Rapid Reader

Falling Skies: Reboot (Mecha, Space Opera)

Yeah, same here, I don't mind waiting for a couple of more people.

Falling Skies: Reboot (Mecha, Space Opera)

Er, just because I know its been a bit, can I get a roll call to see who's still in and up for this RP?

@vietmyke

Here and ready to explode enemy mechs. :D

Falling Skies: Reboot (Mecha, Space Opera)

No rush, I'm still here, just always super busy at the start to middle of the week.

Falling Skies: Reboot (Mecha, Space Opera)

Pilot Profile: Alcántara, Clara

"If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough." - Mario Andretti

Appearance:
Clara measures in at a modest 5 ft 5 in when standing on the very tips of her toes. However, her short stature has noticeable advantages in terms of her comfort in even the most cramped cockpits and regarding her ability to tolerate higher g-loads. Pragmatic to the core and deeply dedicated to maximum efficiency in her private life, Clara keeps her chestnut colored hair cut short and rarely does much to maintain it. Her calm eyes are cast in a shade of gunmetal grey and mirror the mostly collected expressions that travel across her features. Hailing from Colony 725-T, she possess a pallor that is the composite of her parents and her skin is a light shade of olive.
Name: Alcántara, Clara
Age: 23
Rank:O-2 2nd Lieutenant
Callsign: Zoom
Kills: 1

Psychological Analysis:

Steeped in more books and technical manuals than any one person should be, Clara Alcántara is a test pilot locked in an endless battle with gravity and the limits of human physiology. Pairing a natural technical aptitude with an intuitive ability to pilot Mobile Armor Suits, Alcántara possesses many of the traits required to excel as a test pilot. Calm and steady even under fire, Alcántara is able to think clearly and problem solve complex issues even when these issues occur in the middle of combat and at g's high enough to induce unconsciousness.

With deft movements of her controls, Clara flies through the midnight of space effortlessly, an interstellar feather gently drifting in the star strewn winds, and stoically accepts her place as a test pilot constantly fighting for more speed in a universe ensnared by gravity.

The bane of any sane mechanic, Alcántara has made it her habit to push her MAS far past the bleeding edge of what could be considered safe or usually survivable. She rarely bring her MAS back in pristine condition and she's known for managing to buckle armor plating with high sustained g-forces more frequently than any manual says should be possible. Embracing the risk of being a test pilot, Alcántara lives her life on the cusp of G-force induced loss of consciousness (g-loc), Alcántara has a knack for making incredible high speed shots and performing maneuvers that threaten her own safety. While she can best be described as an aggressive pilot, Alcántara is not reckless, and she claims to risk only enough to accomplish the objectives of the current mission.

Seemingly unburdened by her professional career, Clara has managed to separate her persona as a test and combat pilot from her persona as Ana the person. She is friendly, if a bit reserved, and is amicable in most social situations. Far from a loner, she nonetheless takes care to spend time by herself and if left unattended she is likely to bury her face in one of the many books or convoluted technical manuals she keeps on her personal data pad.

Personal Record:

An Interview with a Test Pilot

"Steiner and Thompson?"

Clara shook her head, "Dead."

"You're sure?"

Another pointless question, another wasted breath. The briefing room felt wrong. The air felt hot. Her skin was on fire and she felt the adrenaline coursing through her veins, "I'm sure."

"How can you be sure, Lieutenant Alcántara?"

Alcántara tried to stare a hole through the scientist's skull. Five minutes, five minutes in, and she already wanted to vent him out of an airlock, "Thompson's reactor went critical. He didn't have time to punch out and even if he had, he would have been caught in the blast wave."

"And Steiner?" the Commander added, nodding respectfully. Clara trusted her. She was the real deal. A careerist through and through, but she wasn't bad, not as far as high ranking officers went.

"We had to split up. I broke left, away from the colony, he broke right towards the colony. A squad of Gramrs took him out. Souped up models. Veteran pilots. A new variant. I haven't seen a Gramr move like that before, not that fast, not that well. He bought me enough of a head start. I got one of them in a derelict field. The rest couldn't track me with all the radiation."

"Unfortunate, very unfortunate, the data those suits carried was invaluable," Zamorano began. Clara listened to the Chief Engineer, burying her anger beneath tired eyes. He didn't know. He didn't understand. He hadn't watched her friends die. He didn't care. All he cared about was telemetry. Steiner had warned her. She'd tried to tell her.

"What my esteemed colleague is trying to say," the Commander interrupted, cutting off the scientist with a sharp wave of her hand in his direction. "What we would like to say is that we are sorry, very sorry to hear about the tragic deaths of Lieutenant Commander Thompson and Lieutenant Steiner. They were good pilots. They were good people. They were our friends and they will be missed."

"They knew the risks, they knew what they signed up for, Commander Wright," Clara replied half-heartedly, feeling a sob tugging at back of her throat. Thompson deserved better. Steiner deserved much better. The UEE owed them more than some weak condolences in a briefing room.

