STRAIN: Strategic Armored Infantry

In a time of war, Sara Werec dreams of taking up the Union cause in their endless fight against the Deague. At the top of her academy class, she has inherited the amazing piloting skills of her legendary brother Ralph. When the Deague unleash a devastating surprise attack on her school, Sara is shocked to discover that the leader of the enemy assault is no anonymous villain.

Sara has a new purpose: confront her treasonous brother. Enlisted at a new school, and struggling to master the less agile Gambee mechs, Sara wrestles with the rigors of training and the scorn of her peers. But nothing is more grueling than dwelling on all she has lost. Thankfully, she finds something which might serve to fill the hole in her heart.

A Reasoner named Lottie thinks she and rookie Sara might be kindred spirits, believing both of them to be girls lost and alone in the void between stars. When a Deague assault interrupts an important exam, Lottie quickly learns that they are not alone at all. Once more, Sara watches those around her get torn apart – but rather than sit helplessly, she devises a plan.

Sara has entered into battle utilizing the Mimic Emily and a custom Strain. Her team is shocked as she rushes toward a confrontation with the feared Ralph Werec. The rage of combat gives way to confusion – how can it be that Sara the rookie is so skilled? As the Libertad limps into space to find repair, the trust between Sara and Lottie will prove to be much tougher to patch.

The Libertad is pushing through space in search of repair. If the crew is to survive the journey, new tactics must be devised to succeed against such an unpredictable enemy. The Reasoner team is warming to Sara ever since she exposed herself as an adept pilot. But not everyone is so willing to shower her with affection – especially the angry Gambee pilots that blame Sara for the deaths of their comrades.

The Spatial Armor Division is having a party, but the gathering is about to be crashed by some uninvited guests – the Libertad falls under attack! A team which had suffered from the willful independence of its newest member watches as Sara joins Lottie in an incredible display of Reasoner talent. This new unity might be the strongest weapon the Union has in the battle against the Deague.