[X] - Colonist, Martian
You were born on Mars, the eternal Red Globe, the first major settlement beyond Earth. It is the largest and most developed colony; the beating heart of the SDF territory. The people that formed it had left Earth long ago, comprised from among multitude of social groups driven mostly by their desire of change, the promise of better tomorrow and rejection of Old World values. Away from all-seeing eyes of the government, they quickly created their own community. To be a Martian meant standing up for the inalienable personal rights for all, for free and safe society - and above all, the dedication towards its prosperity. A Martian doesn't talk; he participates. In the life of his community, in its politics, in its economy, in its defense. Those values had been passed down through each new generation, until the distance and shared identity amongst the red sands made people question their allegiance to Earth.
You had been still young when the Separatist Crisis happened. But you were just old enough to remember the gist of it - the fear, the excitement. The talks amongst the Neighbor Councils that lasted for hours; the almost continuous meetings of the Agora that kept your mother away from home. The anxiety when word reached your world that Earth had sent its fleets in, and that the ATO would do nothing. You remember your father leaving, with his hardsuit and rifle, along with parents of so many other children.
The fear of your mother as she led the children to a "safe zone" while flowers of fire bloomed across the sky.
You remember how young and old cheered at the image of SDF's young commander, Alastoria Toth, battered but unyielding, dictating terms to Terrans from the bridge of their own flagship, young heroes behind her; Salen Kotch, Ray Rayvers and Sabrine Troyard. Then news of Titanians under Camille Hawkins beating Earth's second fleet.
You remember saluting your father as he came home; with tears in his eyes and one of his hands metal and unfeeling.
You grew up with the first generation post-Liberation, when your people could finally work for themselves, away from political and social restrictions of a dying world. It had been the willingness of your precursors to stand up for what they believed in that brought you to victory, and the refusal to compromise and shrink in face of the danger. A high bar to pass, but you'd like to think that your generation had done a decent job of it so far.
You quickly scroll through the electric sheet, filling out basic information like you did so many times before. After completing your mandatory education and militia training, you...
[]Signed up. Started from the beginning as a grunt in a training battalion; made your way into Orbital one, with a few promotions under your belt, general knowledge of getting shit done and knowing how to steal everything not nailed down.
[]Signed up. Like any wide-eyed kid you went into the Deep Spacy once your mandatory retraining was up. You learned how to fly the Corsair, dancing in the Jovian clouds, as well as supporting operations from danger close.
[]Worked. You signed up with the UAC, believing that your talents would be put to better use in the commercial sector. Though you had no specialization, you learned quickly and ended up doing a fair bit of work; in the foundries of Argent City, as well in building the ever-expanding manufactorums around major colonies.
[]Volunteered. You worked with a civil activist program in its Earth outreach program. You've been to Earth a handful of times...or rather, the Earth that other Terrans don't want to know about. You've helped and educated people, learning to provide basic care. You've also had contact with...shall we say, some interesting SDF personalities, and sympathizers on the other side.
You tap away the last of the information. Right, that should cover it.
You sign the sheet, and the customs officers approves it, and waves you through. Your now effectively a member of ATO.
You head down into the main terminal, guided by handy holographics and ordinary signs. Largely financed and built by ATO, the main Port Gate Space Terminal was a blend of the elegant and functional, most corridors and furniture that were locked in flowing contours, with frequent high-definition holographic screen that showed unblemished lunar surface, giving one a sense of wide open space.
You finally arrive at your destination. The arrivals terminal is reasonably busy, but the gaggle of SDF youths is pretty unmistakenable. Most are dressed in their civvies, though you can see a few in the service BDUs. Undountably, the majority will be Martian or Titanian, though you can see a couple of dusky Venusians and paler-than-pale inhabitants of Neptune colonies.
The woman overseeing them is tall, easily beating her male colleagues in physical presence. She's dressed in smart business suit, which does absolutely nothing to disguise her strength. Her amber eyes zoom in on you almost immediately as you approach.
"Papers?" She curtly asks.
You hand out your electronic card, which she promptly scans with her eyes.
"Hmm, Winters right? Looks like that's everyone then." She nods to herself, before clapping loudly, catching the attention of everyone else. "Alright everyone. Welcome to Luna. My name is Chifuyu Orimura. You
will refer to me as "Instructor" or "M'am." Is that understood?" She brooks in voice that tolerates no dissent. The recruits promptly snap to attention - yourself included - and nod.
"Good. Now, time is short, so you will follow me into the Academy immediately, where we will begin your Core Integration process. After that, you have free hand to move into your lodging and get acquainted, sleep or do whatever." She waves you off. "I only care that you are present at the official welcoming at 10:00 tomorrow morning. Fail to show up and there
will be consequences." Orimura continued. Without waiting for reply, she begins to move. "Now, follow me."
