Horendithas

[COLOR=DarkRed]Okay, I've got my post up. Sorry for being late. I ended up not having time yesterday evening to get it finished. That and working in the part between Sandra and her father ended up far longer than I had planned on. Anyway... [spoiler]Cackles evilly [/spoiler] Hope you like the twist Darren. :p[/COLOR]

[SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkRed]When Sandra received an incoming priority one transmission she had been expecting to address the High Council and had therefore moved to the conference room just off the main bridge to accept it. And though it was indeed from the High Council, it was only one member who had contacted her, an elderly Versilan with graying hair. ?[B]What is it father?[/B]? She said coldly, still angry with him for what he had done. The man laughed at her dismissing her anger, ?[B]Are you still pouting like a small child Sandra? Because if you are,[/B]? his said as his expression lost any semblance of friendliness and was replaced by one equally as cold as Sandra?s, ?[B]then you need to get over it. I contacted you to update you on the Elite Specialist we are sending to Earth to assist you, not to argue over your being made a candidate and betrothed to Commodore Stevens.[/B]? ?[B]Of course father, far be it from me to complain about which [I]jackass[/I] the High Council has chosen for me to marry and thus keep the power within the factions.[/B]? She glared at him, ?[B]I will honor my duty as your faithful daughter in the manner I see fit.[/B]? ?[B]Enough Sandra![/B]? Her father ordered. ?[B]Even if you are my daughter, if you continue to alienate Stevens, even I won?t be able to protect you.[/B]? ?[B]Since when did I need my [I]honorable[/I] father?s protection?[/B]? Sandra countered. ?[B]Since Stevens has been bringing up doubts about your ability to rule. And by law since he outranks you he can choose someone else to consider as a consort and thus possibly have you stripped of your position completely. Something you would do well to remember.[/B]? Her father finished. ?[B]I will do as you command,[/B]? Sandra said sarcastically. Her father sighed. ?[B]I?m sending you the information on your new elite specialist.[/B]? ?[B]New? What happened to Commander Hays?[/B]? Sandra asked. ?[B]Hays was a traitor. The replacement he was testing to replace Ryan turned out to be smarter than he gave her credit for. All the details are in the report I?ve sent you. Once they arrive you are brief them on their mission.[/B]? He said. ?[B]I understand. What of our replacement for Ryan?[/B]? She asked. ?[B]There isn?t one for now. The elite specialist Kiva will take care of any hacking that you need and her choice of personal will take care of any need to deal with the local military on Earth. As for an expert in their shipping and how to effective disable it, you?ve already got one onboard in Darren Anderson. I suggest you use him. If it turns out he?s guilty you can execute him later.[/B]? He said. ?[B]I doubt it, the investigation is pretty much finished and all of it points to him being in the clear. Still there is the matter of being in a restricted zone, whether or not it?s his fault is irrelevant.[/B]? She ran her right hand through her hair in an unconscious gesture of thinking before continuing. ?[B]Very well, I?ll get to it immediately[/B].? At her father?s nod of approval she closed the communication. And then like a child throwing a temper tantrum she kicked the chair she had been sitting in, grumbling under her breath. Still angry over the council?s decision in matching her up with Stevens. [CENTER]------------[/CENTER] The first thing Jared noticed when he entered the room where Darren had been brought was that he was suitable upset and rattled. He smiled to himself as he sat down and pulled up the information on the screen in the table in front of him. Sometimes just the thought of torture was more effective than actually doing so. He had originally intended on finishing this sooner, but other things had come up. Still it had worked to his advantage and he was fairly certain that Darren and Mike were both innocent. Sandra had briefed him on what the High Council had decided and without any small talk he immediately launched into a series of questions for Darren. Questions that were deceptively simple in that only truthful answers would do. The longer the questioning went the more relaxed Darren appeared. Jared smiled inwardly, knowing that the next part would shatter any feelings of relief. ?[B]You?ve answered all the questions to my satisfaction Commander Darren and my research has indicated that you are indeed innocent of any wrongdoing. However, there is still the matter of you being in a restricted zone. Even if it wasn?t your fault that is still a serious crime.[/B]? Jared stated. Darren started to speak but Jared cut him off. ?[B]I propose a deal Commander, one that will wipe that incident off of your record permanently.[/B]? ?[B]And that would be?[/B]? Darren asked. ?[B]Simple, for the time being you will work for the military.[/B]? Jared watched his reaction and continued when Darren said nothing. ?[B]I need someone who understands transportation and shipping, and I hear that you are an expert in this field. The person I was going to use turned out to be unreliable.[/B]? ?[B]I see, and just how long would I be required to work for the military?[/B]? Darren finally asked. ?[B]Until the job is done, something I will brief you on once you accept. It will take at least several months if not longer, and I?ll even throw in a bonus in that Mike will be given a contract to deliver goods between sector six and sector fourteen for the military. He will run your ship while you work on the Crimson and get paid as if you were an officer. Between the two you?ll make more than you could independently.[/B]? Jared finished. ?[B]And if I were to say no?[/B]? Darren asked. ?[B]It would be bad for your health.[/B]? Jared replied. ?[B]I see, then of course I accept sub-commander.[/B]? Darren replied bitterly. ?[B]I knew you?d see it my way Commander.[/B]? Jared said mockingly. ?[B]Follow me.