'Thinking'

"Speaking"

"[Intercomms/Radio Transmission]"

*noises*

======

The Next Day...

Babylonia - Science Department - Weapons Development Division
Commander (Y/n) "Ranger" Schmitt - Gray Raven
0800 Hours

"What you're seeing right now is the MJOLNIR Armor, Commandant." Asimov, the head scientist of the Science Council, introduced the new equipment beside him.

Asimov is a man with black hair and red eyes, and had an average build. He wears a white robe, and from the way his attire looked, once could mistake that he's a high-ranking officer in the military.

"And yes, before you say it, we took inspiration from the game 'Halo' back from the Golden Age." Asimov continued. "It has all the technology a MJOLNIR Armor usually has — an inner skinsuit that controls the suit's temperature and actively changes how the suit fits the user, hydrostatic gel, a gel layer that regulates the temperature of the suit and can re-actively change its density to conform to the wearer's shape, a HUD, and an energy shield that can withstand various types of attacks but will still drain its energy. However, it will regenerate of you give it enough time. There are more other features, but I will not bother on explaining it."

"Finally, after all these years, you finally made my childhood dream come true!" (Y/n) beamed up.

"A kid in a grown up's body." Asimov said. "This is still a prototype. And I'm telling you, this thing is expensive as hell. The cost to produce one of these is equivalent to five to seven space fighters." Asimov emphasized the cost. "Not to mention that we have tons of Commandants to issue this thing."

'I would be in debt if I funded this...' (Y/n) thought in dread.

"The reason why I'm showing you this is because I want you to be our test subject for this armor. After learning the existence of the Ascendants, the science council quickly sought something that could help us combat the threat. One game nerd scientist recommended this armor, so we gave it a shot." Asimov explained. "We ran it through simulations, and this had the most promising results by far. However, it is yet to to be tested in the field to determine its true effectiveness."

"Well, I'll be more than happy to test it!" (Y/n) accepted the offer with no hesitation.

"I'm sure you'll have no problem with the weight since you're an augmented soldier." Asimov added. "Well then, follow me."

Asimov led (Y/n) to the testing facility. There, a machine helped him put on the armor alongside the scientists and mechanics. Once the other components were placed on his body, the only thing left to equip is the helmet. (Y/n) took the helmet and wore it. The HUD lit up a second later, showing various components — a radar on the lower left corner, a grenade counter on the upper left corner, which showed that he currently has five, and a picture of his rifle on the upper right corner, though it had a blue color, with the magazine counter and ammo counter on the bottom of the image.

"How do you feel?" Asimov asked.

"A litte weighed down, but I can move freely nonetheless." (Y/n) replied, while doing some stretches. He the jumped a few times, the sole of his titanium boots making metallic clangs on the floor with each bounce.

Asimov nodded while jotting down notes on his clipboard. "You can also hear me clearly. That's very good. Now, do a flip."

(Y/n) shrugged. "Okay."

Following the request, the Ranger moved away from Asimov and did a front flip. Deciding to have a little fun, he did a back flip, a cartwheel, and other sorts of acrobatic and combat moves. All the while, Asimov was very impressed with how it turned out as he ferociously wrote down his observations on the paper.

"That's enough, (Y/n)." Asimov said. "You have any mission for today?"

On cue, Celica and President Hassen came in the room. Their eyes quickly shifted to the armored Ranger, and looked at him from head to toe.

"Well, it seems that our Top Gun had finally got a hold of the MJOLNIR." President Hassen spoke with an approving nod. "How was it, Asimov?"

"The results were very good so far." Asimov said.

"Now that you've worn it, you can test it on the field. We have a new mission for you today." Celica cuts in. "We want you to investigate 'The Forsaken'. Apparently, we got an intel that a Construct was running the place. A rogue one."

"What is this mission? Headhunting?" (Y/n) queried. "The Purifying Force should-"

"No, just initiate contact with the leader." Hassen answred. "We want you to negotiate with him to cooperate with Babylonia."

"If he refuses, then I would not force him or her." (Y/n) said as a heads up. "It's better not to start a bad blood with them and us. I don't want to kill any potential allies."

"Of course." Hassen agreed. "But if they attempt to harm you, then you have the right to defend yourselves. Also, one more thing."

"What is it?"

"Kamui is coming with you."

======

Sector 20 - 90 Kilometers Away From The Forsaken FOB
Commander (Y/n) "Ranger" Schmitt - Gray Raven
0844 Hours

"[Bulldog 1, touching down in five.]" The pilot of the spacecraft radioed.

The spacecraft landed on the ground seconds later, it's rumbling boosters blowing sand high up in the air. The bay door opened shortly after. An armored vehicle — which is an iteration of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle — was pushed out of the craft by soldiers from the interior. It had the state-of-the-art armor and technology inside it, which are made specifically for scouting missions and small skirmishes. It also had a remote-controlled machine gun on top. The Gray Ravens and Kamui followed behind it, and the soldiers who pushed the vehicle ran past them and went back inside, just as the spacecraft closed the bay door and flew back to outer space.

"Commandant, how are you feeling?" Liv questions. Before they landed, Celica had contacted them and filled them with the information regarding the MJOLNIR Armor and technology it possesses, and they were asked to keep an eye on both the armor and (Y/n)'s condition, so it's no surprise that Liv would ask him these things.

