Two Days before crash
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Daniel walked through the now-busy halls of the Baron, bustling with Grunts, Spectres, and even an occasional pilot. Daniel walked to a door and opened it, revealing the Briefing Room. As he sat down, he noticed one of the few female pilots left on the Baron, Kelly Anderson, working on a datapad.

"Kelly?" Daniel asked.

"Yes?" she replied, not looking away from her datapad.

"You know why we're here?" he asked. Kelly looked to him and smiled weakly.

"No." she replied simply.

"Guess we'll find out." Daniel said, sitting down as Captain Ellis approached the podium.

"Pilots, we have an important mission on our hands."

Everyone's attention was now fully on the Captain.

"Last night, we received a targeted comm burst from the planet Concordia. It contained a message from an IMC defector, wishing to supply the Militia with intel."

There were murmurs throughout the room.

"Apparently the IMC has repurposed the Fold Weapon's technology to create an experimental warp core, capable of traveling distances in nearly half the time it would take the Baron, for example."

The pilots nodded gravely.

"Obviously, the Defector supplied intel that he worked on the project, and he stole several vital components, rendering the drive useless. We are going to Concordia to retrieve the defector and whatever else is important. Since we reason the IMC will be after his as well, you'll be the tip of the spear, pilots. Retrieve him from the village he's at, and extract. Titan support will be available, though limited. Get to work, pilots. We arrive in three mikes."

As the pilots saluted and walked out, Daniel headed towards the hangar to regroup with his Titan. As he entered, IN gave him a salute as his Expedition loadout was equipped.

"Good to go, IN?" Daniel asked.

"Ready to go, Pilot." IN replied.

"Good to hear." Daniel said, putting on his helmet. As his HUD booted up, Daniel picked up a duffel bag with his gear for the mission, consisting of a modified R201C carbine, a survival Knife, a Grappling Hook, and a Mastiff shotgun. as he sat down on the Dropship deploy area, Kelly walked in and sat across from him.

"Ready to go, Danny-boy?" she said jokingly.

"Ready as ever." Daniel replied.

"We're oscar-mike!" The pilot said as the last pilots and grunts boarded the dropship. As it sailed towards the planet below, Ellis looked down at the quickly disappearing dropship.

"Good luck." he said quietly.

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As Kelly and Daniel disembarked from the Jumpship, the Grunts slid down their ziplines to the ground. Kelly loaded a fresh mag into her CAR as Daniel did the same with his R201C.

"Grunts, let's move!" Daniel said.

"We're oscar-mike, let's go!" The Grunt captain told his squad, and as they headed towards the signal's origin point, a colonial village that was a short distance away from their drop zone.
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As Daniel and his squad walked through the forest surrounding the village, Daniel felt the nervousness from the Grunts around him. Kelly, though stone-calm as usual, kept her CAR up and at eye level with the sights. Daniel found himself looking at every shadow he saw, as if it was a hostile Titan.

"Wait, wait." A grunt said suddenly.

"What's wrong?" Kelly asked.

"I'm getting lifesigns up ahead." the grunt replied.

"You're a medic?" Daniel asked.

"Yessir." the Grunt replied.

"Good. Keep us posted." Daniel replied. As the proceeded, Daniel then saw an object lying on the ground, shining.

"Cover me." Daniel said, walking forward towards the object. As he reached it, he saw it was a bone, painted with some kind of shimmering paint. Then, a rope coiled around his leg, and he was lifted into the air. As he reached for his knife, he yelled.

"Spread out!"

"DON'T SHOOT!"

Daniel saw Kelly push a Grunt's R97 down, and she walked past Daniel and spoke to the bushes.

"It's okay. Come on out."

Then, a boy of about fourteen came out, dressed in settler's clothing.

"Sorry." he said.

"It's alright, kid." Daniel said, cutting the rope and falling to the ground. As he got up and approached, he looked down at the boy.

"What's your name, kid?" he said.

"Thomas." the boy replied.

