DUALITY

Summary
Duality is centered around the origin story of John Orion, and his misadventures in the Project X machine, Ruby Kingship. With the aid of the rouge AI, LES(LIE), he is hunted down by the war-hungry pilot Cameron Baltimore and his Urban Dreadnought. His escape from the LCDM (as they haven’t been the nicest to his family, and thus reveals the major flaws of the NDRC) ends up with him in the hands of the early UNI members, led by Marie Winhart and Rick Longbow (with Katherine Isakura) who were planning to rebel against the neglectful LCDM. With these ideals in mind, he decides to support the UNI in their plot to weaken the faction.

Along the way, they run into a mysterious mercenary named Nightwatch, who was brainwashed by a Celestial Strider AI bent on the destruction of Garrisai, and will commonly attack the machines it encounters. Cameron is advised by Will Palmer, the assistant leader of the NDRC. As for John, he is helped by Zachary Omega, who sometimes helps the UNI if the price is right.

This story happens before the events of Harbinger—LEGACY, and thus is around the same time of the Mercury Legion overthrowing the AECMU. Thus, many of the characters (such as Marie and John) are just around 18. None of them had reached any form of power yet, and are just working under their supervisors.

Characters

 * - John Orion: Yoshi. He's very laid back and will only resort to violence when the need arises. Cares dearly for his friends and can be a leader, but hates it when he's used or manipulated. He loves piloting the Kingship when he does get a chance to use it. Other than that, he'd much rather keep things peaceful.
 * - Cameron Baltimore: Cameron. Being the impulsive warrior who's more of a glorified commander rather than a leader, he's at his best when working alone. Like the Cameron of EYC, he rarely swallows his pride and is almost always found trying to show off his power in the Dreadnought. Prefers to crush his enemies with overwhelming firepower and hates it when they outsmart him.
 * - Des: Robro. At first this AI is still prone on the extinction of the Human race in the name of its alien superiors, despite the FGC ending over three centuries ago. He manipulates the clearly lost Charlie LaMaris into becoming the deadly warrior Nightwatch, as a host to destroy all other Garrisai. It eventually loses its control on Charlie, and takes a change of heart as the host it once used converts it to a more peaceful state of mind. That is, until PURITY rolls around, and Des would take another stab at killing off humanity...
 * - Charlie LaMaris: Mr. C. Being a NDRC Spy, he's often as covert as his job and rarely tries to reveal his true intentions. While he is willing to help people out of sheer curiosity, he always has a second meaning to his words. When Charlie was brainwashed by Des and became Nightwatch, his covert personality was accentuated into a unthinking, merciless warrior.
 * - Zach Omega: Mr. Z. After becoming the successor to his father's manufacturing company known as Omega Armories, he took his newfound power and capitalized off of it. Zach is in it for himself when it comes to missions, and there has seldom been a time where his intentions were pure. While his charismatic approach to people can get him what he wants, making genuine relationships with people doesn't interest him...not anymore.
 * - Marie Winhart: Arby. As the perceived first pioneer of the Unscathed Neo-Insurrectionists, Marie is an independent thinker and wants what's best for her followers. Despite her skills both in leadership and combat, she can become disillusioned by a plan that's working very well, and fail to realize its potential flaws. In the end, she often receives gratuitous help from her partner in crime, Rick Longbow.
 * - Rick Longbow: Chief. Having experienced a lifetime of conflict as old as the First Armeli Invasion, Rick has seen almost all of what wars have come to offer. After sharing similar ideas to Marie Winhart's, he decided to help her in her scheme to start the UNI. While seeming grumpy and ignorant, Rick will die protecting what he cares for, despite his usual pessimism.
 * - Katherine Isakura: Epic Sauce. Even though she became an orphan very early in life, Kate has always found the good in a situation. After being taken in by Marie Winhart and Rick Longbow (though mostly Marie), she would train to become one of the UNI's deadliest soldiers. During the events of Duality, she is nowhere close to piloting a Garrisai, but that wouldn't stop her from making a difference during many of the conflicts the UNI encounter.
 * - Will Palmer: Candy Corn. While he was often brushed off by Cameron Baltimore, advisor Will Palmer would rarely let his friend get into trouble without him having a say in it. Being the supervisor in many of the Dreadnought’s missions, Will was able to execute a number of them successfully from his battlefield tactics and knowledge of combat. To Cameron's annoyance, Will was very talkative when commanding him, and thus made any of their missions a two-person cooperative.