Chapter 3
The Might of Mankind
For the first time since the battle had started, Hackett smiled his first genuine smile. The 5th Fleet had finally arrived in all its glory. No less than fifty ships were now present; frigates, cruisers, destroyers, all encircling the alien fleet while the carriers held back. The amount of power arrayed was truly awe-inspiring. Hackett, however, had not time to bask in it, as he was soon faced with a new hologram.
Admiral Silas Slade was the very definition of hard. He was not a man who minced words or flinched away from adversity and always maintained a calm and calculating demeanor. His face was clean-shaven, neither handsome nor ugly, but simply plain. He had cold gray eyes that stared with such intensity that no one could maintain eye contact with him for extended periods of time, which led to his moniker, "Steel-Eyes" Slade. Though past fifty, there was hardly a wrinkle present, as though time had forgotten to age him—or perhaps was afraid to.
Hackett saluted as though the President of the Federation was in front of him. Slade was a legend amongst the Federation Navy, for like himself, he had risen from enlisted man to his current rank and in record time. A born leader and tactician, Slade had seen action against some of the worst things the galaxy could throw at him and remained undaunted. Today was no exception.
The Admiral returned the salute, though his expression remained unreadable. "At ease, Captain Hackett," he said. His deep voice carried an English accent, the kind that any respectable vid villain would kill to have. "I see you and Captain Karuma have kept things well in hand for us."
"Yes sir," Hackett replied, returning to a slightly more relaxed state. "Out of fifteen enemy vessels, five are destroyed and their flagship is crippled. However, the aliens managed to land an unknown number of forces on Shanxi before we could engage them."
"Has there been any contact with the colony?"
"No sir. The aliens must have taken out communication hubs before invading, but given that Shanxi is lightly defended, I think it appropriate to assume that their situation is less-than desirable. With your permission, I would like to begin unloading all ground personnel to relieve the garrison."
Slade nodded. "Granted. What is your compliment?"
"Two full divisions, two hundred mecha, a hundred Engels, and supplies to support them, Admiral. Tager Packs Jericho and Golgotha are also present."
The Admiral's gray eyes seemed to suddenly light up and Hackett shuddered involuntarily. "Captain, deploy all ground forces save the Tagers. Have them board the crippled vessel. I want answers, so get me some prisoners."
Hackett saluted sharply. "At once, sir."
#
All across the Xerxes, jubilation reigned supreme as Hackett relayed the orders. Finally, they were taking the fight to the aliens. In the hangar bay, mecha and Engel pilots prepared to drop while the ground-pounders did final checks on the weapons and armor.
Federation tactics dictated that the first wave of an assault would be composed of the massive war machines, which would deliver crippling strikes to enemy forces and pave the way for the soldiers and other vehicles. The Nazzadi mecha, being the fastest, would blitz enemy positions, to be followed by Engels, who could take incredible amounts of punishment with Sword-class mecha offering support.
"All right, boys, you know the drill," said Alison as her team walked over to their respective mecha. "Stay together, maintain constant radio contact and watch each other's backs. No gung-ho shit." She gave a pointed look at Jon, who grinned back cheekily.
"Yes ma'am, Sarge."
"Good. I'll be on point. Jon and Jacob, you two stay behind me. Jimmy, you keep an eye out for any troopers who want to take a shot at us. Clear?"
"Yes, ma'am!" all three chorused.
"Then suit up and get ready."
With that, each pilot made their way to their respective mech. Alison's was a Claymore, thirty-eight feet of death-dealing fury. Often called a Broadsword on steroids, the hulking mech was something no one wanted to be standing against. Outfitted with rocket pods, a laser cannon, and a hyperedge blade more the twice the height of a man, there was not much that could withstand it.
For Jacob, a Gladius waited for him. A respectable twenty-six feet in height, the Gladius was optimized for urban combat, something that was the bane of most other mech designs. Though not capable of dishing out the amount of firepower a Claymore could, the Gladius had its own little surprises: a plasma cannon to take out things from a distance, a flamethrower to ferret out the more stubborn elements of resistance, and two hyperedge blades retracted in either arm reserved for close-combat. All in all, a hardy machine capable of giving the enemy a very bad day.
Jacob clambered into the cockpit of his mech and keyed the activation code. The mech hummed to life and the cockpit closed shut, sealing him in. Next, computer systems flashed on, displaying all aspects of the Gladius, from hull integrity to weapon to sensory systems. A quick diagnostic showed that all systems were green, operating at full capacity.
The built in comm system crackled and Alison's voice rang out. "Okay boys, callsign Excalibur is all green. What's your status?"
"Callsign Quickdraw is all green," came James's reply.
"Callsign Mastodon is all green," Jon confirmed. "Ready to kick some ass."
"Callsign Chrome is all green," Jacob said.
"Then get ready. We drop in ten minutes."