"What happened out there, Lieutenant?" Wright continued, her voice laced with carefully chosen sympathy. "This was supposed to be the final flight test. Rules of engagements precluded-"

"The Coalition happened," Clara replied bitterly. "We were following the projected ingress route when-

"You were supposed to avoid engaging enemy forces! You were only supposed to watch them! You were supposed to evade them if they spotted you!" the engineer shouted, his red turning a unflattering shade of red.

"We tried. They ran us down. We didn't have any other options and so we fought."

"That's not good enough, Alcántara! Not good enough by a long shot. You're supposed to be the best. You're a test pilot, you're supposed to be the very best the UEE has to offer!" Zamorano roared, jabbing his data pad with his finger as if he was stabbing a knife into her heart with each jab.

"Chief Engineer Zamorano," the commander attempted. "Please keep your voice down-"

The engineer brought his data pad down on the table so hard that Clara was surprised that the screen didn't crack. "Mars Military Institute. Top of your class. 52nd Research and Development Squadron. Three years. Thompson and Steiner were supposed to be just as good! Better even! You were supposed to bring back my prototypes in one piece!"

"ZAMORANO! ENOUGH!" Wright ordered, her clinched fist hammering down on the table. "I've heard enough about your precious prototypes to last me a lifetime. If you can't control yourself, then I will have you escorted to your quarters. Is that understood?"

"Yes," Zamorano said with disinterested shrug. Clara could see the sweat pooling at edges of his forehead. He knew better than to play games with the Commander. She didn't make idle threats, and she outranked him. She outranked him by a couple of decades.

"What about my MAS?" Clara interjected, hoping to catch the Chief Engineer before he recovered.

"My prototype?" Zamorano hissed. "Scrap."

Reeling, Alcántara gripped onto armrest of her chair. She knew the mission. She had worked on the project for two years. She knew everything there was to know about the prototype MAS. Everything that mattered and then some. She had loved her MAS. She had loved her MAS like an old friend. And now it was gone. They were gone. All of them.

"There wasn't much left of it after you crashed it into the hanger bay," the engineer lectured, with a disgusted frown. Clara could feel the scorn emanating off of him. He was annoyed. He was more than annoyed. He was furious. And it almost made her glad that she had sent the prototype careening into the wall of the hanger at close to 350 kilometers per hour. If only it hadn't been the only one. Clara winced. They'd only ever had three working prototypes. Two years and all they had to show for it was seven wrecked Mobile Armor Suits and twice as many bodies.

"And the data? Did we manage to-"

"We managed to recover it! No thanks to you. It took us five hours to dig the black box out of the wreckage and ten more to salvage the data."

Clara took a deep breath, loosening her grip on the edge of the chair, a smile tugged at the edge of her mouth. She could die happy. They could take her wings, they could bury the data, but she knew, and they knew. She hadn't let them down. She'd landed a burning prototype MAS at 500 kilometers per hour without so much as a single functioning guidance system and they couldn't take that from her. No matter how hard they tried. No matter what old friends the Chief Engineer called on.

"Do you have anything else that you would like to add, Alcántara?" Commander Wright said.

"Ma'am, just a question," Clara replied, straightening up in her chair. "Is the project canceled?"

"Canceled? No, no by the Heavens no," Wright said with a chuckle and as she turned to Zamorano, it seemed to Clara that even the Chief Engineer was on the verge of smiling. "The data you brought back to us was lovely. The Brass were pleased, real pleased in fact. A twenty-five percent increase in performance is no small thing and for three suits to take out most of a Coalition task force is no small feat."

"I'm sorry, what?" Clara managed, feeling her heart pounding against her ribs. Her bruises screamed with the effort and she felt suddenly light headed.

Commander Wright smiled gently, offering a knowing look, "Congratulations, Lieutenant, flight testing of Project [-Redacted-] has been deemed a complete success. Combat testing is set to begin within two weeks and effective immediately you are transferred to the 7th MAS Squadron, 101st Legion."

Equipment:
Like any sane military personnel operating in an active war zone, Clara carries a standard issue UEE sidearm on her person and a well-stocked MAS pilot survival kit in her MAS. Minimalistic in terms of her possessions, Clara does keep an encrypted data pad stuffed to the brim with old books and highly classified technical manuals.

MAS Profile: SRS-717 Peregrine Prototype

Appearance: Painted a dashing shade of blue with gold trim, the Peregrine is a sleek MAS that screams speed, speed and lots of speed.