[/B]? He took Darren through the various corridors of the Crimson to where he would be staying. Since Ryan was not going to be replaced immediately, his quarters could be put to better use. It was amusing to watch how Darren was taking everything in and yet trying to pretend he was not nervous or irritated. Jared did his best to not laugh at his stiff body language. He knew what his reputation among the merchants was. Finally they came to Ryan?s former quarters. He opened the door and ignored Darren?s look of surprise since like Jared?s quarters they were spacious compared to the rest of the Crimson and even Darren?s own ship. He waited until Darren had walked in before speaking. ?[B]My quarters are right next to yours should you have any questions Darren[/B].? He tossed him a handheld computer and a data chip. ?[B]The information you will need to get started is all there. I?ll be back later to check on your progress and to answer any questions you might have.[/B]? He moved to leave and stopped when Darren spoke. ?[B]What about Mike?[/B]? Darren asked. ?[B]Commander Sandra is taking care of his briefing. If there is anything you need from your ship be prepared with a list when I return and we?ll go fetch your stuff before Mike leaves. Any other questions?[/B]? Jared asked. ?[B]No sub-commander.[/B]? Darren said through clenched teeth. Jared smiled. ?[B]Good, now put that pretty head of yours to work,[/B]? he said as he left. Chuckling at the sound of muffled cursing that he could hear once the door closed behind his back.[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[COLOR=DarkRed]That works for me and since your post is up I can work in a bit between Sandra and the High Council to reflect that Kiva instead of Hays is who she will be briefing when you arrive at Earth. Since our posts are now in synch with your investigation being prior to our posts, I?ll put that bit in now instead of later and I won?t have to advance the time to match. I?ll have my post up by tomorrow evening once I?m done with school and work. I even have an interesting twist for you as well Darren. :p[/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkRed][quote name='Sandy]You mean people will get frustrated with constant competing, right? That there can always be just one winner?[/QUOTE]Exactly, and thank you Beth for making that concern clearer. It is fun to play those type of games/events/rpg?s but if that were the only type of events presented, it would get stale and boring in no time. Other events like the Nifty Fifty are more inclusive and follow a completely different format altogether. Even a photography contest would have been different in that you would have a first, second and third place positions along with possible honorable mention for a few other entries. (if a photography contest were to be done) [QUOTE=Sandy]To tell the truth, OB Records came more as an afterthought of what [I]else[/I'] besides OBS4 I could carry out in Community Events. It hasn't been given a good thinking through yet, and that's why it wasn't my "official" pitch.[/quote]Even if it?s an afterthought, it still has good potential, more orginality and the actual details could be worked out later. Especially since the Nifty Fifty is currently running. And that pitch could have been along the lines of this is what I?m thinking of and if I?m chosen it will be one of the events that will be presented in 2007. And since it would most likely have the thread of actual Records and another one where people suggest records, like Otakupedia you could also have members help with suggestions on the format for presenting the records.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkRed][quote name='Retribution][size=1']Bush wouldn't have invaded had the current public approval been below 50%. He invaded to raise his approval (IMO), so wouldn't such an action be self-defeating? The decision was made based off the fact everyone was pissed because we couldn't find Osama, and Bush didn't want people mad at him. So what does he do? Crucifies some other Middle Eastern country.[/size][/quote]Probably, but not all leaders have been smart in that respect. In the end I think it's sad that instead of owning up to not being able to find Osama, he turned and pretty much tore apart Iraq to cover for it. I'd rather have people mad at me than be responsible for messing up other people's lives on that scale. It's sickening to think of how many innocent people have died because of Bush's fear of having the American people mad at him. Anyway...hopefully things will calm down from Saddam's execution and Iraq can finally start getting back on it's feet for a change. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkRed][QUOTE=Retribution][size=1] Sure, there were people who knew Iraq was a bad idea from the get-go, and I'm not talking to them. But let's not act like the pro-Iraqi invasion folks were a minority in 2003. The American people play a significant role in government. [i]They[/i] represent [i]us[/i], and they lose their jobs if they piss us off. Isn't that great power?[/size][/QUOTE]Then in that case your post doesn't really apply to me since I was opposed to it from the very beginning. And your right about people supporting the idea, I got a lot of criticism from others who felt I was being unpatriotic, even though I see nothing patriotic about war. Also, lets not act like being pro-Iraqi invasion would have made a difference. It won't be the first time poor decisions have been made, regardless of whether or not the public approved. My point was that though Bush may have had support, there were plenty of people who didn't want him for a president to begin with. I agree that they play a significant role, which is why I mentioned the change in power in the Senate. If people were happy with how things were being done, they wouldn't have voted to shift the power like they did. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkRed][quote name='Retribution][size=1]I think if people (particularly those in America) fully understood the brutality of war, we'd be much more reluctant to go invade other countries. This might have something to do with why Europe isn't too crazy about running off and fighting places. They have been ravaged by war over and over again, so their people have a better grip on what it's actually like. Again, I don't expect it to [i]end[/i'] the death penalty just as I wouldn't expect the pictures of war to stop war. I think if people weren't so far removed from the issues, they'd make different choices.[/size][/quote]Correct me if I'm wrong, but just which American people are you referring to? Because last time I checked, the regular American was not given a say as to whether or not our leaders chose to go to war. Because if that were the case, I'd be voting no on a regular basis. The only ones lacking reluctance are those fools in charge, which by the way I did not vote for. I know you don't mean it that way Retribution, but not all Americans are eager for those senseless wars Bush and others are so fond of. And nearly half of the counted popular votes when the last election was held were not for Bush either. And I would think the recent elections giving the Democrats more power in the Senate would show that the rest of America is equally as tired of the mess created by those in charge. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkRed]I agree with the others on this. I for one do not question your ability to create fun and successful RPG?s Sandy, but by pulling out another Survivor event all you?re doing is showing us what we already know, that you can create great RPG?s and follow through on them. Not that you can create something outside your comfort zone. It may seem like we are giving you a hard time, but if we really didn?t care about you we wouldn?t try to point out things we see as detrimental to your chances of being selected as the next Event Master. And at this point as Charles put it: [QUOTE=Charles]This is just the reality of things: if you do not edit your post with a different event pitch, you're essentially handing the competition over to White on a silver platter. [I]//snip//[/I] Again, I don't mean to sound harsh, but "safe" isn't going to cut it anymore.[/QUOTE]I?m in complete agreement with him on this. [quote name='DeadSeraphim][size=1][color=indigo][font=arial]Aaryanna, may I commend you on not forcing your poor tortured pet into a costume for your latest avi and banner. It looks much nicer when it's not being a christmas decoration. Honest.[/font][/color'][/size][/quote]I'll second that, the costume was amusing, but the longer it was up the more I felt sorry for your poor dog. The new set looks much nicer. ;)[/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkRed][quote name='Retribution][size=1']Part of me believes that if you support the death penalty, you should watch what you're asking for. Kind of like how cops have to take mace to the eyes before being authorized to use it, just so they know how it feels on a human being.[/size][/quote]What makes you think I haven't? My disagreement is more along the lines that it was thrown out there without the consent of the Iraq government. Retribution, watching someone get executed is a hell of a lot less messy and sickening than being right next to someone when they get shot in the head and you get splattered with their blood. An experience I hope I never get to repeat. I've also worked with victims of domestic violence that are so battered and bloody that's amazing they can even walk. About the only thing I haven't experienced is being executed myself since unlike mace the effects of execution are permanent. If Iraq or other governments choose to openly display the videos that?s fine by me. I just disagree with the idiot who put it up even though they knew they weren?t suppose to. And that's my bad for not being more clear on what I objected to. ;)[/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkRed][QUOTE=vegeta rocker]I know he did some horrible things but my opinion is if you can't create it then you have no right to take it. Humans cannot create human life, so i feel we lack the right to take a life.[/QUOTE]Try explaining that to those who do take it. Whether or not we create life, and that?s another discussion altogether since humans do create life by having children, the argument that we don?t would seem to fall under the religious concept that our souls come from heaven. So saying we can?t create life isn?t exactly a fact but rather one of a religious belief or viewpoint. Those who believe in souls would argue that we can?t create them and others who do not would argue that life is created through reproduction. [quote name='vegeta rocker'] If anything he is now a Martyr and that is going to make his ideas and influence even harder to overcome. [/quote]Only to some groups, plenty of others are happy that he was punished for his crimes. Just read the papers, as those who suffered due to his actions were glad he was dealt with. [QUOTE=vegeta rocker]It just proves to me that this was done not out of justice, but revenge and malice. If it had been about justice he would have been imprisoned the rest of his life showing his followers he had been brought to justice and was punished for it. But killing him gives him power.[/QUOTE]One man?s justice is another man?s revenge. Your viewpoint is that it was revenge, but others will disagree since they do not view the death penalty as revenge. That too is subjective as not everyone agrees as to what is considered justice. His death may give the illusion of power, but Iraq has been anything but stable for decades. In time, they?ll find some other reason for violence and Saddam will fade into the background like all former Dictators often do. About the only thing I disagree with is the video on the Internet and even then it was supposedly done by someone acting on their own and not by the government. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkRed]I bet 100 OtakuBucks that [B]DeathKnight [/B]will take first. :p[/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkRed][quote name='Rachmaninoff']That?s what I?ve heard too from Crystia so I followed her advise and I went and picked up the guide to this game. Which actually looks like a pretty solid guide for a game. I?m getting the impression that when I really get into the customization and creation side of the game it?s going to end up being quite useful.