Armored Core: Controller Chronicles

Chapter 1: Nest

The return trip was relatively silent. Jen was now sitting inside the transport plane, which was now heading towards the Raven's Nest. Unit 2 was kneeling down within the transport, as was Unit 1. Regina had successfully passed her Raven's test, having taken down all but two battle MTs, which Jen had shot down, as well as five helicopters. Jen herself just sat there thinking. Mobius, the Raven that she helped, had said she had the stuff of Ravens, but she wasn't too sure. The examiner seemed irritated, primarily because she had nearly left the operation zone to engage units that weren't even targets for her operation. She had shot down two battle MTs, but then also took down four choppers, two plasma MTs, and the bomber itself.

She looked out the window as she saw the plane flying into the facility, landing down on the launch pad. Maintenance crews were already waiting for the transport plane to arrive, having equipment to move Unit 2 and a pilot to move Unit 1. Unit 2 needed equipment to move because the AC had a damaged generator, courtesy of poor repairs on the once horribly damaged machine. She watched as they moved the ACs out of the plane and started their checks on them, more of them checking Unit 2 to make sure the problem never occurs again. She just sat there as she waited to hear what to do next.

She looked up at the crews and noticed that a few were looking at her. She noticed the looks in their eyes and looked down, breaking eye contact with them. She knew what they were looking at her for; it was the same back in high school. She knew that it was because of her appearance. Even though the pilot suit was poor grade, and is mandatory for all aspirants to wear during their test, it did little to hide her bust. She always had a bit of a large bust size, but not so big that they'd get in the way or stick out a lot. If anything, her size was just larger than average, if anything. 'Always thinking with their small heads,' she thought, shaking her head in disgust.

"Jen Kasuna." She looked up, spotting the examiner. "This way please." He motioned for her to follow him as he left the transport. She got up as well and started to follow him, shooting glances at the maintenance crew when she saw them looking at her in 'that' way. She followed him through the hanger, in which she saw a huge variety of AC units parked. She recognized three of them. Those three belonged to the top rankers; Ace, BB, and Royal Mist. AC Archadia was the one belonging to Ace, and his AC is packing with several light parts mounted on middle weight legs. As she passed them, she recognized the blue on blue AC. It belonged to Mobius, the Raven that was running interference for her test. She didn't give it much thought, though, as she was lead to the examiner's office just across from the AC hanger.

The office was relatively simple. There is a desk in the middle, complete with a chair, computer, and a small stack of papers. There is also a bookshelf up in the corner, with most of the books actually being reports on some of the more aspiring Ravens that passed the test. It also has several chairs set up in front of the desk, and a display case that showed several AC models. Among them were Phoenix, the first AC hero, Nineball, and a blue AC with Zeo Matrix parts. They were all legendary ACs, but the corporations that built them were either in space or folded many years ago. She almost didn't notice that Mobius was also in the room. His blue pilot suit was a dead giveaway. He was leaning up against a wall with his arms crossed across his chest and his eyes closed, some of his hair covering one of his eyes. She looked at the examiner, who merely nodded for her to sit down. She only now took notice as to this man's appearance. He was seemingly in his late 20s to early thirties, with a tame and trim head of black hair. His steel grey eyes looked at her as if analyzing her. At least he wasn't focusing a lot on her bust. His body was relatively lean as well, and he wore a brownish black pilot suit. An emblem was embroidered on his left shoulder, which seemed to be a skull in blue flame. Silence ruled the room for nearly a minute as Jen sat in the seat, looking between the examiner and Mobius.

"Is something wrong?" she asked.

He looked up at her from his desk. "I'll actually admit that I'm impressed with how you fought," the Examiner said. "Granted I didn't see exactly what you had done, but we took unit 2's black box out to see what happened." He turned his computer monitor, showing her a segment showing her attack on the bomber. "However, you disregarded my orders, which were to stay in the test area and engage all MTs that were there. You were even on the verge of leaving the battle area." He turned off the monitor, looking at the blue haired girl. "However, you did prove that you had what it takes to be a Raven. You did take out that bomber, two plasma MTs, and a series of choppers within a matter of three and a half minutes, all of which were executed with a poorly repaired and disabled AC." He sighed as he leaned back in his seat, his hands folded in front of his face in a thinking position. "The question is what to do with you? We've never had such an adequate display of combat ability combined with such disrespect for orders."

Mobius stirred, opening his brown eyes and looking at the examiner. "We let her in, of course," he replied. "I myself was let into the Raven fold even though anti AC units interfered. A bomber is much more dangerous and would've caused more damage than those MTs."

"Your situation was different," he said to Mobius. "You stayed in the battle area and destroyed all targets."

