[color=DarkTurquoise][center][h2][u]Goldrenrod, TPT HQ, Elysium[/u][/h2][/center][/color]

Martian sunshine pierced the silicate plane before a petite woman, in a rather comfortable chair. Brown hair, violet eyes, dressed in a simple white attire. She looked down from the tower into Elysium, which had quite apparently turned into a war zone. Rows of trees and green grass outlined the Tower compound. How did she love the garden, at about 500 meters the green peaceful scenery ended abruptly where a 2-1/2ft. wall surrounded the corporate ground's limits.

This was her home, and she would hate to lose it. Recent terrorists acts, especially groups such as the FBM disgusted her to say the least. A once burgeoning city turning into a playground for thugs with guns. Even more so disturbing, the Factory complex and company comissioned by her family for years was now but cinders and dust, after an unknown element of assailants stormed it, then bombed it.

But if anything, these recent events gave Salandra more resolve. She heard the click of a door open behind her. Just as she went to turn, she saw plumes of smoke and debris plume in the distance, a deep frown engrossed her manner, as she turned to the guest.

A man of 6 feet stood at her desk, dressed in an dark navy blue uniform, black hair, cobalt hue eyes that just weren't quite natural. Anderson, shifted his robotic almost skeletal arms behind him. 

[b]"Report HoS"[/b] said Salandra, Anderson announced with unabated breath [b]"The outer perimeter is currently secured by about half our Marksmen division, 360 degrees, twelve hour shifts, no breaches. The Inner perimeter is patrolled by our Security officers inside the building, outside, and under. SOU is performing training exercises, but is action ready regardless." [/b]

[b]"Good, work as usual isn't it?"[/b] She said with a mischievous smirk, Salandra swiveled her seat back to the view of city and pointed to the nearly dissipated plume of smoke in the distance. [b]"After we are done here Anderson, I want a report on who and what caused that. I'm seriously starting to get annoyed with all these war zone theatrics."[/b]

[b]"Of course mam"[/b] Anderson nodded. [b]"Now to business at hand, what about the Press from MAN?"[/b] Salandra asked. Anderson  cleared his throat replying [b]"They'll be here shortly I'd say in about 10 minutes for your interview"[/b]. [b]"Hmm, alright and what about our current status with Pentegral industries and that deal we've been try to get through to them?"[/b] she said her head now slightly tilted to the side. Anderson shifted a bit uncomfortably before answering "Well no reply actually, [b]I assume they are busy at the moment..."[/b]. A serious look took to Salandra [b]"Well that is disappointing, they are one of our best bets right now for contracting labor. Not to mention they have one of the few Space Elevators on Mars!"[/b] A slight pause passed [b]"Send in our relations agent when you can so we might discuss this "little" problem"[/b]. 

Salandra nodded for Anderson to leave, but he didn't instead he asked [b]"Mam, I know you could order and learn all of these things simply from your network connection, why did you need me to come in person?"[/b] She laughed in response [b]"Anderson, it took you all these months to ask that? Seeing other people in person is better than an voice mail, or text. It tends to leave impressions on them otherwise overlooked, that Anderson and I like to see your friendly face when I can."[/b]

Anderson grunted in acceptance leaving the office. Ten minutes was more than enough time for Salandra to quickly browse through countless reports. She accessed her cerebral implant taping into the TPT local network.

[hider=Human Resources reallocation]The order to build, accommodate and move all TPT employees inhabiting Elysium to new homes in our underground complex has been completed. All employees accepted this and were cooperative as expected. 

All needed commodities and food is currently shipped in from the airport nearby. It is well guarded and should be able to resist any attack, unless military in nature. All the funds necessary for the project have been allocated, and any requests for more financial resources should not be needed for some time.

[i]Hoffman[/i] [b]Human Resources manager[/b][/hider]

[hider=HoS report: FBM threat assessment]The FBM are an recent terrorist group, with radical idealism. They are extremely prejudice against corporate organizations and show no remorse in killing others regardless of origin or faction.

