Merry Christmas, Everyone!

[x]

Techpriest Valerius and Hanji walked into the underground laboratory. Valerius had his Power Axe at the ready, and Hanji was clutching a borrowed laspistol.

"So this is it, huh." Hanji said. "Dr. Jaeger's laboratory. I knew the man was a genius, but where did he get this stuff?"

"He scavenged it from the colony ship, I'd imagine." Valerius said reverently. "There must have been relics of the Omnissiah on that ship dating back to before the Age of Strife."

Colonel Richardson entered the room behind the two scientists. "The regimental psykers said that there are strong psychic residues in this room. It was apparently heavily warded against decay and intrusion, but Eren shut off the wards as soon as he entered."

Valerius turned toward where Eren and the Typhoon Prince were poring over one of the books from the pile next to the chest.

"If I'm reading this right," the Typhoon Prince said, "This serum could be used to create new Titan Shifters."

"But at some risk." Eren said. "That's why he did whatever he did to transfer his titan powers to me."

Valerius could see that Eren's face was streaked with tears, a sign of emotional distress in humans subject to such things. However, from what biometrics Valerius could read, however, the boy appeared to have returned to a more baseline emotional state.

Walking over to the chest, Valerius took several pictographs of its contents with one of his ocular implants. He then picked up one of the journals and began flipping through it. He took an image of each page as he read, committing its contents to both digital and organic memory.

He went for a while without checking his internal chronometer. He knew that at some point, Colonel Richardson had set up a temporary command post on top of the basement laboratory, but he was sucked into his reading. These Titan Shifters were just so fascinating.

Then he came to a passage that would have made his blood run cold, were it not for the fact that the smartBlood flowing through his capillaries was precisely temperature regulated.

I have had some success integrating mechanical components into my titan form. I have been able to add metal attached to the skin in small amounts; while this is painful, its potential for armor is intriguing. What's more, once integrated, the metal vanishes with my titan body, and reappears whenever I shift. While I lack the resources for an engineering project on the scale of armoring an entire titan, the prospects of...

Valerius kept reading, actually feeling himself becoming frantic even excited. This Jaeger man's research work appeared to be good, and everything in his research seemed to be internally consistent, if nothing else. Before, the titan shifters seemed to be a scientific curiosity, but not durable enough to be useful on the battlefield, but now...

This could be it. The final convergence of human and machine, of mortal and divine! Valerius thought. We need to test this at once, and if it works, implement it! I must inform Mars of this!

Valerius quickly scanned the rest of the book, committing it to digital memory. He turned to Hanji.

"Hanji, I need your assistance with something."

[x]

Colonel Richardson, Erwin Smith, Valerius, Hanji, Eren, and the Typhoon Price sat around one of the cleared tables in the basement.

"So let me get this straight." Richardson said. "We could create up to sixteen new Titan Shifters, and outfit them with the augmentics to make them effective on a modern battlefield?"

"Not quite sixteen." Hanji said. "The process appears to be quite dangerous. Dr. Jaeger hypothesized that perhaps thirty percent of those with the proper genetic markers would not survive the transformation."

"And we should reserve some of the solution for the Biologis." Valerius said. "They would likely find it to be of great significance."

"And imagine once we could replicate it!" Hanji said, clenching her fists. "We could have a whole army of cyborg titan shifters!"

"No!" Valerius said. "The Magos Biologis would never permit such a thing. It would be-"

"Stupid not to." Hanji said, a strange smile on her face. "What would you do? Stick it in a museum and look at it all day? Things like this are meant to be used for the benefit of mankind. Isn't that what the Omnissiah would want?"

Valerius muttered something about farplanet hayseeds, but appeared to relent the point.

"So, let's get down to business." Richardson said. "Valerius, how long would it take to start screening for the genetic markers for compatibility, and how are we going to outfit and train these Titan Shifters once we make them?"

"I've already looked into the prospect of screening this population for mutants." Valerius said. "We have sufficient machines aboard the Glory of His Wrath to screen the population for the markers fairly quickly. The hardest part will be collecting the samples needed."

"As for training, I think we might need Annie." Eren said.

Everyone looked at him.

"She was the one who taught me the hand-to-hand combat techniques which let me be so effective in Titan form. From what I've heard, it was a lot of her techniques that let me beat as many titans as I did the first time I shifted. Plus, I saw the way she fought the Prince. If she had the right cogboy parts she might have won."

"She was good." The Typhoon Prince conceded. "I won't be opposed to at least considering the idea of using her."

"So that's training and screening handled." Richardson said. "What about outfitting? Anyone know anyone who might have experience with cybernetics and giant robots?"

The Typhoon Prince let out a long sigh, then raised a hand.

"I think I might know a guy."

[x]

A few hours later the group stood aboard the Glory of His Wrath, standing in front of a large door. They had ridden up to the ship on the return trip of the shuttle that had delivered the genetic screening machines that would be used to scan the populace of the Walls for Titan Shifter compatibility.

