Coatlition Deepspace Academy, "Station Astraeus"

[Chronos]

Through the Shuttle's view port, William watched the Academy drift into view. It was several stories high, made of glass and steel, but most of it burrowed underground. Hidden on a massive asteroid within the Fringe belt, the Coalition Academy was one of the sole permanent structures in the belt. It was entirely self sustained, using materials from the nearby mineral-rich asteroids.

The shuttle silently moved through space, and drifted into one of the massive starship hangars that surrounded the base. A docking arm reached out and attached to the shuttle's airlock, and the door swung open.

The colonel shook Samuel awake. "We're here, son. Its been a long 2 weeks of travel, time to shine!" Sam quickly pulled himself up and grabbed his things. Will lifted his duffel over his shoulder, and stepped through the airlock, following the Colonel.

He found himself in a small room with less than ten people, and some staff. Four rugged looking men stood out in particular.

"This is going to be your crew. You have been assembled to carry out highly sensitive missions that no one else will be able to handle. You're good, but we can make you the best. Be here at 0800 tomorrow Pandora-Capital time, we'll discuss what sort of training you'll receive. The Corporal will show you barracks. Dismissed."

The colonel turned and left, and the newly formed crew left for the barracks.

[Chronos]

At 0800 PCT exactly, Colonel Desmund Lang stepped into the staging room. Infront of him was the codename 'Dirty-Dozen' crew, not a man missing. He smiled to himself.

"Glad you could make it gentlemen. If you look at the table in front of you, you'll find a sort of class schedule. It includes specialized weapons training, boxing, machine operation, and other skills you might find useful during your career as a Coalition Special Forces solider. You will be able to chose 3 courses at this time."

Please PM me AND Mikey with your requests. See fighting styles and weapon types. We'll decide if your choice is valid.

[Chronos]

4 Months later. Date: January 12th, 2254 (Pandora Calendar). 1700 Hours, PCT.

Colonel Lang looked at his new soldiers, and smiled.

"Gentlemen, it's been a hard 4 months. But you've learned what its taken others years. You had heart before coming here, but you were sloppy. We have sharpened you. You are now part of the elite fighters for the Coalition, and will help enforce justice across the system. But right now, your a little green. But I can change that." He said, a sly smile crossing his face.

"Deep in the Fringe, only about 5,000 kilometers from this very base, an anti-Coalition, anarchist group calling themselves the 'Silver Hand' has taken refuge from the government. We were fine with that, but have kept tabs on them. However, one week ago, they began stockpiling weapons and vehicles. Our intel suggests that their target is the UC outpost on Shadow. They will move out at 1100 tomorrow morning. They do not know of this base's existence and do not believe a preemptive is possible. You'll show them. Get to the barracks and the armorer. They'll allow you to choose some new equipment for this mission. I want your boots on the flight-line at 1900 hours. Dismissed."

The Dirty Dozen snapped too, and moved out to the bunkers.

[William Slyth]

RESULTS OF TRAINING:

Aaron Church:
Piloting/Vehicle Operation - Luck Increased by 5%, Pilot level increased to 7 can now operate most non-standard ground and aircraft (you could already operate standard)
Choy Li Fut Kung Fu - Martial Arts skill set at 40%, level up at 2% per level
Mechanics - Can now keep all vehicles in good shape, can perform minor repair, given proper tools. Set of tools given with completion of class

Matt Aran:
Kickboxing - Martial Arts Skill set at 50%, level up 4% per level
General Weapons - All weapons increased one level = 6% accuracy in main, 4% increase with secondary
General Vehicles - Can now pilot all standard ground vehicles and marine craft, luck increased 5%

Gekko Whitmoar:
Ninjitsu and Knife Training- Martial Arts Skill Set at 60%, Level up 2% per level
Basic Disguise - can now impersonate low-interest enemies. Limitations: Won't hold under scrutiny, requires about 10min to take disguise. End of course awarded face-molding materials

Samuel Lay:
Krav Maga - Martial Arts skill set at 50%, level up 2% per level
Shotgun - increased to 50%
Technical infiltration (i.e. Hacking with a purpose) - can hack basic computers and vehicles, 20% chance of hacking moderate

Raythe Cailean:
Shi no Sesshoku - Specialty Martial Arts skill set at 25%, level up 1% per level (knife and normal martial art remain separate)
Crossbow - increased to 40%
Stealth - increased to 40%, footstep sound silenced

William Slyth:
Shi no Sesshoku - Specialty Martial Arts skill set at 25%, level up 1% per level (knife and normal martial art remain separate)
Tactics and Planning - ability with planning missions, and improvisation, better at working with team's strengths/weaknesses, luck increased 5%
Sniper - increased to 50%

[Chronos]

January 14th, 2254

The 'Dirty Dozen' was assembled in the Station Astraeus main hall. Colonel Lang stood at the front of the room.
"You have succeeded with flying colors in your mission. You are all Agents now. Unfortunately, the Director of Project Freelancer is not available, but he has left this message for you." Lang keyed up a voice recording, and the Director's thick Texan voice filled the room.
"Congratulations on your success, and welcome to Project Freelancer. However, I have to set formalities aside. We have an urgent mission for you. As you know, Project Freelancer is the secret key to galactic unity. Our Agents make sure that the government does not collapse, and the mass death and destruction of the civil wars does not return. However, someone, or something, is killing our top Agents, and stealing their equipment and gear. Your mission is to track down and neutralize this threat, as this agency always has. You also have a secondary objective: save any Agents under attack, or recover their gear.
In this time of peace, the government has been quick to scrutinize our methods, and we need a decisive victory. We have several leads:
Agent East's recovery beacon activated on Guild yesterday. Also, Agent Shadow reported that she was being followed on Pandora. Agent PC was on Shadow, and we have lost all trace of him.
Finally, there's the matter of Agent Texas' allegiance... anyhow, you have your mission. Execute it with the proficiency expected of this agency."
And the voice recoding went dead. Colonel Lang stepped forward.
"Go to the armory to select your gear, then pack your things. Meet me in the hangar in 3 hours."

[Chronos]

The crew assembled in the hangar bay with all their possessions in duffles. Colonel Lang was waiting for them.
"I'd just like to expand on the leads the Director gave you. Agent East was on Guild, specifically in MARS Complex 3. He was conducting simulation tests on new gear we were going to receive from MARS. His recovery beacon activated, which means he's in serious danger, or dead, and his equipment is in danger.
Agent Shadow was keep tabs on wealthy businessmen who may have been trying to sway Parliament Elections. She reported two days that something was tracking her. She sounded frantic, which is unusual for her.
Agent PC was in the back country on Alpha, one of Titan's moons. Some important military training was going on, and PC was going to oversee them. He stopped transmitting messages three days ago, and a fly-over from the local science crew yielded no results.
Keep an eye out for Texas... she's a rouge element at this point."
The Colonel waved them forward.
"Now, we've got a bit of a treat for you. This is going to be your new home." As they came around the corner, a large frigate docked to the station came into view. It was a large, older model, but its new armor and freshly painted name showed that it was anything but average.
"I present, the UCV Sojourn! Go aboard, choose your rooms, and plan where you'll be going first, then radio me with your decision."

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