Westbrook Academy for Metahumans: Forums

((This is a highly abridged version of the chat log from the in-game field session on Monday June 6. I've trimmed out a lot of side conversations and such to help keep the post focused and to keep the length down.))

As the time approaches for the field training session, students begin trickling into the classroom. Most of the students arrive in their patrol gear, as instructed. Wyatt Wyborn enters the room in normal clothing, though.

Martin Druce: Do you have a patrol costume, Wyatt?
Wyatt Wyborn ...
Savepoint looks over at Wyatt
Wyatt Wyborn: Um... it's... not clean.
Tr1ck Shot: He's sporting the spidey t-shirt. Isn't that enough?
Mia Cobol looks up and over her shoulder at Wyatt.
Wyatt Wyborn: Will this work?
Martin Druce: If you can move comfortably, that will be fine.
Wyatt Wyborn nods
Savepoint gives wyatt a look
Wyatt Wyborn doesn't make eye contact with anyone.
Aiden Swann raises his hand.
Martin Druce: Good evening. Tonight will be the first of several planned field excursions this term.
Aiden Swann lowers his hand as Mr. Druce speaks up.
Martin Druce: Yes Aiden?
Aiden Swann: Nothing important.
Martin Druce: We will be making use of the Bureau's new Overbrook Training Facility.
Jessie Sullivan raises an eyebrow.
Martin Druce: I wanted to say a few things about it before we got on the bus.
Tr1ck Shot decloaks long enough to throw his hand up.
Martin Druce: Yes, Arthur?
Tr1ck Shot: Is the bus mandatory?
Martin Druce: I'm afraid so. I'm responsible for you for the duration of this session, so I need to keep you together.
Tr1ck Shot mutters into the wind, "Laaaaame."
Martin Druce: I realize that some of you could get there faster on your own. This is just something you'll have to accept.
Martin Druce: Any further questions?
Lauren Lombardi smirks slightly at the back of Ar's head.
Martin Druce: Okay. The training centre uses drones to simulate enemies, allies, and neutrals.
Savepoint perks up a bit listening
Martin Druce: These drones are designed to take a beating, not to look good. There is no chance of mistaking one for an actual person.
Savepoint sinks lower in her seat
Wyatt Wyborn mutters something.
Martin Druce: They are intended to be used as targets, so I want you all to know it's okay to go all out on them.
Aiden Swann sticks up a hand.
Martin Druce: However, you'll be working in teams, so.. Aiden?
Aiden Swann: Do they have a decent AI?
Tr1ck Shot makes cursory attempts to hide his glowing eyes.
Martin Druce: They have an adequate AI for our purposes.
Aiden Swann: Cool. Thanks.
Cassandra Finch puts up a hand hesitantly
Martin Druce: We have... Miss Finch?
Cassandra Finch: Um, do they take psionic damage at all? Beatings aren't really my thing.
Martin Druce: They will register psionic damage. Don't ask me how.
Cassandra Finch frowns thoughtfully. "Okay."
Martin Druce: The drones you will see tonight have rather primitive AI. You may see more advanced models later in the term.
Elijah Elliot raises his hand.
Martin Druce: Another important note. The drones -are- dangerous. They have offensive abilities and... Elijah?
Elijah Elliot: ... I was going to ask if they fight back, so...
Jessie Sullivan raises her hand.
Elijah Elliot puts his hand down.
Martin Druce: Miss Sullivan?
Wyatt Wyborn raises his hand.
Jessie Sullivan: Will the drones have a specific type of attack? Or is that part of the exercise?
Jessie Sullivan tilts her head.
Savepoint gives Roach a wave as he goes by
Martin Druce: Different models have different capabilities. The ones you'll see tonight are limited to incapacitating attacks.
Jessie Sullivan frowns but nods anyway.
Mia Cobol picks at a splinter on the edge of the desk.
Martin Druce: Regardless, they are still dangerous and if you're not careful, you could be injured.
Martin Druce: Those of you with actual patrol experience should have no trouble with them. Tonight is not meant to be a test of your fighting ability.
Martin Druce: Those of you without patrol licenses will be observing only.
Martin Druce: Wyatt, did you have a question?
Aiden Swann fiddles with a bracer.
Lauren Lombardi glances back at Wyatt briefly.
Elijah Elliot looks over at Wyatt.
Roach Copeland rolls his head back, raising a brow towards Wyatt.
Wyatt Wyborn: Um... I know that these days people use the words "drone" and "robot" interchangably, but drone implies a remote pilot, usually human? Could we maybe be clear that these drones are not drone-drones, but are more like robots or ... I dunno... droids?
Roach Copeland: What? Are these not the droids you're lookin' for, Cas?
Savepoint glances at wyatt
Wyatt Wyborn mutters something.
Martin Druce: They are not capable of independent action.
Martin Druce: While they are not directly controlled on a one to one realtime basis, they are monitored and guided by the Training Center's staff. Hence Drones.
Wyatt Wyborn nods, shrugs.
Martin Druce: Two courses have been prepared for tonight. One deals with the evasion techniques we've been discussing over the past week. The other is a precurser to an upcoming topic on dealing with civilians in hostile environments.
Martin Druce: Are there any final questions before we head out?
Elijah Elliot raises his hand.
Lauren Lombardi shakes her head.
Martin Druce: Elijah?
Elijah Elliot: Are we being graded on any aspect of what we do tonight?
Martin Druce: Not directly, no.
Tr1ck Shot: How indirectly?
Martin Druce: Grading on results would be inherently unfair. Some of you will find the first lesson absurdly easy.
Martin Druce: Indirectly means your comportment tonight and throughout the term will be factored into your final assessment.
Roach Copeland looks down at his comm unit, mumbles into it, and then tosses a glance behind him towards Brook. He offers a smile, a nod, and then he looks back towards Druce.
Martin Druce: Okay, would everyone please report to the parking lot. The bus is waiting.

