Vance always struggled with the classroom stuff.  He was smart enough, just not patient enough.  he could sit in the woods waiting for hours for the enemy to come by, but he had a very short fuse when it came to paperwork. But he was working hard on holding his temper and getting through the trained so he could fight.

He looked over at David when he groaned. he knew the feeling.

This stuff is for the birds. We're not long range recon snipers having to do all these calculations. The computers are going to do that. And if they are down, the shit don't fire no way.  It's ridiculous.  I need a beer.

David smile at someone else feel the same.

"I agree. I joined the military and now this destroid thing to blast aliens, not watching a computer all day"

Done much alien hunting?  Or human hunting?

Vance knew this type.  They were similar to him, out for blood and the fight.  But they thought they were invincible.  At least Vance "knew" he was invincible.  Just not immortal.

"Why would I hunt fellow hum....man, that is a fucked up question" David shake his head at the larger man. "I fought the aliens at Macross island, no way I would target my own species dude. We have done that enough before"

Species doesn't matter. If there are shooting at me then they are all Tangos. But you are right. Now that we have flown the coop we're all sheep. And the aliens are the wolves. WE are going to be the sheepdogs, keeping the wolves from the sheep. Like Chesty said "Hit em hard, hit em fast, hit em often"

Vance stands and stretches, tired of sitting all day.

Wanna hit the gym?

"Yeah. I'm game" David agree and raise from the chair. "You are a former soldier? Sounds like you have experience?"

Restricted to the 'military training base' section of the UES Macross for everyday except Sunday's meant the gym was a busy place.

Yeah, 6 years a Marine LAV crewman for a recon unit. Just when they needed men like me the most they booted me out because of some disciplinary problems.  So I naturally went to construction and nights as a bouncer. I was approached by Ell Tee Chambers at the club about going Destroid. So here I am, signing up to do what I do best, fight.

Walking into the gym it was obvious the place was busy.

What type of workout do you normally do? Heavy weights low reps or low weights, hi reps?  Or maybe the rope and the bag? You look like maybe more of the rope and bag type.

"Six years? Damn, shame you was not with us at Macross. That was a mess and we could have used someone more experienced"

"As long as I can use my body training I'm good. Worked as a worker  before I joined. You?"

[Private to Vance Sampson: Lol, autocorrect betrayed me]
This message was last edited by the player at 11:14, Fri 10 July 2020.

I joined the Marines straight out of school.  Bad home life and wanted to get away. I mostly just took peoples money before that. I was a bit of an ass back then.  not the sweet gentle guy I am now.

[Private to David Stephenson: Worked as a worked?  :-)]

David give a small grin.

"Yeah, betcha you are a real star now eh? Anyway, have you had time to been in the city? I have mostly stayed in the barracks and practice range most of my time so you can lead the way to the gym"

I can take us there.  I was at the base gym before I signed up a few weeks ago. They won't let us off base right now.  Ever since the city took flight I've been working construction and acting as bouncer at a couple of clubs.  recently started work at Club Dimensions. The one run by the former , and maybe current, porn star Romy LeBlanc AKa Brandy Du Vin. She's a good boss and a good lady.

Vance maneuvered them to the martial arts area of the gym.  ropes, bags, a ring, and Wing Chun dummy with the wooden arms for strengthening the bones and muscles.

We get warmed up good we'll get in the ring.  I'll see what you've got.

"You already have connections? Damn man you work fast, you gotta get me in once I'm able to visit. But won't two works get in the way?" he can't help but whistle at the man.

"Already talking like a instructor man!" David laugh as he prepared himself.

Vance laughs his deep chest laugh.

When you stand out like I do its easy to get connections. Especially as a bouncer. I've gotten hired before because the clubs original bouncers were going to be recovering for a while. I admit those were some of the seedier clubs I worked in. I prefer to simply ask them to leave and help them see the error it would be if they choose otherwise.

Vance does some katas to warm up, then moves to the Wing Chun dummy. He takes off his shirt, leaving him in shoes and shorts, then begins. He starts with slow and practiced moves, getting a rhythm established. Then he begins to sped up and get faster. By the end sweat is flying and so are his arms and legs. The wooden dummy creaks and groans but he never uses full strength and it never breaks.  He finally steps back from it and downs a couple of water bottles, and grabs his towel to dry off.

Your turn.

David laugh and nod before to getting started.

While clear he is not good in melee combat as Vance he still keep up a steady amount of punches and kicks that show training for the military.

"Damn man. You must be a beast in a fist fight" he grunt once he take a break and drink some water.

Vance shrugs his shoulders.

I haven't lost many.  In my early years the ones I lost were usually to guys trained in martial arts.  So I figured I better learn so I could beat them too. It's embarrassing to get a ass whooping from some dude 5 and half feet tall and weighing 120 lbs. Those are still the guys that I'm most leery of.  If they want to fight me then they are either good, or stupid, or crazy. And good or crazy will get me hurt.

Vance will give David a couple of pointers as he watches him.

"Fair enough, not a big fan of hand to hand myself rather I prefer fire arms to solve my problem if a idiot show up" David shrug between various blows.

"Heard what platoon you will get assign too?"

Not yet.  I'm hoping to make it into Lt. Chambers unit.  The Red Ribbons. She is the one who talked me into signing up.  Let me tell you, she is one hell of a woman.  Damn near kept up with me during a workout.  And I mean lifting weights.  She is deceptively strong. Don't ever go making her mad.

"Gotcha. As long as the commander is fair and cool with some weird shit I'm mostly good. Still though might be a good spot for me too, if able say some nice things about me"

The weeks go by and both Vance and David pass the Basic Instrumentation course and then move on into Destroid pilot training.

The class room portion of the Destroid pilot course involves a lot of simulator time, the hands on portion involves basic maintenance and upkeep for Destroids, familiarization with the weapons systems, and how to load the munitions (missiles cannon shells etc).

When it comes time to unit assignment the individuals in the class are given a list of Destroid Companies/Batteries which have open Destroid pilot/crewmen slots. Of course every Destroid Company/Battery has openings. Those students with prior military service or are laterally moving into the Destroid pilot MOS are informed that thier is a high likelihood of being assigned to a unit of the same branch of military service they were in or are currently in.

OOC: List of units is here link to a message in this game
The US Destroid units are:

• 4th Defense Battalion (Reinforced), Mike Battery (US Army)
• 5th Extraterrestrial Reconnaissance Battalion (Reinforced), Echo Company (USMC)
• 2nd Armor Battalion (Reinforced), Echo Company (US Army)

OOC: I'm not really sure what we are supposed to post?

Vance walks up to the table and puts his name down for Mike Battery.

Loo Tenant Chambers requested me for her unit.  It would be most appreciated if that could happen. Like, bottle of Black Jack appreciated.

"I will follow you then and also offer a bottle" David say after Vance and write his name under Vance.

As they leave the sign up area Vance watches the other candidates.

I hope we both get Mike.  You're one of the few candidates I can put up woth.

When the time comes where everyone is told which unit they are going to be assigned to both David and Vance get their first choice: 4th Defense Battalion (Reinforced), Mike Battery (US Army)

Both men realize that getting their first pick is something that rarely happened, either luck was on their side, or the possibility existed that Mike Battery was a shitty unit no one wanted to go to....

OOC: I will get a post of up the Daedalus thread so you can 'formally report in'