|
As you walk into the great dinning hall there is a tall man, muscular, somewhat old... it's your Sergeant Davros and Headmaster of the military academy you study to be Mech Pilot's. Once all Cadet's are assembled in the hall.
Clearing his throat for a moment he begins:
They shall be my finest warriors, these men who give themselves to me. Like clay, I shall mold them, and in the furnace of war forge them. They will be of iron will and steely muscle. In great armor shall I clad them and with the mightiest guns will they be armed. They will be untouched by mortal hands, no fear will blight them. They will have tactics, strategies, and machines such that no foe can best them in battle. They are my bulwark against the enemy. They are the Defenders of Ozmoria.
Sergeant Davros stands before you, proud as he sees you all like he would see his children Cadets this is your last exercise before you graduate... as his voice trails off and sees all assembled cadets.
Before you do so, you still have time to change careers and be a Mech engineer as well as an Aedis developer looking at all cadets to see those that doubt There is no shame to do so, not everyone is capable of Mech piloting and I only expect 10% of this class to make it through the last test successfully another dramatical pause to give more effect to his words Those who do not pass may become part of the military staff that attends Mech Pilots in the military or other positions, you assigned test companions are random so say good bye to your friends if you have any since you will require to work with complete strangers to get this test done. That is all, enjoy your breakfast as the Sergeant takes his leave and some other staffer give meaningless speeches of encouragement or other instructions that you listen to every Monday as your week begins.
As you leave the hall there is commotion as people begin searching the list of their new companions.
Aaron eagerly scanned the list until he found his place on it and who he was assigned to work with. Sergeant Davros claimed that the assignments were random, but Aaron had his suspicions; chances were that a test like this would test leadership and teamwork and they'd be unlikely to leave the future of the country's military elite to random pairings.
The question was whether they'd be teaming us up to complement our strengths, or emphasize our weaknesses...
Grigori makes his way to the lists slowly. Making a scene knocking others out of the way wouldn't help his chances of becoming a pilot.
"Team Azure, huh? Don't know any of them..." He mutters when he finds his name. "I've gotta pass."
Bram waits for the others to move before he looks through the list. Finding his name, he notes the others in his team before heading off to eat.
He thinks on the names on the list wondering what each person bought to the table.
Henk looks over the list of his unfamiliar new teammates, then begins to walk slowly from the dining hall. If you don't pass the test they make you a mech pilot assistant? I didn't work this hard to become an assistant, that's for damn sure. Henk moves slowly through the crowd of cadets as he arrives at the hangar, trying to predict the one out of ten that would make it. There's one less now that I'm here, he decides.
|
|
As the stress builds up with the continuous sobbing cadets that fail the test and time passes by at a seemingly very slow pace. Your time is now near and you decide to make your way to A.S.H.
Once you get into A.S.H. you are greeting by a officer that looks you over as if trying to find something wrong, then just raising an eye brow Follow me cadet as he leads you through a long hallway leading to various "class rooms" were you see people working on complex Aedis trying to harness the magic required to make them work.
This is as far as I go, this is your door the only room with no apparent windows and no sound what so ever, by the time you turn to ask any questions he is already somewhat far away and ignores anything you might say as he keep walking down the hallway.
The first thing when you open the door is the biggest half-orc you have ever seen in your life, even tho he is not ugly as commonly orcs are, but he doesn't seem that bright, he has a strong complexion and defined musculature. Sorry! he says as he moves and let's you in to see the rest of the group.
A beautiful woman with what would pass for white hair and golden eyes, and then you can notice her hard cold look that seems too natural on her.
Then there is a man of black long hair with average features or nothing that would make him interesting to denote except for his grin of malice and his deep dark eyes that seem to be able too look inside of you.
At the end there are two gambling with cards, one of them a blond man of brown eyes and a hot temper, while the other one is a thin and wiry, bald man that is winning.
Bram walks into the room, moving to lean on a wall. He looks over each of the people in the room noting how each appears to him. He than waits for the any information that is going to be given, readying himself.
Henk looks at the folks in the room, wondering if they're going to be team-mates who'll have his back, or if they're actually his competition. The man is small in stature, with dark hair and eyes."Henk Smarne," he says as a terse introduction, tipping the front brim of his well-worn hat.
Grigori Faust. The Third." The tiefling replies as he looks at the other cadets. So this was Team Azure... He wonders how many will notice the faint tracings on his skin.