The students all board the bus, which takes them to the FBSA Training Facility in Overbrook.

Martin Druce: We have some latecomers on the way, so everybody sit tight.
Martin Druce: One question though. Does anyone here wish to sit out of the course runs?
Wyatt Wyborn raises his hand.
Savepoint: why would we want to do that? woudn't we fail?
Martin Druce: Wyatt?
Lauren Lombardi mumbles "Not I."
Wyatt Wyborn: I'd like to sit out.
Aiden Swann: You sure?
Martin Druce: You do have a patrol licence, do you not?
Tr1ck Shot: You used to love punching robots.
Wyatt Wyborn: Yeah.
Umbra Squall might have gotten lost, maybe.
Wyatt Wyborn: But I figure I ain't gonna learn nothin' here that I can't learn from a good issue of Spider-man.
Elijah Elliot eyerolls.
Aiden Swann grimaces.
Tr1ck Shot snickers.
Martin Druce: I see.
Savepoint cringes
Aiden Swann: Wyatt? Talk less.
Roach Copeland just snorts. Snorts, snorts, and snorts.
Martin Druce makes a note
Cassandra Finch stifles a laugh.
Martin Druce: Do you want to be a hero or just read about them, Wyatt?
Mia Cobol looks over at Wyatt, confused.
Lauren Lombardi eyes Wyatt with a little disbelief.
Jessie Sullivan blinks.
Wyatt Wyborn mutters something, then says aloud, "Mostly I just need to stay in school..."
Wyatt Wyborn: So... I apologize for my remark.
Wyatt Wyborn said in a semi-insincere fashion.
Tr1ck Shot smirktastic.
Cassandra Finch gives Wyatt an odd look
Aiden Swann shakes his head.
Jessie Sullivan rolls her eyes.
Roach Copeland goes about adjusting his goggles before shaking his head.
Martin Druce: I'm not interested in your apology, Wyatt. I'm interested in why you applied for a Hero Licence and took this course if you're not interested in living up to it?
Wyatt Wyborn 's jaw sets and his face is flushed, "I'm sorry, sir. I will improve my attitude."
Wyatt Wyborn said more sincerely.
Martin Druce: Do you still wish to sit out?
Wyatt Wyborn: No, sir.
Aiden Swann subtly shakes his head no in Wyatt's direction.
Wyatt Wyborn looks at his shoes for a while.
Martin Druce: Okay, I need you to form into teams. I count thirteen, correct me if I'm wrong, so that means three teams of three and one of four.
Martin Druce: Can I have four volunteers to serve as team leaders?
Flicker raises her hand
Tr1ck Shot sighs and pops a hand up.
Roach Copeland takes a breath and nods. "Me."
Lauren Lombardi looks around uncertainly.
Elijah Elliot raises a hand.
Jessie Sullivan raises her hand.
Roach Copeland: Oh.
Tr1ck Shot counts five and drops his hand.
Roach Copeland raises his hand.
Aiden Swann scrutinizes a patch of wall.
Umbra Squall raises a hand.
Mia Cobol seems very interested in the floor.
Martin Druce: Miss Meredith, thank you. Arthur, Thomas, and Elijah. Thank you. Will you all step forward and stand beside me.
Tr1ck Shot: Girls are Miss and boys are first name.
Elijah Elliot: Very observant, Arthur.
Aiden Swann smirks at Ar.
Martin Druce: Force of habit.
Tr1ck Shot: Why thank-you, Mr. Elliot.
Martin Druce: Starting with Miss Meredith and then moving left, I'd like you to pick team members.
Tr1ck Shot smirks.
Martin Druce: You should all be familiar with this drill.

The team captains proceed to pick their teams. Flicker picks Lauren Lombardi, Cassandra Finch, and Umbra Squall. Elijah Elliot picks Jessie Sullivan and Aiden Swann. Tr1ck Shot picks Wyatt Wyborn and Mia Cobol. Roach Copeland picks Bronka Hajjar and Savepoint.

Martin Druce: Okay, as I said, you may not find these courses very challenging, so... you'll be running simultaneously and we'll see who can complete their run first.
Lauren Lombardi: Like... a race?
Martin Druce: You will not be graded on your time, or even by success or failure.
Savepoint mutters "so why race and make mistakes"
Flicker: What will be graded on then?
Martin Druce: In fact, trying to rush may decrease your chances of succeeding.
Flicker frowns slightly
Umbra Squall: We're being graded on how well we work together, I think.
Martin Druce: You will be graded on general comportment. For example, volunteering to lead a team counts in your favour.
Bronka Hajjar mutters something about meaning to volunteer
Tr1ck Shot mutters into his comm.
Roach Copeland just nods along every so often.
Martin Druce: Alright, everyone head in and try not to get hurt.

The four teams each head into their training sessions. Their task is to find ten colored tokens and return with them. The task emphasizes stealth. One by one, each team returns: first Eli's team, then Ar's team, then Roach's team. Peyton's team takes a bit longer to return, which soon occasions comment.

