A/N: I have no real explanation. Tried a stint on AO3, that didn't work out. So I'm pulling stuff from there to bring it here. Wrote this story back in 2021, and it was a goddamn prophecy. You'll see. Anyway, this will be the last rewrite of this story, new title included. Enjoy.
2014: Balkan Conference established, beginnings of Big Three (United States of America, People's Republic of China, Russian Federation) global oligarchy begin to form.
2015: Second Balkan Conference announces the proposal of the Hammond Treaty, written by James Hammond. Romania and Greece fail to ratify and ultimately fall out of the conference.
2016: Hammond Treaty becomes the Hammond Defense Pact in the face of rising Russian Militarism. Greece and Romania dismiss this as warmongering on both sides.
2016: Turkey begins to speak against the Hammond Treaty countries, bolstering morale in Romania and Greece in the hopes Turkey will come to the aid of the two individual countries if war breaks out.
JAN 2017: Romania and Greece, both facing severe economic crisis and public discord, declare war on the Hammond Treaty countries. Turkey remains neutral, giving vague promises that they will join the war.
MAY 2017: Greece takes Montenegro, Romania encroaches on Hungary's capital. The Big Three (United States, Russian Federation, and People's Republic of China) begin funnelling military aid to Turkey.
JUL 2017: Turkey enters the war, fighting both sides. Romania and Greece cease fire, agreeing to sign both the Hammond Conference Treaty and the Hammond Defense Pact.
DEC 2017: The Hammond Treaty countries push Turkey out of the Balkans and claim the Northeastern peninsula of the Bosphorus Straits as their land in the newly formed Hammond Republic. The Big Three deny any involvement.
20XX: First Infinite Stratos invented by Tabane Shinonono, written off until the "White Knight" incident. Countries begin the new arms race for this new powerful mecha weapon that can only be operated by women. A massive gender power balance shift occurs, and humanity is changed. The Alaska Treaty limits suits to competition only, a rule barely any country follows in development, but follows in practice.
20XX+1: Hammond infrastructure becomes capable of keeping up with Big Three, resources are found in abundance due to new mining programs. Whispers of replicator technology and advanced robotics spread across the globe. Hammond is nowhere near IS technology, instead it has been investing in a counter. Thus, it doesn't sign the Alaska Treaty.
20XX+2: Hammond unveils the first Automated Bipedal Weapons Platform (ABWP) to the world, nicknaming them Titans. The first Mass Produced IS is introduced and the Second IS Gen cores become available.
20XX+3: Hammond unveils the first mass produced Titans: The Atlas and the Ogre chassis. The Stryder project is put on the backburner due to chassis demands. Tests against the Rafaele Revive models prove promising to Hammond and foreboding to IS pilots around the globe. Gender balance becomes equalized in the Hammond Republic.
20XX+5: Hammond's embassy in Tehran is sacked, presumably by Big Three funded terrorist groups. Turkey, still stinging from the loss in what is known as the Hammond War, declares a Jihad on the Hammond country. The Middle East forms the Middle Eastern Front (MEF), and declares Holy War on Hammond.
JAN 20XX+6: Hammond forces cross into Turkey, while a massive landing takes place in Syria and Lebanon. Turkey falls one month later, along with Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan.
MAR 20XX+6: Hammond soldiers enter Baghdad. Scenes of Titans marching down the destroyed streets of the capital dominate the news media of the world. Tanks push through the desert of Saudi Arabia, recon divisions enter Iranian borders. Special Operations Command (SPECOPCOMM) is established, and the Special Forces of Hammond (SFH) split off from the Hammond Military Forces (HMF).
JUN 20XX+6: Iran capitulates, Saudi Arabia surrenders as Hammond closes in on Riyadh. MEF collapses.
JUL 20XX+6: Hammond annexes the rest of Cyprus and demands the other side of the Bosphorus, Turkey relents. Moldova and Austria both sign the Hammond Treaty and the HDP the day after the treaty is passed, joining the Hammond Republic and being voluntarily annexed.
NOV 20XX+6: The United Nations demands Hammond turn over annexed territory from the Middle East War. Mexico falls to Civil War, with the US and limited Hammond support coming to aid the National Government. Month ends with reports that IS cores have been replicated successfully by Hammond scientists.
