#NervSiberia
Episode 04

<@Night10194> You're expected to take relatively normal high-school level classes while a member of the program. This is in addition to your training, synchronization testing, etc.
<@Night10194> You'll all be enrolled at the school used for soldiers' families and other civilian personnel, taking a normal course-load. Of course, combined with your other responsibilities, it will probably feel like a bit more, but at least you're not a Japanese high school student.
<@Night10194> Out of curiosity, what kinds of classes are the pilots interested in? At least for their electives?
<ElsaFaustus> Science, history.
<@Night10194> And is anyone interested in joining sports or other extracirriculars? It'll affect what NPCs I introduce as time goes.
<TanyaIvanova> History, mostly. Biology and literature are sort of lower on the priority list.
<Griet> Some sort of engineering probably, trying to learn how the EVA's work, or at least aiming in that general direction.
<Griet> Soccer please. The South African's love their footie.
<@Night10194> You might also be able to meet and ask questions of some engineering staff, if you're genuinely interested. You know how scholars get about people who show interest in their work.
<TanyaIvanova> Sports: track, wrestling, and/or soccer. The other extracurriculars … Tanya might TRY debate club or something. But I emphasize try because she'd most likely end up shouting at people or going "Screw you guys, I'm going home"
<ElsaFaustus> Oh, yeah.  Soccer, too.
<Dostov> Dostov is keen on botany and home ec.
<@Night10194> I'm also afraid you probably won't be able to keep your status as pilots secret, like you sorta-could in some settings. It's very clear you guys are the only non-Russians on base, Dostov is known as a pilot, and Tanya, well. I doubt Tanya would hide it.
<@Night10194> Heh. Three of the girls are on the school's soccer team together.
<Griet> Hopefully it'll keep Griet from getting stuffed in a locker.
<TanyaIvanova> Nope. She wears it like a badge of honor. Because she is SPECIAL and a BADASS.
<@Night10194> You're also all forced into Russian Literature, because they figure it'll be a good way to make sure your language stays in shape.
<@Night10194> Alright...we pick up on Saturday, after your first week actually on base. Things have likely been rather exhausting, with the early morning drills and classes. Nathaniel, any changes in their drill schedule, or is PT, then firing drill at 6 AM before class reasonable?
<NathanielDurond> Hrm. How are they all handling it?
<@Night10194> I don't know. Pilots, how is getting up at 6 AM to run around the icy cold base, then shooting several hundred rounds while being yelled at by your instructors before school going for you?
<TanyaIvanova> Tanya is probably not that worn out, considering this is just like home for her.
<Dostov> Dostov has been doing this since he was six.
<ElsaFaustus> Just following orders, quiet cursing not withstanding.
<@Night10194> They're also pushing Nathaniel to put them in the sims some each day, as well.
<Griet> Griet is tired, but used to long hours back home, so not completely exhausted.
<Dostov> Dostov might nap through a class or over lunch break, but he's fine.
<@Night10194> Well, you do get the evening to yourself, minus any homework.
<NathanielDurond> Probably a reduction in firing drills in exchange for sim time then.
<NathanielDurond> (which will often involve firing drills in the sim, so really...)
<@Night10194> Anyhow, Saturday you actually have to yourselves, though there's drill again on Sunday. Any plans for your mutual day off, oh young heroes?
<ElsaFaustus> Sleeping?
<Dostov> Nothing out of the ordinary.
<TanyaIvanova> Sleeping, hovering in the kitchen if Dostov cooks anything because it is Interesting that people, like. Cook food rather than getting it from rations, a can, a box, etc.
<Griet> Hmn, perhaps a pickup game of soccer with the crazy roomate?
<@Night10194> Miko seems to have come down with something and won't leave her room. Specifically, the restroom. Happens, when you move to a new place and come into contact with a lot of new pathogens.
<Griet> If said roommate is not lecturing on the merits of mother russia, that is
<ElsaFaustus> I'm game for a game.
<TanyaIvanova> Oooo, yes. Pickup soccer sounds like a wonderful distraction from being fanatical or watching Dostov cook.
<@Night10194> Nathaniel, anything for your day off? Or spend it with the pilots? Or what?
<NathanielDurond> Chumming with the next person on the list of base soldiers I need to make nice with around dinner, but I'll watch the soccer game
<Griet> Invite some of the off duty soldiers and base kids as well. Good way to get to know people?
