"Pilot. Two incoming enemy transports. My scans indicate one is carrying two Legion-class titans.

Jack Cooper turned to face the new threats. True to his own titan's words, a pair of Goblin transports were entering the battlefield. Blocking the way to the Fold Weapon, they stopped, hovering a small height above the ground. A good number of IMC marines and their robotic Spectres rappelled out of one dropship.

"Wouldn't want to be those grunts now." Cooper thought to himself. Raising BT's rifle, he fired.

A surge of bullets flew out of the barrel. Sailing across the battlefield, they finally impacted a dropship in the cockpit, riddling the pilots with massive rods of lead. The aircraft spiraled out of control, causing the still descending troops to fall to the ground. Some managed to hold onto their cables, only to be dragged down with the falling ship as it crashed into the ground. A large fireball engulfed the downed craft.

The survivors quickly rushed to their feet, now opening fire on BT with their weapons. Bullets peppered the titan, but few were actually able to do any damage to the shield.

"Good hit pilot, you eliminated a significant portion of their infantry support.

Cooper smiled at the praise. "We're not out of the woods yet BT."

"Agreed pilot. The area's forest region extends for a very long distance. It will take a time consuming travel to leave this zone."

Cooper sighed. He'd teach BT idioms eventually. "Get the Vortex Shield up!"

"Affirmative." The titan then extended his right arm outwards. Opening up his palm towards the enemy, BT activated the hand's shield projectors, creating a large shield of fire. Like insects in a spiders web, incoming shots were caught before they could hit BT. Cooper turned the shield to face the still-firing grunts.

"This is where the fun begins."

With Cooper activating the shield's repulsor function, BT launched the caught projectiles back at the IMC grunts. The area was completely blown apart. If there were a lucky few that still remained, they posed no threat to the duo.

Unfortunately, the real threat arrived. The second Goblin dropship then arrived, its two Legion titans carried underneath on winches. Disengaging them, the two mechs fell to the ground, The force of the two hulking mechs hitting the ground caused a small rumble in the ground.

Cooper quickly analyzed his situation. He was in one Vanguard titan with a rifle. Now he was facing two Legion titans, both carrying a very large minigun.

The combined fire of both mechs would tear BT to shreds.

"BT. Any suggestions?" Cooper said, his words barely coming out before their cover of trees was removed by a hail of gunfire. Dashing to the left, the duo fired a salvo of rockets at their attackers. They tore across a Legion's hull, causing it to stagger for a moment. Its comrade moved in front of it, protecting it with a weapon mounted holo-shield.

"I have one. Pilot, change our loadout to an Ion. The laser core should allow us to overcome their firepower."

"Alright BT. Fire it up."

"Affirmative Pilot." Grabbing a laser rifle from a nearby defeated titan, BT quickly analyzed the tech. "Confirming chassis overhaul." BT's Acolyte pods exchanged their rocket pods for a mounted laser. Cooper redirected power from their power reserves to charge up the laser core.

BT's power levels began to surge. Even though the cameras, Cooper could see BT's "eye" begin to change from blue to red.

"Core at fifty percent."

Cooper was baffled. "Fifty percent?! Can we speed up the process buddy?!"

"Affirmative pilot, but it will pose a great risk to you. A violation of Protocol 3."

As if dodging couch sized bullets wasn't already. Cooper was having a hard time evading the angry swarm of bullets coming in their direction. BT's shields were at forty percent, and wouldn't recharge under continued fire.

"If we don't do anything, we both die. Just tell me what to do!"

BT took a moment to decide. Through their neural link, Cooper could sense BT analyzing his programming of protecting Cooper's life, comparing it against the current situation.

The three Vanguard Protocols then appeared on Cooper's screens.

Protocol 1: Link to Pilot [ACHIEVED]

Protocol 2: Uphold the Mission - Analyze the Fold Weapon [IN PROGRESS]

Protocol 3: Protect the Pilot [IN PROGRESS]

"Analysis complete. Overriding Protocol 3 to preserve Protocol 2."

