RPG Loaded: Debugged

[liamc2]

[center]~~~~[/center]

[size=1]So the plot thickens.

The Load project has been highly successful in the past few years. Due to the massive increase in technical knowledge, less and less people were needed to man the computers. AI programs took their places.

Audits were taken of the entire project and certain ?expendable? people were fired. These expendable people were given quite beneficial sums of money and shares in the company, more than enough for them to live out their days in comfort.

Almost all were pleased with what they got. However, there were some who wanted more. Some who wanted [b]revenge[/b].

Disillusioned computer staff, who were the bulk of the people forcibly retired, attempted a vendetta against the Load project. After months of planning they attacked the Load computers through the back doors they had left so long ago.

They hit a brick wall.

The new Load AI had discovered their assault the nano second it began. Buffers that had been especially inserted fired up and reversed the googolplex of pings that had been fired by the would-be hackers.

The authorities descended upon the base of operations to find 1.5 million shards worth of wiped computer technology crowded by shocked computer techies. All of the hackers had been accounted for, except for one, the ringleader.

Time has passed, six months from the assault, a year from the update of the Load project.

Life is normal, aside from the fact rifts are occurring more and more often. The Load Psychologists attributed it to the influx of mass media, computer games and an impressionable youth on Earth. The Load Physicists attribute it to a flaw in the Load technology, an untraceable flaw that seems to be growing?as though someone is feeding it?

Both parties are correct, more so the Physicists, but their claims have no evidence and are mostly speculation. Nothing has been done to follow up their claims and waste funding on another wild goose chase.

So the rift grows?

While the Load project is eaten from the inside, the press attack it from without, claiming that the Load project is nothing but a front for the training of military soldiers for the purpose of overthrowing the government?

This is said to face of the government that is built entirely around the Load project and merely exists to keep funding flowing into the important project.
Ignorance seethes in the dark shadows and threatens to topple what holds time and space in equilibrium.

And still the ringleader walks free, and the Load slowly expands, millimetre by millimetre.

[center]~~~[/center]

?All of you are here today because you are the best in your fields, and new to your fields. It is because of that we now have a balanced team of defenders and technologists-

Jonathan shot a glance around the room, noting that all the techies smiled smugly to themselves and sat back in their seats, knowing full well that they?d have the cushy job of sitting outside of the Loadspace and watching the antics of the defenders on wide screen plasma television.

- who, for one of the first times, will be joining the defenders in the field.?

The techies didn?t look so confident anymore. Jonathan laughed, this was going to be amusing. Even though it had been required of the techies to undergo militaristic Load training, he was certain some of them had weaselled their way out of it.

?The reason why the techies are going in field is that their has been a serious problem with the super computers. Something even the AI cannot fix. It?s going to have to be an inside job. Defenders will not only be guarding the Load from the rift, but also your technicians and their equipment.?

Great, another snag. Jonathan shot a look at his little sister who was sitting over the other side of the room, chatting quietly with one of the technicians, so as not to be discovered. Jonathan grinned to himself, she always seemed to not be paying attention in the briefings, and yet she knew exactly what to do in the Loadspace?

Jonathan forced his eyes back to the speaker. So now he had to become accustomed with some new defenders, meet some new techies, guard his sister, guard loads of equipment [I]and[/I] deal with the new rift?

-before I forget, you lot are being sent to Ancient Ireland, about the same time period of the Formorians and the Tuatha De Danann.?

There was a groan from the group, the Ancient Ireland thing had come up quite a lot in the past few weeks, there just seemed to be something permanently wrong with the server or something.

?Now now, you won?t just be defending your people from the Formorian horde, you?ll also need to defend them against a very, very early form of the bubonic plague. In-station techies discovered a breach in the Dark Age server and somehow it?s leaking through every firewall they put up. Even the AI don?t know what?s happening, but they suggest that it?s something to do with a rupture in the Ancient Ireland hardware??

Great. So this meant that they had no home base support, no emergency exit and living in the real Ireland with only the technology they could carry in with them?

?Suit up and meet in the break room. I have the feeling you lot will want a good long feed and a few injections.?

Jonathan winced at the thought of the needles as he rose from his chair. No doubt there?d be one loaded with penicillin to deal with plague, a needle for dietary supplements to deal with the low nutrition food they?d be fed in Loadspace, a needle to protect against poisoning?a needle for hepatitis?
[/size]

[center]~~~~[/center]

BTW: Here's the 'official' banner for Loaded, if anyone is interested...