[/quote]Smart move, following my advise that is. :p And you're right, when it comes to the customization/creation aspect of the game, that guide will become your new best friend. I've said it before, but this is one game that getting the guide really makes a difference, since I've yet to see an online guide that even does it justice. And at the same time, it's also a game that in my opinion should have come bundled with the guide in the first place since other than the easiest level customization and creation is essential in beating the harder levels and the bonus dungeons as well. And having the guide to help you with that process just makes it a hundred times more fun instead of a thousand times more frustrating. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkRed][B]What is it?[/B] [URL=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=52384&page=1&pp=15][COLOR=DarkRed]Nifty Fifty of 2006 Graphics.[/COLOR] [/URL] [thread] [B]Why is it Nifty?[/B] Because the graphics for the results were gorgeous. The detail and work that went into the presentations really brought the whole event to life. [B]What is it?[/B] Charles [member/staff] [B]Why is it Nifty?[/B] Because it?s Charles! From the funny pictures he posts, to the Otakupedia thread he spawned, to the current [URL=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=56134 ][COLOR=DarkRed]Let's Abolish Profanity in Adventure Square/Reform[/COLOR] [/URL] thread, there isn?t anything Charles does that isn?t nifty. [B]What is it?[/B] Aaryanna_Mom [member] [B]Why is it Nifty? [/B]She brings a certain amount of calm to otherwise heated debates and as other members have observed: [quote name='White][COLOR=DimGray][FONT=Tahoma]In all honesty, I think that almost all the teenagers (and some others) on OtakuBoards think of you as [i]the[/i] OB Mom. I know that whenever I see you've posted in a thread I'll be posting in, I clean up my post a little bit just because it feels right. [/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE] [QUOTE=John']Having a mod's mom posting on the boards is probably the most entertaining thing that's happened here in years. XD[/quote]Just her presence is enough to encourage better posting while being entertaining at the same time. Along with her candid opinion on subjects that she disagrees with you on and how she does so with a dash of motherly love, she's definitely quite nifty.[/COLOR]

[SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkRed]Jared resisted the urge to yawn. He had been researching what had happened in regards to how commander Darren had received clearance. His instincts told him that Darren was innocent and even if he wasn?t Jared had never been the type to just execute someone for something they had not done. One didn?t get to the rank of sub-commander by showing poor judgment. And executing someone for someone else?s mistake was just the sort of thing Jared found distasteful as it implied that he was inefficient and incapable of finding out the truth. Besides if he were honest with himself, Darren was rather cute and if he was guilty?he could certainly use another diversion. Mike on the other hand, he would have no issue outright executing him should that turn out to be the case. That one was an idiot and Jared had no use for idiots. The few times he had spoken had grated on Jared?s nerves, enough that he had pretty much avoided both of them since he had them arrested. Leaving them to wonder what their fate would be as he wasn?t in the mood to even look at Mike let alone talk to him. If only the High Council would find a replacement for Ryan. He had heard that they had someone working on it but apparently they weren?t finished yet. He would prefer to hand it over to someone who was skilled at hacking. Jared was good at it but not as good as true hackers were. He was better at interrogations. He sighed catching the attention of Commander Sandra. ?[B]It?s not like you to mope Jared.[/B]? She teased him. Jared looked up from the screen on the console in front of him and over to Sandra who was watching him from her position on the bridge, her look one of amusement. ?[B]You?ve been working on that for several days now, don?t you plan on questioning Commander Darren and his crew?[/B]? She asked. Jared looked away uncomfortably at her question only to turn back when Sandra outright giggled at him. ?[B]Jared, you?re so easy to read in regards to Mike. If you want me to handle his interrogation, all you have to do is ask. Even I can see that he irritates you. Darren on the other hand is definitely your type.[/B]? She said with a wink. ?[B]I?m sorry Sandra, I should have said something sooner. You?re right. Mike does annoy the hell out of me and I find myself even more annoyed that he even bothers me like that. He?s so stupid that it?s painful, which is part of why I just can?t see him being the one responsible for hacking the system.?[/B] Jared replied. ?[B]I agree, I get the impression that both of them are blameless. With our current assignment it?s too convenient that he was given clearance that would just happen to put him in our path. And I find it hard to believe that they would risk being executed just to make a profit. Especially when their cargo is perfectly legal.[/B]? Sandra paused for a moment, tapping her fingers on the armrest of her chair before continuing. ?[B]My hunch is that someone used them as a diversion. Especially since we now know that both former Commander Daniel and Sub-Commander Kim are on Earth with Jason?s sister.[/B]? Jared nodded. ?[B]I know, it would explain Ryan?s duplicity in not revealing that fact. If he is indeed involved in illegal weapons trading as my information indicates, the last thing he would want is for us to pick them up and return to sector one. The fact that he was the one who located them would have garnered too much attention from the High Council towards him. He was probably hoping they would leave Earth before we got there, just to cover his own back. Whether or not they were wanted criminals wouldn?t matter. [/B]? ?