BT then took control of his movement. He emerged from cover, charging straight at both of the Legions. At first confused, the mechs were now again spinning up their weapons.

"Prepare for launch Pilot."

"BT, what the hell are you doi-" was all Cooper was able to get out before BT opened his cockpit. Grabbing Cooper into his hand, BT tossed Cooper straight into the air.

"Oohhhhhh shiiiiiiiit!" Cooper yelled. He wasn't a damn jet trooper! He was literally a grunt in pilot's clothing! Flying through the sky, he watched below as BT and the two Legions engaged in melee combat. For Cooper, it was like watching those old robot boxer movies brought to life.

Except it was real. And he was about to land on top of one.

Slamming into the hull of one Legion, Cooper felt every bone in his body curse at him in anguish. Thankfully, the suit's medkit kicked it, quickly giving Cooper medical attention. In a few seconds, he was back in action.

"Pilot," BT said, punching the other Legion to the ground. "take out the battery."

Recovering, Cooper stood up. He'd seen footage of other Militia pilots doing this before. "Rodeoing" was what the term was called, after some archaic practice of mounting beasts. Grabbing onto the hulls, these pilots moved about like spiders in a web. Usually they'd plant explosives. But the bold would go for the batteries, damaging the enemy titan while boosting their own.

Cooper now knew what BT wanted. Unfortunately, the rodeoed Legion also knew what was going on. It began to swivel itself in multiple directions, trying to shake Cooper off. He grabbed onto a railing, just barely able to activate his magnetic boots to get a grip. Fighting through nausea, Cooper scrambled for the battery port. With each movement, he felt like blacking out.

But BT was putting his life on the line for him. Cooper needed to do the same.

So he fought on. Eventually reaching the battery, Cooper ripped it out of its port. The damage was instantaneous. The Legion fell inactive for a moment, not functioning without enough power. As it fell to the ground, Cooper leapt into the air towards BT, who opened his cockpit to catch him.

He fell into his seat, a sharp but short pain from the impact resonating from Cooper's chest. Turning back to face correctly, Cooper watched as BT's foot stomped onto the fallen Legion's cockpit, crushing both mech and pilot beneath his twenty ton hull.

"Are you alright Pilot?" BT asked.

Cooper's breath sputtered. "And people tell me I'm the one with the crazies. But good work BT."

"Thank you Pilot. But more enemy forces are on their way. Please install the battery to boost our core." BT once again opened his hatch, allowing Cooper to scale his hull, this time without the fear of being thrown off. Sliding and twisting the large green battery inside, Cooper slid back into his cockpit.

"Core at full power. Warning, large enemy contingent arriving soon. However, our fallen foes present some superior firepower. I request permission to change our loadout to a Legion-class."

"That Predator Minigun sure looks nice." "As long as you don't take long BT."

"Beginning scan." Picking up the minigun, BT's scanners analyzed the minigun.

"New loadout achieved. Legion-class. Focused for heavy suppression. Weapon: Predator Cannon. Caliber: Thirty Millimeters. Magazine: One hundred fifty rounds. Fire Rate: Twenty five discharges per second.

BT's scanner focused on the minigun's barrel. "Tactical ability: Mode Switch. Allows for change between an accurate and narrow cone of fire, or a spread, similar to a shotgun."

Moving to the magazine, BT began again. "Offensive ability: Power Shot. Charging up a shot will allow for an extremely powerful addition of plasma to a projectile, capable of massive damage to both armor and infantry."

"Defensive ability located: Gun-Shield." BT said, activating and deactivating the holo-shield, which formed around the minigun.

"Core function identified: Smart Core. Pilot, similar to your smart pistol, this cannon allows for manual control of the flight path of a bullet."

"Conclusion: Pilot, we have what the late Captain Lastimosa referred to as...Dakka."

Cooper smiled slightly. "Wish you could see me now, sir." "Let's see what this can do."

