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maskormenacelogs2015-11-27 04:30 pm
maskormods) wrote in maskormenacelogs2015-11-27 04:30 pm
YOU'RE AS COLD AS ICE
WHO: Participating imPorts.
WHERE: A government base in Heropa, Florida.
WHEN: November 27-28.
WHAT: ImPorts participate in a simulated training exercise. Sign-ups will remain open throughout the event, so please sign up HERE and direct all questions HERE.
WARNINGS: Potential simulated injury and death. If there are more warnings that should be added here, please let us know!
SET-UP
Once they arrive, all imPorts are led into a plain room. In one half of the room is a tidy line of chairs with helmets hooked up to a large machine behind them. As the trainees are guided into the chairs and are fitted with helmets, brisk government workers hook them up with wires placed on their pulse points, though the trainees are reassured that it's to monitor their vitals throughout the process, making sure that nobody gets too anxious to adequately complete the exercise.
In the meantime, the monitors are led to the other half of the room, which looks far, far more comfortable; there's a line of chairs and desks, and on each desk is a computer screen that shows each monitor exactly what's going on in the virtual world. Because the monitors don't have the luxury of sleeping in the virtual world, there's a back room that they can retire to at their own discretion, complete with beds, a small kitchenette, and a much needed coffee machine. Once both the monitors and the trainees are giving brief instructions on what to do - to ensure that the program runs smoothly and to survive, respectively - the imPorts are quickly put to work.
DAY ONE: TRAINEES. TASK: SURVIVE.
Once the program is turned on, all trainees will suddenly find themselves in the middle of a forest, snow heavy on the trees around them and reaching all the way up to their knees. While each imPort will find that they have been equipped with a warm winter jacket and a small kit of survival gear - a gun, a knife, rope, a water bottle, and a limited first-aid kit - it will be a shocking transition from the warm, comfortable room to the wilderness. Despite their jackets, the cold is biting and bone deep, the wind cutting harshly against their skin, and the snow falling from above will only continue piling up around them. They need to take shelter, and they need to do it fast.
Luckily, even though their surroundings appear barren, they are actually provided everything that they need. There are plenty of loose branches that can be hewn off with their knives for shelter, and there are movements through the trees of deer and birds that can be used for sustenance so that they may keep their strength up. There's no shortage of water, considering the snow. All that's left for them is to survive, and try not to freeze to death.
And if one of them does freeze to death? That's game over. Their simulated corpse will remain with the rest of the trainees, and the deceased individual in question will remain hooked up to the simulation in a very deep, very still sleep.
Of course, things aren't quite as simple as they seem. Here and there, there will be little lapses in the programming; black holes of utter nothingness that they can simply step on, a geographically inappropriate lion or two, and a collection of poisonous berries that ought to have been frozen out are just some of the things that they'll run into.
Oh, and one more thing -- thanks to The Doctor, a lion-sized stick bug will be roaming around. Not to worry! It's perfectly harmless, if not a bit eerie.
DAY ONE: MONITORS. TASK: COMMUNICATION & TROUBLESHOOTING
Once the monitors are seated, they will receive a crash course in how exactly to program the sophisticated technology used to create such an immersive environment. Once they've received their instructions, they'll be surprised with an additional task: provide guidance to the trainees if it seems that they need it. Each monitor will be equipped with a headset to go with their monitor, and they will be able to communicate with the trainees to give them advice, both good and bad. Their voices will manifest in the virtual world as bodiless voices from above, as if the gods are speaking to the trainees... and considering the circumstances, that's not at all inaccurate.
The monitors may be instructed not to help or hinder their fellow imPorts in tangible ways, such as manifesting food or shelter for them, or unleashing attacks from the local wildlife, but that doesn't mean that it's actually hindering them. In giving the monitors the power to patch the holes in the programming, they have given the monitors the ability to place whatever they wish in the programming.
Perhaps it will be easy to stay hands-off while shelters are being built, but how about when you see a friend freezing? When you see a foe thriving? However they play it is up to them.
DAY TWO: TRAINEES. TASK: DEFEND & STRIKE BACK
After a full 24 hours, without exception, the Russians will come to attack. It doesn't matter if the trainees have spent a sleepless night fruitlessly trying to build a shelter, or if they're suffering fatigue from the lack of food; the Soviets wouldn't care in real life, and they certainly don't care in this simulation. These soldiers massively outnumber the trainees, so it's best to play it smart... though in some cases, it seems as if the AI soldiers haven't quite been perfected. Some have glitched through objects, whereas others have weapons that don't belong in this time period at all. Several seem to be attempting to run directly into inanimate objects. ImPorts may take advantage of these to loot their supplies without a care.
