Bell

Chrome Nations

Name: Maria Vestes
Age: 23
Faction: Talon
Rank: Grunt
Personality: Maria is a quiet girl of many beliefs. She doesn't truly believe in the ways of the Talon as strongly as the rest. She specifically believes that God doesn't want people to kill each other in his name, and that doing so is the same as cursing his name. She believes a holy battle is just masking a power struggle with religious beliefs.
Description: Maria is like all Catalysts, possessing Snow White hair, pale blue eyes and pale skin as a result of the augmentations they go through at birth. Her armor is Snow White like her hair, with silver lining all over.
Brief History: Maria doesn't honestly remember her past. She awoke in Talon territory and was of course assumed to be Catalyst by how she looked. She had nothing but her name and rank marking her as a veteran pilot. She stayed in Talon territory however, never attempting to return. She was allowed to become a member of the Talon on the condition she served as a mech pilot in the military. Piloting the experimental MK I Panzer she found success quickly, but the military kept her a secret. They weren't ready yet to let it go public that one of their ace pilots was a Catalyst. At least, not until she proved herself.
Machine: MK I Panzer

Chrome Nations

We can share control of those 3. Do anything you want with them and I'll do the same. If you start moving them into position or something I'll leave them to you in case you have a plan.

Chrome Nations

The rookies stood up straight one next to the other and saluted. They spoke loudly, but refrained from yelling. The way in which they addressed Thaddeus showed potential experience, and their voices showed they were confidant in themselves. They sounded off one at a time from left to right.

"Sir! Wolf, Fourleg Squad!"

"Sir! Tiger, Fourleg Squad!"

"Sir! Panther, Fourleg Squad!"

They stomped their boots on the ground at the same time, holding their salutes. Custom call signs AND a custom squad name. These guys had been around for a while, and it showed in how thorough they were with protocol. For the Colonel's reputation, the grunts didn't all that concerned about possibly being sent to their deaths. Behind them, their machines were being unloaded and matched their squad name.

The first belonging to Panther matched his name, a black panther styled mech with a massive long range rifle on it's back.

The second belonging to wolf was a gray wolf mech with a double barreled medium range cannon on the back.

The third was a Tiger, clearly belonging to Tiger. This machine was gold and black and had missile batteries mounted in the back.

Each of these machines had vibro-claws for melee combat, and the joints and air filtration systems were clearly advanced. These machines weren't unloaded normally, rather they walked themselves off. Normally the Gazere were the ones who used beast mechs, but these seemed to be a joint effort.

Each and every machine had Talon symbols all over them, and they each has in big bold letters "With the might of God's creatures we bring his wrath." They surely didn't lack in Talon pride, or faith.

Chrome Nations

The General listened silently, fully aware of Gaunt's feelings about the Catalyst. When he finished, the Teneral thought for a moment.

"The Catalyst are not so bad. The worst they have done is take. The alien technology for their own purposes. If you think about it, we have done the very same in the past. From taking a man's rifle to hijacking a mech, it's a rather normal battle strategy. And it is not always used against the one who you took it from. The Catalyst are, above all else, pure. You may see them as tainted and corrupted, but I don't know a more pure people. I speak of course of a different purity than is held by men of god."

He watched Maria as she followed the unloading of her machine before starting tests on it. "They are loyal, peaceful, he'll if nothing else you have to give them credit for being so damned clean about everything. The greatest sin beyond heresy is murder. Killing in the name of God is righteous and just, but to kill outside of God's will is a heresy in its own right. Life is sacred, and the Catalyst view life as much the same. And this one has chosen to accept The Lord into her life. So tell me Gaunt, what wrong is left in her? You do not choose your parents. You only choose your actions in life, and this one has chosen a life in the eyes of God. She's new to it all, but she'll be one of us someday Gaunt. Give her a chance. If not her heritage at least respect her will to fight in the name of lord Lord.