#
Back on the Resolute Spirit, the mood was far from ecstatic. On the contrary, mass hopelessness was rampant and fear hung like a cloying fog. What had started off as a routine patrol had now devolved into what could only be considered a precursor to a full-scale war. Outnumbered, outgunned and surrounded with no chance of escape, there was no doubt in anyone's mind that they were facing certain death. Some, however, held onto a sliver of hope that the aliens would try to negotiate and that this ugly matter would be resolved without further bloodshed. Jorus was not among them; he was sure that the only reason that they had not joined the Spirits yet was because of one reason: the aliens wanted information, and that meant they needed captives.
His suspicions were confirmed a moment later. On one of the computer screens, an alert flashed; a nearby technician reported that there looked to be two small shuttles heading for the Spirit. Ordinarily, this would not have been a concern; two shuttles worth of troops would not be able to take a dreadnought. But given that a single ship had devastated their fleet and only suffered superficial damage, it would be best to assume that the aliens had something up their sleeves.
"Officer Severus," he said, directing his attention at one of the security personnel. The Turian stood at attention. "Gather all security shipmen and head off whatever is in those shuttles."
"Yes sir," the officer replied. He pointed at a few other security staff and together they made their way off the bridge.
#
"All mecha and Engel pilots," a mechanical voice intoned, "prepare for drop to Shanxi in T-minus one minute."
Jacob's grip on the Gladius's controls tightened. This was it; no more hanging back. There was a colony to liberate. One last diagnostic revealed that nothing had spontaneously gone wrong with any of the systems. That was the beauty of arcanotech: sure, trying to make something new will probably make you go bat-shit insane, but once it's made, it'll almost never let you down.
The comm system crackled again and their squadron leader spoke up. "Okay Sigma Squadron, listen up! We'll be part of the first wave of Sword-classes, so it's our job to mop up anything the Nazzadi and Engels leave behind. Once we've gotten a foothold, we secure the area for the ground-pounders. After everyone is down and set up, we'll attempt to establish contact with the commander of Shanxi's garrison and rendezvous at his location. Don't get lax just because we beat their fleet; we still have no idea what to expect from their ground forces, so mark your targets and make your shots count. Good luck and Godspeed."
The bay soon echoed with the thundering sound of multi-ton footsteps as mecha and Engels made their way to the hangar door. The mechanical voice spoke again.
"T-minus thirty seconds to drop."
The hangar bay doors slid open, exposing the gigantic war machines to the void of space. In spite of being in a sealed environment, Jacob shivered. In the past, most mecha had no need to be suited for a vacuum environment as the war was fought almost entirely on Earth. Today, all mecha and Engels were modified to survive space and reentry. The thought of hurtling out into that endless blackness to freeze, suffocate, rupture and finally die had always gave him pause. It was not an uncommon phobia; many cadets had suffered from it and washed out because they couldn't conquer it.
The mechanical voice began the countdown. "Ten…nine…eight…seven…six…"
Jacob entered a state of intense focus. The rest of the universe no longer mattered. He only concentrated on the mission and how he was going to see it through.
"Five…four…three…two…one."
The second the last number was uttered, the Nazzadi mecha leapt from their positions and fired up their A-pods, the bursts of antigravity propelling them at speeds of over 160 miles an hour towards Shanxi. Once they had all left, the Engels followed, and Jacob could swear he heard the creatures entombed in their armor make what sounded like howls of joy at the coming battle.
Now, it was Sigma Squadron's turn.
Jacob activated his A-pods and the Gladius took off alongside the other members of his squadron. Alison's voice came in through the comm system.
"Stay in formation, boys. We don't want to get separated during reentry. Quickdraw, you're five meters too far from the group. Adjust at once, do you copy?"
"I copy, Excalibur," he said. "Correcting trajectory now."
His voice was so calm you would think he was doing nothing more difficult than taking a stroll through a park. It was made even more astounding when you considered what he was piloting. A Centurion was a mere ten feet tall, absolutely miniscule compared to most other mecha. In the old days, something that size wouldn't even have its own A-pods, let alone be reinforced for space and reentry. Even with present-day modifications, nine out of ten reentry failures happened to the small mecha like the Centurion. Pilots of the larger mecha might snicker at the diminutive models, but they had a healthy respect for their aviators. It took serious balls to stick yourself in what was essentially an enlarged suit of power armor and hurl yourself at a world.
The Gladius's built-in LAI computer systems spoke up. "Atmospheric reentry imminent. Optimal speed achieved. Estimated time to planet-fall: five minutes."
"Hell yeah!" Jon whooped over the comms. "Atmospheric reentry! I fucking love this part!"
Alison's inevitable chastisement was quick in forthcoming. "Stay focused, Mastodon. I don't need you getting drop-drunk."
