Hours passed, as I waited in the queue to land aboard the Manny and reunite with both of my team and my fiancee after a stop by the medbay, mess, and shower. As I waited one of the first things to happen after the Galactica's arrival was the almost immediate destruction of a lone UEC super destroyer that had broken formation with the retreating fleet around the refueling station.

The ship appeared old and lagged behind it's obviously much new and there for faster counterparts. And like a pack of wolves the “lost fleet” as we had taken to calling ourselves, took advantage. Instantly and at extreme range the spinal mounted gauss cannons aboard the James Holden, and Yamato charged and fired instantly downing its shields and opening it to attack from the alpha.

I watched on Shiraui's bank of networked monitors as the Gally's ventral particle accelerator began it's lumbering swivel to track its target. What seemed like minutes passed and as Shiraui began our taxi into the Manitoba I saw it. My helmet simulated color for the naturally invisible particle beam showing a silvery beam lancing out into space.

As we taxied into the bay I watched perfectly straight beam lance out from the Galactica and travel towards the super destroyer. That beam reached out, and out and touched the fleeing ship. It seemed to linger for several seconds on its hull burning, vaporising armor as it delivers yottawatts of energy before the beams punched through heralding the ships ultimate destruction.

When the light died down the ship floated lifeless for several seconds with three holes, that glowed white hot burned straight through its hull before exploding. When I finally landed, with Shiraui pulling herself through the barrier membrane and clamping down onto the deck I could hear a faint cheer going up throughout grey deck.

Humans and formers were clapping and cheering as I guided Shiraui along one of the mech walkways. When we reached our destination Shiraui backed into one of Snow Viper's spare creshes. The cresh was covered in a thin layer of plastic and a full team of what could only be bots and androids waited inside to detox the both of us.

Her displays went dark and I sagged in the seat as Shiraui released her tentacles. Then there was a wet crunching sound as Shiraui opened her chest to allow me to exit her “cockpit”.

When I finally managed to crawl out and onto the catwalk I took off my bucket and took in a long refreshing breath of recycled air. “Excuse me, please remove your armor so we can begin your detoxification.” A voice said from beside me.

Turning I saw two men in grey coveralls with a “synthetic” patch on their shoulders. Both of them looked the same, mid thirties, and had the same black hair. “Sure. No problem.” I said as I began to strip off my armor.

[That was quite unpleasant mast…] Behind me there was another followed by a set of metallic footsteps as Armor managed extricate itself from Shiraui's chest. And was almost immediately sprayed down with an absorbent foam.

“Thanks for the ride Shiraui, that was one hell of a trip.” I grunted as I stretched, earning several wet pops from my back before stepping into the detox cube the two synthetics had brought with them. When she didn't respond I turned around and saw her tilt her shovel shaped head to one side.

“Something wrong?” I asked feeling somewhat self conscious about my state of nakedness. ‘That isnt it, she's always technically naked.’

Her blood soaked lower jaw… beak? Beak parted slightly emitting a short lived but ear splitting chirp, forcing me to slap my hands over my ears. Almost immediately she closed her bean and began to act almost apprehensive, bashful mabey.

Then she seemed to have some kind of epiphany as a team of myrialos mechanics and bots came and retrieved her weapon and place it in a rack beside her. Shiraui then reached a hand up and with two fingers seemed to massage a spot on her neck where her throat, or I guess where her throat would be if she was human for a few seconds.

When she was done with... whatever she was doing she moved her hand away and folded her hands in front of her. The blood around her mouth was gone and the spot where she had massaged had been modified with some kind of gill like organ.

“It was quite enjoyable, a-and I thank you for the experience but…” She began as she started fidgeting slightly with her hands. As she did this her eyeless head drifted between the deck about twenty feet down and myself.

“But, What?” I asked as I gave my left forearm a twist earning a pop as the bionic disconnected from the socket before handing the bionic to one of one of the med techs.

“Well um you see. Even though I am successfully… linked with you. I still don't have a placenta, a-and without one I wont be able to work with the other flayed. I won't be able to… link, to properly connect to the whole, to coordinate with my pattern.” She sounded… I guess sad would be the word? Dejected definitely, she was essentially cut off. Like an ATLAS without a pilot but in reverse, she is organic and can adapt, and show initiative on her own. But without a pilot or placenta she cant slave herself if she wanted to to the other Flayed to operate as a cohesive unit.

“Well…” I sighed as my arm was handed back to me and I snapped it hack on. “What did you have in mind?”