Chrome Nations

Hey I like it. Let's me look into the character without first having other characters to look into him. Though I am going to be making Maria a permanent character.

Chrome Nations

The General looked Thaddeus over for a minute as if sizing him up."you're Gaunt hm? They say you get soldiers killed under your command." He raises his hand to the entrance to the tent. "Walk with me will you?"

The General crossed his arms behind his back as he lead on. "I hear whispers about you gaunt. People are afraid to be put in your squad. They say your leadership gets people killed. I was the one who contacted the Admiral and requested you be brought out here. See, I have a different theory. I believe that you haven't had the chance to work with the right squad. The people you have lead weren't cut out for your brute force tactics. They all wanted to hide in cover and were afraid of getting shot at. That's my theory at least."

He stopped outside a mech transport ship, one unloading Thaddeus' machine. "We got some new machines, experimental. Quick, strong, agile, everything they need to be. We got some damn good pilots in them too, and I think that pair should be just what you need. Cutting edge hardware and top of the line pilots. You may be used to getting stuck with rookies, and I think that's the problem. We'll see how you do with a real squad."

He cleared his throat as Thaddeus's machine was set on the ground, and behind it a very strange machine was being pulled out. "Here's the catch... These pilots are expendable. The admirals wouldn't allow me to give you the best we have, so they gave you these guys. Don't get me wrong, they're damn good at what they do... They're just, well..."

He sighed as a group of three pilots walked out, their uniforms giving away their ranks of nothing more than grunts. "The higher ups absolutely will not allow them to move up in the ranks. They're too bold, and take too many risks." He grinned looking over to Gaunt. "They're afraid they have three more of you on their hands. They won't be trouble for you I don't think. It's the last one you have to watch out for."

He nodded to the transport as a woman walked out. She looked like a ghost with Snow White hair halfway down her back, pale white skin, and pale blue eyes. She couldn't be anything but a catalyst, obviously converted to the ways of God now calling herself Talon. "Maria Vestes. Freshly converted and still learning our ways but, a veteran pilot of the Catalyst."

"It's up to you Gaunt. Ride with them or ride alone, that's the only way the higher ups will have it. They are afraid of getting more men killed under you, but these four are expendable until they prove themselves.

Chrome Nations

The Gazere man looked at Thaddeus for a moment as if questioning who he was, but finally simply answered. "Gazere General Ashob and Talon General Bishop are with the commanders in the large tent just over there." He pointed in the direction of a larger tent towering over the rest, inside which the two Generals were mixing their strategies together with the commanders, just making sure their tactics would intertwine well with each other.

"Sir, we don't need the help of the Catalyst! We can handle this fight ourselves!" One of the commanders yelled out to be heard by all.

"I understand that which is why, until further notice the Catalyst are only on back up. We won't be calling on their forces unless it's absolutely necessary. The main concern is the Kuth sightings here in Gazere territory. If the Kuth interfere with operations here, the Catalyst are on standby to move in and deal with them. They are not being used to fend off the EDF assault directly."

Another commander called out rather jokingly. "Just like the Kuth to try and get some kills from the sidelines. They've been running from direct confrontation for months now!"

"That just means they haven't lost any machines in months. We don't know what kind of forces they have ready to deploy and we aren't taking any chances of letting them take us out here. Watch your backs and your fronts. God be with you."

The Gazere commander said something in their native language before crossing both arms over his chest and bowing. The Gazere commanders returned the bow. "Get all machines ready to move, we head out once the Catalyst representative arrives." The commanders stood, saluted and went about their business in the tent, communicating with their squads as well as the Captains on overwatch patrol.

Chrome Nations

Many of the soldiers cheered, likely out of their own pride in their own abilities rather than their faith in God. Not many of these men knew what they were walking into. A scorching desert where savage tribesmen ruled, sure everyone knew that. But the EDF were a powerful foe. They didn't match the strength they once had, but they were still a threat, and a full invasion force meant they had most of their forces moving in, while the Talon were only deploying support squads. After all, they were asked for artillery and heavy weapons support, not a full scale defensive operation.

