Darkers and Dragons. [update 25-7-14]

[Zorafim]

Nearly two months between updates now, huh? I bet you didn't think writing would be this tough.

Since it's been a while since the last update, I had trouble remembering everything that's been happening. But with that considered, it was still pretty easy to figure things out as I read this time.

[stukasa]

Spoiler!

I'm glad you explained what some of this military jargon means (like ATO) because otherwise I wouldn't understand a lot of it.

Not too much going on in this chapter, but I'm looking forward to the next one! Also, I liked how MultiCore just walked away from that guy before he could finish his explanation. I don't think he was intentionally trying to be rude, he just didn't need to listen to the rest so he left.

[Sacrificial]

Spoiler!

@ strike, but you quoted the same line twice D;

@ zor, nah i dont get me wrong I did not underestimate writing. One does not poop out a book after all and being a true writer is considered a fulltime job. It is just that I've a short holiday now compared to the past months (where I did have little time).

@ stuka (reminds me of ww2 plane lol) I figured it was needed, after all I had to look up fitting English jargon for the story myself.

[strikerhunter]

Spoiler!

2nd quote is the fixed version, only and is are switched around.

[Sacrificial]

ch2p4 Briefing

Spoiler!

2xx AD
oracle fleet
1330 hours
SD Armory

"There we are."
A door opened and two figures stepped through it. The room the two stepped into was full of SI rifles, well ordained in racks.

"By the way, just call me Riley."

MultiCore nodded and responded with a 'sir!'.

"Getting called ATO is bothersome. They just shouldn't have made such a long name for this rank." Riley sighed.

"Anyway which do you prefer a classic style assault rifle or a bulb-up blaster?

Spoiler!

The blaster is more compact, but since you are a Cast, the slight difference in weight and size won't really matter much."

"I want the cheapest one in case it breaks."

"In case it breaks? What do you plan doing with it?"

"You never know."

Riley fell silent for a moment. "Well, rifles are cheaper than blasters so....." Riley walked to a rifle rake.

"These rifles here are the Alva type.

Spoiler!

Single barreled, a three burst mode and a fitted scope. It is known for its low recoil and high accuracy and thus favored by a lot of ARKs rookies."

"I see." MultiCore picked up an Alva rifle from the rack and examined the rifle.
Riley walked to the opposite of the Alva rifle rack.

"These are the Vita type,

Spoiler!

they are a completely revised model. They hold a larger photon supply giving the rifle more power.
As you can see this rifle as two barrels that. Both are used in a rapid succession while firing so this rifle has a higher rate of fire than the Alva type with more stopping power. This slightly reduces the accuracy though."

"So you are basically saying the Vita is better?"

"Yes and no. You see, what good would fire power do if you can't hit your target, but as a counterpart, a rifle that hits everything but shoots not fast enough could be troublesome as well.
Not to mention, but you are also a Cast quite the size so I'm sure you have enough counterweight for the recoil."

MultiCore nodded in agreement.
"In the end it is all the rifleman's skill. I will take the Vita then. If something happens and I have to take action, I wouldn't want to be to slow."

"A Vita type it is." Riley picked up a Vita rifle and ran a quick scan on its components with his Personal Visiphone.

"The rifle's condition looks perfect."

He paused a bit, clearly showing he was thinking of something.

"I could attach an under mounted shotgun or grenade launcher but you will have to buy the additional type of ammunition yourself."

"How much would that be?"

"Around 700 meseta for the basic kit if I remember correctly."
"Not too much, I'll take one."

************************************************** ************************************************** ******************************

2xx AD
Oracle fleet
1500 hours
SD headquarters
First floor.


The room where MultiCore was, was a large circular room and even though it was slightly crowded it was big enough to not hinder someone else.
This room granted access to a certain number of smaller rooms. These rooms were designed and used as debriefing rooms.

MultiCore didn't know which one was meant for him. Yet. In the middle was a semi circular desk with people assigning ARKs to the rooms, so MultiCore walked towards it.

"And you are?" A secretary asked.

"MultiCore, sergeant."

The secretary started to type on the Personal Visiphone behind the desk.

"Ah the new examiner. This way please."

She walked a little less than 20 paces before stopping in front of one of the many doors in the room.

"Your debriefer should already be waiting."

The debriefer was indeed inside already. It was a female human dressed in an officer's navigator suit.

"Greetings sergeant MultiCore." The female saluted. "Let me introduce myself.I am Linda Hart and I'm the leading officer for this year's project."

Spoiler!

Her serious expression changed a bit upon saying this, obviously this was no small side role to have.

"Please take a seat." Linda gestured next to Multicore.

MultiCore wanted to reply with his standard line:I'd rather not" , but he saw she was referring to a bench, almost completely out of metal and thick cushions on top.
As it seemed trust worthy MultiCore sat down.

