Solar System

Roy was shocked awake by explosions and gunfire. Shaking off the tiredness, he pressed the button that made the metal cover the windshield of his mech. Roy's eyes widened as he saw three rampaging mechs (Jupitris mechs, he could tell by the insignia) attacking everything around them. The tavern was in flames, and people were running left and right.

"Damn, this is SO not good!" Roy exclaimed from inside the mech. He had parked his mech a bit away from the building, so they hadn't noticed him quite yet.

Firing it up, Roy took the mech-knife on it's back and brandished it.

One of the Jupitris mechs noticed him, and started firing machine gun rounds at him. Roy used the knife to deflect most of the bullets, and the ones he didn't simply bounced off the mech's chassis.

The first strike took off the Jupitris's mech's legs in one fell swoop. The next was jammed into the back, missing the pilot purposely by a few inches.

The other mercenaries had already taken care of the other two by the time he was finished with that one.

"Geez, these guys are persistant!" he said, walking up to the mercenary group. They turned their mechs to look at Roy. He was sort of famous among them, and they had nicknamed him the raven, for when Roy shows up, it's a sign of an omen for the enemy.

Zethya's silver eyes scanned the desolate and destroyed Mech lab in front of her. Although she was used to seeing this type of carnage and desolation in flashes of memory that she got occasionally, seeing it in perswon was a whole new level of feelings.

Quite dreary, is it not?

The iron-ladened vioce flickered through the woman's thought process. Slowly, she nodded.

"Very. Tell me why you had me come here again, Rin."

You will see soon enough. There are some things of importance that I need to collect. Uploads, you would call them. I just hope that we don't run across any Mechs while we are out here. You're still recovering.

Zethya scowled. "I'm fine. Since when do you worry about me?"

I did not say I was worried. If you die, I cannot fight. I'm looking out for myself, not for your sake, Zethya.

Zethya smiled at that comment. After only two months, and four battles of being merged into one sentient being, Rin-Chi and Zethya could almost finish one anothers' thoughts. They may be a team, but that did not mean that they always fought together. Rin-Chi was his own type of Mech. No Mech had ever been made that had his own thought process apart from his piolet. Because of his 'circumstance', Rin-Chi had been abandoned. Zethya, a wandering Mercenary with no past and no memories, had come across the machine by mere chance. At that time, Rin-chi had tried to take over her concuiosness for his own advatange, but the girl had fought back, and had won. A pact was formed. The Human and the Mech would help each other.

"We still have another hour before we'll even be ready to go," the captain of the Gunsleeper grunted at Evangeline as he threw orders around at his crew, who were loading other supplies onto the hangar. Standing in the hangar, already moved, were the Void and Zephranthys, looming over her like judges of the dead. The captain turned back to her. "Hey?" Evangeline simply continued to look forward, as if the captain had never spoken. The man simply shrugged and continued to yell at his crew. This kind of behaviour was not unknown at all, for Evangeline to simply be removed from the world for a few moments, as if though her body had remained on this plane of reality, her mind had moved on. Her eyes stared blankly up at the two Psycho Frames, as if regarding a power far greater than herself.

She often had wondered why she did not receive her orders directly from General Yu Kojima. Some said Kojima, knowing the psychological damage his project had wrought on the young woman, was uncomfortable having to speak to her directly. Others went so far as to suggest he feared her power, and the power of Zephranthys. Regardless of why it was, she always received her orders from a subordinate of Kojima, and she hardly minded that fact. Evangeline did not want to take her orderss from the man who had destroyed her life without ever speaking a word to her. She had always preferred Vais Rena; somehow, the young Lieutenant General seemed to understand Evangeline, at least better than the other military figures, who tended to be rough, severe, and exceptionally ruthless. Some had said that the Earth Federation's military was cruel and heartless, but the generals of the Jupitris Coalition, many of whom she had met, sent a rather different message.

