"Rubric, please perform both Aggregated and Weighted Danger Indexes as well as Newborn Placement protocols on ID#928-784G."
Subject shows slightly denser muscle tissue.
.
Subject shows below average coordination.
Simon's Bridge identified at standard size and production levels.
Subject shows strong learning capacity.
"Thank you, Rubric."
"Rubric, please perform both Aggregated and Weighted Danger Indexes as well as Newborn Placement protocols on ID#929-455P."
Subject shows normal muscle and bone development.
.
Simon's Bridge identified at standard size and production levels.
Subject shows slightly below average learning capacity.
Subject shows normal vision and sensory function.
"Thank you, Rubric."
"Rubric, please perform both Aggregated and Weighted Danger Indexes as well as Newborn Placement protocols on ID#929-461C."
Subject shows normal bone density.
.
Subject shows strong learning capacity.
Subject shows above average sensory perception.
"Thank you, Rubric."
The smell of ammonia greets your nose as you file into the white-washed chamber. The room completely bare excepting a singular operating table that has been draped with a sheet.
Looking around you can see a mixture of nervous and excited faces on all the other children present, but before any of you get the chance to speak, a man enters into the chamber from the door on the other wise of the room.
His eyes suggest someone who would welcome sleep, though it apparently never visits him. His disheveled black hair at odds with his bleached white lab coat.
"Good morning pupils and welcome to your first day in your basic field training."
"I, am professor Langley and I will be teaching you how to identify and kill what you'll be encountering in the field."
"You ever hear the story that Occams only survive the first 16 seconds of a combat zone?"
"Well that's true only because you don't pay attention in my class. And don't think the stats get much better for all you other prospects, an unprepared Longitus, Skadi or Titus, they all die just the same as an Occams, so you better pay attention."
"Without basic field training everything you learn after this will be just a waste."
"Understood? Good, let's begin."
Langley drags a corpse from under the operating table he is standing at and throws it onto the slab.
---
The creature is all at once disturbing. The body of the creature is a dark red, excepting an apparent exoskeleton structure on its head and arms which are bleach white.
The creature looks like it would be about three or foot feet tall if it were standing. It's skin is saggy and loose fitting, almost like a badger with no hair. Excepting its legs where the skin is taught around enormous muscles.
Its snout is wide like that of a bear, and on its two front legs you can see it has two appendages. A hand like appendage, and about a foot above that a second long bladed sword like extension.
---
The children around you begin to mutter and gasp, before Langley raises his hand for silence.
"Mortemcursor, also known as "dogs" or "devils" are the most common of all lifeforms encountered outside of Jotunheim. It is believed they are the base form that all other lifeforms evolve from."
"Let's start with the most concerning capabilities of Mortemcursor."
Langley lifts one of the creatures limbs to display the long bladed growth.
"Now, Mortemcursor's bladed appendages are sharp to a level that extends to the molecular level."
"In short, if you take a swipe from one of these, say goodnight. No current armor is a sufficient protectorate to Mortemcursor. Kill it before it gets to you if you can, or pray you can fight it out with a blade."
"Now the second hand."
Langley lifts the other hand, turning it palm up.
"Look closely, all over the hand appendage are hundreds of spines."
"Mortemcursor use this to climb on walls or speed across ceilings. The back legs are much the same."
"This combined with their impressive musculature allow them not only to reach staggering speeds but assault from unexpected angles and corners."
"So how do you deal with Mortemcursor? You start, BY PAYING ATTENTION PRIVATE RICE!" yells Langley as he points to a student huddled near the back of the chamber talking to another boy.
"Mortemcursor on average approach speeds between 60 and 80 miles per hour, depending on how far along they are in their evolution. So let's talk physiology."
"Notice the exoskeleton lining the head and arms."
"Any shots to the arms are a waste of time."
"In addition the body has a very clustered set of vital organs. The majority of shots to the body, especially on the flanks are unlikely to inflict sufficient damage."
"If you were to shoot a Mortemcursor in the head Private Kwartz, what weapon would you recommend?" asks Langley, looking to a boy near the front.
Kwartz looks up from a daze and quirked a brow before answering, "Well I think one of the Roundstock series might be a good choice. Otherwise a Longfang should do, though I suppose an Occams would be likely to use the Wyvern..."
Langley chuckles, "No kill like overkill, eh Private Kwartz?"
The professor continues, "It's true a Longfang would probably do the job, but the more practical answer is indeed roundstock ammunition. However, don't expect them to do anything at all to the body of these bastards."
