In the distance, the echoes of explosions and plasma fire could be along with the occasional flash of light on the horizon. Deep in the mountains on Titans' surface a squadron of Valkyrie pilots restocked and recuperated before heading back out into the fighting.

Two of the members in the squadron were aboard their Mark VI Valkyries these were the newest standard issue for the Federation military. They were so new that they'd only had been in service for a few weeks on the day that the Terrans attacked Titan.

A heavy thud came in the direction from one of the pilots in the squadron, "Piece of shit", a man with short black hair muttered to himself.

"Blake, status report," another man appeared out from rock formation nearby, he was slightly older than his comrade but not by much. The name tag upon his combat suit read Chief Master Sergeant Fabianski.

Blake let out an overstretched sigh, "Nothing sir,"

"I need something Blake get it working"

Laughing to himself Blake couldn't help but respond sarcastically to his commanding officer, "That's better said than done sir..." he kneels back down preparing to have another crack at fixing the communications device "...there's more shrapnel in this shit can than connecting wires"

Fabianski has been developing a short fuse due to Blake's attitude, "I don't care how you do it just get me something!"

A few seconds went by before another one of their squadron members appeared from the cockpit of their Valkyrie this time it was a woman youngest amongst her comrades. Her brunette shoulder lengthed hair move with the gentle breeze of the wind. Her name tag read Staff Sergeant Towa.

"Fabianski, is it true about all Valkyries being redeployed to defensive protocols?" she asked her expression gave a sense of concern relating to this information.

Fabianski directs his attention back at Blake, "Dammit Blake, that's classified communique!"

In response to his commanding officers' anger, Blake turns around, "Get off my case..." he then goes back to fixing the communications device "...I hear whatever comes through and to be honest I agree with Towa, why the heck are Valkyrie Teams on defensive deployment"

"Want to know if we're losing?" Fabianski directs the question to his comrades.

Blake let's out a chuckle, "Dude we already know the answer to that, we want to know if we've lost"

Fabianski opened his mouth slightly before closing it shut to be honest with the state that Federation communications are in at the moment on Titan nothing is clear. He doesn't even know if there's a chain of command left or if reinforcements are even coming from the surrounding Federations military bases.

"Sir..." one of the pilots out on patrol radioed into his headset "...she's back" in response he looked up towards the sky seeing the blue coloured Valkyrie approaching their position in the mountains. Hazer walked through the pristine corridors of the hospital he had a few hours to spare before he and the rest of his team were being deployed to the Xeres Cluster. So he thought that he should spend what little time he had left with his family.

As he rounded a corner he was surprised to see that Niko and Takashi were conversing with one another the former giggling at the jokes Takashi were making. Hazer couldn't deny that it was a pleasant sight to see, both Aiko and Niko happiness was his top priority in life.

Both Niko and Takashi spotted Hazer at the end of the corridor both of them trying to be his attention unaware that the latter was lost in thought.

"Hazer!" Takashi shouted down the corridor this brought Hazer back to reality as he shook his head slightly before directing his gaze back at his little sister and friend.

"Oni-chan, I'm so glad that you're here" Niko called out sweetly with a gentle smile across her face. Hazer waved back before walking down the corridor towards his little sister and friend. Takashi looked on when he felt his cellphone vibrating in his pocket.

Pulling it out he looked at the screen and to his surprise it was a message from Captain Fraye, Takashi opens up the message upon the screen it read 'An unforeseen situation has developed near the Xeres Cluster once you and Hazer are finished you are to report to the briefing room at the Federation Carrier Solace'.

A sense of dread suddenly flooded Takashi as he looked around nervously this didn't go unnoticed by Niko. Once he realised Takashi forced a smile to give Niko a false sense of relief.