DEC 20XX+6: The UN backs down after Hammond unveils the Second Generation of Titans and their first IS-Titan Hybrids. In one month, Hammond holds the lead in IS technology.
JAN 20XX+7: Hammond SPECOPCOMM divisions begin operations to keep Hammond borders and secrets secure. Chinese operatives are caught in Sofia trying to access government databases, while Russian and American IS teams are forced out of the skies by SPECOPCOMM IS teams.
FEB 20XX+7: Ukraine calls for aid against invading Russian forces, Hammond answers and sends several divisions, amongst them are Titans. Behind enemy lines, brigades from the Ghost Division of SPECOPCOMM destroy multiple supply areas and kill important leaders in the attack.
MAR 20XX+7: Japan discovers the first male IS pilot, who is forced to attend the Infinite Stratos Academy, a prestigious college only for those training to become an IS Pilot and a Representative of their home country. Hammond discovers one as well, a soldier fighting in the Ukraine-Russian War, and the world begins to question if the IS cores are now becoming able to accept both genders.
JUL 20XX+7: Feminist Terrorist groups attack Hammond, and are ultimately repelled at the shores of the Croatian Sector. Reports that Hammond's male pilot, operating an experimental Hybrid, are disseminated across intelligence networks, along with his brutality. It is unknown if they are true or not.
Monorail, ISA City, Japan
AUG 20XX+7
Of all things that could've gone wrong today, Ichika was experiencing the worst of it. Besides being forced into a school over something he couldn't control, with every government watching him, and being the only one of two males at said school, he was looking at the worst thing on the list of possible things to go wrong.
Sitting a couple seats away from him was the other male pilot: the Hammond pilot, headphones on and presumably listening to music.
While Ichika had not met the person, he could see that everyone else on the train was making sure they stayed away from the Hammond pilot. Ichika had heard the rumors of what he did during the Battle of Split and the Zadar Incident. Not many made it out alive. Most of the force was ground forces, while the remainder were IS pilots. The ground forces were thrown into urban warfare they weren't prepared for while the IS pilots were decimated. It was rumored that the Hammond pilot, the one sitting in the monorail, took on four IS mechs and defeated them all. To Ichika, he barely thought anything at all of the events that took place less than half a year ago. He had been forced to study all things IS when he was notified of his next school being the ISA, no ifs/ands/buts about it.
"Hey look, Hammond sent their little trooper to spy on us." Ichika looked behind him to see two upperclasswomen talking about the Hammond pilot. "I bet he's studying us." The orange haired girl smirked
"I know, right?" The other, a brunette, said. "I can't believe he was allowed to come to the same school as us."
"He's gonna get his ass kicked." The first one smiled. "Did you hear how they found out?"
"When his little friend got hurt, right?"
"Yeah-"
"You got something to say?" The girls turned to see the Hammond pilot, now standing, staring them down.
"Yeah, what's a soldier doing here?" The orangette asked. "I mean, in a school for the elegant and elite?"
The Hammond pilot arched an eyebrow, his blue eyes looking inquisitive. "You act like the military isn't going to pick up at least some of the graduates from the ISA."
"None of us are prior soldiers, unlike you." The brunette sniffed.
The pilot scoffed. "That means I already have a leg up on all of you."
The monorail stopped. "Now arriving at the ISA." The PA announced.
"Guess this is our stop." The pilot smiled. "Shall we?" His right hand, Ichika realized, was covered by a glove, with metal knuckles in the fabric. "Unless you're just as afraid as your home countries."
The orangette's bag zipper trinket glowed, while the brunette's necklace did the same. The trio walked peacefully out of the monorail. Ichika followed them out, his phone out and calling his sister.
Once they were out, they summoned their IS's. Ichika was surprised to see the two girls with modified Uchiganes, he figured they would've had personal ISs. The Hammond pilot, however, was not in the same boat.
People stared at the black mech, in awe at seeing a Hammond mech in the open. The Hybrid was three or four feet taller than the ISs, and much more armored than them as well. It looked to be an Ogre chassis with the top half of the cockpit removed for the pilot. On the right shoulder was a railgun, which Ichika recognized as a Trebuchet railgun weapon, while on the left was a closed missile rack. The left arm and hand was armored up, with an orange light in the palm of the hand. In the right hand was an XO-16A1 chaingun. Hooked on his back was a broadsword, which Ichika had identified as the same model used with Ronin Titans.
