Disclaimer: I do not know anything by IS: Infinite Stratos, and other referenced merchandise/items in the fanfiction. However, original characters all belong to me, Grayjedi-Productions...

March 23, 2022- 0615-IS Academy Main Dorm Hall

(Main theme is Heaven's Divide from Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker...Trust me, it'll make more sense as the fanfiction continues)

Ichika woke up to the sound of Houki humming in the shower. A simple lullaby piece filled the air, giving Ichika peace. He lay in bed, soaking in Houki's tune.

Ah, Houki, you haven't changed one bit... Though Ichika.

As Ichika got himself ready for school, he stepped outside the room, making sure that no other girl was awake in the hallway. He found Kenneth's room, room 1025, with a note attached to the door handle.

Ichika,

I got up at 0500, and when off on a morning run.

I'll see you in class,

Kenneth Buyuu

"He's a strange man." said Ichika aloud, turning around back to his room. "I wonder where he went to."

0617-IS Academy, Park Track

With his IPod in, Kenneth was lost to the exercise he created for himself, sprint back and forth 300 meters. Starting about a hour ago, Kenneth was focused in his training; push ups, pull ups from a tree branch, crunches and a sprint run. In the back of his mind, it was soon to be the anniversary of the Zulu Mission, the mission where he had led a team of eight SI soldiers to destroy an illegal IS factory.

With the last of Kenneth's sprints done, he slammed his back on a nearby tree, breathing heavily. He closed his eyes, trying to find peace before going back to the dorm to shower and get ready for school.

"Buyuu, what are you doing?" said a female voice.

Swinging his left arm around, materializing a stun round SMG in hand, Kenneth searched for the voice. With enhanced vision, Buyuu scanned the area, until he found Chifuyu Orimura leaning against a tree.

"Well, that's no way to meet an officer." she said jokingly. Kenneth calmed himself, lowering the SMG until it dematerialized.

"Buyuu, come with me." she continued, as she started walking back to the IS Academy.

"Ma'am, with all due respect, I thought I was the only one outside at this hour." apologized Kenneth.

"Buyuu, speak off-the-record, this is no time for formalities."

"Very well, what is it?"

"During your little exercise, I saw that your eyes changed from brown, to an ice grey color. Is this an upgrade from the SI Program?"

"Yes. Yes it is." It was true; after the implantation of synthetic body parts, SI soldiers instructors needed a way to know how battle ready their soldiers were. The more focused an SI pilot was, their eye colored changed to a ice grey color. With several missions, the SI soldiers gained the reputation of "silver-eyed warriors."

"Either way, what's troubling your mind, Buyuu?" Chifuyu said. "Your running stance seemed to me that you were running away from something."

Kenneth, startled that he was starting to show his true emotions, stood in place. He felt his mind accelerate back a year ago.

"0430 hours, it was a blizzard..." he whispered

March 23, 2021- 0430- Illegal IS Factory, Eastern Russia, near Murmansk

"Alright, move in." ordered Kenneth.

Eight SI soldiers approached the IS factor in a blizzard. Still fresh from their bio-augmentations, the soldiers had an air of new life. Two guards stood outside a metal door, smoking a cigarette.

"Adrian, take them out." A young woman, Angel Adrian took out a Backburner Sniper Rifle, and quickly fired two rounds. The guards stood rigid for a second, then slumped on the snowy ground.

"That seemed abit of overkill, if you ask me." remarked a fellow SI soldier. "You're also playing too much of the 'engaged' card with her."

"Just wait until we have our biomechanical augmentations, then it'll be a curb stomp." replied Angel. "And that's none of your business."

"Quiet, both of you." ordered Kenneth. "Move in."

As the eight approached the factor, one other soldier said. "Does it seem abit strange? Only two guards?"

"It's a slightly abandoned factory from the Cold War Era, it's made to be inconspicuous." replied another.

The eight stood at a standard position at the door. "Ramirez, flash bang grenade, in the door."

He slowly slid the door open, rolling a flash bang grenade. A short BANG was heard, and the SI soldiers moved in. Littered all over the factory where thousands of illegal parts, prototype missiles and in the back, a fully built heavily modified Russian IS, second generation- chernyĭ veter, or "Black Wind".

"Plant the C4 across the factory, we'll blow this place sky high." As the operatives started C4, the blizzard outside started to slow.

After 15 minutes the operatives were done. "We done now?" Kenneth asked.

"We got everything, even the Russian IS." As the soldiers left towards the door, a low rumble echoed across the room...

