Reawakened

"Welcome." The seemingly natural yet synthesized female voice emanated from the large screen quite loudly.

The silent mercenary winced as he immediately turned down the volume with a remote.

In the darkened and slightly musty room the only source of light was giant monitor before him. He sat in his armchair and sighed, he didn't want to be at this meeting, and he was pretty sure none of the other Ranks would either.

He reclined in his chair and let his eyes drift. The "Universal" atom like icon rotated slowly in bottom left hand side of the screen.

Universal...five years ago ARCH completed the Closed Plan, it spurred change throughout the world. Omer took the biggest hit and fell from power within the League, and with it went Collard. Like Global Armaments before it, Interior Union rose now taking Omer's place as the dominant figure within the ruling companies. With the influence of ARCH, Line Ark became the second most powerful. Now with path to space opened and with influence from ARCH itself, the independent city state forced its membership into the League.

He had to give the leader of ARCH credit, despite his bold statement of monopoly over aerospace technology. He knew that kind of rein would be short lived as space programs that were once dormant within each company were now back in full swing. He instead made it a subsidiary of Line Ark and successfully dodged a political bullet while simultaneously granting ARCH a sizeable lead in mankind's race to space.

To cement humanity's renewed change to expand and explore, ARCH suggested doing away with Collard completely. No longer would the Lynx of earth be chained to a mercenary guild controlled by the League. Though there are still some loyal to companies, Universal is an organization run by mercenaries for mercenaries with the intent on expanding their services as man begins to reach for the stars.

Yet somehow its archaic and annoying chat interface had largely stayed the same.

Anatolia's mercenary sighed; he would probably have to go to Universal HQ personally in order to request a change.

He looked at the blue tinted screen again.

His name rested far above the Universal icon.

01 - White Glint

He mouth curled in a brief smile as he remembered his fallen friend. A great pilot he was, and one of the few regrets the silent mercenary had.

"Welcome. Zero. Three. Lady Audrey." the female voice announced. Under his name, the word's 'Entering...' was shortly followed by the text '03 - Lady Audrey' taking its place.

"Early as usual Anatolia" Audrey spoke with a slight French accent. The sound analyzer that occupied the left half of the screen waved with bars matching pitch and flow of her voice.

"Welcome. Zero. Six. Roadie."

The sound analyzer fluxed from the GA Lynx's yawn. "Damn, you know its kind of early where I am, can't we do this some other time?"

"I agree, the timing is poor for me as well." Audrey replied.

"Tch, I bet we're not the only ones." Roadie said with another yawn, "Someone always seems to call a Rank Meeting at the worst times"

"Welcome. One. Zero. Shizuka Arisawa."

"Arisawa." Lady Audrey said coldly.

"Hm, still angry about Germany huh." The Japanese Lynx said with a laugh.

"Quite, your immature behavior cost us the mission. It is no wonder you joined ARCH, Arisawa Heavy Industries must have kicked you out from your childish arrogance." Audrey fumed.

"Slow down there Audrey, by my count I completed my objective. It's not my fault you don't pilot like you're the number 3 Lynx in worl-"

"Ladies! Please." Roadie said cutting Shizuka off, "I nursing a bit of a hangover here. If you wanna settle things either take it outside or call for an Order Match."

"Order Match..." Shizuka growled for a moment, "Heh, I think I wouldn't mind being the new Rank 3."

"Funny, last I checked weren't even in my league." Audrey replied, her tone suggesting that she hadn't cooled down.

"Yeah, we'll see." Shizuka retorted.

"Welcome. Zero. Eight. Islam Cabracan."

"Greetings." said the older Algebra Lynx.

"Might wanna turn your volume down, Arisawa and Audrey are going at it." Roadie explained.

"Again?" Islam said with a chuckle.

"Welcome. Zero. Seven. Vyacheslav. And. Zero. Two. Wynne D. Fachion."

"Does anyone know who called this meeting?" Wynne D. quickly asked making no attempt to hide her distaste.