Jessie Sullivan: I hope Peyton's team's okay. They're still going.
Roach Copeland: They had two of the new girls with them.
Roach Copeland: Newest to patrolling.
Elijah Elliot: I'm sure they're just taking their time and being safe.
Aiden Swann: They should have their badges with them.
Bronka Hajjar: I figured Peyton would be done in like, ten seconds.
Jessie Sullivan nods.
Elijah Elliot shrugs. "Maybe she didn't think that was good teamwork."
Aiden Swann: Maybe not, but her kind of teamwork got her last place.
Elijah Elliot: It wasn't a race.
Elijah Elliot: But if it was, we won.
Jessie Sullivan: If Peyton did it all on her own, her team members wouldn't really learn much.
Mia Cobol flips to a clean page of her sketchbook, biting her lip.
Aiden Swann snorts.
Martin Druce: Is that what you think, Miss Sullivan?
Tr1ck Shot: What're they gonna learn if they don't let the best person for the job do the job?
Tr1ck Shot: Peyton alone could be in and out faster than all of us.
Savepoint says quietly to Roach "what.. was.. that.."
Jessie Sullivan: I think that relying on your team member who can do recon is a double-edges sword. Without that team member, the others won't have the experience to work on their own.
Roach Copeland: I think that doin' it on your own has an advantage but the reason I didn't have Bronka run through it was because we didn't know their defenses. If she had been caught, our plan is ruined.
Elijah Elliot: Peyton can't fight, so there's value in her staying with teammates.
Jessie Sullivan: It's better to learn how to do it on your own in a safe environment rather than out on patrol, too.
Aiden Swann: Just playing devil's advocate here, but we don't know how fast those AI can track. Maybe they can see her move. Then we're out a cheerleader.
Tr1ck Shot: One way to find out.
Martin Druce: These are all good points, and there is no perfect answer.
Roach Copeland: And if I was a villian, one nicely placed fishing wire acrossed a doorway is all it takes to get rid of my Peyton Problem.
Tr1ck Shot: Then she knows one more piece of info for her team.
Aiden Swann: Or she's in pieces.
Tr1ck Shot: In that place?
Aiden Swann: I suppose that counts for something.
Martin Druce: For the record, I don't believe the Target Drones can track Miss Meredith at full speed.
Aiden Swann: True, but you'd feel bad if she got seriously hurt.
Tr1ck Shot: We already gathered the intel that these drones are weak.
Roach Copeland: Ah- Here they come.
Bronka Hajjar: Good job, Team Peyton!
Aiden Swann: Hey, ladies.
Cassandra Finch catches her breath.
Jessie Sullivan: Everyone okay?
Flicker: Team Peyton! Not always fast. That's my motto, I'm sticking to it.
Martin Druce: Everyone gather 'round, please.
Aiden Swann snorts.
Lauren Lombardi shakes her head and snickers.
Cassandra Finch laughs
Martin Druce: Okay, the first question, thank you Miss Sullivan, is if everyone is alright. Was anyone injured?
Mia Cobol shakes her head.
Roach Copeland tosses a glance towards his team mate before shaking his head.
Roach Copeland: Think we're good here.
Tr1ck Shot: A few hurt feelings.
Bronka Hajjar: I think we're all fine, yeah?
Aiden Swann: I think our team's fine.
Elijah Elliot nods.
Jessie Sullivan nods.
Umbra Squall whispers to Cassandra, 'You okay?'
Cassandra Finch nods
Flicker offers a thumbs up
Martin Druce: Does anyone have any questions or observations about the run?
Cassandra Finch whispers back, "I'm fine."
Flicker: Tough as nails! Fingernails, maybe. But not the brittle kind.
Roach Copeland raises a hand.
Martin Druce: Thomas?
Cassandra Finch rubs her shoulder.
Roach Copeland: Even without you sayin' it was a race, I still had that on the back of my head. Tickin' clock. It hurt my team in the beginning because I was gung-ho to move quickly.
Tr1ck Shot: He did say it was a race.
Roach Copeland: We quickly took a minute to make clear some things after we survived a drone attack that was caused by my lack of clarity.
Martin Druce: I knew that would happen. It hurt you for me to frame it that way, but that's very similar to how you'll feel in actual missions.
Roach Copeland nods his head. "I figured that. Was interestin'."
Martin Druce: There will be pressure to act quickly.
Lauren Lombardi: There will be a sense of... right.
Flicker: Definitely a ton and a half of pressure.
Martin Druce: But as you learned, it was better to set an efficient pace that worked for your team.
Roach Copeland nods his head.
Martin Druce: Now, how many teams stayed together and how many split up?
Mia Cobol: We kind of... split up.
Bronka Hajjar: Never split up. I learned that from Scooby Doo!
Wyatt Wyborn frowns.
Jessie Sullivan: We stayed mostly together.
Elijah Elliot: My team split up, but we didn't move too far apart. We stayed in range in case of trouble.
Tr1ck Shot: Splitting up covers more ground.
Flicker: We split in twos
Roach Copeland: Stayed together mostly.
Flicker: Buddy system
Savepoint: yea till we had the tokens
Tr1ck Shot: We had three people the drones couldn't see.
Martin Druce: There are advantages and disadvantages to doing it either way.