Flight Mode

Mobile Armor Suit Mode

Designation: SRS-717 Peregrine Prototype
Role: Rapid Response / High Speed Scout
Chassis: Light
Description: Featuring a high-powered generator developed in a joint project between Dassault Aviation and the UEE, the Peregrine is a sate-of-the-art prototype MAS designed to provide unparalleled speed and maneuverability. Boasting a surprisingly powerful armament for a light MAS, the Peregrine is a notoriously difficult MAS to operate and requires a skilled pilot comfortable operating at the very limits of human physiology to reach its full potential. Stripped of any armor that might limit maximum performance, the Peregrine sacrifices direct pilot and MAS survivability, and instead relies on almost completely on the pilot avoiding any incoming enemy fire.
Systems:

• Rheinmetall MK 508 - 120mm Autocannon (Primary) - A prototype weapon developed as a private venture by Rheinmetall and submitted to the UEE in response to a requirement for a heavy MAS weapon intended to be used against newly developed Coalition MAS appearing on battlefields across UEE controlled space in growing numbers. Relatively light for a high caliber autocannon, the MK 508 has proven to be well suited to this role and is capable of brining down even heavy MAS with only a few hits. To allow the MK 508 to be mounted in smaller mobile armored suits, the cannon is quite compact and has been optimized for a high rate of fire at the expense of long range ballistic performance.
• Saab Bofors Dynamics Advanced Missile System / SBD AMS 85 / "Rapier" (Primary) - The latest and greatest from the Swedes at Saab Bofors Dynamics, the SBD AMS 85 represents the latest and greatest in terms of modular advanced missile systems. Holding a respectable payload of 6 Claymore, 6 Micro, and 2 Longsword missiles in a standard configuration, the AMS 85 can also be be modified with minimal preparation to carry different mission appropriate payloads as needed.
• IPG Photonics Micro Laser Defense System / IPGP MLDS 2035 (Secondary) - Rather than relying on cumbersome ballistic system, prone to running out of ammo or exploding when damaged, the Peregrine utilizes four short range micro lasers to deal with softer targets such armored vehicles, missiles, and infantry.
  a lightweight, low-cost and modular laser-based infrared protection
• Compact Beam Saber/ EB-21C / "Stiletto" (Secondary) - A compact plasma beam saber, with limited power capacity, the EB-21C is intended to be utilized for quick strikes targeting critical components of enemy MAS or vehicles.
• Dassault Aviation Flight Booster System / DA-597 FBS / (Utility) - The result of thirty years of research conducted by Dassault Aviation, the DA-597 flight consists of two massive flight boosters that take up much of the body of the Peregrine. Powered by an equally ambitious and advanced generator, the DA-597 puts out an unprecedented level of vertical and horizontal thrust that at maximum throttle input borders on completely uncontrollable. The end result is that the Peregrine is blisteringly fast and provided the pilot can remain conscience, few things in space can outmaneuver or outrun the Peregrine.
• Westinghouse Electric Corporation Upgraded Targeting Suite / WX-357 UTS (Utility) - To facilitate high speed and high angle deflection shots that border on the impossible, the Peregrine has been equipped with a cutting-edge and custom built target suite developed by the researchers at the Westinghouse Electric Corporation. Utilizing a smart AI trained on data collected from some of the best aces that the UEE could find, the WX-357 upgraded targeting suite rapidly analyzes target range, speed, environmental factors, and pilot MAS movement to provide the Peregrine pilot with projections that allow for accurate fire even at maximum speeds.
• Honeywell Advanced Threat Countermeasures System / HON-95 ATCS (Utility) - A lightweight, modular protection system that utilizes flares, chaff, and modulating laser pulses to confuse missiles' guidance systems causing them to miss their target.

Wal Quest - Interactive Post Apocalyptic Quest

[X] - Accept the task that Repel has given to you immediately and make haste.

---

The beast must be slain.

Falling Skies: Reboot (Mecha, Space Opera)

Another day, another sheet finally finished:

Pilot Profile: Alcántara, Clara

"If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough." - Mario Andretti

Appearance: Clara measures in at a modest 5 ft 5 in when standing on the very tips of her toes. However, her short stature has noticeable advantages in terms of her comfort in even the most cramped cockpits and regarding her ability to tolerate higher g-loads. Pragmatic to the core and deeply dedicated to maximum efficiency in her private life, Clara keeps her chestnut colored hair cut short and rarely does much to maintain it. Her calm eyes are cast in a shade of gunmetal grey and mirror the mostly collected expressions that travel across her features. Hailing from Colony 725-T, she possess a pallor that is the composite of her parents and her skin is a light shade of olive.
Name: Alcántara, Clara
Age: 23
Rank:O-2 2nd Lieutenant
Callsign: Zoom
Kills: 1

Psychological Analysis: Steeped in more books and technical manuals than any one person should be, Clara Alcántara is a test pilot locked in an endless battle with gravity and the limits of human physiology. Pairing a natural technical aptitude with an intuitive ability to pilot Mobile Armor Suits, Alcántara possesses many of the traits required to excel as a test pilot. Calm and steady even under fire, Alcántara is able to think clearly and problem solve complex issues even when these issues occur in the middle of combat and at g's high enough to induce unconsciousness.

With deft movements of her controls, Clara flies through the midnight of space effortlessly, an interstellar feather gently drifting in the star strewn winds, and stoically accepts her place as a test pilot constantly fighting for more speed in a universe ensnared by gravity.

The bane of any sane mechanic, Alcántara has made it her habit to push her MAS far past the bleeding edge of what could be considered safe or usually survivable. She rarely bring her MAS back in pristine condition and she's known for managing to buckle armor plating with high sustained g-forces more frequently than any manual says should be possible. Embracing the risk of being a test pilot, Alcántara lives her life on the cusp of G-force induced loss of consciousness (g-loc), Alcántara has a knack for making incredible high speed shots and performing maneuvers that threaten her own safety. While she can best be described as an aggressive pilot, Alcántara is not reckless, and she claims to risk only enough to accomplish the objectives of the current mission.

