AN: Thank you everyone once again for the feedback, I value it very much. Some of your comments also make me chuckle. As for whether it's WH or SC, yes. Lol honestly I have no idea how people in the Dominion Armed Forces would answer to their Emperor, so I'm taking my liberties with. No don't worry, nothing too crazy. Additionally, the more I brainstorm this story during work and my shower thoughts, the more I realize "holy shit, the armored cores I have in mind are gonna fucking struggle against the three SC races." Not gonna lie guys, our characters are no mary sues. There will probably be some really stressful situations in the making, I even just remembered MISSILE TURRETS from terran are thing. God I don't want to imagine what spore crawler's do with their acid spores. Let alone the damage an IMMORTAL'S PHASE CANNONS WILL WARP THE SHIT OUT OF NEO STEEL PLATING.
I did listen to a lot of the armoredlore, thank you. I had no idea the older games took place on earth. I'm still listening through the channel, but it's been interesting so far. Once again, the AC side of my story comes from AC6 as that's my first time playing AC at all, so I apologize if I don't convey AC too accurately. One thing that I also had trouble with, was figuring out where StarCraft characters get all their weapons and equipment from. There is no information what company created the gauss rifle or CMC suit, so I've had to make up companies that sound fitting enough. I wish the lore went deeper, but sadly it focuses on our main characters so much that we don't get to explore the universe as much as I'd love.
I also really had trouble imagining how one would control a mech mobile suit/AC. How would you ascend? descend? Laterally move? I wonder if it would be some kind of control lever, or if it would just read through some input from your nueral interface from suit-to-machine. I don't know, it's scifi magic and sadly I've never piloted anything in my life.
That's what I love about AC6, though the wikis are fresh, you can see what companies create what equipment for you. I just wish I knew what the caliber was for ammunition, so I had to borrow from Muv Luv. Anway, enjoy, favorite, follow, and leave your feedback. I love both of these universes and I'm gradually vectoring them to collide very soon. I know things seem slow at first, but I have to set the world building and pieces ready before they clash and the action begins.
ISHIKAWA
March 21st, 2504
Augustgrad Aviation Research and Development
Glass doors of the front lobby opened, allowing Major Miranda Fleming and 2nd Lieutenant Ava Madson inside. They were both dressed in their respective uniforms, a neat navy blue coat and top with a neat pencil skirt and stockings.
The interior of the Research and Development building was sleek, minimal, almost cutting edge tech. Holo displays lined the walls with varying information, the floor a cold glossy black that clacked from each of their footsteps. Ava followed the Major closely as they walked along a path indicated with little winking lights.
"Scanning, welcome Major Fleming, 621 Callsign Raven. Security has been notified of arrival."
"Raven?" Ava asked as they walked past the guard post. "Is that what I'm called now?" They passed various rooms that were full of scientists dressed in white suits as they tinkered and examined pieces of machinery. One looked up from his terminal and nodded a greeting at her through his goggles.
Fleming nodded, her short black hair swaying with every step. "Exactly correct. Since I'll be managing your missions from now on, you're to only be known by your callsign 621, Raven, or both. Only your official documentation will have your name in print, and even then only a few of us are cleared to read your records." She tapped her data pad as they stepped onto a small gondola, which began to send them sideways through a tunnel. Ava had to hold the railing to steady herself, while Fleming was unaffected.
"Wait ma'am, I'm not even known publicly? Won't I be recognized by other Dominion folk?" She asked the Major, as the gondola now slid along the edge of a wide open hangar bay with its front door opened to the outside. "Whoah..."
There, resting in the center of the bay with an extended bridge up top, was the mystery machine. It stood still as teams of mechanics and engineers hauled parts with the help of a few SCV's, or Space Construction Vehicles that skid along using thrusters to help hold pieces in place and welded them together. Several pipings, tubes and cables of varying sizes snaked around the floor and some dangled through pulley systems held up by mobile cranes. It was a jungle of hard work going about the hangar bay.
The gondola slowed to a stop, and the two stepped onto an elevator. As it began to descend, Fleming turned Ava to face her. "Look at me, Lieutenant. You'll be embarking on missions we need done, but can't be done officially. Do you understand? You won't be able to rely on the direct support of Dominion forces. If you make any mistakes, expect that they will think you're an enemy. This won't be the case for too long, by my calculations." She looked the new young Pilot, watching for any signs of objection.
Ava nodded quickly, "Y-yes ma'am! I understand, I'm... operating on my own. For now?"