“I-I was w- wondering if you would mind. To terribly i-if I… joined your team?” She stammered out like she was a kid asking a parent for candy.

“My team? Why my team? There are alot of other's you could join. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying I'm against it but I'm Armor's pilot. I can't just ditch him and be your pilot Shiraui.” I said as I stepped out of the detox box and back onto the gantry and began the process of put my armor back on.

Instantly she began waving her hands in front of her face. “No no that's not what I mean at all! I don't want you to abandon Armor. What I mean is that I can't operate without being networked as you call it.” Shiraui exclaimed before she appeared to droop and began fidgeting again like a nervous schoolgirl in one of those network shows.

“You wouldn't even have to pilot me if you don't want to. But I need to stay linked with placenta. And…”

“And the only ones who are able to link with you are Me, Harris, and Loomis… I see your problem now. I don't need to be inside your cockpit to stay synchronized. And because we already are it would be easier to stay connected to me, rather than approach either one of them and risk having them turn you down.” I said as I finally managed to get the final plate of hard shell into place on my pants.

“In a sense yes. I truly enjoyed our first time together and would like to experience it again. But now that we are linked I should, in theory be able to operate even if you are not in my cockpit as you call it. Within reason of courses, I guess If we were to be separated by to great a distance…” Damn, the poor girl… thing, sounded like I just kicked her dog, and ditched her at prom night all at once.

“Then you would be back to square one. Alright, I understand. I'll have talk to Loomis and get it approved. And if he says no then you have to understand…”

She placed her hands on her chest and seemed to simulate a sigh of relief before speaking again, almost bouncing with excitement. “Yes I understand. Thank you for doing this for me Mister Fallon, I'll try not to become an inconvenience. Perhaps it might help to think of me as just a spare mech to use when Armor isn't available.”

“No need for that. Your a person, a very large person able to tear through hull plating. But still a person… well Lanky. Alright, we should have a few hours to a day before we reach the target planet. I'll talk to Loomis and if everything works out get you introduced to the rest of team Fallon before we head out.” I finished putting on my battle armor and did a little hop hearing the ceramic clank twice before fixing properly. ‘Love this Legionnaire armor.’

“Oh alright, goodby mister Fallon.”

“Talk to you later Shiraui.”

“Approved, Fallon, I'll call you when I need you.” My fellow nanotized trooper nodded once before disconnecting the vid. Leaning back in my chair I scratched at my beard before leaning forward and opening a terminal.

[Enter verification code…. Verification accepted]

[...Progress update to Weyland-Yutani corporation, Dunois development, and NAC Psi-ops science divisions. Onyx Guard Loomis reporting. Transmission pending…]

[The crew and fleet are unaware that their current danger is only necessary because I purposely sabotaged the Galactica's system core before the battle several months ago. The crew believes I am nanotized as well but they couldn't be further from the truth. The amplifiers injected during project quantum saw to that….]

[For several months I have cataloged the changes to subject Fallon and subject Harris. My mission under Weyland-yutani special order 937 is to study, evaluate and if possible return with a viable specimen of the Nanotized subjects for further study…]

[...In a surprising turn of events subject Shiraui XX-121 appears to have reacted positively with the lanky nanites residing inside of Subject Fallon. However do his proximity to the tymerian Mii’ora is proving detrimental to his development. Other outside sources such as Charlotte Dunois, other members of his team. It has not been easy easy to carry out my mission. However I have used my authority as subjects acting commanding officer to gain access to the two subjects more often….]

[Loomis out.]

When the hatch slid open and I crossed the threshold into the dark compartment. I could hear the soft breathing and light snoring of my squadmates as I activated my implant to use its night vision mode. Something I learned to do after the first time I stepped on Miiora's tail.

Moving silently around Durge's sleeping form I crossed the compartment to my birth and began striping my armor. Once I finished hooking to a stand I navigated the minefield of limbs, tails and discarded food canisters. With a grunt I slid the hatch to the shower open and entered the side compartment. Ignoring the sound of one of the stalls in use I crossed chamber, entered a free stall and washed the remainder of the anti radiation jell from my body. Powering off the shower I stopped to shave, noticed a large garbage bag beside the door that wasn't there before containing a shed skin and stuffed it into the trash shoot before exiting.

When I finally made it back to my birth the events of the past day and a half finally caught up with me. I plopped onto the mattress style crash couch and was out almost before my head was on the gel pillow.

