As the Banshee Titan opened fire, Daniel made a mad dash for cover as the hostile Titan's Particle Cannon shredded through the area he had previously occupied.

"What the hell is that thing?" Sasha cried.

"Analysis suggests that cannon fires dangerously unstable electron particles, capable of destroying most material." PL-3431 replied.

"Roger that." Daniel said. "IN, get ready."

"Confirmed." IN replied, as he stepped into the open. The Banshee Titan looked over at him, almost as if sizing him up.

"Well, well, we've got the hero that killed Archer, Tauros, and Venom. This should be fun!" the hostile pilot cackled.

"Fun for you, or fun for me?" Daniel retorted.

"We'll see!" The enemy pilot cried, lunging forward. IN blocked the blow and attempted to spin for a downwards strike, but the Banshee Titan shoved him aside.

"Gonna have to do better than that!" The pilot taunted. Daniel picked himself up and feinted left, catching the enemy Titan off-guard. Daniel lunged, seizing the opportunity. He pinned the hostile Titan, ready to execute the pilot. Only, the pilot was ready. As Daniel eased up to punch through Banshee's cockpit, the Titan shoved IN's fist aside and flawlessly backflipped over the Vanguard Titan, readying it's Sonic Blast.

"Fire!" the hostile pilot cried. Daniel took the full force of the blast, sending IN flying into a tree.

"IN?" Daniel groaned.

"Chassis integrity at 79 Percent. Damage sustained to Chest Area and arms." IN replied.

"Right." Daniel said as Banshee advanced. IN got up and dodged the resulting Sonic Blast.

"Get this fucker!" He cried over the comms.

"Roger that." Romero spoke as he, Chase, Sean, and Sasha opened fire. The Banshee Titan then fell back.

"Fun for you this time, but there won't be a next time!" The Pilot cried as he leaped away.

"Get him! Shoot him down!" Daniel cried.

"I cannot, Pilot. He is out of range of my arsenal." IN spoke. "My apologies."

"You're good." Daniel replied. "Radio for extraction, IN. We got pretty banged up during the fight. Damage report?"

"Hull damage at 78 Percent. Ammo capacity depleted by 27 Percent. Extraction for repairs sent for." IN spoke.

"Right. Sean, take the rest of the squad and demolish that airbase." Daniel said. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Roger that." Sean replied. As a Militia Transport arrived, Daniel and IN flew off into the darkening sky.

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

As Daniel and IN arrived back on the Baron, IN walked off to receive needed repairs, while Daniel headed to the bridge. As he boarded the elevator, he sighed.

"Damn." he said quietly. As he entered the bridge, he noticed Celestia, Luna, and Ellis presiding over a holotable of the battlefield.

"Daniel, glad you could join us." Ellis said. "We've gotten word that the IMC landing zone you found was captured."

"Good to hear." Daniel said. "What's new?"

"The IMC are deploying Saddle Arabian soldiers as cannon fodder." Celestia said. "They are certainly getting desperate."

"Indeed." Ellis said. "If there's any good news, it's that we've located three more landing zones near the one we captured. The 6-4 and the Angel City Elites are fighting hard to capture them, but it's slow going."

"What about that Banshee Titan?" Daniel asked.

"Unknown." Ellis said. "We can presume it retreated to IMC lines, but we don't know for sure."

"Great. A prototype Titan on the loose, and civilian units as cannon fodder. How can this get any worse?" Daniel asked.

"Captain!" a Grunt cried from his station. "We've got IMC movement towards the southeast, near our eastern flank!"

"That's one of our most heavily defended areas." Ellis said. "Why would the IMC move there...Any civilian locations near there?"

"None, sir." the Grunt replied. "Wait, I'm reading IMC signatures towards the northwest!"

"It's a pincer movement!" Ellis growled. "Tell every Militia unit we have to prepare for imminent attack!"

"Yessir!"

"We can't hold out against an attack like that." Luna said. "We're outnumbered."

"But not out of the fight." Ellis replied. "We've got every friendly unit in the field, and we're still even with the IMC. We need something to tip the scales."

"We certainly do." Celestia replied. "But what? Every nation friendly to Equis has troops on the field fighting the IMC."

"And we've lost Saddle Arabia." Luna continued.

"Plus, we can't call for help from the fleet as the IMC is jamming our signals." Daniel said. "What can we do?"

"We fight." Ellis said. "We need reinforcements. But who?"

"Sir, I'm getting a signal I don't understand."

"Put it through." Ellis said. On the screen appeared the face of Kuben Blisk, leader of the Apex Predators.

"Blisk." Daniel growled.

"Who that?" Luna asked.

"That's Kuben Blisk, leader of the Apex Predator Mercenaries." Daniel replied. "He was an IMC officer, but he quit after the Battle of Demeter. He was on Typhon protecting the IMC Fold Weapon. They're top-shelf and extremely skilled."

"Captain Ellis, am I correct?" Blisk asked.

"Yes. What do you want, Blisk?" Ellis asked.

"I'm offering my services to the Militia." Blisk said. "I've got pilots ready and waiting."

"Why?" Ellis asked. "You were on Typhon."

"The IMC ripped me off. Since you Militia saps are keeping the IMC suits occupied, they neglected to compensate me for my services." Blisk said. "I'm ready to go. Just give the word."

"Your price?" Ellis asked.

"Revenge." Blisk said. "A bit on the side, though. Even we have to make a living."

"Whatever you desire, Mr. Blisk, we will compensate you." Celestia said.

"How gracious of you." Blisk replied. "Fine. I'll fight with you. Only because I want to see the IMC piss themselves dead for stabbing me in the back,"

"How relieving. Do you have our coordinates?" Ellis asked.

"I'm already on my way."

"Then we'll see you on the other side." Ellis said. Blisk gave a nod, and ended the connection.

"Seems the scales have been tipped." Ellis said. "Radio the field units. Tell them we have Apex Predator reinforcements inbound."

"Yessir!"

"And Daniel?" Ellis added. "Check on your Titan and head out when you can."

"You got it, sir." Daniel said. As he ran out, Ellis turned to Celestia and Luna.

"Are you sure we can trust this "Blisk?" Luna asked.

"We know the Apex Predators." Ellis said. "They fight for whoever pays them, whatever the side. As long as they do their job, I trust them."

===========

Blisk watched as his newest pilot walked forward. she was clad in a Grapple Pilot's gear, only colored tan and red. On her tan helmet was a hexagonal pattern like a flickering flame.

"You ready, Hex?" Blisk asked.

"Ready as I'll ever be, sir." Helena Sieman replied.

"Good, head to the Titan bay. We'll see you around on the far side." Blisk said.

Helena nodded and walked to the Titan bay, smiling. Blisk nodded and turned back to the space flowing past him.

Author's Notes:

Profile-Helena Sieman
Kit-Grapple
Affiliation-Apex Predators
The protege of Kuben Blisk, Helena is bright, lethal, and effective. Raised as a soldier from birth, she attracted Blisk's eye during the battle of Demeter, and quickly rose the through the ranks of the newly formed Apex Predators. Out of battle, she's witty and a jokester. In battle, she shows no mercy to her enemies.

Titan-OR-5124
Chassis-Monarch (Core-Burst Core)
Weapons-X019 Chaingun, Refurbished Slaved Warheads, Vortex Shield
Nose art-Apex Predator Logo, black and tan Titan camo.