Age: 42

Sex: Male

Profession/Rank: Captain

Personality: Travis is a courageous, if not reckless, soldier who's more comfortable around his allies than operating solo. A cheerful man who enjoys encouraging his teammates or regaling tales of glorious combat in his down time, especially with the new recruits. As much as he is openly happy and friendly, he also has a bad side which you really only see if you've pissed him off. He hates uptight people, and especially those that are so far up themselves that they get a constant view of their rear end. A strong, capable man who stands by his allies' sides no matter the dangers. The only thing he doesn't go out of his way for is being a dick. Other than that, he'll always protect his comrades and always try and cheer up those who are down.

Skills: Travis is not only a strong pilot but is physically strong too, always helping with the heavy lifting of equipment and machinery, which is a surprise considering his age but he keeps this up with regular training, sheer determination and pure motivation. Being from a military background, he's also well versed in infantry weaponry in case he's ever caught out of his mech in a combat situation. Outside of his professional work, he's unbeaten at arm wrestling among the personnel.

Weakness: For starters, his recklessness. It's a godsend that his mech is so resilient. If he can make it, he happily blocks shots for his allies. While it's brave, it's stupid too. He puts himself in unnecessarily risky situations because of his desire to protect everyone. The marks show on his mech. He also can't stand being alone. Loneliness is an unsettling feeling for him, and would rather be socialising with friends than being solitary.

History: Travis was born in a military family, with both of his parents having served in the army. It was only a matter of time before Travis would join too. From an early age, Travis was taught how to use firearms in a safe, controlled environment. More importantly, he was taught the moral weight of actually using a gun and how it's a tool for evil as well as protection. It was part of the reason he managed to get fairly decent with guns and respected their power equally. His upbringing was fairly normal until he entered college. His athletic ability managed to get him a scholarship in American Football, while he studied Criminal Justice as well. Travis was most noted for his work-horse ethic, both in Football and his studies.

However, as soon as he graduated, Travis enlisted in the Earth Federation Army. Truth be told, he only went to college on his parents' recommendation so he could move up the ranks a bit easier. He made it through the training very easily, however, in psychological evaluations, it was noted that Travis was headstrong and first to jump in to danger. However, passed he did, and he spent the next 6 years as part of the infantry division. He had to learn the hard way for getting over his initial recklessness. Making a charge in the battlefield, his fellow squadmates followed and they were cutdown. Only Travis made it through the charge, and when he looked back, he saw all of his allies dead on the ground. It was the first time Travis felt truly alone, and he realised that he couldn't just barge his way through every problem anymore.

He got his head straight and became a lot more responsible in his duty as a soldier. The sudden turn around earned him merit to rank up to Captain over the years. However, he's turned down every promotion since. He was adamant on staying on the front line, no matter how. His boots on the ground experience and determined mindset made him a successful candidate for the first iterations of AW's. Over the next 15 years, he got to see the evolution of Walker technology and pilot them. With this experience, he's now a paragon of pilots in the Federation and sets the bar in what it takes to be determined.

Equipment: He keeps his dog tag around his neck from his days of being a part of the infantry. He's almost always has a pistol at his hip and a carton of cigarettes.

Theme: Ready For War

---

Base Model: FAW 016 Gunner

Designation: Guerrila

Appearance: As specified in the picture above, apart from a few aesthetic differences. The color is the same but Travis managed to get decals put onto it as a special request. There's a skull right on the chest, as well as his personal slogan on the left shield panel on his arm. He plans to add a tally of HVT's he will destroy if these mechs will ever be used in REAL combat.

Armaments: The modular design of Guerrila allows Travis to pick his loadout from mission to mission. However, he's usually boasting the impressive twin railguns on either shoulder to blast enemies with 150mm rounds. As well as this, Travis prefers to take the rotary gatling gun to shred apart hostiles. However, he's able to use the 25mm rifle or a 550m missile launcher. It all depends on the situation. Travis ensured that the hands were outfitted with spiked knuckles for hand to hand combat if the situation arises, as well as the deployable leg armour which he can choose to bring or not

Weakness: The Guerrila is a very slow moving Walker. With the impressive armour and weaponry it carries, it has to compensate for all that weight somehow. It would never keep up pace with a Raptor or a Scout. This immobility can be quite the drawback, but it's Travis's style. Also, while the modular design is helpful for adaptability, the Guerrila can't change it's style on the fly so it's locked into what it brings with each deployment.

Pilot(s): Cpt. Travis Ryder

Name: Yuna Matsuo

Age: 23

Gender: Female

Occupation: Enlisted, Sergeant

Appearance: Short and small would sum up Yuna's physical features, at just a hair under 5' 2"(157cm), she certainly doesn't size up to most. This small size belies a well-trained body that's surprisingly dense and strong. Black hair and brown eyes complement a round face that almost doesn't seem to match with her body.

Equipment: Standard sidearm pistol, combat knife, comlink, a camera, and Kenkaku(her Walker).

Skills: Hand to hand combat skills tested high, and she enjoys photography when she's not on duty (and sometimes when she -is- on duty as well). Aside from that, she loves to play sim games (in which she's ironically a better shot than in her real job.)

Personality: Upbeat, and generally unworried about anything in particular both on and off the battlefield, Yuna embodies going with the flow, tending to be more reactive than proactive in her life. She's outgoing and charming, if a little too forward at times, but it's hard to find her without a smile on her face.

Bio: Born in Japan, but having lived most of her life in West Coast America, Yuna doesn't fit culturally in her boundaries. Her family went to America to try and raise her without some of the more restrictive societal norms of her home country. As such, she's grown up knowing a bit of both lives, and doesn't fit one established culture or the other. Which suits her just fine. Her military life has been one of relative success, though her reactive methods have somewhat hindered her movement in ranks.

Weaknesses: Her tendency to move in to attack at close ranges has left her with lacking skills in ranged combat, and her devil may care attitude has resulted in her Walker taking heavy damage more than once, to the dismay of the techs in charge of keeping the machine running. This attitude has also made some relationships falter due to her partners not feeling particularly connected to.

Base Model: FAW-007(G) Warrior

Designation: Kenkaku

Appearance: Kenkaku is a walker heavily modified at the behest of Yuna to do one thing very well: Attack. To this end, the Walker has been modified to be faster and stronger than it's regular counterparts, at the expense of armoring. The frame is as aerodynamic as can be made of the humanoid form to reduce drag when sprinting, with heavily upgraded thrusters on its body and heavier, stronger servos, Kenkaku can get in, hit hard, and get out in a very short amount of time. Its primary sensor array is helmet-like, harkening back to the Sentai series of years past, and with it's brilliant white and blue coloration, it fits the look. Draped from the shoulders is an immense machine-woven piece of flexible material, resembling a scarf. Yuna claims this long attachment draws the eye and distracts an opponent long enough to get in close. Whether that's true hasn't been tested, but the adornment hasn't impeded the Walker's ability to function in any way, so it's been allowed. For now.

Armaments: 1x heat upscaled horseman's axe. 1x downsized buckler-type shield. 1x 100mm Shotgun with slug and scattershot ammunition. 2x high capacity smoke grenades.

Weaknesses: The stripped armor leaves Kenkaku nearly as lightly armored as a Raptor, and its lack of true ranged weaponry means that anything able to keep Yuna at a distance will very likely leave her defenseless.

Pilot: Yuna Matsuo

Name: Ruby Cloutier

Age: 21

Gender: Female

Occupation: Walker pilot: Private

Appearance: Tall at 5'11"(180cm), Ruby stands heads over some of her fellows. Dirty blond hair drapes comfortably down her back almost exclusively in a neat ponytail, and her eyes are a dull green color. Her french heritage shows in her large nose and puffy cheeks.

Equipment: standard sidearm, mobile phone, a class ring from high school, uniform, Miss Direction.

Skills: Marksmanship, playing simulation games.

Personality: Generally upbeat and pleasant, Ruby finds her way through life fairly easily, and never hesitates to speak her mind, be that a kind word, or criticism about her CO's orders. She's thrilled about having her own giant robot, but it's clear she's not quite a soldier at heart. She's a bit of a slacker when it comes to the day to day duties, and she openly speaks about her distaste for war. Despite this, she serves to her best in this peacetime and she's always on when it counts.

Bio: Young and seeking employment before getting fed up with the job market and joining the military, Ruby's life has been fairly uneventful, with a supportive family and a gender transition when she was 16. She doesn't talk much about that time as she doesn't see the point. She doesn't avoid the topic if brought up. Her military life has been short, in fact, she's only been in the service little over a year. Originally quite sullen and snippy about military service, it seemed she was bound to be discharged, until she learned about the Walker Program. She jumped at the chance to pilot an AW, her very own giant robot! After that, she worked herself hard to be accepted and couldn't be happier now to be a military woman.

Weaknesses: Her general inexperience often puts her at a disadvantage in combat, and her easy-going nature does occasionally land her in trouble. Her noted apathy for basic day to day responsibilities has also impeded her progress.

Base Model: Gunner FAW-016

Designation: Miss Direction

Appearance: Unpainted, Miss Direction is an angular, tanky Walker with thick, boxy legs and a broad torso. Her joints are twice the strength of other walkers of her class, due to the heavy redundant armor plating on her torso and the massive shield. Her sensory head is something out of a sci-fi military game, sporting a broad, orange visor

Armament-

Upgraded joints, these double strength joints allow for Miss Direction to actually stand under the weight of her arms and armor.

Head: 2x 20mm Vulcan rotary guns, for AA.

Shoulders: 1x FAW-15 Railgun, requires stop and brace. Essentially a single, larger version of the now standard double Railguns, this older model packs twice the punch, but also is bulky, locked in a forward position, and nigh impossible to use in close combat, not to mention it's slow firing speed. Able to be detached to improve agility slightly in emergency situations.

Chest: 2x racks of 6 missiles each. Carries 12 additional missiles, can be loaded with variable payload as mission dictates, but typically carries HEAT, but can be fitted with spreading micro munitions at the cost of not being able to lock onto a target. Requires one minute to fully reload after depletion.
1x Bulwark redundant armor system. This additional armor plating is an ablative type that fits over the existing standard armor of the Walker, significantly increasing its survivability in combat.


Arm left: 1x Phalanx-class deployable cover shield, planted in the ground, expands to cover a roughly 45-degree angle. Heavy.

Arm right: 1x Ares-class 60mm heavy machine gun, 130 round drum with attached vibro-bayonet for close quarters defense.

Weaknesses: SLOW. Even by Gunner standards, Miss Direction is painfully slow, due to heavy payload and increased armor. Can be quickly overwhelmed due to single pilot controls of Gunners being notoriously complex. Armor has weak points on the securing hardpoints of the detachable Railgun.

Pilot: Ruby Cloutier

Basic Info

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Name: Colin Kitshin
Age: 55
Sex: Take a wild guess
Appearance: Body wise, he's quite well muscled due to constant working. He's almost always covered in soot, steel shavings, grease, cuts, burns, and sweat. Unless he wants to make an effort, of course. His clothes are never polyester, because they'd melt and get ruined if they were. They're also almost never clean.