A Few nightmare filled hours later, my implant woke me up and I almost immediately know something was off. First off I felt oddly claustrophobic and second was the added weight latched onto my person. Silently and as smoothly as possible I brought my bionic around to my right hand and popped open the compartment holding the monofilament knife. Taking the handle in hand I looked down to see Miitoa’s snake like head resting on my chest with her maw rested just below my collarbone.

When she finally began to stir she shoved her snout into my neck and sleepily inhaled deeply before drawing back slightly and cracking a slitted eye open. The eyris was gold and widened slightly when she saw me looking back at her as grin split my lips. “Hello there.”

“Hello my love. I was worried you wouldn't not return before we were deployed again.” She said quietly as she pressed her muzzle into my neck again.

“What? You weren't worried about my safety?” I asked as I placed the knife back into its holder in my bionic, before wrapping her in a gentle hug.

“Always, she worries whenever we are apart love. But I knew you had Charlotte with you.” her voice was muffled slightly by me neck before she pressed her maw against my lips and we shared a kiss.

We stayed like that for several minutes. Her deceptively lithe and if I may say quite attractive frame wrapped around me, with her tail and legs wrapped around my lower half. While my arms or arm depending on how you see it held her torso tight to my chest. And some part of me wished we could could stay like that forever, but the rest of me wanted to KTF.

But when the one MC chimed on with a deceptively calming “Bing-bong” we knew we had to get up. With a sigh and a final lingering kiss I sighed and sat up. “Come on Miiora, time to KTF.”

She slid forward and took a deep inhale, no doubt getting my scent or something or another sliding back. “Very well.”

With that I slid the curtain back and stood up in the still dark compartment. Activating my implant a turned on my night vision and dawned my battle armor before turning and helping Miiora do the same with hers. Latching seals, tightening straps, fastening buckles and rechecking those seals, before checking her battle armors secondary battery to make sure her suits heaters didn't crap out on her since her species cant regulate their body heat.

Once the two of us were kitted up, her in her dark blue Spaceborn infantry battle armor with her helmet tucked under one arm, and me in my Liegonare kit with bucket in hand and lit cigarette in my mouth. I walked over to the compartments door panel and flicked the lights on entering full sargent mode.

“Get the fuck up you apes!” I yelled slapping several of Durge's legs as I watched my squad startled awake.

My old cadet corporal Watkins was the first up and out of his rack followed quickly by Gutsy. And immediately they began yelling and barking at the others who were not awake yet.

“Trombley, Forbes! Get the fuck up, and kitted out now!” Watkins yelled throwing open their curtains and almost yanking them out of their bunks.

“LETS MOVE PEOPLE! Were deployed in ten! The boarding crews will not wait! Move your ass marines! And make sure to check your seals for vacuum.” I yelled lighting another cigarette.

“Hey gunny you know technology i'm not a marine!” Levoy yelled as he fastened his grieves.

Snatching my cigarette from my mouth and pointing it at the synthetic I snapped a quick. “Shut the fuck up Levoy.” Before the one MC chimed on.

“Combat stations, combat stations, all hands combat stations. Mech crews report to muster.”

“Alright lance you heard the man, let's move, Watkins mind the kids.”

“Got it boss.” The man with the unicorn horn hanging from his neck called out as I put out my cigarette and fastened my bucket.

Sparing a sidelong glance at Miiora I hardened my self and logged out of the compartment with Miiora, and Trombley close behind.

“Hey Iceman, you ready to KTF?” Big Dog asked as I met up with his lance, Pitbull.

“Always.” I replied slapping him on the back as we passed met up with the rest of our section in the mustering station.

“Yo Ice you sure your lance can keep up?” Grayson asked as the Amplifiers made their way up to us.

“I might have something up my sleeve Amp.”

“Really like what? Your lance is…”

“If your a good by Amp you might find out.” I said earning a good look at his middle finger in response. Our lances laughed as Wraith and his lance came in.

The laughing and rough housing intensified when the hatch opened and four members of MOTH team-3 entered the room. At their head was Crux Tongea the best mech pilot in the COG. The aged man like the rest of his team was dressed in the older MOTH battle armor.

“MOTH team-1. where's your leader?” He asked in calming voice.

“He isn't here colonel. And he doesn't have a mech.” I said coming to attention before the man.

He grunted at that before resting a hand on the pommel of the sword at his side. “Unacceptable, It is better to lead by example. Inspire greatness through action, not words, remember that. Your lances will be under my command.”

“Yes sir.” Was the only reply I could come up with before the deck shook and a metallic clang rang out through the ship. ‘The refueling tube is locked. Any minute now...’

“Green light, green light.”

“ATLAS Pilots, Deus Vult!”