"However, It's also true that the majority of you all will use the Wyvern pattern rail rifle. In this case, Mortemcursor has two hearts, both located under the right arm joint. If you need to use a rail, either go for the eyes, or under the shoulder."
You find yourself in another large white room, this time however there is no table and instead a large dead beast lies in the center of the chamber.
The head is a large, flat, and crested. Like that of a triceratops but without horns. The whole of the creature is a dark gray. The limbs appear to be just tree trunk like pillars of stone. While it's body has three segmented plates that appear like slabs of slate. Behind the creature is a long thick tail ending in a wicked blade.
Once again Langley enters from the opposite side of the room. Unlike before he makes no introduction to the class and merely begins his lecture.
"This is Loricatus, commonly referred to as tanks."
"Loricatus is one of the more common strains of evolution from Mortemcursor. "
"As you can see much like Mortemcursor, Loricatus is still quadrupedal in nature. In addition much like Mortemcursor their limbs and Skull are covered in a thick exoskeleton. "
"This exoskeleton however is different in both its density, and that it also covered the hind quarters of the Loricatus. "
"It's also worth mentioned that while every strain of demons have mutations. Loricatus has the least variations observed thus far, but also has two distinct versions as opposed the one single strain. "
"The more common strain, Loricatus A is known as scorpions in the field, they possess a long bladed tail with properties extremely similar to Mortemcursor's bladed appendages. This tail varies in length but is usually over 10 feet long and can approach up to 15 feet in length. "
"The second strain, Loricatus B are referred to as toads. These possess the ability to both leap great distances, ahead to surfaces, and are able to project an extremely long tongue like appendage that can both grab a victim and deliver a massive electric jolt to them which usually results in paralysis. Victims are usually then drawn back to Loricatus B where they are devoured alive. "
"Both versions of Loricatus have a large crested Skull plate. They can use this to charge and ram things if they desire. Loricatus while not as fast as Mortemcursor is still capable of reaching speeds over thirty miles as hour. Given their mass and speed such impacts are usually fatal from blunt force trauma. "
"The best way to tackle Loricatus is either through the application of extreme concentrated fire, a direct shot to the eyes, or heavy firepower such as a Heartbreaker, Longfang, or Havoc weapons platform. "
-Posted with Wayfinder
Filing into a long hall you find yourself standing in a shooting range.
Professor Langley stands there waiting for you.
"Today will be a live weapons exercise. You will all be handling real firearms for the first time today."
"You will practice proper safety of your weapons at all times, any who disrespect those prerogatives will be punished. Severely."
"On the tables before you lie both a Hardline Roundstock Pistol, and the Wyvern Pattern Rail Rifle. Each of you will have your turn with the weapons. I want to take the time to coach proper technique individually before letting you all practice freely."
"Now then, let's begin. First up, Private Kwartz."
Private Kwartz approaches the table and picks up the pistol before heading to the barrier and lines up a shot.
Langley asks Kwartz, "Are you ready private?"
Kwartz nods his head and Langley yells out, "Weapons are Fire!"
Kwartz takes a shot and it hits the paper of the target but fails to strike the actual outline.
Langley moves behind him in a hurry, "Shoulders need to be in more, squeeze the trigger don't pull."
Kwartz pulls another shot, it hits the target but on the outskirts.
Langley again interjects, "Arms closer in."
This time Kwartz hits the target center mass.
Langley nods, "Good, again."
Kwartz nods and puts three more rounds through the target center mass before Langley dismisses him.
"Next up, Private Serai."
A young girl walks forwards and picks up the Wyvern, walking to the barrier and sighting the weapon.
"Weapons are Fire!"
The girl fires a shot that strikes the target in the head.
"Well done Serai, again."
The woman pulls two more shots both striking the target center mass.
"Excellent, next up Private Audric."
A normal looking boy approaches the table now and picking up the Wyvern. Like many other students around you, you can see he has a series of tubes running out of the back of his neck.
Langley looks around, "I know that SOME of you all who did not get designated into Occams at birth think yourselves above your fellow students. Well allow me to enlighten you all."
With that, Langley turns on his heels and viciously slaps Audric across the face.
"Shoot the target son."
Audric turns to face Langley a look of confusion and anger on his face, he appears to be about to say something when Langley strikes him again across the face.
"Shoot the target, son."
Audric immediately turns to the target and pulls a three round burst from the Wyvern into the target striking it dead between the eyes.
Langley faces the class again, "Remember that! You're not better than him! You do a particular job and you do it well. Occams does their job, and they're better at it than you are."
"Okay, next!