Evangeline turned her mind to Jarvis Lagan. She had heard little about him besides that he was a formidable pilot with a deadly kill record, pursuing some kind of vendetta against the Federation. Evangeline herself saw no difference between the Federation and the Jupitris Coalition; they were the same thing fighting for slightly different ideals. She only hoped Jarvis Lagan would know to stay out of her way--both for her good, and for his. She had only once before gone into 'psychosis'. That was the term for when the synchronisation rate with the Psycho Frame exceeded 120%. At that point, the pilot's mind became completely merged with the Frame--so completely that the two entities conflicted, both desiring control over the being. It would then rage out of control, destroying and annihilating without distinction. Evangeline had been the only Psycho Frame pilot to ever go into Psychosis, and the memory of it haunted her forever. Since then she had always wished to operate alone, afraid that if she went into Psychosis again, the massacre that had occurred last time could be avoided...

Jarvis strolled into hangar A-23 just around 21:00 hours. His steps were even and determined, no idle pleasantries would halt his stride. Small earbuds blared instrumental tones of violence and triumph into his psyche. The small silver crucifix, his only family heirloom, now swung from his neck with each forward motion.

The crew of the Gunsleeper were busy loading and storing various supplies and ammunition. That was good, though Jarvis. This way he wouldn't have to deal with some scrub trying to interrogate him about the Psycho Frames. As he came closer a loud voice, deep in tone, began to become audible even over his blaring music. The sound was coming from an important looking figure who was busy pointing and gesturing at various areas of the hangar and ship. Jarvis knew this was the captain, and so headed straight for the man.

As his stride took him closer to the man, another figure became apparent. This person stood off to the side of the captain staring at the two psycho frames caged and ready for loading. She, for it was apparent by the contours of her suit, was clothed in a pilot's suit shielding her face from view.

Evangeline, thought Jarvis. He'd only ever heard of her, the first Psycho Frame pilot. She was the only person to have achieved complete synchronization with a Psycho Frame unit. Jarvis would be lying if he said he wasn't jealous. With that much power he could annihilate the Earth Federation forces single handedly. There were rumors about how much damage it could cause the human psyche. It didn't matter to him. But even so, she was just another person. He wouldn't let her distract him from his goal. So he merely nodded curtly as he passed and proceeded to the ship.

Zethya picked up a small, bright disc from one of the crashed computers. "All that trouble for this one little thing." She muttered.

Zethya...the Jupitris Station is under attack by the Federation Rin's vioce ran cold with excitement.

"Honestly, I don't want to know how you know that. We're not ever close to the Station, Rin." She sighed and made her way out of the building. "Time to move. I don't have time for their stupid fighting. We've got work to do. I've helped you, now it's your turn."

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"Evangeline Arkanion? The first Psycho Frame piolet? Why on earth do you want her dead?" Zethya cocked an eyebrow at the obviously drunk man sitting across from her.

He started to say something, but she cut him off. "You know what, don't bother. I don't need to hear your pity story. Get someone else to do the job. I don't kill." Zethya tossed her head back, drowned her shot, and left. That guy had gotten under her skin. Worse, she didn't even know why.

Evangeline watched as the Void blasted into space towards the enemy mechs, and then turned away to look back down at the Zephranthys controls. She activated the Psycho Frame, and immediately felt Zephranthys begin to merge with her mind. The Synchronisation rate displayed onscreen placed it at 102.32%--Evangeline's sync rates tended to be unusually high. The Zephranthys moved onto the catapult, and after the restraints activated it followed the Void into the emptiness of space--or at least, it would have been the emptiness of space, if not for the Tomahawk-class cruiser and the team of Federation mechs.

The Zephranthys withdrew the spear-like weapon attached to its back, and glanced around for the nearest target. That came when one of the enemy Frames charged at it, determined to grapple with the Zephranthys. The Psycho Frame boosted back away from the mech, and activated the spear; energy began to coalesce around the blade. It swung the spear in a wide arc at the enemy frame, and though it did not made physical contact with the Frame, the Federation Frame recoiled as if stabbed through the chest, and then stopped moving, beginning to drift in space. Meanwhile, the Gunsleeper fired one of its beam cannons at the Tomahawk, smashing into the enemy cruiser and causing it moderate damage.