He has short brown hair that's beginning to go grey, a gruff beard, and sunken cheeks. His eyes are blue, but people have a hard time noticing that, because they're too busy noticing the soot all over his face.

Personal Info

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Profession: Mechanic/Engineer. He worked on a few early mech models, and as such has a very thorough understanding on how they work, and how they can be modified.
Personality: Colin is a bit of a loner, but only because machines take up the majority of his life. He tends to be rather carefree, until one of his machines are involved. He gets so overprotective of his machines that if you damage one, you can expect to pay for the damages in more than just money. He's calm, but not exactly collected. His mind is constantly wandering between ideas, unless he's actually making one. He attributes his mechanical skill to his overactive imagination, and can calculate the exact way to install most modifications in his head, without the help of blueprints. He will always use a blueprint though. Just in case.
History: He was born to a middle class family which has a long history of engineering through his mother's side. He likes to think that his mother was the one who brought him up to love steel and grease. In his teenage years he was building small robots for "Robot street fighting", and winning regularly. He dabbled in speedbuilding there, too. As he approached his 20s he started to take mechanics more seriously, and started working for the family mechanics business when he wasn't doing study for his engineering degree.

Later in life he was hired to work on mechs, which he continues to do to this day. He works on other things, but mechs are a very good source of income. Services, modifications, and repairs rake in the majority of his income. And while he doesn't like to see a mech trashed, he loves to work, and he loves a pile of scrap steel.

Resources

---

Equipment: Most of his equipment is top of the line powertools that he carts around in his ship. He believes in hand made quality, and currently owns a propane forge, a drill press, a linisher, a bench grinder, several welders (MIG, SMAW, and TIG) a drop saw, a steel roller, several handheld power tools (like angle grinders), and a 150 year old german style anvil which is still very solid and usable.

Other than his extensive range of tools, he also possesses his customised Bluecaster Cargo Jet, which is a one man cargo ship. It's fitted with a cargo hold, a bunk, a cockpit, and a leisure room. Its size allows it to get to smaller areas without an issue while carrying all the gear he needs to fix shit. As for weapons, it boasts a pair of custom artillery cannons that utilise automated tracking technology, and oddly large breech magazines. He also owns (and regularly plays) a sitar. He isn't Indian, but he enjoys playing this instrument.

On his person he rarely carries more than a water bottle, his info tablet thing, and his wallet. There just isn't any need for it.
Skills:

• Engineering, manufacturing, and mechanics are his main skills. He's worked as an engineer all his life, and even helped to finalise some of the mech models currently used today. He's really quite good at it, and does contract work to the highest bidder. He isn't famous as such, but is highly regarded within the engineering community. He has a slight focus on the practical side, but recognises that theory and planning are both incredibly important.
• Business and Finance: He's run his own business for 30+ years. He knows how this works to a passable extent.
• Piloting: By no stretch of the imagination is he a virtuoso at this. He can do it, though. Not particularly well, but not disgustingly badly either.
• Household upkeep: He figured that if he had to run his own life, he'd better do it well. He's an alright cook, rather tidy, and is sure to have a spare mattress around.
• Sitar: This West Asian instrument was very interesting to Colin. He liked it for how different it was, and its timbre. He plays it for about an hour a day if he can, and is rather good at it. He has a basic understanding of the music theory behind it, too.
• In-Mech Repair: He has his own small mech, which he has removed all weapons from in favour of tools. He has outfitted it with multiple custom tools for repairing other mechs, and in a way could be considered a mech medic.

Weaknesses:

• Lack of combat experience: He's had experience in repairing during combat, but hardly ever fights.
• Whimsical: He gets lost in ideas a bit too often. He zones out in non-stressful situations, which can cause some conversations to turn awkward.
• Unrefined: While the machines he makes are ornate, beautiful, and functional, he is very rough around the edges. He has no sense for manners, and can inadvertently put people off because of that.
• Recluse: He tends to hide from the outside world in his workshop, where he controls everything. He isn't totally oblivious, but frequently misses out on the small details.

Base Model: A custom mech built by Colin himself. He considers it his magnum opus. It boasts a dual reactor, an elegant cooling system that was modeled off our very own ability to sweat, hand forged armour plates, twelve storage compartments, extra long leg pistons to allow for height gain, a set of overdriven leg pistons that allow for faster running, and no weaponry at all.

The Dual Reactor is to compensate for the overdriven legs. The cooling system uses thermometers and tubing to pump coolant to sections of the mech that rise above 30C. In the storage compartments he houses myriad grades of steel in different stock specifications. Lots of sheet stock to patch up armour breaches. He features an extra four pistons wherever he needs any pistons at all in the legs of the MedMech. These extras are powered by his spare reactor, unless he has only one reactor avaliable. If this should be the case, they are not powered and the spare reactor will route power to the main pistons instead. Because this mech is very short, it can gain extra height through its leg pistons. It can add 8 meters to its height with this method.

Within the cockpit, the pilot has access to a button and lever interface, with the more common controls in the center and the less common towards the side.
Armaments: None. He has fitted the mech with tools instead, to allow him to repair other mechs. The way they are mounted allow for three tools per arm, and these tools can be changed in the hangar. Usually he will go with a grabber on each arm, a welder, a belt sander, a grinder, and a cutter.

It does possess thick armour around the more vital regions, though. This was a deliberate choice from Colin to reduce damage, due to the fact that he can't shoot back. He has implemented a feature where he may close some of the armour plates together and render the mech partially invulnerable, with an extreme sacrifice to maneuverability. It also tends to use much more coolant in this mode due to the lack of 'vents' between the armour plates.
Weaknesses: The obvious one is the lack of fighting capability. The other big weakness is a small size and large mass, due to the spare steel he carries and his thicc armour. This causes it to eat slightly more power when it's moving, so it can drag that extra mass around. (it's worth noting that it's still lighter than a regular mech, but heavy for its size.)

Designation: He has fondly named it MedMech, and refers to it as Mac for no reason in particular.
Appearance: The MedMech is usually the shortest mech around, standing at a tiny 10m tall. It hasn't been painted, but Colin keeps it well poished, and it can look quite pretty and shiny in the sun.
Pilot: Colin Kitshin

Name: Alexander Owens

Age: 24

Sex: Male

Profession/Rank: Enlisted as Federation Reserve-Pilot. Assigned long-term as Hitchens-Belmont I.T.S. Test Pilot #3 at their North-American Branch.

Appearance: Standing at 5'11", Alex possesses what can be described as a lean, wiry build, only avoiding being labeled scrawny thanks to his military training and continued exercise. He keeps his dark brown hair short enough to avoid any need to maintain it, and to keep it out of his eyes while piloting. Though he looks perpetually tired , he keeps his posture in check and maintains an air of discipline, and he keeps himself clean-shaven regardless of all else.

His one most notable feature is the fact that his left arm is a prosthetic facsimile, sporting a segmented flesh-toned plastic casing and grip surfaces. The design is the same civilian-adapted prosthetics supplied to Federation veterans after service, and can successfully avoid notice without direct scrutiny. If Alex is caught mid-maintenance, and the arm has been removed, moderate scarring can be observed around the embedded connector reaching halfway across his left pectoral on the front, and fully across his left shoulderblade.

Personality: Alex is a calm, collected introvert that prefers silent company over total solitude. He hates surprises, and greatly prefers to plan events in his days, though he doesn't dislike downtime by any means, and will often spend said downtime reading or surfing the Exonet with his back to a wall. He is slow to share about himself, going so far as to keep his preferred music and reading a closely guarded secret. Hidden from everyone is the ethically barren belief that "us or them" is a facet of life, and it is in this belief he finds a willingness to do terrible things to protect his family, his home and his friends, and himself. He has trouble sleeping restfully.

Skills: Trained to handle and utilize the new Hitchens-Belmont "Intel Network" equipment line, and it's current FAW interface. Additionally, Alexander has an understanding of Astronomy and Cartography, thanks to his consistent exposure to situations that make use of them. Outside of military training, he has taken to clay sculpting and painting as a hobby, though he isn't any good with paint on canvas.

Weakness: Alexander Stresses easily and has difficulties unwinding, resulting in his being high-strung. He has no combat experience beyond Federation training and controlled live-fire test runs against drone-tanks. Physically, Alexander lacks much of the physical strength of an Earth-born enlistee, and scored poorly during physical training, only landing in the Reserves thanks to his above-average piloting proficiency and the lack of viable personnel willing to forego the honors of being an active-service Arsenal Walker pilot. At this time his physical aptitude likely sits at the absolute bare-minimum requirement for active service.

History: Alexander Owens was Born November 12th, 62 CE in Lunar City Tycho to Mary and Roger Owens. Alex grew up as the son of two hydroponics technicians for the first six years of his life on the moon before the fears of a Union first-strike on Tycho drove them to move Earthside. The Lunar-to-surface shuttle experienced an equipment failure during landing which prevented it's forward landing gear from deploying. The shuttle managed a crash landing, but the abrupt stop caused by the emergency parachute deployment combined with the whiplash on deployment was enough to break young Alexander's left arm as he slammed into the restraints. Medical examination post-rescue revealed that Alex's skeletal density had been underdeveloped enough to present a great risk during a crash, but was not severe enough to warrant additional care on the moon. With his body barely adapting to Earth's gravity and his arm broken, it was determined that the only fully safe option would be to amputate the ruined arm in order to prepare him for a prosthetic.

Alexander's life on Earth was a peaceful one. Though marred early on by injury, he bounced back as children often do and developed a healthy interest in nature. His life was consumed by school and the precious handful of friendships he had built. Through the years he did his best to keep up with his classmates, and with the support of his friends, his parents and his physician, Alex was eventually deemed ready to receive his prosthetic arm. At thirteen, he began mastering use of both arms again, as well as subconsciously trying to understand why he'd lost it in the first place. As the years rolled on and Alexander entered highschool, he watched his friends get wrapped up in the drama of teenage life and romance. Just as he struggled to improve himself, he struggled to soothe the troubles between his friends. Even as he kept his group of friends from fragmenting or fading away, he started noticing more and more of the news was dedicated to Arc Union and it's ongoing troubles with the Federation. He juggled responsibilities and interests, playing wingman for friends, digging into the Arc Union troubles, looking towards the future. By the end of his education, he was hit by the existential terror of inevitable, inescapable war and the pain of knowing that this same fear had indirectly taken his arm from him. As Alexander sat among friends and classmates celebrating their graduation in his sleepy little home town, he realized what he needed to do.