Aiden Swann: It helped that we were all invisible to the drones.
Jessie Sullivan: And fast, probably.
Martin Druce: This was an evasion excercise, so it was efficient for Arthur's team to split up because they were suited for it.
Tr1ck Shot: I prefer Mr. Rawlings.
Martin Druce: Thomas' team was wiser to stay together.
Wyatt Wyborn smirks.
Roach Copeland wrinkles his nose at the name but nods.
Martin Druce: You'll be Mr. Rawlings in a few years, son.
Aiden Swann tries very hard but fails to not snort.
Elijah Elliot grins a bit.
Tr1ck Shot: Miss Rawlings, then.
Martin Druce: Splitting up is dangerous when you have no means of communicating with each other.
Martin Druce: It's also a bad idea when you -intend- to engage the enemy.
Martin Druce: But for reconnaissance missions, it's often advisable.
Martin Druce: Any more questions before we move on to the next run?
Martin Druce: I'll take that as a no.
Martin Druce: The second and final run tonight deals with something we haven't discussed in class in any depth. Hostage rescue.
Jessie Sullivan tilts her head.
Aiden Swann purses his lips.
Martin Druce: I'm going to let you wing it and we'll see how it goes.
Roach Copeland nods.
Martin Druce: What we have are four drones programmed to behave like civilian hostages.
Martin Druce: You will locate them and escort them to the exit.
Jessie Sullivan raises her hand.
Martin Druce: Civilians in situtions like this are often confused, sometimes injured, and sometimes even in shock. The drone AI has been programmed to simulate that.
Martin Druce: Miss Sullivan?
Jessie Sullivan: Will this be timed as well?
Elijah Elliot raises a hand.
Martin Druce: There is a timer, although time should not be an issue on this run.
Martin Druce: Elijah?
Elijah Elliot: Will the civilian drones be visually distinct from the hostile drones?
Martin Druce: Yes, they are color coded.
Elijah Elliot grimaces.
Tr1ck Shot snerks.
Martin Druce: We will also be introducing some more advanced Training Drones into the opposition force.
Roach Copeland mumbles, "None of you are color blind, yeah?"
Aiden Swann: I'll see if I can illuminate them or something, Eli.
Lauren Lombardi: How much more advanced?
Martin Druce: Significantly more advanced, although I don't believe they will pose a significant threat to you.
Roach Copeland: Can we ask you about the environment like you said we should in class?
Martin Druce: You can.
Roach Copeland: What's the environment? Office building? Store?
Martin Druce: This one is easy to answer. It's the exact same environment you were just in.
Lauren Lombardi nods appreciatively in Roach's direction.
Savepoint: ahh ye ol rusty base bunker thing
Flicker: Who are we up against? Have they made any demands?
Roach Copeland: Ah. Okay. Drones haven't asked any demands, right? Like wantin' extra batteries, right?
Wyatt Wyborn snrks.
Aiden Swann smirks.
Savepoint: drones don't want batteries they want nuclear warheads
Tr1ck Shot: She speaks truth.
Savepoint: to get rid of all the meat bags
Savepoint: just sayin
Martin Druce: The enemy is a large group of unidentified assailants with unknown abilities. They have four hostages but have not yet made any demands. No other heroes are on the scene, you are the first responders.
Jessie Sullivan nods.
Tr1ck Shot: Except for the other ten responders.
Martin Druce: Each team is responding to a different situation.
Martin Druce: That just happen to be exactly alike.
Elijah Elliot: Paragon City is a place of strange coincidences.
Roach Copeland: Since it was the last environment, only one way in and out, correct?
Lauren Lombardi smirks.
Tr1ck Shot: Most of them around Aiden.
Roach Copeland looks at his team for any other questions. He was spent.
Tr1ck Shot said after Eli, when it made sense.
Aiden Swann smirks.
Martin Druce: That is correct. Only one entrance.
Martin Druce: Any more questions?
Roach Copeland: No more questions from me.
Lauren Lombardi shakes her head.
Aiden Swann: I assume we'll lose points if the hostages get hurt worse than they already are.
Savepoint: what if the hostages are a ruse?
Savepoint: and they try to kill us?
Savepoint: no demands.. suspicious
Roach Copeland: Not everythin' is a Nemesis Plot.
Martin Druce: If any of the hostages exceed a certain level of damage, the run will be considered a failure.
Aiden Swann: If you blast them in the face, Brook, you'll stop their nefarious plot.
Martin Druce: They will give out periodic status updates.
Martin Druce: The hostages will not try to kill you. This time.
Savepoint: thanks Aiden
Aiden Swann helpfully offers Brook a thumbs up.
Roach Copeland mumbles, "Way to go, Bro-Bot. Givin' him ideas."
Savepoint: oh.. woops
Martin Druce makes a note
Savepoint makes a face
Martin Druce: Is everyone ready?
Savepoint at mr druces writing
Mia Cobol nods.
Jessie Sullivan nods.
Elijah Elliot: I believe so.
Roach Copeland: Yes.
Aiden Swann: Mhm.
Flicker: All set
Lauren Lombardi: Ready.
Wyatt Wyborn shrugs
Tr1ck Shot looks at his team and smirks.
Martin Druce: Alright you may proceed.