"Well, Thomas, why'd you set up that rope trap?" Kelly asked.

"The Malia are out." he said. "It's hunting season."

"Malia?" Daniel asked.

"Think of a giant blue tiger, with three rows of teeth and two tails." Thomas said. "They're our main source of natural food here. They like shiny things, so that painte that bone all bright to attract them."

"Okay, Thomas, where's your village?" Kelly asked.

"Not too far. I can guide you, if you want." Thomas said.

"Thanks." Daniel said. "Grunts, let's go!"

As the team followed Thomas, Daniel walked next to him.

"You're with the Frontier Militia, right?" Thomas asked.

"Yeah. I'm a pilot." Daniel said.

"I've always wanted to go to space." Thomas said. "I mean, Like, for a long time."

"Space is cool," Daniel said. "But there's one thing I know. It's dark, empty, and silent."

"Like here." Thomas said. "I've barely been to the lake on the other side of the forest, and let alone a spaceship. The IMC have been lurking around here. We're too scared to go too far away from the village. The IMC really don't bother us, as long as we don't do anything bad."

Daniel nodded.

"There are worlds out there where the IMC isn't as nice." he said. "Most colony worlds I've been to, the IMC already have a lockdown on behavior. Most residents favor the Militia, but they're too scared to do anything public."

"Yeah, the few traders we get say the same thing." Thomas said, kicking a rock. "I want to fight the IMC, but I'm just too young. Besides, my family needs me."

"What's your family like?" Daniel asked.

"Just me, my mom, and my younger sister." Thomas said. "Dad was a hunter, like I was. He occasionally sold to the IMC for profit. One day, he left, and we never saw him again. I just think he's dead, but I know in my heart he's out there."

"Sounds tough." Daniel said. They were silent, until they arrived at a metal wall that had hastily placed patches in some areas. Thomas opened a door, and the Militia squad walked in. The residents stopped what they were doing and stared at the visitors. Thomas motioned, and as they walked, occasionally, a child would wave to them, which the grunts would respond to. Daniel looked over at a vendor stall, and sighed. Most of the produce advertised was missing, and what was left didn't look appetising. Daniel shrugged and followed Thomas to a large hut, which had a large shut door.

"The Sick tent." Thomas said. 'Medicine's rare here. The chief's inside with Professor Kowalski."

"Professor Kowalski?" Daniel asked.

"Yeah, he's a scientist or a doctor or something." Thomas said. "We like him because he's done a lot, caring for the sick constantly. He always has a datapad on him, but he won't show anyone what."

"I'd like to talk to him. Or, we'd all like to." Daniel said.

"Sure." Thomas said. As they entered, they were greeted by a stench of wounds and blood. Several people lay on makeshift stretchers, often with intravenous injections. Thomas brought Daniel over to a man in his sixties, with graying hair and a small beard. He was wearing a set of IMC scientist Lab clothes, though dirty, torn, and stained with what Daniel assumed was blood.

"So the Militia finally comes." Kowalski said, turning around. "Took you long enough."

"We got your message." Daniel said. "We're here to evac you."

"In due time." Kowalski said, standing up. "I need my datapad, where is it…"

"Here, sir." Thomas said, handing it over."I found it under your chair."

"Thanks." Kowalski said. "The data I obtained from the Fold Core project."

Daniel scanned the datapad. On it were schematics, lab notes, and various other materials. Then, Daniel stumbled on something...odd.

"What's the equation for?" Daniel asked, looking at it on the datapad screen.

"That equation is what the IMC needs most. WIthout that, the IMC can't accurately calculate the destinations of the Fold Core. The core requires precision that no human can calculate. With this equation…" Kowalski said, "It's made a cakewalk."

"So, without this equation, they can't use it?" Daniel said.

"To a point." Kowalski said, pocketing the datapad. "We need to leave now. The IMC must have picked up my signal by now, and are most likely on the way."

"Let's move!" Daniel said. As they exited, Daniel heard a faint noise he recognized instantly. The sound of jumpship engines.