Upon enlisting Alexander Owen found himself fighting to stay afloat as countless enlistees washed out around him. Every waking hour of his life was dedicated to improving what he could, whenever he could. He was immediately found to be inadequate for all branches of infantry, and his qualifications for any sort of officer position were dubious at best. He focused exclusively on the naval and FAW divisions, honing his operational skills in simulators at every opening, and studying the endless supply of tactical manuals written by previous generations of pilots. Though he trained hard and learned the how to operate an aerospace-fighter, Alex's body failed him. He could not handle the forces every aerospace pilot faced. His final option to participate on the front line, the Arsenal Walker Corps., was made clear to him. With his future looming over him, Alexander pushed himself as hard as his body would allow, practiced as long as he was awake and met his future head-on. He tied for the lowest pilot slot amongst his peers. Because of his arm, he was dragged into last place, and it was treated as the tie-breaker. Though his aptitude was good, his body had again held him back, and the truth hit him like a train. He knew that he would wash out, or be relegated to a support role. depression threatened to overwhelm him for all of a week before he was summoned back to the Arsenal Walker Corps. Though limited by his body, his value had been noticed by the instructors, and the brass decided that they would let nothing go to waste. He was offered an alternative path. Alexander Owens would be assigned to a Reserve role, a position often handed to veteran pilots who refused to let age or injury push them back into civilian life. In return, he would operate under the Federation's command as a guinea-pig for classified FAW experimentation. He would say nothing of his position, what he did, or who he knew. If he were to serve the Federation well, and found himself physically suitable to function as a FAW pilot, he would be moved into active service, though his testing position would continue until such a time as he was needed.

Equipment: personal uplink (encrypted), red-faced Analogue wristwatch, Prosthetic Maintenance/Repair-kit, Pilot 9mm PDW.

Arsenal Walker:

Base Model: FAW-007 Warrior

Designation: HBT-I08, Callsign "NightOwl"

Appearance:
With most of it's non-essential internals trimmed, the I08 possesses a more slim profile compared to the FAW-007's, and has adopted a closed-armor design for it's head optics. Due to it's nature as a testbed for equipment development, it sports the generic white-and-yellow color scheme of Hitchens-Belmont I.T.S.. Now that it has reached Horizon and received it's new sensor array, most of the rear attachment points have been claimed by a bulbous sensor pack clamped over the reactor, visible even in it's forward profile. An antenna rises from directly behind the head, while a hardened geodesic dome rests behind the left shoulder.

Armaments:

HB-FSP-022 "Spotlight" : A dense sensor/transmitter array adopting components from modern AWACS and Naval Frigates, adapted to function both planetside and in space. With the FS-022, FAW squads can operate farther from carrier groups or planetary bases without being sensor-blind and intel-poor. Additional functions include counter-ECM, full-squad data relay and deep-scan features, the latter of the three allowing penetration of cover to locate hidden objects or hostiles during active use.

HB-AWCSB-004 "Blacklight" : An ECM suite designed to pair with the HB-FS-022 in order to disrupt the use of enemy data-gathering systems like LIDAR, Radar and radio communication by overwhelming sensors with junk signals, mimicing different radar/LIDAR reflections and masking itself, and others within the umbrella, from passive sensors.

HB-ASDD(G)-172 "HIVE" : A removable pod for semi-disposable UAVs, sporting advanced self-piloting algorithms, minimal Radar profile and low-sound rotors. Each drone can be pre-programmed to silently seek out a predetermined target, silently track and follow a visual target, relay video feed upon receiving a signal, accept remote control, and can accept complex commands for covert operations. Each drone-dock can load up to ten UAVs, but can only receive video feed from up to four at once due to signal crowding. The HIVE itself can be removed and remotely operate apart from an AW, able to operate autonomously for up to a month before maintenance is needed.
[[10x HIVE UAVs]]

HB-ASDD(S)-039 "NEST" : Similar to the ASDD(G) "HIVE" Series, the (S) series supports drones that operate in space. Carrying up to ten drones, the NEST operates in much the same way as it's atmospheric cousin, though it's drones operate using RCS jets, they are equipped with an adapted navigational algorithm made for space, and can simultaneously operate two drones. The NEST is similarly able to operate away from an AW, and can operate for up to a month before retrieval.
[[6x NEST Drones]]

2x FedArm 20mm "AEGIS" : CIWS batteries, mounted in the I08's head. designed for use against light armor and infantry targets as well as anti-missile support. Each battery carries up to 800 rounds separated into 200 round drums of varying ammo type.
2x((400Rnd. 20mm HE / 400Rnd. 20mm AMS))

Variable-slot Equipment:

FedArm "FAWMAR" 60mm semi-automatic Assault-Rifle: A Federation-standard primary FAW weapon designed to function similarly to a Dedicated Marksman Rifle. 20 Rnd. magazine. optimal range: 550m @ 1.0G. Maximum ammunition storage capacity: 4 spare magazines, type variable.

2x FedArm Deployable Explosive Tactical Payload: commonly referred to as "FAW grenades", the DETP is a large mass of stabilized plastic explosive wired to a programmable electronic trigger assembly. Said assembly is able to transmit and receive radio signals, set itself on a programmed timer, and even enable a short-range proximity trigger based on old flak technology if deployed properly.

Federation Ballistics L4S Thermal Blade: A FAW-CQC staple, offering maneuverability, armor penetration and zero frills. Sheathe is mounted on the I08's left thigh, as the back has no open mounting points.

Weakness: With the majority of it's internal weapon-support systems stripped and a portion of it's armor replaced with ablatives, the HBT-I08 lacks the staying power of a fully armed FAW-007, unable to survive continuous fire or maintain suppressive fire. Additionally, the paired Intel Network Modules' demand for power at full function is enormous, forcing the pilot to trade full mobility to keep all systems active and risk taking fire, or remain fully mobile while risking falling through on it's purpose of supporting their allies. Finally, with the function and role of the Paired Network Module, the I08's active sensor mode unavoidably draws attention while active, and nothing short of a nuclear detonation could mask it's use. In short, the I08 must rely on it's allies, as taking it into direct conflict alone against an organized military force is suicide.

Due to the I08's use of nonstandard equipment, loadout may change or diminish due to irreparable damage to nonstandard systems, unexpected wear-and-tear or depletion of nonstandard munitions.

Pilot(s): Biometrically-locked to Test Pilot #3, Alexander Owens.

Name: Hassan Bin Ahmad

Age: 30

Gender: Male

Occupation: AW Pilot, Captain, resident kebab chef

Appearance: Usually seen with a smile on his face, Hassan stands at an average six feet tall. Hassan's black hair is usually cropped short due to regulation standards. Regular exercise has given him a slightly muscular frame, and his light brown eyes compliment his darker skin.

Equipment: FAW-007[G] Unit V-2, pilot suit, kebab recipes

Skills: AW Pilot, Kebab-making(and the many variations thereof)

Personality: Friendly and easy-going, Hassan is always willing to help younger pilots, make new friends or cook up some food if the situation calls for it.

Bio: The eldest sibling of Levantine migrants, Hassan was born in Cairo. His father, and his father before him, made a living selling Kebabs at the roadside. Through a combination of friendliness and their secret recipe, the family made enough money to move to the tourist-heavy parts of the city and rent a storefront.

Hassan, despite inheriting his father's joviality, did not inherit his disinterest in the outside world. On the contrary, Hassan wanted to travel the world, maybe even visit one of the space colonies one day. Knowing that neither his family nor his lack of lucrative prospects could afford such a lifestyle, he resolved to enlist in the Federation military, which was a respectable occupation given the Federation's success in its efforts to protect the hard-won stability in his homeland and the region.

Thus, Hassan became an AW Pilot after graduating from Basic and made a tour of duty, serving in hotspots across the planet(and picking up recipes of local variants of kebabs). After several tours of duty, Hassan was wounded in battle and pulled from the front. Although he has healed from his wounds, his back muscles occasionally seize up if too much strain is put on them.

Hassan was then transferred to Horizon, a strategically-valuable location that was nonetheless far from any hotspots, as a reward for years of faithful service. Accompanied as ever by his guardian Genie, Hassan is ready to kick back and enjoy garrison duty, far from all the fighting...

Weakness: Hassan is not always able to take things seriously, even when he should. He also has a bad back that can strike at the worst of times.

Designation: V-2 Jinn (sometimes affectionately called the Genie)

Appearance: The bronze and russet Jinn looks similar to the base FAW-007, with its notable differences being its head. It is equipped with an old head and sensor package, replacing the faceplates of a base FAW-007 with a rounded mask appearance, including a sensor module that emits light from the centre of the face, giving the Jinn a cyclopean visage. In addition, the new head is equipped with a transmitter in the shape of a "fin" extending backwards. The transmitter is used to send targeting data to other friendly Arsenal Walkers to aid in combat. In addition, the back thrusters of the Jinn is shaped in the form of wings with a narrower exhaust outlet.



Armaments: The Genie is armed and armoured like a typical Warrior, with slight variations in its weapons and targeting systems.

- 2x General Engineering M79 20mm Pisces Cannons- Two head-mounted autocannons provide the Jinn with close-range defence against missiles, infantry and fighter craft.

- Federation Ballistics K3(p)- Double-edged vibroblade, the K3(p) is heavier than most vibroblades and relies on that to crush armour and stop targets dead in their tracks.

- Tajcorp iS-2 Ballistics Shield- Standard AW-sized shield mounted on the Jinn's shoulder. If pointed to the front, the shield covers the head, arm and chest of the Walker. Can br detached in combat to fit on either shoulder.

- United Armaments XB-20 60mm Assault Rifle- The Jinn's main weapon is its arm-mounted Assault Rifle. Its ammunition is internally stored in the rifle, which removes the need for reloading. This, however, makes the XB-20 more vulnerable to jamming and overheat, hence, its standard operating rate of fire is lower than that of other comparable magazine-fed Rifles. It is also directly connected and interfaced with the AW, granting it increased accuracy.

- Robco M-5x 30mm Sidearm- A standard AW sidearm.

- 2x Leg-mounted Pratt Corp. C12 Missile Launcher- Missiles are arranged in a 2 by 2 square and can be toggled to fire all at once as suppression fire or one at a time with greater accuracy. The missiles are standard Pratt Corp. ML-17 missiles. A fast reload system allows for the Jinn to carry 4 extra missiles in battle.

Weaknesses: While the Jinn has a shield equipped, it is usually arm-mounted, and not built for hand held blocking. The Jinn is thus forced to rely mostly on parries and blocks with its heavy vibroblade to ward off mêlée attacks. In addition, its weapons configuration and technical specifications is entirely average and unspecialised, leaving the Jinn behind in performance in certain fields versus specialist Mecha.

Pilot: Hassan bin Ahmad

Name: Natalie Adelaide Martell

Age: 25

Gender: Female

Occupation: AW Pilot, Lieutenant, engineer

Appearance: Petite and mousy, Natalie tops out at five and a half feet, which makes the cockpit of an AW rather comfortable to move in. Her caramel hair is kept short for regulation reasons, and her stormy grey eyes give off the impression of a rather hard personality, which isn't entirely accurate.

Equipment: FAW-007[G] Unit G-8, AW Pilot suit and helmet, standard sidearm and knife.