Drop-drunk was a term coined for the feeling a mech pilot often got from a reentry. Piloting a mech was a rush, but it was the fall from orbit that really taxed you. Some pilots experienced such a euphoric endorphin high, they blacked out and were unable to decrease their fall's speed. Usually, the mech's automated ejector system would save the pilot, but sometimes things went wrong, and the end result was not pretty.
Any further banter was stalled as the team entered Shanxi's gravitational pull. The glow from the heat of reentry soon began to engulf them as they were drawn inexorably towards the planet's surface.
"Hull integrity stable," Jacob's LAI informed him. "Exterior temperature within acceptable parameters. Mech is now sixty kilometers from the planet's surface."
Jacob kept a steady hand on the A-pods' controls and pressed a button. The Gladius jerked back, slowed by a fraction. The first instinct one has is to immediately try to slow their descent as quickly as possible, but that put strain on the mech's chassis and A-pods. The trick was to produce careful bursts of antigravity every ten kilometers and gradually bring the mech to a manageable speed.
"Mech is now fifty kilometers from the planet's surface." Another burst of antigravity followed the information.
It wouldn't be long now.
#
Petty Officer Severus made his way through the Spirit's corridors, trying to keep his imagination in check. Given what he had seen thus far from the aliens, his mind was all but swimming with horrible possibilities about what was in store for him and his team. The task was made more difficult by his teammates, who seemed to be unable to keep their own thoughts to themselves. One in particular, a greenhorn named Grixus, was the most scared, and thereby most vocal.
"We're all in for it," he said for the thirteenth time. "We shouldn't have attacked these aliens."
"Grixus, shut up," snapped Laelia, another new recruit. Try though she might, she was unable to hide the fearful tremors in her voice.
"They want to know why we did it," Grixus continued, seeming to not have heard her. "We'll be lucky if they just kill us, I can feel it." His voice began to rise to a higher pitch. "If they take us alive, they'll torture us. They're probably already getting a room ready so they can carve us up!"
"Grixus, I swear to all the Spirits that if you don't shut up, I'm going to shoot you!"
"Both of you keep quiet," Severus ordered. "Panicking isn't going to help us."
Silence was all he heard, but given the circumstances, he took it as an indication that his order was going to be followed. Severus held up a hand signaling to stop and called up his omni-tool to see how close the alien shuttles were. To his surprise, he found that they had stopped several meters away from the ship. Severus frowned; that made no sense. When boarding an enemy ship, speed was essential. You had to get in and get in quick before the defenders could hole up, or else you'd be in for a long and bloody fight.
Laelia noticed his confusion. "What is it, sir?"
"The alien shuttles have stopped."
"Maybe they had second thoughts?" Grixus piped up hopefully.
Severus snorted. "Don't get your hopes up, rookie. They've got something planned." He tapped a few keys on his omni-tool, bringing up a communication program. Maybe the other teams had something.
"Red team, anything to report?"
The response came almost immediately. "Nothing, sir."
"Gold team, have you noticed anything out of the ordinary?"
Again, the response was quick in coming. "Aside from the obvious, nothing."
"Blue team, is everything all clear?"
Silence.
"Blue team, do you copy?"
Still, the deafening silence persisted.
Fuck, thought Severus. He knew better than to think that the lack of response was due to equipment failure. To his omni-tool, he said, "All teams, converge on Blue team's position in Engineering."
Looks like the game is on.
#
Colonel Thanasis Tarkin, commander of the 114th Legion, was not having a good day. When the offensive had first begun, there was resistance, but thanks to the preliminary bombardment it was nothing special. Then, before he knew what was happening, his legion was blitzed by what looked to be giant airborne mecha that took out most of the heavy equipment. Now, they had even bigger mecha that just dropped from the sky and were currently ripping their way through his troops' ranks. Chaos was rampant, with Turian soldiers firing everywhere and yet dying by the dozens.
From the cover of a destroyed Tyrus tank, Thanasis screamed his frustration to his adjutant. "Where the fuck did these things come from?! The fleet should still be blockading this damn planet!"
The adjutant ducked down as a plasma blast slammed nearby. "We haven't gotten any word from them! The aliens are jamming all communications!"
"Well, isn't that just perfect?" the colonel snarled. "Someone get a line to General Desolas! I don't care if they're jamming us; we need to get some Spirits-damned support here!"
As he relayed his orders, he caught sight of another Tyrus firing its mass accelerator cannon at the airborne mecha, without success. Then, one of them landed right beside it with such impact that Thanasis could have sworn he had bounced nearly a foot in the air. It was a gigantic thing; he guessed it to be at least sixty feet in height, fashioned like some massive bipedal creature, complete with claws and horns, but what made it truly unnerving was how it moved. It didn't walk with a clunky and slow gait like the kind the Hierarchy used, but rather like a living creature, fluid and with purpose. What's more, Thanasis distinctly heard the thing growl, like how a predator would make when it catches sight of its prey.
