Appearance:
Stands at about 6’3”. Muscular, broad shoulders, wide frame. Appears with some stubble at times, but typically shaves it off before it grows in too much. While he is unfamiliar with formal settings and schooling, he does understand the importance of at least not looking like he doesn't belong, and therefore strives to have his clothing neat and tidy.

Personality:
Stubborn as a mule and possessed of grit to match. Aron is relentless, focused, and determined, seeking to excel so as to create a better life for himself and his family back home. He understands that unlike his better-born peers, he has no other prospects to return to should he wash out. As a result, Aron is willing to do damn near anything it takes to get ahead, no matter how much it may go against his own comfort and morality. He has a mother and two younger siblings to support financially, and Chenkov Solutions is only going to keep putting them up so long as he’s putting out results.

On a personal level, Aron is casual but cautious. He’ll treat any stranger with wary decency until they do something to skew his opinion of them one way or the other. However, it’s easy to get on his bad side and he’s quick to hold a grudge. Aron may not act on these impulses immediately, given that his position at the academy is tenuous at best, but he remembers.

Surprisingly enough, Cadet Krol is a quick and avid learner despite his lack of quality formal education. Having taken some remedial classes before his entrance into the academy, the gaps in his schooling compared to his peers are still present, but closing at a decent pace. It’s evident that despite his lack of knowledge, he isn’t stupid or slow. Just underprivileged.

History:
Born in the outer colony of Ceres Station to two miners, life was difficult for Aron from the outset. He found himself as the older sibling and sole caretaker to a younger brother and sister from an early age, as the family wouldn’t be able to support three children without both parents mining out in the asteroid belts.

Things only grew harder for Aron as he grew up, with his father dying in a mining accident by the time he was fifteen, far from any available help. With one less source of income in the family now, Aron was forced to abandon life aboard the station taking care of his siblings to join a mining ship himself. Over the next three years, Aron embarked on the grueling life of an asteroid miner, working in dangerous conditions for little pay. Everything he made, he sent back to his family.

More than that, Aron found himself with something of a side hustle to supplement his income. Entertainment was scarce both on the stations and on the mining ships, and one of the only sources of such for bored and rowdy miners was a series of below-decks fight pits. Desperately needing the money, Aron started taking part and found that he had a knack for violence. The payouts and bets he put on himself went a long way to making sure his family had enough to eat, especially after his mother was forced to retire from mining due to an injury.

It was in one of the fight pits back on Ceres Station that Aron found himself being scouted by a Chenkov Solutions recruiter. After being declared the winner for the night, he was approached by the recruiter, who promptly offered him a better life if he could pull his weight as a test pilot. Aron didn’t even have to think about the offer. He just haggled the man up to include the rest of his family, and went off with him.

Chenkov Solutions was quick and efficient. Aron met with the head of the test program, listed his demands, and signed more forms than he cared to ever see in his life. Within a day, his mother and siblings were shipped off to company housing in the company's Mars compound, with the kids enrolled in school. As for Aron, he found himself...thrust into intensive remedial schooling. Despite the project head and the recruiter's promises that the Knight was designed more for a street fighter than an actual pilot, Aron still needed at least a basic formal education so as to not embarass the company by being an uneducated Outer Colony rube, and the Academy's next opening was still months off. Fortunately for everyone involved, Aron relished the chance to finally take part in the education he'd never had the opportunity to have, and surprised everyone involved as well by thriving in his studies.

Months later, with the Academy's start date finally in sight, Aron was at last shipped off to Doppler, eager to have the chance to prove himself and truly earn the better life he wanted.

Capability:

• Hand-to-hand combat
• Zero-gravity operations
• Tactical acumen

Appearance:
A medium-sized Knight with weight closer to a class below it. Primarily a short-range close-combat model, PROJECT: Maverick seeks to overwhelm the enemy with speed, agility, and integrated close-range weapons as the tip of the spear on the battlefield. The Knight's's foot thrusters allow it to glide along the ground, increasing land speed to high degrees. Built-in booster units enable short-range flight along with high-speed dashes to further close the gap from deployment to enemy. The frame carries supplemental micro-missile racks mounted on the shoulders for limited mid-range interdiction, although reloads are limited so as to minimize weight. As all of the unit's primary weaponry is integrated, it is free to carry mission-critical equipment without issue.