The Zephranthys then unleashed its next weapon; the six wing-like binders attached to its back suddenly removed themselves from the Psycho Frame, and, guided by Evangeline's mind, began to fire one of the Frames with their beam machine cannons--an ability that had taken Evangeline much time to learn to utilise, to deadly effect. The Frame's arm was blasted into shrapnel, but the Federation pilot, determined to do some damage, guided the damaged Frame right at the Zephranthys--only to meet the blade end of the Psycho Frame's spear. The Zephranthys pushed the Federation Frame off of the spear, and allowed it to simply drift in space.

"If I use this....and this....and that...I should...heh....if I use that too, it would amplify the power!"

We've got company, Zethya...

The human vioce reached Zethya's ears before Rin's got to her mind. "Noted." Curios, but wary, she changed course, comming upon a male human who seemed to be working on his Mech. Rin knelt beside her, trying to hide as much of himself as he could in the trees. It didn't work very well.

The way Evangeline and the Zephranthys dispatched the enemy mechs was almost entrancing. Jarivs couldn't help but smirk at the way she'd both defeated and in a way humiliated the enemy pilots. They'd failed to even lay a metal hand on the Psycho Frame before being utterly destroyed. But Jarvis knew he couldn't be left out. He couldn't live with himself unless he managed to kill at least two of the enemy mechs.

The White Void moved about from side to side in a zig zag pattern. Its greatest strength was it's mobility and agility. What it lacked in armor it made up for with speed. A Federation unit made its way toward the Void, probably guessing that it would stand a better chance against the less armored mech...it was dead wrong. Before the mech could come within 40 yards of the Void Jarvis had already lined up the sights of the plasma rifle. A small reticle of green light lined itself up with Jarvis's eye. Once the sight had locked on to the enemy the reticle flashed and Jarvis swung the rifle up. He fired only once, and before the hit had even been confirmed began boosting towards the mech. The shot took off the head of the enemy mech taking out its computer targeting system and computer visuals. As the Void reached the flailing mech the enemy's cockpit suddenly became transparent, in a hope of being able to fight back. But the enemy pilot was only able to scream as the light particles gathered around the Void's arm and a plasma blade pierced the mech's cockpit. The blade went straight through the man cutting him into two gory, charred pieces before the mech combusted propelling Jarvis back a yard.

Jarvis was stoic and calm, even after such a brutal kill. When Jarvis synced with the Void, he poured all his hate, his malice, and his anger into the psyche of the mech. It left him able to make calm and impartial decisions, while the mech handled the pain and brutality. Jarvis turned his mech towards another enemy, this one with a shoulder mounted plasma cannon. The weapon was unwieldy and enormous, it dwarfed the very unit attempting to utilize it. But the mech had already been preparing to fire while Jarvis had been engaged. The Psycho Frame pilot was only able to register the telltale collection of light particles before the mech fired a beam of superheated plasma at Jarvis. The Void reacted first, it boosted quickly to the right and only recieved a glancing blow. The left shoulder cannon was melted into scrap and a small red hologram informed Jarvis of all other damages. Aside from the cannon he'd only lost a layer of armor coating on the left side, nothing to worry about. On the outside, the Void's usual white visage was marred by the black residue left from the cannon. If anything it gave it a more maniacal appearance.

Jarvis didn't waste any time. He targeted the shoulder of the enemy mech and fired quickly. The plasma shot pierced the reactor within the mounted plasma cannon. The gathering of light particles was no longer centered around the barrel of the cannon but rather around the mech itself. It only took a few moments before the cannon ignited itself and a flash as bright as any star engulfed the area surrounding the mech. Jarvis shielded his eyes as a shock wave rocked the Void sending it careening. He righted the mech immediately and watched as the light slowly dissipated, without a trace of the enemy mech to speak of.

((I may have said this before but beam/energy/plasma etc weapons are not mass produced on Frames.))

