"Mark! Get it off me!" A female voice rings from the stocky mech as a large grey beast pounces on it. Its ivory claws tearing at the metallic body guarding the human and its teeth biting at the arm locked between its jaws.

"If you can't even take on a cat what help can you offer the world?" Another female voice speaks as a pure black mech slams into the feline like beast. The creature rolls through the air, landing in an apartment block's lobby, sending dust and concrete into the air.

"Chelsea, you can just say. Sure Kate I'd love to help." The first pilot chuckles readying into a boxer's stance, the red haired girl inside sweating in the intense heat produced by the machinery. "I've got this one Chelsea. Go ahead and help Mark." Kate orders earning a nod from Chelsea's mech.

The feline snarls getting back onto its feet, its white eyes emotionless as the moon. "Here kitty." Kate taunts the beast. Revealing its fangs the beast charges forward to the mech with the speed and elegance of an arrow. Kate delivers a powerful punch to the beast's chest, obliterating the left shoulder. In an attempt to escape the beast turns and jumps onto the apartment building, some seven stories high.

Gritting her teeth Kate heads to the base of the building, pulling back her fist she devastates one of the supporting walls, then another, and another. Soon the building collapses under its own weight crushing down onto the pavement below coating the area in a thick concrete dust.

"Kate!" Chelsea shouts abandoning Mark as he slices another boar like creature in half. A huge blue sword held in the orange mech's hands, the edges flickering with energy.

Chelsea wades over to Kate through the sea of abandoned vehicles. "I'm fine Chelsea." Kate claims turning to face Chelsea, but at the right shoulder Kate's mech sparks the arm missing.

"Significant damage to the chassis. Right arm unresponsive. Retreat recommended." A robotic voice announces from Kate's mech.

"Mark! We're heading back. Pugnus has been damaged beyond field repairs." Chelsea calls through the night to the orange mech.

"Gladio to command, we're heading back. The feline has been dealt with. Pugnus is damaged beyond field repair. I repeat Gladio, Clipeum and Pugnus are returning to base. The Prodigium threat is under control in this area." Mark calls command.

Within a moment of the call the three mechs head in the same direction towards a colossal wall in the distance, sunlight glimmering over the peak.

**************************************************************

"Take good care of her." Chelsea states climbing out of Clipeum and onto the catwalk. The hangar is dimly lit, the walls are grey and a thick smell of smoke chokes the area.

"Yeah, yeah. Maybe you should stop ramming her into stuff if you wanted her in perfect condition." The mechanic jokes wiping his greasy hands on his blue jumpsuit. "I'm Adam. You are?" He extends his hand hopefully.

Chelsea gives him a disgusted glare down her nose then with a turn of her body she leaves her white hair trailing behind her. Mark and Kate meet her in the hallway each having exited their mechs.

"Maybe you should give him a chance Chelsea?" Mark suggests biting into a stone biscuit aptly named because of its rock hard consistency.

"But he's a mechanic and I'm a student." Chelsea scoffs her grey eyes remaining as cold as ever. Their shoes loudly tapping against the oil covered floor.

"You've really got to lose the superiority complex, Chelsea. People at the academy are beginning to talk." Mark says hopelessly, attempting to take another bite of his stone biscuit.

"We've been here three days and they've just started talking. They must be slower than I though." Chelsea chuckles slightly. Kate pushes open the door at the end of the corridor entering the canteen. "Mark, how did you get your hands on that stone biscuit anyway?"

"Well anyone ranked lower than us is obligated to hand over their rations when asked." Mark answers, scratching the back of his head. He takes off his jacket and ties it around his waist, the words Gladio written in white across the back of the dark grey leather.

"And I have the superiority complex." Chelsea rolls her eyes and snatches the biscuit off him, swiftly devouring it and ignoring his protests. "Hush Mark. The Norfolk is a newer model than the Cheshire therefore I'm a higher rank." She smirks.

"Therefore I'm the higher rank." Mark impersonates in a girly voice. "Look at me I'm Chelsea Aries and because I was born in March I was given to a rich family." Mark continues earning a snicker from Kate.