The Russian soldiers may outnumber and outgun the trainees, but they don't know where they are. It's up to the trainees to find shelter to shoot back, to lay traps, or simply to flee. No matter how far they may run, however, the army will always somehow manage to manifest itself nearby. The only option is to attempt to evade their attacks, or to kill them in return; their numbers are not inexhaustible, and it's altogether possible to slaughter them in the name of self-defense. Remember that this will go on full a full 24 hours -- if the trainees want to survive, they'll eventually have to set up a camp and keep watch, letting the others sleep, eat and recover in between bouts of fighting.
As with day one, it is possible for the trainees' simulations to die in this exercise.
Good luck, soldiers!
DAY TWO: MONITORS. TASK: CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE & TROUBLESHOOT
Remember those holes in the programming? Somehow, with the introduction of several AIs, these problems have only been aggravated. Some of the AIs are more vicious than they have any reason to be, attempting to hurt the trainees more than they are attempting to kill them, while others have glitched entirely, their heads detached from their bodies, passing through static objects, and in a few memorable instances, running directly and continuously into rocks.
That can't be right.
While the monitors are busy fixing these egregious errors, they have also been instructed that it's permissible for them to give the trainees strategic advice. The monitors have a bird's eye view of the situation and can warn the trainees accordingly, helping them on their way to victory, or leading them to their doom.
WHERE: A government base in Heropa, Florida.
WHEN: November 27-28.
WHAT: ImPorts participate in a simulated training exercise. Sign-ups will remain open throughout the event, so please sign up HERE and direct all questions HERE.
WARNINGS: Potential simulated injury and death. If there are more warnings that should be added here, please let us know!
SET-UP
Once they arrive, all imPorts are led into a plain room. In one half of the room is a tidy line of chairs with helmets hooked up to a large machine behind them. As the trainees are guided into the chairs and are fitted with helmets, brisk government workers hook them up with wires placed on their pulse points, though the trainees are reassured that it's to monitor their vitals throughout the process, making sure that nobody gets too anxious to adequately complete the exercise.
In the meantime, the monitors are led to the other half of the room, which looks far, far more comfortable; there's a line of chairs and desks, and on each desk is a computer screen that shows each monitor exactly what's going on in the virtual world. Because the monitors don't have the luxury of sleeping in the virtual world, there's a back room that they can retire to at their own discretion, complete with beds, a small kitchenette, and a much needed coffee machine. Once both the monitors and the trainees are giving brief instructions on what to do - to ensure that the program runs smoothly and to survive, respectively - the imPorts are quickly put to work.
DAY ONE: TRAINEES. TASK: SURVIVE.
Once the program is turned on, all trainees will suddenly find themselves in the middle of a forest, snow heavy on the trees around them and reaching all the way up to their knees. While each imPort will find that they have been equipped with a warm winter jacket and a small kit of survival gear - a gun, a knife, rope, a water bottle, and a limited first-aid kit - it will be a shocking transition from the warm, comfortable room to the wilderness. Despite their jackets, the cold is biting and bone deep, the wind cutting harshly against their skin, and the snow falling from above will only continue piling up around them. They need to take shelter, and they need to do it fast.
Luckily, even though their surroundings appear barren, they are actually provided everything that they need. There are plenty of loose branches that can be hewn off with their knives for shelter, and there are movements through the trees of deer and birds that can be used for sustenance so that they may keep their strength up. There's no shortage of water, considering the snow. All that's left for them is to survive, and try not to freeze to death.
And if one of them does freeze to death? That's game over. Their simulated corpse will remain with the rest of the trainees, and the deceased individual in question will remain hooked up to the simulation in a very deep, very still sleep.
Of course, things aren't quite as simple as they seem. Here and there, there will be little lapses in the programming; black holes of utter nothingness that they can simply step on, a geographically inappropriate lion or two, and a collection of poisonous berries that ought to have been frozen out are just some of the things that they'll run into.
Oh, and one more thing -- thanks to The Doctor, a lion-sized stick bug will be roaming around. Not to worry! It's perfectly harmless, if not a bit eerie.
DAY ONE: MONITORS. TASK: COMMUNICATION & TROUBLESHOOTING
Once the monitors are seated, they will receive a crash course in how exactly to program the sophisticated technology used to create such an immersive environment. Once they've received their instructions, they'll be surprised with an additional task: provide guidance to the trainees if it seems that they need it. Each monitor will be equipped with a headset to go with their monitor, and they will be able to communicate with the trainees to give them advice, both good and bad. Their voices will manifest in the virtual world as bodiless voices from above, as if the gods are speaking to the trainees... and considering the circumstances, that's not at all inaccurate.
