning arc, severing Tyrant's legs as Godhand nimbly stepped to the right. Omega ignored BB's scream of fury as the two parts of his AC bid each other a fond farewell and crashed into the other wall.
"Nameless. Exile. Are you guys ok?"
"Yeah... but I'll need some aspirin after this one." Nameless groaned from what was left of Mystery.
There was no response from Painkiller, but the bio readings were still there. Omega knew what that meant; Exile had been knocked out.
"Well, let's get this show over with. I'm proceeding to sector S1 now." Omega's AC stepped forwards, calmly walking towards the last sector.
"Please. We'll buy you off. Whatever Mirage is paying you, we'll double it." The only reply to the commander's desperate begging was Omega's laugh.
"Please, spare me the indignity of having to listen to your whining." The indigo-haired raven snorted before snapping off the comm. Irritating bastard. As the doors to the final sector opened, Omega was greeted with his prize.
A huge gray MT sat in a scaffold in front of him, obviously not fully complete. Omega smiled as he beheld the huge weapon before him. "So this is what Mirage suspected was being built here. I see. Their suspicions were correct." The grenade launcher popped into action again, and Omega set about making sure the gray MT would never fly.
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AC Analysis: Tyrant-
Tech Base: Armored Core 3
Armored Core 3 – Arena Rank 2
Author Notes: BB is now Rank 4. Omega holds the #1 spot, Ace is #2 and Mobius is #3. That leaves Mr. BB holding spot #4. No changes have been made to his AC. It's the same Tyrant we all know and love.
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AC Analysis: Painkiller-
Tech Base: Armored Core 3
Armored Core 3 – Bottom of the Arena
Author Notes: No changes made.
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AC Analysis: Mystery-
Tech Base: Armored Core 3: Silent Line
Armored Core 3: Silent Line – Bottom of the Arena
Author Notes: No changes made. And if you're wondering why I didn't make one of these for Barchetta, Drunkard and Shooting star, it's because more likely than not they won't make another appearance. Besides, the focus of the chapter wasn't on them.
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about ten minutes later, a blue AC was seen leaving the entrance to the Kisaragi base, dragging the remnants of a pink humanoid and black floating AC behind it.
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Brad surveyed Tyrant. More accurately-- what was left of Tyrant. Not only had he tossed away all his weaponry to defeat Omega, but the A1 Raven had literally sliced his AC in half, and it was a very expensive job to get damaged legs attached to a damaged core, but not quite as expensive as having to buy a completely new AC. All his anger having been burned out of him by the fight, Brad quietly sighed, wishing that he'd been paired with more competent Ravens. I would have even welcomed that pompous ass Corpse Maker, or that bastard Mobius, as long as it meant victory.
The A-4 Raven sighed again and looked at the repair bill, quietly thanking the gods above that he had the forethought to save up in case of something like this. Repairs for Tyrant were estimated to be about 1,000,000 credits, but his many victories in the arena had brought him much more money. Despite all this, he lived alone in a rather modest house.
I could have had everything my family thought they had a divine right to. But they're gone, and I, for one, hope that I never see them again. Despite the thoughts of his family threatening to drag him down, Brad still kept upbeat, thinking about the results of the mission. Even though Omega defeated me, I still managed to dent his AC pretty good, and that's AFTER Exile and Nameless had their turn at me. Brad smiled, feeling happier now that he saw the victory within the defeat. The corporations will recognize me for this. He grinned and turned to his AC, only to have the YIV head's many eyes stare back at him impassively. After thinking for a few minutes, Brad decided that he'd been at the bay long enough, and returned home.
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Although he was the A-4 Raven, and had a considerable fortune in his hands, Brad Baker's home was nothing to brag about. A small, double floor house, it had everything that he needed. A bathroom, bedroom, kitchen and living room. If a guest happened to be staying for the night, well, the couch unfolded into a bed.
As he stepped into the house and closed the door, he removed his shoes in the foyer and walked over to the couch, plopping himself down on it and activating the TV. Afterwards, he idly channel surfed, looking through various news reports. Nothings on TV. I would call some of my friends, but it's kind of late now. Besides, A loud yawn interrupted his train of thoughts. I'm starting to get tired. I should go to bed. As he looked around his house, Brad was left thinking that he lacked something essential. Human companionship. Although he loved the novelty of being alone after being forced to live with others for so long. the place now felt so empty that it depressed him, and he spent as little time at home as possible. Besides, his home reminded him of something he didn't have. A family.
As he got into bed, he stared at the ceiling for a few seconds, then turned out the light. As he was plunged into the darkness, he couldn't help but think one thing.
It's getting kind of lonely here.
Author Notes - Poor BB. I feel kind of sorry for him, even if he is a raging hothead in an AC.
I found some minor errors in an earlier version of this chapter, so I fixed them (hopefully) and reposted it. Chapter 7 is underway now.
Also, my friend gave me another idea for an Armored Core fiction, so look out for it in the near future.