Within the far reaches of space, beyond the beautiful planet of Planet Houston was the war to end all wars.

It was called the Celes War and involved the two warring factions known as the Galactic Independence Army who wanted to conquer the universe as we know it and the United Space Defense Force of Houston who wanted to defend what they believe they rightfully owned.

In the year 1984 of the Galactic Century, Space Station Delta crashed into Kowlin Space Colony 019: Macbeth, killing over half of its population.

Ever since people live in a consistent state of anxiety, grief and depression, never being able to forget the tragedy of that day. 

Alarms blare as Katz McCoy, otherwise known as Courier #24601 of Space Express runs through the corridors of the Express ship. He was rushing to the hangar where that heavy war robot was waiting.

That Advanced Unit they were meant to be delivering to the Defense Force in Colony 98, well they were gonna have a delayed delivery as they were under attack by Galactics.

Logistically you’d think they wanted the giant war weapon and yes they do, but they were also after Rachel. 

He had to save his best friend Rachel!

When he reached the hangar, he saw the war weapon towering over him. If he was to say anything, it looked like a lion with how its helmet had pointy ears and teeth hung from the bill of it. 

He didn’t have time to look at it.

He has to save Rachel!

With a jump, the young courier launches himself to the walkway of the hangar, where he could access the cockpit of the Advanced Unit.

It didn’t take much strength for him to open up the hatch and enter the cockpit. There’s a computer screen, two control sticks mounted to the chair and a whole bunch of buttons.

Katz quickly fastens himself into the seat with the belt and turns on the Advanced Unit. 

He’s at least familiar with the controls as he’s already been accustomed to the ground mechs known as Mobile Fighters. 

There’s no time to wait for the hangar to open, so he quickly grabs a beam rifle that’s hooked to the wall and blasts the hangar door open and launches to space.

His head slams into the headrest as he launches but he quickly stabilizes himself and rockets to the battle. His target isn’t in sight but he can see small flashes of light ahead.

With a push of the control sticks he begins to rocket himself towards the enemy. Sweat builds up in his palm, loosening his tight grip on the control sticks.

It doesn’t take long for the young courier to find himself face to face with his attackers. It seems their battle was over as the only thing Katz could see was the devastation, all of Space Express’ defense forces were dead, debris of their ships drifting through the space.

Then he saw the perpetrator of this carnage, an Advanced Unit much like the one he’s piloting but coated purple and black.

Did one single person really cause all of this?

Fear shakes him for a single moment but his need to save Rachel overpowers it.

Suddenly, a voice comes over the comms system

“A Defense Soldier? In these parts of the galaxy?” the enemy unit asks, he seems to be in shock at the fact he’s here. 

“I’m not a soldier, I’m a courier and I’m here to take back Rachel!”

“Ah the girl? Well she’s already being transported within our ships, you’ll never reach her in time.”

“We’ll see about that!” He quickly fires a beam at the enemy unit.

The Express ship already sent out a distress signal, all he has to do is bide time until the Defense Forces get here to protect his own ship.

The enemy unit dodges.

“I would like to know the name of the foolish boy I’m about to kill, afterall, I’m a man of honor and would like to give you a proper burial and your family my condolences.” he says, his voice sounding that of an aristocrat in Katz’ head.

“Katz McCoy,” he replies.

“Ah Katz, an unusual name. I’m Captain Drech of the Alicorn warship.”

He doesn’t care what his name is, he’s going to kill him!

Katz bounces back and fires another beam shot, it hits the shoulder of Drech’s Unit, disabling the left arm.

“A good shot, but not good enough!”

Drech thrusts into Katz’ Unit and disarms him, throwing the Beam Rifle across space.

CRAP!

He needs to think of something quickly!

Katz could feel his heart stuck in his throat, his breathing uneven as sweat pours down his face and palms. His grip on the control sticks was basically non-existent. 

Quickly Katz, think of something.

Yet he isn’t quick enough as he is blinded by a bright slash and the sound of sizzling and wires cackling.