"You're sure you want to do this?" The Typhoon Prince said. "I mean..."

"You said this man was the best in his field." Erwin said. "We should have the best person available manufacture the weapons for our Titan Shifters, correct?"

"Yes, but..." The Prince trailed off. "You'll see."

The Typhoon Prince hit a rune on the wall next to him, and the door slid open, revealing a dark, shadowy space. The group walked in.

Abruptly, the lights snapped on and a figure sprang out from behind a pile of parts. In the seconds it took the party's eyes to adjust to the sudden brightness it dashed across the room and wrapped something around the Typhoon Prince's neck.

"Darling!" A voice said. "It's been so long since you've come in for even basic maintenance!"

It took everyone a moment to realize that the voice was coming from the figure that appeared to be strangling the Typhoon Prince, who was struggling mightily against the length of pink fabric that was wrapped around his throat.

"I've... been... a... bit... busy!" The Prince managed, then tore the fabric away from his throat. "The Campaign to reclaim wall Maria has been eating up my free time like nobody's business. Plus, you know I hate your guts, right?"

"Oh, Darling." The figure said. "Anyway, what brings you and your little friends here today, hum?"

The figure was man, dressed in a washed-out version of the red robes of the Adeptus Mechanicus. His robes were covered in pouches holding all manner of objects, and his face, which only had one visible augmentation appeared rather more feminine than that of most of the Imperials.

"We need you to do Cybernetics." Erwin said. "For a Titan Shifter. In their titan form. Can you do that?"

"Why would you want to do that?" The man said. "Wouldn't they just lose the augmentics once they shifted back to human from?"

"New information has come to light that would change that." Valerius said. "So, can you do it?"

"Of course I can do it!" The man said. "But where are my manners? I am Michiko, Sacristan to the Darling here. I take care of his outfit and make sure it's always ready for whatever the Big, Bad Galaxy might throw at him. So, what is this information?"

"It's a method to permanently attach cybernetic augmentations to a Titan Shifter's Titan from." Valerius said, stepping forward and holding out a chip in one hand. "This is the data. It has rather aggressive anti-duplication software, so don't try to copy it."

"I wouldn't dream of it." Michiko said. Then he looked at Eren. "So, this is the boy I've heard so much about? The Titan Shifter?"

'Yeah." Eren said. "So what are we talking about doing?"

"We'll, first of all, we need to discuss what kind of cybernetics you want." Michiko said. "We need to analyze your titan from, take measurements,-"

"You two can discuss that later." Richardson said. "What I need to know right now is what you'll need to produce the cybernetic components for the Titian Shifters. I could try to get a supply cutter dispatched here, but that could take years, so we pretty much just have what we can scrounge up."

"Humm." Michiko said, raising a finger to his chin. "Well, I have plenty of spare parts for Darling's Knight, so I suppose we could cannibalize some of those. If I run the machine shop full time, we could produce limited control interfaces, but that would be difficult. Really, it depends on what we want to build for Eren."

"We've got another Shifter chained up on the planet, and more in the pipeline." Richardson said.

"Oh dear, then we might have to visit a Forge World to get the parts we need." Michiko said. "If we can convince them to hand them over, that is."

"We could trade the technology in the Electrogravitic 3D Maneuver gear." Valerius said. "New technology is priceless to my order. Men have been granted Governorships for lesser discoveries. I think the materials we need would more than a fair trade to any Forge World."

"Excellent." Richardson said. "I want a draft of the plan for the augmentations to Eren's titan form on my desk in a week. Good luck."

The group minus Eren began walking out of the chamber. Eren looked around, eyes wide. The memory of the time he was trapped in the stomach of a Titan flashed into his mind.

"DON'T LEAVE ME HERE!"

[x]

Annie Leonhart sat in her cell. It was larger than average, and fairly well appointed, but it was still a dungeon room. A reminder that her secret was out. She was given plenty of food as well as books to read, but with the buildup for the reclamation of Wall Maria in progress no one had much time for conversation.

She heard footsteps approaching. This wasn't one of her normal meal times; she wondered what was going on.

"Hello, Annie." A masculine voice said. "I regret the need for your stay here, but with the Crusade preparations in progress we haven't had the time you deserve available."

"I take it that has changed?" Annie said, her voice rusty from disuse.

"Indeed. The reclamation was successful." The speaker stepped into sight. It was the Imperial Commander, Colonel Richardson.

"Congratulations." Annie said.

"Thank you." The Colonel responded. "Now, Annie, how do you feel about humanity?"

"I am indifferent."

"I don't believe that."

Annie said nothing.

"In any case, we have discovered a way to manufacture new Titian Shifters." Richardson said.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"It's not like you can do anything with the information." Richardson coughed politely. "We have also discovered a way to outfit Titan Shifters with wargear suitable for an Imperial battlefield. In short, I want you to join our Shifter task force to fight the enemies of mankind."