"With pleasure Pilot." BT dashed out of cover, ripping the side of a building down as his hull broke through it. In full view of them was their new foes.

Between them and the Fold Weapon lay four titans and countless infantry. Additionally, a pair of Goblins were approaching. But instead of grapple hooks, their wings hosted a very large pod of missiles.

"Light 'em up!" Cooper yelled.

Immediately the Predator Minigun began to spin up, all six barrels beginning to rotate.

Then the fireworks began. BT's minigun reigned hell across the battlefield. In the first sweep of his fire, he'd taken down both gunships, secondary explosions from their ammunition tearing even more holes in the battered Goblins.

Then a large warning sign filled Cooper's screen reading, "Magazine Empty"

"Activate Smart Core!" Cooper barked.

BT's ammunition compartment sprung open, directly feeding the minigun instead of using magazines. Then his targeting sensor suite kicked in. As BT resumed fire, his scanners marked every IMC soldier as a target. No man or mech could survive such fire. Charging straight at the enemy, BT pressed on.

Then suddenly, the Fold Weapon began to pulsate. Its rings began to swivel out of orbit. The glowing ball in the center began to grow larger.

"Uhh BT? What's going on?!"

"Fold Weapon sustained damage from the battle. It is growing unstable."

"That's not good right?"

"Brace yourself Pilot. We must stabilize it at all costs."

"Yep, definitely not good." Cooper and BT then continued charging at the remaining IMC troops blocking their way. More forces had arrived, and the damage was beginning to show.

"Shields are down, hull armor at ninety percent." Cooper could now hear bullets cracking against their hull.

It was now or never. "Keep pressing on BT!"

The Fold Weapon started to pulsate even more. One of its rings collapsed.

BT and Cooper were just about to reach the IMC defensive line, a few enemy grunts were beginning to flee the scene.

All of this changed when a bright flash erupted behind them.

"Pilot."

"Pilot Cooper. Are you alright?"

"Detecting pilot in comatose state. Beginning resuscitation procedures."

A strong pulse of electricity tore through Cooper's body. More out of reflex than his own volition, he jolted up from his seat, clutching his chest.

"Argh! God my chest hurts….did I have a heart attack?" Cooper asked.

"Negative. You were rendered unconscious during the blast. I performed resuscitation using the onboard defibrillator."

"Well umm...thanks buddy."

"Protocol 3 requires I must protect my pilo-"

"I know!" Cooper yelled, before clutching his chest. Taking a second to breathe, he resumed, now quieter. "I just...thanks for saving my life."

BT paused for a brief moment. "Acknowledged. However, we have a new development in our mission."

"More hostiles?"

"Negative. According to my scans, we are no longer on Typhon."

"That doesn't make any sense…bring up the cameras."

"Affirmative." Cooper's displays now showed the outside of his cockpit. Though night was beginning to fall, they were still within the IMC research base. But all around them lay the bodies of IMC grunts and Titans alike.

"BT. We're still in the IMC base. Are your sensors calibrated?"

"Yes Pilot. But my previous data of Typhon's position to nearby planets and stars does not correlate with my new readings. Contrary to Typhon's moon, which was completely destroyed by the IMC to test the Fold Weapon, this new planet still has one, though it too displays significant damage."

Cooper had three options to believe.

The first was that BT was going nuts, despite his sensors functioning. But Cooper had just repaired his other systems. Though he was still new to repairing Titans, BT has given him good guidance through the whole process.

The second choice was that Cooper was dreaming, or was still in a coma. But using the old trick of pinching himself, he still felt pain, making certain he was awake.

The third option was that BT was completely sane, and that they had been transported to a new planet.

"Alright BT. So if we're on a new planet, how does this affect our mission?"

BT displayed the Vanguard Protocols once again on Cooper's screens.