Aaron enters the room, he's a wiry fellow with unruly hair and a nose that looks like it has been broken several times. He idly flips a coin along his knuckles as he considers his fellows in Team Azure.
He nods to Henke and curtly introduces himself, "Aaron Lockley." Eventually his attention settles on the gamblers and a game of cards strikes him as an excellent way to pass the time until their briefing. He steps up to the pair and asks them to deal him in...
|
|
The man with malice in his grin replies This is Brenog pointing at the bald man Bisaden as he point to the half-orc Miss Fillmur "the hag" as she kicks him square in the face Miss Fillmur is fine Walter "the Ass" the blond man in the back just looks at everyone so you expect some dumb remark from!? Just call me Kendall now let me beat this f*&^% cheater Brenog laughing at his last remark You are such a sore loser, it's only 50 push ups
Seconds later recovering from the kick and grabbing at his nose and watery eyes We are still missing one, anyone know him?
Aaron struggles to remember the list for a moment before venturing, Rhune? Never heard of the fellow.
Henk allows himself a thin smile at the horseplay. At least the team has spirit. He adjusts his hat and replies to Kendall, "Can't say that I know the man."
He watches the card game absently, wondering if the missing team member and the waiting game are part of the test.
Missing the test isn't the best way to make mech pilot. Henk muses. This Rhune fella mustn't have much on the ball. He realizes that he doesn't really care if the man shows up or not, but he was getting a mite anxious waiting for this test to start up.
What are we waiting for, anyway? Anyone know what this test is gonna be like?"
|
|
Bisaiden answers to your question I have heard all sorts of things, but I really can't figure out what it might be
Walter answers You couldn't figure something even if your life depended on it, you dim witted fool! as he stands up and gets a bit closer to you Well I heard it's a combat of sorts not sure what but I can feel it, so we best start checking who is the weakest here, because he will pull us all down! as he glares at everyone present.
Henk raises an eyebrow when Walter starts to move closer. It's a warning look meant to keep the man from intruding on Henk's personal space. "Bullsh*t" he responds to Walter's assertion, amiably enough.
"That won't be me." Grigori says. "Rather than think the weakest would bring us down, why not find what he or she is good at and cover their weakness? We've been put on a team, so logical we should work together."
Aaron looks the enormous half-orc up and down considering, "Walter, you could probably wrestle a mech to the ground without breaking a sweat. If this test was all about breaking things, every pilot in the army would look like you."
"Rather than think the weakest would bring us down, why not find what he or she is good at and cover their weakness? We've been put on a team, so logical we should work together."
Aaron nods at Grigori's suggestion, "I don't think anyone would have made it this far if they were weak. For myself, I haven't met a student yet who can keep up with me in the pilot's seat- they bring in a veteran whenever they want to keep me humble. I'm middle-of-the-pack when it comes to the firing range though. I've only had basic familiarization training with the heavy weapons, and I'm not a great shot when it comes to automatic fire. He shoots a challenging glance at Walter, "Do I sound too *weak* for you?"
Bram listens as each person speaks he than turns when he sees the last person walk into the room.
"Dead last." Henk adds, "We all just decided the last man here would get the worst job on the team. Looks like we have a winner."
|
|
Aidan makes a feigned surprise Oh! opening his big golden eyes and rolling them Well we will see about that during the test wont we with a big grin on his face.
Moments later there is a knock on the door and by the time you look at it, an officer opens it. I'm here to escort the ten of you to your test please follow me
As Aidan looks at everyone Well I'll go last as he let's everyone pass and Alissa stops Age before beauty Aidan as she invites him to pass first.
Bram moves from the wall and walks to stand behind the Officer waiting for the test to begin.
Aaron falls in with the officer and follows where he leads. He's not squeamish about being toward the front of the group.
Henk follows the officer without comment, trying to stay sharp.
Henk asks, "Are we competing against the other members of our team, or against another team?"
"What is the test exactly? Survival, teamwork, attack, or defend?"
|
|
After a long walk you finally arrive to your destination Welcome to A.C.E. says the officer as Sgt. Davros is standing in the middle of the room I will take it from here the officer nods and leaves.
Cadets, I'm proud you made it this far as he then touches a big sphere in the middle of the room and a curtain pools away revealing 10 doors. This here still touching the sphere Is what makes A.C.E. and each of you will go through one door that is basically a simulation of a M.G. cockpit were you will pilot an M.G. at the beginning you will need to submit to some procedure so we can measure your reactions, thought and you can properly commence training[/b] as he looks at each one of you This is were you can ask any question before you go into on of those doors
Aaron is going over everything he's learned about the proper procedure for operating a MG and hesitantly offers up a question, Sir, is the simulation limited to the cockpit or will we be performing pre-combat checks on a frame too? He looks a bit nervous about finally being here and is making sure he has all of his bases covered.
