open log » ❝ mission oo1 briefing ❞

[initiates]

Date & Time: 04.04.3312
Location: Training Gymnasium in the Initiative Hold.
Characters: Everyone.
Summary: Everyone is summoned to a briefing and training, pre-mission for the very first mission.
Warnings: None.

There would come a demanding ping on every netbook at once. An urgent call to arms, a request for each and every transport to return to the Initiative Hold immediately. If ignored, the ping would continue until it reached its full volume -- overtaking the senses only until its owner complied, deafening in its insistence. At the Hold, there were several more Initiative attendees to rush each and every transport into a large training gymnasium previously unseen by all residents of the island of Exsilium. The auditorium was massive -- its walls whitewashed, its ceiling patterned with dim, purple ambient lighting.

There was a stage set up near the very back of the large room. A man, stern and young-looking, stood in the center of the stage and held a microphone in front of his pursed lips. Behind the stage was a set of time travel plates more populated than even the arrival room -- there had to be at least forty-five plates, all attended by a member of the Initiative, who stood beside the plate in wait and with a distant expression. Only once all of the transports were successfully congregated into their auditorium, did the astringent, black-haired man begin to speak. "This is a briefing," he began, his voice equally authoritative and matching the expression of great urgency on his angular features. "Tomorrow, we begin our very first mission. A mission into the past.

You will be sent to the year 115 CE, in the midst of a turmoil between the Romans and an Assyrian village. It is in both ours and imperatively your own best interest to help defend this village, and to send the Romans retreating to their own homes. You absolutely must comply with this mission. Not only for yourselves, but for your families at home in their own worlds. For all of us.

You will have twenty-four hours from this time to utilise this gymnasium. You will find an array of weaponry at your disposal, and will have access to your own chosen weapon. Use them. Train fiercely, as you have no choice in this initial mission to pick a different path. You all must fight. After your twenty-four hours of practise, you will be given your cloaking devices -- they will make you untraceable to the native people to the time in which you find yourself. Do not, under any circumstances, remove your cloaking device. It will not only be detrimental to you, but to your friends and your colleagues here, as well as your friends and family in their home worlds.

You will be summoned back from whatever your whereabouts at the success of your mission. Should you die during your mission, you will be summoned immediately and brought into the Initiative Infirmary and you will be healed. Do not die. Do not turn your back on your colleagues and your friends. Remain vigilant. The imperative nature of the success of your mission will be made clear upon your return to this world. There is nothing more that we can give than our word.

Finally, I will be coming with you. I will be your mentor and your guide during our mission and I will do my utmost to keep you safe, prepared, trained and informed. Slowly, our world here in Exsilium will become less and less enshrouded in mystery. Slowly, we are able to reveal our true selves, and with it we hope we will gain a much-needed trust. We do not withhold information easily, and it comes to us at a great cost. Thank you, everyone, and let your sessions begin!"

Comments

[bellonaborn]

"I didn't believe any of them would be against Rome. It is daft of them to believe that these recruits even have the inkling of a chance to win this."

Her gaze swept the gymnasium briefly before she glanced back up at him, that small smile still on her lips. "Not only are Neptune and Jupiter against the invasion, but Bellona as well. Our parents.... If we pray to them enough, they have to feel the link.... They should come to our aid, whether it's the old them or a more omnipresent being."

It was hard not to look smug, but she managed it, instead offering a bit more of a smile. "I do too, Jason. We can manage this, I know it's possible. Three of the strongest, most able Praetors of New Rome will be on the job.... Perhaps even the graecus demigods will be of some help."

[notthatjason]

Jason bit his lip hesitantly. "Reyna...I dunno. The gods haven't really intervened so far to pull us out of this mess or give us any sign that this part of their plan." It was hard to admit, he wanted to believe that even his reclusive father would step forward if things were THIS out of whack. He'd even taken his food a few times and set it on fire for him as a prayer. Nothing. No sign this whole time he was here. "Time moves differently. When Piper got here she was shocked that Leo and I said we'd been here for months but for her she had just seen us seconds ago on the Argo II. What if that distortion is affecting their ability to help us here?"

He didn't want to bust Reyna's plan, but she had to know what he had experienced during his time here. True the gods had never been AS in touch as they were with the Greeks, but you could usually get SOME sign out of them after prayer.