In reply Chelsea punches Mark's arm, in a childish manner he complains as they approach the serving station. "Kaaate. Chelsea hit me." He drones, Kate smiles while trying to ignore him.

"Can we have the usual?" Kate says kindly yet sternly to the kitchen staff. Turning to face her squad members her brown furrows "if we're going by rank then technically doesn't the Devon put me to the top?" She plays dumb.

"Yes Kate. That and the fact that you're the squad leader." Mark reminds her, stealing a potato from her plate while she isn't looking.

Sitting down around the same table Kate glances towards the clock. "Five past seven in the morning. We made good time. If we eat quickly we may still make it to morning classes." She states taking a bite of a potato that she had taken back from Mark.

"One day you're not going to notice." He says spearing a chunk of meat on his fork, the meat is grey and moist with a chewy texture. This is evident by Mark's jaw movements.

"What like that time you stole that Jap's lunch?" Kate chuckles taking another bite of the potato that isn't much better than the meat.

"Yeah. Didn't he die?" Mark smiles in reply gulping down water to wash away the meat's foul taste.

"Yeah he did. Same day as well." Chelsea lifts a piece of potato into her mouth. Mark's smile only increases in size.

"Wait, wasn't that when we were ordered to take down the Cibus Bestia that was straying to close to the wall?" Kate asks finishing the last of her meal and waiting for Mark and Chelsea to finish.

"I think so. Still can't believe how big those things are." Chelsea stacks her tray on top of Kate's.

"It's annoying that arms fire is prohibited because of the oil sack on its underbelly." Mark pouts stacking his tray on the others and leaving them in the deposit area.

Before they leave the canteen he turns around. "How much do you want to bet that they're going to tell us about how the Middlesex class changed the way we fight Prodigium today?" Mark proposes.

"I'm game. I'll give you my stone biscuit rations for a week." Chelsea offers folding her arms. "What about you Kate?" Chelsea turns t her friend.

"Ha, no way am I betting against Mark after he cheated the entire class out of their stone biscuits." Kate laughs, causing Chelsea's eyes to widen.

"You're not thinking of backing out are you Chelsea?" Mark taunts raising an eyebrow.

"N-no I don't back down." Chelsea stubbornly states. Walking through the door before Mark can question her again.

After walking past a few doors they eventually find the one, with the word 'Titan' above the door. "Who's ready to hand over their stone biscuits?" Mark smirks opening the door to the class, everyone else already sitting in their seats, despite the early time.

"Congratulations team Primus on your return. How was your third excursion outside the Honeycomb?" The grey haired man at the head of the class asks. Dressed in a grey suit, differing slightly in colour from the jumpsuits pilots are forced to wear.

"Worse than the second, better than the first." Chelsea answers folding her arms again, clearly annoyed about something. Her white hair still in a fluff from piloting Clipeum.

"What is it that has you bothered Chelsea?" The teacher asks using his grubby hands to scratch the stubble on his face.

"Kate has me bothered. She brought a building down with Pugnus to take down a feline. Severely damaging the chassis and removing the right arm." Chelsea states with a critical tone, her brow furrows into a frown.

"Was it necessary to do so?" He steps towards the trio "Could you of used the Tesla cannon?" He asks inquisitively. Grey eyes looking to Kate for an answer.

"I s-suppose sir." Kate says embarrassed, she moves a red hair from her face.

"No sir. She couldn't of, I was keeping a close eye on Pugnus and Clipeum's energy readings. A shot from the Tesla cannon would've rendered Pugnus inoperable and therefore Kate would most likely of been mauled by the feline." Mark interferes stepping between the teacher and Kate. Sweat beading down his forehead in the tension.

"Very well. In that case Kate should pay more attention to her energy readings and Chelsea should do more to help Pugnus because Pugnus has weaker defences. Did I miss anything?" Mark shakes his head.

"No, Mr Scorpio." He says heading to his seat with Kate and Chelsea following. Mr Scorpio turns to the rest of the class.

"Glad to see you're all awake. It seems the sleep drugs have been doing their job. Now today we're going to be learning about how the Middlesex class mech changed the way we fight Prodigium today." He says enthusiastically. Tapping the screen at the front of the class he swipes a few images onto the screen...