"You girls wanna see the real world? Lemme show you how the real world deals with 'elegant and elite' girls." The pilot scowled.
The girls gritted their teeth, pulling out standard IS rifles and firing. The bullets pinged off the shields of the Hybrid as crowds cleared the area. The Hybrid boosted forward, firing back. The chaingun belched rounds, the bullets bringing the shields down on the ISs heavily. The girls boosted to the sides. The brunette summoned a katana, while the orangette kept her rifle. She provided covering fire while the brunette engaged in CQC with the pilot. The pilot smiled as he dodged slash after slash, eventually catching the katana in his left hand.
"You fight too fair." He said, his left hand igniting in flames.
'Thermite!?' Ichika thought to himself.
The thermite burned the sword as the pilot raised the XO-16, firing rounds into the midsection of the brunette. He snapped the sword with his fist, and immediately grabbed the arm holding the hilt. "Guess they really do lack in combat here." His hand burned the brunette's arm, causing her to scream in pain.
"You bastard!" The orangette screamed, raising her rifle.
The pilot simply threw the brunette aside, her IS shutting down as she hit the ground, as the rifle rounds pinged off of him. "Not even a damn challenge." His railgun aimed at the orangette, whose IS screamed for her to move, and fired. The round hit her dead center, and blew her armor off and threw her back by the force behind it.
The Hammond pilot rolled his shoulder. "Showed them." he smiled, as he dismissed his Hybrid. "Now, did I really see…" He turned and saw Ichika staring at him. "I did."
Ichika stared at the brown-haired, six foot four caucasian, wearing a green hoodie and jeans, staring back at him. The pilot began to walk towards him as Ichika began to try to form a greeting.
"Ichika Orimura." The pilot said. "The other male pilot. The first male pilot, if I'm correct?"
"Uh...yeah…" Ichika was put off after watching the pilot decimate two upperclasswomen in front of Ichika's eyes.
"Good to finally meet you in person." The pilot outstretched his hand. "I'm-"
"GIO INFERNO!" The pilot looked up to see several Uchiganes surrounding him and Ichika. "Stand down immediately!"
"Uh..sure." Gio raised his hands, not looking like he was taking the threat seriously. "Unless you got some Titans back there, I'm not seeing any of you as a potential deterrent."
"We have several ISs, there's just one of you!" A pilot shouted.
"Numbers didn't help them." Gio tilted his head towards the unconscious girls. "You think it'll help you?" His gloved hand began to glow.
"STAND DOWN!" Gio and Ichika turned to see a woman walking towards the two of them. "I'll handle it from here!"
"Chifuyu!" Ichika exclaimed. "You came!"
"Ah, Ms. Orimura." Gio said. "Didn't mean to drag you out of your office."
"Inferno, we've been over this: No fighting in public. No matter what people say about your country." Chifuyu said to the pilot. "What would we do if a civilian got hurt?"
"Ma'am, they were going after me personally." Gio explained. "I only put them in their place."
Chifuyu looked at the two girls being tended to by medics. "Does that include firing an overcharged railgun round into the chest of a pilot and destroying their IS in the process?"
"It was a modified MPIS, it can be replaced." Gio waved it off. "At least the sword girl just has a burnt arm."
"Uh…" Ichika looked between the two. "Do you know him?"
Chifuyu looked at Ichika. "I personally picked him up from the Hammond Republic and brought him in early. He arrived two weeks ago."
"She's been letting Ms. Yamada touch and prod my Hybrid the entire time. That, and quizzing me on stuff I already know." Gio answered.
"Apparently, every soldier is taught IS theory and the skills we teach here at the ISA in the HMF. He's trained in a simulator as well." Chifuyu put her hand to her head. "The only reason he's in the first year is because the other countries didn't want him thrashing their students in the second and third years."
"Oh...so he's ahead of all of us?" Ichika asked.
"Did you see me thrash those two? Paperweights compared to me." Gio smiled. "You'll catch up, don't sweat it."
"The easy answer is yes, but by the end of the year, you and every other student will have the same knowledge as the average grunt in the HMF, apparently." Chifuyu shrugged. "I can't blame them for teaching that, considering how prominent IS is in the world."
