Welcome to Gaia! ::

->1. Story
2. Rules
3. Characters
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The story is as follows:

Sometime in the near future, war erupted. The cause was a series of attacks on nations by other nations, though all nations deny responsibility. Finally, China formed the core of the Red Star Army, which brought many other nations with it. In response, the European Union was formed in order to counter the threat posed by this new alliance. After the two were officially declared, a third party also emerged, The Union of Independent Nations, who wanted no part in the conflict. A majority of the countries remained neutral, until being attacked by one side or the other. The war only kept growing in intensity of conflict.

Sometime before all these events transpired, a mercenary group was formed, with the intention of bolstering armies of nations for a fee. They were named the Global Hired Order of Soldiers and Technology, or G.H.O.S.T.. They were comprised of highly skilled soldiers, as well as a top-of-the-line research department, which brought the world much of its current weaponry. They were credited with the development and first successful use of a mechanized walking tank on the battlefield, creating a severe shift in the balance of power. These mechs could be fitted with much more armor and much more powerful weaponry than any current tank on the field. Whoever owned the most mechs owned the odds of victory in battle. G.H.O.S.T. soon recognized the unbalance, however, and soon developed many, many more mechs. Soon after, the Mora model was commonplace on the front lines.

Years later, the fighting hadn't died down. The wars continue, the two factions only growing larger. Soon a new model was developed for mechs, named the Stryzga, which incorporated more improved capabilities. No one was allowed to use these mechs, other than G.H.O.S.T. itself, for fear of another upset in global power. This decision caused G.H.O.S.T. to gain many new employers- along with many large enemies.

The first twenty individuals to pilot the Stryzga model were named the "Originals." They would be the only ones to pilot this model for years to come, which means they acquired much more experience in handling their machine. Some lower-class Stryzgas were recently released, though all the pilots of those models are nowhere near the level of the originals.

Now the situation remains. The neutral nations grow smaller, while both the other factions continue to grow. G.H.O.S.T. only stands to keep profiting from the war, so they do nothing to end it. And that's where you find yourself now.

1. Story
2. Rules
->3. Characters
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Character Skeleton-

Gaia Name:
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Faction:
Job:
Rank (If Applicable):
Personal Skills:
Psychological Profile:
Physical Description:
Known History:

(Add-on for Pilot Characters)
Mech Name:
Model:
Weaponry:
Parts:
Skills:
Disadvantages:
Main Use:
Mech Combat History:
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CURRENT ORIGINALS:

01. Eros, "Ultimatum"
02. Orin Marus, "Fury"
03. Aswin Marus, "Shield"
04. (empty)
05. Dante Cadell, "Halberd"
06. (empty)
07. Alicia Karel, "Queen Spade"
08. Alaric Gust, "Moongleam"
09. (empty)
10. Ulric Cole, "Sonata"
11. Anastasia Lucienda, "Indigo"
12. (empty)
13. Jean-Luc Moriere, "Fencer"
14. Sergei Morskovich, "Big Bang"
15. Kenneth MacDonnelly, "Brawler"
16. Antonio De Luis, "Scorpion"
17. (empty)
18. (empty)
19. (empty)
20. (empty)
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CHARACTERS:

Gaia Name: The_Unknown_Usual
Name: Alaric Gust
Age: Twenty-six years of age.
Gender: Male.
Faction: G.H.O.S.T.
Job: Freelance Mercenary
Rank (If Applicable): Not Applicable
Personal Skills: Alaric has always been noted for his calm demeanor in battle, along with his uncanny intuition and judgment. He is also skilled in tactical planning. Furthermore, he has incredible reflexes, which have saved him more than once on the field of battle.
Psychological Profile: Alaric is a level-headed individual, always calm no matter the situation. He seems to never take anything seriously, and this is a mostly true statement. There isn't much he takes seriously. He is a rather quiet individual, socially. He isn't a recluse, but in group conversations he isn't one to raise his voice. He is a deep thinker, an idealist, a philosopher, and an artist in his mindset, very unrealistic on his views. He chooses not to acknowledge many of the ways in which the world works, and somehow it has worked to his advantage. He doesn't like to be the leader figure, but it is something he is naturally good at. In terms of hobbies, he has a variety. He likes playing guitar, drawing, writing, gambling with the pilot of Original number seven "Queen Spade," and drinking. Other than that, there isn't much more to say about him.
Physical Description: Alaric stands taller than the average man, sporting a slim yet muscled build. His skin is somewhat pale, due to the lack of sunlight he receives. His eyes are narrow, always looking sleepy, happy, and bored at the same time. They are of an ice blue color, with a ring of grey around the pupil. His hair is relatively short, cut to keep the air from his eyes while piloting. His hair is thick, messy, and of a light brown color that looks almost blonde in the sun. He generally wears his pilot uniform, though when not on duty he wears jeans, a tee shirt, and his favorite black leather jacket.
Known History: Alaric's history is mostly classified, the only part kept public was his record in battles, along with many other small details. Records start just after he received the title of being an Original. No one but he and the men who classified his history know how he came to be an Original, and he doesn't talk about it at all. After becoming an Original, his mission record grew rapidly in a very short amount of time. Most of his missions involved leading a small group of elite pilots, though he has participated in large-scale open battlefield combat, along with other scenarios. His most renowned achievement lied in the defeat of Antonio De Luis, another Original. The battle is still talked about, though not by Alaric. Now, he continues to pilot as a mercenary, taking jobs for cash when he can.