The four teams each head into the second training sessions. This time, the task is to rescue four hostages and lead them to safety. Unfortunately, the hostages have a tendency to run towards enemies once rescued. One by one, each team returns: first Eli's team, then Peyton's team, then Roach's team, then Ar's team. There's a brief distraction as Roach recovers from some of Savepoint's experimental buffs, then Mr. Druce resumes discussion.

Martin Druce: How did everyone do?
Roach Copeland: Proud of my team. We worked smart.
Wyatt Wyborn glances at Mia, frowns, goes to the window.
Flicker: On the first three? Pretty dang good.
Umbra Squall looks slighty embarressed, 'Eh......'
Aiden Swann: I think we did great.
Flicker: Then there was an ambush. A really horrific ambush.
Tr1ck Shot: We finished. All objectives succeeded.
Mia Cobol wipes a little blood from her lip. "I got seperated from my team."
Martin Druce: So, 15 out of 16 hostages rescued without serious injury.
Lauren Lombardi allows a brief look of annoyance to cross her face.
Martin Druce: That's very good for a cold run.
Cassandra Finch glances at Wyatt.
Martin Druce: Especially considering there was a programming error on one of the courses.
Roach Copeland: Huh?
Elijah Elliot raises an eyebrow.
Cassandra Finch: Huh?
Martin Druce: Is anyone injured?
Tr1ck Shot: Same hurt feelings as before.
Roach Copeland: My team is good.
Umbra Squall: Nothing some ice and some asprin can't fix.
Lauren Lombardi: Not permanently.
Mia Cobol: I'll be okay.
Flicker: We got hit hard, but I think we're all five by five
Jessie Sullivan: We're all okay here.
Elijah Elliot: My team's okay.
Martin Druce: I apologize for the error on your run, Team Meredith.
Flicker: Error?
Martin Druce: There were twice as many drones as their should have been.
Elijah Elliot: What kind of error?
Jessie Sullivan: Ouch.
Elijah Elliot: Oops.
Flicker: Besides the fact that we ran smack dab into two hundred... For real and serious?
Roach Copeland: That... would be considered a bummer.
Umbra Squall: Oh it was, it was.
Martin Druce: The course was programmed for a larger team.
Martin Druce: And an operator failed to reset properly before you went in.
Aiden Swann: Ow.
Elijah Elliot: I suppose there's worse errors that could have occured.
Jessie Sullivan: As long as everyone's okay...
Martin Druce: I'm impressed with everyone's performance.
Tr1ck Shot snerks.
Martin Druce: We may have to come up with some more difficult challenges for next time.
Tr1ck Shot watches Daddy Drce with an open smirk.
Martin Druce: Does anyone have any final questions before we wrap things up for the evening?
Tr1ck Shot pops a hand up.
Martin Druce: Arthur?
Tr1ck Shot: Miss rawlings.
Lauren Lombardi raises a hand.
Tr1ck Shot: Was the handicap you put on my team intentional?
Martin Druce: Handicap?
Tr1ck Shot: Yeah.
Mia Cobol looks confused.
Tr1ck Shot: Was it intentional?
Jessie Sullivan raises an eyebrow.
Martin Druce: There was no handicap put on your team.
Tr1ck Shot: Sure was.
Wyatt Wyborn mutters.
Martin Druce: Miss Lombardi?
Tr1ck Shot: What would you call it when a teacher chews out a kid in front of all his friends then send him into combat?
Lauren Lombardi seems uncertain if she should ask, given that Ar is still speaking.
Wyatt Wyborn drops his head, chin to chest.
Tr1ck Shot: Mia, would you say Wyatt was fighting at peak capacity?
Martin Druce: Reality, Miss Rawlings. Now, Miss Lombardi?
Wyatt Wyborn total embarrassment slump.
Aiden Swann: This is the part where you knock it off.
Mia Cobol: I... um... *trails off*
Tr1ck Shot: Reality did a pretty good job of kicking Mia's ass.
Roach Copeland tosses a glance between the two men.
Martin Druce: If you don't mind, Miss Lombardi has the floor.
Tr1ck Shot smirks.
Martin Druce: Or even if you do mind.
Elijah Elliot quietly to Mia, "Do you need healing?"
Lauren Lombardi turns her attention fully to Mr. Druce.
Wyatt Wyborn sighs.
Jessie Sullivan shakes her head.
Lauren Lombardi: We lost one of our hostages. It wasn't much to us, since it was just a drone in an exercise, but how do you deal with that if it happens for real?
Mia Cobol looks at Eli and quietly nods. "It's just... I think I busted my lip and got a few bruises."
Martin Druce: Losing a civilian is never an easy thing to deal with. The pat answer is that you accept what happened and move on, but that's easier said than done.
Elijah Elliot hovers a hand near Mia's face and concentrates to heal up the lip nicely, then boosts her overall regen to ease off any bruises.
Mia Cobol forces a small smile. "Thanks."
Elijah Elliot smiles, replies quietly. "Anytime."
Savepoint eyes the side door for a moment
Martin Druce: The truth is that it will stay with you forever.
Martin Druce: You will eventually move past it, some faster than others, but you'll never forget that feeling.
Martin Druce: And you never should.
Lauren Lombardi: And there might be times, when you do everything you can, and it's still not enough, right?
Martin Druce: ... yes.
Roach Copeland wrinkles his nose at that before crossing his arms over his chest.
Martin Druce: We're Heroes. We're not gods.
Aiden Swann adjusts his mask.
Martin Druce: If you've done your best, you should be able to live with yourself.
Savepoint: unless it kills you
Lauren Lombardi simply nods, then rolls her eyes at Brook.
Roach Copeland: Then you're not cut out for the heroin' stuff. You decide if somethin' kills you.
Cassandra Finch's attention drifts
Martin Druce: Miss Cobol, are you alright?
Mia Cobol nods quietly. "Yes, sir. I just got seperated from my team and got jumped. I wasn't paying attention."
Martin Druce: Don't blame yourself. Or your teammates. Things happen, and that's why we train, so it happens here and you get a cut lip and not on the streets where you can suffer much worse.
Mia Cobol nods again.
Martin Druce: Any final questions?
Lauren Lombardi shakes her head.
Roach Copeland: Not from me, sir.
Aiden Swann: Nah.
Flicker: No sir.
Mia Cobol: No, sir.
Martin Druce: If you think of any later, you can bring them up in class.
Martin Druce: Alright, the bus is waiting downstairs to take you back to campus.
Martin Druce: The bus is -not- mandatory though. If you wish to return by other means, you may do so.
Martin Druce: Class is dismissed.

Class ends and students depart.

((This is a highly abridged version of the chat log from the in-game field session on Wednesday, July 20. I've trimmed out a lot of side conversations and such to help keep the post focused and to keep the length down.))

As the time approaches for the field training session, students begin trickling into the classroom. Most of the students arrive in their patrol gear, as instructed. Mr. Druce takes attendence prior to starting the class.