“Greeting Mister Fallon.” Shiraui greeted us eagerly as my Trombely, Miiora and I rounded the walkway into our bay. “Did your meeting with mister Loomis go well?”

“Yep, your on the team. Welcome to Snow Viper…”

“Ooo, thank you so much mister Fallon! I promise you won't regret it!”

“Don't worry bout it. Anyway allow me to introduce you to your lance mates. This is degenerate Trombley callsign and mech name Camouflage, and this is stunning female beside me is Miiora callsign and mech name Habu.”

“Uuum what's up.” was all Trombely said as he froze at the sight of the flayed that stood a head taller than our ATLAS mechs. Mainly because she had a head.

“Greetings, Shiraui.” Miiroa said from my side before kicking off and drifting to the walkway in front of Habu's cockpit.

“It is a pleasure to meet you both! I can't wait to work together.” Shiraui said bowing her head slightly as Trombley and I kicked off moving towards our mechs.

“Armor, open cockpit.” I called out to the ATLAS-3.

[Acknowledged]

The clamshell opened and I extended a hand to halt my drift before standing on the bottom hatch almost twenty feet from the deck. “Hey Iceman want the L-blade again?” our chief asked from above me.

“No give me two autocannons. And one of those blaster cannons, like Shiraui's got.”

“Why do you want one of those? Ain't got as much range as a regular ballistic.” He asked making two hand signed to the crews working the ordnance crains.

“Less moving parts. Less parts to brake.” Reaching over I shoved my N-4 into an alcove before opening the mechs womb with a mental command.

The coffin like capsule opened and I crossed my arms before dropping into the seat. Closing my eyes I heard the capsule close followed by the cockpit itself. Then the amniotic fluid was pumped into the womb and for a fraction of a second I had the sensation of drowning before I regained my nerves and took a deep breath filling my lungs with the oxygenated amniosis. [Synchronize Y/N]

[Y]

[Weyland-Yutani ATLAS-3: Sierra Delta-6624 online.]

There was a flash and when I opened my eyes I was almost twenty feet tall. My mechs arms and legs became my own, its pistons, and hydraulics my muscles, and its sensors and camera feeds my eyes and ears. Thanks to the ATLAS-3's womb and the neural link used by all ATLAS mechs for all intents and purposes I am armor, I am become fury.

looking down I saw the crew chief giving me the thumbs up which I returned before contacting my lance. “Lance report go no go.”

The corners of my HUD flashed as three boxes appeared, all showing heartbeat monitors, but only two showing pilots inside of their cockpits. The last belonging to Shiraui only showed me her non face.

“Camouflage, good to go.” Trombley said clapping his hands in his cockpit before fixing his harness.

“Habu, is ready to depart.” Miiora said with her tail flicking switches behind her before settling it into a secure cradle.

“Shiraui, ready and waiting.”

“Snow Viper set.” I reported to Crux as he pinged me on the tac-link.

“Alright listen up people. Snow Viper will advance with the Templar and protect collar one. Pitbull and Amplifiers will move next and move to collar three. Leopard and Ghost collar two, Saber and Ruler collar four.”

“Copy.” We all replied before the lights in the bay turned from red to yellow. “Get set.”

“Snowviper one-one in the move.” Taking a step forward I grabbed the blaster cannon from its cradle and held the weapon at a low ready. Turning slightly I looked to see the others leaving their creshes to follow.

Satisfied I turned and stomped my way past several other bays before coming to a halt at the head of a queue of other atlas mechs. “Woah Iceman is that what you had up your sleeve?” Amp said

“I don't know man, that things pretty creepy.” another pilot said over the company channel.

“Glad its not on my team.”

“I don't think they like me very much.” Shiraui said over the squad channel.

“Its alright Shiraui, they don't need too. Besides they don't even know you. Give it time and I'm sure they'll warm up to you, just like the people on the Defiant.”

“A-alright… I'll do my best.”As we talked The light in the airlock started to flash.

“Stand by…..” Crux said from his position at the head of our line.

That's when the deck shook and the distinct sound of sudden PDC fire could be heard faintly in the hold. “This is the General, hostile fleet detected on hard ingres. This was a set up, all hands combat stations set condition one throughout the fleet.”

“You heard the man people. Up and out!” Crux said as the airlock finished cycling and the lights turned Green.

“Templar, Deus vult!” the moment the hatch opened he fired his mech jump jets and vaulted over the deck and onto the ships hull.

Stepping up to the threshold before firing my own jump jets. “Snowviper, Kill Them First!”