"I'll do it."

"I haven't even told you what it will entail." Richardson said.

"Will it get me out of this cell?" Annie asked.

"Yes."

"Then I'll do it. It couldn't be worse than spending the rest of my life in this cell."

Richardson paused. "Why, Annie?"

"Because the enemies of mankind would kill me too if they had a chance." Annie said. "And if even a tenth of what your priests say about them is at least grounded in truth, they must be stopped."

Richardson smiled. "Interesting answer." Producing a key from his sleeve he reached forward, and unlocked Annie's cell door. He pushed it open slightly.

"You're free to come with me." Richardson said. "But remember-"

"I know." Annie said.

[x]

It had been a week since the reclamation of Wall Maria, and in the Trost District the parties had yet to die down. Nina couldn't participate in them of course, but her parents brought her food from the public buffets at the celebrations, and when she wheeled herself to the window on the second floor she could make out the celebrations on the main street a few houses down.

For as long as she could remember, Nina Kapperman had been unable to walk. She had been born perfectly healthy, but her legs had been damaged in an accident, and though she survived, she lost all feeling in her legs below mid-thigh.

She and her parents had converted to the Imperial Cult only a few days after the Imperial Chaplin started preaching. They had never liked the Wall Cult, and her mother had confided in her that she hoped that the Emperor could heal her legs. However, when she visited the healer he had shaken his head and said that it was not the Emperor's will.

A day after the reclamation of Wall Maria, word had arrived that all the citizens of the Walls were to have their blood tested for mutation. A nice man had visited the house and poked a needle in her arm, taken a small amount of her blood, and left. She had thought nothing more of it.

So, Nina was understandably surprised when her parents opened the door in response to a polite knock, and a machine-man in a red robe was standing at the threshold, saying that he wanted to talk to her.

Now they were all sitting down in Nina's living room having the most important conversation in Nina's life.

"So, Nina, you know what a Titan Shifter is, right?" He said, looking at her with his eyes and cameras.

"Yes." Nina said. "They're like that boy the Scouting Legion has, or that girl who fought the Typhoon Prince. They can turn into titans."

"Yes." The Machine Man said. "Any we believe that you can become one."

"How?" Nina asked, tilting her head.

"We recently discover a serum that transforms humans into Titan Shifters." The man said. "However, it is very dangerous. If you take the serum, there is a good chance you could die. However, Mankind desperately needs every weapon it can get, and Titan Shifters are quite a weapon. If you-"

"I'll do it." Nina said.

"What?" Her mother exclaimed. "How could you!"

"You could die!" Her father said. "That's too dangerous."

The machine man looked at her parents. "The chance of death is merely thirty percent. Greater risks are taken every day in the name of the Emperor and Mankind. Besides, the choice is hers."

"I want to do it." Nina said. "All by life, I've never been able to accomplish anything. I've been trapped in a cage even more than most of the people on this world. I'd very much like to amount to something even if there are risks."

"Even if you survive the process, there will be challenges." The Machine Man said. "You will suffer much."

Nina smiled. "You think I'm not used to that?"

"Very well." The Machine man said. "Welcome to the Shifter Initiative, Nina Kapperman."

[x]

Richardson looked up from his desk as Michiko, Valerius, Eren, and the Typhoon Prince walked into his office.

"Do you have a preliminary design yet?" He asked.

"Yes." Michiko said. "I've hardly had my beauty sleep for a week! But I've got a basic design set up." He stepped forward and placed a disk on Richardson's desk.

The globe lit up, and a holographic image appeared in the air in between the group. It showed a humanoid body, but it was practically unrecognizable as Eren's Titan form. It was covered in sleek segmented armor, and its head was plated in armor. Its eyes glowed, and a pair of claws with lighting arcing off from them extended from the backs of its hands.

The hologram raised a hand, and it seemed to open with the lighting claws folding back to reveal the glowing muzzle of a plasma cannon. The image began to rotate, showing a backpack on the titan. Ports opened in the top of the backpack, and a trio of missiles launched, flying out of the image of the projector.

"As you see, we've chosen to equip Eren's titan body with a pair of plasma blastguns mounted in the hands and forearms along with a pair of heavy lighting claws for titan scale melee combat." The Sacristan began. "A backpack mounted anti-air launcher rounds out the weapons loadout. The titan is protected by heavy armor, layered ion fields, flare shielding, and structural integrity fields, as well as a number of flechette launchers and hotshot volley guns for point defense. It is a most formidable system against infantry, vehicles, and enemy titans."

"Excellent." Richardson said. "And for the other one?"

"For the lady," Michiko said, placing another hologram on the desk. "I have chosen a slightly different theme."

"You mean I chose a different design principal." Valerius muttered.

