Emma helps you pull the vest on, and your mesh up over your face. Her hands are shaking, you notice. You give your rifle a cursory inspection, checking the mag within. The display reads a solid
500/500, and you slip the other magazines into your belt. The safety is on, but beside it is 'single,' '5-burst', and 'full.' Its housing is worn but well-maintained. The lens is clean and brand new. It still has the protective covering on it. Applying the same principle as the las-pistol maintenance class, you pop open the housing, examining the coolant and anti-radiation system for leaks or damages. There is none.
Gem gestures for you to turn around, and pulls hard on your vest when you do, double-checking the straps. She hides a stray strand of hair for you beneath your mask. "You're good." She murmurs brusquely.
With a nod of approval, William carefully slots the intel back into the folder, handing it back to Gem. He stretches out as he rises, nodding to Emma, who heaves a sigh, watching as he leaves. She waits until his back is turned, and the server visibly relaxes, before pulling a wad of bills from her coat. She tosses the pile on the table, leaving right behind her brother, you in tow.
Tonight faint snow descends on the town. The squad walks in dead-silence, keeping watch on Emma, who shivers in the cold. You, once more, are an after-thought. So, without direction, you copy the squad-mates, moving to body-guard Emma. William drinks as he walks, his smile a twisted, fixed thing on his face. More like a mask than an expression.
It takes little time to reach the Academy, and Emma hesitates at the gateway. With a defiant glance to her brother, she steps forward to hug you tightly, whispering in your ear as she does. [14] "Come back safe. That's all that matters to me."
[4]"I'll bring her body back if she dies, so don't you worry, Em." William calls out, annoyed. "We've got to go."
Any parting words?
William's squad leads you. The hovercraft is concealed in a dip in the hills surrounding the town. Crates and material surrounding the craft, and Gem peels one open, pulling out a square, plastic case with a timer on it, about the size of your palm. "Don't get it too hot now," Gem warns, softly. "Its shelf-stable, but extreme heat can still detonate it. Be careful."
William gives you a bearing and a compass to follow it. He looks unconcerned, taking a seat on a crate. "It's about a thirty-minute walk from here, over the hills."
[-]Shouldering your new rifle, you start your trek, only needing to glance at the compass on occasion, more out of doubt than anything. Your sense of navigation hasn't changed, and it's easy to differentiate where in the magnetic field you are supposed to go towards. Then you lay eyes on the compound. They didn't tell you it's built atop a low hill, or that there was a large cement wall surrounding it. Or that it was set dead-center in the middle of a patch of fallow farmland. A single pathway leads into it, and it looks like a cross between a personal villa and a military base. A beautiful, ornate house sits in the center, overlooking a carefully maintained pond and lawn. After that, several buildings that look like bunkhouses sprout out of the ground, the lab, and soldier's living quarters if you recall correctly. That large building there with the heavy reinforcement must be the personal reactor.
[4] Looking towards the eastern wall, you notice the AA cannon. It looks expensive and new. A short-barrel angled up towards the sky is all you can see of it—a countermeasure to the Thorntons. You cannot tell if it is actively staffed or not.
[1] You crouch hidden in the copse of trees, surrounded by fallow farmland.
You are Pheobe Gainer.
Local Time: 21:15, 1/2/2010
You are peckish
Your back is healing.
You have a headache
Head/Face:
A comfortable mesh of grey kevlar. (concealing)
Over Body:
A grey, armored duster, marked with symbols. (hidden)
Over coat:
A worn, armored vest.
Torso:A new, fitted grey shirt with long, tight sleeves. (hidden)
Lower Body: New, Grey semi-formal pants.
Hands: A pair of leather gloves.
Feet: Woolen socks(hidden)
Feet: A pair of fur-trimmed leather boots.
In Holster: A brand new, grey las-pistol 240/250
In Belt: Two las-gun rifle magazines, 500/500, 500/500
Over Shoulder: A worn las-gun assault rifle. 500/500
In coat pocket: A det-pack, two Ballistic Auto-Syringes
[1.1 credits] in local bills
Overload: Beginner.
Healing Factor: Beginner.
You are under contract with The Brotherhood of Scholars for twenty-four years. Grandmother(adopted): Mother Nicole Gainer, (Cordial),
--Contactable through Mail, Tyler Hop
--High Influence with Scholars, Crusaders, the Thornton Family
--Current lawful ruler of Steelworks 9 Region (Crusader Supported)
Organization: The Thornton Family
--Contactable through Mail, Emma
--High Influence within Steelworks 9 Region
--Allied with Nicole Gainer, you
Contact, Threat: William Thornton
--Contactable through Mail, Emma
--High influence within The Thornton Family
--Feared within Steelworks 9 Region
--Allied with Nicole Gainer, you
Contact, Military Trainer: Tyler Hop (Cordial)
Friend: Emma Thornton (?)
--Low influence within The Thornton Family
Schoolyard clique:
--6 young men and women, of intelligence (respectful, friendly)
--3 young men and women, of strength (respectful, friendly)