Chapter One: Twenty-Three Percent

Before Leon could speak, his wrist comm connected to the city emergency channel. "Enemy attack! This is not a drill!" "Northern perimeter breached!" "Unknown units approaching District Seven!" The Void. Leon's pupils tightened. Astra-X opened its chest armor. The cockpit glowed like a newborn star core. "Pilot Leon Voss," the ancient mech asked, "will you enter battle?" Above ground stood the city that had mocked him, the war that had taken his parents, and thousands who had not yet reached the shelters. Leon raised his head. His eyes were cold as newly forged steel. "Start." A giant mechanical hand descended and lifted him into the cockpit. The moment the hatch closed, the world became light.