Manufacturer: Chenkov Solutions

Chenkov Solutions is a vertically-integrated corporate group aimed at producing more experimental Knight frames than the bigger names in the business. The bulk of its product line up to this point has focused largely on light-frame Knights intended for scouting and recon, with a focus on speed and agility. Its vertically-integrated supply chain allows CKS to produce at low costs thanks to the numerous mining interests it owns in the Outer Colonies.

Design:
Maverick is Chenkov Solutions’ first attempt at a top-of-the-line close-in combat Knight. Building off of the company’s previous experience with light scout units, PROJECT: Maverick aims to provide some of the fastest land speeds available to the UFAF, combined with agile handling and aggressive close armor penetration capabilities for heavy duty combat.

Unfortunately, the project’s specifications for agility were unable to be met without conversion into a System-Type, but this has resulted in a greater focus on melee combat, aiming to take advantage of a human pilot’s experience and reflexes. As such, the ideal pilot for this unit was one more experienced with real-life hand-to-hand rather than a more technically skilled operator. A pilot training on Shell-Types for all their life will be less able to handle this Knight than some pit fighter brought in off the street.

Armaments:

While PROJECT: Maverick is capable of using most UFAF weaponry, it was designed with specific weapons systems in mind.

Integrated:






Auxiliary:





Specification:

Appearance:
Despite only standing in a 5'2"(157cm) and weighing in at approximately 120 lbs (54.5 kg), Sara is surprisingly easy to spot in a crowd. Her face is pale and round, and she has clear, clean skin, with soft facial features. Her eyes are a dark, ruby red, and her ice white hair goes down to her waist, and is typically adorned with a bow. Her frame is small but lithe and its clear she keeps in relatively good shape. Her uniforms at the academy are all impeccably tailored to her form and are often worn with a short capelet and tights underneath the skirt.

Personality:
Friendly and even-tempered, Sara's demeanor is generally cheerful, and is easy to get along with. Sara is amicable and outgoing, but can often be stubborn, and has a tendency to be headstrong. Typically used to getting her way, Sara can be quite spoiled at times, but is generous and affectionate towards her friends and close confidants. Middling grades and a lackadaisical attitude towards most academics gives off a sense of spaciness and Sara can occasionally come off as an airhead, though she appears to have an intense interest in the practical workings and applications of Knights and their Autonomous counterparts. Typically able to act with proper decorum and poise in more formal settings, Sara trends towards being more meek or timid in situations or settings she doesn't understand or isn't comfortable with. In the cockpit of a Knight, Sara is confident and possessing of considerable will. During fights, Sara is fierce and stalwart, regularly placing herself at the front to draw enemies away from her teammates.

History:
>An excerpt from a student dossier analysis by faculty counselor Dr. Emil Sandoval
-The youngest child and only daughter to Bernard and Eloise Delacroix. Sara Delacroix is the youngest of 4 apparent heirs to the Luna based Durandal Group, one of the major players in the United Front's military industrial complex. The Durandal Group itself is composed of a number subsidiaries and companies developing a variety of weapon platforms and systems that see a fair amount of use in the UF's military forces. Durandal Group's manufacturing arm, Durandal Heavy Machinery, have been aggressively expanding into the Knight manufacturing market, focusing on the production of Shell-Type Knights. The DHM's current flagship program is the Chevalier platform, a durable frontline capable Shell-Type designed to prioritize pilot survivability. While not destined to inherit any major leadership role within the company, Ms. Delacroix still has not insignificant pull with the company and has access to many of its resources.

Before entering Doppler Academy, Sara was enrolled in the Durandal Group's Preparatory Academy in place of public education where she received general education along with more specialized training specifically tailored to the needs of Durandal Group. Her academic records and general business acumen was described as 'merely acceptable'. Sara also received hands-on time with the testbed version of the Chevalier frame, alongside extensive simulation training. Sara seemed to have come into her own here, going above and beyond according to all standards set by the simulators. Ms. Delacroix expressed considerably more interest in the processes involved with Knight functions, production and piloting as opposed to the more business side of management and began a small stint with DHM as a test pilot for their frames. While initially slated to proceed to Durandal's leadership academy, to participate in a more corporate role following her completion, Sara seemed less than enthusiastic about the prospect of it and expressed interest in Doppler Academy. While her parents weren't enthused by the idea, her brothers were more than excited about the prospect of one less competitor in the race for succession and supported her decision, willing to use several subsidiaries within Durandal Group to sponsor Sara's stay at Doppler.

