Gunmetal Grave
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The Republic of Dierna is honor-bound to defend its protectorate: the city-state of Icia. When massive creatures invade Icia, Dierna sends in giant humanoid war machines known as "Angels" to put them down. While the streets of Icia are often a battlefield between monster and machine, Dierna uses the climactic clashes to serve as a display of force to their co-protector and rival nation: The Federacy of Nova Svetline. As tensions grow, a cold war begins and the nations race to create the perfect weapon. Just as Dierna's newest project "Archangel" grinds to a halt, ethics are soon thrown out the window as they exploit and abuse the strange powers of a young girl—none other than the project lead's own daughter Sophia. ⁂ Sophia Addison never wanted to be a pilot. She wanted to be an idol. She dreamed of singing and dancing on stage before a crowd of adoring fans. Yet, an affliction kept her homebound, forcing her to hide behind a screen and take up the guise of the virtual idol White Rozaria. Her affliction, however, came with mysterious powers. As her nation ramps up the ever-marching war machine, Sophia's ripped away from her fantasy life and put into the cockpit of a machine built only for death and destruction where her powers are exploited. When Ruby Fields—an up-and-coming criminal investigator—becomes obsessed with the virutal idol's disappearance, he quickly begins to unravel the myriad crimes surrounding Dierna's R&D division and the mysterious weapons manufacturer known only as Skylark. Now, Ruby will have to decide just how far he'll go to expose the crimes of his own nation, rescue a girl he's never met, and reunite her with her only dream. --- Gunmetal Grave is a dramatic action story with some horror and technothriller elements to it. There is a heavy emphasis on character's emotions, personal growth, mental health, and struggling with one's convictions over their beliefs and morality. This story is also quite anime/game-inspired. The primary inspirations are music/mecha fusions such as Macross and Symphogear alongside mecha games/shows like Gundam and Front Mission and Armored Core. Gunmetal Grave is directly linked to my other story, Heroine Syndrome. It takes place in Dierna: a protector of the city-state of Icia and the primary focus of Heroine Syndrome. Another story is planned for the third nation of Nova Svetline, though the name has yet to be decided. The events in each story happen in parallel, yet at some point they'll converge as the three powers vie for sovereignty, dominance, and peace. CW: Some gory violence. Progress: Part I of III in progress. Chapter 3 of 22 written. Parts II and III plotted/planned/outlined.