2022-06-27: Basic Training
- Log: Basic Training
- Cast: Vitaly Sokolov, Lina Lombardi
- Where: Ravnui
- OOC - IC Date: 0096-06-27
- Summary: Vitaly Sokolov puts her former pupil to the test to see how she's grown. In the process, another fork is revealed in the road to Lina's future.
<Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
Today, Lina Lombardi finds herself rudely assigned to a base in Ravnui for a week period, with significant risk of retaliation if she were to deny the 'polite request' to report on-location. No doubt, when she was given the letter of assignment, her blood may have run cold at the name of the one who filed for the request.
Vitaly Sokolov.
Known to most as The Winter Witch of Ravnui. With her particular position within G-Hound, this harsh old woman has a certain amount of reach. A Lieutenant Commander, and famous (or infamous depending on your definition) Combat Instructor, it was perhaps inevitable that this would happen.
There are not many who have escape from Vitaly Sokolov's grasp. The idea that someone had quit from her ruthless training menu, and then dared to come back under active service through some kind of back channel or 'lesser' performance requiring examination seemed almost unheard of.
It is for that very same reason, that she finds herself across from an old Daughtress Neo. A machine that is thoroughly older and far less efficient in battle than even her own Alto Flight Type.
<"Today, will decide if Lombardi go back to training under me, or if she will be permitted to remain in active duty."> Vitaly Sokolov declares across the laser-link between the two of them. A rather hefty threat no doubt. And one that cannot feel good.
The old woman is expecting a loud retort to her declaration, as she makes a few last minute adjustments within the cockpit of the old machine. <"Do not want to hear complaint of unit being difference. So, I deploy in older clunkier unit. Rifles loaded with paint ball. Missile also deploy paint. Can use beam weapon for laser target. Will disable parts of unit. Weaker than live ammunition. But safer for training, da?">
The Daughtress hefts up two shield-bearing machine guns. <"I believe, favor sky. So, take off and come.">
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. <Pose Tracker> Lina Lombardi has posed.
Geez, wasn't this a blast of nostalgia. Lina already knew that Sokolov had popped up in G-Hound's circle, and even hearing her name again had been unearthing memories. But jeez, what was this woman thinking, dragging her all the way up to Ravnui for a training exercise? Her AWACS was, of course, not present. The old lady'd probably flip her lid if anyone else from CDS was here.
"You know I had my reasons for leaving! You're not the one who gets to decide these things for me anymore! I'll humor you for this, but you're going to just have to deal with the path I chose..."
The Alto takes off, hovering in the air and pulling out its assault rifle. This was her first time actually fighting Sokolov in the flesh and not in a simulator. There was a part of her that relished the chance to put her former instructor in her place.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm not one to make excuses. I'm pretty damn good with this thing!" She took aim...and fired!
KTS: Lina Lombardi targets Vitaly Sokolov with ExAMACS Assault Rifle Shot! KTS: Vitaly Sokolov blocks Lina Lombardi's ExAMACS Assault Rifle Shot, taking 1470 damage! KTS: EN Regen activates. Your new EN value is 62.
<Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
"Nyet, you never tell me why you leave. Just one day, I come to dorm. Child has left, bag and all. Note of departure come late. So - is excuse. Never come to me. Never dare to tell me, what more important than life-saving training." Vitaly harshly answers Lina Lombardi as the Daughtress Neo begins to lift off, its backpack thrusters engaging as Alto comes in with its Assault Rifle. Firing upon her position, the Daughtress Neo begins to rapidly flit from side to side as the attack comes in, using its twin shields to protect its sensitive regions. Some of the gunfire splatting over the shields, but a lot of it ends up against the floor as the Daughtress...
Well, it isn't that it's going very fast, but there's these darned trained maneuvers that is making it really hard to get a bead on where Sokolov is going! The machine then suddenly bursts forward, not halting for even a single moment. Shifting and coming at her. And while Vitaly Sokolov has mentioned her weapons, it quickly becomes apparent that those machineguns are not all she is willing to use, as she practically comes in to shoulder-tackle into her machine, before turning the old Daughtress about and trying to kick at the cockpit of the Alto.
"'Pretty damn good' at shooting mouth off. Show skill through action, not bluster." Vitaly demands of her, right before her machine turns to aim, and starts raining bullets upon her position to keep up a constant supressing fire on her position with one arm's gatling-shield weapon!
"Have to do no such thing as 'accept path'."
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov targets Lina Lombardi with HG Shield Attack! No channel with that name or alias found. Incoming attacks: 1: Vitaly_Sokolov attacking with HG Shield Attack (Physical, Melee, Rattle) ----
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov rattles Lina Lombardi, making her next maneuvers more difficult. KTS: Lina Lombardi fails to evade Vitaly Sokolov's HG Shield Attack, taking 3380 damage! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 10620 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has engaged Lina Lombardi KTS: Lina Lombardi has activated the Attune Spirit Command. <Pose Tracker> Lina Lombardi has posed.