Eventually her eldest brother Tynan would win out amongst her brothers, and Durandal Heavy Machinery formally sponsored Sara's training at Doppler Academy, citing that her familiarity with several of their frames already made her an ideal candidate for the school. While reluctant to allow her to leave, and generally disapproving of her presence there, her father has nonetheless allowed Sara to enter the Academy to serve the Durandal Group as one of its representatives at Doppler Academy. Overall, Sara appears to have middling-to-average academic performances but appears to excel in practical skills applications and technical knowledge, with an impressive simulation and training record.

Capability:
A talented Knight Pilot, Sara excels in frontline roles. Possessing a high degree of spatial awareness, Sara works well with primarily close quarters and CQB weapons systems, relying on her Knight's high durability and heavy weapons systems to deliver steady, consistent damage. Sara also has a good grasp on conventional small unit tactics, and a solid understanding of logistics and Knight technical specs.

Appearance :
Large and imposing, the Gendarme possesses the height of a medium sized Knight, but with the weight and armor of a heavy class machine. A suite of directional thrusters surround the entire machine, and a particularly large forward booster sits on its back. High powered thrusters underneath its feet allow the Gendarme to 'skate' across the ground. A set of racks behind the hips stores the Gendarme's weapons platforms, additional racks on its armored shoulder baffles and deployable compartments within its thighs allow it to store smaller handheld weaponry. While the mass produced version is intended on being painted a more conventional black and grey, Sara has insisted on painting her prototype a striking, bright red, as well as placing a large plume behind its sensor suite.

Manufacturer: Durandal Group - Durandal Heavy Machinery
Durandal Heavy Machinery is the primary Mechworks subsidiary of the Durandal Group. One of the major manufacturers for the UF Armed Forces, DHM has been rapidly expanding into the Knight manufacturing market, focusing on the production of Shell-Type Knights. DHM Knights are known for their durability and survivability, utilizing heavy frames and armor to provide the UFAF with viable frontline and general workhorse units. The DHM's current flagship program is the Chevalier platform, a durable Shell-Type designed to prioritize pilot survivability, and meant to fill the role of a main line combatant.

Design:
Project Gendarme is one of DHM's attempts to produce an upgraded version of their venerable DGK-07 Chevalier. Adopting the idea of a combined arms approach, DHM has produced several prototypes in tandem to put to market. The Gendarme is designed to fill the role of a heavy cavalry unit, just mobile enough to get into the thick of the fight, and durable enough to survive extended engagements. While the Gendarme is capable of using the full suite of Knight compatible weapons platforms, it is designed to function primarily as a close quarters combatant.

While far from the fastest Knight on the field in terms of overall land speed, the Gendarme can launch itself forward with short bursts of sudden speed and due to its directional thrusters is surprisingly maneuverable and dexterous for its weight and size. While many of its more advanced systems will likely be removed or downgraded for mass production versions, the prototype Gendarme has been spared no such expense.

Armaments:
While capable of utilizing the full suite of UFAF Knight compatible weapons systems, the Gendarme comes with several of its own purpose built weapons systems for its intended combat role. Due to limitations of space and logistics, the Gendarme does not typically carry all of its designed weapons systems, and loadouts typically consist of a single primary and a single secondary weapon, with auxiliary weapons carried as standard.

Primary:

• Partisan Beam Weapons System [+]

  The Gendarme's primary close combat weapon system is the specially made Partisan. The weapon itself is made of heavy duty, beam resistant alloys to prevent damage in close combat, with even its beam emitters well protected by a sheath of durable metals. The weapon's emitter projects a long energy blade, and can also deploy a pair of winged blades perpendicular to the main blade. The weapon itself is assembled in stages, the main haft can be attached to make the weapon a polearm, split in half to make a short spear, or the front end of the weapon can be held to be used as a sword. The main haft of the Partisan featured a set of remote controlled boosters, allowing the weapon to be thrown and retrieved. The Partisan's parts are stored on the Gendarme's back/hip rack.
  