Evangeline watched Jarvis fighting with interest. He lived up to the praise she had heard for him from Lieutenant General Vais Rena, and he was clearly a powerful pilot, but she found his methods too vindictive and brutal, too focused on destroying the pilot viciously. Evangeline herself saw no distinction between Frame and pilot; destroying either served the purpose of stopping the enemy Frame. She didn't care about inflicting pain or brutal death on the pilot. What did the Federation mean to her? She had no anger towards the Earth Federation or its soldiers; she didn't believe the propaganda of the Jupitris Coalition that declared that the Federation was the 'bad guys'. There was nothing that made the Jupitris Coalition any better than the Federation in Evangeline's eyes.

Her thoughts were interrupted as she realised there was still one mech left. The Tomahawk had attempted to escape, but the Gunsleeper had jammed its solar boost capabilities, and destroyed its engines; the cruiser was left drifting slowly, unable to move itself. The Frame, realising it was trapped, attempted to fire at Evangeline. The Zephranthys weaved a strange pattern through space as it dodged the spray of bullets. Then it lifted the spear and threw it like a javelin; the blade pierced through the torso of the Federation Frame. Probably killing the pilot, Evangeline knew, but that made no difference. She made her way to the Frame and retrieved the spear from it calmly.

She surveyed the scene around her. The Tomahawk was drifting peacefully, almost as if it had been abandoned for centuries. It contrasted deeply with the destroyed mechs scattered around it. The captain's voice suddenly echoed through the Zephranthys's cockpit. "Hmm, that all? Wow, the Feddies have been getting rusty lately! Or maybe you two are just good."

This was not the entrance to Mars Captain Arthur Wainwright wanted.

"Action stations, action stations, set condition one throughout the ship, inform the docking crew to ensure the 'Frames are kept in their launch tubes, but do not launch, I repeat do not launch. Helmsman, bear the ship on course for sector alpha-alpha-delta. Engineering, cool down our solar boost drive as soon as possible, and make for flanking speed; we may need to get out of here real fast, and I want as much space between us and those phycho-Frames as mechanically possible." His orders were barked, and within an instant, the ship lurched, the inertial dampeners only compensating a second later as the ship made a hard turn to port. Red lights flashed along the walls, as people on the bridge scurried back and forth, checking various data-feeds as the each of the crew members attempted to verify what was going on exactly.

Finally, the long range scanners confirmed the zoomed in image in front of the captain, creating a digital overlay to the large frontal view screen at the front of the bridge. A small Federation ship was under attack by a Confederation craft. It was far away - the solar jump thankfully landing them near the other side of the red planet - but caution was a virtue that Arthur resolved to maintain. Call signs for the Frames launched from the crippled starship were faded out, the last one turning from green to gray as his life support cut out, debris sensors picking up what was left of the unfortunate pilot as the enemy craft smashed through it. The fight was far away though, and getting further as the engines rumbled to life, pulling the Valkyrie away from the conflict.

The F.F.S. Valkyrie was another Tomahawk-class ship, similar to the one now crippled. However, unlike the powerless starship ready to be torn to pieces, the Valkyrie was ready for punishment. Green lights lit up all across the ship, indicating full battle-readiness within moments. Her guns swiveled, maximizing their firing arc as Valkyrie made for a wide orbit of the red planet, hoping to buy itself some time before any exchange of fire may emerge. So much for the rendezvous Arthur thought to himself, raising his hands to massage his temples as the ship settled into a more relaxed course, Mars' gravity well doing much of the work for the ship. Sighing, he tapped his Federation pass code into a data slate, and started hailing any Federation troopers present on the planet, hoping that he was not actually alone in the forsaken place.

((I hope that was a good start ^^*))

"That really depends on you." Zethya said as she stepped out into veiw. She looked up at her Mech. They seemed to be conversing, and the thing moved. Without a piolet.
"Are you with one or the other?" Zethya returned her attention to Roy.

Roy was kind of shocked to see a mech with out a pilot that functioned. "Er.....I'm with the federation, if that's what you mean. Well, I'm a mercenary, but they're the ones paying my meal ticket." He shutdown his mech and climbed out. "I'll assume since you didn't ambush me you're a friendly, correct?"

