001. voice

[sassguard]

[ The network ID tag reads "Commander Shepard," nothing else. ]

This isn't exactly what you'd call a secure channel, is it?

[ The voice of the man on the other side of the line sounds slightly distracted, and the sound of passing traffic is pretty audible, along with the occasional irate honk. ]

I'm assuming I'm not the only one who got the message about this "paintball" thing. Never heard of it, but sounds like your average combat simulation exercise to me. [ Which would make sense, given what they're supposed to be doing here. Though it's funny they don't just call it that: no civilian teambuilding exercise would be worth the investment. ]

Not sure what to think about their idea of a prize, but it's not like I've got anything else to do. I'll see you out there, if you're playing.

[ After a particularly long honk, and the swoop of a car flying too close for comfort, he adds, as an afterthought: ]

Oh, and does anyone know how to fix a hoverbike that's stalled upside down? I could probably survive a two-story drop if I had to, but I'd rather not find out the hard way.

Comments

voice.

[heralding]

Hello, Commander. [From his opening words, it's apparent that he's new here.]

It's possible that it's not an actual combat simulation, given the range of people who will be involved. I wouldn't advise going in expecting that. [After all, not everyone is a soldier.]

voice.

[sassguard]

[ A soft grunt and the creak of cloth. ] Could have fooled me. I thought that's what this whole kidnapping people from other worlds operation was supposed to be -- recruitment drive.

[ Not that he assumes they don't have other, less obvious motives. ]

So they're not too picky about who they bring in?

Voice

[biotically]

[ Is he already in trouble...

Oh yeah, someone let him drive a vehicle]

Shepard? [ He sounds a hell of a lot friendlier than Horizon. ]

How long have you been here?

[sassguard]

Kaidan? [ Shepard's own response is more guarded, and wary. It's a familiar voice, except for how it sounds like someone surgically removed the stick that was 100% up Kaidan's ass the last time they saw each other. Huh. As if he needed anything else to make this place feel more surreal. ]

Not that long.

voice

[performance]

[ There's no name attached to this message, but the kid behind it sounds friendly enough. ]

I bet I can fix your bike.

[sassguard]

[ Something he'll have to ponder later. ]

Is there a "but" that comes after that?

Voice

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Stares at that dudevoice. Stares at that ID tag.]

You've got to be kidding me. 'Commander Shepard?'

[sassguard]

[ The raised brow is practically audible. ]

That was still my name the last time I checked. [ The second familiar voice he's heard, and he's burning with curiosity to flip the feed to figure out if the rest of it matches, but he holds off, for now. ]

[voice]

[yatagarasu]

It's a game. [She giggles.] I know they said it was going to be an exercise, but who says it can't be fun?

[sassguard]

I'm counting on it. [ He plays to win, after all. Winning is fun. Maybe less fun if it's against kids this young, but hey, Shepard was pretty precocious for his age. Who's to say she's not the same way? ]

voice;

[hoboagogo]

...How'd you get it stalled upside down?

[shinji has no idea how hover shit works, obvs.] I'd think it would've slammed you into the ground. Instead've you just... hanging there.

[HOW DO I TECH] You got any powers that can help get you down?

voice;

[sassguard]

If I knew, I wouldn't have gotten stuck in the first place. You're better off asking whoever built this thing.

[ AKA: don't look at him, man, he's from the future but hell if he knows how this shit works. He just takes it for granted. ]

It's sorted out. I don't think my "powers" would have helped anyway.

[acclimatized]

[ john sounds faintly amused. ]

Was the hoverbike upside down before you stalled it?

[sassguard]

For about five seconds, technically, yes.

[voice]

[smarterthandad]

How did you even stall it upside down, and should I send someone to get you?

[Hi Shep you're being judged by a three year old.]

[voice]

[sassguard]

No idea. I was just testing out what it could do.

[ Shepard's experience with kids is limited, but she does sound pretty damn young. Hard to tell on voice alone, though. ]

I'm not upside-down anymore, so that's an improvement. I think I can handle it from here.

voice;

[hothead]

[ The hovercar thing's obviously taken care of (and he'd be useless at helping anyway), so: ] Military?

[ Commander's kind of a giveaway, but you never know. Delsin's parents didn't exactly go for a traditional first name, either. ]

voice;

[sassguard]

Yeah, I am. [ That obvious? ... Oh wait, yeah, he forgot about that. ]

Systems Alliance. From what I can tell, it doesn't exist here.

voice;

[symbionic]

It's really just an excuse to shoot your friends until they're covered in paint.

voice;

[sassguard]

Sounds like my kind of fun. Although we're not using real paint this time, are we?

[exsithstential]

That would be my interpretation as well. As far as I've discovered on the subject thus far, it's a tactical drill centered around the use of a projectile weapon designed to simulate injury by leaving behind a chromatic strain.

[A quick sigh.] Seems rather primitive. Why not just photon pulses and photo-responsive gear? Or just clock the hits digitally?

Oh, and I could take a look at your bike if you'd like. I'm still familiarizing myself on this world's tech, but it seems simple enough.

[sassguard]

The bike's fine. [ For, well, now. Jury's still out on whether he'll manage to get it back in one piece. Shepard hasn't yet gone back to the assigned government housing tonight, so he's yet to make introductions in person, but. ]

They're using a simulation for the actual game -- at least if I'm understanding it right. The instructions weren't what I'd call 'clear.'

voice;

[taselikeabee]

It could be combat simulation. Mostly it's just a game. In fact, I think that there were college teams for it back on my Earth.

voice;

[sassguard]

You've never tried it yourself?

audio.

[abadidea]

My name's Isaac Clarke. It's good to meet you, Commander. I don't know about playing paintball, even if it's a combat exorcise. I'm no soldier.

[There's a beat.]

I am an engineer, though. I can take a look at your bike.

audio.

[sassguard]

[ Oh, an engineer? That sounds promising. ]

The situation's under control, Mr. Clarke. But I think I might take you up on that offer anyway -- I've got a few upgrades in mind.

[ DON'T DO IT ISAAC. DON'T DO IT. ]

permavid

[heartlessglitch]

[ robochan hello commander!! ]

You have offers from capable engineers to assist you with your hoverbike, so I will refrain from offering my own talents.
I should mention, however, that you can encrypt individual communications, if you wish.

video forever

[sassguard]

[ he can't help squinting at the feed. is that...? he's being spoken to, though, and he forces himself to shake the hesitation off. after all, he's being told something potentially useful. ]

And how would I do something like that?