Intro 3: Mikel

Intro 3: Mikel

Saturday, 6/21/2014

* GMAmy changes topic to 'Illusions of Grandeur 3: Mecha | Intro 3: Mikel | Helicon Base - Jasion 29th, HE 882 | Fridays, 6 pm Pacific | http://sites.google.com/site/iogmecha/ | Game start by July 11th | #iog-ooc'

<GMAmy> It's late at night when a lone truck silently pulls into the motor pool outside of Helicon Base. The sky is clear and cold, and the driver's breath is faintly visible in the air as she climbs out and stretches. "We're here. Finally. If I never hear the name Sergeant Cobble again, it will be too soon. What a blowhard." She mutters to herself. "Welp, out you come, kid. It's only...what, 200 hours local time? Not so bad at all; we made good time from Eiar."

<GMAmy> Staff Sergeant Mistral opens up the back so the new recruit she is shepherding can get his duffel.

* Mikel mutters something very uncharitable in regards to border controls, top secret orders, and possibly the parentage of certain officials. "You would think they would pre-clear for this sort of... ugh, right." He's in his military garb, naturally. Blacks and grays, along with a jacket in the same colors with a unit patch on the shoulder. A black arrow over a sunset, apparently. He slides out of the truck, reaching to grab his bag. "Least the weather isn't too bad, even if I'm running behind."

<GMAmy> [Mistral] Well, they were SUPPOSED to, but you know how it is. Red tape, miscommunication, and idiotic sergeants with their head so far up their ass they can't seem to comprehend simple orders." She looks thoughtful for a moment, then remarks mildly, "Not that you heard me say that about a fine enlisted member of the Messembrian military." She sighs. "And the weather...yeah, it's been really wet lately, but we've hit a clear patch. Be careful though, it gets cold at night this time of year, especially when it's clear like this."

* Mikel shoulders his bag with a snort. "Everything's cold coming from Elysia, it's fine. Thanks for the ride and getting me out of that processing station though, Staff Sergeant. I'll buy you a drink sometime."

<GMAmy> "I'll hold you to that." Mistral heads into the base, a wiry and angular figure. She's in her late thirties, her sharp features suggesting competence and no-nonsense. During the trip from Tronell, Mikel has also learned that she's quite good company, with a sharp wit and no patience for fools. As they head inside, she flashes her ID to the serviceman on duty. "Brought you a straggler. I'm told they're waiting for him. Mikel Rios."

* Mikel follows afer Mistral, taking in the place as they head on in. He tosses a salute towards the serviceman along with a tired smile. "'ey there."

<GMAmy> The serviceman looks a bit surprised at the friendly smile this late at night, and returns it. He looks at Mistral. "Yes ma'am, I have orders to take you straight in. We'll stow your things, and then Dr. Richards is ready to see Sergeant Rios in the medlab." He looks back at Mikel. "Don't worry, I don't think they're going to do the entire workup tonight. Dr. Griffin and Dr. Dupont will want to do that first thing in the morning though."

* Mikel glances at Mistral for a moment. "Full workup, huh? Sounds pleasant." It doesn't sound pleasant.

<GMAmy> She gives him a wry grin and claps him on the shoulder. "It's tons of fun. Better you than me, though. Come on, let's get you sorted out so I can crash in my bunk." She follows the serviceman down the hallway to the elevator.

* Mikel follows after them with a sigh. "Naturally. Sleep sounds good, though."

<GMAmy> Mikel is shown his room, which is small, but the bunk looks relatively comfortable given what he's used to. He stows his belongings, and Mistral tosses him a casual salute and a "Good night" before yawning and heading off to her own quarters. The serviceman, a Corporal Jensen, nods his head toward the door. "This way, sir. The medlab's on level B3."

* Mikel returns the salute with a "Good night" as well as he finishes stowing his stuff. Once he's done he starts walking again. "Alright. Anything I should know going in?"

<GMAmy> Jensen shrugs. "Sorry, sir, I'm only security clearance 1. But I think you're going to get that briefing now, so you'll at least know as much as me. Not sure what else." A quick ride in the elevator, down a mostly abandoned hallway, and into a sterile white room with machines, viewscreens, and a very bored looking young man with white hair and glasses. He looks up as they enter. "Is this Rios? It's about bloody time. Thanks, Jensen. I think Eberhart's still up; he wanted to brief him as soon as he got here. Let him know on your way back to your post, will you?" Jensen salutes and leaves, with an encouraging smile to Mikel.

<GMAmy> The young man rolls his chair back over to his computer screen and waves over his shoulder. "I'm Ethan Richards, Dr. Griffin's assistant. We're not going to do a full workup tonight, but they'd like to get started as soon as possible in the morning, so I have to ask you a few questions. When did you last eat?"

* Mikel tosses a casual salute towards Ethan before his hands slide into the pockets of his jacket. His eyes do flicker about though, taking in the room and all of the various knicknacks. "Ah.. about eight hours ago or thereabouts? Quick snack to keep me going for the drive."

<Mikel> "Pleasure to meet you, though. Sorry about the delay."

<GMAmy> [Ethan] Whatever. I'm on duty tonight, so eh. Okay, good. I can take your blood now if you like, or you can wait till morning, but if you do you can't eat or drink anything but water and black coffee until then.

<Mikel> "Ugh... just do it now, then."

<GMAmy> Ethan chuckles. "Sit or lie down?" He gets the necessary implements.

* Mikel shrugs off his jacket to lay across the back of a chair before taking a seat. "Sittin' is fine with me."

<GMAmy> It doesn't take long. Ethan is not exactly the lightest touch with a needle, nor the best with bedside manner, but he's businesslike and gets the job done. Sporting a bandaid, Mikel is offered some juice and asked a few basic questions that seem to address his medical and psychological history. Before long, there's a knock at the door. At last, he's being rescued.

