Year 450 Cycle 4 - Downtime
SKITS
Skit: Airi Corra's Echoes
Location: 4th Division Base - Team Green Training Grounds
Characters: Raven-621
Ever since that outing with Handler Walter, Raven-621 had been feeling a bit forlorn. She had been dreaming a lot the past few days, with scenes of someone's life so vivid they felt very much alive.
<Simulator System>: "Apparition patterns initialized. Setting Spectre type to: Harvester. Waiting for confirmation."
Ah right. She was still in the middle of Invoker training.
Raven-621:
"Confirm."<Simulator System>: "Initiating simulation. Wave 1."
One "Harvester" appeared along with a slew of Apparitions.
Raven-621:
"Hmm let's see. Ok. Let's try that out: manifesting Chained Guardian."A torrent of chains emerged from behind her, wrapping around her into a spherical cocoon. More chains sprang out in all sides, twisting into a humanoid shape that looked exactly like a massive Guardian made of chains. She touched the "controls" with nostalgia, a faint voice guiding her.
(...)
<Simulator System>: "Wave 3, cleared. Congratulation on the results. Terminating simulation. Please do not forget to hydrate yourself."
Raven-621:
"Hmm I will have some juice then... ah what was the brand... the red bottle with a mecha on it."<Simulator System>: "Order received. Please collect your drink at the exit."
Raven-621 emerged from the shower all refreshed, a cold towel hanging around her neck. Her short blond hair was tied in a high ponytail giving her a more relaxed feel than usual. She was deep in thoughts, enjoying some quite right outside the training simulator.
Raven-621:
"Your parents were Guardian pilots... I remember now. That's why you loved that movie, it made you think of the two of them fighting on the front, defending humanity from Phantasms. No way, you piloted your first Guardian at the age of ten? Oh you literally fell in the cockpit. No way, haha."The lone girl continued having a conversation alone on that bench as the minutes flew. Most of the time she was silent, as if listening to something. Rarely she laughed. One time she wiped off a tear.
Raven-621:
"Is... is that really how you awakened? I'm sorry, I never knew."Finally Raven-621 opened her eyes. There was no one else around, and she let out a chuckle.
Raven-621:
"It's like she is talking to me. Core Echoes, that's what the phenomenon was called I recall. I should talk about this to Handler Walter..."Raven-261 is experiencing Core Echoes from Airi CorraSkit: A Captive Mind
Location: 4th Division Base - Team Green Quarters
Characters: Malakim-12, Handler Walter
Leaving Raven-621 to train by herself, Handler Walter accompanied Malakim-12 to her scheduled quality optimisation. Malakim-12 didn't seem yet in the mood to talk, so the Handler didn't push her and the two headed to the facility in silence. There they met Chief Engineer Jolly who fortunately filled the silence with her never ending explanations of optimisation and phantasm element applications. The process ended quickly and without a hitch, leaving the ARM and her new Handler with some time to spare.
The ARM had a much better complexion after the optimization, and Handler Walter recalled some words of the Chief Engineer.
[4th Division Chief Engineer] Adelie Jolly: "If the optimisation will also heal core damage? Of course, to put it into layman's terms... I know! It's like adding a room to a damaged house. The room is brand new, regardless of the house state! W-What's with that look? Why are you all looking at me like that? A poor explanation? Well you try then Engineer Sasha-"
These engineers seemed like a rowdy and happy bunch, in hindsight. Either way, Malakim-12 did seem to be feeling a bit better. Just as Walter had that thought, the ARM finally broke her silence.
Malakim-12:
"Handler Walter pardon the rude question, but do you know why Handler Jocelyn left?"As he thought, Malakim-12 was still hung up on her previous Handler. Quickly recalling a few important informations about model XH-2111, Walter recalled that the Core Donor was susceptible to develop a dependancy relationship toward an authority figure due to her... difficult past. As he thought of how to answer, she continued talking.
Malakim-12:
"It-it's not that I doubt your capabilities, far from it. Raven-621 had only praise about you. But when I... when I think that maybe Handler Jocelyn left because I was lacking, I feel... helpless."[Ongoing interaction...]Skit: Spice is the spice of life
Location: Sehigama City - Food Court
Characters: Capella Scarlet
As soon as the armored car dropped them in Sehigama City, Capella bolted out like a cat, her sparkling silver eyes darting all over the place. She bumped her fist upward victoriously, and turned toward Handler Johnathon who was accompanying her.