  Secondary:
• 40mm 'Spitfire' Scattergun [+]

  A weapons system used heavily amongst the Chevalier line of Knights used for close to medium-close range engagements within 150 meters with its max effective range reaching 250 meters. The Spitfire scattergun fires 40mm canisters that fill the local space with superheated iridium pellets capable of melting through armor, though past its effective range the pellets lose heat and are no longer capable of dealing damage to hardened targets. The Spitfire fires at an automatic rate of 360 rpm and can fire 60 shells out of its magazine before needing to reload. 4 additional magazines are stored within the thigh compartments. Further complimenting its close range competency is a 1 meter 'mech' bayonet. The Spitfire can be stored on one of the racks on the Gendarme's shoulder baffles. Due to space limitations the Spitfire, Smartgun and Mini 30 typically cannot be carried into battle at the same time.
• 35mm 'Smartgun' Micro Missile Launcher [+]

  A relatively new weapons platform for use by UFAF Knights, the 'Smartgun' 35mm missile launcher takes on a shape similar to a conventional SMG. Using high velocity 'fuzzy' logic missiles, the Smartgun can rapidly and accurately engage targets within medium-close ranges with little input from the user other than pointing the weapon in their general direction. The individual explosives are not particularly powerful themselves, so the Smartgun fires these missiles from a 80 round magazine at a rate of 900 RPM. Up to 4 additional magazines are stored within compartments in the Gendarme's thighs. Like the Spitfire and the Mini 30, the Smartgun can be stored on one of the racks on the Gendarme's shoulder baffles. Due to space limitations the Spitfire, Smartgun and Mini 30 typically cannot be carried into battle at the same time.
• 30mm 'Mini 30' Autocannon [+]

  A cut down version of a full sized assault rifle style autocannon, the aptly named 'Mini 30' fires 30mm High-explosive incendiary/armor-piercing ammunition (HEIAP) from a 100 round box magazine. Thanks to its size, the Mini 30 is lightweight and fairly easy to manage in close quarters, but lacks the range and accuracy of its larger brother and is most effective within medium ranges. The Mini 30 has semi-automatic, 5-round burst, and fully automatic firing modes, and has a fire rate of 600 RPM. Up to 4 additional magazines are stored within compartments in the Gendarme's thighs. Like the Spitfire, the Mini 30 can be stored on one of the racks on the Gendarme's shoulder baffles. Due to space limitations the Spitfire, Smartgun and Mini 30 typically cannot be carried into battle at the same time.
  
  Auxiliary:
• Beam Gladius [+]

  An emergency combat weapon stored in one of the Gendarme's shoulder baffles or within its shield. Powerful energy emitters project a long sized knife or a shortsword style blade. Ideal for close quarters when the 'continuum of force' has been reduced to hand to hand combat. For optimum performance, the leading edge, 'pointy end', should be applied to the enemy and thrust into vital regions. This should be repeated as necessary.
• Combat Kite Shield [+]

  Even in the age of building sized war machines, the humble shield still finds its way onto the battlefield. A slab of composite alloys, with a layer of heat resistant 'anti-beam' coating along the face, the combat shield does what one would expect it to do: provide directional protection from oncoming attacks. The shield has a small cutout to mount the barrel of a gun on, and is mounted onto the Gendarme's forearm for hands free operation. It is too large and heavy to be carried on any of the Gendarme's storage racks and must be carried by hand into and out of battle.
• Buckler 20mm CIWS [+]

  A standard UFAF 20mm vulcan cannon attached to the side of Gendarme's head unit to provide it defense from small threats and missiles. It possesses a high rate of fire, but has a limited ammunition magazine that only provides it 20 seconds worth of continuous fire. While capable of being used offensively, it lacks the ammunition to leave lasting damage against harder targets like AKs or other Knights. Still, in a pinch it is capable of being used to finish off vulnerable or otherwise softened targets.

Systems & Specification: Alongside its suite of weapons, the Gendarme also utilizes several design specific systems to further its role as a main line combatant.

• DHM Composite-C Heavy Armor Plating [+]

  Overtop it's substantial plating, the Gendarme is encased in an additional layer of heavy armor, providing it with considerable protection from enemy attack. Intended to absorb large amounts of damage, the individual plates on the Gendarme sport a layer beam resistant coating and can be selectively detached and ejected to shed the Knight's overall weight or when they are too damaged to continue providing protection. They can then be quickly replaced or serviced at a base or station capable of servicing Knights.
• Miron Dynamics Countermeasures System [+]

  To assist in its frontline role, the Gendarme features a small munitions launcher built into its front and rear skirt. The munitions launcher contains a small magazine of canisters that release a combination of smoke and chaff into the immediate area to obfuscate the Gendarme from view and sensors to either cover its retreat, or assist in an advance.
• DHM 'Linebacker' KR-Assault Booster [+]