Skills: AW Pilot, trained engineer

Personality: Cold and reserved, Natalie tends to keep to herself and her research on modern machinery, reading up and honing her understanding the Federation's enemies so that none may have to go through what she did

Bio: Born into a poor family on the fringes of the Western European DMZ, Natalie had admired Arsenal Walkers and their pilots since a young age. Living in a small town near the unstable border, the sight of the gigantic sentinels that guarded, and occasionally entered battle for, the Federation against bellicose rogue states and warlords filled Natalie with a desire to join these knights of metal and protect the poor and huddled masses still under the thumb of those who would not let the past go.

To that end, she worked hard in school and managed to obtain entry into university, before joining up in the Federation Armed Forces, her engineering degree opening up an AW career. Following a rather average career for an AW pilot, she was commisioned after AW training and given her AW certification.

Her first posting was back home near the border and she saw little action, simply patrolling the border and occasionally being attached to the rear echelons of a counter-attack in a wider battle. It seemed that garrison duty would constitute the rest of her career, a fact she resented.

However, a year into her tour of duty her home village was caught in one of these border skirmishes, and although most of her village survived the attack, her family was not among them.

Finding it too painful to stay with the memories, she requested a transfer to a unit that was anywhere else but home. Natalie was transferred across the globe to another 'hot' zone and distinguished herself in battle with her zeal, bravery and willingness to charge into battle, drawing on her hate of the enemies of the Federation.

Despite her acts of bravery and skill, her CO noted her almost self-destructive tendencies and, once the region was pacified, put in a transfer request for her to a safe and quiet garrison: Horizon.

Although resistant at first, it has been a year since then, and Natalie has managed to settle into her new, more peaceful life. Time will tell if that situation will continue.

Weakness: Although a trained soldier, Natalie is far from being proficient in hand-to-hand combat, nor is she particularly physically resilient. In addition, she is not the best in communication and is not proactive in communicating vital information in battle, usually focusing only on the fight she is in.

Base Model: FAW-007[G]

Designation: G-8 Valkyrie

Appearance: Painted in teal and grey, it is the job of the Valkyrie to charge into the thick of battle as quickly as possible and stay in it for as long as possible, being more focussed on mêlée combat. As a result, it is more heavily-armoured than the standard Warrior, with additional armour plates layered over the areas most likely to get hit in battle and weak spots.

In addition, the rear thrusters can be boosted to vastly increase the speed of the Valkyrie in order to be the first to engage hostiles. This is why the rear thrusters take on the shape of extended 'wings' or 'fins' in order to increase forward propulsion by narrowing the exit area of exiting gas.



Armaments:

-2x General Engineering AS76 30mm Libera Cannons- Two head-mounted autocannons provide the Valkyrie with small but not insignificant close-range capability, carrying shells larger than the average autocannon calibre.

-Shoulder-mounted Kreuller Weapons Systems 120mm Schreiber Cannon- Mounted on the Valkyrie's right shoulder is a cannon for long and medium range attacks and suppression. While not as powerful as a Gunner's main armament, it is sufficient in laying down suppressive fire and damaging enemy assets before the Valkyrie closes in. After it does so, the cannon can retract into the mainframe to prevent it being an obstruction in close combat.

-Tajcorp S-4b Ballistics Shield- Armed with a Federation Ballistics battle shield capable of stopping and deflecting the majority of small arms fire or average Arsenal Walker projectiles.

-Federation Ballistics xK8(s) Angurvadal- The Valkyrie is also armed with a long, experimental vibroblade is the shape of a longsword. The sword can be activated for a short period of time in order to shift the vibrational frequencies of the molecules along the edge. This effect allows electrons to be excited along the edge and travel along it. In this mode, the blade's electric current shorts out any electronic system it touches and can cause mild to major shutdowns in the case of Arsenal Walkers. A side effect of the excitation of electrons is that light is emitted when they de-excite, hence the blade glows when in this mode.

-Krueller Weapons Systems MA-37 99mm Shotgun- Perfect for close-quarters combat, the MA-37 can be stashed on the hip of the AW when not in use.

Weakness:
Due to the Valkyrie's heavy armour, it is more heavy than the average Warrior and moves less nimbly than one. In addition, its standard operating speed is lower than that of other Mechs, except when boosting.

The vibroblade consumes a lot of energy from the AWs power cells when activated, and so can only be used in that mode for short periods of time.

Pilot: Natalie Adelaide Martell

Name: Mikhail Pyotr Nestor Brukhanov
Age: 23
Sex: Male
Profession/Rank: AW Pilot, 2nd Lieutenant, Historian, Farmer

Appearance: Standing at just below six feet, Mikhail sees the world through two cheerful eyes peeking it from under his messy mop of hair. Years working in his communal farm has darkened his skin and filled out his frame with lean muscle.

Personality: Raised in a commune sheltered from the outside world, Mikhail has learnt to be cooperative and understanding and, despite his years outside the Free Territory, still assumes others to do so as well. This has taught him the ability to make form friendly working relationships with almost all types of people. Hard-working and inquisitive, Mikhail views his service in the Federation Walker Corps as a necessary burden and an opportunity to learn more about the Federation.

Skills: Mikhail is a crack shot with most categories of guns oven some time to familiarise, having picked it up from his time hunting what little wild game survived in the Free Territory post-war, as well as, more relevantly, driving off armed intruders sent by enemies of the Territory. He is also possessed of a wealth of historical knowledge and agricultural experience picked up since young.

Weakness: Growing up in an environment where his peers were taught to cooperate and work together, Mikhail is too trusting of strangers, and finds difficulty in forming close, exclusive friendships with others. With no real combat experience he is also the definition of a greenhorn.

Biography: Born in the Free Territory of the Ukraine, Mikhail was raised in an agricultural anarchist commune, one of the dozens dotted around the Ukrainian plains, grouped together with nearby worker-run industrial centres following Syndicalist principles in a mutual assistance pact in the form of the Free Territory. Having existed informally since the devastation of Russia's western border in the Third World War, Mikhail was born barely a decade after the Free Territory was recognised as an independent polity, separate from both of the Ukrainian States, by the Federation. In return for recognition and protection from the two Ukraine's, the Federation required only regular deliveries of industrial goods and the crops the region was famed for being able to produce in large numbers.

Mikhail grew to be a precocious young boy, eagerly learning the history of the region and the sociological framework that set the Free Territory apart from its bitter neighbours. Learning to work with his commune in bettering their lives, Mikhail realised that while he was satisfied with working in the farms, his real passion was that of history, to understand the historical forces that brought his home into being, and agricultural research, to better increase the efficiency of the Earth's dwindling arable land and make the essential agricultural work of his commune more efficient. He resolved to gain entry to the region's premier university in order to pursue these passions.

But the world was not so indulging. As he left home to experience the outside world, the two Ukraine's began to discuss ways of brining the Territory under their control, one of the very few points of matter they agreed on. In a scant few years, the Federation Parliament, pressured by the Ukraine's and their respective powerful backers, passed higher and higher quotas on the Territory, giving them the option to forego the higher quotas if they could afford other expanded obligations to "better reflect the development the Territory had undergone in the past decades". One of these was the option for residents to join and aid the Federation's administration, including its military, mirroring the higher militarisation rate the Federal Armed Forces were undergoing in other regions in anticipation of possible armed conflict with the Ark Union.

It was in this climate that Mikhail, deciding to put the good of his home over his short term desires, volunteered for a term of service with the Federation's AW Corps after graduating from university, hoping to prove to the Federation that the Free Territory was able to pull its weight not just in agricultural production, but also in bodies for its military. Besides, he wasn't going to be dramatically changing the lives of his fellow communards anytime soon, or so he reasoned. Now recently commisioned, Mikhail hopes to make a name for himself in the coming years...

Equipment: AW pilot suit, small pendant containing pictures of his family and home, several history and agricultural engineering books

Base Model: FAW-007[G]

Designation: KR-01 Tachanka

Appearance: The green and coral Tachanka is a long range sniping unit, armed and assisted by systems that dimrive this mission profile. A redesigned version of the old "Cyclops" head module is the first notable difference, as opposed to the standard "Knight" heads, using the mono-channel sensor cluster to great effect to focus targeting on single targets. Additional targeting sensors on the XC-01 Campion Rifle and the torso of the Tachanka help to triangulate data. Anticipating possible counter-artillery suppression the Tachanka is noticeably bulkier than the average Warrior, and is armed with a shoulder shield to deflect incoming tank shells or medium fire while firing downrange. Thrusters mounted underneath the greaves and on its backpack allows for the Tachanka to attain limited jumps and hops across terrain, ideal for setting the Walker up in hard-to-reach sniper nests.



Armaments:

United Armaments XC-01 "Campion" 84mm Sniper Rifle - The Campion Rifle is a limited production sniper rifle, the first of a new series of dedicated sniper weapons built for Arsenal Walkers. Built from the base up to be a sniper's weapon, the Campion was first planned to be a smaller version of the standard 150mm Gunner Railgun, possibly utilising coilgun technology instead. However, Federation GHQ decided to fast track the production of conventional chemically propelled AW snipers as a stopgad measure until they could acquire efficient miniaturised coilgun technology. This resulted in the creation of the Campion, now recently assigned to pilots with notable accuracy

GAL H-18 Vibroblade- A standard medium blade slightly longer than the length of an AW's forearm. It is capable of slicing apart armoured vehicles and most types of AW armour

Tajcorp iS-3a Ballistics Shield- Standard AW-sized shield mounted on the shoulder. Capable of folding along its central pivot to cover portions of the Tachanka from different angles of attack

Shoulder-mounted spikes- Intended for close range defence the spikes are a last resort intended for AW-to-AW combat

2x General Engineering M79 Pisces 20mm Cannons- Standard head-mounted autocannons provide close range defence from missiles, infantry or vehicles in close range combat

Robco LR-313 55.6mm SMG- An AW-sized rapid fire, close range firearm, the LR-313 is intended to complement the Pisces cannons and H-18 of the Tachanka to fend off close range opponents

Weakness: Built for long-range combat and short-range defence, the Tachanka is not ideal for conventional AW mission profiles, especially hypothetical close range AW-on-AW combat, a contingency that might become an eventuality too soon...

Pilot(s): Mikhail Pyotr Nestor Brukhanov

Name: Liam Zachery.

Age: 24

Sex: Male

Profession/Rank: Pilot, combat specialist and enlisted within the Federation.

Appearance:



Personality: Liam is a rather stubborn man who has a strict way of living seeing as how his whole life has been within a military type of lifestyle. On duty he follows orders and protocol to the dot and rarely questions them as he has found it to be much easier to do so. He is a determined and loyal soldier of the Federation that will do almost anything to secure victory. He is very attached to his fellow pilots and has found a strong brotherhood within the ranks. Though they joke about his cold attitude and uncaring appearance he still enjoys his time with them.