Gio nodded. "Since we're all here, should we go in? I can escort Ichika to his room."
"Please, the girls are looking forward to meeting him. He needs to be protected from them." Chifuyu agreed. "Let's go."
"Wait! What about these girls?" Ichika asked.
"They'll live. Not the first pilots to feel the bite of a Trebuchet weapon. Certainly won't be the last." Gio shrugged.
"A good IS Pilot would know when they're outmatched. The ISA Security will deal with them." Chifuyu turned to Gio. "But I'm dealing with you, soldier."
Belgrade, Serbian Sector, Hammond Republic
Belgrade, the capital of Serbia back when it was an independent country now the capital city of the Serbian Sector. In the streets, pairs of Spectres walked amongst the populace, their blue camo denoting them as police models. Civilians made idle chat with human soldiers, some even taking photos with them.
It was no secret the HMF was rather popular with the civilian populace of the Hammond Republic. After the Zadir Incident and the Battle of Split, where photos and videos of soldiers defending unarmed civilians from the terrorist force cycled through the web and news, HMF soldiers suddenly held a semi-celebrity status. Bills regarding the budget saw a slight increase in military spending, large enough to expand the military but small enough to keep other departments running.
The HMF wasn't needing much in expansion anyhow, they had shown they were capable enough with the current force at the moment. The divisions sent to Ukraine were performing over the expectations of the Ukrainians and the Russians. By this point, the Crimea was returned to the Ukrainians and the forces were at a stalemate near Rostov-on-Don. Russia wasn't backing down, unfortunately.
But the war was far from the average Hammond citizen's mind. Far enough that the stalemate wasn't a problem to them in any way. They were more focused on average day to day activities. Work, school, casual nights out every now and then. They almost seemed normal. Hell, they were normal.
"Today, the Big Three have announced a new round of sanctions on the Hammond Republic to try and coerce them to leaving the Russian-Ukrainian War. This includes new sanctions on resources like car parts, steel, and Time Crystals, which are used to create IS cores. Hammond diplomats at the UN Council have announced they will be withdrawing from OPEC and threatened to stop the export of oil to the world if more sanctions were approved." A TV in a restaurant announced, the headline summing up the previous statement. "As the lead producer of oil and petroleum, Hammond pulling out of the oil market would drive the price of a barrel up, and the pullout of OPEC would cause significant problems for the remaining oil producing countries of the world. Hammond companies, who own the oil fields of the former Middle East countries, have said they will support this ban on several unnamed conditions to the Hammond government. In other news, the Ukrainian and Russian presidents' representatives will be meeting today in Aquila, the capital city of Hammond, to discuss a possible peace deal in the Ukrainian-Russian War. Hammond has volunteered their capital, even though they are a participant in the conflict."
Above the city of Belgrade, fighter jets roared as they escorted an incoming passenger jet to the capital city.
Aquila International Airport, Aquila (Formerly Sarajevo), Bosnian Sector
The Boeing 747 stopped in the unload zone, a set of stairs coming to the door for the passengers to exit the aircraft. As the stairs connected to the plane, the occupants looked out to see a battalion of Hammond soldiers lined on either side of the walkway. Their white armor reflecting some light, and their weapons attached to their backs. Behind the soldiers was a Hybrid IS, flanked by three white Legion Titans on either side of them.
The head ambassador of the Russian Delegation looked down from the cabin, and sighed. "They brought a regiment to meet us."
"Say again, sir?" An aide asked.
"Look out there." The ambassador said, pointing to the greeting party. "The US and PRC assemble twenty men when any of us come to each other's countries. Hammond, who currently has deployed three divisions to a single fight, put together a quarter of a division to come meet us. There are a thousand men out there, plus twelve titans, and two of their Hybrid IS robots."
"Can we use that to our advantage?" An aide asked.
"No, they have too much against us."
The door opened. The group looked to the ambassador.
"Let us hope they don't beat us too badly."
ISA
Gio walked through the halls, his mind wandering as he went aimlessly around the campus. While he was happy that he had made it, it was a drag to know he would have to go over everything he already knew again. IS Theory was a pain to learn, but learning it again when you already knew certain theories were realized and put to use in the field by your home country? Boring. Just plain-ass boring.
