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Post by Perceptor on Jun 15, 2009 17:32:11 GMT -5
Then they just have to hope that the trucker trucking past is a chick, and all will be good. Wait, how did they get to hitch-hiking with truckers from tanks anonymous?
Perceptor is about to wave a dismissive hand again at the mention of Runamuck - little better than a Stunticon, there - when Xaaron mentions Shockwave. "Hm. That rather is 'outing' yourself. Hnnn..."
"If it were merely Mirage, well, he is circumspect enough, I believe, and Runamuck seems a typical Decepticon that would likely wave it off as luck rather than anything else. Shockwave, however, would, unfortunately, be the one to take note of such a thing, and not underestimate you in the future. " Perceptor is not pleased. Shockwave appears to be one of his Big Red Buttons.
"Perhaps I should design some armor upgrades for you when I have completed my work for the ship..." Really, as far as Perceptor is aware, Shockwave would be his very last choice for a Decepticon to be privy to a secret. How... irritating. Gah.
How does one non-combatant go about teaching another non-combatant how to be a tank? "How are your targeting skills?"
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 15, 2009 18:04:50 GMT -5
At least Perceptor fit inside a glove compartment and doesn't require a flat bed truck.
Emirate Xaaron shrugs and points out, "There have been bystanders." And Bond girls. "Word will trickle out."
Shockwave is a big red button on the big red scientist, huh? Of course. That infernal promise.
Armour upgrades? Because Emirate Xaaron's creaky old joints need to be weighed down more, hmm?
He pauses and stares up at Perceptor blankly, "Targeting skills?"
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Post by Perceptor on Jun 15, 2009 18:54:20 GMT -5
Mass shifting for the win. Hooyah.
"Word may trickle out, however, word and real respect are two wholly different things, and Decepticons rarely respect their Autobot opponents," Perceptor counters.
Well, armor upgrades would help protect against random Giant Space Gun of DoomTM attentions.
"Yes, targeting skills." This... does not bode well. "Being a tank does not do one much good if one cannot hit anything."
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 15, 2009 19:21:52 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron snorts. "I'm not saying that they're going to respect me. Just that they'll know to call in a tank-killer when previously, they might have thought me a bit more... flimsy."
That, and there's no way a non-combatant could really justify higher grade armour than he already has. Swerve would break his hand even worse, and then there would they be?
"Did I say it did me much good?" Emirate Xaaron grins. "Targeting skills. I don't have any. I dropped a roof on Runamuck because I hadn't a hope of hitting him."
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Post by Perceptor on Jun 15, 2009 19:36:28 GMT -5
With a grumpier racer, obviously.
"Not yet, however, that is why you were seeking instruction, yes?" Perceptor replies with a faintly amused chuckle. "On a more positive note, I suppose having no targeting skills is preferable to needing to unlearn sub-optimal targeting skills."
See? Bright side! Perceptor finds it!
"Perhaps we should start with learning upon a hand-heald weapon, rather than in your alternate mode, however. The theory is rather the same, and differs only in the barest levels of application between the two skill sets."
Plus, there's less to clean up while learning with a rifle or a pistol than with a tank.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 15, 2009 21:42:36 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron looks dubious at Perceptor's assertion, though he can see some logic to it.
Is the theory rather the same? Emirate Xaaron couldn't say. He has no idea. Sure, it might seem like a turret and a sidearm are rather different, but he doesn't really know, does he? No. He doesn't.
Emirate Xaaron warns, "I haven't a sidearm of my own, and it will be quite a while before I deserve one to my name."
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Post by Perceptor on Jun 15, 2009 21:57:15 GMT -5
The fundamentals of aiming are still the fundamentals of aiming, regardless of what is being aimed.
"If I can supply Holi with a pistol," Perceptor replies wryly, "I believe that I can supply one for you. And if you are so concerned with 'deserving' one, then you may always return it after practice."
And somehow, Perceptor has become a weapons instructor. Somewhere out there, there is a Brawn who is laughing his exhaust off.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 23, 2009 17:11:33 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron points out, "Weapons are dangerous to you and your allies if you don't know how to use them properly. If I carry a laser pistol, and the best thing I can do with it is hand it to Holi, it's a false economy for me to be carrying it at all. I wouldn't want people to actually assume I might be competent with a laser pistol. Planning on that would nothing short of disastrous."
Perceptor has become a weapons instructor because he is a) competent and b) relatively non-threatening. Pretty good reasons, those.