The Tyrus's gun swiveled to face the new threat and cracked off a point-blank shot, which tore right through the mech's shoulder. The thing let out a tremendous bellow of rage and, unless Thanasis was greatly mistaken, pain. Thinking that the Tyrus had dealt a crippling blow, Thanasis smiled grimly. Then, to his shock, though, the wound quickly closed and the armor followed suit. Soon, it was as if it had never been hit.
The mech let out a howl of rage and grabbed hold of the Tyrus's cannon, ripping it off with contemptuous ease. Then, it curled its right hand into a massive fist and lashed out at the tank. The thirteen-ton vehicle was sent bouncing like a child's ball before coming to rest a fair distance away. Apparently not satisfied, the mech held up the same hand and, with a terrible shriek, a beam of energy slammed into the Tyrus, rendering it nothing more than flaming slag. The mech rumbled and returned to the air, looking for new enemies.
As Thanasis was marveling at how something so big could fly, his adjutant tapped him urgently on the shoulder. "Sir, I think we have more of them incoming."
The colonel's gaze followed the direction of his adjutant's talon. Sure enough, glowing trails marked what could only be more supersized mecha. Thanasis promptly summed up the situation with three simple words:
"Well, fuck me."
Codex: Federation Mecha
The advent of arcanotechnology brought many changes in society, and the military was no exception. Now possessing a source of limitless energy and knowledge of non-Euclidean formulas, previously impossible war machines suddenly found their way into the service of the armed forces. The most obvious, as well as iconic, was the creation of mecha. These giant bipedal walkers revolutionized warfare, being versatile, tough, lethal and capable of unleashing tremendous power. There are even designs optimized for deep sea combat, though outside of pursuing Deep Ones on Earth, they see little deployment.
Sword-Class Mecha
These mecha were designed by humanity, and served as the backbone of their armies since the days of the New Earth Government. They have earned a reputation of being a tough and reliable weapons platform, no matter where they are deployed.
Broadsword
Multi-Purpose Main Battle Mech
26' tall
Stocky, sturdy, heavily armored, and reliable as hell – these are the signature characteristics of the Federation's multi-purpose main battle mech. The Broadsword has become the standard to which all other mecha are measured. Its stocky torso is built for heavy armor and frame strength. Its versatile weapons array can manage any close or ranged combat situation. To this day, the Broadsword is the most widely deployed mech unit among the NEF military and can be effectively used for any tactical application. Many an enemy has experienced their last moments at the hands of a Broadsword.
Centurion
Tactical Powered Armor
10' tall
The Centurion has a reputation for toughness and reliability. Mobile infantry, airborne, and special operations units, as well as police and private security forces, have deployed the Centurion with considerable success. The wide distribution of the Centurion can be attributed to the flexibility of its "modular system" architecture. Interchangeable shoulder mounts, wrist mounts, and "back pack" modules allow for rapid configuration changes, creating great diversity in function.
Claymore
Heavy Weapons Battle Mech
38' tall
The Claymore is best suited for open terrain where it can take devastating advantage of its large laser cannon and rocket pod. Even in close quarters, this unit prefers plenty of room to slash with its hefty hyperedge blade. Even if the surrounding terrain becomes too confining, the Claymore possesses plenty of size and strength to clear as much room as it needs. Dwarfed only by certain Engels, the Claymore is an awesome sight to behold on the battlefield, and one that is often the last an enemy will see.
Crusader
Tactical Powered Armor
10' tall
This light and relatively inexpensive armor typically finds service within civilian sector police and security forces. However, the economy of size in the Crusader does not allow hard points for internally mounted weapons systems. The wearer must carry hand-held assault weapons, holstered sidearms, or blades. The physical design of the Crusader is such that the outer contour of the armor follows the natural shape of the human form, with only a slight increase in shoulder size. It was designed to easily maneuver through confined spaces.
Gladius
Close Urban Combat Battle Mech
26' tall
The urban battlefield is a place where most mecha units are unsuited for. Filled with unknown dangers and the threat of ambush around every corner, fighting within city streets has taken an enormous and costly toll among the lives of mecha pilots. Yet, where other mecha may fear, the Gladius makes its home. Built on the frame and design principles of the Broadsword, the Gladius sports enhanced ground speed for rapid urban deployment, a flamethrower for clearing ground units, and two deadly forearm hyperedge blades for close quarter combat. Advanced thermal sensors allow the Gladius to detect possible threats that may lie among the debris and structures of the urban environment.
Rapier
Tactical Stealth Combat Mech
18' tall
The Rapier is the ninja of the Sword-classes. Built on the same frame as the Saber, the Rapier is fast, agile, and equipped with stealth capability. It is the only Sword-class mech that sports the angles of black stealth armor. The Rapier is most often used to infiltrate behind enemy lines, plant large tactical explosives, disable enemy communications and support facilities, spot artillery barrages, perform surgical strikes, and gather enemy intelligence. Though not as fast as the Saber, the Rapier can manage a respectable 60 mph in the air, which is enough to quickly cover enemy territory and get home as soon as possible.
