Chapter 2 Rise of Titans
"So I had a lovely conversation with Miss Orimura." Thermidor began to explain.
Moved down to a corporate block of the megastructure, several kilometers underground, in a meeting room meant for executives. A simple wide round table with an opened middle, from which holographic projectors could display in the middle of the room. Seated around the table, were the Lynx of ORCA, including the former League Lynx who'd thrown in their lot. Standing to the side with reports prepared was Serena, waiting while the active Lynx discussed the unusual situation.
"What were those unusual units?" Wolcott questioned. Thermidor gestured for Serena to take the floor.
"Those units were called Infinite Stratos, or IS for short." Haze explained. "Six years ago, it was a simple powered exoskeleton for use in space. However, a scientist named Tabane Shinonono combined it with a form of quantum technology to essentially create a smaller scale NEXT combat platform."
This interested all the Lynx present, as the only weapon to ever match an Armored Core NEXT were other Armored Cores.
"In an event known as the 'White Knight' incident, a few thousand ballistic missiles were hacked and launched at Japan…that is the nation that we have apparently landed in the proximity of. An IS codenamed 'Shirokishi' shot down all the missiles, over half utilizing just a sword."
"Mmm." Klein hummed pleasantly.
Haze continued. "In a following battle, seven aircraft carriers and their escorts were disabled, and eight orbital weapons were destroyed by the unit, before it disappeared."
"So it clearly possesses combat capacity at a similar level to a NEXT." Fanchon noted.
"Yes, however, preliminary analysis suggest that the skill of the pilot would be the largest contributing factor to it's ability. Otherwise, their light weight and exposed pilot would make them vulnerable to a Lynx in close combat."
"Yeah, that's what I was thinking too." Malzel added.
"Are there any other notable details about these units?" Lilium questioned.
"Yes. Firstly, it appears that only the scientist, Shinonono, is able to manufacture the quantum cores that enable these units, meaning that there are only 467 active units, though I suspect there may actually be more. Secondly, only women are able to operate an IS, though there is a single exception."
"Only women can operate it? Why?" Greenfield questioned. "And who is the exception?"
"Unknown, it is something to look into." Haze answered. "The only exception is in fact the younger brother of Miss Orimura, who activated an IS roughly a month ago."
"Curious." Malzel narrowed his eyes.
"As entertaining as this all is, it is still merely a distraction from the main issue." Thermidor spoke up. "We're in the wrong timeline, and with no enemy to oppose, we have no purpose. I intend to correct that."
"What did you have in mind?" Lilium wondered.
"Before the three of you came to put us down, we'd been getting a near constant influx of refugees, filling up the residential sectors of this fortress. We are far from full, but there are still twenty million people living here, and we don't have the supplies to support them. I would like for us to reach out to the global community, and establish ORCA as a new nation."
"With the intention to keep those people alive, I hope?" Fanchon accused.
"But of course." Thermidor nodded. "I am willing to sell off some of our advanced technology in exchange for the one thing we lack; food."
"Not all the technology I would hope." Klein warned.
"Of course not, we would not give away Kojima tech or our NEXT, we'd want to maintain some military dominance after all." Thermidor clarified.
"If I can recommend." Malzel suggested. "I believe we should keep Kojima tech and our NEXT a secret. While an IS can match a NEXT on paper, NEXT possess actual armor, and can carry much heavier ordnance. In an actual battle, I suspect NEXT would go right through any IS in their path. All the while, we can sell older model Armored Cores to the world, as these IS units are far too restrictive in their use."
"Excellent." Wolcott nodded. "How do we make official contact with the locals?"
"I asked Miss Orimura, and there is an organization known as the 'United Nations' that we can go and declare our intentions at." Thermidor announced. "Apparently our unexpected arrival has caused them to issue an emergency session."
"And what exactly are our intentions for this world?" Fanchon questioned.