<@Night10194> Sure. People get together and do sports all the time.
<@Night10194> You guys all teaming up? Team EVA?
<TanyaIvanova> I think yes.
<ElsaFaustus> Ja.
<@Night10194> Totally end up dragging Nathaniel into it.
<NathanielDurond> Sure, why not.
<@Night10194> You guys end up in a game against Lt. Malashenko, Major Golovko, your Russian lit teacher, who is, surprisingly, an extremely attractive young woman by the name of Anna Lomkino, and two of your classmates, a big, hefty bear of a guy from the wrestling team, Fyodor, and a quick young gal from the track team, Maria. It being a slow day, you also attract a small audience of bored staff, naturally.
<@Night10194> It's cold as hell, but the Russians don't seem to care, and the field near the barracks is relatively clear of snow, so...
<@Night10194> Think you guys would be able to play together and work together?
<@Night10194> Or are you all destined to be crushed?
<ElsaFaustus> Guess we'll find out.
<Griet> For soccer? I think we could manage
<@Night10194> Especially as you guys are generally pretty physically talented, as well.
<Dostov> I don't see why not.
<TanyaIvanova> I think it is possible. Once the game gets going, Tanya will probably just focus on murdering the ball, with her foot, in the general direction of the other team's goal, so… she won't be actively unhelpful to the cooperating thing, just not actively helpful either.
<@Night10194> Plus, the real event comes after the game, when you notice who was on the side-lines, watching. Tanya is, fortunately, not successful in murdering the ball (it remains intact, but kicked hard) or any of the opposing players, and no-one manages to hurt themselves beyond a few bruises and scrapped knees that come with playing a contact sport in freezing cold.
<@Night10194> They will not be dancing any Vragi to death any time soon, no, but they seem to be friendly enough to play together, which is a good sign, and it's good practice for coordinating and playing to each other's strengths.
<@Night10194> Anyway, Tanya, as you're getting your breath back after the end of the game, you notice a grey-and-blonde haired, early-middle aged woman, dressed in a science team uniform, standing on the side-line, watching you through a pair of thick-lensed glasses. You didn't know she'd been transferred here! Tis Dr. Tuchechev, one of your handlers from the Boneyard.
<@Night10194> She was apparently watching the game.
<TanyaIvanova> Everything and everyone else is pretty much immediately forgotten – Tanya picks up a smile unlike any she's had … probably since the test run against Sachiel, and jogs over to meet the doctor at the sideline. "Doctor! When did you get transferred here?"
* Dostov glances over from trying to catch his breath, bent over with his hands on his knees.
<@Night10194> She smiles. "A few days ago, Tanya. How have you been? Enjoying yourself? Meet anyone interesting?"
<TanyaIvanova> "Indeed – I've been sharing a room with that one…" She points at Griet. And then to Dostov. "And that one *cooks*."
<@Night10194> She chuckles. "Getting along alright? No...troubles? I've been asked here to help keep an eye on you and Cernobog."
<TanyaIvanova> This leaves Tanya confused for a moment, but she shakes her head. "He and I are doing very well – the others had a slow start getting accustomed to their units, but I believe that everyone has settled in well enough at the moment."
<@Night10194> Tuchechev: "I meant with the people, not your EVA." She chuckles.
* Dostov finally gulps down enough air to stand up straight, watching Tanya and Tuchechev from where he stood.
<TanyaIvanova> Tanya has to think about this for a moment as well before shaking her head again. "Nothing of interest, no. I think we're fine friends. Even if my roommate has no interest in taking her EVA into battle."
<@Night10194> Any of the rest of you taking note of this?
<ElsaFaustus> A little, drinking tang as I rest.
<NathanielDurond> Eavesdropping.
<@Night10194> Tuchechev: "I'm glad to hear you're getting along. I admit, I was a bit worried when you left. The one thing we couldn't prepare you for. Other people." She chuckles.
<Griet> Standing by Dostov, all fresh and happy from a brilliant game of football. Also eavesdropping.
<@Night10194> Tuchechev: "I won't just be keeping an eye on Cernobog, of course. My office is on level 3-C, if you want to come by and talk from time to time. I'm afraid the Sergeant was needed at the base, still...helping train the next generation of would-be Pilots, assuming we can get more EVAs, or even just to have some backups to give you kids a break from time to time."