"So how much are you informed as of now?"

"I know I am supposed to be supervising some graduate students."

"And?"

"That was all actually."

Linda let out a sigh of disappointment. "Honestly, I had hoped major Foley had told you more. Ok each examine group will act as a team of four, including the supervisor, meaning you have three students to look after."

MultiCore nodded. "You are their escort which is not an easy feature, as the supervisor you are not actually allowed to help or assist the student,you have to act in the case of an extreme emergency. If you help at an inappropriate time the student's exam will be deemed invalid "

MultiCore nodded again.

"Of course this does not mean you can not interact with them."

"And where exactly will the examination be held?"

"You are assigned to Ambduscia, some unexplored caves have been discovered, which leads me to your team composition, named Hotel.
Two of the students will be examined as scouts and the other one as an assault unit."

"Isn't it a bit too dangerous to send students in an unknown zone?"

"It is, however it is the only good way to examine scouts and actual experience is always better than simulations."

Then the door of the room opened and the same secretary, that lead MultiCore to the room, appeared in the entrance.

"Ma'am Hartman, members of team Hotel have arrived."

Notes:

Spoiler!

Decided to split this part in two. Quality is a bit downgrading imo, it just takes so long to get to the fun parts, but I don't want to skip necessary information either *sigh* On the side note I already have 2 side chapters finished and a lot of the fun/action stuff set, but those are still "chronologically" further away. Much further *cough*

[stukasa]

Spoiler!

Aki used an Alba/Alva Laser for a while when she was a rookie. In the game, I mean. I never specified what type of rifle she used in my story but that was the one I usually imagined.

The ARKS don't do a very good job of briefing their instructors beforehand, do they? And I wonder why they're called Team Hotel...?

[Sacrificial]

Pictures added.

@stukasa

Spoiler!

Maybe people assume Cast just download everything from the database? I wouldn't know other wise xD And hotel is just one of the many alpha,beta, gamma naming so I just picked one in the middle to suggest the feeling of having more than one examinee team. Honestly there's nothing more to it.

[Zorafim]

If you're worried about getting the boring stuff out of the way, then look at my story. I had an entire chapter where nothing happened.
I think the trick is to take boring stuff, and make it interesting in its own right. Pay attention to details that readers might miss, or to things people would be naturally drawn to. Whenever I want a pause in the story, I tend to point out the glow of the walls, or the passing of wildlife, for instance.

[Sacrificial]

What happened previously: MultiCore succeeded in getting a replacement weapon just before his mission briefing. During the briefing his assigned group was brought into the briefing room.

part 5 Departure

Spoiler!

2xx AD
Oracle fleet
SD HQ
debriefing room
1530 hours


Three students walked the room in after the secretary had announced their arrival. Two girls, one significantly shorter than the other girl and one boy.
Linda spoke to Multicore, who now was slightly turned towards the door in his bench.

"You will be looking after these three students."

The secretary closed the door behind the three students when they were inside. MultiCore ran a quick scan on the teenagers. The two girls appeared slightly nervous and were chatting with each other.
The boy however didn't seem to interact with them. He seemed as if he didn't like this team setup and he was clearly showing it on his face.

The boy had short white hair and appeared to be human. Both girls were deuman. The short girl had pink purplish hair and her horns were rather small and high centered. Like almost every deuman she had Heterochromia Iridum, a light green eye and a blue one.
The other girl had long brown hair and one eye coloured purple and the other one brown.

MultiCore was slightly surprised upon seeing the group he knew one of them after all.

The students were gestured to stand in front of the briefing monitor.

"Let me introduce you to each other. This boy is called Xiphos Aspis, his role will be similar to an assault unit. He will be tested on the ability to protect, not only himself, but also his team and the ability to disturb possible enemy ranks with shock assaults."

Linda now gestured to the small deuman.

"This is Shipumaru Kanada, she will act as a scout and she will be tested on reconnaissance. And last but not least."

"Moriah Mai'ili" MultiCore said. Moriah looked slightly surprised.

"I see you already know her." Linda confirmed.

"Yes, but I don't think she recognizes me with these parts. I have changed a lot compared to when she was little."

Moriah's expression began to change slowly as she said:"M...MultiCore?" MultiCore nodded. Moriah's expression stayed uncertain for a while, but she smiled soon after realizing that the Cast before her really was MultiCore.

Then Linda cleared her throat. "As I was saying, Moriah will act as a scout like Kanade, thus she will be tested in the same manner."

Linda then gestured to Multicore. "And this is..."

"MultiCore, sergeant. Former rank private in the Mobile Armor and Artillery corps. Now I'm assigned to supervise and escort you.
This is not just a test, this is the real deal. Do not be reckless, do not try anything stupid as this could endanger the lives of your team and yourselves."