Saber
Tactical Reconnaissance Mech
18' tall
History has proven that victory on a battlefield often goes to the side that possesses the best intelligence. The Migou's Dragonfly mecha seemed to put the tactical reconnaissance advantage firmly in the lap of the aliens. That is, until the NEG deployed the Saber. Built with a smaller and lighter frame than its bigger Sword-class brothers, the Saber is equipped with the latest in surveillance and sensor equipment and serves its purpose as well today as in the past. The Saber's A-Pod configuration can propel it at a startling and fully amphibious 120 mph, making it the fastest of the Sword-classes. Its high rate of speed and on-board ECM's make the Saber a difficult target to acquire.
Scimitar
Artillery Support Mech
22' tall
No mecha formation in battle is complete without the Scimitar. Utilizing long-range sensors and information relays from other recon mecha, along with spec ops laser painting, the Scimitar provides crushing artillery support with deadly accuracy. Its pair of charge beams and its long-range missile rack can lay flat a given area in seconds. The Scimitar is built on a shorter and wider frame than the Broadsword, making the mech a lower profile target and easier to conceal among battlefield terrain.
Falcata
Multi-Purpose Amphibious Main Battle Mech
26' tall
The Falcata enhances the design characteristics of the Broadsword. Much like its cousin, the Falcata serves as a mainstay combat vehicle for amphibious operations. Its streamlined form allows the Falcata to move more rapidly and gracefully through water. This mech is designed to charge enemy positions in a vertical swim – minimizing its silhouetted target area and allowing the pilot to fire a volley of torpedoes from a "backpack" pod before reorienting itself into a horizontal position for closer ranged combat. As an A-Pod driven vehicle, the Falcata can easily erupt from the ocean surface and take flight if necessary.
Khopesh
Amphibious Heavy Weapons Battle Mech
38' tall
The tactical application for the Khopesh is very similar to the Falcata. Its back-mounted torpedo pod serves as a wonderful announcement to the enemy that something big and nasty is coming. The Khopesh will typically charge at the heart of an enemy position with several Falcata in flanking support. Its hulking size and crushing strength make this monster an amazing spectacle to witness in the middle of any fray. Its linked laser cannons prove again and again the distinct advantage of extreme firepower both above and below the surface of the ocean.
Makhaira
Amphibious Tactical Powered Armor
10' tall
The Makhaira is the latest in light armor weapons platforms. Environmental sealing and structural reinforcement against underwater pressure have made this powered armor suite a bit bulkier than its Crusader cousin. Also, the designers explored modified Jump Pods combined with an impeller drive as a primary mode of underwater propulsion. Thus, the Makhaira is equipped with a drive unit on its back that sucks water in an intake and propels it out a smaller exhaust – much like a turbine engine. These units are most often deployed from submarines with each mech carrying one of two different weapons packages.
Xiphos
Amphibious Artillery Support Mech
22' tall
The Falcata and the Khopesh might have all the glory in charging enemy positions. However, the Xiphos certainly sees to it that these assaults meet as little resistance as possible. Not many enemy units can stand against its twin threat of its charge beams and a high explosive torpedo or two is sure to soften up opposing forces. Like the Scimitar, the Xiphos can be vulnerable at close quarters, but very little can match this mega-sniper in ranged engagements.
Nazzadi Mecha
When the Nazzadi were assimilated into the NEG, the top minds found that these unique mecha would make a wondrous addition to the Combined Arms Concept. Nazzadi mecha are made for the purpose of "lightning war," and as such are among the fastest mecha the Federation can field, even to this day. They are named after natural weather phenomena on Earth, though their original Nazzadi names are sometimes used.
Blizzard (Zinabi)
Heavy Weapons Battle Mech
36' tall
The Zinabi is perhaps the fastest mecha in its size class and can leap a couple football fields to close with an enemy. They are the first wave of many assaults, tearing into the confrontation, occupying the enemy, and giving the rest of the force a chance to take position. Though more than capable of dishing out punishment in open terrain, the Blizzard gets its greatest advantage up close where it can let loose with its large lightning gun and archetypal Nazzadi acid-dripping claws. There's nothing quite like a swarm of Blizzards dropping out of the sky, as any vet of the First Arcanotech War can tell you.
Borealis (Baraki)
Tactical Powered Armor
10' tall
The Borealis is a suit of powered armor than can keep up with its larger brethren. Best deployed in urban or close combat situations, they blaze in, strike, and fade away, knocking out structural power as they go. The Baraki is often used by military or police forces to clear buildings or tight spaces that might be too dangerous for infantry alone. Armed with hand-held AP cannons, Special Police Powered Armor Teams (SPATs) make considerable use of the Borealis to hunt hostile lifeforms inside arcologies.