<TanyaIvanova> "Even if you couldn't, we're all adjusting to each other very well, I think. The Japanese girl is … odd, and the roommate hasn't started working on an Italian accent yet – to go with Schnitzel and Nigiri in an Axis configuration, see." At the other information, Tanya nods.
<TanyaIvanova> "Of course I understand. The other Pilots are important, if any of them actually make the cut." And through all this, she is not paying attention to the eavesdroppers at all because having her former handler here is much more interesting.
* Dostov yanks up his hood and looks around for something more polite to do.
<@Night10194> Tuchechev raises an eyebrow at the bit about schnitzel and nigiri. "So...Will you introduce me to your friends, then?"
<TanyaIvanova> Tanya nods and leads the doctor over to the rest of the group, then goes around them, introducing Elsa as Schnitzel, Dostov as Mishka, Cpt Durond as Cpt Durond, and Griet as Bobo. "And Nigiri couldn't come – she's been ill."
<@Night10194> The doctor looks a bit embarrassed. "Ah...could I have your real names, perhaps?"
<@Night10194> She also offers Nate a hand.
* Griet gives Tanya a strange look, but figuring that getting a nickname might mean that Tanya doesn't completely hate her, doesn't complain. "Griet Jacobs, ma'am"
<Dostov> "Dostov Pokryshkin, a pleasure to meet you." He offers a smile, but refrains from hugging her.
<ElsaFaustus> "Elsa.  Elsa Faustus, frau doktor."  I nod politely.
* NathanielDurond shakes Tuchechev's hand. "Nathaniel Durond. Nice to meet you."
<@Night10194> Tuchechev: "Dr. Jane Abrahamovna Tuchechev. My parents wanted a more...western name." She smiles and nods back.
<ElsaFaustus> "You mean American, ja?"
<@Night10194> She nods.
<@Night10194> Tuchechev: "I helped to kick-start Russia's EVA program, with the generous support of our allies in the UN, of course." To Nate.
<ElsaFaustus> I nod.  "Proud to be a part of it, myself."
<NathanielDurond> "We do try to help out in the saving the world buisness."
<TanyaIvanova> "Dr Tuchechev helped raise and train me after my parents died in the service of the Motherland. She's a brilliant woman." to Griet, noticing the strange look: "…You haven't caught what Miho has, have you?"
<@Night10194> Tuchechev: "And we appreciate your efforts, believe me. If we didn't think the threat was clear, present, and imminent, we never would have spent the billions necessary to build the EVAs... You are the Operations Director, yes? The one in charge of commanding them in combat?"
* Griet smiles sweetly at Tanya. "Not last I checked, but if I do, I'll be sure to pass it on."
<TanyaIvanova> "…why do you want the rest of us to get sick?"
<Griet> "Sharing is caring?"
<TanyaIvanova> "…but it's an *illness*. Miho can keep it to herself."
<NathanielDurond> "I am. I apparently also recieve their report cards from school, and I seem to be the only one in a UN beret in a stone's throw usually."
<@Night10194> Tuchechev: "We are all allies in the United Nations, last I checked, and Russia is a signatory state...I'm sure France still keeps the Gendearmes and the like in their old, national uniforms and titles when they're not on service with the UN central military."
<Griet> "I wouldn't worry, I don't get sick terribly often. So long as you don't bring any sort of illness in, we should be fine"
<NathanielDurond> "Fair enough Doctor. Have you been transferred to our corner of Siberia?"
<@Night10194> She nods. "As I told Tanya here, I'm here to help keep an eye on the EVAs, and of course, my pupil. I'm here as an Evangelion Biological Augmentation Technician."
<Dostov> The title goes right over his head.
<@Night10194> Tuchechev: "I'll be helping to find ways to make your EVAs stronger, tougher, and harder to kill."
<NathanielDurond> "Excellent. Its good to know that our pilots will be better protected as well as more effective with your help. Although they're already quite good, if this football match is any indication"
<@Night10194> Tuchechev: "Well, Tanya has been trained to be the best of the best. We're expecting great things from her."
<TanyaIvanova> Tanya says nothing, but beams with pride and a smile that says "I told you so" … at no one in particular, really, just generally looking pleased with herself.
<Dostov> "She'll do great."