Seemingly unburdened by her professional career, Clara has managed to separate her persona as a test and combat pilot from her persona as Ana the person. She is friendly, if a bit reserved, and is amicable in most social situations. Far from a loner, she nonetheless takes care to spend time by herself and if left unattended she is likely to bury her face in one of the many books or convoluted technical manuals she keeps on her personal data pad.

Personal Record:

An Interview with a Test Pilot

"Steiner and Thompson?"

Clara shook her head, "Dead."

"You're sure?"

Another pointless question, another wasted breath. The briefing room felt wrong. The air felt hot. Her skin was on fire and she felt the adrenaline coursing through her veins, "I'm sure."

"How can you be sure, Lieutenant Alcántara?"

Alcántara tried to stare a hole through the scientist's skull. Five minutes, five minutes in, and she already wanted to vent him out of an airlock, "Thompson's reactor went critical. He didn't have time to punch out and even if he had, he would have been caught in the blast wave."

"And Steiner?" the Commander added, nodding respectfully. Clara trusted her. She was the real deal. A careerist through and through, but she wasn't bad, not as far as high ranking officers went.

"We had to split up. I broke left, away from the colony, he broke right towards the colony. A squad of Gramrs took him out. Souped up models. Veteran pilots. A new variant. I haven't seen a Gramr move like that before, not that fast, not that well. He bought me enough of a head start. I got one of them in a derelict field. The rest couldn't track me with all the radiation."

"Unfortunate, very unfortunate, the data those suits carried was invaluable," Zamorano began. Clara listened to the Chief Engineer, burying her anger beneath tired eyes. He didn't know. He didn't understand. He hadn't watched her friends die. He didn't care. All he cared about was telemetry. Steiner had warned her. She'd tried to tell her.

"What my esteemed colleague is trying to say," the Commander interrupted, cutting off the scientist with a sharp wave of her hand in his direction. "What we would like to say is that we are sorry, very sorry to hear about the tragic deaths of Lieutenant Commander Thompson and Lieutenant Steiner. They were good pilots. They were good people. They were our friends and they will be missed."

"They knew the risks, they knew what they signed up for, Commander Wright," Clara replied half-heartedly, feeling a sob tugging at back of her throat. Thompson deserved better. Steiner deserved much better. The UEE owed them more than some weak condolences in a briefing room.

"What happened out there, Lieutenant?" Wright continued, her voice laced with carefully chosen sympathy. "This was supposed to be the final flight test. Rules of engagements precluded-"

"The Coalition happened," Clara replied bitterly. "We were following the projected ingress route when-

"You were supposed to avoid engaging enemy forces! You were only supposed to watch them! You were supposed to evade them if they spotted you!" the engineer shouted, his red turning a unflattering shade of red.

"We tried. They ran us down. We didn't have any other options and so we fought."

"That's not good enough, Alcántara! Not good enough by a long shot. You're supposed to be the best. You're a test pilot, you're supposed to be the very best the UEE has to offer!" Zamorano roared, jabbing his data pad with his finger as if he was stabbing a knife into her heart with each jab.

"Chief Engineer Zamorano," the commander attempted. "Please keep your voice down-"

The engineer brought his data pad down on the table so hard that Clara was surprised that the screen didn't crack. "Mars Military Institute. Top of your class. 52nd Research and Development Squadron. Three years. Thompson and Steiner were supposed to be just as good! Better even! You were supposed to bring back my prototypes in one piece!"

"ZAMORANO! ENOUGH!" Wright ordered, her clinched fist hammering down on the table. "I've heard enough about your precious prototypes to last me a lifetime. If you can't control yourself, then I will have you escorted to your quarters. Is that understood?"

"Yes," Zamorano said with disinterested shrug. Clara could see the sweat pooling at edges of his forehead. He knew better than to play games with the Commander. She didn't make idle threats, and she outranked him. She outranked him by a couple of decades.

"What about my MAS?" Clara interjected, hoping to catch the Chief Engineer before he recovered.

"My prototype?" Zamorano hissed. "Scrap."

Reeling, Alcántara gripped onto armrest of her chair. She knew the mission. She had worked on the project for two years. She knew everything there was to know about the prototype MAS. Everything that mattered and then some. She had loved her MAS. She had loved her MAS like an old friend. And now it was gone. They were gone. All of them.

"There wasn't much left of it after you crashed it into the hanger bay," the engineer lectured, with a disgusted frown. Clara could feel the scorn emanating off of him. He was annoyed. He was more than annoyed. He was furious. And it almost made her glad that she had sent the prototype careening into the wall of the hanger at close to 350 kilometers per hour. If only it hadn't been the only one. Clara winced. They'd only ever had three working prototypes. Two years and all they had to show for it was seven wrecked Mobile Armor Suits and twice as many bodies.