Martin Druce: Good afternoon.
Roach Copeland: Afternoo-
Martin Druce: Are any of you aware of anyone who's on their way but hasn't arrived yet?
Spellbound looks around, trying to get a feel for who's here and who isn't.
Martin Druce: Very well, we'll begin.
Roach Copeland frowns, realizing he's the only one who said 'Good Afternoon'. Lame.
Lorne Hazlewood cranes his neck looking back, spots, B and nods smiling then returns to his notes.
Martin Druce: Today we'll be returning to the Overbrook Training Facility for our third field session.
Bronka Hajjar blows Lorne a kiss
Martin Druce: Unlike our previous sessions, this time you'll be expected to demonstrate some straight up combat techniques.
Faige Harrison mumbles "Oh man..."
Martin Druce: In order to make this a challenge for you, we'll be introducing more advanced drones.
Lorne Hazlewood smiles a little at that and writes down everything Mr Druce says.
Martin Druce: They are still just machines however, so you should be able to outthink and outfight them.
Kai Eriksen sketches a little thumb pointing up in the margins of his notebook.
Matthew Quest jots down a few quick notes on a small pad, and bites his bottom lip.
Spellbound raises her hand.
Tr1ck Shot mock-scoffs.
Lorne Hazlewood raises his hand.
Martin Druce: Miss Cobol?
Lorne Hazlewood lowers his hand.
Spellbound: Um... will there be hostage drones again?
Martin Druce: It's very possible.
Jessie Sullivan glances back at Eli.
Martin Druce: Lorne, did you have a question?
Spellbound nods a little, chewing her lip.
Lorne Hazlewood nods.
Lorne Hazlewood: You said we'd be in for a harder fight this time around... uh... what if we break one?
Martin Druce: If you break one of our drones, you'll be required to take its place when the next class does their sessions.
Spellbound winces.
Matthew Quest widens his eyes.
Cassandra Finch blinks
Lauren Lombardi smirks.
Roach Copeland: Nice.
Kai Eriksen laughs very convincingly.
Lorne Hazlewood grins.
Faige Harrison wrings her hands nervously
Bronka Hajjar laughs
Lorne Hazlewood chuckles.
MASH-1 says in a very low tone to Amy, "Not much of a stretch in my case."
Elijah Elliot chuckles.
Martin Druce: The drones are expendable.
Tr1ck Shot mumbles to Kai, "New goal."
Umbra Squall grins.
Savepoint mutters something about having to kill her own kind
Martin Druce: Feel free to do as much damage to them as you can. Only be careful about accidently hurting your teammates.
Kai Eriksen whispers back, "Except then everybody would fail the test."
Roach Copeland mumbles, "You'll get you day when Skynet activates."
Savepoint nods at Roach
Tr1ck Shot whispers, "Fail? Or -win-?"
Matthew Quest whispers to Mia a bit.
Kai Eriksen beeps Ar's nose and goes back to his notetaking.
Roach Copeland is beep'd... by himself. He sighs., feeling lonely.
Martin Druce: We've discuseed basic combat techniques in class. You should all understand the basic tactics of misdirection, concentrated fire, and the Hammer and Anvil. The AI on these drones is still very rudimentary so basic tactics should be sufficient.
Martin Druce: If they are executed correctly.
Faige Harrison leans over and whispers to Brook
Savepoint listens
Martin Druce: I'm only going to say one thing before we head to the bus.
Martin Druce: This is a combat excercise, but that does -not- mean you should forget the lessons of our previous sessions.
Tr1ck Shot groans at the mention of the bus.
Matthew Quest glances at Roach, straightens up, then looks back at Mr. Druce
Martin Druce: Okay, everyone please head to the parking lot and board the bus.

The students all board the bus, which takes them to the FBSA Training Facility in Overbrook.

Etienne Mbane steps out of a shadow behind Cadence.
Cadence Calloway glances over her shoulder. "Hey Etienne."
Kai Eriksen is a little frosty. "Hey, ET."
Savepoint: yea don't kill us.
Etienne Mbane nods once to Cadence, his face, while lined with veins, looks almost normal. He seems to be smiling, and his eyes are warm and welcoming, although his teeth are filed to points.
Matthew Quest bites his bottom lip and pretty much stares at ET's teeth.
Cassandra Finch notes that Etienne's already got the teeth thing going again.
Umbra Squall rests a hand on the Potatobot's shoulder.
Spellbound chews her lip, watching Etienne.
Martin Druce: Before we begin, is anyone here to observe only?
Tr1ck Shot has little interest in dentistry.
Lauren Lombardi gives Etienne little more than a glance.
Cadence Calloway doesn't seem too worried at this point.
Martin Druce: So everyone wishes to participate?
Elijah Elliot nods.
Tr1ck Shot: We're such team players.
Cassandra Finch nods
Lauren Lombardi nods, "Yes, please."
Cadence Calloway nods. "Yes, sir."
MASH-1: Yes sir.
Kai Eriksen: Sure, totally.
Spellbound nods.
Lorne Hazlewood: Yes.
Umbra Squall nods.
Martin Druce: We need to divide you into three teams. Who would like to lead a team?
Kai Eriksen: I don't mind.
Lorne Hazlewood: I'll lead one.
Lauren Lombardi hesitantly raises a hand.
Etienne Mbane cocks his head to the side to look at Druce, almost predatorieally.
Jessie Sullivan raises a hand.
Savepoint pushes Roach forward
Roach Copeland raises his hand cause he wants to do it but OOCly, has a crappy computer to handle it. Sadness, he was just too late.
Martin Druce: Kai, Lorne, and Miss Lombardi, please step forward.
Roach Copeland mumbles, "Damn."
Martin Druce: Just like last time, we're going to have you pick teams.

The team captains proceed to pick their teams. Kai Eriksen picks Tr1ck Shot, Elijah Elliot, Jessie Sullivan, Diya Behari, and Cadence Calloway. Lauren Lombardi picks Mia Cobol, Cassandra Finch, Matthew Quest, and Savepoint. Lorne Hazlewood picks Bronka Hajjar, Umbra Squall, Roach Copeland, and MASH-1. Etienne Mbane attempts to follow Cadence onto Kai's team, but is eventually persuaded to join Lauren's instead to balance the teams.

Martin Druce: The first mission is very straightforward. It's called Seek and Destroy. As you can guess, you'll be locating and destroying various targets.
Diya Behari: Destroy targets. Easy enough.
Lorne Hazlewood listens to Mr. Druce.
Matthew Quest: Uh, mister Druce... how much of our grades are based off of performance?
Tr1ck Shot starts pulling out toys!
Martin Druce: None Matt. You'll be evaluated on your conduct but not your results.
Matthew Quest: Oh, okay.
Martin Druce: When I say go, the team leaders can begin the tests.
Martin Druce: Any last questions?
Lorne Hazlewood shakes his head.
Etienne Mbane turns and heads into the training room (thing), a sewcond face visible on the back of his head. This one has angry, red eyes, its mouth twisted in a vicious snarl.
Lauren Lombardi: Can you share anything about what we'll be facing in there?
Martin Druce: Angry drones, Miss Lombardi.
Lauren Lombardi smirks.
Lauren Lombardi: Thanks.
Martin Druce: The environment is the same as the last time.
Martin Druce: Alright, GO! And good luck.