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Post by Perceptor on Jun 25, 2009 14:08:28 GMT -5
"Excellent points," Perceptor agrees. "However, Holi is actually a very skilled shot, despite his level of maturity. Firebolt, however..." he trails off with a bit of a shrug.
"But your points are well taken. That leaves two options. A standard weapon issued for the duration of each training session only - until such point as you achieve a sufficient level of proficiency that you would feel comfortable retaining it. Otherwise, we can begin instruction with a non-lethal targeting weapon such as a dye-pellet ballistic device."
"Additionally, we could, instead, choose to skip this intital step and I could attempt to instruct you in your alternate mode." He soub=nds doubtful about that, though.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 26, 2009 13:02:22 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron's optics narrow. "Yes, exactly, Holi being a good shot is why handing him the gun is the more useful call in most situations."
He shrugs eloquently, and his optics glitter. "Why, Perceptor, you are the expert. I'll leave it in your capable hands on what I start training."
Though, if they do start out in tank mode, Emirate Xaaron hopes that Perceptor has a lot of things he wants ruined, and moreover, that Perceptor puts them far, far away from the line of fire, because that's where all the shots will go.
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Post by Perceptor on Jun 28, 2009 15:07:12 GMT -5
"Then I suggest that we begin with something non-destructive," Perceptor muses thoughtfully, "and work our way upward from there. That will also allow us to begin here in the tunnels with some degree of privacy, as well." He cants a knowing little smile toward Xaaron, figuring that the Emirate would prefer keeping both his lack of ability and his attempt to rectify that as secretive as possible, if for no other reason that reinstating some element of surprise.
He turns and begins fishing through the bins and containers that make up the storage in his little hidey-hole lab, pulling out a few parts here and there and quickly assembling the non-lethal dye-pellet weapon.
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jun 29, 2009 12:41:01 GMT -5
Emirate Xaaron sometimes likes to be secretive just to make his troops ask questions. It would not do to let them grow lax. Critical thinking must be cultivated.
He nods and replies agreeably enough, "That sounds reasonable."
Emirate Xaaron watches the assembly, quirking an optical ridge at the choice of ammunition.
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Post by Perceptor on Jun 30, 2009 19:27:30 GMT -5
The ammunition actually takes longer to prepare than the weapon does, as it requires a careful balance of gelatines and dye to make them solid enough to withstand firing, and thin enough to splat satisfactorily upon impact.
"That should do," he finally proclaims after several minutes of mixing and prodding at his apparatud with random "Hmmmms," and the occassional, "Ah, yes."
"One of the adjacent corridors should serve for the time being," he explains, nodding toward the door. "This will give you quite obvious visual feedback as to your progress, without damaging the targeting area," he continues, loading the weapon as he leads the way out to a decently lit dead end corridor - a tunnel collapse had neatly sealed the other end about five dozen paces down. "Once we have established what areas you require the most assistance with, we shall work on tailoring a regimine from there. Suitable?"
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Post by Emirate Xaaron on Jul 1, 2009 12:19:15 GMT -5
There are probably at least a thousand ways to kill someone with Jell-O.
It should not be shocking that Emirate Xaaron is wondering what they are.
He's getting ahead of himself, though, and he knows it. He forces his focus back to the present. he purrs, "Excellent work, as usual. Though... I would not be so certain that I am unable to damage the training area, eve given that ammunition."
Never say never, especially in the face of gross incompetence.
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Post by Perceptor on Jul 3, 2009 21:52:22 GMT -5
Perceptor quirks up a single brow ridge as he offers the weapon to Xaaron, grip first. "If you manage to cause lasting damage to these structures with this ammunition, then we will dispense with any additional marksmanship training and simply arm you with all non-lethal weaponry," he replies with wry amusement. "And then watch as you single-handedly decimate the Decepticon ranks for us with that."
"Now, this is the safety mechanism, whicvh must be disengaged before firing," he explains, pointing out the features of the weapon. "This is, obviously, the trigger, and these structures along the top of the barrel are the sights used for targeting. Generally, you attempt to line both sights up with your target, and then make minute adjustments based upon environmental factors such as wind and weather. Given that we have none in this location - another factor for initiating your training here - I would recommend beginning with simply lining the sights up upon that black stain in the center of the blockage of the corridor."
While he has been explaining this, he has continued walking down said corridor until he stops about twenty pases from the end, pointing at a rather large and obvious stain on the largest piece of debris which has blocked the old corridor.
"Does that make sense?"
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