[center][img]http://www.otakuboards.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=427730[/img][/center]

[Anti]

[I] Zaeon sighed and fingered his wrist computer...his own personal computer... then sighed[/I]

Zaeon: great! back to the ancient days...little technology, no repair parts! [I]sighs[/I]...oh well...I get to see ancient man upclose!

Nearby Techy: BAH! barbarians...

Zaeon: in all liklihood yes... but maybe not. [I]Zaeon shrugs and looks around the room at the others gathered for the briefing...glad he took that small arms class now...He notices the girl in the corner talking to a techie he knows and chuckles, hoping she dosn't hook up with him...the sleeze. He continued looking around...noticing other members, marking thier faces in his computer and looking over information stored in the school computers about them, esspecially one large muscly guy...and remembering him in the small firearms class...how small the gun looked in his hands. [/I]

[Biida]

[i] Looking up from her conversation with one of the varioius techies (Rosa, was her name), Leona managed to catch her brother's gaze, giving him a quick grin. Most of the others might be upset with this new technicality, but it really wasn't anything Leona hadn't been expecting. But then again, having your brother as the group leader did tend to come in handy...

At the end of her brother's speech, Leona let out a lazy yawn and stretched her legs out, before turning to get up. Best to get those needles out of the way right now and put up with grumbling techies later. There's never really any point in trying to settle them all down.

Cushy life's gotten the best of them, she thought to herself, as she glanced over a row of techies that all seemed to have put on a few extra pounds in the last little while.

And besides all that, she had to get the latest batch of gizmos handed out before they all left to Ole Ireland. And the suits also had a new little handy device or two she should probably get installed... alas, there wouldn't be time for that now. Leona sighed faintly to herself. "So much to do, so little time," was a quote that came to mind in situations like this.

But she didn't have time to be dwelling on such matters now. Or else she'll wind up thinking too hard and getting left behind.. it almost happened last time she started dwelling. Sigh.

Finally turning from her seat, she started towards the break room, trying to ignore the angered calls of the techies. After a few moments, though, as she was waiting for the line towards the doors to thin, Leona began feeling a tad "pissy" at their remarks.

Finally, she turned to one as he shouted out something to do with barbarians. She had a quick temper, and just because he was a new one here, she wasn't going to be taking it too lightly on him.[/i]

"Barbarians they may be, I really don't know or care. But whether you like it or not, we're going there, we're putting up with them. If you don't like it, blame yourself for signing up for your job. Sitting on your *** all day isn't going to work. This is a team job, and will be a team effort. From the techies, also known as you, just as much as the dedicated defenders."

[i]The techie returned her glare for a few moments, before almost whispering. to her, [/i] "Easy enough for the favored one, the sister, to be saying..."

[i]At his remark, she stared, almost appalled. Just because she was Jonathon's sister didn't mean she was going to get -- or try to get, for that matter -- out of anything.

... Stupid, ignorant old idiots they are, anyway.

Leona cast him another cold look, before turning on her heels and out the door. Making her way through the now-thickened crowd of men and women, hoping to find Jonathon, or at least be one of the first to get to the break room. God knows she needed a coffee before suiting-up.

She sighed. Even needles seemed better than having to put up with this right now. [/i]

[Guest cloricus]

"This sucks!" thought Tony as he looked around the room; they were listening to a brief by some guy that he couldn't see from where he was sitting. Normally he got in early and snagged a comfy corner so he would be less noticeable. He stayed quite and not looking at people because it seemed the best way not to be noticed after moving teams, he wouldn't have to suffer others gaze for awhile at least.

?You lot are being sent to Ancient Ireland? the man giving the speech said and along with most of the other people in the room Fry let out an annoyed sigh. He finally worked up the curiosity to find out who was in command of the team he'd be assigned. He slowly stood up; several techies looked at him but quickly went back to the speech. Looking around Fry noticed some people he'd known and a lot that he didn't, he got a small shock when he looked at the man speaking and instantly started paying more attention. Soon after the brief finished and every one started moving off to their respective places to get ready.

A few minutes later Fry was in a rather odd shaped room with white walls and a few doors getting needle shot after shot for everything from general infection to the plague. When it was finally over he had trouble moving his arm which now looked kind of like a patch work quilt. He got up and continued to another room with had a lot of people in it, the people didn?t seem too happy so he kept to himself and got suited up. His favourite part followed, loading up the new tech and toys.

---
OOC: I'm just trying to tag along until I understand the story line better!

[DeathKnight]

[color=crimson]Ken stood up silently and made his way through the small crowd as it filtered slowly out through the various exits. He might as well get the whole needles bit over with, and then spend some time to himself drinking some good hot cofee. Walking out of the corrosponding exit, he was soon in a relevtively small line of those who wanted to get it out of the way too- all of them with a pissed off or bored look on their face.