Lina's teeth shake in her head as Sokolov's attack finds its target, the pilot cursing under her breath. She had to focus...Instructor Sokolov always managed to get under her skin. She pulls back and aims down the sights towards Sokolov.
"When Papa disappeared...I couldn't continue with that system anymore...My father's memory is trapped under a bunch of black bars! I don't want that to happen to me!"
Lina closes one eye to steady her targeting and jams on the trigger, unleashing a barrage of bullets in a small spread, hopefully accounting for the veteran's tricky maneuvers.
KTS: Lina Lombardi targets Vitaly Sokolov with ExAMACS Assault Rifle Barrage! KTS: Vitaly Sokolov blocks Lina Lombardi's ExAMACS Assault Rifle Barrage, taking 2820 damage! KTS: EN Regen activates. Your new EN value is 64.
<Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
Vitaly Sokolov talks in very short bursts when she communicates. She is an older woman, and her breaths are best used to ensure she keeps a focus in battle. <"Keep focus. Aim down sight in short glance. Do not lose track of environment. Always be aware of escape route."> The woman instructs her as Lina fires, the small spread of bullets are indeed difficult to evade.
But in these close quarters, Vitaly doesn't back off. In fact, because Lina is using a ranged weapon, which has a lead time, she keeps making for quick bursts that force the Alto Flight Type to try and turn on a dime. But the Daughtress Neo's maneuvers make it so that each time she starts overturning the innertia, and gains momentum in a direction to follow, the Daughtress makes for high-G maneuvers, airbraking, and adjusting its angle, making it impossible to get a long spray going. Some of the bullets are hitting, but they are constantly shattering against the shields.
<"Sometime, quicker to complete turn, than to adjust and change direction of aim!"> Vitaly calls out, as her unit uses one of those maneuvers to get behind the Alto Flight Type, as its Wrist Beam activates, and a laser-indicator quickly tries to seek out the thrusters of the Alto!
<"So, make progress then? Find father? Find people who help clear black bars?"> She inquires with Lina. <"Go off on own. Make progress, away from woman who will protect student? Lina did not get captured, but is she in danger now?"> Vitaly demands to know, making it clear in no uncertain terms that while she is harsh, the woman is also very protective of her students. A tough love kind of affection, minus teh motherly feels.
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov targets Lina Lombardi with Wrist Rifle Point Blank Shot! evade not permitted in MeleeEngaged
KTS: Lina Lombardi fails to react to Vitaly Sokolov's Wrist Rifle Point Blank Shot, taking 4800 damage! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at 5820 KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has engaged Lina Lombardi <Pose Tracker> Lina Lombardi has posed.
Lina was half tempted to shut that damn radio off as Sokolov lectured her. The impact of the rifle shot jolted her hand away from the button as if it was the woman's own hand smacking her away. Such a pain...
"I found CDS in my father's old contacts...I thought he could help shed some light on things. But when I looked into it...That life appealed to me. The freedom to control my own destiny, to fight for what I choose! Not bogged down by governments and bureaucracy!"
Remembering the past was causing Lina's eyes to water, gathering like the energy on her flight cannons as she readied a shot. "At this point, the best I can do is walk forward on my own path!" The cannon fires, shooting its beam directly towards her foe.
KTS: Lina Lombardi targets Vitaly Sokolov with Flight Module Cannon Sighted Shot! KTS: Vitaly Sokolov fails to react to Lina Lombardi's Flight Module Cannon Sighted Shot, taking 6200 damage! KTS: EN Regen activates. Your new EN value is 56. KTS: Vitaly Sokolov has activated the Spirit Spirit Command. No channel with that name or alias found.
<Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
Vitaly's machine sputters for a moment. The woman is putting it through too many G-Forces, and it's beginning to show. Each time she moves and turns, its wings adjust, its body creaks. Almost like it were as old as Vitaly's own body. Complaining about the ravages of time - unable to maneuver as it once did.
<"Da, is good life. But, are G-Hound now. No?"> She presses to her. <"Freedom is good. But too much freedom is problem."> The woman remarks as Lina's shot finds true! Firing right through the left arm of the Neo Daughtress, causing the entire arm to go limp as the hit is registered, and the hand-held weapon is allowed to fall down towards the ground while the unit keeps maneuvering, coming right at Lina's Alto.
