**Chapter 1: \Newbie Gift Pack\** James Rouge, a 35-year-old British Royal Marine, found himself standing in the middle of a desolate wasteland. The dry, sarcastic humor that usually accompanied him was replaced with a mix of confusion and unease. Where was he? How did he get here? Cortana, his AI companion, chimed in, her voice calm and collected. \Welcome to Nier: Automata, James. You're now a part of this world.\ James's eyes scanned the horizon, taking in the ruins of a once-thriving city. \Nier: Automata? What the bloody hell is that?\ Cortana chuckled. \A game, James. And you're now a part of it.\ As if on cue, a system menu appeared in front of him. James's eyes widened as he scrolled through the options. \Dungeon... Shop... Territory... What is this?\ Cortana's tone turned serious. \The system is giving you a newbie gift pack, James. It's a chance to get settled in and learn the ropes.\ The system bestowed upon James a perfect Spartan II build, complete with Mark VII MJOLNIR armor and innate tech understanding. Cortana explained the world, telling him about the U.N.S.C., Covenant, and Forerunner factions. James's dry wit returned as he quipped, \Well, this is a bloody mess.\ Cortana laughed. \Yes, it is. But don't worry, James. I'll help you navigate this world. And with your skills, I'm sure you'll do just fine.\ James grinned, feeling a sense of purpose. \Alright, Cortana. Let's get started. I've got a base to build and a world to conquer.\ **To be continued...** --- This is just the beginning of James's journey in Nier: Automata. Stay tuned for more chapters, banter between James and Cortana, and the adventures that await him in this strange new world.