Highly dangerous, armed to the teeth, I've read several reports of TSDC convoys of PMC troops getting overwhelmed in ambushes. Its not a question of if FBM will turn their attention to us, its a question of when.

I recommend we divert more funds into security, not as an precautionary measure, Elysium is becoming volatile and we'll need everything we can get when shit hits the fan.

[i]Anderson[/i] [b]HoS[/b][/hider]

[hider=Drone Division: Diamond Dog Issue#7865]Recent live tests have been performed admirably. However during the tests we discovered a defect. It isn't an impairment to the Drone's performance however it could lead to future problems dealing with radiation contamination.

The finely Tuned Plutonium RTG core performs admirably, and our experimental shorten-ed half-life Plutonium works as expected. Having approximately a ten year period of energy production, and a 2 year span of it being still radioactive after usefulness has ended. 

The problem is the containment chamber, consisting of ceramics and lead it keeps the radiation contained well enough. The heat sinks in the tail also work great. The problem is after prolonged use the Diamond Dog's containment chamber becomes "loose" so to speak. Small cracks form here and there that radiation leaks out of.

Up until now we've tried to fix the problems with the limited resources and equipment presented. It isn't enough. We need an entirely refurbished RTG containment design to keep to code, and for that we need industrial resources we currently don't have.

I understand recent events have rendered such resources non-existent, and that we have a few pending commissions that haven't been answered. We are patient, however we currently cannot fix this issue which is slowing much needed progress.
[i]Isaac[/i] [b]Drone Division Head Technician[/b][/hider]

Salandra sighed, so much needed to be done, yet so little time. She stopped her browsing as two Greyhounds escorting another vehicle with the MAN news logo was heading to the tower. She got up brushed the folds of her dress out, and headed down.

[hider=MAN News special interview, Salandra TullHeart][i]Next on MAN, we interview CEO of TPT, one of the few Corporations still active in Elysium[/i]

Salandra came into view, sitting up straight,  on a simple steel chair, near a window, the city-scape shining behind her.

The reported wasted no time [b]"Salandra Tullheart, CEO of TPT. MAN and myself are greatly honored to interview. So the first question to start off with, how have you managed with recent events in Elysium? A lot of us are wondering why your Corporation has decided to stay when so many others have moved from the city".[/b]

Salandra looked straight at the camera, her voice proud and resonant [b]"TPT as many know was infact born here in Elysium"[/b]. Salandra raised her arms along with the city scape behind her [b]"For many years we have been based here, have employed people from here"[/b]. A slight paused passed letting her words sink in [b]"I care for my employees, much of whom were near hot zones until recently. I myself, and TPT has decided to stay to stand up to recent developments. We care for Elysium, we care for Mars. To get through these turbulent times we need to stand together, I'm not talking about Corporate alliances, or government policy. We need to stand together and weather the storm, to put an end to this unneeded violence that is threatening to envelop Mars and endanger many lives"[/b].

She let down her expressionate arms, then paused again for a breath [b]"That is why TPT is still based here in Elysium regardless of the danger. Rest assured necessary actions have been taken to ensure safety for TPT employees currently inhabiting Elysium"[/b]. The reporter seemed moved by the speech in daze for a few moments [b]"Ah yes, that is very commendable Salandra, many don't view things with such wisdom. TPT is certainly in good hands, so for how long have you been CEO of TPT? Public records are actually fuzzy on the detail since the incident five years ago today"[/b]. Salandras expression momentarily broke at the remembrance of it. She quickly regained posture, and pushed the dark memories deep down. [b]"I have been CEO for just under Four years now"[/b]. She said in a colder, but not entirely offensive voice. 

The MAN reporter said [b]"I'm impressed and no doubt everyone else. You're short time as CEO has saved TPT from disaster after the serial killings that nearly costed your life, and no doubt others. But we'll move on, since you have a strong stance against violence we'd be interested to know about the recent FBM video we broadcasted not to long ago"[/b].