"MOVE!" Daniel yelled as three IMC dropships flew over the village, deploying ziplines. As the villagers fled for cover, the Militia grunts opened fire.

"Captain, this is McKenna!" Daniel said over the comms.

"We copy, pilot." Ellis replied. "What's your status?"

"We've got trouble! The IMC's here!" Daniel said, taking cover as the IMC grunts peppered the Militia with rifle-fire.

"Copy, we've got a dropship inbound. Hang tight." Ellis replied.

"Solid copy." Daniel replied. "Grunts, take cover and engage!"

As the Grunts did so, responding with shots from their weapons, Kelly and Daniel nodded to each other, and tapped their wrist-pads.

"Titanfall requested." a voice spoke. "Titanfall confirmed. Standby."

Then, two large objects slammed into the ground. One was IN-2632. The other was KT-4375, Kelly's Ronin Titan. As the bubble shields disappeared, Daniel walked over to his Titan.

"Ready?"

"Ready." IN replied, extending his hand and picking up his pilot, then depositing him into the cockpit. The last sight Daniel saw before initializing the link was Kelly embarking before a voice spoke.

"AI offline. Pilot mode engaged."

As the optics aboard the Titan enabled, Daniel took control of IN and opened fire on the IMC grunts.

"Move forward!" Kelly spoke as her Titan drew its sword and charged. Daniel opened fire with his X019 chaingun, taking down a few unlucky grunts who didn't get to cover in time. As he took cover behind a building, a Militia dropship flew down. Daniel saw Kowalski being escorted aboard by a Grunt Squad. As it took off, Daniel focused himself and resumed shooting.

"Reapers incoming!" Kelly said, drawing her Titan Sword. Then, several Reapers blasted out and into the fray, shooting deadly blasts of plasma. As the Militia grunts took cover, Daniel opened fire with his Chaingun, destroying one and crippling another with a mighty punch But no matter what was done, more IMC dropships arrived, and more and more enemy forces kept coming.

"We're outnumbered!" Kelly said, cutting a Reaper in two. "We need to pull out!"

"She is right, Pilot." IN added. "Our current odds of surviving and winning this battle are not favorable."

Daniel growled.

"Captain, get us out of here!"

"You got it. Professor Kowalski is safe onboard. We're sending a ship to pick up all of you up. Get moving!"

As the Titans and Grunts broke off and began to run towards the evac point, a Militia transport ship arrived, and its bay doors opened. As the Titans took defensive positions and opened fire, the Grunts boarded.

"Let's go!" Kelly said as their Titans took hold and the doors closed. Then, the transport ship took to the skies, and as the Militia ship left the battle zone, a final IMC dropship arrived. The villagers huddled together, surrounded by IMC Grunts. Then, a Pilot disembarked from the Dropship and walked over.

"Sir, we've found all the villagers. The defector wasn't here." A grunt said.

"Fine." the pilot said. "Torch the village, and let's go."

"Don't!" a villager screamed. The pilot drew a pistol and fired a shot towards her, barely missing.

"Anyone else have an opinion?" the pilot said. "Anyone?"

There was only silent sobs and whispers.

"Good." The pilot said. "Torch the village. NOW."

As the Grunts spread fuel around the plaza and ignited it, the Pilot and the Grunts boarded their ships and left as the Villagers frantically tried to fight the fire. As they entered space, the IMC pilot smiled underneath his helmet.

"Well, at least I had some fun." he said quietly. "Pilot, take us home."

"Yessir."

As the dropship entered warp, aboard the Baron, Daniel and Kelly watched as their Titans underwent repairs from the battle.

"Some fight, huh?" Kelly said.

"Yeah." Daniel said.

"Pilots, sorry to interrupt." A Grunt said, approaching. "Captain Ellis requests your presence on the bridge."

"Thanks, Grunt." The pilots said to the Grunt as they headed to the elevator.

Author's Notes:

Yeah, that IMC pilot is a bitch. You'lll see why soon.