***
The trip goes by in a flash, largely thanks to the interconnected network of maglev trains and mobile walkways. Your group quickly disappears within the bowels of the Academy, a sprawling complex that extends from the periphery of Port Gate into the silvery Lunarian wilderness. After passing through an impossibly twisted maze of corridors, walkways and elevators, Orimura finally leads you to a lobby of what seems like a high-tech laboratory. Several lab techs quietly converse with her, while the people around you look around. Glowing terminals, clinical white tiles and opaque plastics are almost everywhere, contrasted by a stony, moss-covered wall on one end.
"Alright." Orimura barks. "The techs are ready to receive you." Her amber eyes sweep across every single one of you. "This may feel sudden, but your Core Initiation must be done as soon as possible so we can adjust your I.S in time for your training. Remember this however - you are all here for a reason. You were all chosen to be here, not just because of your compatibility, but our belief that each and every one of you has the mental and physical fortitude to become a Pilot. Keep this in mind as you proceed, and remember that your decisions here, today, will have repercussions for the future, and for what you will become." She spares you one final glance. "Good luck."
You are all divided, taken into individual labs where the med-techs take few quick measurements, before you are politely asked to disrobe and proceed into the next room. It is...
strange. Empty, save for what looks like a flat bed, with a depression in the shape of a human body. You lie into it, your form easily slipping into the designated space.
There's a hiss, and you suddenly feel dull and unfocused. A voice tells you to just relax, to not think. That...that sounds nice, yes. You lean further back, your thoughts turning into a sluggish mush and you feel falling, your vision breaking into a thousand points of light.
***
PULSE DETECTED
ANALYZING BRAINWAVES...ANALYSIS COMPLETE
SUBJECT COMPATIBLE
BEGIN INTEGRATION?
Y/N
Y
STAND-BY. OPERATOR BOOT-UP SEQUENCE COMMENCING.
It feels like an eternity before your thoughts coalescence once more. But you aren't in the lab anymore...you're...somewhere else.
It is a realm that you feel to be simultaneously tiny and vast, everywhere and nowhere at once. A cold white light that envelops all, with specs of radiating black stretched across it.
You are formless, eternal.
Your thoughts begin to move faster and faster as the black stars revolve, the language of complex dimensional mathematics passing through your nonexistential lips. It continues, ever faster and faster, until your thoughts form such a fervent pace that you can hear them, separating from yourself and taking their own tone.
"Integration complete...Welcome Home, Operator!" The voice is loud, girly and cheerful, so much that it almost hurts your head.
"Oh, sorry, guess I got a little excited hehehehe. Adjusting volume."
"What." Is your onlu conscience thought at the moment. "
What? Where the fuck am I, and who the fuck are you?"
"Oooooohhh, fesity! And such language! Are you going to be like one of those 90s antiheroes that's all cool and wears only belts and leather and stuff, but is actually a softie? Also, oh yeah - " She, whoever she is, clears her throat.
"- I am your personal Cephalon. You can call me...Purple Heart! Because Purple is the best color, and Heart is a fucking awesome power, don't let anyone else tell you otherwise."
You can see several black stars buzz and distort, forming a shadow that morphs into a shape. She's a young woman, tall and well developed, dressed in...well, what can be only described as some futuristic skimpy catsuit with a pair of cyberwings. Her hair is braided into two long purple twintails, and her eyes shine with blue brightness.
"As for where you are...well, I guess...kinda inside of yoursefl? No-no, inside of your I.S core. Well, the mental perception of one, anyway." She shrugs.
"As to what I am, I suppose I'm sort of advanced 4-dimensional quantum substrate AI, based upon your neural imprint."
"Wait. Are you telling me that I am actually insane?"
"Hey!" She pouts.
"I should tell you, I am very cute! See? Nep-Nep-Nepu~Nepu~NeNeNe~Pupu!" She sings off-key.
"It could have been worse! I could have came out as some sort of translucent floating...triangle thing with split personality."
"Uh-huh." You glance around, ignoring her.
"So, what exactly am I supposed to do here? The techs weren't exactly...specific about things."
"Oh, these things run themselves basically." Purple Heart smiles.
"It's like plug n' play. The Core system just has to...aaaah, read your data? Something like that, anyway. As for myself, well, technically your brain can't process all the information required to seamlessly pilot an I.S; Cephalons like myself exist to filter out most data on subconscious level, as well as to provide tailored advice!"
Before you can say more, the girl pushes you around.
"Now, come, come! Here comes to fun part!"
Several stars descend from the firmament and unfurl into some sort of icons.
"
Soooo...okay like, the I.S Cores all come with this pre-set Warframe setups. Don't ask me how, I don't know either. Each of these forms...well, it's like character classes in video games. They have their own specializations and stuff. Some are fast and swift, some tanky...you get the idea."