"That is not important." Michiko said, as another hologram appeared in the air next to the first. "As you can see, the primary weapon of this Titan will be a Volcano cannon mounted on the right arm of the walker. For close range combat, an extensible power sword is mounted on the left arm. This weapon can retract when not in use, and extends to its full seven meter length in under a second, making it available at a moment's notice. This unit also possess a backpack anti-air missile launcher as well as shoulder-mounted ordnance pods."

"Very good." Richardson said. "Now, how are we going to build these things?"

"That presents a greater problem." Valerius said. "Only a full Forge World would possess the resources needed to construct one machine of this magnitude in a reasonable span of time, much less thirteen."

"Thirteen!" Richardson exclaimed. "Where'd you get that number!"

"We've found two of our own men capable of becoming Titian Shifters as well as ten citizens and soldiers of the Wallfold, plus the two we already have. Assuming that one of them dies in the transformation process we should be prepared to build as many as thirteen of these systems."

"I see." Richardson said. "And the Adeptus Mechanicus isn't exactly open handed with their tech supplies. How do we get them to augment our titans?"

"I believe I have an answer." Valerius said. "The nearest Forge World to our current position is Neo Akihabara, two hundred and fifty light years away."

"So close?"

"There was no navigable warp route to this star, and nothing suggesting that it would be of interest." Valerius explained. "But what we do is trade the ruling council of Neo Akihabara the technology we found here in exchange for a small royalty on all items they produce using it, supplies for the Wallfolders and our regiment, support in future conflicts, and most importantly for them to use their forges to augment our Titan Shifters."

"And our Warp Drive came back online last week, though I've kept that report to myself." Richardson mused. "We could jump over there in less than a month, real time."

Richardson straightened in his seat and smacked the palms of his hands down on his desk. "Alright. Gather the Titan Shifters Candidates and prepare them for transformation. As soon as they're ready for travel, we set sail for Neo Akihabara. Valerius and Michiko, ask the company commanders for the five men of their units best with machine spirits and have the techpriests start using them as junior draftsmen. We need these plans ready as soon as possible."

"Why are you in such a hurry, Colonel?" Michiko asked.

"You know this galaxy as well as I do." Richardson said. "Sooner rather than later something is going to happen, and when it does I want these shifters ready to face it."

[x]

Nina was in the medical bay of the Imperial ship sitting straight up in her chair. She couldn't stand at attention, but she figured that she needed to at least do something.

The door at the far end of the Med bay opened, and a column of Machine Men- Techpriests, she had learned they were called, entered alongside several Medicae personnel pushing carts laden with what she assumed were Imperial Medical supplies.

One man in the uniform of the Officio Medicae walked over to her chair. He reached under her arms and lifted her out of her chair with no apparent difficulty, carried her a short distance, and laid her down on a nearby hospital bed surrounded my medical equipment.

"Everything is going to be okay." He said, voice soothing. "We just need to give you some medicine."

"Okay." Nina said, nodding.

The man reached over to a rack connected to a bag of clear liquid and pulled out a needle on a cord. He bend down and poked it into Nina's arm. It stung a little, but the pain quickly faded.

[x]

Marlowe Freudenberg thought he should have been more scared. After all, he was on a space ship, with only thing between him and the Void being a few hundred meters of Adamantium, Ceramite, and Nanosteel, none of which he had heard of a few weeks ago. On top of that, he was about to undergo an experimental medical procedure that, if it was successful would turn him into what his commanding officers insisted was a monster.

However, it was what he had to do. The Military police was corrupt, and nearly every member he knew had sought to do nothing but use the arrival of the Imperials for their own gain, and he had been beaten half to death when he tried to break up a scam. Several Military Police soldiers were selling 'Imperial' medicine, actually just colored water to the sick. He had realized during that beating that there was nothing that one man could do to change something like that.

And then, as if by the will of the Emperor himself, Techpriest Valerius had appeared in his barracks offering him the opportunity to become something more than a man. Something powerful, and influential.

A Titan Shifter.

He took a deep breath as the Medicae approached and began hooking him up to various Imperial medical systems. If what Dr. Jaeger's research notes said was correct, he was about to go into a coma for several days with only a seven out of ten chance of ever walking up. Those weren't terrible odds; they were better than his chances of making it into the Military Police, and the Recon Corps faced worse odds every time they went beyond the walls.

He took a deep breath. He had made his decision. It was too late to back out now.

[x]

Connie Springer sat upright in his bed, gripping the rails on either side of him. The Techpriests and Medicae had entered the med bay, and were beginning to prepare the candidates.

He had to do this. He had graduated 8th in his class, but he was still weak - the Battle of Trost had proven that. And there were worse things than the Titans out in the Galaxy. Things than humans died in the millions trying to fight. Humanity needed new fighters and new weapons.

It needed Titan Shifters.

And Connie could become one.

When put like that, the choice was easy.

Sure, there was a chance of dying, but he had lived through worse odds at the Battle of Trost, and Valerius had assured him that even if he died the Adeptus Mechanicus would gather libraries worth of data from his transformation. Data that would help them make the transformation safer for those to come after him.