Off duty he is surprisingly more approachable as he lets his strict military appearance lower enough to relax. Though he does spend a lot of his off time to train his skills and do a bit of work on his Walker and has been labeled by some to be a workaholic. When he isn’t working on himself or his Walker he mostly just sleeps or talks with his fellow pilots.

Skills: Combat specialist, excellent pilot, surprisingly decent cook, intel extractor (A.K.A expert in torturing people for information.) and finally a good reputation within the ranks of the Federation. Thanks to his decent reputation he adds a good moral boost to his fellow soldiers of the Federation. He is even trusted with certain missions from the higher ups that require skilled soldiers.

Weakness: Is blindly loyal to the Federation and would follow any orders given to him, even if they are not morally correct.

History:
Liam was born through the flames of conflict, well not literally, but that’s what he was told as he reached a certain age of learning to talk and walk. Liam barely remembers his life before, but it never mattered to him as he simply focused on surviving within the harsh mercenary group known as Venom. He was raised by the youngest pilot, Jackson. Liam remembers him fondly as an excellent soldier and teacher. Though most would consider him a rough father seeing as how he personally taught Liam through brutal trainings that on a few occasions have nearly taken Liam’s life. As it was a hard start in life, Liam always finds a smile on his face as he thinks back on it.

As he grew within the group he witnessed many questionable deeds committed by the mercenaries. Raids, kidnappings and even plain mass slaughter. There were even times they had been hired to destroy or disrupt Federation trade routs and even go on a few hunts for certain Federal ships. It has always given him an unnerving feeling in his gut as those memories returned to him, but he simply shrugs it off and tells himself there was nothing he could do. As he reached the age of twelve he was finally given his first job within the group. The assassination of a corrupt businessman that had went back on his deal with Venom. It was a simple job for Liam really. All he did was bribe his targets bodyguard and have him escorted to a rather shady part of the city. As they reached the location Liam revealed himself and gunned him down. After that the targets now ex-bodyguards simply reported to be caught up within a gang related shooting. Liam never really thought much of it, but all he knew he had gotten the job done.

Though he could only enjoy the feeling of a job well done for a brief moment. As he was returning to his Venom he was not welcomed with acknowledgement for a mission well done, instead he was welcomed by chains and beatings. He had been sold to a rather rich buyer within the human trafficking business. He fought with all his strength to resist and even called out to Jackson, a man he admired as a father, but felt his heart drop as he saw Jackson simply accept the payment from the buyer and give an uninterested glance his way before turning away. Defeated and sold as cargo Liam felt his world crumble before him as he was stuffed away in a cell. It looked like he was going to be just another slave, but before the ship he was on could reach its destination it was attacked by a Federation battleship. After what felt like hours of fighting a blast freed Liam from his cell and with a burst of energy he made his escape.

Sadly his escape wasn’t as simple as he would have wished for and was greeted by a group of slavers. With his training and instincts he snatched up a sharp piece of metal that had been blown away from the blast that freed him and charged his captors. Liam still can’t remember what happened after that as he blacked out and regained his senses standing above several slavers corpses. Luckily the Federation was able to capture the ship and found a bloody Liam sitting on a corpse, waiting for them with an expressionless face.

He was quickly taken in by the Federation and safely looked after once they reached the nearest Federal station. After questioned about his identity, place of birth and any known family members, Liam simply told them the truth. As he revealed his relations with Venom with a deep pain in his heart it looked as if he were to be shot right there and then. Yet it never came. Instead of imprisonment or death he was offered a deal. Reveal all of the information and details he knows about Venom and be set free without any charges. Liam was honestly surprised by the offer back then, but as he looks back on it now it made since. The harsh mercenary group had gained quite the bounty for themselves after years of committing heinous crimes against the Federation. It was clear they were desperate to catch them.

As Liam thought on the deal a thought came to his mind. What would he do with his freedom? Where would he go? There was no future for him other than being a soldier. So he made his own offer. He would reveal all he knew about Venom, but in return he would be allowed to join the Federations military. It was an odd offer for the higher ups, but seeing as how they needed to catch the group as soon as possible they agreed and let Liam enlist. Plus any member from the group is sure to have potential within the military Of course he was put under surveillance and kept on a tight leash, but Liam was just fine with it. A few months later it had been reported that the mercenary group known as Venom was finally cornered and defeated. Though a few had escaped the battle, Venom was completely demolished and have never been heard from again.

With his new place within the Federations military Liam was trained and formed into an even more excellent soldier. His time within the Federation has built a sense of loyalty and pride as he felt the ranks grow as his home. He has even made a name for himself within the military through his determination, hard work and effectiveness, gaining the trust of his fellow soldiers. With his place set within the Federation Liam can easily and happily say he is a proud soldier of the Federation.

Arsenal Walker:

Base Model*: FAW-007[G] Warrior with a bit of weight added to it. An extra layer of armor has been added to the body of the Walker and more room as been made to store additional rounds.

Designation: Hound.

Appearance:



Armaments: Standard battle rifle with armor piercing rounds, a desert eagle like pistol named “Show Stopper”, a thick and heavy survival knife and finally a heated machete.

Weakness: Is heavy and slow due to an extra layer of armor and equipment.

Pilot: Liam Zachery.

Age: 27
Sex: Male
Profession: Walker Pilot
Rank:1st Lieutenant O-2

Personality:
Cool and level headed, yet confident and daring, Ingram is a the personification of a career pilot. A generally good natured man with strong feelings of camaraderie towards teammates, Ingram is fairly friendly, though not the most outspoken. He pushes and competes with his team with a combination of casual boasting and jabs, but is all business with a splash of sarcasm when on a mission. Prideful and loyal, Ingram cares little for politics and regulations and puts the survivablity of himself and his team above all else. While not short tempered, Ingram can be explosive when properly riled up, and can make brash decisions during these times. Casually boastful of his abilities, Ingram has a can-do attitude towards most tasks, but like most hotshot pilots, occasionally bites off more than he can chew and has a tendency to be overconfident.

Skills:
An aerospace pilot through and through, Ingram is an excellent fighter pilot, being awarded an ace while in the Aerospace Corps with 23 confirmed kills to his name.

Weakness:
Like many pilots- especially aerospace pilots, Ingram has a tendency for overconfidence, and is almost too sure of himself. Also, as a recent transfer into the Walker Corps from the Aerospace branch, his experience with the bipedal form of his walker is relatively limited.

History:
A Fed AW pilot, Ingram Shaw is the youngest of three, and heir to the Shaw Industries, a rather prominent name as the designer and producer of a variety of ship based weapon systems, as well as a small dabbling in Walker technology. Though the youngest, Ingram, much like his older siblings had a fairly rigid childhood, their parents seeing their lives fit to control however they well pleased. The Shaw children were taught at the most prestigious private schools, and given extensive private tutoring. Though the quietest of his siblings, Ingram's relatively warm demeanor and youth always served to bring people to his side. From birth it was known that Ingram wouldn't be the one to inherit the family business, not with two older siblings. Instead, he was to choose between a career in politics, or in the military. Being a young impressionable child born in close proximity to military personnel- due to the contractor status of their family, and raised with stories of heroic pilots, Ingram chose the later.

Ingram earned excellent grades in school, and quite easily received a scholarship to the Virginia Military Institute, one of the oldest and most, if not the most decorated military academies in the Sol System. The Virginia Military Institute was an extremely competitive place, success in this academy meant you were destined for greatness in military service as a true commander of the military. Failure, or even mediocrity meant you would find yourself in vitally important, but utterly boring staff and support positions. Ingram proved that he had what it took and more time and time again. Scoring high on aptitude tests, Ingram was given his choice between pursuing service as a Naval officer aboard combat vessels, or joining the Federation's Aerospace Corps- a military occupation with one of the highest washout rates of the Federation military. He chose the latter.

Put through rigorous physical and mental training, Ingram showed he was able of tactical thinking, leading his class-unit to the top during competitive field training exercises. Pitted against instructors and other teams of students, Ingram and his unit competed in simulated wargames, training them in both in-atmo and space combat tactics. Graduating near the top of his class, Ingram was inducted into the 101st Aerospace Squadron at the age of 21.

A capable and talented aerospace pilot, Ingram started his career with moderate success, but wouldn't receive any particular noteriety until 83 CE during the 'Siege of Cerol'. During a pirate raid on a remote lunar city, three transliners full of civilian passengers were taken hostage, their attack catching the Federation garrison with its pants down. Responding to a call for aid, the 101st Aerospace Squadron was scrambled and deployed to the moon to support the Fed garrison in rescuing the civilians and driving off the pirate forces. During the battle, Ingram's squadron leader was shot down as they were swarmed by large numbers of pirate fliers. Managing to rally the remains of his squadron, Ingram would regroup with the depleted garrison squadron and lead them on a counter offensive, their force managing to take down a pair pirate ships and a half dozen enemy fighters before the raiders gave up the ghost and committed to a retreat. In the aftermath of the battle, Ingram and his surviving squadron members were awarded commendations for valor.

Picked out for his stellar performance records, Ingram was handpicked by General Adrian Hall to join the Federation's experimental AW Raptor program. Integrating into the Walker Corps was a challenging, but fairly smooth process. Ingram has been recently transferred to Horizon.

Equipment: Ingram still owns and wears his 101st Squadron bomber jacket, though the Walker Corps patch has also been stitched into the opposite shoulder. In addition, Ingram typically carries an L7-S pistol, a carton of cigarettes as well as a pilot's survival kit and gear.

Base Model: FAW-022 Raptor
Designation: Sparrowhawk
Appearance:
Sleek and aggressive, the Sparrowhawk shares the appearance of the standard FAW-022 Raptor, with its main difference being the presence of additional upscaled thrusters for increased airspeed and mobility. Cosmetic difference include white and orange panels as opposed to the standard 'Federation grey' of most Raptors. While in its walker form, wings and nose of the fighter form are stored in the back, with its thrusters positioned to allow for enhanced mobility while on the ground. A personal touch made by Ingram is a modification to the cranial unit: a retracting visor that gives the head unit the appearance of a knight's helmet- to protect the sensitive cranial sensors of course.