ORIGINAL MODEL-
Mech Name: Moongleam
Model: Stryzga
Weaponry: Primary weaponry consists of a large, accurate focused-energy rifle, along with a shoulder-mounted Gatling cannon. Sidearms consist of two focused-energy blades, silver in color, short in range compared to most blades, though the energy is much more intense.
Parts: Moongleam possesses a few experimental chassis parts, which have given him an edge and a handicap in the battlefield. His thrusters are the "Blink" model, made by Lancer Industries. These thrusters are incredibly quick, though they drain quite a large amount of energy when used. This is why it is seldom used.
Skills: Incredibly agile and quick, equipped with some experimental parts that give him an edge. Mech design allows for him to be skilled in both short and long range combat.
Disadvantages: Lightly armored, experimental parts still not fully developed and can fail or malfunction.
Main Use: Tactical Missions
Mech Combat History: The Moongleam was a Stryzga assigned to Alaric in his early years, which was and still is a mech ahead of its time. This mech has caused him to be hired by all three factions, for a total of seventy-two sorties. All were successful. In one sortie, his forty-second sortie, he was assigned to guard a small research facility belonging to the European Union. It was assaulted soon after he was posted there, and the battle was intense. He found that another original, Antonio De Luis, pilot of Original Number sixteen "Scorpion," was working on the opposite team. He engaged in fierce combat with him, and fought him for what felt like hours. The fighting around the two stopped as the teams started to watch the vicious battle. In the end, Alaric won by a hair, using the mountainous terrain to his advantage to push Scorpion off of a steep cliff, presumably to his death. Scorpion was never seen again, and Alaric was declared the victor of the first ever Stryzga against Stryzga match. This would be his most famed victory yet.
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Gaia Name: Hyen
Name: Felix Amanar
Age:27
Gender:Male
Faction:G.H.O.S.T.
Job: Research & Development (Shadow)
Rank: Leading Technology Researcher
Personal Skills: Very intelligent and innovative. Possesses basic entry-level military combat and piloting skills. Also possesses an interesting way of seeing situations.
Psychological Profile: Felix is almost always working on something, even if it doesn't seem so. He often seems a bit... off, for lack of a better word. Many people find it hard to deal with his way of thinking for long. He classifies everything he sees into four categories: Bad and Boring, Good and Boring, Bad but Interesting, and Good but Interesting.
Physical Description: Felix is quite tall and very thin, with almost no muscles to speak of and is somewhat hunched over in posture. He has mid length brown hair that is partially gray in a few areas. His face is thin and somewhat gaunt, but not excessively so. He has bright gray-green eyes and wears glasses most of the time. He tends to wear a white lab coat while working, when not officially working he dresses rather casually in khakis and a long-sleeved shirt.
Known History: Felix has little history that stands out in his records, that is, until he joined G.H.O.S.T.. He was just an average person, though he had remarkable test scores in some areas. However, all subjects he was uninterested in were only just barely passed. Since joining G.H.O.S.T. he has had many accomplishments, most classified, but almost all of them revolving around mech development and weapons technology, which has earned him not necessarily the love of many people, but at least some degree of respect.