Eclipse (Sunadi)
Tactical Stealth Combat Mech
16' tall
The Eclipse is the true original stealth combat mech. The original Sunadi was incredibly effective in the First Arcanotech War as early New Earth Government stealth systems were anything but dependable. When Nazzadi Systems Design was formed to keep the Nazzadi martial tradition alive, the NEG asked them to help redesign its stealth units. The Eclipse remains the fastest of all, leaving most units in the dust. Used for any of the same missions as other stealth mecha, the Sunadi is most often utilized for surgical strikes where a fast, agile mech provides the best edge. Though light and fairly fragile, the Eclipse has its speed and a lightning gun to make hunters miserable.
Gale (Tymazzi)
Tactical Powered Armor
10' tall
Primarily designed as a support unit, the Gale is unlike many mecha its size. Not just Nazzadi fast, it has an embedded charge beam – a big hit in a small package. Staggered amongst other mecha or teamed up as support for Borealis units, the Tymazzi is versatile and is the most common type of Nazzadi powered armor used by the NEG. It's also not a bad amphibious unit for coastal deployment, though it lacks the depth reinforcement to follow some enemies into their own territory. Still, this little unit carries a certain element of surprise as no one really expects powered armor to hit quite that hard.
Hurricane (Kameni)
Tactical Reconnaissance Mech
14' tall
Like most Nazzadi mecha, the Hurricane fills the light and fast recon slot in the New Earth Federation's Combined Arms Concept. It is swift above or below the waves and sports a sensor suite filled with nearly all the latest systems that Nazzadi Systems Design has developed. Typically, Kameni are not combat units. They get in, get the intelligence, and get out fast, jamming communications and dropping grav bombs to slow anyone who noticed them along the way. Equipped with an X-ray system to see and the speed to catch them, it holds its own special place in the current age.
Maelstrom (Oryladi)
Artillery Support Mech
25' tall
Not often are harrying and support functions built into the same unit; the Maelstrom is an exception to that rule. It combines devastating artillery support with lightning speed. It analyzes targets, fires, and races to a new vantage point long before the enemy can mount an effective resistance. The Maelstrom is as named – a rain of destruction that is almost impossible to escape. Lithe and sleek like other Nazzadi mecha, the Oryladi also carries a chaff dispenser to evade the very same weapons it uses so effectively.
Storm (Vadoni)
Multi-Purpose Main Battle Mech
24' tall
Fast, agile and deadly. These are traits often associated with Nazzadi mecha. Nazzadi engineers claim that the Migou stayed out of mecha design, giving them the opportunity to create their own war machines. The Storm is a part of their racial identity, of which they remain proud. It is the mold from which all other Nazzadi designs are made. The modern day version of the Vadoni is an updated version of the very same mech that terrorized the nascent New Earth Government in the First Arcanotech War. Some older vets don't like being around them because of the memories they inevitably dredge up. Overall, it is built to hit fast and hit hard. It can function as an amphibious troop if necessary, though it loses its significant speed advantage. Like the Sword-class Broadsword, the Storm is effective for a wide variety of tactical applications and therefore sees the most deployment of any Nazzadi mech.
Tornado (Daki)
Close Urban Battle Mech
24' tall
Roaring through the streets at over 180 mph, the Tornado tears up things up close and personal, just like its namesake. The signature Nazzadi hyperedge acid-dripping claws combine with a strong frame so that the Daki can rend enemies apart with its bare hands, and its large lightning gun not only takes out groups, it takes out power systems. You know when one has come to town. Designed from the Storm, the Tornado is light for an urban combat mech and relies more on not getting hit than taking it on the chin. The magic of the NEF's Combined Arms Concept comes alive when the Tornado takes to the battlefield with its Sword-class counterpart, the Gladius. The Nazzadi mecha scream through the landscape, damaging, disrupting, and disorienting, leaving the Sword-class tanks to carve up the remains.
Brushfire (Kazidi)
Interceptor Mech
22' tall
While Nazzadi mecha are known for being fast, the Brushfire is especially so. Nazzadi Design Systems has been able to tweak the Brushfire in new ways, bringing out unheard of speed in a standard mech. It is an interceptor, designed to overtake incoming or retreating units and either keep them busy or slow them down until reinforcements arrive – or at least keep them on the radar. Embedded grav bombs assist with this job, though they do also slow the Brushfire down. That's where its lightning gun comes in, capable of taking on multiple units at the same time. Like its namesake, the Brushfire moves faster and causes more damage than one might expect.
Sunspot (Roki)
Mimic Powered Armor
10' tall
A breakthrough in mecha technology during the Aeon War, the Nazzadi Design Systems Sunspot creates a new niche within the New Earth Federation Combined Arms Concept. It utilizes two new types of technology – the Mimic System and the Limited Stealth System – to be a living lure, flushing out enemies in places where they otherwise might be impossible to reach. They can sound like Migou Battletroops giving orders, creatures from the Rapine Storm calling for help, or Deep Ones revelling in the hunt, as well as so much more. As long as the Sunspot doesn't stretch its boundaries, it can do it all from virtual invisibility, making it the perfect tool with which to set up ambushes for the NEF's enemies.