"Hmph. I'm not with anybody 'cept Rin." She jerker her thumb at the Mech behind her. "I'm a freelance mercenary. Name's Zethya. As long as you don't try anything funny, I won't kill you."

The Shuttle bearing the silhouette of a man with a single angel's wing descended slowly to the planet’s surface. Its destination was the corporate headquarters outside the main colonies walls, or so his official documentation said. In truth the man known as Michael Ragard was slowly descending on a public shuttle to the middle section of the colony. His private transport was complete with a duplicate of the man who would be delivering his speech at the board meeting in one hour. "Those damn things are so tedious..." he thought out loud as the server on the plane took his glass and refilled it with champagne. He was personally a whiskey man, but to accompany his first class seating and suit he had to play the part of a simple rich prick who was visiting the colony after a trip to Jupitris. He even wore a mask which made him look like the average man. Upon arriving on the planet’s surface he headed through customs, though he was never searched when they saw his passport. He exited the terminal and found a limo waiting for him just outside the building, which he entered and sat across from a lady who wore a business suit.

"Welcome to Mars sir, I trust your flight was comfortable?" the woman asked as she typed with a pen on her tablet computer that she held before her.

"As expected," the man said as he reached up and removed the black Whig and mask from his face, he placed his glasses on his face and turned to look out the window, tossing the mask to the floor, "That thing is stifling, have Dr. Forns department work on that would you Mary, if our operatives on both sides are in discomfort they are more likely to make mistakes, mistakes that cost lives." he said with a bored expression as he looked out the window.

"Yes sir, also: the 'cargo you requested has arrived and the invitations have been sent."

"Good, is my transport ready?"

"Of course sir and the target are docking soon at the designated harbor. Also, the Villa in Fray has been prepared for the evening, and the drivers and messengers are ready to be dispatched at your-"

"Send them out now." he cut her off.

"S-sir, are you sure about that?"

"Yes," he stepped out of the car as it came to a stop in an abandoned parking lot. Next to the limo was the modern day’s supercar, a ZX-2120. "This is where I get out Mary, make sure the invitations are received, I'll be bringing the guest of honor if all goes well, no need to send her invitation."

He closed the limo door and got into the driver’s seat of the ZX-2120. After admiring the interior, he started the vehicle and spun the wheels for fun before heading out onto the road at top speed. He was heading for the harbor that the Jupitris ship was heading for. Thanks to his military contacts he had a good bead on his target, a girl named Evangeline...

As for the others, the two mercenaries should soon find an off road vehicle coming towards them, the man riding baring and invitation to a VIP dinner up in the hills. The Captain of the Federation ship would soon be receiving a request from HQ (though it is actually an e-mail from an unknown source that was tagged as from HQ) for him to act as a liason for a certain supplier, whom he can meet at the Mars settlement for a small gathering the man is holding that evening.

Arthur looked through the data slate. There were depressingly few federation troops free for comment on ground status, and so the picture on the ground was hazy at best. So far, the best info he could get was from intercepting the Mars news network on long rang scanners, watching as various events unfolded. Sporadic fighting over the whole planet, but very little of a concerted effort. Just several bases patrolling and guarding their area. This was closer to gang warfare then colonial protection.

The Valkyrie continued to drift through space, Teloscopics keeping a watchful eye over the Jupris ship. With a sight of relief, it appeared to have either not noticed the federation cruiser, or perhaps more insultingly, it didn't care. Either way, the Ship continued to head to Mars, giving the Valkyrie some breathing room.

"Okay, set condition two throughout the ship, we're safe, for now." Arthur commanded, the flashing red lights lining the ceiling cutting out. At once, the bridge atmosphere relaxed, the crewmen bantering with each other, trying to dispel the tension that had been built up by their avoided confrontation. Hopping out of his chair, he stretched his legs, shaking them around a little, before heading to the communications desk.

"Lieutenant Stevens, any word from the planet?" He asked the coms officer, a clean shaven man with short blond hair.