"Inferno." Gio turned around to see Chifuyu walking up to him. "The two students you beat in the station are going to be okay."
"I don't think you searched me out to tell me that." Gio arched an eyebrow. "What's going on?"
"You know people too well." Chifuyu pulled out a manilla folder from her clipboard. "This folder contains details on the North Korean IS program. You know the deal."
"I'm doing the US's dirty work for them?" Gio took the folder, opening it. "Lemme guess: They took the bait."
"Like a hungry fish."
Gio looked down at the details. "Who's with me?"
"Two squads from the JSDF Special Forces Group will accompany you. SPECOPCOMM has already given the all clear, hoping it will allow the country to improve relations between Hammond and Japan."
Gio nodded. "Tonight?"
"You need to leave now, yes."
"Moving out then." Gio closed the folder. "Stealth advised?"
"Does it even matter when you go on these missions?" Chifuyu sighed. "Just destroy the program."
"With pleasure."
"Do me a favor: Don't die. I still need to punish you for what you did at the station."
Rostov-on-Don, Russia
Ruins. Smoke choked the sky, fires burned out of control, AA flew through the air, and the crack of gunfire could be heard all around the ruins. Rostov, for the second time in its life, was decimated by war. Firefights broke out without warning as ambushes surprised unsuspecting troops. Dogfights broke out in the air as air forces vied for control of the city's airspace. The Don River burned as patrol boats sat floating in the water, their tanks leaking gasoline into the water as the boats burned as well.
In the broken streets, an Assault Variant Samson truck drove through the rubble. A soldier was at the turret in the bed, while four soldiers sat in the cabin of the truck itself.
"Sergeant, Lieutenant Obermn wants the squad to rendezvous with the platoon at the ferris wheel." A soldier reported from the radio.
"I got that, Krysinsky. I asked you if you heard anything from Staff Sergeant Reas about the goddamn package he was sent to get."
Krysinsky went back to the radio, searching the radio waves for the SSG Reas.
"Sergeant, what are we to do if Reas failed?" Another private asked.
"We're going to finish his mission. HIGHCOM made it pretty damn clear that the package our other half was sent to retrieve is pretty damn important. My guess is that it's a shipment of time crystals." The sergeant replied. "Tell McAvey that his trigger finger better be ready."
"Why?"
"Sergeant, I got Galaxy Actual on the line. He's reporting several BMPs in the AO. Reinforcements from the 131st Motorized Rifle Brigade. Galaxy also reports several brigades from the 4th Guards Tank Division have arrived." Krysinsky reported.
"That's why. Tell him he better have that damn gun charged all the way to full."
"Aye, sergeant."
"Krysinsky, status on finding Reas?"
"Reas reports that he and Private Rhys have secured the package. Corporal Thund and Private Hanter have radioed our PL."
"Very good, Reas's orders for us?"
"He wants us to meet with the PL, sergeant."
"Very well, then." The sergeant pulled the charging handle on his Spitfire LMG.
"Sergeant, radar reports several vehicles coming our way!" McAvey shouted from the gun.
On cue, two Gremlin humvees roared out from the alleyways and moved behind the Samson.
"Sergeant Toylandar, this Alpha 1-1 and Alpha 1-2. Lieutenant Obermn sent us." The radio in the Samson crackled. "Staff Sergeant Reas was successful, and you are to report immediately to your platoon."
"Any particular reason why you were sent to escort us?" Krysinsky asked.
"The 4th Guards Tank Division is being rerouted to Park Imeni by SPECOPCOMM forces that were deployed here. Alpha is joining up with your platoon for the assault. Command is deploying the specialty unit Stingray to your position now."
"Stingray, aren't they the ones who use the-"
The sound of an explosion ripped the passengers' attention to the city center, where a huge bipedal mech was standing in the wreckage of a building.
"Yep, it's the Titan boys." Krysinsky smiled.
Deployed to the city, was a battalion of Ogres led by a squad of Legion Titans. The metal beast started firing into the city as tanks returned fire.
"Let's hope they don't take all the credit for this battle." McAvey sighed.
"They're breaking the stalemate, history will remember them." Sergeant Toylander said. "Let's focus on getting to the damn rendezvous."