Added Pilot Section
Mech Name: Dusk's Avenger
Type: Hybrid
Weaponry: An array of experimental weaponry backed up by two rifles
Parts: Standard low-grade Stryzga parts, barely above Mora grade.
Skills: Can move a bit faster than most (nowhere near as fast as the Stryzgas)
Disadvantages: Experimental weaponry and systems can lead to unexpected results, Not built to withstand heavy fire from multiple enemies
Main Use: This mech is just Felix's test vehicle. He modifies it to test new research, both weapons and chassis modifications. It is not the best mech to send into a battlefield just yet, most of the plating has been removed so Felix can observe the workings of the machine.
Mech Combat History: To date this machine has only ever been used in battle twice, once to defend a research station in North America from an armed group against G.H.O.S.T. The second was when Felix was testing a few new motor enhancements and a mercenary from G.H.O.S.T. thought it would be good if he died... unfortunately for the pilot, Dusk's Avenger had been equipped with experimental weaponry, further information of that incident was classified immediately afterwards.
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Gaia Name: Rhm Kinomoto
Name: Timothy "Tim" Kinomoto
Age: 24
Gender: Male
Faction: The Union of Independent Nations
Job: ZAMU (Zero Accountability Mech Unit)
Rank (If Applicable): First (no other titles are given in ZAMU except numbers)
Personal Skills: Kinomoto has been trained in covert operations such as cover methods, infiltration, and torture resistance. Basic computer hacking and lock picking skills. Recently trained in Mech Piloting. Kinomoto has also been trained in physical combat, though details on that has been deemed Classified.
Psychological Profile: Kinomoto, though an apt fighter and skilled at his job, displays a few concerning personality defects. He has an apparent disrespect for authority, often acting on his own initiative. His deviations usually result in a satisfactory outcome, and the nature of ZAMU will allow for this independence.
Other personality traits include his "easy-going manner." He acts as though nothing gets to him, but personality profiles of him suggest that he gets angry easily and struggles to keep himself in check.
Like all ZAMU operatives, no health related issues are present; he does not smoke or take medication.
It should be noted that Kinomoto has a strong sense of justice, and problems could arise if asked to do things that run against his "moral code."
//Noted//
Physical Description: Height: 5'7" Weight: 129lbs. Small build because of height, but muscular due to ZAMU training. Skin is light tan color, most likely from his father, but no real sun coloration on account of his time indoors or in mechs. Facial features are fully Caucasian. Hair is dark brown, usually unkempt. Eyes are smoke-gray in color. Due to the nature of ZAMU, he does not wear a uniform.
Known History: Kinomoto was born in Burbank, CA. Father was a Japan born, business professional who had moved to CA at the request of his company. He married a native Californian woman, and Timothy Kinomoto was soon born. Early in his life his parents were both killed in an Air Raid by the European Union, and Timothy was sent to the Emergency Children Relief Center for a temporary foster care. Random psychological testing showed that he was a prime candidate for the program. At age 16 he was approached by ZAMU representatives and was offered the job. He immediately agreed, and his training began. Kinomoto quickly showed signs of advanced progress. At age 20 he was put into the lower ranks of the task force. After the first mission, signs of distaste for rank were evident. He deviated from orders, resulting in a victory with minor collateral damage. Shortly after it was decided that he would work best in a position of tactical importance, and he was promoted to his current rank. A Stryzga model is being assembled for him at the time.
//Related Topic//
When the war started and the nations of the world split into different factions, The Union of Independent Nations quickly realized that it needed to put some kind of defense forward. Politically still neutral, the Union needed a group that they could safely break ties with if they were discovered. Thus, the Zero Accountability Mech Unit was formed; a group of scientist and soldiers dedicated to keep civilians out of the combat. They enter battle zones and protect and rescue civilians, while attempting to abstain from direct combat. Occasionally they will participate in other covert operations in an attempt to hasten the end of the war. Top researches were 'sent on extended leave' in order to join the research part of the unit, where they reversed engineered scraps of mech armor recovered from battlefields, and some original weaponry created specifically for them.
ZAMU has access to a secret, government funded account with no paper or digital trail; all transactions are done in person. The operatives have no uniform or identification, and the mechs are sent out with all ID stripped from them. Radio contact is on a constantly scrambled frequency that can be severed at a moment's notice.

