Frontier Warrior

1. Standby for titanfall

Captain Gabriel Luce sat in his quarters fiddling with his knife. We twirled it in his fingers trying to keep his mind preoccupied. He just got word that the Apex predators have come to assist the IMC in the campaign to hold Krona, a bleak but mineral rich planet. "Why them?, out of every outfit why did it have to be them?" Luce asked himself. He put away his knife and walked to the mirror and looked at himself. The frontier has not been kind to him these past twenty years. His face was tanned and scared, carrying evidence that he spent the last two decades a soldier. No, not a soldier, a mercenary. Someone who would happily take a life for his own gain.

He studied his uniform, dark green fatigues with the SRS logo on his arm as well as a insignia marking him as a captain. He stared at the patch, two years ago he was an enemy to the Militia and very cozy with the IMC, but then his former CO in the IMC now Militia commander Marcus Graves contacted him. Graves was Gabriel's mentor back in the IMC and perhaps the closest thing he had to a father, when Graves defected Gabriel felt it the hardest out of everyone. It was the reason he left the IMC to become a freelancer in the first place. Eventually Gabriel ran into Kuben Blisk and became an Apex Predator. He fought with the best of the best and made a fortune out of it, he even thought about retiring to some paradise planet to live like a king.

But after five years his former mentor messaged him to meet him in a small town bar in the backwater planet he was working in. As much as Gabriel wanted to tell him too shove it, he needed closure in order to find some measure of peace. When he first saw Graves he expected to be surrounded by Militia agents and arrested for his "crimes against the frontier". Instead he saw familiar face calling him over to share a drink, making him very suspicious. But the bar was completely empty save for Graves, and a bottle of whiskey. "Your late" Graves smiled "I was starting to believe you weren't going to show". The younger man sighed and downed his first drink, "I had to make sure this wasn't a trap" he took another shot "But first I need you to give me an explanation on why you abandoned us in the first place". Gabriel's former mentor look at him with a solemn expression "The IMC isn't what it use to be son, we use to build colony's and protect settlers from raiders. Now they only care about themselves, you've seen what they have done and you know that's not changing anytime soon". Graves let what he said sink in to the younger pilot.

"The frontier is changing, you need to change with it or be left behind" the militia commander put a hand on Gabriel's shoulder. The mercenary shrugs off the hand and stands up. "There are only two things keeping me from shooting you right now" "and those are?" Graves cocked an eyebrow. "Well first and foremost you've always been the better shot" Gabriel admits "And?" Marcus says relaxing his posture. "And your right, sooner or later some Militia punk is going to get lucky and takes me out" he sits back down "If your asking me to join" Gabriel takes a deep breath "I'm in". Graves sat back in his chair "what ever happened to your hatred of the Militia, what made you change your mind on the matter?" Graves was satisfied with the answer he received but was genuinely curious about this change of tune. "It's like you told me all those years ago Marcus, the frontier changes people, Im no exception, I do have two requests if your willing to hear me out" "go ahead" "after this war I want full amnesty so I can walk out of this a free man" Graves looked at him "I can do that, but what's you other request?" Gabriel grinned "I want to be transferred to the SRS"

Graves agreed to the terms, Gabriel would gain amnesty after the war and he was inducted into the SRS or the special recon squad. SRS commander Briggs was very vocal about her disapproval since it was Luce who had once shot her, leavening her in the sidelines for the battle of Demeter. Not to mention he was former IMC and Apex Predator, already having a deep distrust and dislike of mercenaries. Graves stepped in saying if they let in an IMC Vice Admiral in than the Militia can let in a IMC Lieutenant. The next two years where busy to say the least, but after many missions Gabriel proved himself to be a reliable teammate and talented pilot. He was then promoted to captain and given a squad to lead. Epsilon one was their designation, consisting of him and four other pilots. Gaining their trust was difficult since they had been with the militia longer and yet he was their squad leader and joined out of self preservation but Luce's years of experience paid off and proved himself willing to fight for the cause and not himself. With that his team came to respect him, A respect that Gabriel is honored by and works hard to maintain to this day.

Now it was time for Epsilon ones mission, take out a commutation station and cut the IMC off from any off-world reinforcements. A entire enemy division and three squads of pilots would be defending it, along with air support and even tanks. But Epsilon was not alone, a Militia force of equal size would be descending onto the surface before them to create a drop zone. Once the DZ was secured, the SRS will arrive via titanfall and get to work on downing the relay as well as provide armored support for their allies. Gabriel glanced at the clock on the wall, two hours till drop.

He took off his fatigues and replaced them with his jumpsuit, putting it on up to his waist. He put a white, sleeveless top on and his dog tags around his neck. Before leaving he took his wingman revolver or as he liked to call it, his lucky charm. He holstered the gun behind his waist and exited the room into the hallway of the ship. 'The Franklin' as the ship was called, was bustling with activity.

Technicians where hard at work making sure the spacecraft stays operable during the battle, grunts mustering towards the armory or their assigned dropships, and a fellow titan pilots heading their armory to gear up. Luce made his way to the locker room to receive this armor and gear, breaking into a light jog. His mind on the fact that he was going to face his former squad mates in the predators. He knew not all of them where still there but he felt like he was most likely going to face down a former friend nonetheless.

When he snapped out of his trance, he was already putting on his gear. This was a natural possess for him, having done it countless times before. His weapons where waiting for him on the rack, a R-101 carbine and a RE-45 auto pistol. Gabriel went to work equipping spare ammo and grenades, not wanting to run short on his mission. He took a second to admire his rifle, the R-101 was a outdated model, replaced in favor of the sleeker R-201 variant but he always found the 101 models to be more reliable and familiar. Last but not least be put both his knifes in their sheaths, one on his left shoulder and one on his right leg next to his holster. With that he tucked he helmet under his arm and made his way to the titan bay. The hanger housing the titans was massive. Rows apon rows of war machines being repaired, tuned, and armed with heavy ordinance. The smell of oil and gun powder filled The pilot's nostrils as he walked though the door towards his titan.

"Greeting pilot" a robotic female voice spoke "how have been been?" Gabriel smiled at the titan. SV-1157 has been his titan for almost nine years, having served with him since he left the IMC and has been his closest companion during all that time. She was upgraded from a atlas class, to a Ion class, and finally a vanguard class titan when Gabriel joined the SRS and has adapted well to her new chaises. The vanguard was the most versatile and durable model in the frontier and the first titan the militia ever built themselves. It was a testament to how far the militia has come from a ragtag rebellion to an effective fighting force.

"I've been well SV, you're looking good" "Thank you pilot, I am happy to report that all systems are green and I am combat ready" the titan replied in a monotone voice. Gabriel could feel her excitement though their neural link, she was edger to start a new assignment as aways. "Is the expedition loadout equipped as I requested?" The captain said looking at the diagnostics on a nearby tablet "yes, XO-16 and rocket pods are loaded and vortex shields are fully charged." Gabriel leans on SV "then I guess we just wait for the drop command" he watches the drops ships disembark and silently wishes them luck.