"Nothing particularly outlandish." Thermidor explained. "But we are in a unique position I believe we should exploit to our fullest. We are resource starved yet in possession of technology over four hundred years more advanced than the local standard, and we are sitting on top of several megastructure manufacturing blocks. As well…" Thermidor brought up some recent information gathered from the local environment. "This world is on the brink of ecological and environmental collapse. While most nations are aware of this, they are only just implementing measures that would try and reverse that damage. It would take little effort on our part to help them clean their planet, feeding their refuse into our factories. Thus, my plan is that we build ORCA into a nation, which will lead this world past the dark damnation that we've experienced, not through war and conquest, but through peaceful diplomacy and open trade."
"Do you really believe that shit?" Klein accused.
"…I'm going to try." Thermidor promised.
"Regardless, it's rather ambitious to try and build a nation out of a few million refugees and an army of terrorists." Greenfield noted. "Let alone us Lynx. Pardon my doubt, but we're not exactly predisposed to nation building."
"This was a concern of mine as well." Malzel agreed. "And while I've no doubt Thermidor would make an effective leader, we Lynx in general are naturally incompetent outside of military operations. Thus, I've requested a particular person, a human, whom might help us with this endeavor." He then gestured towards the door.
The woman that entered was in her early thirties, with short blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing a work coverall. Relatively short at five foot five inches, she was not particularly imposing, but her presence did cause every Lynx in the room to stand quickly, most in surprise, and all in respect.
"M-Mrs. Jarnefeldt!" Wolcott shouted, a short bow in her greeting.
"Yeah…" Fiona Jarnefeldt quickly nodded to all the occupants in the room, lingering on two; the second of which was Thermidor. "Yeah…"
"Ah…how fortunate." Thermidor hesitated. "Mrs. Jarnefeldt, I know we have our differences-"
"You could say that." Fiona cut him off, glaring hatefully.
"…but I'm hoping that you'll be able to assist us with our current predicament." Thermidor requested.
"You want to form a government out of ORCA terrorists and civilian refugees?" Fiona questioned knowingly.
"Yeah." Thermidor confirmed. "As skilled as we all are, that's not something any of us have any experience in. I'm hoping you have some advice…"
"Well…" Fiona thought about it for a long second. "Most governments used to use democracy in some form or another, mainly to allow civvies to think they had some semblance of control over their lives; but that's not worked out too well the last few centuries. I hate to say it, but I think you'll have to form a military junta."
"I was afraid you'd say that." Thermidor frowned. "Commanding troops is one thing, but getting civvies to do what I say is going to be a whole other issue."
"It helps that you're all Lynx." Fiona added. "So anyone who falls out of line can be killed easily enough."
"Let's try to avoid that if at all possible." Fanchon recommended.
"I think I'll compromise by giving two people other than myself command authority over this new ORCA nation." Thermidor decided. "Naturally one of whom should be a Collared Lynx, so, Lilium?"
"Oh very well." Wolcott resigned herself. "Since you clearly need my help to bring some semblance of legitimacy to this disaster, I guess I have no choice but to accept."
"And of course you'd want Malzel as your third man?" Fanchon questioned.
"You'd think, but no." Thermidor shook his head. "Malzel is of course highly intelligent, but I would prefer to keep him as our top general and advisor. ORCA's third commander should be Fiona Jarnefeldt."
"Damn you!" Fiona cursed. "I'm an engineer, not a politician!"
"Oh…that's brilliant!" Wolcott praised. "I support Fiona as a co-commander of ORCA."
"I also find that to be a reasonable choice." Malzel approved.
"Alright, I can agree to that." Fanchon accepted.
"Oh! Sounds fun!" Greenfield cheered.
"Eh…sure." Klein shrugged.
"Damn the whole lot of you!" Fiona cursed. "You really aren't going to let me get out of this one?"
"Face it, it's for the best." Haze praised. "Two opposing Lynx and a human whom no one questions has the best intentions. It's about the best of any leaders anyone could ask for."
"And since you are still here Serena, I'd like to make you chief engineer of AC operations." Thermidor declared.
"Ah fuck me!" Haze cursed.
"Let me just say that while it's a nice plan and all, I'm not sure this world alone will be able to supply the raw resources necessary to fill our factories." Fanchon commented. "League type manufacturing requires League level strip mining or mantle boring, something that most countries would be hesitant or unable to match."