*****************************************

"God, I thought that lesson would never end." Mark groans as they leave the classroom. "On the Brightside I have an extra weeks worth of stone biscuit rations." He laughs childishly, Chelsea's eyes wide open with hopelessness.

While moving through the corridor to their dorms a short child bumps into Kate, falling to the ground her blonde hair slays on the floor. "Why is a child here?" Chelsea asks, looking around for a parent or guardian.

The girl lifts her dirty body off the ground, her yellow dress stained grey with dust and oil. "She's definitely not a resident. Look at the state of her." Kate states as the girl continues to sprint down the corridor.

Shortly after a man dressed in black robes comes running down the corridor, obviously from the Temple of the Machine. "Have you seen a blonde girl about this tall run through here?" He asks gesturing the girl's height with his hand.

"You're from the Temple of the Machine. What do you want with the girl?" Chelsea asks, despite her rank she has no authority over the Temple of the Machine only their God has that power.

"She's an orphan. Came in three days ago, sector twelve fell and we lost three mechs defending the zone." He grits his teeth "I'm just here to take her to her foster family in Japan. She'll be working on the farms." The priest pants regaining his breath.

"At least she won't have to work in the Forge or the mines." Mark says trying to brighten the mood slightly. "She went straight down this corridor but other than that I don't know where she is." He follows with earning him a gentle bow from the priest before he leaves.

"Do you think they'll ever repair that machine?" Kate asks, the other two instantly knowing what she's talking about.

"What, that giant mech they have? Not a chance." Chelsea chuckles at the far fetched thought.

"Well I heard that they finished the chassis itself the same year France fell. That was ten years ago. Maybe they've made some progress." Mark hopes, again trying to be the optimistic one in the group.

"I doubt it, most of their resources have gone into making those Bipods of theirs because their cheaper than our mechs. Even though you need about fifty to accomplish what three of us can do." Chelsea scoffs her eyes glinting angrily.

The three of them continue walking down the corridor, heading towards their bunks. "Thank God we share with team Tertium. Imagine if we were stuck with Secundus." Mark remarks not far from their quarters.

"What's that you filthy Aquarius?" Someone growls pushing Mark from behind. "How have you not died while using that crappy sword of yours?" The tall man with buzz cut black hair chuckles, while standing over a fallen Mark.

Behind him are two others, a boy with short hair and eyes the colour of dirt. Beside him a dirty blonde girl with jealous green eyes. While the boy seems to be enjoying himself the girl looks on with far more concern.

"If we're bringing castes into this I think you should leave Virgo. Else I'll have you killed." Chelsea threatens reaching for the pistol at her hip. "Nobody would do anything. I'm an Aries." She smiles grabbing onto the grip. "So make yourself scarce."

After that Keith and his teammates leave quickly not wanting to be shot by the white haired heroine. "Mark are you okay?" Kate asks helping him onto his feet.

"I'm fine." He smiles dusting himself off, "That freak thinks he can do what he likes because his caste is worth more than mine." He groans. "Thanks Chelsea."

Chelsea says nothing and simply ruffles Marks hair, "You owe me." She states and they continue towards their dorms.

"It's not like I can argue with an Aries or a superior officer." Mark grumbles opening the door to their bunks. The ugly grey room filled with six individual, single beds, each with a footlocker at the end of it. "Also when did they start letting you carry around a firearm?" He enquires collapsing onto his bed at the far right corner.

"Both Aries and Taurus castes can carry around what weapons we like. Just because we were born under specific star signs." Chelsea says smugly. Placing the gun in her footlocker before lying on the bed beside Mark. "Is team Tertium coming back today."

"No, they have a mission to recover two mechs that were lost outside of the Honeycomb last week." Kate informs her team before lying at her own bed nearest the door. "Goodnight." She follows with turning off the oil lamp that previously illuminated the room.

"Kate?" Mark asks in the dark room.

"Yes." She answers.

"It's seventeen past nine in the morning. It's hardly night." He snickers with Chelsea.

"Fuck off." Kate sighs before going to sleep.