<@Night10194> Tuchechev: "That offer extends to the rest of you, if you have any questions about your EVAs' health or workings. I'm not at liberty to discuss *everything*, of course..."
<Griet> "But you would be willing to work with us, to teach us how they work?"
<Griet> "At least the basics?"
<@Night10194> Tuchechev: "I'm assuming they already told you roughly what they were?"
<Griet> "More or less, I'm interested in going a bit more in-depth, if possible."
<Griet> "Most of it is way beyond me though"
<@Night10194> Loudspeaker: "All pilots, report to the EVA cages for synchronization testing. All pilots, report to the EVA cages for synchronization testing. Pilot Nakamura is excused on account of illness."
<ElsaFaustus> I hop up and trot to my bunk to get my plugsuit, avoiding the deathly ill Miko in my room as I do so.
<@Night10194> Tuchechev: "I'll see you later, Tanya. Dovidanya." She smiles and waves you off.
<TanyaIvanova> Tanya bids Dr Tuchechev a fond "I'll see you later" and also goes to fetch her plugsuit.
<Dostov> After stuffing his hands in his pockets and saying goodbye to the doctor, Dostov heads to the facility for the usual routine.
<@Night10194> Time to do everyone's synch test before the first combat.
<@Night10194> Captain Duround will, of course, be overseeing said testing.
<@Night10194> SR on the Rise for Tanya, Elsa, Griet, and Dostov.
<@Night10194> Elsa, is the modifier die for your SR going up or down?
<ElsaFaustus> Up.
<@Night10194> Tanya's up 19 points, Griet's up 11, Dostov's up 6, Elsa's up 20. Add that to your normal SR stat in parenthesis; it's how high you'll be next battle.
<@Night10194> Anyway...they get you out and get you into the EVAs...the tang is a lot less terrifying now that you know you can breathe it, but I imagine there's still some instinctive panic when the fluid goes up and over your head and fills your lungs.
<@Night10194> Anyone above 70: You can feel the mental partitions breaking down, that bizarre sensation of being two beings at once beginning to bleed into simply being one, feeling the EVA's heart beat instead of your own, its arms becoming your arms, its head your head, the cameras on the head becoming your eyes...
<Griet> Here we go again....
<@Night10194> Griet, you can feel an odd sense of fear niggling at your consciousness as your SR rises, but it stops at a slight whisper in the back of your mind. A sort of animal wariness.
<NathanielDurond> Impressive results.
<NathanielDurond> Moderately terrifying.
<@Night10194> That they're so well synchronized?
<@Night10194> Gorky: "Captain, what would you say to a dry run? To give them some experience moving around up top, outside of a simulator? Since they seem to be doing so well."
<NathanielDurond> "Just don't give them a soccer ball."
<@Night10194> Gorky: "You should've heard the proposal for the Evangelion Dance Off. Military planners should not get *quite* that drunk."
<NathanielDurond> "Pilots, we're sending you topside for some exercises."
<ElsaFaustus> "Happy to kick whatever you wish, captain."
<NathanielDurond> (To Gorky) "I imagine the entire maintenence section is going to be a mite cross with us.
<@Night10194> Gorky: "It can't be helped."
<NathanielDurond> Launch EVAs!
<@Night10194> Everyone, you feel your EVA clipped tight to the wall, and suddenly rocketed upwards as it's launched into the field proper, for the first time, the restraints unclipping as a klaxon sounds to get all personnel and vehicles out of the northern exercise area. At long last, your EVAs are up top and on-line!
<@Night10194> You may now go mad with power!
<@Night10194> Of course, this is all made a lot easier by this being the middle of Siberia. All you can see ahead of you is snow, and the forward Umbilical Port line, about a kilometer and a half ahead of you.
<@Night10194> No wonder they used this as a proving/testing facility.
<Griet> Target practice?
<NathanielDurond> "Its too bad we don't have massive foam weaponry for them to practice with..."
<@Night10194> Gorky: "We have a couple naval training targets for target practice, at least, if you want to get them used to real weapons."
<NathanielDurond> "Might as well use that ammunition budget."
<NathanielDurond> "Pilots, please run through your checklists, ensure that your EVA is responsive, and that you can walk and run without falling over. We'll be sending up some rifles for you."
<@Night10194> Gorky: "It's just naval cannon shells. We can afford a few dozen to make sure their weapons are familiar when they face a Vrag, da?"