Drech has hit him with a Plasma Saber, lodged in between the shoulder and body of the Advanced Unit, slowly slicing through it.

“Impulsiveness was your downfall young Katz, I’ll make sure we find a patch of land to bury what remains of your body in.”

No, he didn’t want to die.

He can’t die.

He didn’t want to die!

With a loud sob of defeat, Katz curls into himself with realization he is going to die.

He wasn’t going to see his parents again and worst of all, he failed to save Rachel from the Galactics. 

“Someone save me, please!” 

That’s when he heard a child's laughter, a child’s laughter everywhere but he couldn’t find the source of it.

Where is that creepy laughter coming from?

That’s when he felt a warm set of arms wrap around him. 

“I’ll save you, just trust me…”

Looking up, he saw a boy around his age, he had unkempt brunette hair and his eyes were charming, he’s wearing a school uniform too. He’s so attractive, Katz couldn’t help but be swept up by a charming prince.

“Please, please help me… I’ll do anything for you,” he begs.

“Of course I will, I just want you in return.”

“Yes, yes… just save me!”

“Then we have a deal…”

Katz slowly closes his eyes, enveloped by the warmth of his Prince Charming and drifts away to sleep.

In reality, there wasn’t a boy with him, there wasn’t anybody but Katz inside yet that creepy laughter of a child still persists. It was even heard by Captain Drech himself.

“What, what is that noise?” he demands, his Unit looking left and right for a source.

Katz’s eyes snap open as a wicked grin forms on his face, the skin under his eyes now glowing a light blue as he starts humming the tune of an upbeat children’s song.

Within seconds, Katz wields his own Plasma Saber using his free arm and stabs slices himself free by chopping off Drech’s own arm, disabling him completely.

That’s not Katz piloting!

“What, what are you doing!?” he demands, panic rooted in his voice.

Katz’ simply answers, “Just doing a delivery of a plasma saber to your chest. After all, Couriers are great at deliveries!” He laughs at his own joke.

“That’s not funny, you’re not the same boy I was fighting before hand!”

Katz merely shrugs as he rushes in and stabs the Plasma Saber through the cockpit of Drech’s Advanced Unit.

All Katz’ could hear is Drech’s blood curdling screams as the core of the Advanced Unit starts to explode. 

Katz’ kicks himself away before he could be caught in the explosion.

The young courier watches the Advanced Unit explode and as he is blinded by the light, Katz laughs and laughs.

Laughing until there was nothing but light. 

When the Advanced Unit is retrieved by the nearby Dreamer Base 01 and Battlestation-Chronus, they’re beyond shocked by what they saw when they opened up the cockpit. 

They were expecting the lone survivor of Space Express Ship: Lionel, a young boy named Katz who rushed into battle, in an attempt to save other survivors.

Yet what they saw was nothing but a lone pile of clothes belonging to Katz, laying on the seat of the cockpit. It’s nothing but a Space Express shirt and a baggy varsity jacket. 

In 1989 of the Galactic Century, Katz McCoy aged fourteen died under mysterious circumstances, is the report they’ll type up.

Captain Tyran can see it now, the faces of those poor parents sobbing as he personally breaks the bad news himself.

However, there were more pressing matters at hand. This cursed Advanced Unit.

“This is the fifth pilot to disappear like this, Commander Reinhard,” Captain Tyran states.

Commander Reinhard mutters something under his breath, “Is that so? What shall we do then?”

Captain Tyran looks at the Commander, “I’m entrusting the care of this prototype to Dreamer Base, your crew aren’t frontline soldiers, you’re a rescue team meaning it’s less likely you’ll be targeted by Galactics,”

“I understand Captain Tyran, very well then, I’ll have this cursed beast sealed away in one of our hangars, it’s not like they’re used much anyway,”

“Thank you Commander Reinhard but nobody must know of this prototype, it’s to be kept top secret even by your crew.”

Commander Reinhard nods in understanding, “What will we call this foul beast then?”

“I have an appropriate name for it considering the death it leaves behind,”

“What would that be, Captain?”

“Advanced Unit, Advanced Unit Thanatos!”