  Even while using its thrusters to 'skate' across the ground, the Gendarme and other heavy Knights like the Chevalier can find their land speed to be lacking. To assist in that, the Gendarme has a specially modified KR device that acts as an enhanced booster attached to its back, granting it short, but sudden bursts of speed in combat. The booster is too taxing on the KR-Engine and the knight's frame itself to be used as a means of consistent transportation, and has a limiter in place to prevent damage to the system and to allow expended particles to be 'recharged'. The Linebacker Booster in its current state allows short single second pulses for quick repositioning or tackling maneuvers, or a single 10 second burn for an extended charge.

Appearance: Standing at 5'8, and having a above average build. Despite his attempts to fit in, which he is little knowledge in formal or schooling matters, and there are noticeable details that stand out on his clothing. Most of the time barely passing what would be considered normal for someone in high society or school. His most stand out detail is his two color eyes which is not heterochromia but the result of having an artificial eye that was made a diffident color on purpose to tell which is real and the other artificial for easier identification and maintenance purposes.

Personality: Mirko can be described as a shy and cautious person. Someone that tends to be quiet and let himself blend in with the background when he could. Just focusing on his duty and being careful not to mess up. More so after losing his left eye in a mining accident.

Now in his new life, Mirko is determined to keep his word to his mentor and not let him down. Becoming a bit of a self-critical person whenever he messes up. With him being loyal to those that he considers family and friends. But, once that trust is broken then it is hard for him to trust that person again. One that likes to keep his word and be reliable. Eager to show that despite being an Outer Colony miner, that he has what it takes to be a mech pilot. Which he has the knowledge about mechs and mech pilots to back him up. Thanks to his mentor and is always eager to learn more things. Along with being a fast learner, though has some gaps in his education. But can keep up with his fellows despite his origins.

History: Hailing from the outer colony Vesta asteroid base and an only child. Mirko's early life, was hard as both of his parents had to work as miners. Often times working long hours and, as a result. Mirko barely saw them, and for the most part, he was raised by a friend of the family. An old retired miner named Artyom, who took Mirko under his wing. Teaching him what he knew, and for an old miner, he knew more than you would think. Teaching him about technology and the ins and outs of being a mech pilot. Something that Mirko's parents would question whenever Mirko would speak about what Artyom taught him.

Mirko's life would, unfortunately, get harder once his parents died in a mining accident when he was fifteen. Leaving him sadden and now forced to work the mines to sustain himself. He would still keep in contact with Artyom whenever he could despite this, even after he suffered a mining accident and lost his left eye. Without the means to get a replacement, Mirko was left with a simple eyepatch and would work for two years like this.

It was until he was seventeen that Mirko hit an unexpected break. For it was revealed that Artyom used to be a genius mech engineer that is a part of the Akulov family. A Martian family that owns the Akulov Corporation. Turns out that after being on the wrong end of a corporate succession crisis. Being forced out of the corp and forced into the Outer Colonies by his upstart nephew. Only now, they want him back after losing significant capital to a major scandal, and now there is new leadership in the corporation, his sister.

Artyom would agree to return and take his rightful place on a major role in the corp but made two conditions. One, he would be allowed to work his way, and two, he would bring Mirko along with him, and he be trained as a mech pilot. They would agree to his terms, and Mirko was surprised at the news and the recommendation. Artyom was convinced that Mirko had what it takes to be a mech pilot and knew this would lead to a better and meaningful life than the one he had. He was convinced by Artyom's words and swore he would not let Artyom down.

Mirko would spend a year doing remedial sessions to properly educate him and was progressing faster than his teachers thought, especially in regard to technology. Along with being an artificial eye for his missing eye. By the time it was time to apply to the Academy, he was more than ready to start his new life and to keep his word to Artyom.

Capability:
Technology Expert
Zero-gravity operations
Driven
Marksman

Appearance: Being a medium sized knight and standing at 10 meters. An entirely new knight shell model. The Deadeye is a specifically created long range/support fighter that is Akulov Corporation's first venture into making long-range fighters. The light blue and white color scheme is the default and can be changed depending on the mission.