<"Too emotional still. But, happy you find path. I wish, you trust me enough to tell me to face. Could have helped."> The woman then suddenly declares, as it suddenly practically char-kicks towards Lina's machine, trying to ensure she's positioned below her, before the machinegun on the remaining arm opens up along with its wrist beam blaster, sending a cascade of shots down at her position, quickly draining its simulated reactor reserves!
KTS: Vitaly Sokolov targets Lina Lombardi with Approaching Shot-and-Strike! KTS: Lina Lombardi fails to react to Vitaly Sokolov's Approaching Shot-and-Strike, taking 6360 damage! KTS: Your unit's HP stands at -540 KTS: Lina Lombardi has been defeated! KTS: You're out of the fight. Consider using +eject to leave the battlefield. KTS: Really eject? [Enter `yes' or `no'] KTS: Lina Lombardi's eEXM-17FT Alto Flight Type has been disabled. KTS: You have not deployed a robot. (see +deploy) <Pose Tracker> Lina Lombardi has posed.
Lina's machine was looking pretty rough too, to the point where Vitaly's shots each make their mark, bringing it to the brink as she brings it down, raising her hand in surrender.
"Geez...you really haven't missed a beat, have you...Instructor Sokolov?" Saying that full title out loud both stings her pride and comforts her. The cockpit opens and Lina stands up, wiping her eyes. "I'm sorry. You're a pain in the ass, but you still deserved an explanation. G-Hound's been a pretty good customer, all things considered. Even though I'm just a contractor, it's nice to belong, I suppose."
She gasps as she remembers the stakes of this training exercise. "Wait, you still can't pull me out of duty! I've gotta make a living! This thing is company property!"
<Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
As the units land and the two of them make it back to the tarmac, the Neo Daughtress ends up standing before Lina Lombardi's unit. And as the cockpit opens, the old woman opens up her own one.
"Must keep training. Especially in old age. Or, will no longer be able to train young lady like you, or young lad like Michael." Someone Lina used to train alongside with. No doubt someone who always wears their helmet so that nobody can ever see his face.
As she lifts herself up, and steps out onto the edge of the open cockpit, she stares at Lina Lombardi with that typical cold stare of hers. "Could become more than contractor." Vitaly Sokolov proposes to Lina Lombardi. "Return to train under me - finish what you started. Become part of G-Hound proper, and get help. Get access to better unit. Treize Khushrenada has deep pocket. Find out what happen to father. I have leverage. I can remove Black Stripe." She proposes. Not yet answering her whether or not she would pull her out of duty if she refused.
<Pose Tracker> Lina Lombardi has posed.
Lina sighs. Elias Concord had been quite a help to her until now, and who knows where she'd be without Alina's guidance, but it was true that her resources were still pretty limited. And G-Hound was a relatively autonomous unit, which would suit her purposes, and if anyone could help her with her father, it was Sokolov.
"I...I'll think about it, okay? And if I do come, my right hand lady at the company comes with me." Mousetrap might just kill her when she finds out, but it would only be fair after how much she spent on that damn Sheryl Nome shirt.
<Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
"If your lady is useful, then I will accept lady." Vitaly Sokolov answers Lina in a utilitarian manner. "She is... 'Mousetrap', da?" It seems that the woman has at least read her file before all of this. Though who knows if it is 'concerning' or 'flattering' that this woman has done the research.
"Can always use more AWACS expert and technician. Have been forming Rapid Response Team. Need more member. Especially with new alien threat looming." The woman seeks to impress just how important this matter is to her.
<Pose Tracker> Lina Lombardi has posed.
"Mousetrap is her callsign. Her name's Alina Pride. Not surprised you were looking at my file. I suppose a good instructor does her best to know her students." Lina shrugs and chuckles, in much better spirits now.
"But don't assume I'm gonna be all 'yes ma'am no ma'am' with you even if I do join up. I still have my pride."
<Pose Tracker> Vitaly Sokolov has posed.
Vitaly lifts her head ever so slightly when Lina remarks that she won't call her ma'am. "Shall see. Have seen many people hold pride. Those people now in coffin." The old woman tries to impress on Lina with a thorough firmness, before settling back into her cockpit and leans into her suit, doing some checkups. "Student aim get better. Need to work on defensive maneuver." She then declares. "But, better than when we last met. Is reasonable improvement. With instruction, will improve more. Perhaps, will instruct in time before it become problem." Vitaly seems to speak to herself, though her words are clearly meant for Lina.
She then begins to close the cockpit hatch. "Return unit to hangar, Lina Lombardi. May continue active duty for now." The woman declares, and with that, the cockpit shuts - and so does her road into that conversation.
<Pose Tracker> Lina Lombardi has posed.
<poem> "Yeah, you haven't changed a bit. Good to have you back, ma'am." Lina smirks, humoring the older woman just once as her own cockpit closes on her.