Mobius shook his head. "Ace, when the hell did you become such a hard ass," he said. "Don't tell me she's too much like how I was then."

Ace shot Mobius a look as Jen realized exactly who her examiner was. She had no idea that the A-1 ranker himself was the examiner. "If you think it's a form of spite, you're wrong," Ace said. "It is true she shows something similar to how you were nearly a year ago. I respect such people, especially those that show exceptional promise. The problem here is that she wasn't listening to orders during her test." He sighed as he rubbed his temples. "Ravens are supposed to follow their contracts to the letter, and ignoring their contracts won't do anything to help them."

Mobius nodded in understanding. "In that case, how about this proposal," he said. "Make her a Raven, and I'll watch her."

"What?" Ace said, one eye looking at Mobius. Jen looked between the two, having not been spoken to.

"Consorts can be taken on many missions," Mobius said. "I'd accompany her on those missions and make sure she follows them to the letter, then let her try some missions on her own to see how she fares."

Ace looked at him, looking Mobius in the eye as if trying to see some hidden reason for the proposal. He then looked at Jen and looked at her. Jen could only look back questionably, unsure why Mobius is going out of his way for her. After another moment of silence, Ace sighed. "Jen," he started, "do you understand the terms of his proposal?" She merely nodded in understanding, although she was still lost. Ace nodded back. "Alright," he replied. He put his papers in a pile and put then in a white binder. "As of now, you're a special case of Raven. As such, you are awarded the name 'Tanja' during battle situations." She sat confused for a moment, then smiled as she took in what he said. "I will monitor your progress from my room, which Mobius here will be responsible for sending to my computer." Mobius merely twitched. Ace smirked. "I know you hate paperwork, but how else am I supposed to see when she's ready to strike out on her own."

"Thank you, Ace sir," Jen said, getting up and ready to leave.

"Hold, Tanja," Ace said, causing the blue haired girl to stop in her tracks. "While under Mobius's watch, you listen to his orders as if they are part of the contract. If I hear that you disobeyed orders from him or the contract, you'll be piloting MTs faster than you can say Ace. Do you understand?" Jen could only nod. "Good. Here," he said, giving her a slip of paper. "This is your room number and lock combination. Now that that's settled… Mobius!" He nodded in reply. "Get her AC ready for a mission, then show her where she will sleep." Ace stood up and stretched. "You're free to go. I've got something else to deal with tomorrow." Mobius and Jen nodded in reply before Mobius himself led the new raven out of the office.

"I'm surprised," Jen murmured. "I didn't think that Ace would be the examiner."

"He has little else to do aside from handle the Arena battles," Mobius explained. "He hasn't had a halfway decent fight in the arena for nearly five months, and he never accepts missions ever since he made A-1." He continued to move, heading for a shop. "Alright then, first thing is to meet up with Greg."

"Who?" Her question was answered the instant she entered, noticing a man behind the counter. His hair was black, but graying in many spots. He was currently about 60 years old, but his brown eyes still held fire from his youth. His own face showed some wrinkles and his body is relatively lean. He gave them a smile as they entered his AC part shop.

"Welcome," he said. "How may I help ya?" he started before recognizing Mobius. "Ey, Yasuke. 'Avn't seen ya here fer six months."

Jen blinked and looked at Mobius. 'Wait a minute,' she thought. 'Ace was badmouthing about a Yasuke wrecking Unit 2 nearly a year ago. Was he…'

Mobius shook his head. "I know," he replied in an emotionless tone. He gave a brief glance to Jen. "Fresh new Raven. She needs to get an AC ready and learn about the shop." Greg blinked and looked at the blue haired girl, who blinked in surprise.

"Nother hatchlin'?" he said, looking her over. She frowned, thinking he was an old pervert. "Er hem. I swear, thay're gittn younger an younger evry year," he said, only looking at her chest for a second. He rolled his eyes. "Ditch them implants, girl. Bust like that wit such a perty face'll git ya knocked up in a week."

She turned red in the face, with a look of pure anger in her eyes. "Was that a warning or an insult?" she growled in anger. "These are real!"

He blinked, rubbing the back of his head. "Sorry bout that," he said. "Seems tha younger generation 'as gotten a bit bigger as well." She gave him a royally angered look for that one. "Seriously, better watch yerself. Buncha creeps won't hesitate in defiling a perty ting like ya."

"I'll keep that in mind," she said, still apparently angered by the earlier insult, or what she saw as one.

