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?
rassera: (Looking into the horizon)

[personal profile] rassera 2016-01-25 09:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Look, you couldn't eat the real shit!

Not unless you were rich.

[Those chopsticks make a dash to save that poor piece of su--aaannnd you got there first.]
rideme: (like a me in a china shop)

[personal profile] rideme 2016-01-26 05:32 am (UTC)(link)
Why the hell not? Fish are everywhere.

[Stab, stab, stab.]

[This poor sushi never had a chance.]
rassera: (Wow that is seriously fucked up)

[personal profile] rassera 2016-01-28 09:45 am (UTC)(link)
Sure...just not ones you can eat.

...

[Oh right, this might need explanation. Those chopsticks weave around that fork grabbing clumps of rice off the massacred sushi.]

They're all poisoned.
rideme: (cow-nt your blessings)

[personal profile] rideme 2016-01-29 06:52 am (UTC)(link)
... Who the fuck poisons all the fish?
rassera: (Goggles)

[personal profile] rassera 2016-01-31 05:58 am (UTC)(link)
[Kaneda doesn't answer right away, piling some American sushi rolls into the spot that can't fit the whole sashimi pieces. What's a Philadelphia roll? Who cares.

It isn't until he reaches for the Tupperware lid that he speaks again.]


Remember those bombs I told you about? They don't just kill people. It's not fire and smoke.

It contaminates everything.
rideme: (What's your beef with me)

[personal profile] rideme 2016-01-31 08:35 am (UTC)(link)
Contaminates...

So it's some kind of poison. In the air? Water?

[Though he pauses. Because the hesitation of Kaneda's speaks volumes.]

You know what? I can do some digging on my own.

[You don't have to explain if you don't want to, in other words.]
rassera: (SMILIN')

[personal profile] rassera 2016-01-31 08:38 am (UTC)(link)
[Kaneda outwardly doesn't look too affected at least. He wasn't really born for it, so it's more like just dealing with the shitty after effects.]

Kinnnnddaaa. There's probably some nerdy scientist who can explain it better. Point is, it sucks!

[He smiles, holding up a piece of unagi.]

Try this one.

[Thanks.]
rideme: (like a me in a china shop)

[personal profile] rideme 2016-01-31 08:41 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, good. I get to talk to a nerdy scientist. Thanks a lot, asshole.

[But he doesn't sound very upset about it, despite what he says.]

[And quirks an eyebrow at the unagi.]


Is it something weird?

[He'll still eat it. He's just curious.]
rassera: (Steal one yourself)

[personal profile] rassera 2016-01-31 09:31 am (UTC)(link)
Who knows, maybe you'll even get smarter!

[And neither does he, holding up that unagi more.]

It's unagi. Eel.
rideme: (moove over)

[personal profile] rideme 2016-02-01 03:26 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, yeah, like that'd happen from getting talked at.

[Well then. Time to pop that unagi into his mouth.]

Huh. Not bad.
rassera: (MORE SMILES)

[personal profile] rassera 2016-02-01 09:50 am (UTC)(link)
Like it?

It's kinda slimy, but in a GOOD way. [As he pops a piece into his mouth too.]

Ish hard to descwibe...

[Don't talk with your mouth full.]
rideme: (milk it for all it's worth)

[personal profile] rideme 2016-02-02 05:06 am (UTC)(link)
Hell yeah. Where's more?

[But his free hand reaches over to flick the back of Kaneda's head.]

No one can understand you with that shit in your mouth.
rassera: (I heard ya)

[personal profile] rassera 2016-02-02 06:59 pm (UTC)(link)
These ones right here.

[He taps the darker pieces of sashimi with his chopsticks a moment, before deciding to give him the whole tour, reading off the japanese labels.]

tamago - "egg", maguro - "tuna", ebi, - "shrimp", and sake - "salmon."
rideme: (you want to RIDE the Bull?)

[personal profile] rideme 2016-02-03 06:30 am (UTC)(link)
Salmon.

I want that one. I like that shit. The fountain made it all tender.

[hell yeah he's grabbing some salmon rolls.]
rassera: (SMILIN')

[personal profile] rassera 2016-02-03 07:39 am (UTC)(link)
[Kaneda can't help but smile at his enthusiasm.]

Put in as many as you can!



It's my favourite too.
rideme: (you want to RIDE the Bull?)

[personal profile] rideme 2016-02-03 07:40 am (UTC)(link)
Oh yeah?

Well hell. Cram 'em in. Put them in your pockets.

Take them all.
rassera: (Ridiculously happy)

[personal profile] rassera 2016-02-04 01:49 am (UTC)(link)
[Now -that- gets another laugh, Kaneda nearly choking down that next piece of sushi.]

Do you even HAVE pockets?
rideme: (like a me in a china shop)

[personal profile] rideme 2016-02-04 06:05 am (UTC)(link)
Who doesn't have pockets?
rassera: (That sounds like bullshit)

[personal profile] rassera 2016-02-05 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
...


[Give him a moment to think on that. The metaphorical gears are turning!]
rideme: (check out my tattoo cowlection)

[personal profile] rideme 2016-02-05 06:42 am (UTC)(link)
[You do that, Kaneda. While you think, Bull will just eat more sushi.]