FourtyTwo

Formula AG: Delta Hyper (An F1 Drive to Survive inspired, Slice of Life, Cyberpunkish/Solarpunkish RP)

@rabidbacon

I would say don't worry- there's a lot of jargon included anyway that won't be known, but my aim is actually to really simplify it as because we're approaching this as a fly-on-the-wall series, things get explained in situ! I would say pick a team, create a driver through the ranks, and from there, the rest fills in.

Also, I am in the process of formatting this all, heavily! This is not a final product, and will be added to with technical explainers.

This may actually be the best way to sum it up- now imagine the below, but set 70 years from now and far, far more extreme!

youtube.com/watch?v=Q-jjZMMxbZs

Formula: Anti-Gravity (An F1 Drive to Survive inspired, Slice of Life, Cyberpunkish/Solarpunkish RP)

roleplayerguild.com/posts/5540630

The labour of love is live! I will say- the lore will follow in RP, as this is an initial setup and gives an idea of the world in more detail.

Feel free to start creating your characters- feel free to ask away for lore details but the world is broadly, much the same as it is today bar some slight realignment in geography.

Formula: Anti-Gravity (An F1 Drive to Survive inspired, Slice of Life, Cyberpunkish/Solarpunkish RP)

roleplayerguild.com/posts/5540630

The labour of love is live! I will say- the lore will follow in RP, as this is an initial setup and gives an idea of the world in more detail.

Feel free to start creating your characters- feel free to ask away for lore details but the world is broadly, much the same as it is today bar some slight realignment in geography.

Formula AG: Delta Hyper (An F1 Drive to Survive inspired, Slice of Life, Cyberpunkish/Solarpunkish RP)

Formula Anti Gravity: Delta Hyper

Ultimate Speed. Ultimate Competition. And a heartbeat between defeat and ultimate, savoured, victory.

This is Formula Anti Gravity.

Anti-gravity racing pushes humankind to its farthest, fastest, most elite limit in 2094's season. Bioenergy-fuelled ships that can exceed 500 kilometres per hour and turn like a blur, coupled to complex energy systems, and then, there's the pilots. Enhanced, hyper-reactive, and pushed to their physical limits, and then beyond through implants, synthetic hearts and neural links.

At home, billions watch the fastest, most exciting sport that feels more like watching a boxing fight than a hyper-fast racing series. This is a sport about attack, and if you lack the fight, you'll never see the fire.

Now we pull back the curtain to inside the world of anti-gravity pilots, their stories, their teams and their lives, as the season progresses.

Step into the shoes of one of the brand new racers and their team principals, in their first season with an established team, and followed by a meta-documentary crew, filming, following and asking the questions we'd all like to know as they travel the globe and beyond. But only one question really remains.

How far will they go to stand on the top step?

Welcome to Delta Hyper, our peek behind the scenes. If you ever wanted to see what the world of Formula AG has to offer, you're in the right place.

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Inspirations and World-Building

Hugely inspired by the Wipeout series, although real-life Formula One, other racing contexts, aspects of Cyberpunk 2077 as well as other solarpunk, science-fiction, eco-fiction and other resources tap into this RP. This is an RP that isn't in need of readers to understand any of these - lore and world building will come in very strongly throughout, and any lovers of a futuristic, sci-fi RP with a slice of life chunk would love this RP!

More aspects will follow- including a section on culture as the RP develops over time. We can't give you every answer yet- this is a big world and your characters will meld it over time!

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Gravity. A force that pulls, and keeps us grounded when the world spins at a speed we can't humanly compute.

There's always a sense of weight, pull, attraction.

A world in the late 21st century, this world is one that barely avoided all-out annihilation after natural disasters, climate change, war, famine and disease struck the planet is one with plenty of gravity. Twenty Nighty Four.

And yet, humanity, like it always seems to, avoided disaster by the finest of margins.

Nuclear fusion, asteroid mining, and unparalleled peace in our time. In a moment of the brink, we stepped back as humanity dwindled down to four billion, and outcomes for humanity improved, exponentially as old wars in central America, Eastern Europe, Africa and central Asia left former superpowers as burnt out shells, and the remaining players as firebrands making the most of the aftermath. Somehow, and most of humanity wonders this- we didn't nuke ourselves, we didn't create a mass extinction event, and even more miraculously, through am mixture of actors, we managed to save what was left of our world before ecological and climate collapse happened.