But someone had to take the first step.

"I'm ready." He muttered.

[x]

Alberich Tempestus sat in his bed, laboring to control his breathing.

It's rational to be afraid. He told himself. There is a statistically significant chance of death in this endeavor. Nonetheless, panic will not improve survival odds; if it has an impact, it will degrade them.

That was a cold comfort, though. He was being injected with a serum concocted by a man who had never even heard of the Machine God. The techpriests present with Biologis training said that everything checked out, but still...

Alberich took a deep breath. He would not fear. He was only sixteen, but his father had been an Electro-Priest of the Adeptus Mechanicus, and his greatest desire was to follow in his footsteps, perhaps becoming an Enginseer, or maybe even reach the rank of Magos.

However, another path had been offered to him.

The way he saw it, a Titan Shifter was like the ultimate culmination of the Mechanicus' quest for perfection. Men, with the strongest power of the natural world who were able to integrate technology into their very being.

And no matter how much he tried to deny it he was a sixteen year old boy, and both Giant Robots and Giant Monsters were Really, Really cool.

The Techpriest that would be overseeing his transformation approached.

"I am prepared." Alberich said.

[x]

As the techpriest eased the breathing mask over her face, Nina felt a sense of peace come over her. Everything was going to be alright.

The Emperor was watching her.

She was just about to slip into unconscious when they injected liquid fire into her veins.

Nina wanted to scream, but the pain was too much, and she blacked out.

[x]

Valerius watched the wall of screens overseeing the med bay. All twelve candidates to become Titan Shifters were now in the process of having the half-liter of Titan Shifter serum injected into them. According the research notes that was all that was really necessary, but Dr. Jaeger had theorized several other measures that might increase survival rate. Colonel Richardson had ordered that all reasonable measures be taken to improve the survival rate of the Shifter Candidates, and the Techpriests had obeyed.

Now, Valerius was monitoring the vital signs of the twelve Titan Shifter Candidates. The injections had been completed several moments ago, and now the Candidates were simply on life support. Their body temperatures were rising slightly; a sign that their metabolic processes were accelerating as their bodies generated the new structures that would allow them to utilize the Titan's Power.

However, neurological activity was increasing in one of the candidates far faster than anticipated. "Candidate Eleven is displaying preliminary signs of a seizure." Valerius said. "Administer countermeasures."

Candidate Eleven was a girl from the Wallfold named Maxine. She had been very enthusiastic about becoming a Titan Shifter, and had been one of the earliest converts to the Imperial Creed within the walls.

Several Medicae personnel approached, and began administering several drugs that the Biologis had guessed would not interfere with the transformation into a Shifter. For several minutes, Candidate Eleven's neurological activity plateaued.

Then it began to spike.

"We're losing her." One of the Medicae said. "She's going into a seizure. I'll increase the dosage, but-"

Several alarms began to go off as Candidate Eleven's neurological activity spiked to maximum, stayed there for several seconds, then dropped to zero. Several other alarms went off as the Maxine's pulse stopped.

The Medicae attempted to revive her, but their attempts were fruitless.

"Call in the Mortician." Valerius said. "Learn everything we can from her death, then bury her with honors."

Valerius looked down as the Mortician entered the Medicae chamber. They were less than ten minutes into the transformation, and they had already lost a Candidate. How many would survive the entire process?

This was going to be the longest three days of Valerius' life.

[x]

Richardson looked over the latest aggregate report from the Shifter Initiative. Out of twelve, they had lost one Candidate to a seizure minutes into the transformation, and another to massive cascading organ failure about an hour later. It had been a day since then, and the remaining Candidates seemed stable in their comatose states.

The door to his office opened, and the Typhoon Prince entered. "You called?" He said.

"I did." Richardson said. "I've been looking over assignment for the Shifter Platoon, and I've encountered one problem. There is no one on the roster of Shifters or Candidates both suitable for command and trustworthy enough to be given responsibility over the unit. Therefore, I'd like to put you in that position."

"Me?" The Typhoon Prince said. "But I'm unreliable! You can't trust me! I couldn't lead an amsec run, let alone a detachment of cybernetic monsters into battle."

"Your record says otherwise." Richardson said. "You resolved the diplomatic situation with the Wallfolders admirably, and from what I've been able to gather, you conducted yourself with honor and distinction as a Knight Apparent."

"Sir." The Typhoon Prince said, face long. "I cannot accept this position."

"If you chose to decline, I believe I'm at least entitled to an explanation." Richardson said.

The Prince sighed. "It's a long story. You might want to get that amasec bottle out.

"I have time." Richardson said, reaching for the drawer where he kept his drinking supplies. "So why can't you command these Titan Shifters?"

"It's a long story," The price said, "But it starts on the Planet Aramon, twenty years ago. The leaves were beginning to darken, and the High Lady of House Alethela had just birthed a son."

