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[sub]T H E   F I E L D S   -{}-   [i][color=d8996d]Nicholas Vanceon[/color][/i]   -{}-   H a m m e r   O f   T h e   A r m y[/sub][hr]
	Preparation is the foundation an organized and proper military force is built upon. It precedes nearly every action taken and it dictates the curriculum and flow of training to such a degree that one could almost say an army's sole reason for being rests in the laurels of efficient preparedness. The Oakridge Academy training exercises and routines certainly hammered this point home. Operation Downfall itself lent credence to the notion and further expanded upon it by blossoming into what the top brass surely hoped to be a flawless execution of all the time spent preparing for the worst scenarios. Even the existence of Guardians was largely due to the fact that some group of like-minded individuals came together and decided that bodies harboring large concentrations of spiritual entities needed to be militarized - in order to be properly prepared for what could, and did, happen. In the end, preparation is the foundation an organized force of any kind is built upon almost exclusively. 

	And even with the years of preparation Oakridge instilled in him, Niko was not ready for the impact. 

	He had heard the pilot shout something about an incoming plasma, but thoughts of the mission to come consumed his awareness and enveloped him completely in their embrace. When the giant hunk of metal was struck with a loud [i]boom[/i] there had not been enough time for a proper reaction. Strapped into his seat and lost to his mentality, Niko had already failed the first basic lesson of being out in the field: always be aware of your surroundings. The violent rolling seemed to last a millennium. Metal smashed against earth and even though the young Guardian could feel the heat of his restless spirits rushing to his aid, he could also feel the restraining belts against his chest barely holding him in place. When everything finally settled and the pitch dark slowly gave way to equally slowly clearing vision, Niko took a moment to accept this reality before quickly pulling his short-sword from its waist-mounted sheath and cutting himself free from his seat. Somehow, the boy had remained strapped in though his chair was now suspended from wreckage and the resulting freedom he gave himself also forced him to suffer a slight fall to the ground below. 

	A few heaved breaths sucked in and pushed out before suddenly aware eyes darted back forth and ultimately landed on a nice-sized hole where the hatch should have been. Niko sheathed his blade and crawled along the interior of the overturned vehicle before grabbing Monika's outstretched hand - just for a moment - and pulling himself into the light of the day outside. The first thing he felt was a multitude of smaller, isolated throbs and stings of minor pains throughout his whole body, but he was also spared of having anything broken or seriously injured. The worst pain he felt was the indention across his torso from the restraining belt he had buckled across himself during the ride - so much for fucking seat belts. He breathed deeply a few more times in an effort to get back to a more steady pace before spotting the others who were also free - Graham and Monika namely. 

	"I'm guessing you two are okay considering you're standing and all, " Niko said as he made his way over to the duo. "Welcome to the Dark Zone, I guess." Even if they had been attacked immediately, it had not taken long for excitement to well up once more. This was still the infamous Dark Zone and also the first real mission he was part of and the ebony-haired boy scanned his companions a bit as his mind raced with all kinds of cautionary thoughts. The heft of the blunderbuss on his back and the blade at his waist suddenly became more apparent as he settled into the sentiment that this was actually happening. Graham seemed to be fine and in good spirits, but Monika looked a bit stern than before. It was to be expected of course, but Niko still got an odd feeling when he noticed. 

	"So... I guess we're walking?" Niko posed to the group. It came off sounding like a joke, but he was completely serious. Preparation may have been held in the utmost importance back at the academy, but he doubted anyone had been prepared to lose the only vehicle they had in the middle of the Dark Zone. 

[hider=Summary]Niko takes the ride for granted and doesn't stay acutely aware at all times resulting in him not being ready for the vehicle crash. Luckily, he was wearing his seat belt though it proved to be the thing that gave him the most painful injury. He points out that it's probably time to hoof it after taking in the situation.[/hider]