Jason smiled slightly, "Piper is a daughter of Aphrodite, I know her Charmspeak will come in handy for any diplomatic excursion and Leo, well, he'll probably come up with some contraption or another to help us out. If nothing else I'm sure setting himself on fire will be impressive."

[bellonaborn]

Reyna took in a deep breath, but nodded her head. She understood where Jason was coming from... She understood the hopelessness it was to think that they would answer their prayers here... Or even in the past. She felt the lack of connection between herself and her mother.

"We can only have faith that they will be able to guide us..... but it isn't something we should rely on."

Her face steeled as he talked about Piper and Leo, putting on her Praetor-mask again. As much as she hated to admit it, the Charmspeak would be very useful. "Setting himself on fire might be the most useful thing he can do. And I'm sure Piper's gift will be of use as well."

It was all she could do, to say the Greek's name. See, Jason? She can play nice sometimes.... When she has to.

[notthatjason]

"Agreed." He had only been able to do that much with his father anyway. His father was king, after all, he could not expect personal visits like some of the other gods gave. Granted, he would have expected something from Juno by now, but even she hadn't been around to meddle in this.

Jason probably should have said something in Leo's defense. He had been very useful in battle, but Jason knew people weren't his strong point and this mission was going to call for a degree of diplomacy that Leo probably lacked. "For the plan I have in mind, Charmspeaking would be our greatest asset next to Percy and I giving a little show of who we are."

[bellonaborn]

Even if Jason vouched for Leo, Reyna wouldn't believe it until she saw it. Besides, with their plan, setting himself on fire would be very convincing. Reyna's fingers grazed over her SPQR lightly before clenching into a fist and dropping them to her sides.

It was one thing for quests to be given by the Gods, and for the Gods to deem who was to go. It was another thing entirely to feel inadequate as far as being able to help with this. Her mother was exceptional with warfare.... but that didn't make anything that was good for a show when they needed it. "This could very well work, Jason," she managed quietly. "Even without the Gods watching over us, this could work."

[notthatjason]

He breathed a sigh of relief. He knew even before approaching this plan that he would need Reyna's support on it. They were both praetors and they had to be in agreement on things like this, or at least, that's how he felt it should be. It wasn't like the Senate was here to vote on his plan or anything. "I knew I could count on you."

Jason looked out at the other transports, "I'm going to talk to them." He paused, looking to Reyna again, "I know you don't care for the situation....but this is our duty for now. These Transports were just as forced into this mess as we were. I'd suggest you talk to them Reyna...maybe make a few allies we can count on." He knew that would be no easy task for her, but, well, if she didn't start now she never would.

"If we're facing the Legions of Rome we'll need our own friends behind us."

[bellonaborn]

He was the only person she really trusted. The only opinion she really valued. If they didn't agree, nothing would ever be done. And as Praetor, it would be even worse for them to be seen conflicted in front of the the Senate. Even with no Senate here, they still had to agree, it was easier that way. But when he added that he knew he could count on her... She couldn't help but smile, a smile that only he would ever see, one that she could trust only him with. "If you ever had any doubt, I would be upset."

But the smile was fleeting. Her lips turned into a line once more and she turned her gaze from him to the others. "We don't know that we can trust any of them, Jason, whether they're in the same situation as us or not."

She was being stubborn. She knew it. But it wasn't something she could just open up and do. He was making sense, of course. "They're not Roman and they lack much training."

[notthatjason]

Reyna had never been as trusting. Not that he could blame her given where she had come from prior to camp. Jason had always been the more accepting and trusting one, even if he was just as guarded as reserved as most of the Romans. "That's not to say I trust them completely and certainly not on the same level as you or even on the same level as Leo or Piper or the other Greeks...but still, there's something to be said about comrades in the same situation with the same goal of getting out of here and back home as soon as possible." He had noticed awhile back that most of the others here had duties, obligations, and their own world saving to get to. He could relate to that, they knew what was at stake.

"But, you're right, they aren't nearly as well trained, either to fight solo and especially not to fight in a team or army way. Though some of the adults at least have military service." He shook his head, he wasn't used to depending on adults so that wasn't really something he was thinking about. He imagined military training was at least helpful in situations like this, though he doubted the adults would listen to him until he proved himself a bit more.