[i]"Well. At least morale stays at a common point of sucking."[/i]

Leaning against the wall, he watched as a young guy with a buzzcut walked out- various white patches across his arm dotting all across it.

[i]"Maybe this will prove to be more interesting than anyone thinks, I mean, it is a repeating problem. We might find something different this time.."[/i]

Slowly, he was 4th in line. 3rd. 2nd.

It was his turn.

He ducked his head underneath the reletively short, to him, doorway and sat down, pulling up his sleeve. He looked away as the process started, winceing only on the first needle and remaining calm for all the rest. It took only a few moments for all of them, and he was soon on his way out like the few before him, ducking once more to avoid an untimely concussion.

[b]Ken[/b]: Now for some coffee..[/color]

[Lady Asphyxia]

[size=1]The thought of needles made her feel vaguely like fainting, but the thought of [i]eating[/i] before a needle made her physically ill. It seemed that getting it over and done with was her best bet.

When one man came out with various patches over his arm, Kathlyn turned faintly green and looked away, her fear of needles once again rising to the surface. She ran her hand through her hair and blinekd slowly, trying not to wince as yet another person in the line moved into the room, having to duck underneath the door frame.

The room was white, unfortunately. Kathy's first impression was one of complete sterilization. She felt the dab of the sponge, to wash the area, and then the sting of the needle as it punctured the skin. Her shudder was barely repressed.

One of the nurses looked at her health report for a second, then back up at Kathy. "You haven't had your Tetnis in ten years, have you?" With wide eyes, Kathlyn shook her head. "Well, we can fix that today."

Her nose twitched, and she bit her lip, preparing for another injection. It was altogether possible that the others had had the same needle.

[i]There should be some sort of law against this. Surely all these needles would create some sort of ultra virus that could destroy the world![/i]

Kathlyn's free hand once again smoothed her hair down in a nervous gesture, trying to quell her rising panic.

She left the room massaging her arm, nose crinkled in an expression of distaste. The only hint of relief was in her easy smile. Damn, but she hated needles.[/size]

[liamc2]

Jonathan stood in the shuttle bay, beside two crates of weapons. Each was stamped with the Load Project logo and was equipped with an auto-incinerate, should it be needed. While he waited, he played with the seams of his Load suit, feeling the mesh of ?veins? that spurted local anaesthetic and disinfectant should the suit be punctured. He shifted the titanium plated knee-guard and the rest of the armour until he was comfortable.

For some odd reason, he never felt fully clothed until he was back in one of these things.

Gradually the grumbling masses filed out. The techies led, pushing their hover trolleys loaded up with their equipment. Jonathan checked their names off on his PDA as they went, all ten were accounted for.
The techies were followed by the eight defenders, marking their names as they went. He raised an eyebrow, most of them had knowledge to rival the technicians that were now shoving one another for better seats.

Zaeon wandered past, playing with a small computer on his wrist, Jonathan stopped him.

?That computer standard issue??

Zaeon?s eyes narrowed, ?no, but it has approval to enter the space, if that?s what you mean.?

Jonathan grinned, ?it's my job to check these things, for all I know your technology might crash the server and cause us all to be flashfried by the Load planet bursting it's plasma fuses.' Jonathan coughed, 'right then, care to help me with these crates?? He jabbed a thumb at the two crates.

Each were one and a half metres long, half a metre high and across. Zaeon shrugged and grabbed a handle, Jonathan followed suit and they both lifted it into the back of the shuttle. They turned back to grab the other, only to find Ken dropping it in front of them.

Ken shrugged apologetically, ?did I do something wrong??
Above them the voice of the dock AI ?spoke? through the loudspeaker,

[i]Clearance in 20 minutes// Engines warming// Load Space expanding to set parameters//

Shuttle Launching in?Calculating?////5 minutes?//Ship to break planet atmosphere in 6 minutes//

Shuttle doors closing//Roof opening///[/i]

The shuttle slid along the gangway and raised steadily to 45 degrees. Engines fired, and it launched.

[Raiha]

[COLOR=royalblue][i]Trance Megelani waited outside the office. Obviously, they were hard pressed for volunteers....but if they really needed her, they would ask. And they did. Moments later, the door opened and she walked in. He gave her a clipboard, a run down, and then a check. She smiled and did all of the human pleaditudes she was bound to perform for the sake of money. He nodded in approval, then opened another door and showed her the way out. She took the hint and left....

Cafeteria...or something like it. She sat down, took out a pin, and filled out the forms one by one. Eyes on her. She looked up, straight into his. He smiled.[/i]

Ken: Are you new?