The Major turned back, writing a few notes in her pad. "For now. For the time being, you're going to be test flighting this 'AC' as we make adjustments to weight distribution, energy output, armament stability, et cetera. This is a very big task, and you'll be aiding us here in the RaD team. Don't let me down, Raven."
"Yes ma'am." Ava stood a little straighter, feeling more confident in the instructions she'd been given. If she could prove she was the one for the team, who knows where this could take her? Still... to work by herself doesn't sound like an easy challenge. Then again, challenges weren't meant to be easy. They were meant to be overcome.
The Major nodded tersely. The girl could follow orders, that was a start. The lift hissed to a stop, and the two ladies began walking towards a few of the mechanics and engineers that were overlooking a blueprint and arguing. "Ahem, Senior Master Sergeant Dewitt." A gruff older man with a scar running near his nose took one look, and walked up to the Major, easily able to suplex her with his superior build if he desired, but stood ramrod straight at the presence of a senior officer. "Ma'am, good to see you! My teams have been hard at work getting this old girl here retrofitted as per your orders. Just having trouble with one piece.."
Fleming tilted her head a little, the sunlight from outside reflecting off her glasses. "Oh? What would that be?" She asked, stepping around him and walking to the bluprint on the table. Ava joined her as did Dewitt, and what looked like the torso area of the AC was on display for all.
The Senior scratched his goatee in thought. "Well it would depend on the preference of this young..." He arched a brow at Ava, and she'd gotten the message.
"Raven. 2nd Lieutenant Raven." She said, feeling more confident the more she heard her new name.
"Ah, pleasure little girl." He smiled, "I'll be the one you go to if there's any changes you want to have made to your Armored Core. Now, we were all in debate on how to arm you here." He pointed to a section of the torso, the shoulder mount.
"Arm me?" Ava asked, furrowing her brow.
Major Fleming nodded as she explained. "I'm sure you're familiar with our Goliath ground units. Their shoulder mounts include seeker missiles, while their main arms are fitted with standard issue autocannons."
Dewitt rumbled in agreement. "Aye, we're going to start off simple, just a left and right mount for your arms for when we begin your first flight test. No shoulder mounted toys just yet. So, what will it be?"
He slid his own pad to her, a much larger one than what was in the Major's hands. On it, she could see different options laid before her. Able to individually pick out different items for each arm, each shoulder. Ava picked through, seeing a preview hologram of what her mech would look like with each choice. "Got anything like my old gauss rifle? Something that can shoot pretty good with a knife at the end?"
The war vet nodded, tapping a few times on the pad. The display slid all the way over to what looked like a scoped rifle, at the end with just an underbarrel to it. "This will be your best bet. No bladed rifles I'm afraid, not till we get some more research done. This is the RF-C15 Gauss. It's got a steady fire rate, not too strong but definitely not a pushover. Fires our standard 36mm rounds, and also has a launcher for the 120mm high explosive."
Major Fleming allowed herself the tiniest smirk as she saw Raven's eyes light up at the options available. "Keep in mind, you'll be able to pack along different ammo types according to mission specs. Armor piercing, Tracer, and more as we develop new research."
Raven nodded, applying her choice for the right hand and then moving onto the left. Swiping, she paused as she saw an interesting option labled SH-01. "Whoah, a shield? Just like when I was a Marine."
Dewitt chuckled, "Aye, you'll feel right at home if you were to go with that. While heavy, it's layered with neosteel and depleted uranium, you'll get all the protection you need with that. Certainly will take almost anything we have in our toybox to make any dents in it. Can't say what'll happen when it takes hits from Protoss tech though." He snorted at that last part.
She nodded, continuing to swipe through. "Hm... Shield... another gun would be helpful... oh, a sword?" She paused, seeing a long blade that looked like something out of a fairy tale. The label SW-1095CS slid into the corner of the screen as she rotated the preview. It showed that it would hook into the shoulder mount when unused, but wasn't too long that it would get in the way if held frequently.
"Yes, when we found you, you had a blade very close to this in your deployment." Fleming began, "It's made of high quality Neosteel, tested and insured to cut through even the toughest Thor armor plating. Aim it right and you can hack most mechanical targets into pieces."
Tapping her final choice, Raven decided. "Alright, I want the sword with my gun. I think it'd be better to stay light and fast than bunker down just to tuck behind a shield again." She looked up at everyone, a small glimmer of excitement in her heart.
