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

[honkhonkwoof]

"Haha, yeah, that's all what that is..." But he pauses, and his face twists into something almost concerned.

"Y'know, you don't have to be all so motherfuckin' tense all around me, aight? Just relax yourself, man. I ain't 'bout to jump all on you and start smackin' you around."

[musclebeast]

A huff, his teeth grinding for a moment.

"I realize, though you have every right too, just-" A breath.

"Excuse me, I'm not really used to you being a bit more... serious. It's enchanting really." He pauses, glancing to the side for a moment. "If I may say so, highblood." He really is happy you're acting a little more like you should...

[honkhonkwoof]

Frankly, he's pretty damn OK with being sober and clear-headed, but he wasn't keen on riling himself up. Being passive and alright with everything is really all he wants to keep on doing. Partly (or maybe mostly) because of Karkat's influence...

"You can always be sayin' what's on your mind and comin' off your tongue. It's chill." He nods to himself. "Might be being all 'serious' but still isn't meanin' to say I'm gonna be different kinds of rude, now."

[musclebeast]

He should be. It's disgusting to see a troll not in his clear mind and Equius despised it. Equius does appreciate what Karkat does... even if he doesn't quite understand their new relationship right now. He hasn't seen much of it after all.

"Oh, um, if that is an order, all right." Uh, say what's on his mind... that might be tough. He's been conditioned rather well.

[honkhonkwoof]

Their relationship is pretty damn pale. Shockingly pale. Painfully pale. All kinds of pale.

"Ain't havin' to be an order, unless you're needin' it to be. We're calm and just bros here right now, aight. Chattin' 'bout the suspcious little star monkeys 'n all other shit we're wantin' to."

[musclebeast]

Yeah, he's starting to see that with how much he lurks around on the network. It's a little strange... but if it keeps Gamzee's murderous tendencies to a minimum-- even if they are beautiful and magnificent and delectable-- then he'll deal with it.

"Right... bros." No ordering. It's too strange for him not to register it as anything else but he tries to calm down, glancing away with his shoulders shrugged forward.

"So. Um. What do you think of this then? Will you be following your orders from the Initiative?"

[honkhonkwoof]

Bros, yes. Good bros!

He gives a half nod, half shrug at that. "Guess that's what we're all havin' to do. Ain't seein' any way to say no right now, and ain't sure I even would wantin' to bother. As long as they ain't orderin' anythin' on new kinds of ridiculous, 'm... fine with it. And you, bro?"

[musclebeast]

He's trying. If he mentally makes Gamzee's requests for calm friendship and brodom orders, Equius can do it... Kind of. Again, he's trying.

"Not really, no. I respect their passion to get use to do as they please, but since this is use fighting against their government I find it difficult to comply. It's hardly their place to fight against a higher authority and very much not ours then either." A huff, flicking his hair to the side.

"I have no desire to help a rebellion trying to overthrow their superiority."

[honkhonkwoof]

"Haha, yeah, I can agree on with all that noise there." It's kind of ridiculous. But Gamzee hasn't exactly had the same kind of upbringing; he only really starts to think on this now that Equius has brought it into that kind of light.

"Don't think we can do much, though, can we? To be not all doin' what they're tellin'. What the motherfuck would they even do to some sayin' no?"

[musclebeast]

"I am not sure. They haven't really issued any punishments that I am aware of," pause. His jaw clenches, quickly removing a towel to hold against the back of his neck. Oh... oh, punishment. Not they certainly have not done or mentioned anything about that.

"So, I suppose we merely have to see... I will most likely decline service to them, perhaps I will be shown what their reaction will be?" Oh... oh perhaps.

[honkhonkwoof]

"... yeah. Or you could just, be, I dunno, askin' them all right up what'd be happenin'? Wonder if they'd even tell..." Frankly, he doesn't want to know what would happen were someone to say no.

"Uuuh... but I'm not really thinkin' their kinda punishment would be bein' all that enthrallin'. Like, maybe it'd be somethin' worse than just all a slap on the wrist." He guesses Equius can... do whatever he wants with that, though.

[musclebeast]

"Seeing that they barely tell us anything as it is, I'm led to believe they will not. I suppose it is worth trying though, not that what they will do will properly deter me from my decision to not assist them in their traitorous efforts." A pause, thinking for a moment.

"Of course, a simple slap on the wrist won't do much to change someone's mind... But then, the possibilities are really endless."

"I suppose, uh, you are going to do as they say then, Highblood?"

[honkhonkwoof]

He nods shortly. "Supposes that means I should all get to trainin'..." But he pauses, distaste clear on his face. "Ain't sure I'm wantin' to start on with any of my 'voodoos, though. You gonna get to any of that trainin' noise for just takin' up times sake, bro? Since you ain't gonna be helpin' them."

[musclebeast]

"I train on my own time- voodoos?" Wait that... isn't that the ability indigos have? Can you even train that?

[honkhonkwoof]

He nods shortly. "Yeah, y'know. Chucklevoodoos." He isn't exactly keen on deeply explaining them.

[musclebeast]

"You can... train those?" Why is that extremely terrifying?

[honkhonkwoof]

"Well... yeah, I guess motherfuckin' so. I mean, I ain't all that locked with controllin' 'em, so it'd work to practice." He shrugs, an awkward movement.

[musclebeast]

"I see... I suppose that would be quite a weapon then, uh, that." Oh dear, chucklevoodoos... But he only knows what he's learned through various tales any young trolls would hear.

[honkhonkwoof]

"Yeah, haha." He nods, because he does agree; it would be something even more powerful were he able to use it to its full potential. But he doesn't care to explain it, unless asked. Equius would probably sweat a boatload just by the thought.

[musclebeast]

Equius can't bring himself to ask about such indigo blooded affairs. Instead he just stands there awkwardly, not really knowing what to say. Gamzee's too chill like this... and not the high chill Equius could easily badger him for.

That and he's getting no orders... so he's just nervous.