Armaments:

• GAU-11 50mm Rotary Autocannon - The standard armament of the FAW-022 Raptor is the menacing GAU-11 Rotary Autocannon. Mounted in a detachable gun pod centerline underneath the aircraft, the 7-barreled GAU-11 delivers a precise, withering hail of API-DU (Armor Piercing Incendiary, Depleted Uranium) shells at their target at a rate of 4,200 rounds per minute. With a 1,400 round combat load, the FAW-022 carries enough ammunition for 10 2-second trigger pulls. While in its bipedal form, the fire rate can be toggled to a more manageable 2,100 rounds per minute, allowing pilots to better conserve ammunition. Two additional gun pod magazines are typically stored in the legs of the walker. The end of the barrel can deploy a H4 Heatknife in close quarters.
• FAW-022 Light Combat Shield - A section of the Raptor's fuselage in its aircraft configuration is converted into a small arm mounted shield, providing the Raptor with a modest but narrow degree of defensive coverage while in its bipedal mode. The shield can shift down so the 'point' of the combat shield extends a bit past the hand actuators and in a pinch be used as an emergency melee weapon.
• G-161/A Vulcan - Mounted to the right side of the FAW-022's cranial unit is a six barreled 20mm vulcan for anti-personnel and point defense duties. Firing 20mm shells from a 800 round internal magazine, this provides the FAW-022 with an effective, but limited source of point defense against enemy infantry, missiles and light vehicles while in bipedal mode. When in aircraft mode the cannon is located on the underside of the Raptor, offset to the left.
• Federation Ballistics H4 Heatknife x2 - The standard Federation issue combat heatknife. Ideal for close quarters when the 'continuum of force' has been reduced to hand to hand combat. For optimum performance, the leading edge, 'pointy end', should be applied to the enemy and thrust into vital regions. This should be repeated as necessary. One heatknife is stored in the hip, while another is stored within the GAU-11.
• GDOTS Advanced Countermeasure System - Designed to combat anti-air systems, the GDOTS ACS is a state of the art protection system designed to better protect the steep investment that is a FAW-022 Raptor. Alongside standard chaffe and flare launchers, the GDOTS ACS also includes a short range ECM pod and a counter-launcher- essentially a miniature missile launcher, that detects oncoming heat signatures and launches guided munitions to counter and neutralize the oncoming threat.
  

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• Variable Missile Launcher System - Each of the Valkyrie's wings hold two hardpoints from which to launch munitions from, along with a hardpoint within a small munitions bay in the side fuselages, and two in the main bay within the fuselage- for a total of 8 hardpoints. The missiles vary and can be swapped out as the mission entails. Of its 8 hardpoints, only the two in the side fuselages can be used while in bipedal form.
  • AIM-150X Serpent Missiles - A common, but effective short-range missile launcher system used by the FAW-022. Loaded in clusters of 3 missiles per hardpoint, these fast, highly maneuverable AA missiles pack a surprising punch, able to make sharp turns, and capable of knocking most aircraft out of the sky with a single missile. Like most short range missiles, the AIM-150X uses a continuous rod warhead as opposed to a traditional explosive charge- expelling steel rods in a wide circle upon detonating, effecitvely tearing aircraft apart. While not particularly devastating when compared to an AGM, these fast locking guided missiles are more than capable of crippling an aircraft's flight capabilities, essentially spelling death for other fliers. Against ground targets, it is rather lackluster in damage when compared to other heavier missiles as a result of its type of charge, but is still serviceable against soft targets. Serpent Missiles are impact safe, allowing them to be safely carried under the wings.
  • AIM-210 Copperhead Missiles - An advanced long ranged missile system designed to be used from beyond visual range used by the FAW-022. Loaded as a single missile per hardpoint, these long range missiles lack the maneuverability of their smaller cousins, but are faster and more powerful. Easily capable of downing an Aerospace craft in a single hit- even a near miss can cripple a fighter. While its explosive charge is potent and can be used against ground targets, the lack of a shaped charge and a means to penetrate armor renders it ineffective against hardened ground targets. Copperhead missiles are impact safe, allowing them to be safely carried under the wings.
  • AIM-240/B Cobra Missiles - A robust Air-to-ground missile launcher system used by the FAW-022. Loaded as a single missile per hardpoint, these powerful AGM missiles pack a mean punch and are designed specifically for targeting ground armor, enemy walkers and other ground based assets. Like Serpent missiles, the Cobras are impact safe, allowing them to be safely carried under the wings.
  • H-770 Python ground attack rockets - A simple, yet effective air-to-ground dumbfire rocket system used by the FAW-022. Loaded as a hexagonal launcher sporting 12 rockets per hardpoints, these unguided rockets are designed to overwhelm enemy positions and defenses, softening them up for allies on the ground. While the explosive charge they carry is not enough to penetrate through modern armor, the rockets are still capable of disrupting or destroying external support systems, and even compromising said armor through continuous fire. The these rockets are impact safe, allowing them to be safely carried under the wings.
  • AIM-99 Hornet Swarm Missiles A limited deployment swarm missile system used by the FAW-022. Loaded in a launcher unit sporting four missiles per hadrpoint, these short ranged, multi-purpose missiles are designed for a wide variety of targets, with varying effectiveness. The hornet missile is a high speed, highly maneuverable missile that splits into 4 micro-missiles upon reaching .5km of the target. These micro missiles fly in an erratic pattern, to avoid and confuse active point defense systems. The speed and number of the micro-missiles typically guarantees at least one or two of the warheads hit when faced with most traditional countermeasures- but is not infallible. Each individual warhead is has approximately 30% of the destructive force of a Copperhead or Cobra missile, and sports a small shaped charge and a tungsten penetrator. Like it's cousins, hornet missiles are impact safe while not in use.
  • A92X Javelin Pile Bunker - A modern day take on the traditional medieval knight's lance, this experimental weapon delivers potent, one use power to a single AW. Loaded on one of the wing hardpoints in place of a missile, the A92X is a multi-part pile bunker consisting of three main parts. The primary part is the lance tip itself, which consists of a superdense alloy tip with a bursting charge meant to penetrate armor. The main part is the lance head itself, which consists of a shaped explosive charge detonating shortly after penetration from the lance head itself. The final part of the Pile Bunker is the resuable lance handle, which serves as a base for additional lance hafts to be attached to.

Weakness: Like its bretheren, the Sparrowhawk is lightly armored compared to other types of Arsenal Walkers, and relies on its speed and mobility to prevent damage.
Pilot(s): Ingram Shaw

Name: Eun Mi Steinbach

Age: 40, looks like in her 20's thanks to anti-aging enhancements

Sex: Female

Profession/Rank: Captain

Appearance: Eun Mi is half-Asian, half-White, that appears to be in her 20's thanks to anti-aging enhancements.

Personality: Cunning, Capricious, Calculating, Manipulative, yet at the same time, Charismatic, Humanistic, Romantic, and Open-Minded. Often compared to P.T. Barnum. Eun Mi is a person of gray morals, growing up from a gritty childhood, some say she is crazy optimistic, but if you grew up from a desolate childhood, dying in the battlefield is nothing more than a romantic ticket to immortality. She has a penchant of proving the booksmarts (military traditionalists) wrong with her streetsmarts, and stick it to them. Her charismatic charms allows her to recruit societal misfits, and turn them into loyal and efficient soldiers.

Skills: She is a distinguished pilot, leader, businesswoman, and negotiator. While she has extensive skills from her old trade, she had long turned her back from such practices, using them only when necessary.
Weakness: She is a capricious and a fraudulent liar, while such were essential for her street smarts, it is a liability in the military.

History: Eun Mi's story is in a nutshell, a "Cheng I Sao in Space" story, kidnapped and raised as a prostitute by the Markhov Syndicate, a mafia organization, from a young age. With her body re-engineered for such specific purpose, it seems like she has no opportunity for growth, but that changed when she met Arthur Steinbach, leader of the Richthofen & Churchill Corporation (named after the decommissioned long-range patrol vessels, Manfred von Richthofen and Winston Churchill, and the precursor to the Steinbach Legion), a PMC. She was rescued by Steinbach, who saw potential for her as his accountant and organizer, the brain to his brawn, something she is surprisingly very good with, and helped make the organization grow as one of the private military companies in the known universe. The two became lovers, and were eventually married.

Meanwhile, a pre-treaty break-away communist faction called Red Guard Commune, took over a Russian colony, which unfortunately includes a few Russian walkers. The Russian Army tried to take back colony, but the Russian conscripts are inexperienced with space warfare, and were held back by the determined Red Guards even without using the walkers other than psychological weaponry. To avoid further political fiasco, the Kremlin decides to hire experienced mercenaries to do the dirty work, calling in the Richthofen and Churchill Corporation. The PMC had exploited one weakness of the Red Guards' walkers, their pilots, one cannot master piloting walkers overnight, let alone without a professional trainer. Using this weakness to their advantage, as well as using tried and tested tactics, the corporation had successfully defeated the Red Guards with brutality, so much so that it got the attention of the Earth Federation, to avoid facing criminal proceedings, the corporation is absorbed to the Russian Army Walker Corps, and so the Richthofen and Churchill Corporation has now become Steinbach Legion, keeping the captured walker to themselves. Eventually, the Legion is transferred to the Earth Federation Walker Corps. The Legion flourished as a Federation asset, whose brutality and efficiency made them one of the most elite divisions in the Federation's armed forces.

But as pilot recruitment increased exponentially, the demand for experienced pilots to train and lead the green pilots forced the Federation to reshuffle her experienced units to lead and train the fresh units, and Steinbach Legion is no exception. While it isn't easy for her to be separated to her family (both figuratively and literally), Eun Mi professionally accepts her new assignment.

Equipment: ZAFT-style field uniform and flightsuit (except that red is replaced with night blue), 9mm pistol, knife, mission tablet.

Base Model*: FXW-035[G] Nellis Prototype (Federation Experimental Walker-035), designed as a more affordable alternative to the FAW-022 Raptors, it based from the standard Federation chassis, with liberal application of Raptors' technology. It's performance is equal to that of Raptors' walker form, sacrificing armor for performance. While considered a downgrade from the Raptors for its lack of transformation ability, it does make it more affordable, plus it is not as restricted as the Raptors in weaponry.

Designation: Steinbach Mk.II

Armaments:

• Rheinmetall 120mm L/55 Anti-Armor "rifle" - It is really a smoothbore tank gun with a rifle stock. While single-shot, it has the ability the same rounds as with a tank, comes with a recoil mechanism.
• Cockerill M90 57mm Pistol - Standard AW pistol of the Federation's Walker Corps. A versatile pistol using a 57mm multi-purpose round.
• Federation Ballistics H6S Excalibur Heatsword - The standard double-bladed heatsword in the Federal arsenal.
• 2x Federation Ballistics K7 Vibroblade Kukri - Kukri-style vibroblades serves as backup weapon when all else fails.

Weakness: Glass cannon like the FAW-022 Raptors, maximizing maneuverability and stealth over protection and survivability, very capricious just like her pilot.

Pilot(s): Eun Mi Steinbach

Name: Beryl "Otter" Harken

Age: 24

Sex: Female

Profession/Rank: Test Pilot

Appearance:

Personality: Beryl is a woman of rather extreme emotions. Thankfully for those around her most of those emotions very, very positive. The kind of older sister many an orphan only dream of having. She takes a personal interest in the well-being of those around her. Quickly forming friendships or almost quasi-family bonds with particularly close friends.

Of course those emotional extremes apply to her less pleasant feelings as well. In particular her anger. Oh she gets annoyed more or less the same as anyone else, but if something makes her truly angry it triggers a deeply set rage that won't rest until the source has been dealt with.