The three teams each head into their training sessions. The task is as Mr. Druce had described. Each team had to seek out eight targets and destroy them: four police cars, two swat vans, and two regular cars. The teams trickle back out of the session as they finish: first Kai's team, then Lorne's team, then Lauren's team.

Martin Druce: Is everyone here?
Kai Eriksen: My whole team is.
Martin Druce: Is anyone injured?
Lorne Hazlewood: Right as rain.
Roach Copeland: Dynomite.
Kai Eriksen: We're good!
Kai Eriksen: Ready for the next round!
Martin Druce: Is everyone ready for the next mission?
Etienne Mbane nods as the two teeth that were broken grow back over the course of a few second.
Cadence Calloway nods. "Yes sir."
Lorne Hazlewood nods.
Elijah Elliot nods
Spellbound: I'm fine.
Matthew Quest nods, a bit less nervous.
Lauren Lombardi: We're good, I think.
Martin Druce: Is anyone -not- ready to continue?
Martin Druce looks around
Kai Eriksen quickly surveys his team.
Tr1ck Shot strikes a survey-worthy pose.
Lauren Lombardi takes a moment to check her team.
Martin Druce: Okay, the next mission is called Hit and Run. It's similar to the last one.
Lauren Lombardi: Similar?
Tr1ck Shot: Better name.
Martin Druce: This time there are only four targets, but you'll have to locate and rescue a hostage.
Kai Eriksen: Oh, cool.
Jessie Sullivan: Okay.
Cadence Calloway nods.
Matthew Quest: Oh. Uh, okay then.
Tr1ck Shot: Please say the hostage is a VW Bug.
Kai Eriksen: Can the hostage take damage like last time?
Lauren Lombardi frowns, but nods.
Martin Druce: Note that I had some of our junior techs help put this together, so they may have thrown a few things in.
Martin Druce: The hostage can take damage. It must be escorted safely.
Kai Eriksen: Got it.
Jessie Sullivan: Is is the same type of hostage we had in the first session?
Martin Druce: Similar, Miss Sullivan.
Martin Druce: And you may begin. Good luck.

The teams each head into their respective training sessions. Again, the task is as described. The hostage is found in an area that also has four statues of supervillains that must be destroyed. The hostage must then be escorted to safety. The hostage is programmed to attack the enemy drones on the way out. Various drones in the session are programmed to say amusing taglines, including references to Scooby Doo as well as "Westbrook sucks".

Lauren's team manages to destroy the statues, but fails to escort the hostage to safety when Etienne leads it away from the group and into an ambush that destroys it. This leads to conflict between Lauren's team and Etienne, which culminates in Etienne leaving the class. Kai's team succeeds and finishes first, followed by Lorne's team which also succeeds.