"He was the firstborn to her and her husband, the Lord of House Alethela, and there was much celebration at the birth of an heir to the House." The Typhoon Prince said. "He was named Valentine, but that's not really important, because he's dead now. In any case, he was raised in the House Stronghold, learning the arts of war and statecraft from the age he could walk. He took to it all readily enough, but that might have been because he had the best tutors the sector had to offer. At the age of twelve, he was outfitted with the best neural sockets available and placed in the Chamber of Echoes for the Ritual of Becoming."

"And?" Richardson asked, taking a sip of amasec.

The Typhoon Prince glanced at something over Richardson's head. "Nothing important happened. He bonded to his Throne Mechanicum and became a Knight pilot. He fought on several planets as a Knight Apparent, finding some honor. Then he went to Risat IV."

"What happened there?"

"A Chaos insurrection had just started. The local authorities were holding their own, until a warband of Traitor Astartes arrived. House Alethela was the only force in the area with the power to take on Chaos Space Marines, so they responded. Things were going well, but it was a trap. From the beginning, the Champion leading the warband had planned to destroy House Alethela. He lured them into committing the whole House into battle, then summoned Daemons to cut them off from supporting forces."

The Typhoon Prince shuttered and took a deep breath. "Then the Heldrakes appeared. The Champion had held them in reserve until then, and scores of them fell from low orbit like meteors. They butchered the Knights of House Alethela, dogpiling them and ripping them apart to get at the pilots."

Shaking his head, the Typhoon Prince continued. "Valentine saw that something was wrong as soon as the Daemons appeared, and instead of attacking the enemy main line, turned and started cutting his way free of the encirclement. As soon as the Heldrakes appeared, his Father, House Lord of House Alethela, laid down covering fire, and Valentine was able to watch out of his rear scopes as his father's Knight was ripped apart while he fled. He ran, taking Hades Autocannon fire on his rear shields, until his suit failed just inside the protective envelope of a friendly Hydra Battalion. They shredded the pursuing Heldrakes, and as Valentine's suit failed, he died. There was simply nothing left of him. His honor, his family, his suit, his pride... all gone in the course of an afternoon."

"I see." Richardson said, looking down at his amasec. "That is a rather unfortunate story. But as they say, though Death is lighter than a feather and Duty is heavier than a mountain, it is only in death that duty ends."

"Didn't you hear me?" The Typhoon Prince said, springing to his feet. "That man is dead! The sort of person who could lead others, be the heir to a great house, and pilot a Knight in battle? He is gone."

"Then who's standing in front of me?"

"A..." The Typhoon Price sat down. "I don't know. But when you say you want to trust me with something like the leadership of the Shifter Platoon, it makes me want to run away. And that's how I know you can't risk giving it to me."

"We're all afraid, son." Richardson said. "Only the Tyranids and the servants of Khorne aren't. And I'd rather be dead than either. But it's what we do with that fear that matters, not how afraid we are."

"But... I failed." The Typhoon Prince said. "I'm a failure."

"No." Richardson said. "You're a survivor. You saw that something was wrong, and when there was nothing you could do to improve the situation, you withdrew to preserve your forces. That's not failure, that's good command skill. That's exactly the kind of force preservation instinct we need commanding an important asset like the Titan Shifters."

"But I-"

"I'm not asking you to agree with me." Richardson said. "I'm asking you to trust me. Put this in the hands of the Emperor and do your best, and everything will work out."

The Typhoon Price sighed. "Where do I sign?"

[x]

"Remember, Eren, she's Titan Shifter too, and didn't help humanity." Mikasa said, looking at Eren as the two walked down one of the 'streets' of the Imperial Camp.

Since the reclamation of Wall Maria, many families behind the walls had invited Imperial Soldiers into their homes. The Imperials had been very well behaved, and Colonel Richardson had paid a stipend to anyone who supported a Guardsmen, though many still chose to sleep in their massive camp outside the Trost District when they weren't on Purge Patrols.

The camp was surprisingly orderly, and as Eren and Mikasa walked toward the edge of the Imperial Camp. The sounds of Imperial earthmoving equipment could be heard over the sounds of the camp.

Eren and Mikasa walked around the corner of a row of tents, and there stood Annie Leonhart.

"Annie!" Eren said. "What do you- How long have you- What is going on?"

"I have agreed to join the Imperial Guard's new Shifter unit, on the condition of not sharing anything about my background, or how I gained the ability." Annie said, as if she was discussing the weather. "Given that we have several new Shifters on the way, it is key that you gain as much experience in your titan from as possible, so you can assist me with teaching the fresh recruits."

"Who put you in charge?" Mikasa asked, tone flat.

"She's not in charge." A new voice said. "I am."

Eren and Mikasa turned as a man in an Imperial uniform approached them. It was the Typhon Prince. "The Colonel put me in charge of the Titan Shifter unit. As Annie is the only one who's seen combat and demonstrated skill against modern equipment in her titan from. Let's walk."