"Da, I vas in middle of something very important." Omer's Lynx Vyacheslav added with an extremely heavy Russian accent.

"I'm sure we'll find out sound enough, he'll probably be the last bastard in here." Roadie answered.

"Welcome. Zero. Four. Dion. And. Zero. Five. Strayed."

"Well if it isn't man of hour." Vyacheslav coughed.

"Trust me, I wasn't to one who called it this time." said the monotonous voice of Berlioz's son.

"Well by process of elimination that would mean Raphael is the one who gathered us." Audrey surmised.

"That idiot has probably just realized he has no idea how to handle Noblesse." Shizuka mocked.

"At least he's proven that he can show self-control." Wynne D. replied.

"Damn, I guess it's you time of the month too." Shizuka fired back.

"Oh grow up." Audrey added.

"Oh, really Lady 'A-Cup' Audrey." the Japanese pilot spat.

"That's really only kind of comeback you can think of isn't" Wynne D. growled.

"Hey, I don't here you disagree-"

"Really! Do all of the women here have somethin' rammed up their ass today or what?" Roadie barked, followed by the audile sound of his head hitting a hard surface.

For a moment the chat room was silent.

"I take it Roadie's hungover." Dion guessed

"Oui." Audrey replied.

"Welcome. Zero. Nine. Raphael."

"Good I see everyone is here." said the young Lynx.

"What is this about Raphael?" Wynne D. quickly asked.

The sound analyzer was still for a moment.

"Two days ago during the end of my last mission, I was ambushed by two unknown Lynx."

"Comrade, Vyacheslav is busy, if you mind." the Russian said.

You could hear Raphael click his tongue in dissatisfaction before continuing. "They were two AALIYAH frame NEXTS."

Once again there is a short silence.

"Non, that is Impossible." Audrey replied.

"Can you confirm you were ambushed?" Dion suddenly said with a bit of a snarl.

There was a typing sound from Raphael follow by a window that popped up in the center of the screen. It was a recorded video feed from Noblesse Oblige's optics, it clearly show its pilot engaging two black ALLIYAH framed NEXTs.

"As you know, when the Economic War came to a close there were only 4 fully functioning Rayleonard NEXTs in the world: Split Moon, Grand Faucheuse, Opening, and Krasnaya." Raphael continued.

"Are you suggesting that someone has resumed reproducing AALIYAH frames." Wynne D. half asked have stated.

"As unlikely as it is, it's not entirely impossible." Roadie added.

"Da, question is why?" Vyacheslav asked.

"We have to realize also that there is no way they could have gotten the blue prints for those frames from Omer." Islam inferred.

"Why not? You know how the League operates, in could have easily been an inside job." Shizuka debated.

"True, but that wouldn't explain where the money for the frames came from." Audrey added.

"To be honest I only expected the members of ARCH to hold interest in this. While this development is important that is not the reason I called for a Ranked meeting." Raphael explaimed, "The two Lynx piloting the AALIYAHs threatened to attack Carpals."

"You're Universal's Rank 9, you should be able to handle a couple Irregulars." Shizuka replied.

"When I first fought them my NEXT had already been damaged from a previous mission. Their interference caused even more damage to my machine and now...Rosenthal has me on probation." Raphael said uncomfortably.

The Ranks were quiet; they had to remind themselves that while this young Lynx was skilled he was still inexperienced. And that was apparently something Rosenthal wasn't fully ready to risk.

"Despite my absence from battle it is still my responsibility to protect Arteria Carpals, that is why I gathered you here. I want no less that the best protecting Carpals regardless of the company you affiliate with. So I extend my offer first to Universal's Ranked Lynx, please protect the facility in my stead, I promise you will rewarded handsomely."

"I think we already know who's taking job." Vyacheslav chuckled.

"That's good to know, have fun, I'm getting some shut eye." Roadie replied.

"Goodbye. Zero. Six. Roadie." The chat room's announcer proclaimed as Roadie's name disappeared from the screen.

"Da, I'm sure situation well be handled well by Dion." Vyacheslav added.