Present Time

"No, I won't go any further with the story... it's too painful." said Buyuu, his eyes filling with tears.

"Calm down, Midshipman. Your eyes are changing to grey again." said Chifuyu.

"I...I'm sorry." He lowered his head.

"But happened after?"

"The whole thing was a step-up, the Russian IS was the true guard of the factory. We dashed out of the factory, activating the C4 as soon as we got out.

"Four didn't make to there, the IS shot them in the back. By the end it was Adrian and me fighting the IS. Adrian had a specialized IS with her, but even then she was overwhelmed. I took a RPG from the bodies of my allies and took down the IS, killing her with anti-shielding rounds from my SMG. But Adrian was already bleeding out...She never made it back to base..."

Chifuyu closed her eyes, and patted Kenneth on the shoulder. "I understand."

"It was a suicide mission. Intel dropped the ball on this one, we had no idea that heavily modified IS was guarding the factory. It's...its my fault we...we ran in blind to this..." Tears started rolling down Kenneth's face.

Chifuyu changed the subject. "I have authorized the release of several information of the SI program, Buyuu."

"Why?"

"If the SI wants to redeem itself in the world, they will need to have a better public view. Anything in the IS Academy stays within the Academy."

"Very well."

1235- IS Academy, Cafeteria

"Sorry for not introducing myself properly to you guys." said Kenneth, holding out his hand. "Kenneth Buyuu, pleased to meet you."

Ichika grabbed his, and firmly shook. "Ichika Orimura, a pleasure."

"Houki Shinonono."

Kenneth looked at Houki awkwardly. "Shinonono? As in Tabane Shinonono?"

Houki's brows slanted "Yes..."

"I understand; you don't want to talk about it." said Kenneth. The three sat down at a table.

"So how did they find you?" asked Ichika, slurping down some ramen.

"I actually am part of an experimental group." explained Kenneth, fooling around with some chopsticks. "The experiment was to see if male IS pilots could be found. I was the only one."

"So for how long has this been going?"

"Roughly... five years." Just like what Chifuyu Orimura said, just a few details.

"Wow..." they both gasped. "So what did they exactly do though?"

Kenneth shrugged. "Basic military training, and whatnot. Education was pretty normal if you ask me. All my friends were from the program; we never really got to go beyond our training camps."

A soft beeping in Kenneth's ear started. "If you'll excuse me for the moment." said Kenneth, standing up grabbing his lunch.

As he started to walk away, Houki and Ichika looked at each other. "Do you get the feeling that he's hiding something?" asked Ichika.

"I think so, it's like he's trying to push back something in his mind." said Houki.

1730-IS Academy Stadium: Hanger Two

Cecilia Alcott was battle ready, her IS- Blue Tears- in full working order. A sniper class IS of the third generation, it was the perfect long-range fighter. Optical drones, a particle beam rifle and missile pods, Blue Tears was designed for long-range combat.

"Find information on Kenneth Buyuu's IS." she said to the on-board tactical computer.

"Kenneth Buyuu. Uses the IS Shadow Dance... All other information is blocked."

"Fine, it matters not." Cecilia said. "Launch!" Cecilia blasted out of the hanger, holding her position in the sky.

1732-IS Academy Stadium-Hanger One (The Pit)

"Well she's an early bird." commented Ichika, as he watched Cecilia from the holoscreen.

"I'm not surprised to say the least." replied Buyuu.

"Abit arrogant if you ask me." pointed out Houki.

"Buyuu, you ready?" said Chifuyu from the command booth. Buyuu started towards the launching track in the hanger.

"Ichika, you might want to pay attention. You have your match for class representative in a few days, right?"

Houki punched Ichika on the shoulder. "I hope that you listen to him." she said.

"Don't worry, I'm taking notes on this." Ichika replied half-jokingly. "We'll be in the command booth. Good Luck!"

As the two left the hanger, Buyuu raised his left arm, activating the SI armor. A radiate blue light shinned, blinding the command booth. Once the light stopped, Buyuu was encased in the SI armor.

The Three always joked that it looks like slightly like the Wing Gundam. Thought Buyuu.

The SI had a pitch-black finish, and mini-mechanical glider wings for thruster support. Hulking shoulder guards extended from the main body chassis. A neural interface helmet rested on Buyuu's head, mimicking the security helmet from the popular game Halo:Reach. Although the SI armors were slightly smaller than the standard IS of the late second generation, they packed more firepower than they showed.

"This is Midshipmen Kenneth Buyuu... Launching!" Kenneth felt the acceleration of the SI take-off, into the stadium...