* Mikel takes the juice, having handled the needle business easily enough. The questions are answered easily enough as well, with only minimal sarcasm.

<GMAmy> A serious looking man with dark skin and chiseled features enters. Despite the hour, he's in full uniform. He nods to Ethan. "All right, Richards, you've poked and prodded him enough. Good evening - or morning, I suppose, Sergeant Rios. Good to finally have you here. Glad we put you in Sergeant Mistral's capable hands. I'm Colonel Davis Eberhart, head of the Makhai Initiative. Walk with me?" He turns back to the door, looking over his shoulder at Mikel.

* Mikel is up on his feet in record time, juice set down without spilling somewhere as he snaps off a salute. "Morning, sir. Sorry about the delay." With a nod towards Richards he grabs his jacket to pull back on to follow. "Yes, sir."

<GMAmy> Ethan shrugs and rolls his chair back to his computer. Mikel might see him click away from the medical files and back to something that looks suspiciously like a card game. Meanwhile, Eberhart takes Mikel down the hall in the opposite direction of where he came in. "I'll have some food brought up to the briefing room. We'll try to make this short so you can get some sleep."

<GMAmy> They turn down a different hallway, passing a room with huge glass windows. Inside can be seen a complicated looking computer terminal, and beyond that, an electronically locked room with some unusual machinery - and what appears to be a series of occupied stasis pods, hooked up to a variety of monitors.

<GMAmy> Eberhart nods toward the room with the pods. "Your new home, come tomorrow," he comments wryly. "You ready for this?"

* Mikel nods at that as he follows after Eberhart, keeping a bit behind and to the side. "Appreciate it, sir..." He trails off as the view of the room comes up, pausing him to stop for a moment as he takes it in. "Not quite what I expected from the information they gave me before shipping me here, honestly, sir. This the sim?"

<GMAmy> Eberhart nods. "Unfortunately, we're on a tight schedule here and had to begin without you. Our AI assures us that it shouldn't upset the simulation to add you in a bit late in the game. They've only been in there a couple days. Come on, I'll explain more fully in the briefing room." He gestures and continues moving, but not before Mikel takes a long look at the pods. There are two blue-haired men, rather tough and intimidating looking, a scrawny kid who barely looks old enough to meet the age requirement, a hard looking haggard woman with pale skin and another, smaller woman with dark cocoa skin, and a girl with a shock of purple hair. There are other pods, but he can't make them out very well at this angle.

* Mikel nods agreeably as he starts to follow... before something clicks in his head. "AI, sir?"

<GMAmy> Eberhart nods as he continues to walk. "Yes, one of the only category 3's in existence. He's tasked with actually running the simulation and adapting it as needed. You'll meet him tomorrow."

* Mikel lets out a whistle. "Impressive. Alright, sir."

<GMAmy> They continue down the hallway. A couple more turns, and they're at a conference room. Eberhart speaks with a young private, who brings plates of sandwiches, coffee, and tea. Once the food has arrived and Mikel is seated, Eberhart turns on the viewscreen and pulls up bullet points labeled "Security briefing: Level 1"

* Mikel takes a seat, reaching to snag himself some of the sandwiches and tea.

<GMAmy> "You've been accepted as a candidate to the GDF's Makhai Initiative through the International Participation Agreement. Following successful completion of the training process, you will be granted appropriate rank and duties within the GDF. Prior to this, you will receive a full physical and psychological profile, and will subsequently enter the Mental Augmentation Program, a training project involving deep immersion in a simulated environment. This is a collective simulation, operated by our AI, Tanan, and overseen by Chief Warrant Officer Johnathan Hylan."

* Mikel sets down his tea for a moment, frowning. "How long is the sim scheduled to last, sir?"

<GMAmy> [Eberhart] As one of eight candidates who have shown sufficient talent for using elemental geodes, your mind will be trained to maximize your potential and make full use of geode power, allowing you to pilot your Makhai, which will be equipped with geodes for use in battle with Erebos Spawn. *He pauses, listening to the question.* We aren't certain; the simulation is highly adaptive and will depend on the actions of the participants and the AI's assessment of the development of their psyches. Estimates show that it will be at least a week objective time, and likely no more than a month.

* Mikel nods at that, falling silent again as he listens to Eberhart.

<GMAmy> [Eberhart] Time within the simulation will be subjective. It may seem a good deal longer than it has been, and when you come out of the simulation, there will be a period of adjustment. Remember, while you are in the simulation, it will be your reality. A new identity will be created for you, and for the duration of your training, the world of the simulation will be your reality. After MAP training has concluded, you will be allowed a few days of rest and adjustment, after which practical tests will assess your progress. Following that, if you are cleared to proceed, you will be trained in the actual use of your Makhai. One will be assigned to you and customized based on your performance in the sim.

<GMAmy> He turns to look at Mikel. "Any questions?"

* Mikel takes a bite of a sandwich, mulling over the colonel's words. After a bit he shakes his head. "Nothing pressing, sir."

<GMAmy> Eberhart nods. "Good. Now, I think you had better get some sleep. You'll have more doctors waiting to poke and prod you in the morning." He permits himself a thin smile.

* Mikel lets out a sigh, rising up to his feet with a salute. "Agreed, sir. Not something I want to face unrested."

<GMAmy> [Eberhart] You may find after this is all over that you have quite enough rest. *He gives the young man a wry look* Very well, dismissed. You will now be given basic security clearance for Helicon Base. I will see you tomorrow before you enter the simulation. Sleep well, sergeant; I certainly intend to. *And with that, he leaves the briefing room, giving instructions for Mikel to be shown back to his quarters for the remainder of the night.*

<GMAmy> == Intro End ==