With that, the convoy sped through the devastated city.
Pyongyang Refinement Facility, North Korea
23:27 Local Time
"How do we do this?" Gio asked, looking down at a large refinery. "Something tells me you guys want to do this quietly."
"Is that even possible with you?" A pilot in a Rafaele Revive asked. The rest of the pilots, all in variations of Revives and Uchiganes, nodded in agreement to the question.
"It is, but I really hate Norks. So...cause a distraction while you all get the item?" Gio asked.
"Yep."
"Roger, make your plan. I'll keep surveying." He summoned a DMR, and continued to recon the site.
"Do you believe the rumors about him?" A pilot-sergeant asked her friend.
"Believe? I was with him on the last mission. He causes havoc like it's second nature to him." The other pilot-sergeant smiled. "If only he wasn't 19…"
"What, you have a crush on him?" The original pilot-sergeant asked.
"More like a need~"
"Keep it in your pants, we've got movement." Gio grimaced. "Several ISs...Chinese models…should've known." He put the DMR away. "The PLA is here."
"You wanna deal with them?" The sergeant asked.
"With pleasure." Gio summoned his IS, the railgun aiming towards one of the pilots. "Change of plans, I kill the PLA pilots while the squads cause destruction to this shitshow. On my mark."
The squad tensed.
"Mark." Gio pressed the trigger, and the Trebuchet round ripped through the air. The PLA pilot didn't even see it coming when a round ripped her in two.
"Scatter!" The other yelled, as Gio jumped into the fray. He slammed his sword into the ground, wiping a good portion of the ground forces near him and the other PLA ISs.
"Hammond!? Here!?" One of them shouted.
"Believe it!" Gio shouted, pulling his sword out of the ground. "I'm gonna make you afraid again!" He made a piercing move, only for the sword to bounce off the shield. "Tsk, still works."
"You think you're hot shit?" One of them asked, cocking their rifle. "Prepare to die!"
Gio twirled his sword, getting into a combat stance. "Like hell you'll kill me."
The two PLA pilots looked at each other, and nodded. They boosted towards Gio, who simply jumped into the air. He landed behind them, turning around quickly to slash at their backs. He disabled their jets, forcing them to stay on the ground. His left hand shot out, grabbing the back of one of them. He ignited his thermite projector, burning the armor and causing the pilot to scream out in pain. Gio pulled his hand back, slashing at the burn mark. The sword sliced through the armor like warm butter, causing the final defense to activate. The pilot locked up, and the suit fell to the ground.
"Damn shame your country still can't figure that out." Gio sighed, "Oh well." He jumped into the air, dodging a slash from the other pilot. "A Revive as well? The French GDP must be through the goddamn roof with all of this."
"Hold still, you fucking dog!"
Gio smiled. "Oh...I will be enjoying this." Sheathing his sword, and equipping his chaingun. He fired a quick burst as he boosted to the side. The PLA pilot spun to the side, summoning a heavy assault rifle to fire back at Gio. The bullets pinged off his armor, barely scratching him. He scowled and boosted towards her.
In the background, the refinery began exploding as the JSDF teams started to set off their charges. They gunned down DPRK soldiers and destroyed tanks, leaving nothing in their wake.
"Captain Inferno!" The sergeant from before shouted as she pulled her katana from a soldier. "All clear!"
"One sec!" Gio slammed into the PLA IS, he jumped up and slammed into the ground with his fist. The PLA pilot dodged by rolling to her left. She fired a couple rounds as Gio got up. He pounced on top of her. He smacked her head to the side as they toppled to the ground, disorienting her. He pulled out a sidearm, a B6 Wingman pistol, and fired into the hand that was holding the Heavy Rifle, mutilating it. The hand let go of the rifle, and Gio punched the chest of the enemy IS. "Just like the rest of your country, quantity over quality."
"S-shut up…"
Gio stood up. "Get out of here." he said to the teams, "I'll take care of the stragglers." He turned around as the teams lifted off into the sky. "Now you…"
"You won't win, I've already called for reinforcements." She gave a bloody smile. "You can't beat all of the PLA."
"No, I can't." Gio said as he brought out a gray orb that was slightly bigger than his fist. "But this can."
"What is...that?" The PLA pilot asked nervously.