<Dostov> "It feels like the plating may be loose around Pizdetz's jaw."
<NathanielDurond> "Da Major.... Tell me, how well do we know an EVA can stand up to one of those things? Want to know how much risks we should be willing to face as far as friendly fire goes"
<ElsaFaustus> I run through my checklists, making sure everything is working.  I pay extra attention to my pallet gun, suspecting it of not working.
<@Night10194> Gorky: "Well...the pallet rifle, at least...most EVAs will survive hits from it without much damage. They're resilient and well armored."
<@Night10194> Gorky: "The newer, production model battle cannon, however, the EVAs likely won't survive repeated shots."
* Griet runs through the checklists slowly, still being new to the process, with a precise attention to detail.
<@Night10194> Gorky: "We're also not sure if their AT fields will deflect all shots of that caliber."
<TanyaIvanova> I run through my checklists, without much concern for the pallet gun, focusing more on how everything *feels*, and if anything about Cernobog feels off.
* Dostov runs through a simple set of exercises he remembers from his last outing.
<@Night10194> Gorky: "I wouldn't recommend using each other for target practice."
<NathanielDurond> To Gorky: "Of course not. But they're going to need to get used to live fire exercises, and this particular mix seems destined for shooting into close quarters"
<@Night10194> Gorky: "An unfortunate necessity of having to get close to neutralize an AT field. It works, in theory, though. Do you want to run them through AT Field excercises, as well?"
<NathanielDurond> "Yes, might as well get them used to it."
<ElsaFaustus> "Do what, captain?"
<@Night10194> The elevators that got you guys up head back down, returning with your assigned firearms, except for EVA-41, as he has no assigned rifle, just a spear and shield.
<@Night10194> They pop up with your rifles and ammunition already loaded. It's a decent system for sending the team additional supplies or arms in the field.
<@Night10194> Dostov, your spear and shield ensemble pop up from the launch pad, at least.
<ElsaFaustus> I go get my pallet rifle, double-checking it.
<@Night10194> It seems fine, the treacherous little bastard.
<NathanielDurond> "Pilots, we're going to be commencing a live fire drill. A target will appear many dm to your (direction). Lt. Porkryshkin, you will charge it directly. While the other pilots will take firing and support positions. Faustus and Pavilchenko to Porkryshkin's right, Jacobs to his left. Your goal is to coordinate your fire so no one shoots anyone else, nor obscures vision or otherwise gets in the way. In an actual battle, this will likley be a probing attack. Feel free to experiment a little, but the goal is to gain information, not try to get a lucky one-hit kill. There is an American expression about Murphy that you would all do well to study."
<@Night10194> Gorky: "Get your AT Fields spread just in case."
<@Night10194> Gorky: "Correct, Captain?"
* Dostov retrieves the spear and shield, the unit rolling its shoulders once armed.
* Griet Griet picks up her weapon and places herself to Dostov's left.
<NathanielDurond> "Yes, of course."
<ElsaFaustus> "Understood, captain."  I spread my field as I move into position.
* Griet focuses for a moment to spread the field.
<@Night10194> Your field seems a lot easier to spread in the real world, Elsa. Almost like it wanted to come out, all along, and you'd been holding it *in*.
* TanyaIvanova arms herself, spreads shield, takes position.
<Dostov> He bangs the spear against the shield twice and gets into position. He spreads his field and waits.
<@Night10194> After a few minutes of waiting, you see a small truck convoy dragging a huge sheet of steel with a bullseye painted on it across your field of vision, dropping it off 60dm to the west, and driving the hell away at all speed.
<Dostov> Unit 41 gets into charging position, shield up front and spear held tightly at its side, pointing forward.
<NathanielDurond> As soon as the trucks are far enough away, I'll signal for them to start.
<Dostov> In a blast of snow leg pistons engage, launching Unit 41 into a charge for their hapless target.
<TanyaIvanova> Tanya and Cernobog try to stay a bit ahead of Griet, just because it's closer to the target.
<@Night10194> It takes Mephistopheles a few moments extra to waddle into position.
<@Night10194> But you find if you get a flanking angle, it's easier to fire on a target despite someone being in melee with it. In the future, this halves the to-hit penalty for firing into hand-to-hand combat.