"And the data? Did we manage to-"

"We managed to recover it! No thanks to you. It took us five hours to dig the black box out of the wreckage and ten more to salvage the data."

Clara took a deep breath, loosening her grip on the edge of the chair, a smile tugged at the edge of her mouth. She could die happy. They could take her wings, they could bury the data, but she knew, and they knew. She hadn't let them down. She'd landed a burning prototype MAS at 500 kilometers per hour without so much as a single functioning guidance system and they couldn't take that from her. No matter how hard they tried. No matter what old friends the Chief Engineer called on.

"Do you have anything else that you would like to add, Alcántara?" Commander Wright said.

"Ma'am, just a question," Clara replied, straightening up in her chair. "Is the project canceled?"

"Canceled? No, no by the Heavens no," Wright said with a chuckle and as she turned to Zamorano, it seemed to Clara that even the Chief Engineer was on the verge of smiling. "The data you brought back to us was lovely. The Brass were pleased, real pleased in fact. A twenty-five percent increase in performance is no small thing and for three suits to take out most of a Coalition task force is no small feat."

"I'm sorry, what?" Clara managed, feeling her heart pounding against her ribs. Her bruises screamed with the effort and she felt suddenly light headed.

Commander Wright smiled gently, offering a knowing look, "Congratulations, Lieutenant, flight testing of Project [-Redacted-] has been deemed a complete success. Combat testing is set to begin within two weeks and effective immediately you are transferred to the 7th MAS Squadron, 101st Legion."

Equipment: Like any sane military personnel operating in an active war zone, Clara carries a standard issue UEE sidearm on her person and a well-stocked MAS pilot survival kit in her MAS. Minimalistic in terms of her possessions, Clara does keep an encrypted data pad stuffed to the brim with old books and highly classified technical manuals.

MAS Profile: SRS-717 Peregrine Prototype

Appearance: Painted a dashing shade of blue with gold trim, the Peregrine is a sleek MAS that screams speed, speed and lots of speed.

Flight Mode

Mobile Armor Suit Mode

Designation: SRS-717 Peregrine Prototype
Role: Rapid Response / High Speed Scout
Chassis: Light
Description: Featuring a high-powered generator developed in a joint project between Dassault Aviation and the UEE, the Peregrine is a sate-of-the-art prototype MAS designed to provide unparalleled speed and maneuverability. Boasting a surprisingly powerful armament for a light MAS, the Peregrine is a notoriously difficult MAS to operate and requires a skilled pilot comfortable operating at the very limits of human physiology to reach its full potential. Stripped of any armor that might limit maximum performance, the Peregrine sacrifices direct pilot and MAS survivability, and instead relies on almost completely on the pilot avoiding any incoming enemy fire.
Systems:

• Rheinmetall MK 508 - 120mm Autocannon (Primary) - A prototype weapon developed as a private venture by Rheinmetall and submitted to the UEE in response to a requirement for a heavy MAS weapon intended to be used against newly developed Coalition MAS appearing on battlefields across UEE controlled space in growing numbers. Relatively light for a high caliber autocannon, the MK 508 has proven to be well suited to this role and is capable of brining down even heavy MAS with only a few hits. To allow the MK 508 to be mounted in smaller mobile armored suits, the cannon is quite compact and has been optimized for a high rate of fire at the expense of long range ballistic performance.
• Saab Bofors Dynamics Advanced Missile System / SBD AMS 85 / "Rapier" (Primary) - The latest and greatest from the Swedes at Saab Bofors Dynamics, the SBD AMS 85 represents the latest and greatest in terms of modular advanced missile systems. Holding a respectable payload of 6 Claymore, 6 Micro, and 2 Longsword missiles in a standard configuration, the AMS 85 can also be be modified with minimal preparation to carry different mission appropriate payloads as needed.
• IPG Photonics Micro Laser Defense System / IPGP MLDS 2035 (Secondary) - Rather than relying on cumbersome ballistic system, prone to running out of ammo or exploding when damaged, the Peregrine utilizes four short range micro lasers to deal with softer targets such armored vehicles, missiles, and infantry.
  a lightweight, low-cost and modular laser-based infrared protection
• Compact Beam Saber/ EB-21C / "Stiletto" (Secondary) - A compact plasma beam saber, with limited power capacity, the EB-21C is intended to be utilized for quick strikes targeting critical components of enemy MAS or vehicles.
• Dassault Aviation Flight Booster System / DA-597 FBS / (Utility) - The result of thirty years of research conducted by Dassault Aviation, the DA-597 flight consists of two massive flight boosters that take up much of the body of the Peregrine. Powered by an equally ambitious and advanced generator, the DA-597 puts out an unprecedented level of vertical and horizontal thrust that at maximum throttle input borders on completely uncontrollable. The end result is that the Peregrine is blisteringly fast and provided the pilot can remain conscience, few things in space can outmaneuver or outrun the Peregrine.
• Westinghouse Electric Corporation Upgraded Targeting Suite / WX-357 UTS (Utility) - To facilitate high speed and high angle deflection shots that border on the impossible, the Peregrine has been equipped with a cutting-edge and custom built target suite developed by the researchers at the Westinghouse Electric Corporation. Utilizing a smart AI trained on data collected from some of the best aces that the UEE could find, the WX-357 upgraded targeting suite rapidly analyzes target range, speed, environmental factors, and pilot MAS movement to provide the Peregrine pilot with projections that allow for accurate fire even at maximum speeds.
• Honeywell Advanced Threat Countermeasures System / HON-95 ATCS (Utility) - A lightweight, modular protection system that utilizes flares, chaff, and modulating laser pulses to confuse missiles' guidance systems causing them to miss their target.