Trance: ...in a manner of speaking.

Ken: Name's Ken. And you are?

Trance: ...call me Trance. And yes, that's my real name.

Ken: Nice. So what are you doing here?

Trance: I am kissing up to the boss because I know that I am an expendable mercenary. That can work with machines, and fire a gun.

Ken: Charming.

Trance: What's with your arm?[/COLOR]

[Biida]

[i]Standing in line as she waited not-so-eagerly for the unavoidable needle shoots she was soon to face, Leona let her mind wander. First upon the mission, which eventually led to what everyone was going to be like, to boys... to cute boys.. to-- Wait!

She just about smacked herself as she snapped out of it. Trying not to let out a chuckle, Leona peeked over the shoulders of the people in front of her. Just one more person to go, after that big, tall guy. So she just started humming. A random little ditty she heard Jonathon singing not long ago. She couldn't remember the words, but the tune was close enough.

After a few moments of this, the guy behind her kicked her ankle lightly.[/i]

"Do you mind?! That's the most annoying thing I've ever heard!" [i]He whispered harshly, glowering in an annoyed fashion at her.

Instantly turning pink, Leona shut up and just stared ahead, waiting quietly for her turn to come.

Finally, she was at the front of the line.[/i]

"You can sit down now, dearie. This won't hurt a bit!" [i]Said the woman holding the needle in an all-too-cheery voice.

Leona inspected her for a moment, then sat down and looked away.
"My god, not another one of those sadistic nurses."

She winced a little at each of the 5 needles, her arm starting to feel like a pin-cushion. After the nurse had finished and patched Leona's arms up, she stood and walked away. She still had to get suited up, get [b]her[/b] newest little gizmos.

So, after suiting up and getting her act together, Leona stepped calmly on board the shuttle, just in time for the five minute alert. After waiting for everyone to fight until they had their own seats, she took the last remaining one. Why there was such a big fight every single time over seats, she'd never know.

Well, at least she'd managed to snag one..

At three minutes to launch, Leona tilted her head and glanced at person sitting beside her. She smiled. They looked nice and approachable enough, and she cleared her throat once.

Doing her best to smile amiably, she spoke in her cutely annoying perkiest way.[/i]

"Hi! I'm Leona!"

[Lady Asphyxia]

[size=1]"Kathlyn. Kathy." She shook Leona's hand, a little wary of the...perkiness radiating off her in waves. Her strawberry blonde went down to her shoulders, and she stood about a foot taller than Kathy herself. This girl eyes remarkably resembled the captain's. Kathy slid a glance from the captain to Leona, brain piecing together the relation.

"His sister?" She asked, in a slightly -- but unintentionally -- abrupt manner. Leona nodded, her face showing slight signs of frustration, pride, and acceptance.

Kathlyn's mind was already moving onto different matters, and it didn't even occur to her that Leona hadn't had a chance to speak in that period. "Are you a techie, or a defender?"

"Defender."

"Same." There was another lapse in conversation, and Kathlyn looked around for everyone she'd seen in the room. They were all there -- the Tall Man included. She'd seen him in the cafeteria just minutes ago. [i]She'd[/i] had a rush to get suited up -- what would it have been like for him?

Bored, Kathy started clicking her fingers, trying to replay the room scene in her mind. It seemed, after the needles, that she'd completely forgotten what they were going into the Load for.

"What are we here for, again?" She asked Leona, feeling foolish.[/size]

[Anti]

[I] Zaeon got his shots, possing himself with his computer while it happened and not relizing it was over...till it was over. He had then gotten suited up in the new suit, runing his own test of it, not trusting the incompents who had proubably tested it before handing them out. [/I]

???: that computer standerd issue?

Zaeon: No. Ive already approved it for loadspace...[I] Zaeon looked at the one challenging him and shrged seeing who it was, pulling up a document sating his approval incase it went any further. He watched blankly at the Jonathens comment then shruged [/I]

Zaeon: Fine. [I] Zaeon picke dup his end of the crate and helped load it on the ship and watched the big guy behind him follow suite, then took his seat, browsing information about Anciet Eireland. [/I]

Girl: HI! I'm Leona!

