"We're back fajits!" Nate yelled as he flew into the New Age Alliance base in Rustboro. The base was teeming with activity with hundreds of employees rushing around to work on Knights or Air Knights(AKs). The only two people that were standing still were waiting at Nate's docking area. One was a Noctowl and the other was an eager looking younger girl with short purple hair wearing a mechanic's uniform
"Do you have to yell that every time you return from a mission?" The Noctowl asked.
"Come on McBeal, you'd miss it if I stopped." Nate replied. "Who's the girl?"
"Her name is Haruna and she is the reason I'm greeting you right after your mission. Momo wants you and Grunt to assume more responsibilities around the NAA so she assigned you and Grunt a personal mechanic."
"A mechanic?!" Nate exclaimed. "Both my and Grunt's machines are very complicated machines. How do I know if she's qualified?"
"I'm right here." Haruna cut in, "Feel free to quiz me."
"All right then... tell me everything you can about Air Knights."
"Do think I'm an idiot?" Haruna replied, "You're starting out too easy. Air Knights, or AKs as they're know by the public, are aerial war units created by the human military during their war with Pokémon. Using magnetic monopoles found in Chargestone cave, these units are able to fly and produce incredible amounts of energy. Although most are only equipped with energy blasters and swords, the excess energy from the monopoles allows for unique abilities to manifest."
"Very good. But what makes me and my machine so special?" Nate asked, trying to trip the young mechanic up.
"Well, you and the Amplifier are special because most AK machines are only piloted by females. A male being able to fly an AK is incredibly rare."
"Didn't I tell you she knew her stuff?" McBeal said
"She knows her general knowledge that's for sure." Nate admitted. "But let's see how much she knows absolutely about my machine."
Haruna stepped toward the AK and said, "A very standard open cockpit with the pilot exposed and connected to the remainder of the machine via the arms and legs. These speakers around the hips and shoulders are used for a variety of sound based attacks correct?"
"Correct."
"Let's see... what else. These acoustic panels on the wrists are reinforced to provide defense against close quarters combat and this wooden sword at the waist is usually vibrated to increase its slashing ability." She then turned to Nate with a smug grin on her face. "Did I miss anything?"
"No. I must admit you know your stuff. But I'm not the only one you have to convince."
"I'm back fajits!" Grunt cried as he raced in with his Knight.
"Nate already pulled that joke." McBeal said flatly.
"Come on, I wanted to say it this time!" Grunt cried as he climbed out of his machine. "Who's the girl?"
"Momo is trying to stick us with a mechanic." Nate answered. "She seems to know her stuff."
"Of course!" The mechanic swelled with pride, "I graduated at the top of my class. I should be able to handle anything your machines throw at me."
"I'll be the judge of that." Grunt replied. "Tell me the history and schematics for my Knight: the Giovanni Mk. II"
"Of course. The Giovanni Mk. II was a prototype Knight developed by the human military and stored in Mauville City during the New Age Revolution." Haruna began. "After the original Giovanni was rendered unusable, you took this machine as your own. It has the same basic structure as any other Knight, a closed cockpit and a monopole powering system but its differences lie in its weapons. The Mk. II is a little taller than other other Knights to accommodate for the energy cannon placed in its chest. While other Knights are only outfitted with energy blasters, yours is armed with two sub-machine guns and a trademark rocket launcher. Have I missed anything?"
"I don't believe you have." McBeal stated with pride.
"Fine. I guess if I have to get a mechanic, you'll do... Haruna was it?"
"Yes Mr. Grunt sir!" She replied quickly. "I promise to keep both you and Nate's machines in perfect working condition."
"I'm sure you will." Nate answered. "Come on Grunt, Momo wants to see us in her office. See ya McBeal, Haruna!"
The duo waved as they entered the building and walked to their commander's office.
"Hey boss lady, you wanted to see us?" Grunt asked as he simply walked into the Commander's office, a large spacious room who's main feature was the window in the rear providing a breathtaking view of Rustboro.
"You do know it's common curtesy to knock before entering right?" The Servine replied from behind a large mahogany desk.
"You know Grunt Momo, he's never been one for manners or formality." Nate said as he entered the room as well.
"I suppose you're right." Momo replied as she stood up and closed the door. "I suppose you've met your new mechanic."
"Yeah. She's nice and all but I still would have liked to continue to handle my own maintenance personally." Nate replied as Grunt nodded in agreement.
"Running an organization like the New Age Alliance is harder than it seems." Momo explained. "Since you two are my right-hand men, I need you to pull you're weight. Not only is the NAA responsible for the rebuilding of Hoenn after our revolution, but we've also been tasked with reintegrating the regions and keeping the peace throughout." She slouched in her chair before admitting, "Sometimes it makes me miss the old days."
"I know what you mean." Nate admitted. "It's still hard to believe people are calling us war heroes. Have you heard what they've named our little rebellion?"
"The New Age Revolution." Grunt cut in. "They make it sound like we wanted to change the whole world."
"All we wanted to do was create a free and independent state." Momo replied. "Changing the world was probably his goal..."
The room went silent at the mention of Light whom they had accused of treason ultimately leading to his escape from custody and death defeating the Devon Corporation.
"Anyway what did you want to see us about." Nate asked changing the subject. "I assume you wanted to do something other than reminisce about the old days."
"Yes. There's a small resistance cell holed up at Snowpoint City in Sinnoh. I know you just got back from a mission but I want you and Grunt to go their and restore order. Can you handle it?"
"No problem." Grunt replied. "A couple shots from my rocket launcher and they'll be beggin' us to stop."
"Excellent!" The Servine replied, pulling out a manila folder. "Sinnoh has been a real problem area ever since peace was declared. Here is a briefing on who we believe to commanding the resistance and other Sinnoh resistance leaders to watch out for. Be careful you two."
"Of course. Let's go Grunt!"
"All right Nate"
Meanwhile in Snowpoint City, a Deibird wearing dark sunglasses is frantically giving orders to his meager reserves of troops.
"You two, stack some more snow on that wall! Set up those confiscated Knight blasters as anti-air guns. We need to be prepared for both an attack by the land and air. Our intelligence has picked up chatter that the NAA is sending the big guns up here to take us out. Start hustling!"
"Yes Commander Shady!" was the unanimous reply from any nearby troops.
Turning away, the Delibird retreated into Snowpoint Temple to quietly reflect about the upcoming battle. "I've managed to keep morale up among the troops but I don't know how we're going to win this..." He mumbled. "All I can hope for is that a higher power is listening and will help us take the day. This is a temple after all."
Head sufficiently clear, Shady exited the temple to continue battle preparations, not noticing the single red eye that had been peering out from the shadows since he entered.
AN: Hello everyone, sorry for the long wait! I got busy with the holidays and personal issues that came out of nowhere, but here is another chapter of Uprising. Sorry if it seemed like an info dump but this was the best way I could think of to bring everyone up to speed with Knights, Air Knights and the universe in general. Hopefully the descriptions I worked into the story sufficed but if not, look up Code Geass Knightmares to get a better visual for Knights and Infinite Stratos IS units for a better visual of AK units. If anything else was unclear, feel free to pm me or leave a review.
Inspiration for Nate, Grunt and Shady came from the youtube channels of Natewantstobattle, Dookieshed and Shadypenguinn respectively. Go check them out!
How will the NAA fair in battle without Light? Will Shady successfully defend Snowpoint City? Will this Author's Note ever end? Find out next time in Pokemon New Age: Uprising!