"Goodbye. Zero. Seven. Vyacheslav."

"I will handle this job for you Raphael, but before then I want all the information you can give me on those two NEXTs." Dion demanded.

"Of course Dion." Raphael replied.

Hm, It looks like your hold over Rayleonard's technology wasn't as firm as you though, eh Dion." Wynne D. said.

"It would seem Fachion, it would seem. I wouldn't be so dismissive of this, this could also mean they've claimed old Akvavit technology as well." Dion coolly replied.

"Hmph, I could care less what Torus does these days." Wynne D. fired back.

"That wouldn't be too wise Ms. Fachion, I hear Torus is seeking independence like Arisawa Heavy Industries." Islam warned.

Shizuka made in audile sound but there were no words.

"Your point is irrelevant old man, even though some of us here are hard pressed to do the same, the point of Universal was to be as independent from the League as much as possible." Wynne replied, "Hence why the actions of Torus have little concern to me."

"Heh, as you wish Ms. Fachion." Islam chuckled," And thank you Raphael your findings are most interesting, but for now I must take my leave."

"Goodbye. Zero. Eight. Islam Cabracan."

"Just so were clear I have my own missions to attend to otherwise I would help. But I do not approve of ARCH taking on such jobs." Lady Audrey said with malice.

"I concur; I hope you don't live to regret bringing this kind of problem to the Ranks, Raphael." Wynne D. added.

"Goodbye. Zero. Two. Wynne D. Fanchion. And. Zero. Three. Lady Audrey."

"So what do you suppose Dion? Do you want my assistance?" Shizuka asked.

"No I do not think this requires more than one Ranked Lynx, but I do have others in mind. Besides you have a company to attend to." Dion answered.

"Of course, Good night captain."

"Goodbye. One. Zero. Shizuka Arisawa."

"Well Raphael, the deal is done. But I still request a briefing on a later date." Dion said.

"No problem, I will accommodate you anyway I can." Raphael replied.

"Goodbye. Zero. Four. Dion. And. Zero. Nine. Raphael."

A message symbol popped up near the Universal Icon, the silent mercenary opened it with haste.

What is your opinion on what Raphael has just told us?

-Haze's Pupil

After some thought Anatolia's Raven press a button near the edge of the desk that the screen he viewed sat on, a hidden keyboard flipped open.

I'm honestly not sure. I may have brought about the down fall of Rayleonard, but that's not to say their headquarters was completely destroyed. It is very possible that things could have been salvaged from multiple sites, more than enough to put together two complete machines. But the question still remains as to why? Using two Aaliyah frames is not only risky from an overall efficiency stand point but it would also bring about lots of unwanted attention.

- Anatolia's Merc

Send.

It was a few minutes when before the message icon flashed again.

This is true, perhaps we should be asking who is piloting these two Nexts. We're looking for two Lynx with the experience necessary to handle Rayleonard's mechs and the skill to be able to take on Universal's Rank 9. Even if Noblesse wasn't in fighting form at the time of the attack, these two pilots were more than able to push Raphael into a corner. Regardless of his experience in battle we must acknowledge that this was not an easy task. What's more, they made what we assume to be they're next offensive public knowledge. We can infer that they are clearly not stupid but more than likely a few steps ahead of not only Universal but the League as well.

- Haze's Pupil

The silent mercenary scratched his chin, these were all very valid if not disturbing points. As a member of ARCH the Anatolia's mercenary had little doubt that they could handle an offensive from these Irregulars.

But next to Omer Science Technology, ARCH now possessed the second highest amount of Rayleonard's old tech. And with Omer's recent fall from grace, having ARCH charge head first into this conflict could be exactly what these two AALIYAH pilots wanted.

I know of your indifference toward ARCH, so I appreciate this discussion. We will see what happens in the coming battles and plan accordingly. But if you somehow require assistance, I will make your request known to ARCH and if need be I will aid you personally. Good luck and God speed, Raven.

- Anatolia's Merc

Send.