Moby and I had hopped back on the transport and watched Crest HQ fade in the distance as we headed east. We really didn't have the first clue of where to go, but at least Crest gave us some ACs for the trouble at the Ark. Well, they didn't give them to us exactly, more like we stole them with a large transport truck. The alarms would be going off anywhere from an hour to and hour and a half from now.

Moby chose a very heavy AC on tank legs. The arms, core, and head were all very large and designed for defense. It was equipped with two grenade launchers in the back and two bazookas in hand. The guts and electrical parts of the AC were also top notch. He was busy repainting it a navy blue. He named it Caesar.

The one we took for Aylis was a little less heavy. It was a four-legged AC with dual sniper rifles and a laser cannon on the back. It was designed to be mostly a support AC, something I knew Aylis was good at using. It was a solid and bland gray, perfect for camouflage at night. She dubbed it Cupid.

Mine on the other hand would be with Moby's and Will's in the attack group. It was a very shiny white base with touches of red in places. I just got done spray painting my emblem on it. The stylized logo was an eyeball with two sets of wings coming out of it, one angel, the other demon. The AC was equipped with a laser blade and a high power machine gun. On the back were dual pursuit missile launchers. It was a lightweight biped AC designed for maneuvering. I called it Shyft II, after my first AC.

The alarms went off and I raced to the cockpit to see what was wrong.

"Missiles are coming for us," Aylis said. "They're being launched from Crest MTs. Get ready for deployment."

Moby and William were already in their ACs, going through system checks as I rushed to Shyft II. Ceasar moved to the deck lift and the doors on the top of the transport opened up. Aylis switched the lift on and rose Moby to the roof. Will was waiting by the hatch already by the time I had finished my systems checks. I moved beside him and heard Aylis over radio.

"Garret, William, take care of the MTs, we'll come around and get you guys as soon as the missiles are out of the way."

William chimed in. "What about Moby?"

I about slapped his AC across the face. "He's takin' care of the missiles dumbass, get ready to drop."

He seemed taken back a bit as the hatch opened. I was out first, waiting for the MTs to come into view as I fell. I saw a few missiles come from behind me and turned to look. It was Robo's fire, I forgot that its missiles had decent range. I looked back at the ground, the MTs finally visible. I opened fire with my machine gun and readied the boosters to help the landing.

I had taken out three MTs by the time the two of us landed. Will got the remaining four with his missiles.

"That's it, now we just wait for Aylis and Moby."

"I wouldn't be so sure William, there could always be reinforcements."

As if on cue, my computer gave me a warning.

"Enemy AC identified. The pilot is known as Wreckless, a skilled pilot working solely for Crest. The AC, Torment, is equipped with two bazookas. Offensive tactics advised."

"What do we do Garret? I can't beat an AC! We're dead!"

"Dammit, shut up and let me concentrate."

I got a visual of a four-legged AC boosting toward us. It was the same as the ones I'd seen at the Ark.

"Shit."

"Shit what? Oh, I knew it. We're fucked."

"Shut up and get ready to fight!"

The AC plowed into William's, knocking him over. Robo laid on the ground as I turned the radio off to get rid of Will's screaming. Torment turned around and fired both bazookas at me. I boosted out of the way and launched a pursuit missile pod at him. The pod exploded, releasing about twenty missiles at Wreckless. The AC had missile interceptors for extensions that shot down the first four. Bazooka fire took out another ten, leaving six for him to boost out of the way off.

I fired my machine gun and started boosting around him in a circle. He did the same with his bazookas. I ran out of ammo before he did and switched to the missiles. I launched two pods but he boosted toward me, away from the attack. He dropped his left bazooka, which was replaced by a laser blade. I had forgot about hangar parts. He tried to use the blade in me but I blocked it with my own and launched another missile pod which collided with Torment's head. The explosion blew us apart but made a nice hole in the top of the core where the head used to be. The AC lowered and the cockpit started to open.

I jumped out of my AC, grabbing my M16 and raced down its legs. Wreckless had jumped out of the AC and landed with a thud. After seeing him get up from a twenty foot drop, I picked up the pace. I fired my rifle twice, both bullets landing in the person's chest. Wreckless fell over after staggering a bit and I caught up with him, or rather, it.

Wreckless was another robot. This one looked identical to the one piloting FlashTactic. I fired a full clip into the robot's head out of rage, yelling profanities as I did. The puzzle was starting to come together now.

I made my way back to Shyft's cockpit and turned the radio on.

"If you're done shittin' yourself William, you can get up now."

Robo stood up a little awkwardly and looked around.

"My tactic worked, he fled. No thanks needed Garret."

"If you weren't on of the only four Raven's remaining, I'd cap you in the face as soon as we got back to the transport," I muttered under my breath.

William didn't hear me. He was to fixed on the transport coming for us, waving Robo's arms like a moron.

"Nice work guys, I see you've even managed to get some AC parts too."

The transport landed and William was the first on. I was a little more sluggish, made heavy by the puzzle I was starting to piece together.