<ElsaFaustus> All right.  Determined to hit something with it, I just open up Full Auto on the target.
<@Night10194> CHAK
<@Night10194> Jam.
<ElsaFaustus> "This is a joke, right?"
<Dostov> As he gets in close to the target he starts to dig his heels in to slow down. He didn't want to flatten it.
<@Night10194> Gorky: "Reading a weapons malfunction on Unit-43's weapon."
<Griet> Aim and fire.
<@Night10194> Shack on the target, Griet, and you didn't hit Dostov.
<Dostov> Once close enough he gives the target a tap with the butt of his spear.
<ElsaFaustus> "Scheissenschutzen pischvuter kampfmauser..."  I start fighting with the gun, trying to unjam it.
<NathanielDurond> To Gorky "Anyway we can improve the simulator's understanding of AT fields with live data?" (pause) "Oh, wonderful. So they are neither thought to be particularly effective nor reliable?"
<@Night10194> The second you tap it, it also takes a cannon shell from Griet. That shell went true and clean, piercing the target and exploding. Tanya's shot or shots?
* Dostov laughs. "Nice shot."
<@Night10194> Gorky: "Unit 43 is still equipped with the XER-1 Pallet Gun. The experimental, prototype model. As you can see, the production model ER-1 Battle Rifle is a bit more efficient."
<TanyaIvanova> Aim and fire, this time. Silently curse this whole ranged weapon shenanigan because, really. Claws and teeth are so much more effective.
<@Night10194> Hit it cleanly, if a bit low. Elsa, you're able to unjam it, but your ammo magazine is ruined in the process and you have no reloads.
<ElsaFaustus> "Mein Gott en himmel...  Why do I get crappy Russian gun?!"  I just fling the gun at the target, hyper-accelerating it my AT Field.
<@Night10194> Nailed it, and with significant force, your field forming a small sheathe of glowing hexagons and sending it screaming into the target. Damaging the gun and smashing the target.
<@Night10194> Gorky: "...What the hell was that!?"
<NathanielDurond> "...."
<Dostov> "Whoa." Unit 41 gives her a thumbs-up.
<NathanielDurond> (off mic) "Everyone else in here saw that, right?"
<@Night10194> The staff nod.
<Griet> "Go Elsa! I'd clap but I'm not sure that would be a good idea...."
<ElsaFaustus> "Huh.  That worked out rather satisfyingly."
<NathanielDurond> "OK. Get me every spare technical staff member here and have them go over that data until we at least know enough how to tell the simulator to replicate that effect."
<@Night10194> Gorky: "Pilot, your ruined magazine. Can you replicate that effect with it?"
* Dostov decides to move out of the way before more objects are thrown.
<ElsaFaustus> "Just throw it at the target?  That what you want me to do, captain?"
<NathanielDurond> "What is left of it yes. After Lt. Porkryshkin is a safe distance away."
<@Night10194> Gorky: "We just need to see that again. With us watching for it and recording."
<Dostov> "I'm clear."
<ElsaFaustus> "What?  These things aren't supposed to do that?"  I wind up, trying to imitate one of those Yank pitchers, then fling the magazine at the target.
<Griet> "Oh! I love baseball!"
<@Night10194> There's another scream of...something as the glowing hexagons and the EVA's arm fling the magazine into the target with enough force to cause an explosion.
<Dostov> Up comes the shield, just to be safe.
<@Night10194> Gorky: "It's...it's like a railgun."
<ElsaFaustus> "Oh, wow!  I spent all this time wrestling with that shitty gun when I could just be throwing the shells with my hand.  God, do I hate that gun."
<NathanielDurond> "If any of you other pilots have any surprises for us, now would be a good time to share with the class"
<TanyaIvanova> "I could bite the target, but that's not a surprise to me."
<ElsaFaustus> I wait a moment, then just make a throwing motion at the target for fun as I get a feeling for things.  And using AT Wave on it.
<@Night10194> Suddenly, those hexagons surround Unit 43's hand, and then project out in a wave, like a giant guillotine blade, slicing a deep rend into the earth and cutting the poor, abused target in half. Also, Dostov is narrowly missed by the attack.
<Griet> "I don't think i can do anything quite like that...."
<Dostov> "Easy tovarisch." Unit 41 backs up even more now.
<ElsaFaustus> "What?  You all can't do that?"