[I] Zaeon looked up at the girl and watched her for a second before returning to his data [/I]

Zaeon(says distractedly):...hello... [I] Zaeon flips through more pages on his computer, ignoring the shaking of the ship as it prepares to launch and occaisonally looking up at late minute boarders[/I]

[Biida]

[i]Smiling at Kathy, Leona repeated the briefing her brother had given to Kathy. But after an arched eyebrow and a strange stare from Kathy, she started to kind of blush and just start talking about the history on the misson, overly-determined to not let the conversation faulter.[/i]

"From what I know, the time period we're going to visit in Olde Eireland, will be when the The Tribe of the Formorians, a once-very powerful and cruel Tribe in Eire, was trying to run the Tuatha De Danann Tribe out of the land. After a rather epic, yet only four-day, battle, the Tuatha De Dananns had gained posession of, I believe, four-fifths of Eire.

After the battle, the Tuatha had offered a permenant peace gesture to the Formors. Basically by offering Bress, a royal son, the opportunity to rule of the Tuatha by marrying one of the royal daughters. Bress accepted, on the condition that he would abdicate if he were to ever displease the Tuatha. Soon, though, he began getting stingy.

In rebellion of this, a Tuathan physician cursed Bress and made him break out in red splotches. At this, the people tried to force Bress to abdicate, but he refused, and retreated to his father, where he complained to him. So then the Formors they decided to try to run the Tuathas out of Eire with their armies.

After a war fought with supposedly [i]magic[/i], but mainly by men, the Tuathas came out victorious, driving the Formon horde back into the sea.."

[i]Looking off into space for a moment, Leona frowned slightly.[/i]

"I have no idea, though, as to how the Rift could have, or may, affect that, though..."

[i]After a few moments, Leona noticed Kathy staring at her in a blank and almost awed way. She blushed furiously at once, realizing that she had once again probably been talking far too much again.

Lowering her eyes a little, she murmered a little shyly.[/i]