"I'm okay. It's a little heavy but I can still move like normal." (Y/n) updates his status.

"Commandant, if you feel strange, please let us know immediately." Lucia said.

"Calm down, Lucia. It's not like I'm gonna get crushed by the MJOLNIR or something." (Y/n) eased her up.

"Still, why only Commandants get to wear the MJOLNIR? I wish I could wear it too..." Kamui complained.

"We're Constructs, Kamui. And with the threat of the Ascendants, I'm sure that the first individual they would aim for is the Commandant." Lee elaborated. "Kill the Commandant and you throw off the rest of the squad and lower their morale. It's understandable why they need to wear an advanced armor."

"Alright, alright, I get it." Kamui stands down.

"Alright, that's enough. Lee, go for the weapons system. I'll take the wheel. Everyone else go to the backseat." (Y/n) instructed, and everyone followed.

(Y/n) starts up the vehicle and steps on the gas, maintaining a moderate speed. While traveling, the Ranger decided to make use of the music player that Asimov installed on his helmet as a bonus, and played a rock playlist from the 1980's. Lee tested the turret's systems, Lucia and Liv would talk about certain topics that are not related to the mission, while Kamui is busy playing on his portable console, though he would join in to the conversation from time to time.

"Commandant, there's an incoming sandstorm." Lee warned.

Sure enough, a huge cloud of sand is headed towards them, and soon lowered their visibility. Thankfully, (Y/n)'s radar showed no signs of Corrupted, neither did the vehicle's radar. Soon after, they had finally arrived at the location of The Forsaken's Forward Operating Base. They waited for the sandstorm to weaken, and after twenty minutes, the wind's speed lowered.

(Y/n) got out first, followed by Lee, Lucia, Kamui, and Liv. (Y/n) went to the back of the vehicle, opened the doors, and grabbed his rifle. He took the spare rifle magazines and placed them on the magazine pouches on the left side of his belt, while he inserted the pistol mags on the pouches on his right arm. He placed his HK416 on his back, and the rifle sticks on the right magnetic strip on his back. (Y/n) did the same with his Desert Eagle, albeit on the magnetic holster on his right thigh.

(Y/n) walks back to them after he finished gearing up. "Anything?"

"No anomalies so far, Commandant." Kamui reported.

"Let's move." (Y/n) ordered. "Keep a look out. They might have snipers posted somewhere."

"Roger." The Constructs replied.

They walked further into the base, bypassing large pipes and other sorts of structures. The soles of their footwear clanging on the metal floor with each step alongside the wind were the things that broke the eerie silence. There's also the feeling of being watched. As they got deeper, the wind seemed to blow harder, showering them with sand particles. Liv coughed, alerting the others.

(Y/n) immediately checked on her. "Liv, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Commandant..." Liv assured him, but her face says otherwise. "We can filter out the sand, so don't worry..."

"Liv, don't push yourself... At least we have some good news. It's not sand but steel plates beneath our feet." Lee said. "Tch... My jacket's ruined."

Kamui laughed at him. "Is that your mortal weakness? Your jacket?"

"You should consider running a soma-cleaning scan on your brain." Lee shot back.

"I did! Soma-cleaning scans do the entire body!" Kamui energetically rebutted.

Lee huffed. "Regrettable. Then it's not because of the sand in your brain, but a natural issue."

"Both of you, shut it." (Y/n) scolds them. Just then, a yellow blip appeared on his radar. "Liv, I see an unknown. Confirm."

"I detect it as well, Commandant." Liv affirms.

"It took some finesse, but..." A voice reached them, prompting the Constructs to prepare for combat. "This is your final destination, tools of Babylonia..."

"Not a Corrupted?" Lucia uttered.

"Negative. The blip would be red if that's the case." (Y/n) said. "Still..."

(Y/n) swiftly snatched his rifle from his back, racked the charging handle, and aimed at the location of the blip, switching it to semi-auto.

"The sandstorm is disrupting our visual signals. I suggest switching to thermographic sensors for now." Liv proposed.

"Such advanced Constructs, yet still affected by the winds and the sand?" The voice mocked. "How laughable."

"The signal disappeared!" Lucia warned.

"I cannot detect it also." Liv said. "This method feels oddly familiar..."

"Yeah, it's the same method Lucia used back in the Museum Estate. Lucia, Lee, Kamui, protect Liv and make sure you-" (Y/n) stopped mid sentence when he heard the sound of an EM camo deactivating. Feeling an intense pressure around his neck, he got into a combat stance and raised his left arm, successfully blocking a kukri knife, wielded by a white-haired male.

"Commandant!" Lucia cried out.

(Y/n) points his rifle to the attacker's torso. Before he could fire, the unnamed assailant jumped backward and got into a combat stance, so did the Gray Ravens, their eyes completely fixed on him.

"Identify." (Y/n) demanded.

"Wait, wait! I know him!" Kamui got in front of the Gray Ravens and waves his hands in the air, recognizing who the individual is. He then turns around and smiled, like someone who just saw his long lost friend in a high school reunion. "Watanabe! Long time no see!"