Cyclone (Koci)
Aquatic Support Mech
23' tall
The Cyclone and the Maelstrom share more than a few things in common. The Maelstrom's aquatic counterpart, the Koci is a sleek and fast underwater support unit, functioning with lightning speed. Although it is slightly less agile on its feet than its land-based counterpart, the Cyclone is just as capable of unleashing a storm of destruction as a harrying unit. It picks a target, fires, and races to a new position, never staying in one place long enough for the enemy to mount a coordinated response.
Monsoon (R'davi)
Aquatic Assault Mech
22' tall
The Monsoon typifies Nazzadi design philosophy under the waves – fast, agile, and deadly. These basic principles are what created the aquatic equivalent of the Storm. Slipping through the oceans like barracuda, the R'davi hits fast and hard both above and below the surface. Chaff keeps it safe from ordnance, while a laser cannon, torpedoes, and typical Nazzadi claws keep it a versatile combat machine. Like the Storm, the Monsoon sees the most deployment of any aquatic Nazzadi mech.
Tsunami (Equlasi)
Heavy Aquatic Assault Mech
34' tall
Like its namesake, the Tsunami rolls in and leaves devastation in its wake. Armed with the archetypal Nazzadi hyperedge claws and an arsenal of hard-hitting weapons, the Equlasi brings a much-needed fast heavy assault to the oceans of the NEF's war effort. The Tsunami sacrifices some of the agility of its land-bound counterpart, the Blizzard, in favor of aquatic systems and A-Pod speed. Unlike their cousins, Equlasi are usually the bruisers brought with to shore up the fight instead of the heavies sent in first to soften up the enemy.
Undertow (Braxami)
Aquatic Powered Armor
10' tall
The Undertow was primarily designed as a Special Forces suit of powered armor, used for aquatic covert operations. Unfortunately, the limitations inherent with mounting A-Pod related hardware on mecha as small as Powered Armor means that the Braxami is not as blazing fast as most of its brethren. It fills a necessary slot for versatility in the Nazzadi mecha scheme, capable of deftly finding its way where other war machines cannot reach. It is a still a nimble and dangerous piece of machinery.
Codex: Engels
The brainchild of Anton Miyakame, Engels are living creatures that have been cloned and spliced with genes from humans, Nazzadi and things best left unmentioned. Heavy cybernetic augmentations and thick armor plating are added to the mix, along with a partially organic uterine pouch for a pilot to occupy in the torso. The final picture is both awe inspiring and terrifying to behold. Engels are always deployed to the heaviest fighting, and will see more action than many mecha pilots ever will. They are also far rarer, with one Engel to every six mecha the Federation has. To this day, Engels remain unable to be mass produced; the processes involved in their creation cannot be sped up without inevitable disaster.
An LAI used in mecha is implanted into the creature's brain and central nervous system. The pilot interfaces with the Engel via an Engel Synthesis Interface chip placed within their own brain. Piloting an Engel is not like piloting a mech; the creature has a mind of its own with distinct personalities and when interfacing, the pilot must essentially join minds with it, which they call "communing." Pilots develop strong bonds with their Engels, and usually name them after angels, such as Gabriel, Azrael and so forth. The Engels themselves are normally docile except when activated for battle, whereupon they become a veritable force of nature. Thick armor, powerful weapons, immense physical strength and potent healing factors make them a nightmare for any who face them. Should their pilot be killed or rendered unconscious, however, then anything (save for other Engels) deemed threatening will become a target, whether they are friend or foe.
Aral
Tactical Stealth Combat Engel
28'tall
Shadow beasts – that is what Arals are sometimes called. Because of their size, Arals see different usage than other stealth mecha. They are sent on the toughest black ops and surveillance missions, to places where mecha like the Rapier or the Eclipse would be underpowered. Unlike the Malach or the Seraph, the Aral has difficulty concealing its terrifying nature. It has two faces. The first, its public face, is unusually shaped, but is otherwise comparatively unassuming. However, when threatened the Aral's second face comes out. Plates slide back to reveal its gigantic maw of organic needle-sharp teeth and the spurs pop out of the top of its feet, like some gigantic prehistoric packhunting dinosaur. The creature inside must be a nocturnal predators, as pilots have reported that Arals seem "happiest" working at night.
Auphan
Tactical Reconnaissance Engel
28' tall
Auphans are unnerving to watch – their heads constantly rove back and forth, searching out every detail. Auphans are one of the fastest mecha in the NEF's arsenal. Like their cousins the Arals, Auphans see much heavier and more dangerous deployment than their fellow recon mecha. Also like many Engels, they conceal monstrous features. Housings snap open to release alien mandibles that drip with organic acid. Pilots have reported that they prefer to lurk in fog, storms, or other obscuring conditions, and that the creature has a sadistic streak – it likes to play with its prey.