Mech Name: Zero Hour
Model: ZAMU Modified and Assembled Stryzga
Weaponry: Head mounted vulcans x2 (weak), CLAW ("Clawed Lanyard Air Weapon". Highly accurate, golden alloy composite tipped claw attached to a flexible, diamond core retractable cord. Attached to the Mech's right arm), large plasma saber (powerful saber made of reversed engineered unstable technology. Large energy output but quickly overheats with use. Heavy), EMP enhanced flash bang grenades (used for quick escapes. Briefly scrambles enemy visual sensors and ground troops vision), and a vector field (energy shield attached to left arm that works on absorbing and redirecting the force put on it. Can be expanded to cover a wide area, but the amount of energy it can redirect decreases considerably with size)
Parts: All main parts have been reversed-engineered from scavenged material, though the base is acquired Stryzga parts. The energy source is Vector Fluctuation core, which allows for normal extended use or large bursts of energy which quickly drain the core and can result in catastrophic overheating.
Skills: Outward jammer fields mounted on the Mech's shoulders make impossible to see on radar. Has well balance between slow and fast weapons, but has no significant long range. Vector Fluctuation core, when activated, gives a huge boost of energy to the ships systems, making in incredibly fast and increasing energy output of weapons significantly. Without the Vector Fluctuator active, the mech is about as fast as a normal Stryzga.
Disadvantages: Field jammers and protection technologies leave little room for weapons, so they are few. Without vector field shield activated, the main armor is very weak and susceptible to attacks. The Vector Fluctuation core in its fully active state is used as a last resort, as it causes tremendous strain on the makeshift gears and bearings, overheats very quickly and could cause the mech to shut down completely, and drains the power at about 30x the rate that normal combat use would. If needed, the Vector Fluctuator can be //CLASSIFIED// remotely and at highest output to //DATA CLASSIFIED SECTION 14// destruct.
Main Use: Designed with rescue in mind, it is meant to go into a battlefield and either protect civilians or defend convoys who will take the civilians to safety. A balanced design in all.
Mech Combat History: The mech is currently in production, and has only been tested in closed, battle simulations and not with trained pilots.
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Felix glanced at one of the numerous monitors in the room, data was constantly flowing across the screen. His eyes narrowed a bit then he replied mockingly

"They couldn't hit a target a mile wide," His voice went cold, "If they hit my research station I'll kill them."

He looked back at the monitors,

"Well all is well, though the legs did not increase the stability quite as much as I'd hoped. I'll work on that late-"

The sound of a large amount of metal crashing to the floor came from behind him,

He spoke without looking towards the group of researchers,

"Could you keep it down, I'm talking here."

A thoughtful expression came to him a moment as he spoke to himself more than anyone else,

"I think one or two of those have unstable fuel cells in them... anyway Alaric there's not much more to report."

He picked up a small headset and walked away from the monitor

"Well I have things to work o-"

Another crashing sound, Felix glanced towards the researchers struggling with heavy canisters.

"If you all want to commit suicide do it at a time I'm not around."

The researchers apologized and went back to work, much more carefully than before.

"Son. Of. A. b***h!" Tim emphasized every word with a harder jam on the throttle. Gears whined and the Mora took one shuddering step before a jet of steam threw a leg cover off and more steam exploded in the cockpit.
Tim covered his face and slammed his fist on the emergency exit. The door to the mech burst open and Tim's seat fell backwards out of it. With a hiss of inflating air, a huge pontoon exploded from the back before he hit the rough ground. The balloon absorbed the fall and Tim sat there while his poor excuse of a mech whistled and whined. The head piece shuddered and tilted backward. With a yelp, Tim unbuckled himself and leaped out of the way before the top of the head slammed down where he had been lying.
He rolled as he hit the ground and ended up standing and looking toward the ground of technicians standing near a rock formation a few yards away.
"What the hell was that?!" he yelled, "Lucky the air-bag actually worked, or I'd be dead before I even reached my next mission!" He stalked over to the technicians; they were making excuses before he even reached them.
"Sorry, sir," the senior one said, "It seems as though the new gears mechanisms didn't work quite as we hoped they would."
Tim arched an eyebrow. "You think?" He managed to stick a smile on the end of that. His heart-rate was slowing down and his good humor was returning.
The scientist opened his mouth to say something else, but Tim stopped him with a raised hand. "Just put my old parts back, refuel the thing, and don't talk to me again till the next mission."
"Yessir," the man said, giving him a smart salute. The other two technicians followed suit. Tim returned it briefly and turned his back on them, walking toward the non-assuming warehouse set where the rocky soil ended and some actual grass began.
There was a small key-pad beside the door, and he quickly typed in his ID without looking. A quiet click sounded out, and the door slid open, revealing a four by four room. Tim walked to the center of the elevator and waved up at the camera. When he was properly IDed, the lift smoothly started moving downwards.

(( Sorry for the sort of short first post. I have to go for a little while, but I'll do more tonight. ))

A hydraulic sound resonated through the lifeless, vast hangar, catching Alaric's attention immediately. He sat up. The sound came from behind him, but he didn't bother to turn yet. A familiar voice broke the silence.