Skills: Beryl Harken is the consummate athlete. She excels at anything including hand/eye coordination, three dimensional awareness or physical acuity. But what she particularly excels at is swimming. To anyone watching she seems more like an aquatic animal rather than a land born mammal. In fact that's where she got her nickname from. One of her fellow swim team members called her that back at the academy and it's stuck to her ever since.

It's those natural talents that earned her spot in the seat of an Assault Walker more than any booksmarts. While she got passable grades in military school it was her ability to translate her physical ability and personal awareness into highly fluid Walker movements that earned her a spot in the cockpit.

Weakness: If she isn't careful Beryl's rage can consume her. Driving her with single minded determination to the point where she ignores her own well-being. Additionally, while she is extremely caring towards friends and allies. She has trouble extending that same mercy towards those she considers enemies. Even if the rules of war calls for it.

History: Beryl was abandoned in the steps of a church while she was still a baby. Not even old enough to remember the faces of her parents. So as she grew up she considered herself more a daughter of the orphanage than anything else. The Father who cared for her and her many siblings was her father as far as she was concerned. While she was eventually adopted the young woman never forgot her first home, a significant portion of her paycheck still makes its way there through various gifts and donations.

It was from her newly adopted mother, Lasai Harken, that she received her last name. The years the two spent together were happy ones even if they aren't particularly wealthy. Lasai had enough financial leeway to raise a child but not much more. So when Beryl turned eighteen she join the Federation Armed Forces. It wasn't a very hard decision, a steady job, free higher level education and at the time the military was doing a lot more civil work than military. Helping out disaster victims held a certain appeal to her distinctly Christian morals.

The next four years were spent as a ground pounder at a quiet military base while she got her psych degree from one of the nearby colleges. After that, Officer Training School where she switched to the Walker Corp. Her natural talents made picking up Scout piloting easy. Or as easy as learning how to pilot a giant multi ton humanoid mass of advanced electronics and machinery could be. When her commanders were convinced she could actually walk in the advanced war machines she was shipped off to Horizon to act as a test pilot for experimental Scout designs.

Equipment:
Keys
Wallet
Phone
9mm pistol
Multitool
Belt knife
Boot knife
Backup knife

Name: Benjamin Armbruster
Age: 24
Sex: Male
Profession/Rank: Engineer, AW Test Pilot (Second Lieutenant)
Appearance:

Personality: Simultaneously scattered and possessing a will of singular focus. Friendly enough, but somewhat less than formal. Though in the military, Ben isn’t much of a military man per se; the military is a means to his work, rather than the end itself. Occasionally juuust skirting around the edges of reprimand for lack of appropriate formality, but aware enough to toe the line. Despite his eccentricities, Ben is an extremely skilled, albeit unorthodox, engineer. He is possessed of the irreverence of a man that has not yet been reminded he is not immortal, and as such tends to take certain risks with the engineering of his own machine that he would not take with anyone else’s. With anyone else’s Walker he takes the utmost of care, treating it as a point of pride that his work should be second to none. If misfortune befalls their Walker, it will not be because of his work.

With his own he is somewhat more… Liberal. Safety regulations are more like guidelines. Though he still receives the occasional rap on the knuckles, he has flourished since being assigned to Test Team 4. He still isn’t a model soldier, but his respect for his new CO keeps him in line more than it doesn’t. With the resources of the R&D division to play with, he’s much more content than before. Granted his sleeping habits remain eccentric in the extreme, mostly due to their apparent lack. Ben can generally be found in the hangar or R&D areas, though every now and again his practical testing will take him onto the range. Speaks English fluently and unaccented, though he will occasionally lapse into his native tongue when exaggerated.
Skills: Exceptional engineer, but an extremely unorthodox one. Armbruster’s degree is in robotics, though his time in the Walker Corp has left him with a more well-rounded understanding of Arsenal Walker construction in most fields. What he has not learned academically he seeks to learn practically. In theory, he’s a decent pilot as well; his machine has logged a modest number of hours both on the range and in the sims, with above average, though not excellent, scores. Whether this holds up in reality has yet to be tested, and it’s debatable whether the concept has really occurred to him. Benjamin is physically fit, as well, as a result of the rigorous demands of physically maintaining and modifying his own machine. Excellent engineer, average soldier. Capable of operating on very, very little sleep though most would not call that a skill per se.
Weakness: Benjamin has a minimum of practical experience in real combat, and the disregard of the young for his own mortality. He doesn’t mind rolling the dice on odds that he should probably leave alone, so to speak, and while it works fine when everything is going his way it can occasionally backfire on him. Similarly, his lack of appropriate sleeping habits could probably be considered an issue if he were still classed as an active combat pilot.
History: Ben was born and raised in Germany, not too far outside of the capital city. His father was an engineer on the Federation’s spacefaring vessels, particularly weapon systems, and he was brought up with an eye for tinkering. As soon as he was old enough to really be curious he was taking things apart just to see how they worked. School wasn’t especially fascinating, but he was held (and held himself) to a high standard. His grades were excellent, especially when he reached secondary school and started to have greater latitude in the classes he took on. University wasn’t a question, but a reality. The only question was what degree he wished to pursue. The Federation military wasn’t a goal so much as a step, a way to study in other countries without any significant cost on his part.

That changed on his first assignment, where a skirmish with “unsanctioned” non-Federation forces brought him his first real look at a Federation Arsenal Walker. There was no question at that point what he aspired to, from the moment he saw one charge across a battlefield. He changed his degree path to more closely align with his goal, and started seeking specialized training. He was reassigned to Horizon, where he worked as a technician while he pursued his degree. It took some work, and a good word from his current CO, but Ben managed to finagle a transfer to Test Team shortly after his graduation. He’s been there since, two years now, and produced a variety of ideas ranging from excellent to catastrophic. By R&D standards, he’s exuberant. To the normal pilots, he’s something of a soft-spoken maniac. If anything, it just means he fits in fine with Horizon’s Test Team 4.
Equipment: Benjamin has, though rarely carries, his Federation-issued sidearm. More commonly found on his person are the tools of his trade, ranging from a handheld tablet computer to a well-loved set of common tools.

Base Model: FAW-007[G] Warrior
Designation: FAW-007[GD] Vernichten
Appearance: The Vernichten is meant as a test bed unit, and its appearance reflects that. While cohesive, it has an appearance of simply being… Unfinished. Much of its visible surface is the matte silver of unpainted metal, though it is accented in midnight blue as a personal touch. If its coloration alone was insufficient proof that it was not meant for field use, the caution markings along many of its components suffice. Particularly hazardous points are actually marked in yellow and black hazard strips, something generally kept to a minimum on production models. Much of the base frame is recognizable as a Warrior, but the additions are where it started to vary. Two black enclosed boxes are attached to the top of each shoulder, the color variation marking them as separate from the base machine. The back-mounted gear, in addition to the usual thrusters, sports a thick black cable carefully wrapped when not in use. The cranial unit has eye-like optics set underneath a silver visor.
Armaments:
-PTX-03C Marksman’s Rifle: Long-barreled, semi-automatic marksman’s rifle. The default PTX-03 maintains a higher rate of fire than a dedicated sniper rifle, as well as longer range and penetration than most Walker-scale rifles. The 03C has clearly been modified; as well as additional equipment integrated into the stock, the barrel is thicker and longer than on the default model. It houses a secondary coilgun mechanism, powered when the cable on the Vernichten’s back is plugged into the stock. The secondary mechanism accelerates the round significantly when fired, increasing both effective range and penetration. However the rifle’s rate of fire is significantly reduced, purportedly due to a high risk of catastrophic overload if one attempts to fire it as quickly as the base rifle. The Vernichten also inherits the Gunners’ fatal flaw of immobility while firing, without the significant armor to defend itself.
-Tajcorp S-4b Ballistics Shield: Standard-issue Federation ballistic shield, modified slightly to store the Vernichten’s secondary weapons in a rack on his back.
-Federation Ballistics H5 Heat Machete: Standard-issue Warrior close combat weapon, stored on the back of the Vernichten’s shield.
-United Armaments CS-12 100mm Smoothbore Shotgun: A compact version of the primary frequently chosen by Scouts, albeit with limited ammunition. Carries only the ten rounds that can be held internally, or on its exterior. Slugs only, stored with machete as a backup weapon if the enemy gets too close for the PTX-03C.
-Federal Munitions V21 Missile Launchers: Mounted on either shoulder, the Vernichten carries a total of sixteen fire-and-forget missiles. The launchers slow down the Vernichten while attached, so they are intended to be purged as soon as their munitions have been expended.
-- 2x General Engineering M79 20mm Pisces Cannons- Two head-mounted autocannons provide the unit with close-range defence against missiles, infantry and fighter craft.
Weakness: As a testbed unit, the Vernichten was never intended to see real-world combat conditions. The result is a potent unit, but one held back by overspecialization and significant flaws that would not be permitted in a production model. First of all, the same cable that provides for its rifle’s power is a significant weak point; concentrated fire at the connection point on the Vernichten’s backpack would force the reactor to shutdown to avoid a breach, leaving Benjamin in for all intents and purposes a dead machine until it can be repaired. Additionally, this same system possesses a not insignificant chance that it will overload explosively if the augmented rifle is fired too quickly in succession. The same missiles that help soften up its targets also slow the Vernichten down until they are purged, and the machine lacks for offensive options at medium range.

Unless supported by another unit, the Vernichten could be overwhelmed quite quickly if engaged at close or medium range where it has not been specced to be most effective. Especially if making use of its augmented rifle, circumstances within which the Vernichten inherits the Gunners’ immobility, but not the armor to compensate for it.
Pilot(s): Lt. Benjamin Armbruster

Name: Inoue Ayane
Age: 25
Sex: Female
Profession/Rank: First Lieutenant, AW Pilot
Appearance:

Personality: Ayane is, if nothing else, a consummate professional. She adheres carefully to protocol, respects the authority of rank, and carries out her duties to the best of her abilities. She is respectful, formal, and inscrutable. On the job, at least. That isn’t to say this impression is far off of the mark; even in a casual setting, she is polite and formal. It takes time to work past that outer layer. Below it Ayane is fierce in all she does, stubborn and unyielding. No quarter is to be expected, nor given. Nowhere is this more evident than at the helm of an Arsenal Walker. Piloting is her passion, and to her passion she devotes all. She pushes herself, and her machine, as far as she possibly can and expected the same from everyone around her. No exceptions are made, from her fellow pilots to the crew maintaining their machines. Her support crew in Tokyo came, half-jokingly, to refer to her as a demon for the sheer fire that seeps into her blood every time she straps into the cockpit.