Four of you file into an enormous chamber, each of you have been armed with a Wyvern and Hardline. As you enter, the door behind you shuts and you can hear it lock.
At the far end of the hall you see a dog that appears to be alive as its struggling against bonds that are holding it down.
From above you hear a familiar voice call out.
"Welcome to Professor Langley's graduation ceremony!" yells down the professor from a catwalk overlooking the arena.
"Begin!" he yells as he presses a button releasing the dog from its bindings. It shakes its head viciously once before bolting towards the group.
Kwartz looks up with a stale expression across his face, " I knew the old man was gunna kill me sooner or later. Good thing I remember his lessons. Alright.. let's.. I guess.. Do this. So.. We aim for the eyes or the Hearts under right shoulder. I say we go for the right shoulder. So Serai its you and me from afar. We stick together maybe we kill it quick. Pull out the Hardline when it gets real close. Let's try and not die..*Sigh* Light 'em up. "
Kwarts takes a step back takes the position of the Dog within consideration and aims letting off a single shot at the right shoulder.
Kwartz pulls the shot but the Dog in motion is far too agile and its bounding stride sees the shot pass underneath its body.
Serah pulls the Wyven and steadily aims it following suit with Kwartz. "God I hate dogs"
Serai's shot hits the Dog in the chest, but the rifle is off mark and doesn't pierce the hearts.
It screeches and continues its charge.
"Fukin' aye" The 12 year old boy before you says. As he lifts up his Hardline. Aiming down the barrel he stands steady besides Kwartz and Serah.
Audric slaps himself in he face and yells a short battle cry. He aims down the Wyvern and takes a shot at the dogs heart under its right shoulder.
Audric's shot catches the dog in the chest in near the same spot as Serai's. The dog stumbles for a brief second before continuing it's advance, where upon Cyrus shoots the dog dead in the center of the head with the Hardline.
The Dog seems to jolt to a complete stop for a fraction of a second before it's head starts to move slower than the rest of its body and it begins to tumble end over end, leaving it a broken and twisted corpse.
-Posted with Wayfinder
WHOOO!!! Adric yells out in triumph! He then looks to the others then back to his Wyvern. He checks to make sure the gun is clear and undamaged. He then looks to Cyrus. Nice headshot Grimm!
Kwartz Pulls out a Hardline and places a few shots into it for good measure before looking up to Professor Langley " Always make sure its dead, I like living. So we graduated Old Man. What now, that we have played your game? Geez that was some stress I didnt need.."
"Only stress when you're out of options,... for a second there I thought the other's froze up." Serai smiles at the sound of the double tap Kwartz gave to the dog. "can never be too safe"
Kwartz looks up at Serai after plugging the creature and continued his dreary expression. " I think I can say the high probability of being Dog-food before I had the time to contemplate going through the effort of eventually interacting with the opposite sex in an amorous position.. counts as unnecessary stress Fluer. I mean I am only twelve.. I should be worried about dying THAT early. Well outside of them overrunning Jotenhiem. And at least I'd have a Longfang... "
Kwartz keeps the Hardline out and pointed at the corpse.
"I like that spunk kid, keep it... it only gets worse." Serai shouldered her gun and for a moment something grabs her attention, leaving as soon as it comes. Serai starts with a half grin, "You really are too much, though it's sad to see someone so young in the field
" You act so tough for someone only like.. a few months older than me. Logically you are as much a kid. Or maybe you were making a joke.. Hard to tell with people.. Especially females. "
"I wouldn't let it bother you Kwartz, don't take it to heart." Serai watched waiting for any other signs of movement besides the four of them.
"Piece o' cake!" I declared, as I walked proudly towards the dead pile of meat laying before me. I kicked the carcass in the head and I boasted, "Is that all you've got! Can't wait to kill em' all! HAHAHA!!"
"Impatience like that will get you killed"
Kwartz sighed and sat down, " That one was a little faster than the slower ones... Good thing too. I don't like the idea of getting killed. Either way I got other things to do... Like sleep... "
"This is what we do boys and girls. We kill dogs. Might as well have a bit of fun doing it!"
Serai rolls her eyes, nothing about risking your life was fun, exhilarating was a better term for the situation. Break it's neck? Great! What if the geezer was testing you and dropped another dog in here? Though it was unlikely the possibility was there. "are we done here old man?", her words rung in her own mind as she said them, refusing to take her eyes off the dog at the other end of the arena.
Audric stands awkwardly as the minutes draw on. Not sure what to do. So... Seria... how'd the gun handle...?
