1st Mission | Audio

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[The voice on the Network is deep, forceful, and thoroughly unamused.]

You know, I've thought about getting a tattoo before. This thing on my wrist? It’s not exactly what I had in mind.

I'm Jacob Taylor. I'm looking for some answers. They’re telling me that I'm in a different universe, and I've traveled through time. Apparently I've been drafted, too.

[Jacob pauses, snorts.]

This is all bullshit, right? The kind of tech they're talking about shouldn't even exist, especially not in the 21st century. And I'm not fighting for a government I don’t believe in or belong to. I'm no mercenary.

If anybody wants to help fill the new guy in, I'd appreciate it. I'm not swearing any oaths until I get more information.

Comments

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[larker]

Sounds like you just filled yourself in, there.

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Seriously? That can't be all there is to this.

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[iampretty]

I do have pamphlets if you want the condensed version.

[says the guy in business casual (but still wearing gloves, the weirdo) sitting in an office.]

video;

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob raises an eyebrow at the dude. Who wears gloves in this weather honestly???]

Thanks, but I'd rather get my information from a person than a brochure. Do you work for the government here?

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[axemeaquestion]

I'm just a few weeks old here, but I could try to help you out?

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob nods to her, looking appreciative.]

I'll take anything you can give me. What do you think a newcomer needs to know the most?

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[databoner]

You're from another century, then?

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Last time I checked a calendar, it was 2186. I'm having some trouble believing I'm all the way back in 2014. Doesn't seem possible.

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[gottaswing]

I'm new myself, Mr Taylor, so I can't really give you any info. Though, hey, do you have any idea what exactly happens if you just don't swear that oath?

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob gives a small smile in greeting. Inwardly, he's troubled by how young this guy looks.]

I'm still working on finding that out, but my guess is? Nothing good. I doubt they'd bring us here just to let us hang around.

And 'Jacob' is fine with me.

audio/

[bulwank]

Good to meet you Mister Taylor. I am Gamagori Ira, Drill Instructor at the Cape and Disciplinary Committee Chair of Honnouji Acaedmy.[Still getting used to that, mister, miss... Oh, he said his name backwards as far as Americans are concerned, well damn.]

Yes, these are all true. You haven't been asked either, it's something this government does out of desperation, or so it seems. What they can do appears to be extremely powerful yet they apparently need to strip us of our own lives in order to seek assistance.

It's disgraceful! And our cries for answers continue to call on deaf ears. But the best we can do is wait until more information shows itself.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Instructor. Good to meet you too. Just using 'Jacob' works for me.

So it looks like they're desperate, but we've got no idea why?

[Jacob snorts again. You can practically hear him shaking his head.]

Great.

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[khajidont]

Wish I could help you out, Mr. Taylor, but what they've told you is true. This is a different universe and a different time for most of us, as far as I can tell, and I can't think of a better word for what's happened than a drafting. What they've drafted us for... [It's audio, so Jacob can't exactly see Jaime's shrug, but it's not hard to fill in the blanks.] Your guess is as good as mine.

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

All right. Thanks for confirming it, at least.

Someone else told me this is related to a 'Cold War.' You think they're going to tell us to fight the Russians?

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[hoboagogo]

Some of us were pretty okay with being dead before this, too. So we can add fucking with that to the list, too.

It was 2009 for me back home, and another country- Way less technology though. I dunno much else for you.

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Bit of a pause before a reply text comes:]

They're bringing back the dead? How?

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[youbastard]

What century are you from? [Clearly the most important thing to ask here.]

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

The 22nd. It's 2186- or at least, it was. Sounds like I'm not alone on that count.

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[abadidea]

[When the feed turns on, the device is clearly situated outside and is propped up on his workbench. There are various tools visible from the viewfinder, but not much else.]

Sorry, Taylor. It's nice to meet you, but we don't have all that much information. Just that, apparently, the Porter that brought us all here just...does it. They don't control it, if you ask them, and the draft is to keep us safe from their enemies. I'm Isaac Clarke.

[He pauses.]

Do you think you moved forward or backward in time?

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Backwards. More than a century, if this really is 2014.

[Jacob gives the tools and the bench a quick once-over before giving Isaac his full attention.]

Good to meet you, Isaac. Thanks for answering my questions. They've really built all of this around something they don't even control?

➥ AUDIO |

[nestingdevil]

Nothing's impossible, friend. That just proves the fact.

[There's glass clinking on the other side of the line. A muted tune coming from somewhere far off.]

But there's other options. I wasn't about to sign up to work for anyone either.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Yeah, I guess it does. So you've found another way to get by around here?

[detriments]

[hello.]

I guess someone just decided to change the rules.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

['sup]

The way I see it, rules that can be changed whenever someone just decides aren't worth much. I was kind of hoping the laws of time and space were made of tougher stuff.

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[aggressiveapathy]

Hm. Are you this world's first time-ist?

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob raises an eyebrow. He is not prepared for the experience that is April Greeting New ImPorts.]

I guess that depends on just what that is.

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[filthyworld]

At least you don't live in the 90s. I have a feeling you'd hate dial up.

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

I'm not even sure what 'dial up' is. Which is probably a sign you're right about that.