"I'm... a bit of a history..nut...."

~~~~
[OOC: Liam, my knowledge on this time-period is honestly very rusty and limited.. if I've made a mistake, just, uh, tell me. ^_^;;; ]

[liamc2]

[size=1]
Jonathan hit the ?Brace: Turbulence? button as the ship broke atmosphere. The structure wobbled slightly and then corrected itself, slipping easily into space. It would be a matter of minutes before the Load planet?s gravity would coast them in the rest of the way. Not that it mattered; the Load AI took care of all the driving for them.

He checked his watch and stood, making his way over to the weapons lockers. Now they were in Loadspace, it was now ?legal? for him to distribute the weaponry.

The latches of the crates had automatically sprung open and around them the room shimmered.

A bemused techie tugged at the druid costume that had take form around him, apparently impressed. His colleagues around him were following suit, all dressed in the same flowing robes. Their equipment had taken on the looks of travelling gear, bearing religious runes.

?This can?t be real?it?s an illusion?I know?I [I]wrote[/I] this software..? exclaimed one techie who was now rubbing the folds of his outfit between his fingers.

Jonathan smiled to himself, it was always the same whenever someone new entered?this place. Jonathan shrugged off his thoughts and flipped open the lid of the first crate. Inside, held in neat military rows, was an array of proficient pistol weaponry. He reached inside and grabbed one of the ?Blue Bang? pistols and tossed it to a defender, Quin.

The pistol was snatched from the air, and morphed into a long sword and scabbard, Quin seemed mildly impressed, and he sheathed it in the scabbard that appeared on his side.

As each pistol was caught in turn, it morphed into the appropriate weapon, suiting costume and even gender. Jonathan smiled at his little sister?s disgust with her weapon, which had morphed into a thigh-length dagger.

Jonathan shrugged, ?not my choice sis. The brass wants you gals to play the innocent damsel until they fully know what situation we?re in, besides- Jonathan hefted his morphed pistol, a broadsword inscribed with runes. He tapped an invisible button on his sleeve and it morphed back to it?s normal self ?you can always make it ?normal? again??[/size]

[Lady Asphyxia]

[size=1]Poking at her dagger twice, Kathy sent a glance at Leona. "I hate to be the bearer of more bad news," she grinned apologetically, "but these things are almost purely ornamental. They could barely cut chicken." Technically, that's what they were supposed to do, anyway. Daggers were one of the only forms of cutlery at this point in time.

She pricked her finger on the end. "With tips like these, you can stab nicely. Of course, daggers' main purpose was for thrusting, anyway."

She turned it over. "It's metal. Always a plus." Kathy wrinkled her nose. "Of course, the fact the edges aren't extremely sharp is a downside."

Leona voiced her opinion. "We could probably sharpen them..."

"Actually, that's a great idea. Do you have a whet stone? If you don't we could probably find one."

Leona called over her brother, and asked him for a whet stone. When he started to protest, she proceeded to list all the reasons why women could not be left with 'shoddy weapons' in the middle of a battle, including the need to cut fabric for wounds, stave of attacked, and keep their nails clean. In the end, it seemed easier for Jonathon just to give in then listen to her for another half hour.

When he was gone, Leona sighed. "Good. I was beginning to think he'd never give in. I was running out of excuses."

Kathy's lip twitched into a smile, and she looked down at their apparel. "It's nice clothing. Soft, comfortable. These people had taste, although, in our day and age, I doubt they'd appreciate it."

Leona was dressed in a pale blue cotton-style dress. It was, of course, completely incapable of combat, but that wasn't their current role, was it? Kathy's dress was much the same, but with a slight alteration of colour. While Leona's had to have been dyed, hers was still its original colour -- Ivory.

"Cheer up. It could be worse. It could be the 1800's. What with the poofy hair and the frocks."[/size]

[DeathKnight]

[color=crimson][b]Ken[/b]: We all have our scars.

He chugged down a cup of coffee and shook her hand, smiling broadly to her and nodding.

[b]Ken[/b]: It was nice meeting you, but I better go get suited up pretty fast. Running out of time.

Standing up and takeing his leave, he made his way twards the door, absent mindedly rubbing the many scars across his right arm..

"[b]... the rift- it. This is the worst i've seen it change![/b]"

"[b]They're all around u-...[/b]"


He stopped in the middle of suiting up, the images flashing through his head constantly, consistantly. Holding his forehead breifly- he exhaled calmly.

"[i]Bad times....


But there is no time for nostalgia into nightmares.[/i]"

Nodding, he quickly finished suiting up and sprinted outside, tearing down the hallway as fast as he could, grabbing one of the seats quickly- he had barely made it, as he watched a lone girl get the very last one, the rest standing absent mindedly around. Closeing his eyes, he began to whistle softly to himself a sad tune...

[i]"Mmmm.. What a bad time that was to go down memory lane, with all these people getting their first impression of this absurdly tall man.. Calm yourself, smile."[/i]

It was almost as if he was reborn as he cleared his thought of negetivity and opened his eyes, watching everything through his hair quietly as the ship breifly wobbled. He smiled amusedly as his outfit appeared, and caught his pistol. It shifted into an absurdly huge longsword. He slit his thumb silently- it was sharp, like it was brand new. He knew what that meant- his was a primary combat role. The sheath materialized at that moment, and he looked up from his sword for a moment to sheath it. Several people were stareing at the tall man with the dangerous weapon and the bleeding finger in shock, awe or amusement. Smirking a bit, he spoke.

[b]Ken[/b]: Well I wasnt sent off to train in heavy weapons for nothing.

[b]Techie[/b]: Heh, heh, heh.

