Equestrian Coastline, Primary trench
Three hours until projected IMC attack
===============

As Ellis and Briggs watched Grunts unload Archer rockets and give them to various forces from Equis, Chase and Daniel approached.

"We've got the Baron airborne." Daniel said. "It's moving towards our landing site for fire support."

"Good." Ellis said. "Have Chase, Romero and Kelly meet us here. We don't have much time."

"Roger that." Daniel said, as the two Pilots walked off.

"Think these beings can hold out?" Briggs asked Ellis.

"I believe so." Ellis said, watching the Grunts instruct the various soldiers in use of the Archer rocket. "I completely believe so."

================

As the Militia soldiers and various members of other species sat in the trenches dug on the beach, the Griffons, Dragons, and Minotaurs who could use Archer Rockets lifted them up onto their shoulders. Then, a black cloud appeared on the horizon, over the sea.

"What's that?" A griffon said.

"That's the IMC." A Militia Grunt replied. "Get ready."

Then, the cloud turned into the forms of at least thirty Goblin Dropships, flying at flank speed towards the Militia lines.

"Steady…" Ellis ordered over the radio.

"Steady…"

"FIRE!"

The Grunts and Rocket-wielding members fired at once, sending a volley of rockets towards the IMC dropships. They scattered, and several dropships crashed into the ocean.

"Dragons, move in!" Briggs ordered.

Several squads of Dragons took to the air and flew off, beginning to attack the IMC Goblins with brute force and flame. Several dragons were shot down and were sent falling towards the sea, dead. As the remaining Goblins flew past the Militia lines, a Grunt grabbed the radio.

"Ellis, this is Waco 1-7. At least ten IMC dropships made it through. Requesting reinforcements."

"Roger that. Reinforcements inbound." Ellis said. As he and Briggs loaded their sidearms and boarded a Crow, the IMC Grunts disembarked from their Goblins and took up defensive formations inside a town square.

"Incoming!" A Grunt cried, as several Equestrian units advanced towards them, armed with swords and lances. The IMC Grunts cut them down and advanced into a town hall.

"Venom, Marder, this is Azure 1-5. We have secured our landing zone. Requesting reinforcements."

"Confirmed. Reinforcements incoming." Marder said. "We have good footing, Venom. Head in."

"Roger that." Said the voice of a pilot. "I'll show them what happens when you betray the IMC."

==============

As several Crows flew out towards the battlefield, Daniel, Chase, Romero, and Kelly watched their Titans being prepared for drop. They embarked, and soon, they heard the familiar voice.

"Standby for Titanfall."

Then, they felt the air rush from underneath them, and the impact of hitting the ground inside a fifty-seven ton metal war machine.

"This is Daniel, online and ready."

"Romero, all green."

"Chase, ready to hunt."

"Kelly, I'm online."

"Let's go." Daniel said as they lurched towards the battlefield, and flashes of gunfire and the flames of exploding dropships covered the sky.

"Incoming!" Kelly said, unloading her Leadwall at a hostile Brute Titan.

"Roger that!" Chase said, shooting at a Northstar that decided to get in close. Chase terminated the Pilot, and then, he heard frantic voices over the radio.

"What the hell is that?"

"Hostile Titan, unknown chassis!"

"We need backup, now!...AUGH!"

"Seems the IMC got a new Titan on the field." Daniel said. "Let's take it out."

"Roger that." Romero said. As they advanced to the radio coordinates, they were greeted by pools of green liquid and half-dissolved bodies of Militia Grunts and Equestrian species.

"What is that?" Chase asked.

"My analysis suggests it is Sulfur Osilaphate, a highly corrosive acidic material capable of dissolving through most metals." IN said. "The Chemical signature indicates these grunts were exposed immediately."

"Radio Ellis." Daniel said.

"Um, trying and failing." Romero said. "Someone's jamming our comms."

"Incoming!" Kelly said as a Stryder Titan leaped up and onto a building. It had two large chemical tanks linked to a sprayer similar to a double-barrel shotgun, and a linked fiber net rested on it's right wrist. An image of a spider rested on the nose.

"Impressed, you Terrorists?" the Titan's pilot said jauntily. "Meet the Recluse Titan. Fresh from development. I think I'll test it...one you. Spray Core, fire!"

"MOVE!" Daniel said as the Titan sent two high-pressure sprays of acid towards the four of them, and as they dodged or dashed away, the Recluse Titan pilot laughed.

"Well, 'aint this some shit." He said. "I see you're good at running. Let's see how well you fight in close quarters!"

Before Kelly could react, the Recluse titan leaped and threw a net onto her Ronin Titan, and a powerful electric shock disabled her Titan and crippled it. Then, two large swords shaped like fangs plunged into the Titan's cockpit from the Recluse Titan's own hull. Daniel, Romero, and Daniel opened fire, but the Recluse titan was faster. As it leaped away, Romero and Chase continued to fire, while IN pried open the cockpit door of the defeated Titan. Daniel saw Kelly clutching a large wound in her leg, groaning in agony.

"Get a medevac!" Daniel said, injecting her with a Stimpack.

"The wound is most likely mortal, and medical attention will only stall the inevitable." IN said.

"I don't care!" Daniel roared. "IN, get that Medevac here now!"

"Confirmed. Crow Bluebird 2-3 coming in hot." IN said.

Daniel nodded and set to work, attempting to stop the bleeding in her leg. Kelly made no attempt to speak, only moaning.

"Stay with me, pilot!" Daniel said. Then, the Crow arrived, and three Field Medics disembarked. They set to work, but after only a few minutes, they sat up slowly as Kelly breathed her last. Daniel felt tears flow down his face, as he picked up her body and set it in front of her destroyed Titan. He closed her eyes, and then removed her helmet and tags.

"Rest in peace, Kelly." Daniel said. "Take her body and her Titan's wreckage back to the Baron."

"Yessir! Ellis, this is Bluebird 2-3. Pilot casualty, I repeat, Pilot casualty. Requesting extraction crew for body and Titan."

"Confirmed."

Daniel stood back up and lowered his head, snapping a salute.

"Pilot Kelly Anderson was a brave and noble person. She will be remembered." IN said. "However, Protocol 2 must be executed. Uphold the mission."

"Roger that." Daniel said as he slipped Kelly's helmet into a storage box and followed Chase and Romero back to the battlefield. As the Crow carrying Kelly's body flew back to the Baron, night began to fall on the world.

Author's Notes:

Yep, we lost a pilot. RIP Kelly. She didn't die in vain, though. That Pilot will get what's coming, soon enough.

The Recluse Titan is one of my creations. Here are the details.

Recluse Titan
Primary Weapon-Acid Sprayer (sends a torrent of acid on each spray, requires a reload after three sprays.)
Defensive ability-Arc Net (Disables enemy movement)
Offensive Ability-Acid Shield (dissolves projectiles)
Core-Spray Core (A high-pressure blast of acid)

Execution-Disables with net, then kills pilot by plunging "fangs" into cockpit .

Prototype assigned to IMC Pilot, codenamed "Venom", known for showing no mercy to enemy pilots in combat.

Sorry this took so long. Won't happpen again, promise.