Eren, Mikasa, Annie, and the Typhoon Prince turned and began walking.

"So," The Typhoon Prince said. "You know that there are currently ten people undergoing the transformation into Titan Shifters aboard the Glory of his Wrath right now, correct?"

Eren and Mikasa nodded.

"Good." The Prince said. "Now, none of them will have any experience coping with the instincts of their titan forms. You do do. Now, we need to figure out the best way of getting them ready for combat in the shortest timeframe possible. Now, you two are the experts. You got any ideas?"

"When you first start Shifting, it helps to have an anchor." Annie said. "Someone or something to focus on that keeps you grounded."

"Interesting." The Typhoon Prince said.

"When I was moving the boulder to seal the breach in the Trost Defenses, I lost control for a while." Eren said, glancing down. "Armin and Mikasa helped me regain my focus."

"I've got it." The Prince said. "We pair each Shifter up with a close friend, or someone of exceptional stability, and then link them with neuro-sympathetic implants. That way, the partner can serve as an anchor and an emotional heat sink."

"That might work." Annie said, raising a hand to her chin. "We can't afford to have anyone go out of control on the battlefield, and having someone to watch our backs in titan from could be helpful."

As the quartet continued to walk towards the outskirts of the camp, they came across a group of Garrison soldiers practicing entrenching drills. They were dressed in full flack armor, wearing battle packs, and attempting to dig foxholes, with varying degrees of success.

"I DON'T CARE HOW WELL YOU CAN FLY AROUND; IF ANY OF YOU MISERABLE GROX SURVIVE LONG ENOUGH TO DEFEND AGAINST AN ORK CHARGE, YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO DIG IT!" The drill instructor shouted. "YOU'RE GEAR CAN'T PROTECT YOU FROM AN ARTILLERY STRIKE, AND YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SOME COVER! SO BY THE EMPEROR, DIG LIKE YOUR MISERABLE LIVES DEPEND ON IT, BECAUSE SOON THEY WILL!"

"Oh, that reminds me of something." The Typhoon Prince said. He reached down to a case strapped to his pilot suit and detached it. "Here, Eren, this is for you. The Colonel sends his regards."

Eren accepted the case, then looked at it. "What is it?" He asked.

"It's a dataslate containing a map of the planet." The Prince explained. "The Glory of His Wrath has been on a ball and twine orbit mapping the planet for the past few weeks, and the Colonel ordered that you be given the first atlas that was produced."

"Wow." Eren said, opening the case and taking out the dataslate. "How did he know."

"A commander has his ways." The Prince responded. "In any case, Eren, who do you think your Anchor could be?"

"I'll do it." Mikasa said immediately.

"Really?" The Typhoon Prince said. "It will be dangerous. You'd probably be better off staying with the elite squads."

"I can't trust any else with Eren." Mikasa said.

"Sounds like a plan, then." The Typhon Prince said. "So, the next matter we need to address is the cybernetic modifications to the Titan Shifters. We've drafted everyone with even a modicum of technical skill in the regiment to help design the modifications, but..."

[x]

Clarissa awoke.

There was the ghost of an ache in her limbs, but she felt invigorated, full of energy, like she was ready to tackle a Primarch.

As a member of the 'auxiliaries' who followed the 33rd Grenadiers, her prospects had been few. Follow the regiment until she died, working as a scribe or clerk, or perhaps marry a soldier if the Regiment was ever retired.

Now, she was a Titan Shifter, a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. She would have clerks dedicated to ensuring that she remained properly supplied, and supporting infantry to protect her from the enemy.

She couldn't wait to shift into her titan form. The techpriests had said that each Shifter would likely possess a unique ability in titan form, and she wonder what her's would be.

A Medicae entered the alcove where Clarissa's bed was located. He moved to her side and began disconnecting the various tubes and needles connecting her to the life support machines that had sustained her while she made her transformation.

"I hope you're ready." The Medicae said. "You're the last one to wake up. Your training starts as soon as you get back down to the surface."

Clarissa smiled.

[x]

Just a few hours after he had woken up as a Titan Shifter, Alberich Tempestus stood on an open field inside Wall Rose, facing a giant robot.

The Typhoon Prince paced in front of the ten assembled Titan Shifters in his pilot suit. The Shifters were spread out in in two lines, with at least five meters between each of them.

"Alright you dregs, just because the Cogboys rammed some serum through you and we had the collective misfortune for you to survive, you might think you're hotter than a Space Marine!" The Typhoon Price shouted. "I can assure you that this is not the case."

The Prince reached into his pocket and withdrew something that glittered in the sunlight. He held it up for all the Shifters to get a look at.

