maskormods: (Default)
Mask or Menace | MODERATORS ([personal profile] maskormods) wrote in [community profile] maskormenacelogs2016-01-15 02:58 pm
Entry tags:

I'M A ROCKET MAN, ROCKET MAN

WHO: imPorts!
WHERE: Washington, DC - Arlington, VA
WHEN: January 15-16.
WHAT: ImPorts get a little taste of space training before being ushered off into an underground bunker in the wake of irregular weather patterns.
WARNINGS: None anticipated; please let us know if this should be edited.




Welcome to Washington DC, imPorts! This month's Swear-In is, for once, restricted to imPorts only; except for the government employees and security that are on-call at every event, only imPorts are allowed inside. If any unusual looking imPort tires of the stares and rude, if well-meaning, questions prevalent at the public Swear-Ins, then this event will be a welcome reprieve for them. Shuttles are provided to transport the imPorts to their destination, and a short car ride later, they wheel up to a tall, futuristic building and are quickly ushered through the chrome sliding doors and into a vast hall.

Here, they're greeted by the regular wide array of food to feast upon - though in this case, it seems relegated to a catered buffet of cold cuts, sandwiches, sushi, and other hors d'oeuvres that keep fairly well - but more importantly, they're faced with a series of doors leading into other rooms. Once everyone has been gathered in the main hall, they are informed by NASA's Dr. Destiny Sagan that in this Swear-In, they have something a little different in mind. She smiles warmly at the imPorts as she gives them a debriefing on what they will be allowed to see and discover, and expresses her wishes that in the future, some of the imPorts will feel inspired to join them as they continue their attempts to reach the next frontier. The imPorts have been invited to check out America's state-of-the-art space training facilities, and underneath proper supervision, have been given free reign to explore and see how America has been training the country's future astronauts. While researchers have undergone troubles in fashioning the shuttle itself, imPorts will find that the training available is surprisingly modern.

The anti-gravity exercise is straightforward, but it may be complicated to get the hang of; imPorts, outfitted in their appropriate astronaut gear, are allowed in groups of 5 into rooms that replicate the anti-gravity experience. From there they are given specific tasks to perform under the low-gravity conditions, such as problem-solving potential issues or crises that could occur during a mission, and basic physical tests that include games and an obstacle course. Participation in at least one task-simulation and one fitness endeavor is mandatory for consideration in future off-Earth missions.

The sample shuttle simulation is less physically involved, though not precisely less complicated; like one would expect, it is a simulated VR experience that takes an imPort through what it really looks, sounds, and feels like to operate a shuttle. They will be seated in groups of three in small auditoriums, the screens displaying an approximate view of either wide space or Mars, depending on which stage of the simulation imPorts are partaking.

Far more relaxed is the neutral buoyancy pool. Because it is far, far larger than the anti-gravity chamber, imPorts are free to get a small taste of what it would actually be like to perform maintenance on NASA's bigger pieces of machinery in an anti-gravity situation. ImPorts are fitted in space suits and scuba gear alike, and because the machinery provided are all plastic replicas, the supervisors are much more lenient on any tomfoolery that the imPorts may get up to here.

In one room, for entertainment purposes alone, imPorts can sample the variety of preserved foods that will be sent up to space with the astronauts. Between the freeze dried ice cream, sealed packages of powdered hot cocoa, 'hamburgers' and 'macaroni and cheese' (just add hot water!), they will find that the life of an astronaut isn't necessarily the most savoury one in the world.

In the middle of all this training, however, there's an announcement over the loudspeaker:

ALL IMPORTS, CONVENE TO THE LOBBY.


Once everyone's gathered together, they will be informed that there are erratic weather patterns occurring throughout America, from a sudden snowstorm in New Orleans, LA, a drastic jump in temperature in Minneapolis, MN and alarming winds throughout New England. Nobody in any of these locations are in any danger, but because their irregularity, imPorts are heavily encouraged to accept relocation to a bunker in Arlington, VA. While they will not force any unwilling imPort to acquiesce to this request, they will be reminded several times that they are only being told to do so for their own safety.

The bunker itself is a relatively bare place, located in a discrete location underground. ImPorts who received visions in July may recognize some of the features of this bunker from one they may have visited in the past. Unlike the previous bunkers, however, imPorts will have sleeping bags instead of beds, and the TVs and radio provided are free for use whenever the imPorts choose, though the government workers have a bias towards news channels that are covering the weather irregularities -- the government workers have families and friends to worry about as well, after all.

At 10 AM the next morning, as the irregular weather patterns abate, imPorts will be released and given free transportation back to their city of residence. All news channels will report on this spat of strange weather as a freak occurrence, and none of the scientists consulted will have an adequate explanation for it.

Oh, well. It's none of the imPorts' concerns anyway, is it?
matadorable: (♬ My Favorite Things)

4.

[personal profile] matadorable 2016-01-16 02:46 pm (UTC)(link)
[Truth be told, Manolo very nearly missed the entire swear-in, finding himself tired and in need of some serious decompressing now that things had settled down between him and Joaquin and he finally felt like he was able to return home. But in the end, he couldn't stay away, not when he knew that swear-ins had a poor track record of staying peaceful -- and not when he'd heard the weather across America had started taking an unusual turn. Thankfully, it's easy enough to use the Porter to attend a swear-in, even for someone Unsettled like himself.

Although he's pretty late, Manolo still manages to get there in time for the government to strongly recommend they relocate to the bunker. With his guitar in hand, it doesn't take him long to seek out familiar and not-so-familiar faces in an effort to lighten the mood.

At some point, he finds himself sitting near Newton and Hermann and Liebling, singing a canción ranchera -- one that he'd played for Kaneda awhile back, but more polished now that he's had some time to practice on his own since then. As he strums his guitar, Manolo pours his heart into words that serve as an assurance that things will be alright, that their days will become brighter as surely as the sun will rise again...thematically similar, perhaps, to a certain Beatles song, but still very much Manolo's original creation.]
mathemagier: do not disturb (Owen; Quiet moment)

[personal profile] mathemagier 2016-01-17 02:57 am (UTC)(link)
[It's a much-needed reprieve from the anxiety plaguing them both. Hermann finds that once Newton's calm, he's quick to follow- as they do in most things. It almost feels like they're at home, just resting on the couch, relaxed and dozing. They'r enot quite to that point, but it helps that in the past several days, Manolo has become a good friend to them both.

Liebling is settled in the middle of her triangle of humans, curled up and content]


Hm.. So you'll be returning to Heropa after this? Provided everything is well in hand there, at any rate.
matadorable: (♮ Pour Some Sugar on Me)

[personal profile] matadorable 2016-01-17 07:22 am (UTC)(link)
[Manolo is still idly plucking at a few strings as he speaks.]

Yeah, actually. I talked to Joaquin after Dr. Geiszler gave me his letter, and it sounds like he's ready for me to come back. [Manolo cracks a lopsided smile.] So, not to worry, good doctors. After I grab a few things I forgot, I'll finally be out of your hair.