"Before I tell you…" He stomped his foot onto the leg of the still downed pilot, cracking the armor and bending the leg at an odd angle. She cried out in pain. "Oh shut up." Gio rolled his eyes. 'I've known that pain, it's not that bad. Anyway, this is a micro-core, we use it to power our titans."
"W-what?"
"I'll be blunt." He tapped it twice, making it glow slightly. "This will hurt." He dropped the orb as it began to glow brighter. "Say hi to your friends in hell for me, commie." He lifted off, leaving a very scared PLA pilot to look down at the now glowing orb as a light began to protrude from the center of it. She heard her allies land and call out to her, and she closed her eyes as they came over to her as she heard the low whine of the orb and felt her skin cook.
"Goodbye…" She said as her comrades came over to her. The core went off, leaving a mushroom cloud in its wake.
ISA, the next day
Students all milled around the TV, watching as a news anchor read about a report from the USGSC.
"Did you hear?"
"Yeah, North Korea is testing nukes again."
"No, this time it's weird. A refinery was destroyed, and it was nuclear but not nuclear."
"Wait, could this be related to those other incidents in Iran and China?"
"Hey look! It's Orimura! And he's...oh no."
The girls turned to see Ichika Orimura walking down the hallway with Gio. Gio looked like he hadn't slept, but was holding a conversation pretty well. "I don't follow, Ichika."
"The railguns, Gio."
"What about them?"
"They aren't allowed under the Alaska Treaty."
"Yes...and you think that's the only thing I have that's not allowed?"
"Huh?" Ichika looked bewildered.
"Ichika, my IS has multiple weapons on it." A blue holographic screen appeared next to Gio, showing his IS. "The chaingun and the broadsword are both from Titans, and therefore Anti-IS Class Weapons, or AISCWs. The Trebuchet...well, it's what we call a Anti-Hammond Class Weapon."
"An AHCW?"
"Correct." Gio nodded as they walked past the girls that were surrounding the TV. "The Trebuchet and the missiles I use are all AHCWs."
"The...m-missiles are AHCWs?" Ichika asked, a slight tone of fear in his voice. "Well...okay then…"
"Don't worry, I won't use them on you." Gio smiled, trying to reassure his only other male friend at the school. "C'mon, we don't want to be late for class."
Ichika nodded, and the two walked out.
"He's become friends…with the Hammond pilot?" One of the girls asked, the rest nodding in confirmation. "Oh dear…"
Classroom 1-1, later
'Why is it when anything happens, it happens in a 1-1 class?' Gio thought to himself, 'Like some kind of trope.'
Gio and Ichika had been lucky enough to sit next to each other in the class, both slightly nervous about their other classmates. Ichika didn't seem comfortable with the staring in his direction. Gio didn't seem comfortable with the lack of stuff to do.
'Could the teacher hurry up?' The two thought, both drumming their fingers on their desks. The door to the classroom opened, and a green-haired woman walked in. "Good morning class 1-1! I'm your teacher, Ms. Yamada!"
Dead silence. Gio heard a pin drop, and wondered if he had done that. He looked around, seeing that no one was going to respond, he decided to help the teacher before things got too awkward. Gio cleared his throat, but before he could stand up and speak, the door opened once more to allow Chifuyu Orimura to walk in the class. The class, instead of causing an uproar, tensed as she walked towards Gio and Ichika's desks.
"Inferno, Orimura."
"Ma'am." Gio responded, while Ichika swallowed nervously.
"Please introduce yourselves to the class, considering you two somewhat know each other." She ordered, "And make it quick, we have others who need to introduce themselves as well."
"Yes ma'am." The two responded, standing up to face the class behind them.
Ichika went first. "Hello, my name is Orimura Ichika. I'm from Japan, and I hope to have a good class with you all."
The class seemed to like Ichika's introduction. 'Short and to the point.' Gio and Chifuyu thought to themselves. Ichika looked to Gio, but before he could start, he saw out of the corner of his eye something flying at him. He raised his hand, and caught the item, seeing to be a taped shut IS textbook. 'Interesting, taped together so it doesn't open. Thrown at a velocity to hurt, aimed for the head to concuss.' He looked to see who threw it.
"You dare?" He asked, turning to the thrower. "Ms. Alcott?"