Kwartz opens a closed eye like he was about to doze off at Audric's words, " You... really know how to butcher a name.. is that a gift? Might as well call her Em'fire ... " Kwartz lazily waves his Hardline around staring at 'seemingly' nothing.
Langley whistles at the group, "Hey, that was pretty good. Want to go for two?"
A door to the far side of the arena opens up, revealing an unbound Loricatus.
"WHO WANTS EXTRA CREDIT!?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
" Sigh... F*+* it, Shoot it dead concentrate on it now. This Old man... " Kwartz aims his weapon down at the Loricatus and fires as much as he can afford to.
"Called it..."
Kwartz puts three shots into the air, the first finds it mark and hits the Loricatus in the head, but the other two are wide.
Serai's shot hits as well but only manages to strike the tank in the leg.
-Posted with Wayfinder
WOOOOOO! Audric slaps himself in the face again. And then begins to produce a low humming from his throat as he raised the Wyvern to his face.
Audric makes a great shot and pierces one of the eyes of the Loricatus. Despite that though it must have deflected inside the brain plate, as the beast continues its charge.
-Posted with Wayfinder
From above you comes a shout, "Private Audric you know how to hype up a fight. I'm caught up in it now too! WHOOO!"
With that Langley vaults over the catwalk and down onto the charging Loricatus, which had been veering slightly off course due to its eyes damage, but Langley is quickly able to steer it back on course towards you all.
"Fun fact! When their tails get long enough they can't defend their backs and you can ride them!"
"If you hit me, I'll kill you... WHOOO! "
-Posted with Wayfinder
Kwartz's eyes widen for the first time in... forever and he sighs.. they return to his demure expression. " I think... I just aged 10 years. Fluer is THIS necessary stress too? HEY OLD MAN ARE WE SUPPOSED TO KILL IT WITH YOU ON IT? WHY CAN'T YOU JUST SHOOT IT NOW? "
Kwartz had a bead on the Loricatus.
Langley yells back, "NO! JUST LET ME MAKE IT TO YOU ALL AND I'LL TREAT YOU ALL TO SASHIMI ON ME!"
Watching Kwartz line up a shot, Langley further yells out "Tuck in those motherf@)$ing elbows!"
-Posted with Wayfinder
Audric is stunned at his teachers actions... He must have big plentiful balls... Audric snaps out of it quick. A blindspot shot shall do nicely. And slaps himself again. WHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
This guy is dense Serai had half a mind to just shoot him first.... Wait,.... Did he say "sashimi?". Pulling her Wyvern up setting the bead dead center she took a deep breath then held.....
I smirked as I went over toward's Serai's side and had my Hardline at the ready. "Now that's more like it!" I said, with no regrets. If I couldn't help keep my comrades safe from 2 dogs, then I deserved to die.
" Yeah yeah I'm TRYING not to hit YOU Professor.. Seriously.. this guy.. Tucking the elbows. "
Kwartz shot hits the charging scorpion in the head while Serai's shot goes wide.
However, Audric puts another shot right through his last one.
This doesn't kill the beast, but seems to do something odd to the monster. It begins to slowly lumbering around in circles and seems to be having difficulty maintaining balance, like it's legs have gone to Jell-O.
Langley pulls out his Hardline and puts it to the base of its neck and puts three shots through its spine, severing it's head from its body.
The creature crashes to the ground and it's tail thrashing violently against the tiled floor. Once finished, Langley dismounts the dead Demon and swaggers over to the group.
-Posted with Wayfinder
"What a display doc!" I said in good sport. The thrill of danger, and the smell of copper and sweat gave me a rush of excitement. This is what I was born for, and I loved it! My fellow peers were good shots, displayed good teamwork, they would make excellent soldiers. But I knew that a couple of dogs was nothing compared the the hell that awaited us all in our futures.
Once again Audric checks his Wyvern, making sure it was not damaged and that it was clear. He then stands at attention awaiting Langley's instructions.
Kwartz sighs checks the ammo he has in his Hardline and holsters it, picking up his Wyvern and standing at attention. " I guess I don't have to double tap. Well.. I dont know what to say.. save we passed.. and I'm now hungry as well. That reminds me Professor, what do we do with all the Demon meat? I mean, I know we take their bones and use them as weapons but what of the rest? .... I forgot to ask What the hell was that Scorpion for... "
Audric steps forward as Langley approaches. Private Audric Drahg reporting! Two tangos down! One Dog, one Scorpion! No injuries or casualties to report! Awaiting your instruction sir! Audric gives the Occam salute, then stands at attention facing his superior.