"Huh…maybe I have a solution." Greenfield spoke up.
"Really? Let's hear it May." Thermidor nodded towards her.
"This megafortress is extremely adaptable, and, as you know, the secondary buildings are hover capable. I believe that with minimal modification we can adapt them for space flight, in order to access materials there that are not being exploited."
"Clever May." Thermidor praised. "Very clever, we'll make that a priority as well."
"If that's all, then we should probably get ready for that meeting with the UN." Malzal reminded them. "Serena, as our new chief engineer, start drawing up plans for personalized third gen ACs to replace our NEXT for the time being."
"Yeah yeah." Haze nodded. "Six units?"
"I'd say eight." Wolcott advised. "As older models, they don't have the same restrictions for their use, meaning both you and Fiona would be able to use them."
"Ah what? Throwing me into combat too?" Fiona accused.
"I concur with the new commander." Klein spoke up. "I trust an AC for it's defensive and evasive capabilities over any vehicle, especially if we are protecting VIPs."
"Then it's settled. We'll make preparations at once." Thermidor decided. "That will be all."
With that said the meeting was ended, and most of the occupants of the room filtered out with jobs to do. The only two who lingered were Fiona Jarnefeldt and James Klein.
"James." Fiona stared up at the younger Lynx, a hesitant warmth burned in her greeting.
With indifference that contradicted his next statement, James stared back at the small and unassuming human.
"Mom."
Four Days Later – June 7th / New York City, United States
The longest and most tedious part of preliminary negotiations had simply been planning their route. The Americans had been adamant that ORCA diplomats would take a flight to JFK International Airport then take a very nice, armored limo to the United Nation Headquarters in New York City, just off the East River.
It was with a self-proclaimed sense of vanity and bombastic arrogance that ORCA's reply was "Fuck that, just clear Times Square for an air drop."
Though admittedly rude, ORCA was not some simple agreement to govern a land and a people as most other governments were. ORCA was a violent sect of fanatical terrorist who currently lacked an enemy, and had every intention of showing the world their obscene strength.
The aircraft that ORCA sent was known as a Raijin, a super heavy flying wing bomber fifty meters long and two hundred meters wide, with two massive internal bomb bays. Not quite an Arms Fort but still armed to the teeth. The Americans were not pleased having an aircraft four times wider than their largest bomber flying across their country, and aggressively escorted it with stealth fighters and Infinite Stratos suits.
Finally over their target zone, the massive aircraft opened one of it's bomb bays, and dropped four Third Generation Armored Cores directly over the city. Coasting boosters to guide and slow their decent, the machines descended into the middle of Times Square, much to the shock of curious blocked off crowds and the waiting military escort.
Half as large and half as heavy as their Fourth Gen counterparts, they were still terrifying titans of steel five meters tall, towering over the nearby IS units. Though their eyes were hidden, the women of the American IS units opened their mouths in shock seeing the ORCA Armored Cores close up. Even with a minimal armament of a single machine gun held on a back mount, unready, and a nondescript laser blade on the left arms, they far outmatched the armaments of the IS units by half again.
Each Armored Core was distinct, similar, but clearly different. The factories of Big Box had old plans for Crest and Mirage built Armored Cores, and another unknown manufacturer that James had selected for his personal use. As Third Gens, they had less thrusters, and the cockpits were set at the rear. As well, most Third Gens tended to use an Orbit Drone, mounted behind the head, that could fire a heavy laser weapon or heavy machine gun. Most Crest units had a laser-based CIWS mounted on the front, and were very boxy. Mirage units were much sleeker, lacking the CIWS, but with heavier armor and more sub-systems.
There was a genuine fear that a battle would break out right there, what with a relatively unknown force landing in the middle of the city with units that had never been seen before. The Americans gripped their weapons tightly, uncertain and intimidated.
One of the Mirage type Armored Cores stepped forward, towards one of the American IS soldiers, raised her right arm, and waved.