Cherub
Artillery Support Engel
35' tall
The old images of fat, winged children go out the window when the Cherub takes the field. Its gigantic, organic acid-dripping stinger tail makes it easy to recognize, as it whips out behind the Engel like an unruly snake. It is one of the only support mecha to sport linked rocket pods. Few others are large enough to accommodate the weapons system or strong enough to withstand the back-blast. Also, unlike other support mecha, Cherubs aren't afraid to wade into close combat to get their hands dirty. In fact, it seems that they prefer to put those tails to use. Some pilots say that Cherubs are mildly claustrophobic, preferring wide-open spaces to the confines of urban or jungle conflict.
Malach
Heavy Weapons Engel
40' tall
The first of their kind, Malachs are the baseline Engel, if there is such a thing. They are, from a PR standpoint, a favorite, as their armored casing completely conceals their otherworldly natures. However, like most other Engels, Malachs have something organic about them to remind people of their true origins – in this case, it is the long, sinewy tentacles that slither out of a forearm. Some NEF Engel pilots report that Malachs prefer low, dense terrain where they can stick to the ground and use their speed to their advantage. They also say that Malachs are bloodthirsty and often sullen if the carnage from a conflict is too "light."
Seraph
Super-Heavy Engel
60' tall
Nothing strikes fear into the hearts of the NEF's enemies like Seraphs. Regal, proud, and unafraid, they stand almost 60' tall – one of two Behemoth-class mecha in the NEF's arsenal. Propaganda posters prominently show Seraphs with their giant organic curling horns towering over enemies like conquering kings, an icon for the New Earth Government. They are the pride and joy of the Engel Project, and not coincidentally one of the most recently developed types. Aside from their horns, Seraphs display two other organic traits – their forearm tentacle sheath and their natural resistance to subzero temperatures. Pilots describe Seraphs as being utterly fearless, with a love for the clouds.
Tarshish
Close Urban Engel
32' tall
Like the Aral, the Tarshish is not a favorite of the NEF's PR machine, for obvious reasons. The creature's almost 15' long, black, talon-tipped, corrosive soaked tongue darts in and out if its mouth almost constantly, even when there's nothing for it to strike at. Eternally crouched and menacing, many suspect that whatever's underneath the armor casing must be pretty heavily concealed. Unsurprisingly, pilots say that the Tarshish are most at home in tight, enclosed spaces, and are more than a little agoraphobic.
Chashmal
Super-Heavy Engel
55' tall
Cousin to the Seraph, they are the second of only two "breeds" of Behemoth-class mecha in the New Earth Federation. Since their creation, Chashmals have seen more than their fair share of action. Chashmals display only one organic trait – vicious talons that secrete a sticky caustic ooze. These talons fortunately naturally retract so the Engel Project had no need to hide them in its design. Pilots often say that Chashmals remind them of fictional dragons – strong and proud, with a terrible fury.
Shinnan
Heavy Weapons Engel
40' tall
More recently developed than their Malach cousins, Shinnan are brutal, ruthless, and definitely not a PR magnet. Their organic traits are difficult to conceal – huge wicked pincers and a tightly coiled stinger tail, bringing to mind the image of a gigantic scorpion. Whatever is inside the machine is a creature whose environment must be some kind of desert wasteland, as it is extraordinarily resistant to extreme heat. Some NEF Engel pilots report that their Shinnan prefer the cover of darkness and terrain with places to dart in and out of. They also say that the creatures are aggressive, but sneaky.
Hamshall
Aquatic Assault Engel
38' tall
The underwater equivalent of the Malach or the Shinnan, the Hashmall is the quintessential sea predator, made to seek out Deep Ones and other lurking terrors. The scientists of the Engel Project worked an amazing feat when they figured out how to conceal the organic weapons of the monster inside the Hamshall's mechanical shell. Its otherworldly aquatic nature reveals itself when the prehensile "tail" snakes out of its housing, bearing more resemblance to the guard tentacle of a giant squid than a tail, or when the mass of thin, long tendrils bursts out of its faceplate. Some pilots say that Hamshalls are cunning and instinctively "suggest" moves and attacks. They also say Hamshalls are skittish when out of the water.
Ish
Aquatic Support Engel
32' long
Snaking its way through the dark waters, Ish bring devastation to the depths. Strange in design, even for an Engel, Ish are easy to recognize – armored serpents loaded with ordnance. Like their cousin, the Cherub, their organic traits make Ish unafraid to fight up close. While normally an Ish's undulating tail helps it swim, concealed in its tip is a dangerous stinger and from out of its mouth snaps a wicked tongue that skewers prey. Some pilots say that Ish are uncomfortable above the waves, preferring the murky deep as their hunting grounds.