Everyone looked at her with a mixture of expectation and wonder. Major Fleming was the first to speak as she adjusted her glasses. "What you do from here on will make a lasting impact on everyone, Raven. Now, come with me and we'll see to your quarters for debriefing while you're stationed here. Once you're done, report for pilot suit fitting and flight test after chow."
Dewitt clapped his hands, one of his crew picking up the pad with Raven's preferences. "It looks like we've got our orders. Alright boys and girls, let's get haulin'!" A cry of acknowledgement from everyone resounded throughout the hangar.
-o-
Ava "Raven" Madson entered her quarters, a clean and minimal space complete with a bed, desk, locker, and a window looking towards the city. The Major brushed past her, inserting a data chip into the desk's terminal. "Here Raven. This is where you'll be fully debriefed on your duties, and this room is where you'll spend your down time. You are not to enter any of the other wings other than the chow hall, your quarters, or the hangar without permission. Am I clear?" Fleming narrowed her eyes a bit, causing a small drip of nervousness to fall through Raven's stomach.
"Yes ma'am!" Seems she'd have to earn her trust, makes sense seeing as she was now part of what sounded like a fresh new project.
The Major nodded, stepping over to the window. A moment passed before she answered. "The Emperor has some kind of plan for you, 621. I don't know what, or why. However it's not my place to question him, it is my duty to ensure that the greatest results present themselves." She turned around. "You may have his eager interest so far, but you do not have my respect. Not yet. You're just a dog to me, but if you can prove yourself, I may even see you as something... more."
Ava gulped. "Yes ma'am, I promise not to let you down."
Fleming frowned. "I don't want promises. I want you to execute and perform. I'll be in my office down the corridor, I have a meeting to attend." She clacked past Raven in those slick black heels of hers, and the door hissed shut. She sat down on the bed, clutcing her head with a sigh. This was a lot of pressure. Experimental tech, a fresh new mission, and for what? Tougher goliaths? A new mech to make? Would she even earn any kind of glory to be proud of?
Her mind reeled, she couldn't even believe she was here. Raven had been through the worst slaughter in her career, and it had barely even begun. Now through some cut corners and word of mouth orders, she was slipped into a whole new situation. Alone. She had no friends with her, has to basically abandon her own name, and now she's going to risk her life for the Emperor she swore into service for. It almost felt like a dream.
Sighing, she got up and sat at her desk, opening up the holo screen. Seeing a few modules to go through, she started with the introduction. The display then projected onto the screen. "Hello, flight pilot 621 Raven. Welcome to project Orpharnage. You are the first personnel in service to the Terran Dominion that has been chosen to directly assist in testing, deploying, and utilizing new experimental technology.
The display then rendered a model of her mech, which slowly rotated before it was dissassembled into an exploded view, showing all of its internal pieces. Information gathered from direct interfacing, this is your AC, or Armored Core. It employs the use of a VP-20C Generator, manufactured by Arquebus, which gives an energy output of 3670. Raven had little idea what that meant, but it sounded good so far. If only she'd studied mechanics...
Your Core is divided into the following: Head, Core, Arms, Legs, Fire Control Systems or FCS, Boosters and Generator...
Raven sat at a window side table in the chow hall, picking at a plate of cornbread, gravy covered steak and vegetables. It'd been a couple hours, but she finally got through her briefing. She understood a lot more about her AC than she did before, like how to maneuver in theory, navigating a battlefield using the primary thrust system, target locking, and mitigating damage so that nothing vital would be hit first.
She had no idea who those corporations were, but "Arquebus", "Balam", "RaD" were hers to thank. Being more prepared for what was to come filled her with a lot more confidence than she had previously. She had to perform, she was given the blessed chance to meet her Emperor, there was no way she could fail...
Raven realized she was gripping her glass cup, which had began to crack, and relaxed herself with a sigh. She'd wait until she was on the field to let out her frustration. Finishing up in the hall and nodding past a few officers, Raven made her way to the hangar. In a few minutes, she walked up to the Major who was talking with Dewitt. She snapped off a salute, "Ma'am, pilot 621 Raven reporting!"
Fleming turned around, nodding. "At ease. I trust your briefing went well?" Her charge nodded. "Good, we're ready for our first test flighting. Dewitt will fill you in." She looked to the grizzled master sergeant.
"Aye, let's see." He scratched his beard in thought. "We got you fitted with your sword and rifle like you asked, and we managed to get some replacement pieces imported for the damage she had on her. We're still waiting on our makers to send us better parts, since this here tech is still very new. Nothing too serious, but we had to replace one of the thrusters so one is shinier than the other. Whaddya say little girl, you ready to skate?"