"None at all, sir. We have, however, recieved this. E-mail addressed to you, standard encryption. It's tagged HQ, but there's no source." Steven's tapped the display before him, dragging various things backwards and forth until he revealed the file on the screen.

"A small gathering on the planet...Well, that's certainly suspect." Arthur mumbled, looking for any kind of authenticity bar the HQ tag at the top. "And can we confirm this was not sent by Confederation troops?"

"Positive. It's federation encryption."

"Okay, I'll go. Keep the ship in high orbit." Standing up, he raised his voice. "First officer Winston, take the bridge, I am going down to parley with a local supplier. Inform the hangar decks to ready a shuttle to carry me down, and to prep a frame for launch. I am not going down there alone." And with that, Arthur left, striding out of the bridge, an older man taking the captains seat with a dutiful nod.

The white sports car sped toward the far side of the colony. Diving through traffic and going as fast as possible without attracting police attention. Not that he was worried about the police provided his secretary was good at her job, which she was, as he had requested that the vehicle be equipped with an IFF transponder his company was developing. It was meant to send out the same signal as the undercover law vehicles that where in the colony and that when scanned by speed stations were registered as law enforcement. "It's good to have access to the best toys." he mused out loud; However he wasn’t sure that the system worked properly, so he kept it to 15 over the limit as he weaved through traffic. Soon he found himself able to see that many ships coming and going from the port. Most of them were military, a sign of the times, and the few merchant ships where from companies like his. The main port for commercial traffic would be on the other side of the city. He turned off the freeway to head for the port, flicking a switch on the dashboard the Roof of the vehicle slowly pulled back and folded into the trunk, he began to take back roads and enjoy the city scenery. The head set he was wearing buzzed and he hit another button on the dash, answering his private line.
“Michael Ragard, what’s up?” he said as he turned hard down an alleyway and floored it for fun.
“Si-Sir, we have an update on your itinerary for today and the lab is uh reporting a few delays.” An uncertain voice said on the other line, a male voice.
“What kind of updates?” Michael asked as he slung the rear end around a corner, now on a main road heading for the port. He didn’t like the sound of these ‘updates’.
“Well sir, the ship has landed at Neusakh Port. Also we got a hit on the Valkyrie message, uh-but unfortunately the Lab says that the system is still not ready”
“How long do the techs say they need?” He asked bluntly, aggravation leaking into his voice.
Michael could hear the boy on the other line gulp, “Apologizes sir, they say they need at least two more days and even then –“
“Transfer the techs from group 3 to them, they’ll get it done.” He said and after a bumbling reply from the other line he was about to hang up when he heard the boy sigh. “And kid, calm down, I don’t fire interns for mistakes the lab makes.” He hung up then and slowed down as he approached the first gate.
The gate to the military port area was guarded by several armed men, and a plasma Gate, no one would be running this gate less they wanted to get sliced in half. He drove forward and handed the Officer in charge his ID, “Got a lot of traffic recently, busy times?”
“We are at war, in case you hadn’t heard, so yes sir we are rather busy.” The officer said snidely, but quickly gained a sheepish look after he looked at the man’s ID.
Michael caught that look and was quick to put his foot down, “Yes lieutenant, I am very well aware of that fact, as my ID shows it’s my job to know when war is being waged.” He said as the man handed Michael back his ID. The officer motioned to lower the gate and as soon as it was he drove through. He head straight for his targeted hanger, with a clear knowledge of the port as he never once looked for a directory. He pulled up outside the Hangar and parked.
He walked to the trunk and pulled out a large wrapped package, then headed for the door into the hangar. One flash of his ID to the guards and he was in. He walked into the main hanger and whistled, admiring the Gunsleeper in dock. “She is a beauty,” he said as he walked up the gangplank to a man standing there who he assumed was the Captain, “I’m looking for a pilot name-“his eye looked about and came to rest on the girl in the pilot suit and helmet. “Never mind.” He walked away briskly straightening his tie as he walked up behind the girl. It had been some time, and while he went to knock on the back of her helmet, he thought better of it and instead just cleared his throat. “Hello Evangeline, it’s been some time.”