<@Night10194> Gorky: "...God, I hope the Vragi can't do that."
* Griet hefts her Battle Rifle and considers.
<NathanielDurond> "I do as well, but I think we should make plans assuming they can do worse"
<@Night10194> Gorky: "Pilot, how did you do that?"
<ElsaFaustus> I shrug.  "Same way I throw things?  I think what I want done, it happens, frau major.  Is how these machines work, ja?"
<Griet> "Should I be trying to throw this? I don't think I can make it glow..."
<NathanielDurond> "Perhaps Dr. Tuchechev has some insights."
<@Night10194> Gorky: "Should I give her a call, Captain?"
<NathanielDurond> "No. I'm going to have enough trouble
<NathanielDurond> "Please do." (To griet) "No pilot, I think I'd prefer no more multi million dollar weapons thrown bout. Feel free to try with a large boulder or an EVA sized snow ball though"
* Griet carefully places her battle rifle on the ground and begins to construct a snowball.
<Griet> Likely a very *large* snow ball.
<@Night10194> Attempt to hyper-accelerate?
<ElsaFaustus> Not at me, I hope.
<Griet> No, but she throws it at Dostov. He has a good sense of humor.
<NathanielDurond> And a shield.
* Dostov goes through a few routines with his spear and shield combo now that he isn't charging metal targets.
<@Night10194> Dostov, your shield is useless against giant snowball to the head. You can actually feel the whump and the cold.
<Dostov> "Huh?"
<Dostov> Unit 41 turns, seeking out its source.
<Griet> Griet's EVA waves in a sheepish manner, if such a thing is possible for a giant monster-robot thing.
<@Night10194> Griet's rifle is in the (conspiciously not snowy anymore) ground beside her.
<@Night10194> Gorky: "Ah, kids."
<Dostov> "So that's how it is." He grins, putting shield and spear down to start collecting snow.
<NathanielDurond> "Yes. Also builds camraderie while giving us time to figure out exactly what is going on"
<TanyaIvanova> "….Captain? Major? This is not part of the testing procedure...?"
<ElsaFaustus> "Er... Orders, captain?"
<NathanielDurond> "Faustus, do you notice any decrease in your EVA's responsiveness after doing .... whatever it is you've been doing?"
* Griet laughs and starts collecting snow again, the battle is ON!
* Dostov forms a snowball in his Unit's hands and returns fire at Griet.
<NathanielDurond> "And, despite how odd this may sound to you, could you please try accelerating a snowball? Away from your comrades that is."
<@Night10194> SHE'S TOO FAST.
<Dostov> Considering his EVA can lift 450 tons, he goes for a slightly larger snowball this time, size over speed.
<ElsaFaustus> "I don't notice any sluggishness..."  I dutifully make a snowball, then fling it full speed at a distant piece of geography.
<@Night10194> It melts from the force and pressure of the AT field.
* Griet shrugs and throws the snow ball at Dostov. Thinking really hard about making it go faster.
<@Night10194> Nothing happens. Well, except for Dostov being hit with a snowball.
<TanyaIvanova> Tanya sighs, begrudgingly makes a snowball, and flings it at Griet.
<ElsaFaustus> "The snowball appears to be ineffective, mein herr."
<@Night10194> Griet, you have been flanked, and cannot dodge twice in one round of deadly, *deadly* combat.
<@Night10194> Could always Deflect, if it's am emergency.
<ElsaFaustus> "I think it'd be best to focus on flinging pallet guns at the alien foes, captain."
<Dostov> His next snowball is aimed for Tanya, his grinning face popping up in her plug.
<Griet> Oh it's on....Griet retaliates and gathers up snow for another ball. This one goes to Tanya
<@Night10194> Gorky: "Should we stop them?"
* Dostov snags his shield and sets it up for cover as he gathers more ammo.
<TanyaIvanova> Tanya wants to attempt ducking, dodging, or something.
<NathanielDurond> "It appears so, although we're going to find a... cheaper alternative"
<@Night10194> Tanya, a snowball slams into your AT field, vaporizing.
<@Night10194> For a brief second, the rest of you could swear Cernobog grinned.
<ElsaFaustus> "Do we have anything with less value than the pallet gun, captain?"
<NathanielDurond> (To Gorky) "We'll let them go on a bit longer and then... what was that?"
<@Night10194> Gorky: "What was what?"