You quickly scroll through the options.
"The system chooses the one best suited for me?"
Purple Heart smiles.
"No, that's the best part! You
choose. Actually, come to think about it, they're less like classes and more like...archetypes. They shift and adjust based on your experience, so no two are ever alike, even though they follow the same pattern. You humans can customize them then further, through distinct load outs and such."
"Uh-huh"
"Now, I need to stress this." Purple Heart says unexpectedly seriously. "
The system cannot be rebooted, so you must choosen wisely. Oh, and I recommend swords. Swords are the weapons of the hero, and therefore best."
You nod half-heartedly, before focusing on your options.
[]Excalibur: An excellent balance of mobility, defense and aggression, able to adapt and prevail under any circumstances. Master of both gun and the sword, always in the thick of the action.
[]Ash: Fast, elusive and lethal. Though it specializes in ambushes and evading detection, it is a mobile and durable frame, specialized in taking out hardened targets and keeping its Operator alive.
[]Mag: Fast and mobile, mastering magnetic and telekinetic forces to hinder and crush enemies, and to support allies. It is a fast attacker, that also fares well as support unit.
[]Volt: Durable yet extremely fast, Volt-type supplements itself with iridescent displays of electricity, that it can use for both offense and defense, against single or multiple opponents, making a versatile frame.
[]Loki: Extremely fast and mobile, Loki specializes in infiltration, stealth, ambushes, assassination and trolling. Though frail, it is a master of misdirection, always boldly striking where least expected.
[]Ember: Destructive and devastating, Ember harnesses heat and fire on the battlefield, specializing in suppressing targets and eliminating them...along with the environment.
[]Banshee: Master of sounds, Banshee is always one step ahead, never backed into the corner. Expert in detecting targets and silent kills, Banshee's sonic powers are no less lethal up close.
[]Rhino: Unyielding and unbroken, Rhino stands fast against storms of fire. Though slow, Rhino's durability is matched only by its rage. Capable of perfectly wading up close through fiercest attacks, its fists mean death.
[]Saryn: Poisons, toxins and acids are the name of the game. Statuesque and deadly, Saryn eludes its foes before striking with full might, supringly durable for its chosen tactics.
[]Nyx: Adept of illusions, psychological warfare and mind domination. It is a highly capable combatant in its own right, with just right balance of speed ans strength, but its true power lie in its ability to confound the mind of its foes.
[]Trinity: The great Equalizer, Trinity's powers are optimized towards survival and support. It is a capable combatant, but its true strength lies in ability to empower a team.
[]Frost: Though and enduring like its element, Frost protects itself and allies by manipulating its element to weaken foes and provide excellent defenses. Though sluggish, it is extremely durable, and more than capable of dishing out pain.
[]Oberon: Master of light and radiation, Oberon is a frame to emphasizes strike power and durability over pure mobility. Its powers also heal as much as they destroy.
[]Nekros: Alien and terrifying, Nekros may seem frail and weak, but it is fast, while being capable of impairing one's control, before raising its own allies to bury you under a pile of bodies.
[]Zephyr: Fast as the wind, hard as a hammer, Zephyr offers sublime mobility, defenses and conventional strike package, specializing in quickly dealing death from above, while saying mobile all the same.
[]Limbo: Quintessential magician, Limbo is in many places at the same time. Master of interdimensional mathematics, it pulls and teleports targets at will, striking from unexpected angles, and stacking the deck in its favor. On its own however, it is quite fragile.
[]Mesa: Well balanced in mobility and defense, Mesa is the ultimate gunslinger. Offering unmatched vision and reaction times, it is frame optimized for increasing the power of its firearms, quickly and precisely nailing its foes.
[]Mirage: Fast and aggressive, Mirage overwhelms its foes in spectacle of awe and firepower, bending light and shadows to its will.
[]Nova: Fragile and swift, Nova's appearance belies its mastery of the fundamental forces of the universe, able to tear apart legions at will.
[]Equinox: Master of duality, Equinox quickly shifts from a defensive form into offensive one, able to tackle any challenge.
[]Chroma: Consummate hunter, Chroma taps into several elements to surprise foes and gain an edge, but its true strength is its chassis that can divide into new weaponry.
[]Hydroid: Even water, so precious to life, can kill in excess. Its true master, Hydroid employs this versatile elements on the move, attack and defense.
[]Valkyr: Torment and Rage made manifest, Valkyr may be fragile, but she more than makes up for it in her speed, and overwhelming aggression.
[]Atlas: The quintessential brawler, each blow of Atlas can render the mountains apart, while remaining equally unmovable.
***
Heh, thought I wouldn't spring Warframe on you somehow?
Also, I only added the ones I used personally. Still way more than I expected.