The middle ground between formal frigidity and harrowing hot blood can be difficult to find, but it is there; the people that Ayane comes to regard as friends have an ally for life, in anything they do. She does nothing by halves, and that includes supporting her friends and allies. Her pride can make her a little prickly, if she feels it has been cast into doubt, but cooler impulses usually prevail. Not much of a talker when on duty, unless someone speaks to her first.
Skills: Piloting is the pursuit to which Ayane has devoted her waking hours, to the exclusion of almost all else. She has more sim hours logged than anyone else in the Far East Brigade, and scores near the top despite a mediocre machine. Evaluations from her commanding officer note, in particular, a disregard for established norms and a penchant for improvised strategy. Strong hand-to-hand combatant due to her own background, though her skill with personal firearms is fairly average. A kendo practitioner since childhood, though the skillset has atrophied somewhat since she became a pilot. If nothing else the Japanese Lieutenant is noted to be tenacious in the extreme, refusing to stop unless all options are exhausted. Decent leadership skills, albeit ones in need of nurture; Ayane excelled in her role at the Tokyo base, but has had extremely limited opportunities for advancement at her previous postings.
Weakness: Ayane’s greatest flaw is her own pride. Her need to excel limits her performance as a team player, and directly results in her extreme recklessness. Limitations, in Ayane’s world, are more of a guideline. Issues to be overcome, not boundaries to be accepted. While this drive has made her who she is, it has the potential to be dangerous on the battlefield. Especially if her equipment is not up to the standards she sets.
History: In the Inoue household, military service was to be expected. Service as a fighter pilot was a tradition stretching back generations, unbroken in that time. Even in peacetime, an Inoue carried out the family tradition. The third world war nearly broke the line, but the tradition has carried on since. Some have served in Japan’s own JASDF, others in the Federation’s ranks, but the tradition has been absolute. Ayane was born into this expectation, and grew up believing that she would continue the line. Until the Arsenal Walkers were unveiled. In an instant, her intended service branch changed. To say that the decision was unpopular with her family would be the understatement of the Colony Era. She has reconciled with her mother, but remains alienated from most of her family.

Nevertheless, she stayed the course and pursued the education necessary to enter the Federation Arsenal Walker Corp. Her first posting was with the Far East Brigade in Tokyo, assigned to a Warrior. She was dismayed to discover that her own unit was a first-run Warrior, notable for requiring more intensive maintenance routines despite retrofits to bring them up to spec. Far from any mass drivers, the Far East Brigade was far down the priority list for updates. Between her Warrior and her family’s alienation, Ayane felt very much like she had something to prove; this drive pushed her to excel, working her best to rise to the top of the Brigade’s pilots. It was during her time with the Far East Brigade that she met Nadia White, then her crew chief. The two would serve together for many years, that same service sparking her friend’s interest in serving as a pilot. Nadia’s acceptance and transfer to the Raptor Program at Horizon reignited her ambition, lifting a veil of complacence. Her posting at Tokyo was a dead end, and would remain so if she let it. She redoubled her efforts, trying to leverage her record to earn a posting at Horizon. In those two years, Ayane did little but train, work, and sleep. But it did finally pay off. Lt. Inoue is due in Horizon shortly after Colony Day for temporary posting on the Olympic, and subsequent assignment to the Horizon garrison after space trials.
Equipment:

Base Model: FAW-007[G] Warrior
Designation: Ronin
Appearance: Despite its lacking performance, Ayane has made the Ronin her own over the years. The Warrior is painted white and red, with the latter acting as accents for the former. Its armor has been steadily modified over the years to give a samurai-like appearance without altering the underlying framework, including more exaggerated pauldrons and an ornate brassy headcrest. The changes, while mostly aesthetic, do serve some functional purposes; the left pauldron is the storage point for Ronin’s melee weapon, and the right helps protect the Naginata’s more delicate components from the front. The Walker’s overall silhouette is slimmer than most of its compatriots, nevertheless, with a long gunbarrel rising over one shoulder from its integrated backpack. The Ronin’s usual visor is separated into two green ‘eyes’ beneath its crest, above the usual impassive faceplate.
Armaments:
-Far East Arms LR-89 Naginata: An 80mm long-range, bolt action platform. The Naginata shares much of its internals with an anti-Walker rifle, but is instead integrated into a hands-free platform. Ammunition is fed into it from a magazine near where it connects to the machine, cycling another round once the previous has been ejected. Its rate of fire is low, but its penetration value is high and its hands-free nature frees up the Ronin to use other handheld weapons.
-United Armaments XB-19 60mm Assault Rifle: Standard issue rifle for Warrior-type Arsenal Walkers. Fires HVAP rounds to penetrate most enemy armor.
-Yamato Industries KT-1 Heat Katana: Originally designed for mostly ceremonial purposes on the JSDF’s own Walkers, Ayane nevertheless requested one for her Walker. Despite its origin, the KT-1 is as capable of cutting through Walker armor as any other heat weapon. Stored in a sheath affixed to the right pauldron.
-Yamato Industries WT-2 Vibro Wakizashi: Of the same origin as the KT-1, and a matched set. Sheathed on the Ronin’s right hip.
--Tajcorp S-4b Ballistics Shield: Standard-issue Federation ballistic shield, red and emblazoned with the face of an oni.
Weakness: When performing to specs, the Ronin is a fairly average Warrior. With augmented thrusters to try and increase mobility it is slightly more agile than most, but lacks both the speed of a Scout and the armor of a beefier Walker. In theory, that would be all. However, the Ronin is an early model; it is susceptible to more frequent failures and faults than Warriors produced later, despite retrofits to bring it to spec. It requires a more robust maintenance schedule, and its faults are only aggravated by its pilot’s hyper-aggressive piloting style.
Pilot(s): Inoue Ayane

Name: Holly Yuan (袁冬青)

Age: 25

Sex: Female

Profession/Rank: Lieutenant - Pilot and Internal Affairs

Appearance:


Personality: An upbeat young woman, every action the cheerful Miss Yuan takes is infused with enthusiasm, whether it be partaking in her many hobbies (such as gardening, board games, or association football) or doing her job as a lowly peon of Internal Affairs (and general pinch-hitter for anything that needs to be done around Panama as long as it doesn't interfere with performance reviews). She's somebody who dislikes being too somber, and is easily deflated and demotivated if there's too much, in her own words, "negative juju" floating around. While this may make her out to be a seemingly flighty person, she's in fact a rather serious individual. Holly may appear to be unsubstantial, but her enthusiasm is a sign that she takes everything she does very seriously, and will not shy away from doing whatever is demanded of her task no matter what it is.

Skills: Jack of all trades in regards to manual labour thanks to her serial hobbyist tendencies, and also multilingual. She also possesses a software background, which has a side-effect of giving her excellent familiarity with Excel.

Weakness: Mild aquaphobia that manifests most commonly as thalassophobia.

History: A native of the People's Republic of China, Holly was born in the port city of Shanghai to a pair of provincial workers. Her memories of them, however, are unfortunately vague, as she would grow up an orphan after losing them to conflict when she was merely ten years of age. The younger Miss Yuan learnt to be independent rather quickly, taking on a number of odd jobs even while she studied for her high school and university entrance exams. Her experiences were enough to help her land a scholarship into Fudan University, where she studied Software Engineering. Following graduation, Holly found herself desiring adventure, and soon joined up with the Federation attache at Dachang Airbase to become a Walker pilot.

Her journey to an officer position was not particularly straightforward, however. Holly was shunted around branches frequently throughout her career, only managing to be promoted to lieutenant upon entering internal affairs. Said promotion also took her to Horizon, far from her beloved motherland.

Equipment: Standard issue.

---

Base Model: FAW-007

Designation: FAW-007(JM) Jiangnan Arsenal Limited Production Close Combat Type Walker "Shenxiuwu"

Appearance:


Armaments:
- Chest-Mounted Vulcans
- Shuangdao: the Shenxiuwu, a limited production Warrior variant from the Federation PRC Far East Division's factories, was built initially to test out the effectiveness of melee combat between Walkers before later being repurposed for military parades every October 1 to celebrate the National Day of the People's Republic of China. It was during this time that it acquired two mech-size dao, which have heat and electrical properties to improve effectiveness.
- Armoured Hands: reinforced with strong alloys to increase punching power.

Weakness: Which very effective in close range, it has zero ranged capabilities.

Pilot(s): Holly Yuan

Name: Mia Van Hossen

Age: 26

Sex: Female

Profession/Rank: 2nd Lieutenant

Appearance: Fairly Caucasian despite being technically Indonesian, especially with her blonde hair and green eyes.

Personality: Mia is someone who thinks differently from others, and prefers to think outside of the box. An eccentric loner, Mia prefers being alone rather than socialize, seeing the latter as unproductive. In combat, she can be a bit too brash and brave, taking calculated risks. A chainsmoker.

Skills: She is a very good pilot, a good marksman, a decent brawler, and a bookworm with high grades.

Weakness: She is an anti-social, preferring to be alone than to be wwith people. She also has an eccentric way of thinking, making her a delinquent. Has a questionable psychological background with a "Battle Royale mentality", and tendency to go berserk should push comes to shove.

History: Born from a Polish mother and a Belgian father in Indonesia, Mia grew up being seen as an outsider by the natives of the country she calls home, being a subject of bullying. Unfortunately, this is common story with post-war European immigrants and their descendants in Indonesia, despite the local government's welcoming attitude. Like many youths of European-descent, Mia joined a gang, engaging in retaliatory attacks in the "race war". As racial tensions escalate, the Indonesian government finally intervened in ending the race wars, cracking down on both nativist and immigrant gangs. In order to escape conviction, Mia joins the Federation military, where due to her questionable psychological profile, she was assigned as a test pilot, where her intelligence and eccentricity shine through.

Equipment: Uniform, 9mm pistol, knife, Lee-Enfield No.4 rifle back in her gang days, Rosary necklace as her family memento.

Base Model*: FAW-016

Designation: Einherjar

Appearance: The Einherjar is a radical modification of the gunner, abandoning firepower for mobility. Using the Gunner's very large reactor as powerplant for powerful thrusters and more energy-demanding, but more agile, servomotors, making it surpringly fast and agile without sacrifing heavy armor.

Armaments:

• Fabrique Nationale Herstal AC90 57mm PDW - Basically a scaled-up P90 PDW, the Einherjar ditches the Gunners' twin railguns for mobility, thus making this gun its primary firearm.
• Federal Dynamics "Kaplan" 40mm CIWS - A versatile CIWS using a 40mm multi-purpose round.
• Federation Ballistics V9DK "Berserker" Vibro-Thermal Dane Axe - Primary melee weapon of the Einherjar. Based from the legendary dane axes of the Viking era, the Berserker axe has a heated axe head and a vibro-hammer. While heavy, it makes it up in blunt force and inertia, making it a perfect combination with the mech.
• 2x Federation Ballistics K8 Vibroblade Seaxe - Seaxe-style vibroblades serves as backup weapon when all else fails.
• Federal Arsenal Standard Shield - Part of the FAW-016's standard equipment, the shield further adds protection alongside the mech's already thick armor.

Weakness: It is a gunner without railguns, or the provision to fit them (the latter is to save weight), defeating the entire purpose of a Gunner chassis in the first place. It is based from an unproven concept, you must be crazy to pilot this in combat.

Pilot(s): Mia Van Hossen