@vietmyke

Winds of Fate - A Thieves' Adventure (Semi-Tabletop)

Nora

---

Stepping into the room in the wake of Percy's hasty exit, Nora gestured for Skarsat to have a seat at one of the empty chairs surrounding the table. Her man, as it was. He did look the part at the very least. She hoped he could fight as well as he could scowl. She thought it likely he could hold his own. At least when it came to drunkards in the tavern.

She heard Neh’miah mentioning her name and felt a tingle of pleasure at his description. To be feared was good and to be respected for her violence was even better. Neh’miah was a talented guttersnipe. Amusing even. But he was too loud for her taste. He was too foolish. And he was too full of bravado and ale.

"Your mouth will be the end of you sooner than I will," Nora said as she moved to stand next to Vargas. The corner of her mouth turned into a shallow smile as she eyed the boastful thief. She could almost forgive him his many vices, almost. Neh’miah had a gift for thievery, but talent did not excuse sloppiness. And profit did not reduce risk. A wanted man was a wanted man, even if he was a good runner.

Nora leaned in close, speaking in a whisper as she handed him the coin purse she had so recently liberated, "Merchant Aman sends his regards, Lord Vargas. I have taken steps to ensure that he pays his debt with interest."

"We are here as you asked, Lord Vargas, what would you have us do?" Nora asked as she turned her attention to the others. They were a sorry lot, a band of misfits that meshed perfectly with the current setting.

The sailor, the stranger, had the look of a pirate and Nora did not miss the blade that rested on his hip. He carried it well and did not seem a stranger to violence. Y'Vanna was known to her. The woman was a regular and a regular nuisance. Still, when she was sober, she could get the job done, and as long as Lord Vargas tolerated Y'Vanna's unfortunate drinking habits, then Nora would do the same.

Nora recognized the smiling courtesan. She had seen her often enough. The woman had all the marks of one of Fontaine's girls. What purpose she had in the Faded Lantern was unclear to Nora, although she was sure that it had something to do with Vargas. Nora doubted Fontaine would have approved, the brothel madam had ever been a jealous protector of her merchandise, but Nora had no intention of asking her. The path to Fontaine could only be followed with much bloodshed and Lord Vargas was not overly fond of unnecessary conflict.

Falling Skies: Reboot (Mecha, Space Opera)

Straight from the Interest Check:

Pilot Profile: Alcántara, Clara

"If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough." - Mario Andretti

Appearance: Clara measures in at a modest 5 ft 5 in when standing on the very tips of her toes. However, her short stature has noticeable advantages in terms of her comfort in even the most cramped cockpits and regarding her ability to tolerate higher g-loads. Pragmatic to the core and deeply dedicated to maximum efficiency in her private life, Clara keeps her chestnut colored hair cut short and rarely does much to maintain it. Her calm eyes are cast in a shade of gunmetal grey and mirror the mostly collected expressions that travel across her features. Hailing from Colony 725-T, she possess a pallor that is the composite of her parents and her skin is a light shade of olive.
Name: Alcántara, Clara
Age: 23
Rank:O-2 2nd Lieutenant
Callsign: Zoom
Kills: 1

Psychological Analysis: Steeped in more books and technical manuals than any one person should be, Clara Alcántara is a test pilot locked in an endless battle with gravity and the limits of human physiology. Pairing a natural technical aptitude with an intuitive ability to pilot Mobile Armor Suits, Alcántara possesses many of the traits required to excel as a test pilot. Calm and steady even under fire, Alcántara is able to think clearly and problem solve complex issues even when these issues occur in the middle of combat and at g's high enough to induce unconsciousness.

With deft movements of her controls, Clara flies through the midnight of space effortlessly, an interstellar feather gently drifting in the star strewn winds, and stoically accepts her place as a test pilot constantly fighting for more speed in a universe ensnared by gravity.

The bane of any sane mechanic, Alcántara has made it her habit to push her MAS far past the bleeding edge of what could be considered safe or usually survivable. She rarely bring her MAS back in pristine condition and she's known for managing to buckle armor plating with high sustained g-forces more frequently than any manual says should be possible. Embracing the risk of being a test pilot, Alcántara lives her life on the cusp of G-force induced loss of consciousness (g-loc), Alcántara has a knack for making incredible high speed shots and performing maneuvers that threaten her own safety. While she can best be described as an aggressive pilot, Alcántara is not reckless, and she claims to risk only enough to accomplish the objectives of the current mission.