Raven nodded, now feeling a surge of excitement as she saw her retouched AC. It looked clean all around, only a tiny bit of weathering remained, but it was otherwise unbranded besides a simple 621 being printed on the chest. "I'm ready, let's do this."
Dewitt chuckled, nodding to a set of lockers. "Alright, go ahead and get into a fortified suit. I'll walk you through how to wear one, all pilots have to if they wanna keep their heads on their shoulders. Or their dinner down."
Raven nodded, taking a suit from one of the lockers. It felt cooled, and smooth in some parts but glossy in others. It was simply colored with whites, blacks and greys. Looking around, she undid her fatigues until she was down to her undergarments and slipped on the loose baggy suit.
Behind her, Major Fleming cleared her throat. "Simply slip on the suit, it'll be loose at first, but after getting all limbs in their spaces, touch the central chest piece."
Nodding, Raven tapped the little plate. Immediately, the suit seemed to deflate aggressively until it hugged her body skin tight. She yelped, startled from the sudden change, and then covered her modesty to no avail. A few chuckles from the team came around. "What the, why is this... like this?!" She gestured to herself. The suit more than hugged her body to avoid snagging: it was a damn near skinsuit, leaving little to one's imagination. Needlessly to say she felt nearly naked, save for the small armored shoulders, and fortified collar that interlocked with the main chest. Even around her feet, she wore what felt like armored heels, but thick enough that she wouldn't roll her ankles. Small red lights winked on around key points on the outfit.
"Yes well, as you know, the suits were developed from recent iterations of the Hostile Environemnt Suit usually employed by our ghosts out in the field." Fleming explained matter of fact. "This however is a type 99 Fortified Pilot Suit, with less emphasis on psionic regulation and moreso focused on being able to keep yourself from breaking via extreme G forces or motion sickness when piloting. You'll get used to it very quickly, and even feel naked without it. Now you're ready. Get into your AC, and let's begin."
Raven groaned. "Alright, let's.. just do this already. And please guys, stop staring!" A couple of the male personnel quickly averted their gaze, suddenly interested in their work. A single cable snaked down, as the chest component of her Core opened up. It hissed, whirring to life as it was powered on from hooked up cabling. Grabbing the cable and stepping on the little disc at its end, Ava oversaw the entire hangar. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for her second flight ever. Closing her eyes, she remembered vividly how she'd slain numerous zerg. She'd do so again in a heartbeat, only this time she'd know exactly what she was doing, and not a single hellish alien would get in her way. She would avenge her comrades, her friends, her commander.
The lift stopped, taking Raven away from her brooding. She climbed inside, slipping easily into the armed pilot seat which sat surrounded by a blank cavern with a few switches along the side. "621 Raven, this is a comm check. Can you hear me?" Fleming's voice sounded in her ear, courtesy of the facial protection she wore around her chin, cheeks and back of her head. "I read you ma'am, loud and clear."
"Excellent. When you're ready, place your feet at the sensor panel in front of the pilot's seat. From there, you'll see your switches on the right: Canopy, Auxiliary Systems, and Engine in that order." Nodding, Raven flicked each switch in succession. The metal of the AC squeaked with fresh grease as all parts slid back and latched into place, a small hiss resounding. A small holo panel above the switches read "AIR PRESSURE EQUALIZED". Flicking the next, the Aux, her dark world suddenly whirred into being and light as everything in front of her displayed what she'd seen just a few minutes before. She was now sitting in a chair staring out towards the field from within the hangar, and it felt like she could just up and go on her own feet.
Raven cooed in awe, reaching out in front of her. It was as if the canopy had melted away before her, allowing her to see with her own eyes instead of through a monitor or screen. Was this what magic felt like? "Enjoying the view? Good. We retrofitted your AC with a main Augmented Reality Display. It's far easier on your eyes, and much more immmersive. There's several cameras and sensors which allow an accurate display, removing the psychological stress of feeling encased in a small space. As long as your sensors don't get ruined, you'll be able to see clear as day."
Technology was beautiful, Raven decided.
She flicked the last switch, and heard what sounded like a plane firing up. The main generator began to feed into all limbs of the AC Raven realized, as she felt it suddenly bob and sway on its own legs, its thrusters barking with short bursts of orange flame. "Whoah, oh my god! I feel like I'm gonna fall!"