[B]Forgetting Ryan, for the moment, I will handle the questioning in regards to Mike since I get the feeling he fails to grasp the seriousness of their situation. ?[/B] Sandra ordered. ?[B]Where you can handle questioning Darren. You don?t even have to deal with Mike, just have security move Darren to where we deal with those who [I]are [/I]criminals. Even if you don?t plan on using more strict methods, just being taken there will help to remind him of just how serious this situation really is. Even if he is innocent, by military law we could execute both of them for being in a restricted zone.?[/B] ?[B]I understand Commander,[/B]? Jared replied. ?[B]And I?ll take you up on the offer to deal with Mike. Especially since I?d rather just jettison him into space.[/B]? Sandra snickered. ?[B]I agree, especially after hearing what an idiot he was from our own computer specialist who initially questioned him.[/B]? Jared turned back to his console and closed down the information he was working on. He could finish it tomorrow after he questioned Commander Darren further. Especially since until he received more of the computer records and shipping information for sector six, he couldn?t finish verifying the rest of the information he had so far. Finding out who had hacked the system wasn?t a simple process, it took hours of tedious searching to rule out those who had accessed the system for legitimate reasons. Part of why he preferred having someone else take care of it for him. He sighed as he got up and left the bridge to head for his quarters. At least dealing with Darren would be more entertaining. [/COLOR][/SIZE]

[COLOR=DarkRed]I?ve been part of both; RPG?s where the creator other than to provide the initial story line didn?t control it at all and others where they added twists and events to the storyline. In the end I like a small level of control from the creator better, enough to give you direction and yet at the same time not too restrictive so you can be creative with what you put into the story. I?ve seen ones that were rigidly controlled and though they had promise, most of them ended up outright dying quickly. So definitely ones that are controlled on a lighter basis, although total freedom is fun, it?s far too easy for things to get out of whack and just fall apart. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkRed]Okay Darren, I?ve done my worst, ;) for now that is. Jared is in a very, very bad mood and I?ve left it up to you to write the part where you get arrested. So be sure to have fun writing it since once we are on our way to Earth we will have finished our objective that SunfallE gave us. I didn?t mean to drag it out so much, but I was having too much fun. And the way you had Mike describe Jared...that was priceless. :)[/COLOR]

[SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkRed]Any other time Jared would have found watching Commander Darren?s attempts to be calm amusing, but not today. Even his good looks weren?t enough to keep Jared from feeling irritated at the delay. If they weren?t quick enough the resistance would get to Jason?s sister Sara first. He was even more irritated that he couldn?t hand over this mess to Ryan since he had turned out to be unreliable. Jared had handed the matter in regards to Ryan over to the High Council, but they had yet to resolve the issue and he had not found a replacement to take his place yet. It pained him to admit it, but lately the military was spread a little to thin. A number of battleships along with troops had been called elsewhere leaving the rest of them picking up the slack. There literally was no one else he could hand this task over too. Commander Crystal had been called to this area, but she was a doctor and hardly qualified for this type of investigation. [I]Just what the hell is the High Council up to? [/I]Jared thought, he had suspicions, but he hoped he was wrong, because if he was right, it would be a stupid move on their part. With a sigh he pulled his attention back to checking the cargo, they had been at it for hours since each section of the crystals had to be stored in separate containers and then separated by containment fields. Which meant he had to scan each section manually. Two of his security crew were off with Darren?s only crewmember on the bridge checking through their computer records. They were tied in with the specialist over on the Crimson making sure that the clearance data was indeed genuine. Jared finished scanning the final container. A quick check on his handheld device showed that the information he had been given in regards to the cargo matched. He contacted Sandra, ignoring Darren altogether. ?[B]What is it Jared,[/B]? she asked. ?[B]I?ve finished checking the cargo and everything is in order. Have you gotten a response from sector six yet?[/B]? He asked her. ?[B]No but we have gotten a message for you from Earth, do you want me to forward it to you?[/B]? She asked. ?[B]Please do.[/B]? Jared replied. ?[B]What about the team checking their computer records?[/B]? ?[B]So far everything matches in that area as well, I?ll let you know when they are finished.[/B]? Sandra said before terminating the connection. A moment later the data with the message from Earth came up on his handheld device. He could see Darren out of the corner of his eye waiting for instructions. Jared ignored him in favor of reading the report from the agents who were suppose to be keeping an eye on Sara. It included all the videos they had taken of her with various people she was acquainted with and more importantly a file with each person?s picture together with her listed in the order that they had initially take the picture. Much better than the lame summary they had sent him before. That had been completely useless. He quickly tabbed through the different pictures only to pause a few times as if he couldn?t believe what he was seeing. He pulled up another file and then compared the pictures with one another. There were slight differences, but it was them. And if the dates were correct they had been on Earth for nearly four months. Jared turned to address the two remaining security with him. ?