Capella Scarlet: "Thank you for the leave! Thank youuu!!!"The girl was wearing casual clothes, making her no different from an average girl. Well with the scene she had just put on, she might have looked like an eccentric country girl. Oh well, that day was hers. She had worked hard for it.
First up they went to listen to some live concerts of various subgenres of metal, and Capella was so much on fire Johnathan worried she might accidentally unleash her ARM powers from raw excitement. Somehow he managed to hear her talking with the loud concert in the background.
Capella Scarlet: "Listen to that SOUND! Can't you feel it coming from the soul, shaking yours in the process?!"She truly was enjoying herself, which made the Handler glad. They went to a few more concerts and musical venues until it was lunchtime already. Obviously given it was Capealla's day, they went to a restaurant that specialized in food so spicy it might have been categorized as a bioweapon.
A massive bowl of soup arrived before Capella, its threatening red broth seemingly alive and filled with hate for life itself. It might have been his imagination, but the Handler for sure saw the oily scum forming into human skulls at various occasions. Capella clasped her hands in a prayer - and Johnathan did for a moment wonder if she was praying for her own survival there.
Capella Scarlet: "I'm so grateful I get to eat such wonderful food. I now remember why I fight. Why Spectres must be eradicated from the face of Nagaea. They want to take away my- our reasons for living! Thanks for the meal!"Capella stuffed her face with her food like it was the most delicious thing in the world, and her delighted expression might have fooled the Handler into thinking this might not have been that spicy. But his nose and eyes said otherwise, the mere fumes bringing him to tears. When she was done with the bowl, she asked for seconds.
(...)
The day of fun came to an end, and the ARM was radiating with happiness. She hugged her Handler to convey all her gratitude.
Capella Scarlet: "Handler Johnathan, you are the best! No- you are the COOLEST!"Capella Scarlet has recovered all her PowerSkit: Special Operation! A clumsy ARM's apology
Location: 4th Division Base - Team Gunmetal Rose Facilities
Characters: Tule Vankrels, Daybreak, Handler Roland, Handler Sarah
As she only had rest time on her schedule, Daybreak decided to read some hard scifi technical articles before taking a nap in her quarters. After about an hour, she was woken up by someone knocking lightly on her door.
Tule Vankrels: "Daybreak, this is Tule Vankrels. Are you here? I need some help."Daybreak stretched like a cat and leapt out gracefully out of bed, barely making a sound. She saw her slightly disheveled hair in the mirror, the usual tenacious blond cowlick taunting her. She sighed, and went to the door to open it.
Daybreak: "Yes? How can I help."Tule Vankrels: "Oh shoot you were sleeping?! I'm so sorry! I should have figured out that was why you weren't answering my messages..."The girl stretched herself again, passing from a half awake state to a nearly fully awake state.
Daybreak: "Don't worry. It's good that you woke me up, I don't like sleeping too much. My head is in a fog if I sleep too much. Want to come in?"Tule Vankrels: "Thank you. Sorry for the intrusion."She took a chair, sitting nervously on it as if she was going to have an interview.
Tule Vankrels: "It's about yesterday. After cooling down a bit I realized how... inappropriate my conduct was. It's been bothering me all day. I would like to apologize, but I get scared when I think how that would look in the eyes of an officer! I hate it, it's so mortifying!"In the midst of a fight with her eternal enemy against a clean hairstyle, Daybreak replied from the bathroom.
Daybreak: "How about an apology gift? You know, to convey your sincerity."Tule Vankrels: "I thought about it... but what would be a suitable gift? I don't have a single clue what would suit Handler Roland!"Daybreak: "Something generic and profesionnal should work, don't you think?"Tule Vankrels: "How cold! No it needs to be something that will convey my apologies... hence I want to do something handmade."Daybreak poked her head out from the bathroom, and so did the rebellious cowlick.
