Those Left Behind (Closed)

[Fenrir367]

​

Exavil, Mars
Former Rayleonard Headquarters
???? Hours, AD 28XX

“Valentin, there’s another incoming wave of BETA; they’ll reach the final defense line in approximately three minutes.”

“...Aren’t they the lively bunch today. Luckily I’ve just finished rearming.”

The man looked down at his ammo gauge, showing that only half of the total ammo had been replenished.

“I’m heading out again.”

“...Roland be careful-”

“Relax… I’ll protect you all. Don’t worry about me and focus on the task at hand.”

The man gripped the controls of his AC, as it took a step forward from the makeshift scaffoldings and support beams; the ‘hangar’ it had been resting at. The skeleton crew that had been hustling around the machine began to make haste back into the nearby entrance to Exavil.

“Generator output climbing, Operation Pattern Two.”

Vents opened up on the legs, arms, and torso of the machine as it began to glow a vibrant and hot orange-white, nearby metal and even sand beginning to melt from the heat. The thrusters ignited, lifting the machine into a hover above the ground, as green-white particles began to disperse from the machine, streaks of energy arcing around the AC’s core.

“Estimated numbers are roughly 1,000. Roland, please return safely.”

“Don’t you know малышка? Ghosts can’t die.”

The man gave himself a smile before the Overed Booster ignited, blasting forth the black mech, the ‘wings of light’ propelling the machine directly into the horde of BETA. Today was a day just like any other, and like every other, he would live to see the next.

He had to.

 

[Fenrir367]

Some hours later



“Regiment-Class BETA horde… confirmed eliminated.”

It was the last grappler of the regiment that he sliced through with the energy blades; Valentin looked at the radar and sensors within the cockpit of the black machine, seeing no more signs of BETA contact in the area.

The air in the area itself had almost become tinged in green as the heavy dispersion of Kojima particles contaminated the air and promised nothing but death for all who came close. Corpses of BETA laid strewn across the ground, from Tanks to Grapplers, Destroyers and even two fort-class BETA. Their wounds varied; some having bullet holes, others having been cut in two, and some, seemingly having melted to death.

The machine itself, its black paint now covered in a slew of BETA innards and blood, an almost purple-red tint now covering the machine. That said, not a single scratch seemed to taint the machine’s exterior, an effectively flawless operation. The vents retracted back into the mech, as the primal armor was disengaged, and the generator returned to normal operating levels.

“The real numbers are always higher than the estimates… It’s good we’re only a small colony and relatively invisible… despite sending BETA to us, the superordinate must not see us as a large threat.”

He looked over his machine’s systems, everything seeming in operating condition.

“But this makes another day I make it-”

“Valentin! Incoming bogey! There’s only one but it's fast…!”

The cockpit flashed red as warnings lit up on the screen.

“Locked… on?”

From the distance, missiles were cruising towards Valentin, him promptly reengaging the primal armor of his machine and taking to the sky, accelerating backwards, taking aim with his KE rifles and shooting down the incoming missiles.

Enhancing the image further to where the missiles came from, he could see an… Armored Core? But something was different about it. It hardly moved like it was piloted by a human, and the exterior was almost malformed from a normal AC. Which meant there was likely only one possibility…

His worst nightmare.

“The BETA finally did it.”

A bead of sweat fell from his brow, as he clenched his teeth.

“Did what? What do you see?”

“They’ve finally adapted mankind’s technology.”

The thrusters of the machine lit up as it quick-boosted to the side, evading an incoming laser rifle being shot at him, the beam of energy lancing to the side of the black silhouette.

“Are the BETA finally getting serious about wiping us out?”

He tightened his grip on his controls and gritted his teeth, the new adversary posing a threat far greater than anything he’s faced yet.

“If it's dangerous, you should retreat…!”

“No can do, this thing will make a beeline for Exavil and only I can stop it.”

“But Valen-”

Valentin turned off the comms and focused his attention at the approaching machine, taking a deep breath.

“Let’s see just how inferior you copycats are.”

He manned the controls and once more the thrusters ignited and blasted his mech forward, laser blades held at the ready.