Manufacturer: Akulov Corporation - Akulov Corporation is a technology corporation that started with making civil and later military hardware. An old player in the Knight industry and known for making reliable and top-quality Knights. At first, making front-line Knights, but it was after a major scandal with their Knights that their reputation was damaged due to releasing a new Knight model that was knowingly inferior to their old models and tried to sell it as state of the art. Now with new leadership in the corp, the Akulov Corporation has turned away from front-line models to long range/support models, and the new Deadeye project is showing promise in that regard.

Design: Project Deadeye is Akulov Corporation's first attempt at making a top-quality long-range/support Knight. Designed as a sniper Knight that operates from long range in battle but can also fire cannon strikes to better support allies in the field. While being mobile enough to quickly to reposition when needed but armored enough that it can take a hit and keep going. Though not designed for melee combat, the Deadeye has a backup melee weapon if needed.

Specification:







Subsystems:

Appearance:
Illya's colossal height of 171cm is hardly going to intimidate anybody, but at least his stature lets him fit into cockpits with ease. He's an athletic sort, light in build and quick to react, and always gives an energy that he's always ready to spring to life. Illya never had a whole lot of experience with the "upper echelons" of life, and with it comes an unfamiliarity with the conventions some in the academy might find utterly banal. His uniform is always just slightly off - a crumpled collar, an undone button, his tie loose and crooked, so on.

Personality:

Illya usually comes off as fairly easygoing, if a bit jockish, getting competitive with a lot of mundane contests as a form of camaraderie and a healthy dosage of energy. He's a person who enjoys pushing boundaries, not just for the things he cares about, but also those around close to him: Illya will usually encourage others to push themselves beyond their usual limits through these little contests, which he can get particularly heated over. He doesn't mind a bit of roughhousing and generally is pretty open to new experiences.

Illya's drive for becoming the best pilot the galaxy has ever known is matched only by the most arrogant and self-centered of Knight Aces: For every other subject of his studies, Illya is a straight C student, and it's not for lack of trying. He isn't unintelligent by any means, but he does lack the discipline to really shine when it comes to doing things that don't occupy the forefront of his mind. When he puts his mind to something, the results are often fantastic and innovative, but Illya doesn't do well with "busy work" and other humdrum things that one also needs just for basic education. Organization isn't exactly his strong suit; he's a bit messy and tends not to get chores and homework done right away, usually waiting until the absolute last minute to get them into gear. What he might lack in tidiness he sure doesn't lack in loyalty. He's a very upfront person and is fairly easy to get down-to-earth with, and it's usually fairly difficult to truly get on his bad side.

History:

Born as Alexandra Karamazov in the Velara metropole, the child of a mid-level manager at a faltering pneumatics engineering firm and a data analyst was viewed to be among the many unassuming children who would call the many arcopoli of Mars "home". Money was never really a concern to the Karamazov household: Data analysis across the numberless manufactorums of Mars was a thankless position from which ceaseless new reports and corrections emerge, while the ailing Svarov Engineering Works had fallen to the wayside as investors and contractors got cold feet, but kept afloat to a steady stream of royalty payments and bond invetments. The Karamazovs were housed in one of Mars' many apartments with few luxuries and little downtime to enjoy the ones they had together. Their parents were loving but rather distant: Both of them could rarely spend time with them and dedicated much of their time to their work duties, leaving their child to be raised in the care of others.

Come secondary school - like a lot of teenagers - Illya thought that the coolest thing you could possibly be and do was pilot a Knight. Piloting a Knight was cooler than being Grand Marshal of the United Front. Piqued from a young age, Illya strove to enroll in one of his secondary school's piloting clubs. The club of the school had officially mandated that 18 was the age of self-entry - much too young for him when he started secondary school, but could be shortened to 14 with their parent's permission. They took the initiative in this circumstance and forged their mom's signature on the document and sent in the papers. When Illya's parents found out, they were understandably disappointed, but whereas their mom grew to be more supportive of the endeavor as time went on, his dad never really caught on to the idea - he insisted that the whole affair was far too risky with too little payoff for it to really catch on into a career, and insisted that Illya put his schoolwork ahead of any pursuits of piloting. He would do well, scoring in several championships, but his school wasn't anything on anybody's radar. Sponsors passed the place up - it was one of countless thousands of secondary school clubs all over Mars and none of any particular prestige or homage. And for a time, his father was right to say that his future as a pilot would go nowhere.

Until Svarov Engineering Works was purchased as a subsidiary under AMKA group.