"I figured that those newbies might throw your mental stability off, so I brought my cards," said the feminine voice from behind him, causing Alaric to recognize the stranger behind him immediately.

"Hold 'em?"

"You know it," the woman said, sitting in front of him. She was pale, with jet black hair and wide blue eyes like sapphires. She was lean, though athletic. Her pilot suit was near black in the lighting of the area, her sleeves rolled up. She pulled a deck of cards from her chest pocket, shuffling immediately after.

"So I'm still up fifty, right?" Alaric said jokingly, well-aware of the fact that he had a large debt.

"You wish. Last I checked, I was up five hun-"

"Alright, I know, geez, gotta go and kill my mood like that..." he said, jokingly once more. Right as she started to deal, Alaric's headset crackled, with an older man's voice talking to him. The words were ambiguous, though he had a feeling knew what they meant. Another freelance job with him as the pilot. He must have shown his displeasure in his expression.

"What's up?" she said, noticing.

"Well, it seems that they aren't going to let me have my five-minute break after all... We'll play another time, Alicia, they're gonna want me in the briefing room," he said in response, standing.

She nodded. Alaric turned, walking down the hangar to the briefing room.

"Hey, Felix," he said into his headset, "Do you know anything about a mission, or am I gonna be the first one to be notified here?"

Felix was head of research and development, for the most part, so if anyone were to know about something like this, he would be one of those people. Or so he hoped...

Alaric sighed at Felix's response.

"No real point, I'm right outside the door... I'm sure you'll find out soon enough anyway. Seems like you're always the one assigned to watch my status... Wonder why that is? Oh, and I know you didn't just mute Nadia," Alaric said with a smile, "She'll kick your a**. I'm pretty sure that the brass wanted to keep you on their payroll longer than a few years, but once she gets you, they may have to search for new people..."

He laughed to himself at the thought, along with the mental imagery it brought. Soon after he shook his head, clearing his mind, trying his best to look professional.

"Anyway, radio silence for now. I'm going in," he said, muting his headset as he pushed the large double doors open. A dark room sprawled out before him, lit only by the image from the projector on the wall. An older officer motioned for him to come in, and to sit.

Time passed. Orders were given. Alaric took them, and got ready.

"Felix, we got our orders. Evidently they need you to monitor me and another original while we go into Ukraine. If anything, it'll lengthen your life for a bit longer, seeing as Nadia isn't allowed in the mission control room..."

Alaric knew why Felix was always the one watching him, and he was fairly sure Felix knew as well. The nature of this mission was... discreet, so they needed people they could trust. Ukraine was a neutral country, so most would question the nature of the assignment, but Alaric knew better. He hoped Felix did as well.

Alaric walked onto the underground runway, a long strip of dark pavement that seemingly led to a wall, though he knew the ceiling rose to allow planes an exit. The large cargo plane stood ready, housing a few mechs, ready to transport them to their next destination. The pilot greeted him warmly, the engineers performing last-minute checks, along with the crew checking the fuel levels of the plane. Alaric jogged to the back of the plane, stepping on the loading ramp and heading in. The flight to Ukraine wouldn't take long, but it would still be a while from here. A few pilots unknown to him sat along the wall. Alaric looked among them for one face. He found it shortly.

"Sergei!" Alaric said happily to his old friend, "Who better than our demolitions expert to blow the living hell out of a building, huh? Good to see you."

Sergei nodded, giving a simple thumbs-up with a smile. He loved his job. On the field he was known as Original number fourteen, "Big Bang," the Stryzga known for its incredible array of explosive weaponry, only just barely coming short of having a warhead on each arm. In person he was known as Sergei Morskovich, a huge Russian man who was just as tough, if not tougher, than the mech he piloted. He carried the intimidating look as well; shaved blonde hair, along with a moderate length beard, very muscled, very tall. Alaric met him in the assembly of the originals, and they became fast friends.

Alaric sat in his seat, buckling in and pulling out a small notebook to write in. The flight would be over soon, but it wouldn't be over soon enough. He heard the engines start to run as the loading ramp closed, the interior lighting coming on. The plane went into motion, and soon Alaric knew they were in the sky.

He rested his head back, looking at the ceiling as he thought of what to write. His morality almost kicked in, but not for long. Now was the time for his professional mindset. He waited for the arrival, and hoped everything went smoothly...