Martin Druce: Is anyone injured?
Matthew Quest: Uh, no.
Kai Eriksen: My team's fine.
Spellbound shakes her head slightly.
MASH-1: Took a hit. I'm fine now.
Tr1ck Shot: ET's feelings are dinged.
Lauren Lombardi: Hopefully, just our pride.
Elijah Elliot: Or the Loa that he's muling for.
Martin Druce: Does anyone have any questions about the mission?
Elijah Elliot raises a hand.
Martin Druce: Yes Eli?
Elijah Elliot: This is a general question, about these missions in general. Is it programmed to detect whether we're using lethal force? When we're fighting non-drones, we have to hold back.
Martin Druce: It obviously detects the amount of force you are using.
Matthew Quest raises his hand
Martin Druce: We could review the telemetry to see who was using how much power.
Elijah Elliot: If someone accidentally kills instead of incapacitates, will they be told?
MASH-1: I hope so.
Martin Druce: That is a good question.
Martin Druce: We're not currently set up to evaluate overkill. When the drone registers incapacitating damage it shuts down.
Kai Eriksen mouths, "Whew."
Tr1ck Shot grins.
Cadence Calloway glances down, brow furrowed as she thinks this new bit of information over.
Martin Druce: If anyone is truly concerned, we can check the telemetry and determine if any of them received lethal damage. It might take a few days.
Martin Druce: Matthew?
Matthew Quest: Oh! Uh... about the dialogue that the *uses quotey fingers* villains used... was that you or someone else... and what did you mean by it?
Spellbound looks at Matt. "I had forgotten about that."
Martin Druce: That was all put in by the techs.
Matthew Quest: Oh. What did it uh, mean?
Lauren Lombardi smirks.
Roach Copeland raises a hand.
Lauren Lombardi: They seem to have a weird sense of humor.
Spellbound: One of the "villains" told us that his children would starve now, as we defeated him.
Martin Druce: I don't know what they said, so I don't know what it meant. I assume it was injokes and college humor.
Kai Eriksen: But there is kind of a point to banter sometimes? Like in general, right?
Roach Copeland wrinkles his nose and then drops his hand.
Martin Druce: I'm sure the target's children will be put on social assistance.
Kai Eriksen laughs.
Lauren Lombardi laughs.
Matthew Quest laughs a bit nervously.
Elijah Elliot chuckles.
Lauren Lombardi: Matt? Did you hear the ones that said "Westbrook sucks?"
Spellbound chews her lip, turning a little red.
Martin Druce: You can learn a lot about a villain from the style of their banter.
Matthew Quest: Er, right...
Martin Druce: But that's beyond the scope of this course.
Kai Eriksen nods.
Kai Eriksen: Oh!
Kai Eriksen raises his hand.
Martin Druce: Kai?
Kai Eriksen: So that was obviously a trap. I thought it was pretty safe since it was just a training course, but do you have any kind of general guidelines for what to do when you know you're walking into an ambush?
Kai Eriksen: Like, when to just walk away?
Kai Eriksen: I'm sure it's all case-by-case, but just in general.
Kai Eriksen talks too much sometimes, but he might not realize that.
Martin Druce: That's a decision every Hero has to make on their own.
Tr1ck Shot: General enough for you?
Martin Druce: The safe play is to simply take off the cape and stop doing it.
Kai Eriksen: Except if you're leading a team, you're kind of making it for everybody, sooo...
Martin Druce: So trying to tell you how to play things safe is somewhat pointless.
Kai Eriksen grins a little sheepishly. "Gotcha."
Galvanic: I'd just make sure you have a plan of action set up Kai, if you know its coming. Who goes where, and memorize your escape route as best you can.
Kai Eriksen: Oh, that's a good suggestion. Thanks!
Martin Druce: Well let's take a specific case. An infant has been kidnapped. You know where she is and who has her, and the culprit is a known child abuser. You also know that the villain has a large gang in the vicinity and they're ready for you. Do you go in?
Matthew Quest just quietly follows the conversation.
Tr1ck Shot eyeroll.
Roach Copeland: Yeah. The risk to the child outweights the risk to yourself.
Spellbound: *quietly* Yes.
Kai Eriksen: Are they just street thugs? Sure, definitely! I love little kids.
MASH-1 quietly continues his minor repairs as he listens.
Roach Copeland: Plus, it's a abuser and a gang. Low on the totem pole.
Lauren Lombardi nods emphatically.
Kai Eriksen: But, I mean, I kind of eat bullets for breakfast.
Martin Druce: You will always be balancing need versus risk.
Martin Druce: What I hope you're learning is how to minimize those risks.
Roach Copeland: If Nemesis steals a purse filled with a ten dollar bill, I'm willin' to let hiim win that day.
Jessie Sullivan: We can ask for help too, right? If we know it's too much there are other heroes and stuff.
Bronka Hajjar laughs at Roach
Elijah Elliot chuckles at Roach.
Kai Eriksen: I think I understand. Thanks.
Martin Druce: Of course, Miss Sullivan. If help is available, take it.
Jessie Sullivan nods.
Martin Druce: Today's session was designed to test your ability to concentrate on two tasks at once.
Martin Druce: Everyone here performed well.
Tr1ck Shot: Watch Kai, kick ass?
Kai Eriksen laughs, playswats Ar.
Tr1ck Shot is playswatted.
Galvanic raises his hand
Jessie Sullivan: Or three tasks if you're a support person... I guess.
Jessie Sullivan shrugs.
Lauren Lombardi looks a little relieved.
Tr1ck Shot murmurs, "Everyone -here-."
Matthew Quest nods slowly.
Martin Druce: And of course, the importance of working as a team was demonstrated.
Tr1ck Shot snrk.
Kai Eriksen nods.
Spellbound frowns, looking at the group almost ashamed.
Martin Druce: Lorne's team was the last to arrive with their hostage, but they utilized tactics that maximized the hostage's safety.
Martin Druce: Kai's team demonstrated an ability to extract the hostage quickly.
Matthew Quest hangs his head.
Martin Druce: In real life situations, you may be called upon to do it one way or the other.
Kai Eriksen nods.
Martin Druce: If there are bombs in the building, you'll want to get the hostage out faster.
Galvanic chuckles, quietly to Lorne and Don "The thought of tossing him under my arm and making a mad dash did cross my mind. But I was going for more teamwork."
Martin Druce: Are there any further questions?
MASH-1 responds in a low tone, "I'd have paid to see that."
Jessie Sullivan shakes her head.
Lauren Lombardi shakes her head.
Roach Copeland mumbles, "I want to kill the tech who thought it would be funny to have the psionic 'buzz' in there the entire time."
Umbra Squall shakes her head.
Galvanic: I had a quick question.
Bronka Hajjar whispers "I"m pretty sure killing FBSA staff counts against your final grade"
Tr1ck Shot: We're never going to leave.
Martin Druce: Henry?
Galvanic laughs quickly "I said it was a quick one."
Roach Copeland smirks, nodding.
Galvanic: Right, on floor three there was a three tiered room with drones on every level. What would have been the best way to tackle that one.
Galvanic: They were ranged Villains, so at all times we were taking fire from at least two tiers.
Tr1ck Shot grins at the fond memories.
Roach Copeland: I can easily say enterin' the 'kill zone' wasn't the best choice.
Kai Eriksen: I haaaate rooms like that.
Martin Druce: There are different tactics depending on where you're entering from.
Galvanic nods to Roach
MASH-1 pauses in his repair, remembering where he'd taking that damage.
Martin Druce: But in general you want to keep to the perimeter.
Galvanic nods to that "The bait them all into the middle" didn't work so well when half of them stuck to higher ground. And everyone else sort of followed."
Kai Eriksen: I kind of tried to bounce them off the ledge. The ones up high. I don't know if that'd work for everybody, though.
Kai Eriksen: But, like, hey, gravity's your friend if you let it be.
Matthew Quest: Yeah, I just uh... pushed em down.
Martin Druce: Alright, I'm going to wrap this up. We will discuss this further in tomorrow's class.
Tr1ck Shot: Shoot. When they're all down, stop shooting.
Martin Druce: Also, this facility is available in early evenings if you want to try the excercises again.
Matthew Quest: Er, okay.
Roach Copeland: We aren't obligated to go on the bus back, right?
Martin Druce: Make sure the staff adjust the test to your teamsize.
Martin Druce: You're dismissed. The bus leaves in ten minutes but youdon't have to be on it.

Class ends and students depart.