The monitors may be instructed not to help or hinder their fellow imPorts in tangible ways, such as manifesting food or shelter for them, or unleashing attacks from the local wildlife, but that doesn't mean that it's actually hindering them. In giving the monitors the power to patch the holes in the programming, they have given the monitors the ability to place whatever they wish in the programming.
Perhaps it will be easy to stay hands-off while shelters are being built, but how about when you see a friend freezing? When you see a foe thriving? However they play it is up to them.
DAY TWO: TRAINEES. TASK: DEFEND & STRIKE BACK
After a full 24 hours, without exception, the Russians will come to attack. It doesn't matter if the trainees have spent a sleepless night fruitlessly trying to build a shelter, or if they're suffering fatigue from the lack of food; the Soviets wouldn't care in real life, and they certainly don't care in this simulation. These soldiers massively outnumber the trainees, so it's best to play it smart... though in some cases, it seems as if the AI soldiers haven't quite been perfected. Some have glitched through objects, whereas others have weapons that don't belong in this time period at all. Several seem to be attempting to run directly into inanimate objects. ImPorts may take advantage of these to loot their supplies without a care.
The Russian soldiers may outnumber and outgun the trainees, but they don't know where they are. It's up to the trainees to find shelter to shoot back, to lay traps, or simply to flee. No matter how far they may run, however, the army will always somehow manage to manifest itself nearby. The only option is to attempt to evade their attacks, or to kill them in return; their numbers are not inexhaustible, and it's altogether possible to slaughter them in the name of self-defense. Remember that this will go on full a full 24 hours -- if the trainees want to survive, they'll eventually have to set up a camp and keep watch, letting the others sleep, eat and recover in between bouts of fighting.
As with day one, it is possible for the trainees' simulations to die in this exercise.
Good luck, soldiers!
DAY TWO: MONITORS. TASK: CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE & TROUBLESHOOT
Remember those holes in the programming? Somehow, with the introduction of several AIs, these problems have only been aggravated. Some of the AIs are more vicious than they have any reason to be, attempting to hurt the trainees more than they are attempting to kill them, while others have glitched entirely, their heads detached from their bodies, passing through static objects, and in a few memorable instances, running directly and continuously into rocks.
That can't be right.
While the monitors are busy fixing these egregious errors, they have also been instructed that it's permissible for them to give the trainees strategic advice. The monitors have a bird's eye view of the situation and can warn the trainees accordingly, helping them on their way to victory, or leading them to their doom.
no subject
... yeah. That's exactly it. Even when things are really bad, it's— there's always another way. Or that's what I want to believe, at least.
[ There's a question in his voice, but he isn't sure about asking directly. So, instead: ]
I hate to admit it, but this... this whole thing where we're dropped into the middle of nowhere with nothing but a knife and a gun? New to me. I'm used to having a utility belt full of equipment to work with.
no subject
[ Otherwise he wouldn't be so good at a gun. ]
Yeah. I know how you feel. I'm used to have at least one abandoned car for shelter. Making shelter out of branches is kinda new to me, to be honest.
no subject
[ He laughs, and it almost sounds too loud in the quiet stillness of the snow. ]
I usually work downtown. Kind of different than staking out a drug bust.
no subject
[ So finally the branch falls, severed by Carl's knife. He picks up one heavy end up. ]
There we go.
So what is it that you do? Beating up criminals?
no subject
Something like that. I mean— we don't beat them up more than we have to. More like... catching them, stopping them, and letting the police deal with the rest.
no subject
[ That barely worked out, Carl thinks.
Carl nearly slips on a piece of ice, almost dropping his end of the branch. ]
With my dad here, though, I doubt I'll ever get into it. But I always wondered what's it like. Ever got into really bad scrapes?
no subject
[ Robin almost moves to catch him, but it's not like he would've been fast enough anyway. Lucky for both of them that it's only "almost." ]
Honestly? It gets rough, yeah. Broken a few bones, been shot at, held hostage... [ Almost died. A lot. ] Wouldn't trade it for anything, though.
no subject
It sounds like fun. I'm glad someone's helping others, since I can't, even if I wanted too.
[ He has to work on getting better, of recovering the fear gas. Of trying to make peace with himself. It's a long way. And if he he keeps returning back to home and back here again . . . it's going to take longer.
It's actually a good thing Genesis fell apart as it did. Carl was starting to feel stretched too thin.
After a moment of silence, they finally reached their camp . . . although calling it a camp is a graciousness that shouldn't be deserved. ]
Where should we put this?
no subject
[ Constructing this lean-to is going to take... a while, at this rate. ]
no subject
[ Carl heaves his end to the tree. He glances upward at the lowest hanging branches. ]
Maybe we can weave this branch on the lowest ones. Make a ceiling first. Or maybe we should start making a foundation - [ he points at the ground ] - then go upward?