<Dostov> His laughter is hard to miss over the comm, launching a 'stray' snowball at Elsa before returning fire on the other two.
<TanyaIvanova> Is Elsa within range of an attempted field neutralizing?
<ElsaFaustus> I send the snowball back at Dostov's face.  Kinetic Manipulation.
<@Night10194> Attack successful...Dostov, the thing is suddenly grabbed by a small cloud of those hexes, and then flung in an arc back at you. Gorky: "What the...? More insanity?"
<Dostov> "Witchcraft!" He accuses with a laugh and a grin.
* Griet sends another snowball in Elsa's direction. 'Do it again!'
<Dostov> He follows with another quickly after Griet's.
<ElsaFaustus> I try to do it again, a little alarmed at having attracted attention like this.  "Hey!  Stop that!"
<TanyaIvanova> Tanya attempts to neutralize Elsa's AT field so she can actually be hit with snowballs.
<@Night10194> With your fields colliding and clashing, you can't muster enough power to send the balls back, and get pelted twice in the face and chest. Actually, a good demonstration of why you neutralize Vragi.
<NathanielDurond> "You know, this really is giving us a surprising amount of good data and practice."
<Griet> Gathering up next snowball, scanning for targets
<Dostov> Keeping low, Dostov grabs his shield and moves for another position.
<ElsaFaustus> Alarmed at being pelted with snowballs, I start waddling off and away, wanting my field back.
<@Night10194> Gorky: "True enough, but...if it's as easy as telling it to do so, why can only one pilot do so?"
<@Night10194> Gorky: "Come to think of it, didn't Pilot Nakamura say she could do things the simulator didn't have data on?"
<Dostov> Whump! Another one for Tanya.
<TanyaIvanova> Tanya doesn't attempt to dodge this snowball, but attempts to neutralize Dostov's shield instead, so he can be wrestled into the snow.
<NathanielDurond> "The good Doctor might have some insights, but my guess is, is that it is easy as telling it to do so, /for that pilot/ Pilots and EVAs are not interchangable, so there is no real way to know for sure... but some of this seems to be instinctive behavior"
* Griet weighs her options and then throws the snowball at Dostov again.
<Dostov> He drops his shield and his field, standing up and motioning for her to bring it on.
<@Night10194> Gorky: "Possible...we should do interchangeability tests some time, to see if the EVAs really are relatively unique to the pilots."
<Dostov> And...is also hit by another snowball. "I could have timed that better."
<TanyaIvanova> Tanya charges Dostov, attempting basically to shoulder-check him into the snow.
<@Night10194> Gorky: "I think they're moving to grappling in many-ton, multistory war machines, Captain. Perhaps we should stop them before someone is hurt."
<NathanielDurond> "Well, we have enough data for the technical and science staff to be kept busy for a long time... And yes, time for a halt, at least until we've taught them all how to fall."
<ElsaFaustus> I shiver, shaking off the snow, then head back to the lift.
* Dostov shifts his weight and gets ready for the hit, waiting to counter.
<NathanielDurond> "Pilots! Assemble your equipment, we're finished for today."
<@Night10194> The two enormous machines begin to grapple, the ground shaking as they slam into each other.
<ElsaFaustus> "Should I attempt to seperate them, captain?"
* Griet cringes at the sight of the two EVAs grappling and backs away hastily. Shying from the combat.
<@Night10194> Cernobog looks pretty eager to bite, but that might just be Tanya.
<Dostov> "We can settle this in the training room." Unit 41's cyclopeon array keeps a careful watch on Cernobog's jaws.
<TanyaIvanova> "Deal." Tanya makes one last attempt at shoving Dostov before backing off.
* Dostov laughs. Once clear of grappling range he collects his spear and shield.
<@Night10194> Head back down to shower off and debrief?
<Dostov> Da.
<ElsaFaustus> Ja.
<NathanielDurond> Hot cocao will be waiting.
<Griet> Heading back for tasties.
<Griet> Maybe we can get Dostov to cook something to go with it.
<TanyaIvanova> Da – and once they're back from the showers, Dostov is getting attacked with what can best be described as an overly enthusiastic hug. Tanya seems perplexed that attempting to grapple with him does not work so well out of their EVAs.
<Dostov> He smiles down at her.
<@Night10194> Cue episode ending theme on hug.