Illya's father was now a proud engineering manager at AMKA, and at his inauguration party, he spent that entire fated night in various state of inebriation, storming about the party space ranting and raving and pacing as he dithered on his diatribe against virtually every disappointment he had in his now-son - said and unsaid. This lasted for about an hour, when his final remark had struck an otherwise aghast audience of promoters and executives at their new firm, when he remarked how he had wished, "(he) spent his time studying and not becoming 'champion' of that stupid knight-sim club."

The director of promotion had just looked up from his datawatch. He looked back down, re-checking something. He nodded back, and his eyes widened at the confirmation of his thought:

It was about to be Pride Month. And either, they could do another boring campaign - a little story here about some nonsense about 'equal opportunties in engineering', a few flags there - and maybe some modest returns on an utterly overused generic feel-good tirade...but that never looked good to the board and superiors.

Or, he could push his bets on an underdog - give a kid a dream who never had a whole lot and run with it - and make an advertising campaign off him that'd push AMKA from a niche mobile knight developer to the forefront of people's hearts and minds. And spend a tenth of the budget of an advertising campaign on a sponsorship, too.

So, he stepped forward, almost ready to allow himself to be punched or toppled or have a glass smashed over his head for what he might say against an impassionate drunkard's flesh and blood, and spoke curiously:

"Mister Karamazov...how old did you say they were?"

Mr. Karamazov blinked. "Eighteen." he answered.

The director nodded. He cracked a warm smile back at him. He was drunk out of his mind, sure, but this was a chance: A chance to capitalize on an opportunity, to get an in, to get them to look good - and if this worked, they'd be killing a whole flock with a single stone toss. The lean man took another step forward, folding his hands behind his back.

"Has he been accepted to university or academy?" the director inquired. Mr. Karamazov looked down into his glass, shaking his head once.

"Hasn't accepted anything yet." he snorted. He gestured to take another sip of his near-depleted drink, but stopped at his lips. "Nobody has given 'em sponsorship."

The news delighted the director into bloom, stretching the corner of his lips ear-to-ear.

"Oh." he nodded back politely. That caught his attention. Mr. Karamazov looked up, pulling his glass down. Right where he wanted.

"He's the champion of his knight-sim club, you said?" Mr. Karamazov rose an eyebrow, slowly nodding in perplexion. The director gestured behind his back. Seconds later Mr. Karamazov felt his datawatch buzz; He'd received a contact invitation.

"What was his name, again?"

---

Capability:

If nothing else, Illya has heart. He doesn't give up on things easily and is ready to go in for a penny and in for a pound. For those of us who like more quantitative measures, Illya is very quick to react to things, good in making quick decisions and thinking on his feet. Coupled with some sharp eyes and good perception, Illya is good at noticing threats at a distance and being able to engage first. With much of his time spent towards engagement exercises and their review, he's good at predicting movements and adjusting himself in turn.

Appearance:

The Yona is a medium Knight frame, built from a modified skeleton of the Vovchek program. Standing at 9 meters tall and weighing in at 15.7 metric tons unspecced, the Yona is a general-purpose knight frame that serves as AMKA's second product offering into the knight's field. Illya's Yona is currently painted with its default desert tan and black color scheme, though there have been plans made for different coloration schemes to be present.

Manufacturer:

AMKA (Аерокосмічна та механічна конструкція аргір / Aerokosmichna ta Mekhanichna Konstruktsiya Argir, Argyre Design for Aerospace and Mechanics) is a rapidly-growing engineering group specializing in aerotech and hydraulic technology. AMKA is one of the newest hounds in the pack - young, sharp of teeth, and full of energy - but they're far from top dog. No doubt though, they have some ideas about changing some of that...

Originally founded as a specialized producer of gravitational technologies for spacecraft and outer colony platforms, AMKA has grown considerably in the past few decades, the result of smart business decisions and keen company buyouts. The company is most well-known for its civilian applications, specializing in industry and commercial tech, but in the past decade they have begun to make long strides in military technology. Their flagship project, the AMKA Vovchak, was far from the most innovative Knight design, but placed a unique selling point in its ease of maintenance, modularity, and low cost.

Design & Specification:

After the success of the Vovchek's market penetration, AMKA was ready to undertake a truly fledged knight project. Pulling out all the stops from their previous project - the Vovchak - AMKA felt that it was time to stop producing just above cost and instead focus on the failings of its past project. Key shortcomings of the Vovchek typically included limited hardwiring, narrow field of vision, and sluggish responsiveness.

