Author's Note

So, here it is, everyone. Option 2 won out with a count of 16 to 11-my own vote going to Option 1, btw- so here's the story. I decided to do a prologue for each Act, with three acts each. While not exactly needed, they do help add context for the act it belongs to. Each will be in first, with the main story being in third person.

Prologue-Act 1- Departure

So, where to begin? Introductions, I suppose. My name’s Marcus Shay, one of the three members of the Triumvirate. You’re probably wondering what we are beyond the title. Well, I guess we’re what Jacob would call Displaced. You see, we were at a convention, the name escaping me , the three of us-me, Jacob, and his girlfriend, Sierra- dressed up as the different ACUs-or Armored Command Units- from Supreme Commander.

I was dressed as the United Earth Federation ACU. The outfit was blue and somewhat blocky. The head narrowed past forward, going just over the chest, even though the in-game model didn’t. My two arms held models of the ACU cannon and what I call the Proto-crafter, which is what allows it to build structures They were mirrored versions of each other, and I had it adjusted so my hands came out of the barrels.

Sierra was dressed as the ACU for the Aeon Illuminate, which is the most organic looking of the ACUs, and the outfit reflected that, as she was much better at making costumes than either of us. The shoulders came to a curve at the top, and went down to the bicep before straightening. Her right forearm had a brace on the underside, which was there both to have it on, but also resemble the game version, with the top just above and slightly curved Only thing missing were the prongs that acted as the focusing method for the weapon The left forearm was egg shaped and rotated so the wider part is at the end where her hand came out, and her helmet had six slits, three on each side so as to resemble the head of the Aeon ACU.

Jacob was our team edge lord by virtue of the fact the Cybran ACU is red with some black, and with six spikes on the head-three on each side- and two on each shoulder that looked more home on a fantasy game armor. As the least skilled, he asked Sierra for help with his, so his was somewhat accurate, with the right arm resembling an SMG with a curved lower half, just behind the barrel, which was absent on the outfit so his hand could be used. The left had a small plastic tube connected to the elbow going to the back, and a large, red version of a toy ARC reactor he had to resemble the chest upgrade for the Cybran ACU.

The three of us were talking about something I can’t remember, but I think it was the best faction in terms of ideology. I know Josh stood by the Cybran Nation in that regard, and I was with the UEF, as it was thanks to their predecessor the Cybrans even existed. Did they go too far? Yeah, but still, Brackman was nothing but a terrorist. Like I said, I don’t remember much from that day, as more interesting stuff happened. What I do remember was seeing a guy dressed as Brackman and a woman dressed as General Clarke, the founder of the Cybran Nation and military leader of the UEF in the first game, respectively.

I remember the three of us going over there, and looking at what they had, with Jacob being suspicious, saying something about Displaced. Honestly, I’m not sure if I wish we listened to him or not. I do remember what happened next, though. Jacob and Sierra were huge Halo fans-they met at a Halo tournament and their idea of non-sex fun time is killing Covenant and other people online- and the two merchants had a model Energy Sword and Storm Rifle. Sierra bought the Storm rifle, while Jacob hesitated. I remember rolling my eyes, and buying a model Plasma rifle to show him nothing was up. He still refused then, but when Sierra vanished in a flash of light, he just looked shocked for not even a second, then grabbed the Energy Sword model, and decked the Brackman and Clarke cosplayers, muttering, “Fuck,” before I blacked out.