"Geeze," Greg said. "Nev'r got a hatchlin' angered at meh before…" He sighed. "Look 'ere, I wez a Raven jest like ye are now," he said. "I've seen too many young ladies like yerself git caught up with tha slime an havin ta quit the Raven work cause a tham." He sighed. "I hate hav'n to see the parts I sell gettin wasted as much as I hate ta see Ravens gettin unwanted kids or killed." Jen started to understand what he was talking about, having not considered the possibility that another Raven would try that. She paled at the thought of such a thing happening to her, especially if she got pregnant with some dickhead. He paused for a minute, then looked at Mobius again. He noticed how Mobius had actually put a hand on his face, his head shaking behind it. "What ya here fer again?"

"We're trying to get her AC ready," Mobius said from behind his hand.

Greg blinked dumbly at Mobius, and then got up. "Ah, yes. Jest go down them areas over thar. I don't 'ave many of them newer parts, but yeh sould be able ta build somtin." Greg averted his eyes from Jen as he went in back. Her eyes followed him questionably until she noticed where he was going. In the back of the shop stood an AC, one she had seen nearly fifteen years ago. She had memorized the configuration years ago in an attempt to find the pilot once more.

The AC in the back was created by Emeraude, an AC company that now only exists on Mars. At least, the majority of its parts were Emeraude. Crest currently is the part producer whose parts are anywhere near what Emeraude had. It included the EHD-NIGHTEYE head (the SKYEYE of the past), ECM-XR00 core (the STO's predecessor), EAN-1111 arms (retired in AD 136, when Crest took over as Emeraude's successor on earth), and the ELN-02A legs (Rumored to be the closest to the old Chrome legs). The boosters actually belong to Zeo Matrix, the high strength ZBT-H4/T that sparked one of Mirage's thrusters. The arms mounted BEX-BAMS-287 missile interceptors, a Balena product that never was reproduced on earth. Its weapons included EWM-S608 missiles, EWC-GN44-AC grenade launcher, ZWG-XP/400 pulse rifle, and ELS-3443 laser blade.

"Ancient…" she murmured.

"Did you say something?" Mobius asked her.

She looked up and shook her head. "Sorry…" she replied. "Got a little distracted."

He looked in back as well, looking over the AC back there for a moment before leading Jen away. "Alright then," he said. "This is the main part of the shop." She looked at the area in question. It was only a row of walls with different displays. Each display showed a corresponding part above a screen, which showed a series of parts, their approximate stats, and their cost. "We just go to each spot and check out what is and what isn't available." He looked at the display, and frowned. "Damn."

"What's wrong?" she asked, moving closer to the head screen.

"That," he said, pointing where the SKYEYE part ID was. It was highlighted in red. "When a part is highlighted in red, the part is currently unavailable." He groaned as he tried to think. "I was going to try and assemble an AC for you that uses similar parts to my own. It would be an easy design to understand and fly, but it seems we may need to try something a little different." He thought for a minute, trying to figure what parts to combine for the new girl. "This may take a while. How about you check out the weapons selection and pick out a few you like. I'll stay here and try and work out your Core's form." He looked back at her. "Any preferable AC types you'd like?"

"Something that is humanoid in appearance," Jen said as she moved over to the weapons screens, looking them over. Mobius nodded as he started to look for the parts that would help her. He eventually decided that she would definitely use the STO core and the SNSK legs he was accustomed to. He then checked the arm types, eventually finding the MAL-RE/REX arms. 'Not as defensive as the MARTE, but it does boast lighter weight and better plating.' He thought as he selected that, then started browsing the heads. He checked them all, then decided on the MHD-RE/008, a unique Mirage part with relatively good specs, nearly on par with SKYEYE. Nodding in satisfaction, he chose a pair of MBT-OX/002 boosters for her to try. He froze when he heard a squeal and turned towards Jen. "What's the matter?"

She gave a smirk. "They have a new laser rifle!" She said. He only blinked. "I like the way they work! They can be fired without worrying about buying ammo later, cause immense damage, and often are effective against many AC types because of a common place design flaw!"

He smirked. "Seems you did your homework," he said humorously. "Just remember that laser swords work the same way."

"I know that!" she retorted. "I already decided on the MLB-LS/003 laser sword, but I really want to use that MWG-XCB/75 laser rifle!"

He smirked. "Alright, alright. I did say you can pick the weapons," he said, deciding to get the CGP-ROZ generator for her AC to accommodate the energy weapon. He then picked out a RIX-CR14 radiator and VREX-ST-12 FCS. Jen finished up with the MWM-S42/6, but was stopped from picking her final weapon. Mobius chose for her final weapon to be the CWC-GNS-15, a grenade launcher of smaller size and less firepower than his larger launcher.

"Why are you having me use that?" Jen protested.