[B]Take Darren to the bridge and join the others, I?ll be along in a moment.[/B]? He watched them leave and then opened up the channel with Sandra once again. ?[B]What is it Jared?[/B]? She asked. ?[B]I?m sending you something I want you to take a look at.[/B]? He said even as he entered the commands to send the pictures to her. Then he waited patiently for her response. ?[B]Interesting, Ryan was the one who put those operatives in place for you correct? [/B]" She asked. ?[B]Yes, if I hadn?t already turned the matter of his duplicity over to the High Council I would take the time to pry the information out of him myself. He should have forwarded the information to me immediately.[/B]? Jared said angrily. ?[B]We need to get to Earth before it?s too late, I don?t want those two escaping us yet again.[/B]? Sandra replied and then hesitated at the beeping sound indicating another message was coming in. ?[B]Just a moment Jared, I?ll tie you in as it seems the reply from sector six has finally arrived.[/B]? Jared waited a moment and then read through the information once it come through to his handheld device. He clenched his hands in anger when he realized what had happened. This was far more than a simple mix up and there was no way he could ascertain whether or not Darren was innocent of any wrongdoing, at least not without a lengthy investigation. ?[B]Have you finished reading it Jared?[/B]? Sandra asked once she was done. ?[B]I have Commander,[/B]? he said still furious over the deception. ?[B]Good, I want you to round up both Commander Darren and his crew and place them under arrest, we need to get to Earth and I don?t intend to be delayed by the investigation. It?s just a little to pat for my comfort that this sort of thing happened just at the right moment to interrupt our assignment to Earth. Assign a helmsman to Commander Darren?s ship and have them bring it along, we can sort this out after we?ve picked up the criminals on Earth.[/B]? Sandra ordered. ?[B]Understood Commander,[/B]? Jared replied. He closed the handheld device and headed towards the bridge, if Darren wasn?t innocent, he would make sure he regretted getting in his way. With a snarl of irritation he kicked some empty containers that were near the door to the cargo bay, scattering them across the floor as the door opened and then closed behind him as he left to head for the bridge. [/COLOR][/SIZE]

[COLOR=DarkRed][QUOTE=JimitheGreat11][FONT=Times New Roman]Yah, I apologize for my post not being long, but i'm not really sure where to go with my character yet. I guess i'm just waiting for someone's ship to come to Sector 12, and then I'll go from there. Everyone else seems to really know what they're talking about, so maybe I should go read the Silver One story. I'm glad I'm in an RPG for once with actually talented people, now I just have to live up to the expectations as well.[/FONT][/QUOTE]I agree with SunfallE your post was just fine. I think other than you and Takuya the rest of us have read the story, we tried to provide all the basic in our sign ups and opening posts, but it was also easier since SunfallE gave most of us brief objectives for the prologue, like my stopping Darren's ship, though she didn't specify the reason why we stopped them. Still it gave me somewhere to start, as I?m not so creative to think of things on my own at times. I?m glad you put that chart up to SunfallE. :p I hadn?t thought about it, but it ended up being useful in helping me structure my post in regards to poor Darren?s ship. [quote name='Rachmaninoff]*[I]pokes Crystia[/I]* That?s your cue to do your worst. I?m almost envious that you get to play the villain. *[I]pouts[/I']*[/quote]No worries, I?ll be sure to do my worst as you put it. *pokes Darren* Besides you?re forgetting that SunfallE said in her sign up that you can play two characters so later if you get a good idea for a nice villain you can pm her and work it into the story. ;) [/COLOR]

[SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkRed]Jared pulled up the information on the merchant ship while he waited for both Sandra and the Commander of the other ship to contact him. It only took a moment to pull up the information along with the most recent photo of the Commander. He skimmed the report catching the highlights: [INDENT]Darren Anderson, age 60. President and founder of Anderson Shipping took over his father?s position when he retired thirty years ago and broke off to form his own company. Along with his only employee Mike he mainly deals in shipping the crystals used for most of the basic equipment in Versilan goods. Darren is also known for occasionally handling special requests for shipping and has the necessary training to package and ship arms. [/INDENT] The rest didn?t interest Jared, what did was that he actually had clearance to handle arms. That type of permit was very difficult to get and rarely handed out to an independent merchant. He initiated a scan of the ship only to be met by distortions. But that was nothing to be concerned about. If he really were transporting the crystals essential to their technology, he would have to have a type of force field running to protect them from themselves as too many in one location would be an issue. If he really wanted to know for sure what his cargo was he?d have to actually transport over to take a look. Jared turned to look at the sound of the bridge doors opening and closing. Sandra, complete in full uniform of the blue and silver only a candidate was allowed to wear, entered and sat down at her seat. ?[B]So what?s the deal Jared?[/B]? ?[B]I?m still waiting on the Commander of the ship to respond. Since the records indicate that there are only two crewmembers I am assuming that he was probably resting. Their current flight path would indicate that they came from sector six and are actually on their way to sector twelve. I would have chalked it up to bad timing to be passing through part of sector thirteen, but if they left immediately after getting clearance, that would mean they got clearance for their shipment at least ten hours after the restrictions were put in place.