The blonde in question seemed taken aback by the question. Cecilia Alcott, the Representative Cadet for England, was a blonde woman with her hair ending in small drills. Her eyes were a light blue, and her hair was held up by a blue headband. Gio also noticed the blue earrings, which he chalked up to being her IS.
"H-how do you know my name?" She asked, hiding her nervousness.
"I had to study for a lot of possibilities before coming here. After all, we're all 18-20 year olds trying to figure out how to pilot death machines…for 'sport', right?" The hand holding the textbook burst into the thermite flames, burning the book to a crisp. "I know you, you're…on the deck."
"The deck?"
Chifuyu rolled her eyes. 'Hammond adopted that for their IS trainees from the Americans and their obsession with Iraq back in '03-04. I'm pretty sure Alcott is a five of diamonds.'
Gio smiled, "Doesn't matter. I know you, and I assume you know me."
"Yes-"
"Great!" Gio clapped once and turned away, facing the class again. "For those that don't, I am Gio Inferno. Technically, the second male IS pilot-" He quickly deadpanned at Ichika, who coughed into his fist. "-and the Representative Cadet for the Hammond Republic. I also pilot a personal IS." He tilted his hand that held the book, spilling the ashes to the floor. "Any questions?"
Chifuyu mentally scoffed, Ichika sighed, and Cecilia steamed, staring down the Hammond pilot. "How did you get here?"
"I took a plane." Gio responded, getting a round of chuckles from the class.
"I meant, how were you allowed into the school?"
"I dunno. How was Ichika let in? Just because he's a dude and can pilot an IS? I'm a dude, and can pilot an IS, the only difference is that I'm from the Hammond Republic."
"A country that has caused multiple disturbances in the world, and has been somewhat a thorn in the side of those who are rightfully sovereign." Cecilia responded, her anger prevalent but she stayed cool.
Gio smirked, "Is somewhat upset that they were left behind? Big Three no longer the Big UN Five?"
Cecilia's left eye twitched.
'Hit that nerve spot-fucking-on.' Gio sighed, "There's no reason to fight here. How about we start over?" He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "I buy you a new textbook?"
"Hmmph." She sat down.
'Wasn't a no, but sure as shit wasn't a yes.' Gio sighed, turning to the class. "This concludes my introduction. I hope to have a productive year with you all."
Somewhere in the Serbian Sector…
The landing pad shook with a dull thud, as two IS pilots landed on the pads. Their ISs were identical, both were Ion Titans, with the top part of the torso cut away to allow full Pilot visibility. The metal angel wings folded in, and the plasma railgun attached to the top of the left shoulder plates pointed to the ground, pressing against the breastplate of the cockpit. The default red and gold paint had been removed for black majority and white minority color scheme.
A squad of technicians and mechanics ran to the duo as the breastplates separated and let the pilot jump down to the landing pad. An officer walked up to the two, wearing a large gray overcoat over grunt armor. "Status?"
"Russian forces in Rostov are close to collapse. They're being pushed out of the suburbs as we speak." One reported.
"An enemy IS squadron attempted to attack our forces. Two were killed by Titans, the rest dealt with us after they retreated. Six mass-produced IS units were destroyed, and their pilots killed. Eight total MPIS and pilots were destroyed." The other reported.
"Excellent. This brings us bargaining power for tomorrow. We need to force them to give up the Crimea before the US and PRC get involved. You two go rest, the next team's patrol will let you get some shut-eye before we feel the need to send your team out again." He looked to a control operator at a console, and made a lowering motion.
The operator nodded, and pulled a lever. Suddenly, the landing pad began sinking into the ground. The ground top passed their heights, and the doors over them closed. The pad suddenly lowered into a wide opening. It was man-made, the walls and ceiling made of a steel alloy. It was huge, it seemed to stretch on for at least two miles, everything from racks holding supplies to a multitude of open hangars holding IS-Titan Hybrids.
The pad hit the ground level, and the two pilots walked off. The officer looked around, and smiled. "As strong times create weak men, we are here to create hard times." He turned to the Hybrids as they hunkered into a standing fetal position. Two Ogres came to the pad, picked the Hybrids up, and walked away.
"Another day…another war." He looked down. "And no closer to our goal. Here's hoping, Captain Inferno."