"Because I saw you eying the back mounted laser weapons," he replied. "I got you a high strength generator, but it cost some of the AC's support. Not only would your AC be overweight with the Core parts I selected and your weapon preferences, it would be straining with the large amount of energy you'd be consuming. Burn it too much, and the generator won't be as effective." Jen was successfully confused. She had heard that ACs don't perform well when one of their parts puts its limits over the edge. She only knew not to overweigh the whole AC, otherwise it won't be as mobile as normal. "Besides, even if you didn't pick a large energy cannon, the smaller ones consume far more energy than the cannons."

"Fine," she said, selecting the launcher specified, then turning away from the display. She then noticed that Mobius wasn't ready to leave yet. He was at the final display, something she had overlooked. "What's wrong?" she asked.

He nodded and started selecting parts. "These are option parts," he explained. "They won't drastically change your AC's stats, but they'll help. Here." He showed her the selections. "Your AC will be quite stable as it is, but I'm worried about the energy weapons you want to use. To compensate, I'm getting parts to enhance your rifle." He started pointing at the parts. "This one reduced how much energy to spend with each shot. That will help when you're firing your rifle while skirting around with the boosters. This one increases the firing rate, allowing you to fire faster. This final one will slightly increase the attack power of the rifle. I also picked out a condenser part to enhance your generator's energy supply." He sighed. "Seriously, though, I dislike using energy weapons aside from the sword," he said before moving towards the sales desk.

"Why is that?" she asked, following him over to the desk as well.

"'Cause that dam fool burned ta generator." Greg appeared at the desk, looking at Mobius. Jen's attention turned to Greg. "'E was in da middle of a mission wen he went and fired his gat too much. "'Is systems didn't respond tat well cause a tat."

He groaned. "Basically, I pushed the generator beyond its limits by firing my laser rifle while overboosting too much," he said. "The generator couldn't keep up and failed on me, leaving me to fight with by grenade launcher for nearly a minute."

"Dem parts ya used din't help much ither," Greg said. "Yer AC's parts took too much energy from da generator, causing it ta recharge much longer tan needed."

"I know, I know," Mobius replied, clearly not liking the way the discussion was going. "I fixed that problem with solid shells and lower energy using parts." He groaned as he tapped a few keys on the desk's screen. A list of the selected parts appeared on it. "These are the parts that she will use for her AC."

Greg looked at the screen, not really caring that it was upside down to him. He nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad," he replied. "I'll ave her ready by tamorro." He then looked at Jen. "She wan it painted and named?" he asked.

She nodded. "Yes," she replied. "Here is how I would like it to look." She tapped a few keys on the screen, changing it into a blue and white design, with red detailing lights. "I'd like to call it Hunter III."

Greg paused a moment. "Alright," he said. He nodded to the two. "As I said, she'll be ready by tamorro." He paused and looked down at the counter. "Hunter…" he murmured. "Why's tat sound so familr?"

She looked at him, barely catching that last part. "You say something?" she asked questionably.

"Nuthin," he replied, turning towards the back room. He stopped and looked at her again. "By ta way, never did git yer name. Min telling me, or do ya prefer hatchlin?"

"Name's Tanja," she replied.

"Yer real name, pleeze."

"Jen Kasuna," she replied. He nodded and started leaving to the back. "Later, Twilight."

He froze in place and turned around. "Wat ya say?"

"Nothing," she replied, leaving the shop without another word. Mobius merely blinked, then left as well. Greg just looked at the door they just left through, his eyes frowning. He looked at the door for another minute, then shook his head as he turned to the assembly room,

…………..

"Anyways, rely on Greg to get anything you need for your AC," Mobius said, leading the way again. "I would prefer if you stuck with Hunter's current configuration for a few missions before you try modifying it." He smirked as he saw how she was looking at all the ACs they were passing by. "I see you're easily getting acquainted with the garage, but we'll leave that for tomorrow." She looked at him with a pout. "Don't give me that, it's a lot easier to understand how the garage works when your AC is ready for action, but it won't be ready until morning." He then checked his watch. "Speaking of which, it's getting late. Greg's going to be pulling an all nighter tonight. No point staying up longer than we should. Come, I'll show you to your room."

Jen merely nodded and dug into her pocket, pulling out a paper. It was the paper Ace had given her. "It says room S44-5."

Mobius slammed a wall. "That sonofabitch," he said in one word. "I should've known Ace would pull this."

She looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"That's my room," Mobius replied after a minute.

……….

That's the first chapter. Next time, Tanja is introduced to more of the Nest and her first mission. Although the mission is easy enough, Mobius proves to be a problem. See you in Controller Chronicles, chapter 2: Mission.