He slid it quietly onto his back and stretched, getting used to his "outfit" and wondering what was ahead- not much actually to wonder, as no one could tell before hand. Still, he was a bit anxious for his first combat mission since-...

He tuned in on a conversation between two women that were nearby- one of them had gotten a whetstone and there is only one good thing a whetstone is good for, obviously.

[b]Ken[/b]: Well I hope they dont have to use them..[/color]

[The Harlequin]

[color=indigo][font=gothic][I]Quin sat, somehow bored and morose at the same time. But that about summed up his life, so as a normal state of being, it was unsurprising. The world was probably moving around him, people still lived out their lives. But that wasn't much of a concern, all things considered. It wasn't that bad either. Amused apathy did somewhat relieve the need for most emotions, and didn't require a lot of human interaction. Solitude was never something he disagreed with.

Needles didn't bother him either, a fact that seemed to set him apart from quite a few of the people he saw around him. He didn't know any of them, always a convenience. Of course, he tended not to have the kind of presence that inspired conversaton, but it never hurt to be sure. Quin smiled slightly at that, wondering just how much of his life he devoted to making sure he didn't have to put up with anything he didn't want to.[/font][/color][/I]

[Raiha]

[COLOR=royalblue][i]Trance rolled her eyes and slowly polished her own blade underneath the table. He gave her a look, and she simpered back. Ken shrugged and walked off. Trance set her weapon on the table and dipped the cloth in oil. A talll, melencholy looking man watched her quietly. She turned and looked at him through half shut eyes. He nodded, but did nothing else.

Apathy. Curse of the now. Curse of the then. She continued pressing the oil deep into the hilt, handle, blade. It paid to keep longblades in good working order. Her boss wouldn't mind much if she died. One less person to pay. Right?

She rolled her eyes. He could try that, but she would kill him before that happened. Luck willing. ....then again. Luck was never really good at doing things right. Often anyways.[/i][/COLOR]

[liamc2]

[size=1]

A steady beeping sound erupted from an LCD screen beside Jonathan. The screen flashed at his touch and presented an email from back at the Load Project base. He read it carefully and glanced up at the row of lights above the ?Turbulence? warning. The green light switched to amber, and then to red. They were fully in the Load now. Jonathan stood and raised a hand for attention.

?People, we?re in Load atmosphere. Due to the enlarged rift, we now no longer have any contact whatsoever with the outside world. We?re on our own.?

There was a slight lapse in conversation as Jonathan walked into the back of the shuttle. As he closed the door behind him, chatter instantly broke out again. He groaned. Here they were, entering an unstable Load server that could throw them at any second, dealing with a serious problem, and he had a shuttle of [I]children[/I] behind him.

Why hadn?t the Load Project accepted his proposal for just a triumvirate? Three defenders, all with technical knowledge! But no, they had employed almost twenty people, seventeen too many.

?Finished your sulking yet Jonathan??

Jonathan looked up into Nina?s shining eyes. He shrugged and leant against the wall of the shuttle, mimicking her stance.

?No, not yet. I?m out here to get some air. I can?t stand that constant chatter.? Jonathan eyed her suspiciously, ?anyhow, why aren?t you in there?? Jonathan jabbed a thumb at the door.

?Needed some air too, I saw the email by the way, how long before you tell her??

Jonathan looked away, ?look, she?s my little sis, believe me, she?ll find out sooner or later.?

?Well if she was my sister I?d want to tell her as soon as possible. Besides, how angry is she going to be when we hit dirt and say, ?oh by the way, you?re the royal daughter that?s going to be given to an evil man by the name of [I]Bress[/I]?

Jonathan coughed and became profoundly interested in the door in the back of the shuttle that?d lower and let them out into Ancient Ireland.

Back in the main room, the chatter increased as the timer on the wall counted down to arrival.
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[Raiha]

[COLOR=royalblue][i]Trance rolled her eyes at the continuing banter and sheathed her blade. With delicate movements, she folded up her oiling cloth, then placed it in her back pocket. The clipboard fell right into her hands, pen replaced behind her ear. With slow easy steps, steps that accentuated her figure, she walked to the main office. There, she flipped off the secretary, personally delivered her papers, and left. The boss quirked one eyebrow. Was it just him, or was her åss extremely touchable? Trance smirked to herself and walked back to the common room. Being slender and beautiful certainly had its drawbacks.

She walked down the hall, passed a female, then stopped right in front of him. Jonathan turned, stared. She smiled at him, head to the side, eyes half shut.[/i]

Jonathan: ...hi. Are you new?

Trance: ...to some. I came to say hello.[/COLOR]

[DeathKnight]

[color=crimson]Ken got up and slowly made his way out of the chatter-filled room- he had seen Trance and a few other people decide to escape out to there, might as well meet some people. Minding his head, he stepped into back waveing hello to Trance and looking at Jonathan, whom he only knew by name, and to.. some unknown woman.

Looking down at both of them, he offered them his huge hand, shakeing each of theirs in turn.

[b]Ken[/b]: Kenneth Howell, Heavy Weapons Defender. Glad to be aboard, new to this tier only.
[/color]

[Raiha]

[COLOR=royalblue]Trance: ....Trance Megelani, mercenary psychopath and all around handywoman.

Jonathan: ...wow.

Ken: At least she's honest.

Trance: In my line of work, it pays.

Ken: And that's why you're here.

Trance: Money Ken! M-O-N-E-Y!

[i]She winked and traced the edge of his lips with her forefinger, then smiled.[/i][/COLOR]

[Anti]

[I] Zaeon had blanked out from the world, absored into his compute, not even feeling the turbalance aorund him, a small wire extruding from his shirt and leading to his wrist computer. A rough up down in the automosphere ripped the wire out of his shirt, small traces of blood on it.[/I]