Daybreak: "You are not making it easier on yourself, you know?"Tule Vankrels: "That's why I need your help! You are the more composed, bravest of us two, unless I who can't help but say what's on her mind!"Daybreak: "Yeah, but that's what I find cute about you."Tule Vankrels: "Come on I'm seriously in a bind here!"Glaring at her current enemy who was defiantly bobbing back and forth, the blond-haired girl thought to herself that she was also in a bind right now. She was entertaining the thought of just grabbing a pair of scissors to cut the hair, but then she thought about how horrible that would look.
Daybreak: "Let's investigate then. We should be able to access personnel files on one of the Division computers. Then finding a suitable gift shouldn't be harder than finding a lady that doesn't exist."Tule barged in the bathroom.
Tule Vankrels: "That's it! Thank you Daybreak!"Daybreak: "You're welcome. Give me five... no ten minutes to get ready, and let's go."(...)
The two girls had no issue finding an available computer, which they used to access the files of their superiors.
Tule Vankrels: "Handler Roland likes guns and caffeine... so coffee... That's great! I can do something with that."Daybreak: "Handler Sarah likes chocolate. Good to know."Tule Vankrels: "A gun... made from... coffee-flavored chocolate..."Daybreak: "That sounds like a killer Valentine's gift."Tule Vankrels: "Spare me the sarcasm, let's get to work!"With this information in hand, they raided their canteen field ration boxes for chocolate and coffee powder. From these emergency ingredients, they crafted a handgun made from field coffee-flavoured military chocolate. The hardest part was melting the military chocolate, but they succeeded and even managed to make the whole thing decently palatable.
Daybreak: "Not great, not terrible. Compared to the base ingredients, it's a roaring success though."Tule Vankrels: "You could be more positive, my life is on the line here!"Daybreak gave her a thumbs-up.
Daybreak: "Don't worry, I'm sure your gift will convey your feelings across. When Handler Roland will get a taste of the chocolate, he will realize how dire our accomodations are. You truly are a genius Tule."Tule Vankrels: "You know, if I had a real gun in my hand right now I don't think I would be able to resist the temptation of shooting you."(...)
Handler Roland Thompson was called by Tule Vankrels. Before he could ask what was up, she bowed at a near 90° angle and held out something packaged in camo paper, the whole thing tied up with a ribbon.
Tule Vankrels: "Please accept this, as a sign of my sincerest apologies for my earlier inappropriate conduct toward my direct superior!"
DOWNTIME RESULTS
Team Scarlet Star
Baretta Scarlet: MG Quality Optimiser - Increase Love to 2 (use 2 D-rank Phantasm Elements)
Capella Scarlet: Recreational leave
Baretta Scarlet
Love: 1/1 -> 2/2
Power: 0/2 -> 0.5/2
Capella Scarlet
Power: 2/3 -> 3/3
+ Recreational Leave event bonus
Team Green
Malakim-12: LG Quality Optimiser - Increase Love to 2 (use 2 D-rank Phantasm Elements)
+Handler Moral Support
Raven-621: HG Combat Simulator - 30 INVOKER Cycles (3000EC)
Malakim-12
Love: 0/1 -> 1.5/2
Raven-621
INVOKER: 2/3 -> 3/3 (0/30 -> 30/30)
Harmony: 2.5/3 -> 3/3
Team Gunmetal Rose
Daybreak: Rest
Tule Vankrels: Rest
Daybreak
Harmony : 2/3 -> 3/3
Love : 1/2 -> 2/2
Tule Vankrels
Harmony : 1/2 -> 2/2
Harmony : 1/3 -> 2/3
BUILD ORDERS
Newly built facilities and upgrades will be available next DowntimeTeam Scarlet Rose:ARM Delivery: PN-2079 STRIKER (12000EC)
Team Green:LG Decontamination Sphere -> MG Decontamination Sphere (2000EC)
LG Decontamination Sphere (1000EC)
Team Gunmetal Rose:Basic Canteen -> Decent Canteen (2000EC)
Basic Recreation Room -> Decent Recreation Room (2000EC)
LG Surgical Unit (1000EC)
LG Incubator Pod (1000EC)
LG Harmonisation Chamber (1000EC)
LG Mending Room (1000EC)
LG Decontamination Sphere (1000EC)