Dewitt popped into her display at the left side, Fleming's own video feed just underneath. "Take her nice and slow, girl! We have to crawl before we walk! Er, fly in this case. Just relax yourself, and focus on taking a step forward. Don't worry about your arms or your head, that comes naturally. Hold onto those flight sticks, and put a little pressure on the floor using one of your feet."
Small bead of sweat dripping down her forehead, Raven did as she was told, whooping from the sudden thudding of her AC. She looked down, the display allowing her to see her own 'feet', and she had indeed placed her right foot forward. The AC corrected itself, using correctional thrusts that only lasted a second in order to compensate the awkward gait. "Whoah, my god! That's gonna take some getting used to!"
"That's it, 621. Now try to walk outside, just focus." The Major fixed her glasses, taking notes down in her pad.
Raven let out a breath. "Here goes..." Another awkard shamble, cables disconnecting as they reached their threshold from being extended. After a few moments, Raven was walking. A slow and somewhat clumsy gait, but it was progress. As she thudded her way past everyone, she could see what looked like a road that extended from the hanger down away from the base, along side a field of grass. "Okay, I made it outside. What now?"
"Alright 621," Fleming replied, "Squeeze both control handles and ease forward. Doing so should push you using rear thrusters, your OS should handle balancing and compensation."
Letting out a breath, Raven eased her grips forward. After a moment, she could feel the AC whirring, beginning to skid forward. In her view, she was sliding along the runway, gradually picking up speed. In her left side view, she could see her miles per hour: 14, 20, 35, 46... "Wow, by the Emperor... I'm doing it! I'm... I'm skating!" She let out a laugh, not able to help herself.
Dewitt laughed along, "Great, girl! Now don't be afraid to pick up some more speed, the generator can take it! Around 140 miles, you should be at full speed, and of course you can use your afterburners to push yourself more. Careful though, she'll need to recharge for a couple seconds once you've used up your boost." As he said so, a single bar highlighted itself at the bottom, fluctuating whenever she boosted her thruster output. Her Armored Core bounced, leaving sparks as its feet skidded along the ground and the system steadied itself.
"Wow, can I fly? Let me give that a shot!" She bit her lip, the field of grass zipping by her as she skimmed down the road.
It was Fleming who answered her. "Yes, if you want to ascend, pull up and keep your thrust at optimal speeds. You should see yourself begin to lift off. Keep in mind that depending on your loadout, your inertia, speed, fuel efficiency and ability to maintain altitude will be affected. For now, you're essentially a bird in the sky."
Raven frowned a little. So she wouldn't be able to stay in flight forever? What a shame, because she was enjoying the feeling she got as she watched herself angle up into the sky. She felt free, as the buildings began to fall below her, and the sky rose up to meet her. She let out an involuntary laugh, looking at the ground that grew lower and lower.
"Careful girl, your energy is falling towards half, trying to keep you up there!" Dewitt called out as Raven's EN meter was beginning to drop. Sighing, she steered herself around the base, getting a good look at the whole RaD complex. She could see other hangars, the front lobby, the main tunnel that lead to the rear facility. Around her farther away, the city of Korhal rested, with the palace an ever present watcher.
"I can see everything from here... Okay, I'm gonna come back now, guys." Just as Raven was pitching herself downward, she noticed a wink of light blinking at her. It was a flashing white light that was off past the main hangar, somewhere in the field. "Huh? What's..."
Major fleming checked in, "621, I'm reading a small fluctuation in your heart monitor. What's the issue?" She bordered on concern, but moreso annoyed that she had no context as to what had caused a variable in her data. Fleming hated unknowns.
Raven shook her head. "Nothing, Ma'am. All good. Heading back now." Pitching downard gradually, her AC righted itself from its air time, bouncing on its actuators as it once again returned to skating just above the ground, using its thrust to keep itself light and fast. Slowing to a stop at the front of the hangar, she stopped her thrust and relied on the bipedal motion of her AC's legs. Making her way in, she had gotten used to movement by now, that she was able to use her thrusters to whirl around and backpedal into place.
The canopy hissed open again, and Raven climbed out, smiling in her fortified suit. "So, when do I get to shoot some guns?"
Dewitt clapped in approval, while Fleming adjusted her glasses, suppressing a smirk.
-o-
The video feed could not lie. There was indeed technology for media purposes that could edit, manipulate, and create a false image. It began in the early 21st century with the use of AI in order to create images of any kind, where one would simply input prompts and the computer would handle the rest.