The corner's of Salandras face darkened as she said [b]"That snuff film FBM calls justice is nothing but proof that they are not to be trusted, nor bartered with. For the safety of all, they need to be incarcerated, put on trial, and executed at the least"[/b].

The MAN finshed the interview with [b]"Well there we have it an ultimatum, and an impressive track record. Salandra Tullheart on MAN"[/b].[/hider]

Salandra stepped out of the room, infuriated by the lack of respect for all those deaths... It wasn't so long ago, five years. It wasn't so along ago a mad genius had toyed with her family, then her. She shook her head getting back to work. What was one to expect of Reporters anyways? They were like Vultures attracted to the carrion of tragedy.

[color=DarkTurquoise][h2][u]"The Bucket" Training room, underground, Goldenrod complex[/u][/h2][/color]

A line of 8 men stood in black uniforms, their arms behind their backs. This line was encompassed by the massive white room. The walls covered with microscopic lenses laminated by clear polymer. 

Foot-steps echoed as a 6-1/2ft women also dressed in black approached. She looked to be in her early 40's, slanted eyes, tanned skin and black hair streaked in gray. The Soldiers she approached seemed more robotic then human when you looked bellow, limbs, legs you name it these Soldiers had now robotic military grade limbs instead. Large bulges of lines showed through the fabric, around the chest the back. Internal harnesses built for structural integrity and increased weight load endurance.

Unsuspectingly though the woman who approached these inhuman men, was quite human. She stopped then turned to her subordinates. [b]"Good morning grunts!"[/b] she yelled, in reply an equally hearty tone yelled straight back [b]"Good morning Sergeant Sojurn!"[/b]. Behind her a slab from the floor started to rise.

Shortly after an projection appeared, showing a singular black round with specifications. Kailie asked [b]"Soldiers what is this before your eyes?!"[/b]. One of her hands shot up to seemingly cup the bottom of the projection. 

One of the grunts replied in an questions voice [b]"A nerf dart mam?"[/b], another grunt covered his laugh by coughing, then recovered. The rest remained stoic.

Kailie replied [b]"Heh, Kiss-ass tell Smart-Ass what this "Nerf Dart" is"[/b]. One of the grunts shot up "[b]Yes mam! This is an 85mm KK(Kinetic Kill) round, it is covered in a black polymer to prevent recoiless barrel wear, under it is a Tungsten Carbide penetrator mam!"[/b].

Kailie nodded[b]"Good boy kiss-ass, this is the most destructive weapon in our arsenal currently. It is shot out of a recoiless rocket launcher and arpoaches speeds of 3250m/s over a distance of 900 meters. With an effective range of 2768 meters. This thing is meant to tear holes through whatever it touches!"[/b].

Now a view of the rocket launcher, round, and a EDC Mech came up. Kailie said[b]"Now regardless of all you just heard, our most destructive weapon, is next to worthless when put up agianst an well armored mech like this"[/b]. She pointed at the project again [b]"Several times I've asked blue ass HoS to get us some fucking heavy guns! But that's going to take some time, so until then grunts all we have is this puny Pea-shooter to stop a mech from tearing into Golden Tower"[/b].

She smiled in anticipation for what was to come [b]"So boys we are going to learn how to disable mechs with Pea-Shooters. Regardless of how well armored any mech is, they are similair to Knights in shining armor in the way the have gaps in their armor! In this case they have multiple weak spots that can be exploited to disable, and even permanently decommission these hunks of walking metal!"[/b].

Now the EDC Mech came into full view, the Launcher, and 85mm round vanishing. [b]"We have recently acquired an decommissioned EDC mech for training purposes, its internals are next to worthless, but its armor is very much intact. So for today we are going to perform simulations first, then end the day with a Live exercise as an cherry on top!"[/b].

The grunts eagerly replied [b]"Uuuurah!"[/b].