A buzzing sound suddenly echoed through the transport and lights flashed all over. "Got a fighter on our tail, doesn't match EDF or Gazere. Looks like a south fighter."

A black fighter with red glowing symbols trailed the transport, but didn't attack. It was well into Gazere territory, where it had no right to be. But the transport was defenseless and couldn't really do anything about that. "Support is on the way, let's hope they stick to their passive aggressive tendencies we have seen these last few months."

Sure enough, the fighter just followed the transport for a while before breaking off. It had the ability to shoot down the transport, and even circle back and kill any survivors, but for some reason the Kuth had been avoiding conflict the last few months. Of course, they still got close to their enemy, such as the scout Thaddeus met on the boarder. It was as if they were watching closely, but not truly interacting with the Talon.

It wasn't long before two Talon fighters flew in to escort the transport, another three breaking off to search the area. The Kuth fighter however was long gone.

Chrome Nations

The pilots above the EDF forces called out what they could see, which wasn't much. "Clear for miles... Nothing but sand and rock out there." A gunship floated overhead before moving to one of he distant oil rigs. "Looks like they saw us coming and got the hell out of dodge. I swear it's like hearing cattle."

"Hey watch yourself man, don't jinx us. These Gazere guys are supposed to use animal mechs. Could be buried under the sand. Could even have some kind of sand shark mech ready to jump out at any moment." The pilot spoke with the obvious joking tone to his voice, trying to sound as if he were really warning them.

"I heard they come from nowhere. One second it's all clear as far as the eye can see, the next your machine's being torn apart. You know they fight with claws made of vibro-blades. They can slice through the thickest armor like paper." This pilot sounded more serious, and the rumors were well known to the EDF. This was Gazere land, they couldn't forget that.

"Hear that armor squads? Shoot the bastards before they get near you. You'll be fine then."

Suddenly one of the mechs stopped cold, rifle raising and aiming to the side. "See that? Could have sworn..." He was aiming at the air and the emptiness beyond.

"Hear rising causes ripples in the air. Calm down rookie. This heat'll make you see things. Make damn sure you know what you're looking at. That's how they'll get the jump on you. This heat distorts the light and can make them practically invisible. Here's hoping they don't have stealth mechs on top of that huh?" The pilot laughed as he continued to scan the area.

Chrome Nations

Transports were coming and going from the base sending troops and their machines to the soon to be battlefield. They brought Thaddeus aboard the ship that would take him to his post, his machine being loaded on a separate transport. Aboard the transport some of the rookies talked amongst themselves about what was to come.

"You hear why we're being sent in? Last I heard invading Gazere territory was a suicide mission. They may seem like savages but I've heard stories about their machines... They'd be deadly no matter where they were, but out in the desert they are undefeated! But if that were true, why do they need our help?"

"I heard the EDF has deployed a few moving fortresses. The Gazere don't have the firepower to take them down. I've heard the stories about their machines too, but one thing we know for certain is that there aren't very many of them. And they are based around speed and agility anyways, they don't use artillery. Doubt they'd even get close to the EDF without us. Of course, they'd have to stop their fortresses before the mountains, but they'd have taken a good chunk of land by then."

"What of the Catalyst get involved? I mean, they're our allies too aren't they? And they're on good terms with the Gazere. Seems like they'd be helping too."

"The Catalyst don't like to fight. I say it's a good thing. They may be lost in their ways but at least they aren't killing us over it. I'd say if anyone's worthy of salvation it would be them. They'd have to change their ways, but they aren't really bad, just lost I think."

"I guess. They're a long shot better than the damned Kuth that's for sure. Those barbarians wouldn't know God's will if it smacked them in the nose."

"Hey that's not true. We have shown them God's wrath many times before! They sure as hell knew what hit them!"

This caused a few of the grunts to laugh in agreement at their past victories against the Kuth.