By 2077, the use of AI had advanced so far that humanity began to rely on its use for many purposes, from recreational to eventually military. At this day and age, AI has advanced so far forward that many automations were operated remotely by non human intelligence. They payed you your check, they helped you find your groceries, they drove your cars when you couldn't be bothered.
But a video feed could not lie. What was seen on screen was a mech design not dissimilar to a goliath or thor, but one that could achieve flight and evasive action. Replays along several screens showed different scenes, this new Dominion mech skirting around cones, running on its mechanical legs, lifting off near instantly and diving before pulling back up into the sky.
"The feeds are accurate. I trust you are satisfied?" A thick accented man with a wavy head of white hair spoke. "Confirmation that the dominion indeed has begun production of a new mech. It looks like quite the game changer." He turned around to face his benefactor.
A woman wearing a sleek grey blazer and pencil skirt was fiddling with a pen as she sat in a black office chair. They were in a very clean office: grey and black accented with gold around the edges. Someone seemed to enjoy luxury and it showed. Behind her, asteroids tumbled slowly in drift along a belt. Sighing, she got up and walked past the old man, swirling a glass of rum. "Not production, Doctor Narud. Replication. That design is not of their own, it came from my homeworld and somehow ended up in your sector."
Narud scratched his beard in thought, as this was not something he and his master would have accounted for. Still.. "However, you do have confirmation that it's now in Dominion hands. I trust you made contact with me because...?" Though he was curious as to this meeting, it wasn't wise to put all of your eggs into one basket.
The woman watched the monitors as they replayed different clips of the training footage, propping the arm holding her drink up on her other hand from her elbow. She stared hard at one image that showed a close up of the mech, with a full view of the numbers 621 printed on its chassis. "You have assets that have value to me. Numbers, technology, the means to manufacure. I have a feeling that you and I will have a very healthy partnership should you accept". She took a sip and then set her glass on a table, before turning on her heel to him.
Nodding, Narud prodded. "In exchange for what exactly? What do I stand to gain here? You see, Moebius and I have a very linear agenda, especially with my boss who appointed me as head of this foundation." He raised a brow, slightly confused when he heard her chuckle.
The woman pulled out a tablet from within her blazer's breast pocket, and a hologram projected from it. "All of you here make use of Minerals as your primary resource for production, along with the precious Vespene Gas to fuel your machinery." As she spoke, the holo display changed to present her topics of choice, now swiping over to show more special matierals. "There's also terrazine, highly volatile, but proven for a psychedelic usage. A wasted potential for something that could be used to power Armored Core designs I would provide you... or making deadly terrazine bombs."
That left Narud surprised, he had not even thought of such a thing. "Bombs? Why, we don't have such means to even safely extract terrazine! Even when we manage, it spoils faster than a gallon of milk because we don't have a way to preserve it. The only ones who can... are the protoss.. In fact, they crave the substance. It's like a drug to them!" He watched the display with rapt attention and racing thoughts, the woman's green eyes watching his reactions with calculated amusement. "The damage such a bomb could cause.."
"You may not have the designs for harvesting it... but I do. If you agree to contract with me, I'll make it worth your while and ensure that you stay ahead of the technology game. You'll be able to produce some of the most cutting edge technology anyone here would see. You merely have to follow my orders, and I'll allow you to make use of quality product for your own means as well." Walking towards her desk, she tapped a few times on the smooth glass surface, displaying a screen of contacts, some of which were due to meet with her soon. "Of course, you will also be compensated generously to account for expenses as a freelancer."
Rubbing his wrist in thought, Narud nodded. "Very well... I shall make the arrangements and contact my forces. I'll take it up with my boss as well, though I don't see any reason he'd object... When can I expect the first assignment?"
The woman stopped tapping, turning around and leaning back at her desk, arms crossed. "give or take a couple of weeks. I imagine that should be more than enough time for you to prepare your forces. In the meantime, I will also have a few of my own agents and some new contacts ready to accompany you. Think of them as... assistants to our cause." A faint diagram on a screen to her left displayed the symbol of her organization, along with other connected emblems for her agents: IGUAZU, RUSTY.
"I see. Very well, I believe this will be the start of a great working relationship." He stepped towards the elevator that would take him out of her office, and back to his private corvette. "I shall be in touch, Miss.."
The mysterious woman, who until now had omitted her very name and only presented a simple emblem as her signage, tilted her head with a smirk as her bobcut hair swayed smoothly.
"Of course Doctor. I expect to see you achieve great things for me. AllMind exists... for all mercenaries."