"Alright, listen up!" shouted a young man, dressed in a black officer's uniform, eyes hidden by sunglasses, badges gleaming in the red light of the plane, "I think it's about time we briefed you on what's going on here!"

Everyone shifted in their seat a little, bettering their posture as they listened closely to what the captain had to say, all eyes forward. Alaric remained in his laid-back, somewhat slouched posture as he relaxed. He had heard the briefing already. Maybe not the captain's version, but the briefing nonetheless. Sergei was staring at the floor, arms crossed. It seemed he had been briefed already too. Or maybe he really was listening? It was impossible to say with him. Alaric went back to staring at the ceiling, waiting for the man to finish his announcement.

"Now, it seems as though we were hired by the E.U. to take out a position in Ukraine! Intel suggests that high-ranking Red Star officers are hiding out in this location," the man continued, pointing to a projected image on the wall which showed a large oil refinery, "This oil refinery, here. There is no exact location on hand as to where in the complex they will be, but this is why we've brought help. If you'll notice, men, not only are your Moras top-of-the-line, but it also seems like command was generous enough to provide us with the assistance of two Originals! They will do the bulk of the work, taking out hostilities while you all scout the area for our targets! Have I made myself clear?"

Everyone under his command acknowledged his words concisely. He seemed to have the inspiring part of being a commander, and his men seemed loyal. Alaric had a feeling that they couldn't ask for a better unit leader at this moment.

"Alright, men! Suit up! Get your gear from the armory, then get down to the loading dock so you can jump in your Moras! Ground infantry, you'll lead the attack! Dismissed!"

Everyone stood, and promptly ran to the weapon's storage area. Alaric, Sergei, and the commander were the only ones remaining.

"Do you think they believe you?" Sergei asked, directing his question at the commander.

"Of course they believed me. What else could they believe right now?" he replied with a smile.

"Anyway, Alaric, we should get to suiting ourselves for combat. Come," Sergei said, walking to the armories as well. Alaric sighed, almost laughing at how focused he was on this.

"Oh, eight," the commander said to Alaric, calling him by his number rather than his name, "Command wanted me to tell you that they have a surprise for you."

"Yeah? Out with it, then. We don't have much time," he replied, in a somewhat rushed tone.

"Moongleam's back in the game. Hopefully you can work on equal ground with Big Bang now," he said, a smile forming on the man's lips.

"I think you just made my day. Alright, I'll get suited, then say hello to my old friend. You're probably expected to make the report of our status now anyway, right?"

A simple nod was the man's reply. He saluted, going into soldier-posture for a brief moment, and then walked away and out the sliding door, into a part of the plane that Alaric was unfamiliar with. He himself then followed after Sergei, heading into the armories.

Time passed, and everyone was ready. Infantry stood on the metal grates of the bay, rifles in hand, armored with protective gear. The Moras towered over the infantry by a fantastic amount, all coming to life as the pilots entered in them. The air was filled with sounds of footsteps on metal, mechanical whirring and buzzing, and conversations from the soldiers and engineers. Alaric walked on the catwalk that was suspended high above the floor, looking upon his Stryzga. He hadn't piloted it for a while. The silver and white paint glowed in the light of the loading bay, giving off a brilliant aura. It's sleek design made Alaric lust for the speed and agility it possessed, remembering with a frown the old Mora which he piloted. Things would go a lot better this time. He looked over at Sergei. His Stryzga was a behemoth compared to Alaric's. The armor was incredibly bulky, there were numerous large cannons equipped on it, and the black paint scheme gave it an extra ominous look. He sighed, knowing there would be a lot of explosions today.

With a few buttons, a door on the back of the Stryzga's cockpit opened, revealing a seat right in front of it. A black metal chair that wasn't very comfy, but it served its purpose. Besides, no one was really ever supposed to be comfortable in combat. He moved into the small cockpit, sitting and entering his pilot ID. After entering the fourteen digit code, the cockpit door closed behind him with a loud hiss, and darkness enveloped the surroundings. All was quiet until the screens and monitors started appearing, the lights replacing the blackness with a blue glow. Everything was in perfect condition.

Alaric adjusted his headset, opening a channel on the monitor, connecting to Felix. He needed to know something.

"Felix, tell me, how far from the designated area are we, what opposition do we expect to face, what's the expected number of casualties, and why the hell did you change my aiming settings?!" he said, serious until the last note, which had a bit more of a humorous tone to it. He was still serious, though; his targeting settings were indeed modified. He sat, waiting for a response, or for the green light to go...