The three students responded with a "yes,sir". MultiCore nodded to Linda as a sign she could continue her protocol.

"Ahem, now you know each other it is time to get through important data. All exams will start tomorrow morning at 0800. The duration of the exam varies per team, as each team is tested in a different way.
Of course taking too long will be punished with a score deduction. As for equipment, I am sure you have been explained thoroughly by your teachers, but I will say the rules one last time."

Linda paused a moment.

"One. All weapons that have been registered are allowed.
Two. All weapons and units must be provided by the examinees themselves.
And three. All other necessary items must be provided by the examinees themselves.

Well, that's it. Do not be late tomorrow, it is your important day after all."

************************************************** ************************************************** ******************************

2xx AD
Oracle fleet
Hangar
0750 hours

MultiCore was standing by the campship that will drop Kanade,Xiphos, Moriah and him off to Amduscia. The ship was set to depart in 10 minutes.

Xiphos was sitting on the floor next to Multicore looking over his gear, a final check up.

Spoiler!

He was wearing a Sensuous coat fitted with small armored plates meshed together.

In his hands were his sword and shield, a Vastal set. In this set, the shield was also the scabbard for the sword. This sword and shield style had started to get more popular, than the two handed swords. Those were based on putting all strength in your first swing to crush or hack your enemy.
While the sword and shield style was more suited for prolonged combat and was based on cutting and stabbing while protecting yourself with the shield.


Moriah was leaning over the railing on the catwalk.
She was dressed in a complete different style as Xiphos. Instead being heavily armored like him, her only armor were a hip guard, a kote and a hachigane to protect her forehead and horns. She also wore a certain type of Alf mask.

Spoiler!

Her weapons were three short blades. Two tanto's on her right side and a wakazashi on her left side. Just like Xiphos her luggage was a small bag that was worn around the waist. To be a good scout or in her case a shinobi you had to be fast on the feet and avoid direct combat at all costs.

Moriah looked around her. "What is Kanade taking so long for.... it is almost time to go."

As campships left the hangar it started to become less rowdy. It was 5 minutes before departure, Xiphos had by now entered the ship.
MultiCore walked towards Moriah and gestured her to board the ship too. Moriah did not want to go yet.

"But Kanade isn't here yet!"

"Moriah getting on the campship in time is already part of the exam. You do not want have a bad start already do you?"

Moriah had her head low in disappointment and shook her head.
MultiCore was right, she could not afford to get minus points.

Once inside Moriah walked to where Xiphos was. All passenger seats were located here. There were 4 main sections in a campship.
The first was of course the pilot cabin, second was the teleporter room, third was the gunship emplacement and fourth were Moriah was located now.


"I'm sure that idiot girl has done something stupid again." Xiphos said randomly.

Moriah responded dumbfounded. "Eh?"

"I mean Kanade, there is always something with her."

Moriah smiled. "Yes, I guess you are right."


MultiCore was still outside in front of the campship's door. He checked his HUD's time and activated his com.

"Skipper, start the engines, it is time to go."

"The pilot responded:" Right away Sergeant MultiCore."

MultiCore turned around for a last look and then entered the campship. At the same moment he heard a vault door opening.

"Waaaaaiiiiit! Waaaaaiiiiiit fooooor meeeeee!"

It was Kanade and she dragged a shoulder bag along half her size. MultiCore shook his head.

"I demand a proper explanation once we have departed young lady!"

"yeeeeeeees" she replied while passing MultiCore, still dragging along the huge bag.

************************************************** ************************************************** ******************************

2xx AD
Oracle fleet
Pilot Cabin
0803 hours

"Checking Main system.Communication systems, working. Radar....working. Engines running. Sub systems. No problems detected. All green. Navigator, anchors loose."

"Anchors loose, Skipper"

"Ignite the thrusters. ship Hotel on the move."

The campship started move slowly out of the hangar.

"Minimum distance from the Mainship covered. Engines at full throttle.
Navigator activate the Photon Portal."

"Activating Photon Portal. three.....two..... one....Portal activated. Target planet Amduscia."

Spoiler!

The Campship flew throught the portal.

Notes.

Spoiler!

Haaa finally another upload. I've been pretty busy packing for my holiday. I'm set to go for tomorrow . To Norway. the land of mystical dragons and mythology. By plane.

NO, I did not plan to this before even though, because you know like in the story I also go by plane.(campship) This time it is pretty late, by like 2 weeks later than I had planned.
The next to chapter will be slightly based on my upcoming adventure and I have to write on paper this time because No phone(how I usually write seeing as how I intended this to be a cellphone novel), No internet, no nothing.

Aaaand pictures will be added later.

[yoshiblue]

Always interesting to see how people handle ships. I wish you luck on your flight. Watch out for dergans.