"This." He said, "Is the Cataphract Star. Other units have called themselves Cataphracts before, but we shall eclipse them all. We shall overcome and destroy all of mankind's foes, and the Cataphract Star shall eclipse even the Crux Terminatus. This is the badge that I will be awarding you with. But not until you prove yourselves worthy of it. A Cataphract must be a warrior able to lead, obey, and destroy with unparalleled superiority. "

The Typhoon Prince looked around at the assembled Titan Shifter Recruits. "Normally, this is the part where I'd give you your last chance to back out. However, we've already passed the point of no return. You're going to become the finest warriors our Imperium has ever seen, or die trying. Now, one by one, you will advance to the front of the formation and assume your Titan from. Your intention will be 'retain control'. Should you fail in this objective, we have plenty of firepower on hand to subdue you."

The Typhoon Prince cleared his throat. "Alberich Tempestus, you're first. Show us what you can do."

"Yes, sir." Alberich said, stepping forward. He walked over to a cleared area at least fifteen meters across next to where the Typhoon Prince was standing.

Alberich took a deep breath, then bit his finger. Retain Control! He thought, pouring all of his willpower into the idea.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then he felt something shift inside him, and a power exploded through his body.

Lightning shot down from the clear sky and struck around him, throwing up a massive cloud of dust.

As the dust cleared, a titan was revealed. It stood thirteen meters tall, with a lithe, fit body covered in sky blue skin. Lightning crackled across its skin, and its eyes glowed electric blue.

"Not bad." The Typhoon Prince said, gesturing toward a large open space behind him. "Walk over there and await further orders. Clarissa, you're next."

Alberich watch, now through the eyes of his titan, as Clarissa walked forward toward the instructor. She bit herself, then transformed with a rain of lighting.

He Titan was also thirteen meters tall, but that was where the similarities ended. This titan was massive and bulky, which huge muscles. Its skin was a deep red shade, and its eyes radiated crimson light.

"Very good." The Typhoon Prince said. "Now-"

Clarissa's titan took a deep breath, turned to face the empty field, and proceeded to breathe a massive wave of flame across the dirt. Albreich could feel the heat radiating off from the blast, and saw that the bare ground continued burning in places even after the initial wave of fire had passed.

Alberich would not be outdone. Not even stopping to consider the sudden wave of emotion that had engulfed him, he summoned power from deep within his body, in the same way that he might have commanded his arm or leg, and punched, unleashing the energy. A massive bolt of lightning shot down his arm and forward into the air, blasting across the open field with a massive thundercrack.

"Well then." The Typhoon Prince said. "That was certainly impressive. If anyone has anything to display, please do so in a safe manner. Next up is Sasha Blouse."

Sasha walked forward, closed her eyes, and then bit her finger. Lighting struck, but when the dust cloud cleared, there was no titan to be seen, nor was Sasha present.

"What the-" The Typhoon Prince began, looking around. He froze for a moment, then stumbled forward.

A titan appeared behind him, finger extended from 'tapping' his shoulder. It was only six meters tall, and had obsidian black skin and a vaguely feminine body shape, though it seemed to be largely featureless.

As the Typhoon Prince whirled around, the titan vanished. A few seconds later, it appeared back where Sasha had been instructed to transform.

"Invisibility?" The Typhoon Prince said.

The titan nodded.

"Become invisible again." The Typhoon Prince said, then tuned to the techpriests observing the transformations. "As soon as she does, scan the area with everything you have. I want to see how invisible she is."

Sasha vanished again, and the techpriests began to scan the area. Alberich felt an odd tingling on his skin as they did so, and out of curiosity, he closed his eyes.

The moment his eyelids shut, he realized that he could feel the presence of the observing techpriests somehow. Their presence in his mind seemed to grow as they commenced their scan for Sasha.

Alberich opened his eyes and saw that, just as he had sensed, the Techpriests were spreading out in a search matrix, broadcasting all manner of radiation from their scanner implants.

After several minutes, one of the techpriests turned to the Typhoon Prince. "We cannot locate the titan." He said. "If you allow us some time to bring in more specialized detection equipment, we may be able to detect-"

"That's fine. Do it, but we won't stop the test." The Typhoon Prince said, then raising his voice, he said, "Sasha, you can come out now"

Sasha appeared immediately, exactly behind the Prince. She was mimicking his authoritative pose perfectly.

"Alright." The Typhoon Prince said. "Go over and join the others. Nina Kapperman, you're up next."

Alberich watched as Nina wheeled herself over to area where the other Titans had transformed. She took a deep breath, then bit her finger.

There was another flash of lighting, and as the cloud of dust passed, an eight meter tall titan was revealed. It had pale, glacial blue skin and glowing white eyes, and its body was somewhat feminine in form, but with muscles visible.

"Alright." The Typhoon Prince said, glancing at the techpriests. "Anything special?"

The titan took a step forward, looking down at its feet. It stepped backwards, then hopped.

"We are detecting some unusual readings." One of the techpriests said. "Multiple energy field emissions signatures, radiating from a cloud around the titan."

"Ok, then." Typhoon Prince said. "Get on figuring that out. Now, next up, we have..."