Seemingly unburdened by her professional career, Clara has managed to separate her persona as a test and combat pilot from her persona as Ana the person. She is friendly, if a bit reserved, and is amicable in most social situations. Far from a loner, she nonetheless takes care to spend time by herself and if left unattended she is likely to bury her face in one of the many books or convoluted technical manuals she keeps on her personal data pad.

Personal Record:

An Interview with a Test Pilot

"Steiner and Thompson?"

Clara shook her head, "Dead."

"You're sure?"

Another pointless question, another wasted breath. The briefing room felt wrong. The air felt hot. Her skin was on fire and she felt the adrenaline coursing through her veins, "I'm sure."

"How can you be sure, Lieutenant Alcántara?"

Alcántara tried to stare a hole through the scientist's skull. Five minutes, five minutes in, and she already wanted to vent him out of an airlock, "Thompson's reactor went critical. He didn't have time to punch out and even if he had, he would have been caught in the blast wave."

"And Steiner?" the Commander added, nodding respectfully. Clara trusted her. She was the real deal. A careerist through and through, but she wasn't bad, not as far as high ranking officers went.

"We had to split up. I broke left, away from the colony, he broke right towards the colony. A squad of Gramrs took him out. Souped up models. Veteran pilots. A new variant. I haven't seen a Gramr move like that before, not that fast, not that well. He bought me enough of a head start. I got one of them in a derelict field. The rest couldn't track me with all the radiation."

"Unfortunate, very unfortunate, the data those suits carried was invaluable," Zamorano began. Clara listened to the Chief Engineer, burying her anger beneath tired eyes. He didn't know. He didn't understand. He hadn't watched her friends die. He didn't care. All he cared about was telemetry. Steiner had warned her. She'd tried to tell her.

"What my esteemed colleague is trying to say," the Commander interrupted, cutting off the scientist with a sharp wave of her hand in his direction. "What we would like to say is that we are sorry, very sorry to hear about the tragic deaths of Lieutenant Commander Thompson and Lieutenant Steiner. They were good pilots. They were good people. They were our friends and they will be missed."

"They knew the risks, they knew what they signed up for, Commander Wright," Clara replied half-heartedly, feeling a sob tugging at back of her throat. Thompson deserved better. Steiner deserved much better. The UEE owed them more than some weak condolences in a briefing room.

"What happened out there, Lieutenant?" Wright continued, her voice laced with carefully chosen sympathy. "This was supposed to be the final flight test. Rules of engagements precluded-"

"The Coalition happened," Clara replied bitterly. "We were following the projected ingress route when-

"You were supposed to avoid engaging enemy forces! You were only supposed to watch them! You were supposed to evade them if they spotted you!" the engineer shouted, his red turning a unflattering shade of red.

"We tried. They ran us down. We didn't have any other options and so we fought."

"That's not good enough, Alcántara! Not good enough by a long shot. You're supposed to be the best. You're a test pilot, you're supposed to be the very best the UEE has to offer!" Zamorano roared, jabbing his data pad with his finger as if he was stabbing a knife into her heart with each jab.

"Chief Engineer Zamorano," the commander attempted. "Please keep your voice down-"

The engineer brought his data pad down on the table so hard that Clara was surprised that the screen didn't crack. "Mars Military Institute. Top of your class. 52nd Research and Development Squadron. Three years. Thompson and Steiner were supposed to be just as good! Better even! You were supposed to bring back my prototypes in one piece!"

"ZAMORANO! ENOUGH!" Wright ordered, her clinched fist hammering down on the table. "I've heard enough about your precious prototypes to last me a lifetime. If you can't control yourself, then I will have you escorted to your quarters. Is that understood?"

"Yes," Zamorano said with disinterested shrug. Clara could see the sweat pooling at edges of his forehead. He knew better than to play games with the Commander. She didn't make idle threats, and she outranked him. She outranked him by a couple of decades.

"What about my MAS?" Clara interjected, hoping to catch the Chief Engineer before he recovered.

"My prototype?" Zamorano hissed. "Scrap."

Reeling, Alcántara gripped onto armrest of her chair. She knew the mission. She had worked on the project for two years. She knew everything there was to know about the prototype MAS. Everything that mattered and then some. She had loved her MAS. She had loved her MAS like an old friend. And now it was gone. They were gone. All of them.

"There wasn't much left of it after you crashed it into the hanger bay," the engineer lectured, with a disgusted frown. Clara could feel the scorn emanating off of him. He was annoyed. He was more than annoyed. He was furious. And it almost made her glad that she had sent the prototype careening into the wall of the hanger at close to 350 kilometers per hour. If only it hadn't been the only one. Clara winced. They'd only ever had three working prototypes. Two years and all they had to show for it was seven wrecked Mobile Armor Suits and twice as many bodies.

"And the data? Did we manage to-"

"We managed to recover it! No thanks to you. It took us five hours to dig the black box out of the wreckage and ten more to salvage the data."

Clara took a deep breath, loosening her grip on the edge of the chair, a smile tugged at the edge of her mouth. She could die happy. They could take her wings, they could bury the data, but she knew, and they knew. She hadn't let them down. She'd landed a burning prototype MAS at 500 kilometers per hour without so much as a single functioning guidance system and they couldn't take that from her. No matter how hard they tried. No matter what old friends the Chief Engineer called on.