Humming a happy tune, the young woman in a frilly white-blue maid outfit casually violated constants of space-time as she assembled one of her infamous IS Cores.
"And done!" Tabane Shinonono cheered, happily skipping with her long violet hair flowing behind her. More than anything, she was a woman who loved to have fun, and her IS Cores brought so much fun to the world. Fun, fun, fun!
The recent incursion of the new ORCA nation was nothing more than a happy distraction, as she had to acknowledge the technical genius in designing a megastructure such as Big Box. Even so, she could easily do the same given the time and resources, but had no real reason to. She didn't need to hide behind a bunker when she could go anywhere in the world, any time she pleased, such was her control over technology.
She idly noted a nearby television, playing a report about the ORCA delegation to the United Nations, their provocative use of a super-bomber to deliver four heavily armored…
She paused, drawn back to the television at the sight of metals titans, that the news reported as being Armored Cores…
Military machines, utilitarian, heavily armored and if their empty hardpoints were anything to go by, easily heavily armed. Yet with the clearly defined addition of thrusters, allowing for flight and high-speed combat, just like…
A feeling she'd not felt in years took hold, not since the world had ignored her genius invention of the Infinite Stratos. It boiled black hot in the pit of her stomach as she stared, eyes wide and teeth clenched painfully, regarding such ugly, bastardized units that the news dared compared to her glorious and elegant Infinite Stratos.
"Well now." Tabane hissed hatefully. "You have my undivided attention now, ORCA."
United Nations – New York City, United States
Klein had been adamant about being an escort to his own stepmother, but he had agreed to stay in the parking lot and guard the Armored Cores while Thermidor, Wolcott, and Jarnefeldt went inside the building. He was of no use to them for the next part.
Entering the building, was the first obstacle to overcome.
"Step forward please." The security guard motioned to the three of them, a metal detecting wand in his hand. He hadn't even gotten it anywhere close to Thermidor before the thing started to scream in warning, causing the guard to look at Thermidor questionably.
"Implants." Thermidor had explained simply, waving the guard off as he went over to the next security station.
"Please surrender any weapons or other dangerous objects sir." The next guard had demanded.
Thermidor nodded simply, first surrendering a pair of Glock 90 handguns, then a pair of knives. "I want that back." He spat venomously, even as the guard looked down at the familiar but unknown handguns.
It was Lilium's turn at the first checkpoint, and once again, the wand started screaming before it got anywhere near her body.
"Same." Lilium nodded, stepping up to the second checkpoint. Lifting her long dress to her knees, she reached down and pulled an M82 LAW out, dropping it in front of the now shocked guard. Then she pulled out an M79 break-barrel grenade launcher, placing it on the table. Lastly, she surrendered a Kel-Tec KSG 12-gauge shotgun. She gave a knowing smile to the guard, passing through as she and Thermidor waited for Fiona.
Half expecting the wand to scream again, the first guard reluctantly approached Fiona, and was pleasantly surprised that it stayed mostly silent until it reached a point near her back.
"Oops!" Fiona jumped in realization. "Sorry, I hardly feel the thing." She then pulled out a large wrench, surrendering it to the second guard.
Finally in the building, the three leaders of ORCA were led to the main meeting chamber. A large room with hundreds of chairs and desk representing all the nations of the world, filled with diplomats representing their global interest. Of special note, a disproportionate number of the diplomats were women, but it was something the ORCA leaders hardly focused on.
Fiona fell in behind the two Lynx, who walked in sync with hands behind their backs, down the center isle of the chamber. An imposing and questionable sight of a trench-coated rebel, a well-dressed corporate princess, and a ready for work engineer.
Being led to the main podium, Thermidor turned to the two other women with a questioning look. "Did the two of you have anything to say?"
"Huh?" Lilium cocked her head in surprise.
"Uh, we still kinda consider you leader and spokesman Thermidor." Fiona clarified. "We're just helping."
"Seriously?" Thermidor glared at Fiona. "I hired you specifically for your people skills."
"If you want me to teach them how to build and operate a fusion drive then yeah, I'm your girl. Else PR is your department." Fiona explained.
