Episode 2: The Citadel

[Vardaen]

"Alright you useless rookies, let's go." The Admiral escorts you personally through the air lock and onto the docking ramp then into the station proper. "This is Pinnacle, you can't hope to live up to the quality of men and woman we have here, even the Turians are better than you'll ever be. Not sure why they sent me this sorry batch of would be cannon fodder, but I'll make you better than you are, or kill you trying!" He's a military man through and through you have no doubt about that.

All around the station are various people, of all the citadel races. The station has three notable sections. After the airlock, visitors enter the command center, where the station's operators and commanding officer can be found. The command center shows evidence of the station's turian heritage as, like the construction of turian ships, the CO is placed behind and above his subordinates to look over them. The command center also offers a spectacular view of Vebinok and the local asteroid field.

The second section, the observation deck, is where competitors rest between scenarios, check their scores, and watch other competitors going through the simulator. Ochren, the simulator's designer, is on hand here to set up new scenarios and monitor the simulation.

The Admiral points to the section of the station furthest from the air lock, "That is the simulator. Using a combination of sophisticated combat VIs, holographic images and kinetic barriers, the simulator can produce small-scale combat scenarios to test you, using kinetic slugs to simulate damage (though they hurt as much as real rounds, and actually cause damage if they penetrate shields). The simulator offers a choice of volcanic, subterranean, tropical or warehouse settings, all of which have different objectives to achieve." He motions at another area, "You bunk in there, spend some time, get settled in, and then we'll run you through a test scenario so I can gauge you level of ineptitude. You have one hour." He then stalks off.

All around you are about a dozen folks, none of them look like soldiers, more like mercs, a collection of mismatched armor and weapon, everyone looks on edge, ready for a fight, or they appear just a bit too relaxed. This is Pinnacle, you better get used to it.

Pinnacle

[veritas]

Knight rolls his eyes after the admiral leaves and takes his things to an empty bunk beginning to unpack. He's always hated dealing with the military, especially the training types. The Turian C-SEC trainers were just as bad. Now he's got this group of jerks to deal with.

He knows the reason for it. Create a high stress environment for training and it helps to deal with the stress of an actual battle. The fun little show in the transport is supposed to show how much the group has left to learn, but it still grates on Jason's nerves. He accepted the offer because receiving spec-ops training is an invaluable asset for his type of work, but now he's really beginning to regret it.

He steadily unpacks, outwardly quiet, while all of this is going through his head. He keeps an eye out for another idiotic 'message' to be sent. It'll all calm down after a few weeks if this goes anything like C-SEC training did, but for now Jason has to stay wary.

[ManWithDoor]

The Quarian salutes as the Admiral leaves them, and heads straight to the bunk. He sets up his stuff in whatever area makes the most sense, and claims one of the beds. He then busts out his armor, weaponry, and all of his tools, and begins to put them all on. This is not the place to get caught with your pants down, simulator or no. He kinda wishes he were like Raik. At least the big Krogan had his armor on! Better than nothing. "So, how do the rest of you like Pinnacle Station? Warm reception."

[veritas]

Knight frowns.

"There's too much posturing for my tastes. I understand the whys, but disagree with the reasoning behind it all. What about you?"

[Hayabusa]

Kinney does the same as Bata'vek when the admiral leaves she calmly checks weapons and armor again at their bunks and removes the paint stains. Though she does not like the mercenary-like appearance none of it really bothers her as this is a joint training facility for the forces of the Citadel races.

"Then why does it bother you. As long it's understandable it's not bad. I'd be worried if I wouldn't understand it," the human says. "This is a special forces training facility and these are pretty elite units while we're just... well, barely counting as a reservist. Try growing up with a criminal father and then you can complain about the reasoning of hazing. I think the Pinnacle Station is a great idea. Looking at it from our perspective, shouldn't we be glad that so many different species work together? And in a way we're pretty much all of them. We're not N7, Salarian STG, Asari Commandos, Turian Blackwatch or.... whatever the quarian equivalent may be. We're pretty much the very definition of a joint Citadel operation. Sans the training and ranks of course."

Kinney thinks about the Admiral and instantly draws a comparison to her own father in her mind. "I wonder if there's more to his comment on Turians, though. He probably served during the First Contact War," but she ultimately shrugs.

[veritas]

Jason shakes his head at Kinney as he finishes his unpacking and gets his gear on. His words are calm, matter of fact, and his face emotionless.

"I also understand the reasonings behind rape, theft, and drug addiction and I'd consider all of those things to be pretty bad. I'm sorry your dad was a thug, but just because he was abusive doesn't excuse the lack of respect given by others in other situations. Namely this one."

[Hayabusa]

"Yeah, I don't think you actually understand any reasoning behind rape, theft and drug addiction," Kinney rolls her eyes at Knight's bold statement. "And if you are so unsure of this here," she gestures across the room. "Then you shouldn't have signed up for this. Because for me this is not just another -job- for a while. There is no disrespect here and even if it was, we were sent hir by Captain David Anderson which says more than enough already," she adds, slowly getting nerved by Knight's displeasure. "And my -dad- was not a simple thug. My father was the captain of the SSV Elbert and made off with it because... well, no one's entirely certain since very few of those who stayed loyal to the Alliance survived being stranded in disabled shuttles for months. He's a deserter and a traitor who left my mom alone to struggle when he was gone and if I could have done it I'd have put a round into him," Kinney says, obviously uncomfortable talking about it.

[veritas]

Knight raises an eyebrow at Kinney.

"I joined up for lack of options and the chance at getting some quality physical training. I'll put up with other hurdles as part of the cost of said training, but that doesn't mean I have to enjoy it.

"I'm also willing to bet that I understand a lot more than you give me credit for. The term 'maggot' is disrespectful. The mocking of our abilities is disrespectful. The entire point of the psychological aspect of the training is disrespect to the point that the trainee believes it and allows themselves to be broken down and rebuilt.

"Rape is a power issue; people rape to feel power over another person. Theft is part need and part greed or entitlement, depending on the person. Drug addiction occurs after experimentation. Most people experiment with drugs as part of a desire to fit in with a group of people that uses the particular drug or in desire of a way to fill an emotional void that they can't fill through personal interactions. It's why Red Sand is so big among family members of biotics.

"One thing I don't understand is why you keep bringing up your father. Whether he's a thug, a traitor, or father of the year doesn't have any bearing that I can see on the situation at hand or the conversation up to the point that you brought it up."

Frowning, Knight shows emotion for the first time in the now rather heated conversation.

[Hayabusa]

"For a 'lack of options' and 'physical training'? I did not know that you cared so little about this. Personally I think you should reconsider your decision to come here then because I'll pretend that we're a unit like the others here but as far as I can tell we're not. And it is not my fault either," Kinney replies. "For someone who claims to understand you understand very little," she adds and leaves the bunk area, heading out to get a layout of the station.

[veritas]

Knight's veneer of calm finally shatters, his anger clearly showing as he glares at Kinney.


"You know what, you're right. It's not worth it. Have fun."

With that he walks out of the bunk area, back toward the docking station.