"Do you have anything else that you would like to add, Alcántara?" Commander Wright said.

"Ma'am, just a question," Clara replied, straightening up in her chair. "Is the project canceled?"

"Canceled? No, no by the Heavens no," Wright said with a chuckle and as she turned to Zamorano, it seemed to Clara that even the Chief Engineer was on the verge of smiling. "The data you brought back to us was lovely. The Brass were pleased, real pleased in fact. A twenty-five percent increase in performance is no small thing and for three suits to take out most of a Coalition task force is no small feat."

"I'm sorry, what?" Clara managed, feeling her heart pounding against her ribs. Her bruises screamed with the effort and she felt suddenly light headed.

Commander Wright smiled gently, offering a knowing look, "Congratulations, Lieutenant, flight testing of Project [-Redacted-] has been deemed a complete success. Combat testing is set to begin within two weeks and effective immediately you are transferred to the 7th MAS Squadron, 101st Legion."

Equipment: Like any sane military personnel operating in an active war zone, Clara carries a standard issue UEE sidearm on her person and a well-stocked MAS pilot survival kit in her MAS. Minimalistic in terms of her possessions, Clara does keep an encrypted data pad stuffed to the brim with old books and highly classified technical manuals.

MAS Profile: SRS-717 Peregrine Prototype

Appearance: Painted a dashing shade of blue with gold trim, the Peregrine is a sleek MAS that screams speed, speed and lots of speed.

Flight Mode

Mobile Armor Suit Mode

Designation: SRS-717 Peregrine Prototype
Role: Rapid Response / High Speed Scout
Chassis: Light
Description: Featuring a high-powered generator developed in a joint project between Dassault Aviation and the UEE, the Peregrine is a sate-of-the-art prototype MAS designed to provide unparalleled speed and maneuverability. Boasting a surprisingly powerful armament for a light MAS, the Peregrine is a notoriously difficult MAS to operate and requires a skilled pilot comfortable operating at the very limits of human physiology to reach its full potential. Stripped of any armor that might limit maximum performance, the Peregrine sacrifices direct pilot and MAS survivability, and instead relies on almost completely on the pilot avoiding any incoming enemy fire.
Systems:

• Rheinmetall MK 508 - 120mm Autocannon (Primary) - A prototype weapon developed as a private venture by Rheinmetall and submitted to the UEE in response to a requirement for a heavy MAS weapon intended to be used against newly developed Coalition MAS appearing on battlefields across UEE controlled space in growing numbers. Relatively light for a high caliber autocannon, the MK 508 has proven to be well suited to this role and is capable of brining down even heavy MAS with only a few hits. To allow the MK 508 to be mounted in smaller mobile armored suits, the cannon is quite compact and has been optimized for a high rate of fire at the expense of long range ballistic performance.
• Saab Bofors Dynamics Advanced Missile System / SBD AMS 85 / Rapier(Primary) - The latest and greatest from the Swedes at Saab Bofors Dynamics, the SBD AMS 85 represents the latest and greatest in terms of modular advanced missile systems. Holding a respectable payload of 6 Claymore, 6 Micro, and 2 Longsword missiles in a standard configuration, the AMS 85 can also be be modified with minimal preparation to carry different mission appropriate payloads as needed.
• (Secondary) -
• Compact Beam Saber/ EB-21C / "Stiletto" (Secondary) - A compact plasma beam saber, with limited power capacity, the EB-21C is intended to be utilized for quick strikes targeting critical components of enemy MAS or vehicles.
• Dassault Aviation DA-597 Flight Boosters (Utility) -
• Countermeasure System (Utility) - Countermeasure systems are often used by lighter MAS's to avoid missiles instead of using body mounted machine guns to intercept them. Using chaff and flares, countermeasure systems have limited number of uses before needing to rearm.

Just gotta wrap up the MAS, but should have it done tomorrow.

Discord vs OOC

I think I'm pretty solidly in the camp of "Discord is for banter and quick discussion", while the OOC is where the GM or players make more official statements.

I personally don't mind being on Discord, but I have noticed that it has a tendency to leading to a sort of cliquey environment where it's we "the Discord users" in an RP as the driving force because we're regularly chatting with the GM and orbiting on the outside are the people who only post in the IC/OOC (which feels far from ideal, not everyone can or wants to be on Discord all the time or even some of the time).

There is also the downside that if you (the players/GM) spend much of your RP activity on Discord then it can also seem like the IC/OOC are pretty dead (which isn't maybe an issue if you have your core group of players, but if you're hoping to get more/new people it can seem strange when the IC/OOC are virtually dead for months at a time).

In an ideal world, I think it's good to try and balance your use of both OOC and Discord, leveraging the advantages that each can bring, and in turn reducing the disadvantages that relying solely on one or the other give rise to.

Duster’s Odyssey (A Space Western) (Interest Gathering and Discussion)

This looks great, you have as much as interest as I can possibly summon!