Protocol 1: Link to Pilot [ACHIEVED]

Protocol 2: Uphold the Mission - Analyze the Fold Weapon [PARTIAL SUCCESS]

Protocol 3: Protect the Pilot [IN PROGRESS]

MISSION OBJECTIVES ENDED: REVISING PROTOCOLS

After pausing for a minute, BT spoke up. "Pilot, we have fulfilled our mission objectives. Commander Briggs of the Militia left no further instructions. The mission's orders now lie within your judgement."

Cooper was rendered silent. As a rifleman third class, the only orders he had given were to a few other grunts when both his squad's corporal and sergeant were killed. And that was mostly about defending their position until reinforcements arrived.

Even as a temporary pilot, he followed the orders given to him by the Militia.

He didn't know where, how, or what to issue himself.

"BT, what are your recommendations?"

"I recommend we establish contact with any surviving Militia personnel. We must warn them of this potential threat. This "Fold Weapon" may not be the only one in existence."

"Agreed." replied Cooper. "How about setting up a base of operations?"

"That is a worthy objective. I recommend we scavenge the IMC facility for any supplies."

"Then let's get to work."

Pilot's Logbook:

Starting a field journal. BT says it'll give me some distractions from my shock. I'm not certain about that; what is sure is that I'm definitely not calling this a diary. I'll probably just talk about what happened each day. Maybe add my thoughts and feelings.

Anyways, today was a mixed bag. BT and I investigated Anderson's last known coordinates, which were in an abandoned IMC research base. What I'm saying next seems like a fantasy. But it's all real.

At first, we started encountering strange time jumps. I traveled between the past when Anderson was there, and to the present when we got there. Almost was able to put a bullet right through General Marder's head. Thankfully for the IMC, I got sent back to the present.

But when I found Anderson, stuck halfway in the floor, I found a device he had. It could get me to jump through both the past and present. How cool, yet terrifying is that?! To say it gave me an edge over the IMC is putting it short. They never had a chance. Also had to do some parkour through time. It was fun. Almost felt like I was in a video game...

But it's not the only thing we found. There was this "Fold" weapon. IMC call it that because it folds space and time. Someone's got a vivid imagination. But what's strange is that the IMC found it. They didn't build it. Let me put that into simple words. IMC no construct big death toy.

So who did? Am I supposed to believe in little green men that I fight with tinfoil hats?

BT and I fought hard to reach it. We tried our best to stop it. And we did.

Problem is it still went off. Just not how they planned. One of the stabilizer rings collapsed in our the battle. The Fold Weapon ignited. But instead of blowing the Militia's headquarters on Harmony to dust, it…we're still not sure. There was a bright flash. Then nothing.

But here's what's most worrying.

BT says we're not on the planet Typhon anymore. He says the star coordinates don't match up.

I thought one or even both of us might've been losing it. But he was right.

So...where are we?

Regardless of the answer, we elected to first explore the IMC facility, now without fear of getting shot. Despite the battle, there was still a lot inside the place to use.

BT's Predator Cannon got ruined in the blast, but we managed to find a shipment of power cells for his Ion Rifle. There should be plenty of spare parts for maintenance, and his batteries can be recharged with solar power. So he's pretty happy with it. Well as happy as a robot can be, lacking emotions and all that.

As for me, the facility was almost completely intact. Made the place a little more pro-Militia by tearing down some IMC posters. Chose the quarters of a "Captain Oum" as my place. His room was pretty close to the armory and canteen. Must've been some important guy. Found papers labeled "Story Ideas" on his desk. Saving them for later in case I get bored.

But for the time being, we're planning to rest up for a few days. If the IMC wants their base back, they'll have to fight us again for it.

BT says to consider some more orders. I think some more IMC-branded ice cream would be a good start.

Author's Note:

Hopefully you enjoyed the first chapter of Remnant of the Frontier. This project has been on my mind for a while now. Thankfully, this whole Covid-19 has us all bunkered down, so at least I haven plenty of time to do it. I'm still new to writing fanfiction, so while I'm not looking for sympathy, I do ask you be a little patient with me. I hope to continue writing this story. I've got some interesting ideas to play around with.

Cheers,

Wildcard Actual