"Sergeant Davros," Henk adds, "Will we be working alongside our team, or solo?"
|
|
You will have individual and team assignments. The simulation includes pre-combat as if you were on a real M.G.he looks at all cadets again You will feel the pain as if it were real, even if it's only a simulation, that is to get the best information on your reactions. Any more questions before we begin?[b]
[b]No Sir! says Brenog
No Sir! says Alissa
No Sir! says Aidan
No Sir! says Bisaden
No Sir! says Kendall
No Sir! says Walter
No Sir!
"No Sir! Bram answers to the Officer.
"No Sir!" Faust says firmly.
|
|
Well then let's get on with it as he leaves the room through another door.
Each cadet takes a door, it makes no difference in the order or which one. As you enter the room the first thing you see is a sphere or more like a bubble, there is also a table at your right with a pair boots, gloves, vest and helmet.
When you begin to put them on, you feel a sting in your hands and feet and body aching that fades away as fast as it came. Everything is dark, when you put the helmet on as it has no way to look out of it.
After a few moments a distorted female sounds in your ears Th.. i. as the voice becomes more clear every time Te..in. 1, .,3.. T..s. i. until it finally becomes clear Testing 1, 2, 3... This is Gabriella can you hear me? as you all respond positively a small dot of white light shows up in front of you but you can't really tell the distance since there is only darkness around you. Beginning A.C.E... now as the dot suddenly flashes making you blind for a moment, but that is enough to find yourselves inside the cockpit of an M.G.
As you admire the cockpit that only in pictures and text books have show you you can feel it and even the smells are there, when you move your arms you can see that your M.G. moves it also, as your body is connected to the M.G.
You can see the movements of your M.G. as if you were the M.G. it self, the sphere you are in basically portrays the outside as if you were the size of your M.G.
Welcome to A.C.E. as a small square opens in front of you and you an see a very beautiful woman I am Gabriella your A.C.E. manipulator in charge of running the test as Sgt. Davros requests pausing for a moment as she fades away from the image and comes back You can move freely so you can adjust to your M.G. feel and movements, please try to complete the next obstacle curse.
Before you there is 1 mile stretch to run, a wall followed by a lake and the a ditch you must jump.
Please execute the basic conditioning drill for your bond with the M.G.
After running the mile Bram looks at the wall,he readies himself before he climbs over the wall.
Once finished with the wall he swims across the lake towards the ditch.
Bram looks at the ditch carefully before jumping across the ditch.
Henk runs along, an uncharacteristically goofy grin on his face. He's glad no one can see him - it'd ruin his image. He hits the wall in stride:
The swim is an awkward dog-paddle. Henk has stopped smiling.
Flopping out of the water dripping wet, Henk gets a good running start and hops into the air...
I'm not really a strong swimmer, Henk thinks to himself. Why did there have to be a lake?
Now in a ditch, Henk attempts to climb out.
EDIT: Ta-daaah! Henk takes a bow. Yes ladies and gentlemen, that was 3 2s out of 6 rolls.
Aaron performs a series of pre-combat checks to make sure his (simulated) mech is functioning properly, then settles into the exercise. Once he's comfortable with things, he hits the boosters while jumping the ditch to finish with flair.
Reaching the wall, Grigori makes it half-way over before his mech slips and he has to try again.
Making it over the wall much easier the second time, Grigori takes swimming more carefully, making sure he can get across.
Finally, before reaching the ditch, Grigori breaks out into a run and just barely makes the jump.
"This is as difficult as I thought it would be." He says to himself. "Perfect."
|
|
Task completed says the female voice after you complete your test Now that you have a better idea of your M.G. you will be moved into another area please wait as everything around you becomes completely dark again, then a small white dot a the distance, the blinding light and you are again in the cockpit in what looks like an urban environment, with lots of small houses and some high buildings scattered. You are now piloting a Cyclops infantry model as you all see your hands and M.G. frame is different than the one you had before. You equipment should be in your backpacks As everyone goes through their backpack by stretching their arm and taking things out you find the following items: Combat Knife, Submachinegun, Shield and Sword, Axe or Hammer. This is your standard weaponry, we will begin target practice, please indicate when ready to begin.