Zaeon: ****

[I]Ripping the wire out of his wrist comp his look clouded then returned to normal, as if comming out of a trance. He held his chest for a few moments then picked up the wire and began studying it fanaticly, after which thorughly checking over his wrist comp [/I]

Zaeon:....

[I] Zaeon sighed as the load program ran and he changed into a druids outfit, running his hands over it and almost pulling it off to look at it...then stopping and returning to examine it, the look of suprise on his face more from the authencity then how real it appeared. [/I]

Jonathen: Heads up!

[I] Zaeon looked up jsut in time to clumsly catch the gun thrown to him...then watched as it changed into a long sword, he wieghing it in his hands and glad it was none to heavy or he may not of been able to lift it, much less lug it around with him...[/I]

Kathy: hey jonathen got a Whetstone?

[I] Watching indifferently, then shaking his head slightly as she sharped then edges...if she had to use that as a slashing weapon then she would be in poor shape in any fight...he held his tongue content to let any defenders screw themselves over with misunderstood weapons and sheathed the longsword. Pressing an invisable button on his wrist, much like jonathen had pressed, and his comp became availabe, Zaeon continued his research..wondering if the tribe they were joining charged into battles without armor or clothing...[/I]

[Sere Tuscumbia]

Augh. Posty in the morning.

got to sleep.

--sere

[liamc2]

I hate to say this guys, but I'm gone until Sunday or Monday. Don't do anything drastic while I'm gone ^_^

[size=1]
Jonathan nodded, only half listening to the conversation. Something odd was going on, it never took this long to hit the Load planet. Once they were past the Load boundaries it always took five minutes and five minutes and thirty seconds had already past.

[I]Landing gear//Brace for impact//Shuttle secure on Load soil//Scanning for Load life forms//Scanning?//Area vacant for twenty kilometre radius//Forest in front may contain possible hostiles?Scanner could not penetrate///Nearest settlement thirty kilometres//[/I]

Jonathan turned as the door behind them lowered, hissing as the pneumatics did their work.

?Excuse me.? Jonathan said to the group. He smiled apologetically and made his way to the main room of the shuttle, surprised to see everyone with their gear packed and attentive. He allowed himself a small grin of appreciation for the moment and began barking orders for the exit of the shuttle.

[center]~~~[/center]

Jonathan watched the shuttle lift steadily up into the sky, and fade away as its exit boosters kicked in. Normally the shuttle would stay on a mission, but the Project wanted it gone, just in case the rift might affect the ship AI.

He sighed, normally about now he?d have a crackly voice in his ear, directing him to the location of the rift with pin point accuracy?but that too was gone thanks to the server problems.

?All right!? He barked, ?let?s get moving. We?ve got a village to tend to!?

Jonathan reached for the jetpack button, as did several other defenders, but then he paused. He had to stay with the ?druids,? seeing as the techies would have no idea how to fly.
Jonathan pointed to Tony, Ken and Quin and said, ?I want you three as forward scouts. Keep high enough so no-one can see you, but low enough so you can see them.?

There was a pause as the three pressed the buttons on their suits, Quin more automatically than the others. Jonathan dismissed it as nothing and watched them soar up into the clouds. Turning his eyes back to earth Jonathan walked over to the druids and their contraptions. Among them was the second crate. He opened the catch and pulled out two chrome bricks, each of which he squeezed and tossed into a nearby clearing.

The air shimmered, compressing and decompressing into pixels. Two forms began to take shape, two horse drawn carts, big ones, designed to carry logs. Jonathan jabbed his thumb at the larger of the two and remarked, ?Oi, druids load it up and get moving. All you have to do is get in the back, the inbuilt processor will do the rest.? Zaeon rolled his eyes at Jonathan as he passed and climbed into the front, beside where the driver would sit.

Jonathan chuckled and then pointed to the second, ?the princess and her maids will be travelling in this wagon,? there was a pause as all of the female defenders, bar Nina, gave him a quizzical glance. Jonathan did nothing and instead said, ?just get on the cart.?

Leona paused beside him, watching the others climb into the wagon. She looked up into his eyes, pouted, and hit him in the arm before saying, ?you could?ve told me bro.?

Jonathan said nothing and walked over to the cart, climbing into the front, the seat beside the driver. As Leona climbed into the back the air above the driving seats on both carts shimmered, and two digitalised Irish drivers appeared.

The carts lurched forward and shuddered as they hit the worn trail. In front of them a forest loomed, foreboding. Jonathan kept his eyes forward and tried to ignore the conversation going on behind him, trying to keep his mind on what was at hand. Subconsciously his hand fell across his side and clung to the pommel of the sword, just in case.
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[Biida]

[i]Climbing onto the cart, Leona tried to decide whether to grin, or to start sending evil-eyed glares in her brother's direction. So she had to be a princess, no big deal.. right? I mean, it's just that you're not going to be able to do anything, and you're probably going have to stay out of the eyes of the public on this, all hopes of fighting and such are out, and -- ... thinking about it, she realized how boring it sounded.

As the cart bounced along its way, she just glanced out and around at the scenery to keep herself occupied. Or at least [b]looking[/b] occupied. It gave her time to think. Knowing the history behind this mission would help her, thank god. But Leona was feeling a little iffy about this. How did she manage to become a princess anyway?

Absentmindedly twirling her hair, Leona fixed her dress and stared out at the rolling hills as the carts continued to bounce along.[/i]