"…" Thermidor turned his attention to Lilium.
"Hey, don't look at me, I'm just here to look pretty and maybe kill some people."
"Ugh, fine, I'll fucking wing it or some shit." Thermidor cursed, turning around and approaching the podium. Looking out across the crowd of diplomats, he had no preconceptions of any of their nations.
This might prove to be fun.
"As you all have gathered by now, we are foreigners to your world, but are still human…mostly." Thermidor began his speech. "We come from a far future, ruled by tyranny, catastrophe, and war. Before we came to your world, ORCA was a rebellion, fighting against an enemy known as The League of Ruling Corporations. In our last battle, an exotic weapon was used against our fortress, displacing it and it's millions of occupants across space, time, and we believe dimensions."
His opening statement drew many murmurs of surprise and suspicion, but no less intrigue.
"Now, so very far from the world we called home, what is a rebellion without an enemy? In possession of weapons and technology several centuries more advanced, but with none of the institutions set up to manage it? We have asked these questions, and we are now prepared to answer them."
Pausing for a second, Thermidor prepared to make the declaration that the world waited on.
"I, Maximilian Thermidor, together with my colleagues Lilium Wolcott and Fiona Jarnefeldt, stand before you as the leaders of the new ORCA nation, built upon the Big Box megafortress we call our home. We humbly ask to join this institution so that we may participate with the other nations of this world, for peaceful diplomacy and open trade. We only wish for all mankind to prosper, and we will see our dream realized."
Big Box / June 8th
"So how'd you guys manage without us?" Thermidor asked of the other four Lynx they'd left behind, once they were back in the conference room.
"The troops are motived now that they know for sure that they aren't going to be killed by The League, they will continue to serve dutifully and without question behind us, even if it means taking orders from former League Lynx." Malzel answered. "As well, they are anxious to help build our nation."
"The economy is going to be a problem through." Fanchon frowned. "League Coam was always an unstable currency, and we currently have no resources and no products with which to share, not to mention zero credit history on this world. Trade is going to be difficult at the moment."
"Fortunately, once we do get the resources necessary for production, we'll be able to bring the fortresses manufacturing districts online." Haze informed. "I've run the calculations, and so long as we have a steady influx of material, we'll be able to match the planet."
"The whole planet?" Thermidor questioned incredulously.
Serena nodded. "Manufacturing in this century is surprisingly inefficient. Even simple products have production lines that span the whole planet. As well, League style automation and efficiency streamlines production to a whole other level. For example, it takes the factories on this planet five months to produce a main battle tank. With just the facilities in this fortress, we could produce the same tank in a week."
"Hmm." Klein smirked. "It's a bit odd to hear 'League' and 'efficiency' in the same sentence."
"True." Haze relented. "League quality left something to be desired in anything not an Armored Core, but their logistics and manufacturing base to support the Economic War was by far the most efficient in known human history."
Lastly, Thermidor turned to May. "And what of our fortress itself, resident GA expert?"
"Big Box is condition green all round, with an ordnance stockpile deep enough to support a total war against this world for the next month, assuming we decide to abandon efforts to acquire more material." Greenfield reported enthusiastically. "As you all know, we are currently sitting with a half kilometer submerged, which places Arms Fort hangars one, two, and three underwater. I recommend turning hangar one and two into either submarine pens or large-scale storage."
"Not hangar three?" Lilium questioned.
May smiled widely. "Hangar three is currently occupied by three Land Crabs in various stages of completion."
"Well, that's something." Fiona nodded in approval.
"It certainly is." Thermidor agreed. "Are any other sections underwater worth noting?"
"Yes. The lowest level aircraft hangars are half underwater, so I would recommend converting them into either shipyards or docks."
"Well then, I think we need to prioritize trade over ship building, but considering we are technically an island nation, a strong navy will be on the priority list." Thermidor agreed. "So we'll split it between everything. Have two aircraft hangars converted into docks for shipping, while the third hangar is converted into a naval base and shipyard. As for the Arms Fort hangars, the first will be a submarine pen, the second deep storage, and the third we'll finish production of those Land Crabs, then convert it so that we can still produce one Arms Fort at a time if need be."