[/B]? Jared replied. ?[B]I see, then they should have been diverted around sector thirteen instead of crossing though part of it. That means they are up to something, or just stupid enough to try and save a few days by bending the rules. What else have you found out?[/B]? Sandra asked. ?[B]I sent off a request to the station in sector six that would have issued the clearance, but it will be a little while longer until they reply.[/B]? Jared paused as a beeping noise sounded indicating that the merchant ship was hailing them. He spoke again before the helmsman could indicate whom the message was from. ?[B]Put it on the main viewer.[/B]? ?[B]Yes sir.[/B]? He replied as he opened up the transmission. A man dressed in a gray type of tank top and black pants, his only indication of rank the company badge on his collar was standing in front of the commander's seat of the bridge of the merchant ship. The picture in his profile didn?t do justice to his striking good looks, full short wavy blonde hair and silver eyes so pale they almost appeared to be a light blue. He bowed deeply towards Sandra before speaking. ?[B]Commander, how may I be of assistance?[/B]? Sandra replied, ?[B]You can start by sending me a copy of the transmission giving you clearance to be in this sector.[/B]? ?[B]At once,[/B]? Darren relied even as he sat down in his seat and then punched in the command to send over the information. Sandra ignored him while she glanced though the information. It was as she thought; his clearance had been issued well after the restriction had been issued. Either he had been foolish and altered it, or someone had messed up. There just wasn?t any reason why an independent merchant would have been given clearance. She looked back up at Darren to see him patiently waiting for her answer. Carefully making sure to devote his attention to her and her alone. ?[B]I?m going to send my sub-commander Jared over to your ship to check your cargo while I verify your clearance Commander Darren. You should not have been given clearance for this sector and I will be required to verify that you are indeed who you claim to be.[/B]? She informed him. Darren paled at the thought and he controlled it well, but not enough that Sandra didn?t notice it. The question now; was it nervousness over Jared, or something else? She continued, ?[B]I trust you have no objections?[/B]? ?[B]I do not Commander, I along with my crew Mike will signal you shortly from our transport room. I?d prefer to avoid a random transport due to the nature of my cargo.[/B]? He replied. ?[B]Agreed, you have ten minutes to comply.[/B]? Sandra replied. ?[B]At once Commander.[/B]? Darren replied before shutting down the transmission. Sandra turned to Jared, ?[B]Take some security with you, my instinct is that Commander Darren is innocent, stupid perhaps, but something doesn?t feel right. I find it hard to believe that one who is so accomplished for their age would be so foolhardy to toss it away on the chance to save a little time.[/B]? ?[B]Understood Commander, I?ll assemble a team at once.[/B]? Jared replied before getting up and leaving the bridge. He opened his handheld communicator and issued the request for a security squad of four. Then he made his way to the equipment room to pick up a portable scanner along with anything else he might need.[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[COLOR=DarkRed][quote name='Aaryanna][COLOR=Red']Not only is Link a cutie in the newest game, but the entire game is simply beautiful![/COLOR][/quote]I think it?s safe to say that a fair number of people play the game because Link is pretty damn cute. ;) I know that was one of my biggest disappointments in The Wind Waker. It was fun, but Link was turned into a kid. So to have Link back to being cute and a game that?s put together nicely as well is just sweet. And speaking of sweet, I just finished the fifth dungeon. I rather enjoyed the boss fight for the fourth one even though it was too short for my tastes. I?m really hoping I get to use the [spoiler] spinner more often since it?s a fun new piece of equipment. But I gotta say that I love that huge ball and chain. Smashing things with it is fun too. [/spoiler] What I loved best about the boss fight in the fifth dungeon was how everything looked. [spoiler] from the way you fought by using the reflection on the ice, to the details on the boss and the other aspects of that fight. And more importantly, I really liked the thread of organ music woven into that fight. There?s just something about organ music that comes across as creepy to me and I enjoyed it. [/spoiler] Now I?m doing a bit of side exploring before I head out to the next dungeon since I remember a few things that I couldn?t do before I got the newest equipment. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkRed][quote name='NIKI12345']Well the only drink I had was red bull, but the only reason I drank it was so it could keep me up during the night so I could finish studying for this big test. [/quote]Red Bull is an energy drink not an alcoholic one. That doesn't qualify as having a drink. About the only thing Red Bull is going to do is make you feel more awake. [/COLOR] :p

[SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkRed]Sandra?s shift had ended hours ago but Jared was still up on the bridge reviewing the details she had sent him in regards to his assignment once they reached Earth. This time around it seemed that he had a time limit for completing his task. He pulled up the additional reports of the operatives that had been assigned to Earth a few months ago. Other than to confirm that Jason?s sister Sara was still there, they had been keeping their distance, so far they hadn?t detected any signs that the resistance had contacted her, but their final notes indicated that they couldn?t be positive on that. Jared sighed at the obvious incompetence of the report. So many details were missing that it was like a child had written the report and not an agent. He pulled up a secondary file and quickly prepared a report and sent it off requesting more specific information. [I]If those fools don?t answer those questions immediately I?ll be sure to correct their stupidity.[/I] He thought to himself. Jared hated dealing with operatives he himself did not select and train. A beeping noise sounded alerting him incoming information. He shut down his reports and looked up to see what it was. The helmsman was busy checking information that was displayed on the panel in front of him. A moment later he spoke. ?[B]Sir, long range scanners have detected another ship in hyperspace entering sector thirteen.[/B]? Jared raised an eyebrow at that. According to Sandra?s information there shouldn?t be anyone cleared to enter this area of space. ?[B]What type of ship is it??[/B] he asked. ?[B]It?s an independent merchant sir.[/B]? He responded. ?[B]Hail them.[/B]? Jared said. The helmsman sent out the message a moment later the main screen came to life. The commander?s seat was empty and only one person was on the bridge of the small merchant ship. Unkempt and dressed in plain clothes along with dirty blonde hair the man was obviously not a member of the merchant guild. ?[B]Ah sub-commander, what can I do for you?[/B]? The man asked. Jared narrowed his eyes and then spoke. ?[B]Drop out of hyperspace immediately and get your commander. I expect a full explanation as to why you are in a restricted area.[/B]? ?[B]Restricted area? But..[/B]? the man started to say and then stopped. ?[B]Understood sub-commander, I?ll get Commander Darren immediately.[/B]? The transmission ended and the main viewer switched back to one of the ship traveling in hyperspace. ?[B]The ship has dropped out of hyperspace sub-commander and come to a halt.[/B]? The helmsman spoke up. ?[B]Bring us out of hyperspace and alongside their ship, in defensive posture.[/B]? Jared said. ?[B]Defensive sir?[/B]? The helmsman asked puzzled. It was just a merchant ship wasn?t it? ?[B]Don?t make me repeat myself,[/B]? Jared said icily. The helmsman paled. ?[B]Sorry sir, at once sir![/B]? His finger faltering at first and then flying as he quickly issued the command that would bring the ship into position. Though why they were assuming a stance as if they were going to board the ship made no sense to him. Jared ignored the helmsman once it was apparent that he was following orders and contacted Sandra. A moment later she appeared on the small screen built into the armrest of his seat. ?[B]What is it Jared?[/B]? Sandra asked the moment she realized who had contacted her. ?[B]An independent merchant ship has entered this sector.[/B]? Jared explained. Sandra cocked her head to the side as if considering what Jared had just said. ?[B]Interesting,[/B]? she finally replied. ?[B]I?ll be there in a moment.[/B]? The screen went blank. Jared looked back up at the main viewer and watched as their ship came along side the smaller merchant ship.[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[COLOR=DarkRed][quote name='NIKI12345]Just calm down. Your not crazy so chill. You think you?re the only one who feels like they flunked. Well your not. All you need to do is rest. Sleep and make sure when you?re dreaming your not dreaming about the tests. If you keep it up you will become a reckless wreck? Think happy thoughts like ice cream. That makes everybody happy. You have a good chance that you did great on your test. Then maybe not?? Just joking, but really just calm down!!![/QUOTE]Telling someone to just calm down or to chill doesn?t really do the trick, unless they are just overstressing. But if they have true paranoia issues then no amount of telling yourself to just chill is going to do the trick. (and for the record, not everyone likes ice cream ;) ) Rachmaninoff?s advice here is the best so far. [QUOTE=Rachmaninoff']If you answered I freak out all the time and this is just what I?m upset about right now, then by all means talk to a professional because at this point, none of us are qualified to truly help you.[/quote]If that?s the case then he?s correct in that none of us are qualified to help. Some types of paranoia and panic attacks as Phaedrus mentioned are best handled with medication or some other type of treatment. Though learning how to conquer your fears as Phaedrus mentioned is also helpful as well, but again that path for many people is best approached with someone who is trained in helping you do just that. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=DarkRed]NIKI12345, he already gave her the gift as you can see here:[QUOTE=Senor Ding Dong]So i gave the girl i like the present. She *loved* it. She said "Thank you so much" more times than i can count, and "I'm so happy i could kiss you!" then she does... Is that a good indicator that i just pole vaulted the hell out of the Friend zone or what? [/QUOTE]So now the question is did that indeed move him out of the friend zone. Or are they still stuck in the phase of just being friends. [/COLOR]

[COLOR=darkred]Welcome to theOtakuBoards [B]NIKI12345[/B] Please be aware that we have a rules page that all members are required to read before posting. These [URL=http://www.otakuboards.com/rules.php?"][U]Rules[/U][/URL] and [URL=http://www.otakuboards.com/faq.php?][U]FAQ[/U][/URL] can be found on the left navigation menu and the [url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showthread.php?t=52331][u]Otaku Lounge Rules[/u][/url] are pinned at the top of the forum. You can also use the underlined links I have just provided. We have pretty high standards when it comes to the quality of posts (ie: making them well thought out with care given to grammar). Especially for the opening post of a thread as it's what kick starts the discussion. For example you could have taken the time to explain what you look for in a guy/girl and why. When you re-read the rules page it will make more sense to you. A thread where you ask what people look for in a guy/girl without even bothering to explain what you would look for is spam. So due to the spammy nature of this thread I will be closing it. If you have any questions please feel free to pm myself or another member of the staff. ~indifference [B] Thread Closed[/B][/COLOR]