Michael was glad to see her nod, perhaps some of her was still in this soldier. Of course she could never be free if she remained with the Jupitris forces, he had learned that when he had arranged for her leave. He wouldn’t tell her what it took, but it didn’t come easy, thought he was more than happy to do it. Earlier he had been talking with the higher ups of the Jupitris forces (being in the upper echelons, they were politicians) arranging her leave. It was similar to hostile take over’s he had performed in the business world. The government wasn’t wanting to let one of their Psycho pilots out of their sight, and even after he had offered them many things including one of the companies Legacy class carriers (there are three, all without pilots and mechs so they just sit there) the politicians were constantly against it. Finally Michael had asked what they wanted, and they said that they wanted one of his Jupiter Mine’s rights. What was more surprising then this demand was how Michael reacted, he didn’t let them say another word, but merely said “Deal.” Flatly and called to make the arrangements. In one hour the Jupitris government had gated off the smaller of his two mines, and Michael was on a shuttle to Mars where he would meet her for the first time in years. He wasnt going to tell her the cost, that would just cheapen the experience.

“Shall we go then?” he asked, tossing her the keys to the ZX-2120 outside the hangar. He didn’t need to drive, he was figured she might enjoy it a little. He essentially was handing her a get out of jail free card as well, as he was certain the IFF transponder worked, and he made it a point of telling her that she didn’t have to concern herself with the speed limit.

Michael hadn’t been overly absorb to ignore his surrounds, something that come from his years of battling guerillas in the past, and he had taken note of the foot steps behind them. AS She headed for the car he turned and headed after the other pilot. “Excuse me,” he said as his mind went over the files he had acquired on the other pilot, “Jarvis right?” he asked as he extended his hand to the pilot. What struck him was how young this man (if he could be called such) was. Regardless of whether the boy took his hand or not the man would continue with, “In case you didn’t over hear us, I have acquired some leave for this ships Pilots for a party at my villa tonight, and that includes you if you so desire.” He smiled and walked away in hopes the boy would follow looking over his shoulder to say, “The car is parked just outside.”

He would exit and walk over to the sports car, which was thankfully a four seater and hop into the passenger side without opening the door, smiling to himself. He was young at heart, and with medical technology his body was pretty young too. He would wait for her to start the car and start heading down the road, but he made sure to warn her to, “wait a moment for her friend.”

The man surprised Jarvis as he tried to escape to the base. The man extended his hand and informed Jarvis of a party being held at his villa. Jarvis made no motion to shake the man's hand, he'd never really been offered the courtesy before. He merely looked up at him with his typical cold stare. But even with his usual disregard for anything social he couldn't help but notice that Evangeline was going. As much as he hated to admit, he wanted to talk to her. So, as the man made his way to the car Jarvis followed cautiously. He opened the back door to the sports car and seated himself.

"My name is Jarvis," spoke the pilot. "Jarvis Lagan."

He was deep in thought on their way out of the port, but still heard her ask for directions, “Wha-? Oh, I forgot, you never came here in your youth did you.” it wasn’t a question, he hit a few buttons on the dash and a holo map appeared before the driver, showing the highlighted route to a blinking red dot. He hadn’t intended on speaking to her about her family so soon but he decided might as well now, and damn be the other pilot in the back seat, he didn’t care if he overheard. “I’m sorry Eva, about your parents, and about what they did to you. Had I known,” he slammed his fist into the side of his door with anger, “I’d have never allowed it. I would have torn that facility down with Raziel myself!” (note: Raziel is his name for his mech Archangel)

He regained his composure and sat up straighter, “Where are my manners,” he said turning to the boy in the back seat and holding out his hand, “I’m Michael Regard CEO of Heaven’s Break Military Corporation.” He had a smile on his face but still wasn’t done as his contacts had given him plenty of information for the evening, “You’re Jarvis Lagan right?”