Projekt Yona was specifically developed in order to counteract all of these main issues. Boasting an improved panoramic vision system, stronger transmission, and refined electronic wiring, Yona retains all of the strongest points of its predecessor in being a versatile, all-rounding system without the issues that plagued the Vovchek, while maintaining its modularity and ease of maintenance and enhancing its handling.

Though it shares over 80% commonality in skeletal parts with the AMKA's earlier Vovchak line, the Yona's external composition is vastly different. With superior composition in PLET and beryllium carbide ablative overlay on top of a titanium alloy frame, the Yona sports a fantastic power-to-weight and defense-to-weight ratios. As with its predecessor, the Yona sports several hardpoints for various weapon and support systems, giving it a significant degree of mission adaptability.

Armaments:

The Yona is capable of the utilization of all but the most niche of UFAF weaponry, but has been outfitted with a number of specific weapon systems for its initial display.







Subsystems:

The Yona comes with following additional systems:

Appearance: Standing at five feet eleven inches, Jean-Marie is tall, but quite slim. She's plain, and doesn't do anything to accentuate her appearance. She wears no makeup, and does nothing to her hair other than keep it clean and untangled. Similarly, she does away with all optional pieces to her uniform, though what she chooses to wear is kept immaculate. She opts for pants rather than the skirt that most female students wear.

Her bearing is strict and controlled, and she speaks with a light French accent.

Personality: Some might say "disciplined," some might say "rigid." Jean-Marie was brought up as a soldier, and it shows. She is uncompromising in her pursuit of following orders and regulations, but hasn't had the freedom to think about what she wants out of life. On the positive side, she is cool under pressure, and generally unflappable. Insults bounce right off her. At least, those directed at her specifically. Slander on her sponsor is borne much less patiently.
She is unused to the company of people her own age, and doesn't know how to behave with them. She tends to default to military etiquette.

History: Jean-Marie originally came from an urban colony on Mars, where she lived with her mother, and eight-year-younger brother Gerard. They lived in Petite Paris, a town set up for low level employees of the Durandal Group. Her mother worked from home as a phone operator for Durandal Group's complaint line(their many subsidiaries all funnel into the one customer service department), and as a result often shooed her eldest daughter out of their studio apartment to keep the space quiet.

There is a project, headed by the Durandal Group, that places mech simulation machines in arcades and malls. They're not particularly accurate, and they're advertised as simple games, but the true purpose is to gather usage data to identify potential pilot candidates.

Durandal Group employees were given a stack of vouchers for themselves, or their families to use, and Jean-Marie was given all of these that her mother received. Aa she was rarely allowed in the home during the day, she used them all, and quickly racked up every high score position at her local arcade's machine. Her data was flagged by an algorithm, and sent to an analyst who noted, and promptly disregarded her age. She was ten.

Jean-Marie was recommended by some nameless analyst, and was not consulted at all when her mother was approached about a position in a very special school run by the Durandal Group. She would be cared for, of course, and a stipend would even be sent back to her family. And wasn't it her responsibility to help take care of her younger brother? Wouldn't she be taking a lot of burden off of her poor mother?

Around seven years later, the young woman who was sent to Doppler to represent Durandal Heavy Machinery was almost unrecognizable.

Capability: She has good reaction speed and fine control. Coupled with excellent pattern recognition, she makes for a good marksman. At medium range, she can pick targets out of complex terrain, or even a melee with friendly units. She has excellent control over surprisingly large amounts of firepower.
She's one of probably very few students at Doppler who have had actual infantry training in addition to piloting.

Manufacturer: Durandal Group - Durandal Heavy Machinery
Durandal Heavy Machinery is primarily the Mechworks subsidiary of the Durandal Group. One of the major manufacturers for the UF Armed Forces, DHM have been rapidly expanding into the Knight manufacturing market, focusing on the production of Shell-Type Knights. DHM Knights are known for their durability and survivability, utilizing heavy frames and armor to provide the UFAF with viable frontline and general workhorse units. The DHM's current flagship program is the Chevalier platform, a durable Shell-Type designed to prioritize pilot survivability, and meant to fill the role of a main line combatant.

Armaments:










Specification:


Though generally on the heavier side, the Fusilier is lighter than its cousin, the Gendarme. It’s designed for mid to close ranged combat, though CQC is a last resort. Its mobility is hindered somewhat by thrusters that are oriented primarily for vertical takeoff, meant to reach higher vantage points.