http://standaloneshell.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] standaloneshell.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] trans_92009-09-03 11:56 pm

Testing Boundaries [ Open ]

The Sensorium...of all the various strange and bewildering places she'd found aboard this madhouse, it had proved to be the most interesting. It was like an old science fiction movie, one of the improbable ones that gathered a cult following and generated money for greedy toymakers. It was like being plugged into the Net again, almost, with the freedom and power to change the world around her at command, and after only a few hours in the hollow, Netless silence, it was blessing to have something to take the edge off. Unprofessional, that, but still reassuring to have something so utterly human inflicted on her.

The Major had spent a few hours sifting through the available simulations and programs. Heavy-arms training runs, adventurous little role-playing games, even a few tactical simulations. Mostly it was just fluff, or half-finished or any of dozens of things that were little else but dry educational or pure entertainment in value.

So, what else could she do but program her own?

'Begin with what you know,' ran the old adage, and so she had. The city spread out before her was dark, tinted glass made inky black with night time and reflected neon and streetlights like a spectrum of eyes from every corner. This wasn't exactly accurate, as a simulation; Tokyo had never had as Jiggabachi helicopters or powered exoskeleton-toting soldiers wandering it's streets and skyways. Perhaps it had as many criminals, but they weren't so blatant. Then again, the point of this exercise wasn't realism, was it? Nostagia made these lacks seem obvious, maybe, but as Motoko stood on the edge of a flat-topped roof at what she'd deemed the "beginning" of the course, she decided it would do for a testing ground. Varied landscape and opponents would be a good measure of her teammates skill— among other things. Damned if she was going to go haring off anywhere with nothing but a blind knowledge of her teammates and hopeful wishes.

[identity profile] not-prncss-tldr.livejournal.com 2009-09-07 03:34 am (UTC)(link)
"I think I did well in this simulation...but that's all it was. It doesn't mean I won't be killed on my first mission." Lafiel's natural pride is tempered by a few years of battle experience. She's looking through the eyes of the security cameras, which swing over to look at her. "What was that?" It looks vaguely like what Meluly described her 'Engel' like, but she has a feeling Colo wouldn't go over with just a few 40mm grenades.

[identity profile] not-prncss-tldr.livejournal.com 2009-09-07 05:03 am (UTC)(link)
Major, you're talking to a girl who casually put the option of blowing away their atmosphere on the table. To people she was ostensibly helping. Still.

"I suppose your right. I was thinking of him as only an AI sim, but I wouldn't have that luxury during the mission."

[identity profile] not-prncss-tldr.livejournal.com 2009-09-07 06:15 am (UTC)(link)
Lafiel's voice on the other side of the line was a little chagrined. "I understand. Would you permit me to try again?" Because she was going to go through the sim as many times as it took to 'win' it.

[identity profile] not-prncss-tldr.livejournal.com 2009-09-08 02:22 am (UTC)(link)
Lafiel is too desperate to prove herself to hear anything else. "Understood. Please, give me a goal."