"I concur with that assessment." Wolcott nodded.
"Yeah that seems reasonable." Fiona added.
"And what of those other modifications, May?" Malzel requested.
"On schedule and ready for launch in another week!" Greenfield announced cheerfully.
"Excellent." Thermidor smiled. "Then this world will see our true might."
IS Academy / June 15th
"…announced the launch of an orbital vehicle to begin construction of a space station in low Earth orbit…" The news announced from the phone of one of the students, as the whole student body had gathered on the roof of the dormitories to watch the special event.
Chifuyu watched lazily as her students mingled, excited at the prospect of seeing the launch of a rocket. Although, when she really thought about it, ORCA was not exactly clear as to what they were sending to space. They did not say if it was a rocket or a shuttle or anything, just that the airspace should be clear for a standard LEO launch for the construction of a new space station.
"It's pretty exciting, eh nee-sama?" Ichika commented. She allowed him the momentary breech in honorifics as it was the weekend.
"Yeah, this whole thing is interesting." Chifuyu admitted.
"Well, it had to be expected, right?" Houki Shinonono noted. "They claim to be from the future, so of course they have spaceships." She was Ichika's oldest friend as well as the younger sister of the infamous scientist. Standing at five foot three inches, her hair done up in a long dark ponytail with a green ribbon.
"They at least had the decency to announce their intentions, I will give them that." Cecilia Alcott added. She was a blonde British girl with an aristocratic accent, standing at five feet one inch.
"I just want to see the big fireworks!" Lingyin Huang cheered. Ichika's second oldest friend, she was a Chinese girl with her hair split into long brown pigtails held by yellow ribbons, and stood at only four feet eleven inches.
Chifuyu sighed in annoyance. Each of these girls pretty much openly expressed an interest in her brother, and while she could just barely tolerate Houki due to their history, the fact that all of them competed for her brother's attention at every opportunity was just so tiring.
The only more annoying thing was that Ichika himself was the only one who didn't realize their intentions.
"Oh! Look! They are about to start!" Maya announced excitedly.
"…nine…eight…seven…six…five…four…three…two…one…launch."
All eyes had turned to the massive fortress that they reluctantly accepted as part of the distant scenery now, not quite sure what to expect except for the launch of some space vehicle or another, just as the rest of the world watched, having become accustomed to the sight for the last seventy years.
It started as a boiling of water, at the base of one of the secondary buildings. Blue-green sea bubbling white in a massive plume of water that churned violently against itself, like the prop of a shallow boat. The scene changed so slowly and so distantly it was not even apparent that anything was moving, but it was moving. Something was moving. Something big was moving. Something too big to be moving.
In silent shock that resonated through the entire Earth, one of the secondary buildings that stood tall as the second largest man-made structures on the planet after Big Box rose agonizingly slowly on painfully bright white thrusters that continued to boil the sea.
The largest rockets ever fired up to that point had been three thousand tons and a bit more than a hundred meters tall. The structure that left the surface of Earth that day would later be confirmed to be an astonishing large triangular prism, two kilometers tall and 750 meters to a side; a half billion tons of steel and armor made even more astonishing in that it was a single stage, the whole damn thing going to orbit on a kilometers long plume of plasma fire.
Instinctually, Chifuyu dragged Ichika a little closer to herself, holding his shoulders tightly, trying to protect him just as she'd done for the last sixteen years. Because ORCA made it very clear that day that they were not some band of refugees blunderously building a nation from scratch. Their pride was not some misplaced sense of superiority borne of blatant arrogance.
ORCA knew what it was, and they had every intention to drag the rest of the world with them, kicking and screaming, into a future they sought to build for mankind. A new direction at last. It would be a time of growth, of ambition…
…And of war.
Author's Note: I don't really have anything to add here, considering I just posted chapter 1. Just know that I'm hoping to release the following chapters every 2-3 weeks. That's probbaly not going to be consistent post release of AC6, but hey, I'm trying here.