The Start Of Something Great

The Assault

Carver's POV: 0548, Jan. 5

The battle raged on as more drop ships descended, unloading reinforcements to help turn the tide. The air was thick with smoke and the roar of combat. Ray and I were tasked with assaulting the command tower, with Joy piloting the Prime Legion Titan providing us with cover fire.

"Come on, we need to move!" one of the soldiers near us shouted, and we broke into a sprint for the command tower, the sound of gunfire and explosions filling the air. Joy's Legion Titan loomed behind us, its massive form covering our backs as it fired on enemy positions. The fourth Titan we had seen earlier—an Ogre-class—was clearing out infantry with its XO-16, shredding enemy soldiers caught in the open.

The IMC soldiers we were facing appeared to be guarding something important. From the looks of it, they hadn't expected this level of resistance.

As we ran, the ground shook beneath us, and I heard the unmistakable sound of another Titanfall. I looked up just in time to see a Tone-class Titan plummeting toward us. Instinct kicked in—I grabbed Ray by the collar and threw her out of the way, just as I leapt to the side. The Tone landed where we had been standing only moments before, sending a shockwave through the ground.

The hatch opened, and the pilot stepped out with a sneer, his voice dripping with disdain. "Well, well, well. A couple of crunchies to step on," he taunted, settling back into the cockpit as the hatch slammed shut. The Titan began advancing, its weapons primed and ready.

But before the Tone pilot could take another step, a barrage of gunfire rang out, and the Tone reeled back. Jean, in Atlas, had arrived, firing her XO-16 at the enemy Titan. The Tone pilot faltered but quickly recovered, swinging his 40mm cannon toward her and opening fire.

"We need to go, now!" Ray shouted, pulling me up. We both broke into a dead sprint toward the command tower, the sounds of Titan combat booming behind us as the two machines clashed just feet away.

Jean's POV

"Pilot, I recommend engaging the Vortex Shield," Atlas advised as I spotted the Tone Titan prepping its missile swarm.

I didn't need to be told twice. Activating the Vortex Shield, I watched as the incoming missiles sailed toward me. With a grin, I grabbed them mid-flight and sent them hurtling back at the Tone. "Return to sender, you piece of trash!" I yelled, but the Tone pilot was quick to react, dodging the missiles with ease.

I tried to retaliate with my XO-16, but the gun clicked—empty. I cursed under my breath, the pressure mounting as the battle raged on. I quickly switched to my rockets and fired a volley. The Tone was caught off guard, its shields faltering, and I managed to put a decent dent in its armor. It stumbled back, giving me precious seconds to reload and start firing again.

But the Tone wasn't done yet. It fired back with its 40mm, landing a few solid hits on Atlas. The damage was nothing I couldn't handle, but it was enough to remind me how brutal this fight was becoming.

I heard a grunt's voice crackle through the comms. "More titans incoming! What do we do?"

"Joy, what's the status on the infiltration squad?" Arthur's voice came through, calm despite the chaos unfolding around us.

"They've just made it in," Joy responded, her Titan's massive frame appearing at the corner of my eye as she engaged yet another Titan that had just landed.

But then, the Tone charged at me, and before I could react, it slammed into Atlas, sending me flying. The enemy Titan stomped forward, bringing its foot down hard on my right arm, pinning me to the ground. My XO-16 flew from my hand, and I cursed as I struggled beneath the massive weight.

The Tone pilot's voice rang out from the cockpit. "I thought I recognized that fighting style. Long time no see, Jean."

I froze.

He knew me. But how?

The pilot's tone was dripping with venom as he opened his hatch and dropped down onto Atlas's chest. "Since Demeter, I've been wondering what happened to you. Guess I get the honor of killing the woman who left us to die," he sneered.

Then, I saw it—the tattoo on his left arm. "42."

The 42nd Attack Battalion. My old battalion.

My heart skipped a beat as the realization hit me like a punch to the gut. This wasn't just some random enemy pilot. This was someone from my past—someone I never thought I'd see again. And now, it seemed he was here for revenge.