The foyer looked like a museum and had several items of Mech origins to see, including several models of early Frames. He glanced over at Evangeline and decided now was the best time. Michael handed the package to Eva, “Open it.” If she does she will find inside the same style of dress as what she wore to her prom. Her parents had given it to her but in reality when they had gone to pay for it Michael had insisted they allow him. That was long ago. Assuming she does open it he will say, “I hope it still fits.” After that he would gesture for Mary to take Eva to a room where she could change and then motion for Jarvis to follow him out onto the back patio. The patio is of red stone with white furniture. It stares out over the Martian landscape. 700 meters out one could see large burn marks on the horizon that has several layered hills. If one didn’t know any better, it almost looks like a Frame firing range.

The patio also had several binoculars about it; it was as if this area was for showing off his tech to clientele. “You know what this is, right Mr. Jarvis?” He asked with a side glance to the man, “It’s a testing field, where my company works with pilots like you to improve the art of war. War,” he chuckled, “an art… I don’t buy that.”

Arthur nodded as he sat in the co-pilots seat of the shuttle, the pilot nodding in return as he donned what appeared to be a set of sunglasses. Looking behind him, Arthur saw his guard contingent each one checking their weapons as they prepared for landfall. It was protocol to take a squadron of guards with you on any officer shuttle flight, and although usually he would consider this an issue – even a hassle – today he felt it was a good time to trust them. Going to a planet controlled by his foe based on an anonymous E-mail claiming to be HQ was something he'd probably do on a regular basis, but, as a cautious man, he liked to know that his flanks were protected when he did take such risks.

The final launch codes were punched in, and with a roar, the ships engines burst into life, the shuttle shuddering somewhat before coming off the ground, and flying out of the launch bay. “FFS Valkyrie this is shuttle one, we are clear of the launch bay, and making good on present course, over.” Arthur said, donning a pair of large headphones to help dampen the noise, tapping the communication bead to check the message was sent.

“FFS Valkyrie, we read you Shuttle-one, proceed on current course. We have assigned the Frame Indomitable to you today, and she will be swinging by your right side within a few moments.” The voice of the First officer rang out in the headphones, his confident business-as-usual voice giving him great confidence as he watched the scanners. Within seconds, he saw a frame being fired from the launching tubes at the top of the ship, her velocity already high as the magnetic accelerators inside the ship fire her away. Within a few more, she had caught up to the shuttle, which had only been flying at a stable cruising speed, the blocky Federation Mechasuit firing off it's own engines to keep in a stable speed alongside the shuttle.

“Shuttle one, this is the Indomitable. Weapons primed, and ready to use on your command, over.” A woman's voice sounded this time, and Arthur turned his head to the mech on his right, allowing himself to nod at the technological wonder before him.

“We copy Indomitable. See you planet side. Shuttle-one out.”

"What an odd man..." Zethya said to herself. Rin-chi put in something, but was ignored. Together, the Mech and piolet continued on their way.

Jarvis followed Michael out onto the patio of the Villa. The surrounding land was pockmarked by craters and scorches, the result of weapons testing no doubt.

As if in response to Jarvis's thoughts Michael suddenly spoke, "You know what this is, right Mr. Jarvis? It’s a testing field, where my company works with pilots like you to improve the art of war. War,"

A chuckle interrupted his speech.

"an art… I don’t buy that.”

Jarvis fingered the cross now hanging from his neck over the uniform. He glanced at Michael.

"War is a means, a means to an end," said Jarvis. "It is not art...it is necessary. Without it, justice escapes those who deserve its judgement."

Jarvis kept staring at the scarred ground ahead of them. He didn't break his gaze as he replied.

"There are those who would do as they wish with little regard for the consequences," spoke Jarvis. "These individuals hide behind castles of stone or ephemeral power. War is a tool to bring them out, to show them that they too must pay for what they have done. It is inevitable. I've discovered this over the years, this war is just another example."

Jarvis contemplated his own words. He knew why he was fighting, and he knew if it were possible he would forgo the war altogether. But he needed to show the Federation what they did was wrong, and it deserved punishment. So Jarvis would deliver it, he would crash against them until they knew the very pain that ripped at his soul with each and every day. Even if it shattered him in the process.