Lifetimes extended, disease and squalor stopped, and humanity rekindling symbiosis with the planet it tried to kill for centuries by restoring our destroyed ecological world. We did something incredible, neigh, something majestic- we actually managed to change the way we saw the world and an entire generation of people go from poverty to riches and comfort never experienced before whilst in some insane way, giving them the ability to still connect with community and nature in a way that kept us humble. Whilst different blocs embraced this in a different way, the way to heal in a post-oil, post-resource, post-conflict world was not through annihilation, but working towards humanity's pursuit on the Moon, Mars and potentially beyond. The corps were given a slap on the wrist and de-armed, and humanity as a whole, calmed down.

A near-solarpunk utopia, in which well-regulated nation states and blocks such as the European Union, the Federated United States and Oceanian Whanau work together as part of a reformed but damaged United Council of Nations, rather than over what is left. Zero waste, clean air, and the world becoming less about profit, and more about human beings. Prosperity, fairness, kindness. It took a lot, and many blocs vary, from outright authoritarian to complete freedom and varying states of progress inbetween, like our modern world, but somehow, we did better than we ever should have and it is likely that your basic needs are met in a world increasingly becoming more equal. Well, some are of course, understandably, beyond the craziest desire of wealth.

Is that an end to history?

But of course, that's because people need something else, and where war ends, entertainment fills the void where people have more time than ever, and competition breeds hard in the world of sport. Especially, when the Corps left can't invest in armaments, they CAN into biotech of another kind.

Enter Formula AG, a racing series developed after advancements in anti-matter and quantum technology, predominantly by the technology magnate, Royston Pierce (OBE). Ships that could literally levitate off the ground, and when coupled to a biofuel-powered pulse engine, accelerate to speeds almost unfathomable to modern racing drivers. Race circuits sinew on classical circuits, to cutting edge, hyper-futuristic circuits that include magnetic induction and even complex energy systems that allow for energy leeching and pilots to push their craft even faster.

AG, as it's otherwise known, allows for "Ships", which are confusingly crewed by a singular "Pilot", who would look something akin to a modern fighter pilot in full oxygen-breathing equipment and pilot suits allowing them to take inhumane G-forces. With grids of 20 pilots, they are backed by teams that are a mixture of private and public ventures, from entities such as the European Union, Federated United States and many more entities working with new and old countries that have risen and fallen. Ships come with energy shields that allow for impacts, but also for energy management in leaching and boosting, creating a complex dynamic that doesn't just reward the fastest racer, but the one who can work their strategy the best.

The pilots themselves are at the absolute limit- but will be set to quite literally, receive as much work as their ships do. Unlike modern F1, where just the ship receives upgrades- the pilots do too in parallel. Of course, regulations and rules exist to what level they can be modified, but pilots are pushed with implants, upgrades and parts that well, come with positives and costs- the latter truly being the element that pilots need to balance the most, so as to not lose their competitive edge whilst being pulled apart. Balanced with marketing needs, well, you're not making an entire cyborg out of a pilot anytime soon!

Of course, there's blemishes- the world may be near-solarpunk and financial capital may be far less prevalent than it once was, but in other ways, it's even worse. Corporate interests still meddle with racing and world affairs, and anti-trust regulation is half a joke. Eco-terrorism, and the remainder of the world's turbulent past are still present- and the world is torn between saving itself and running away, because the scale of the task at hand is still monumental. There's plenty of fundamentals left to ask, between those who want to help push humanity's efforts of global environmental renewal, versus those who want to push humanity into something else altogether, into the stars. There are no easy answers, and there are plenty of shadows still left unaccounted for and uncertainties left, from hacking to the rapid acceptance of augments, implants, biotech and a world making accelerationism look like a Ford Model T.

But you're just a pilot, with no say on the matter, right?

Oh, and one last thing. For all those who prefer to adjust strategy, the Team Principals are also in the background- not needing much in the way of any implants, but much more focussed on running the show. They decide what upgrades go on, who is hired, fired and kept around, but most of all, have to deliver results. They are feisty characters- and playing one means you better know how to run a racing team at the top level!

---

How will it work?

This RP is an ambitious idea. This RP doesn't actually have any racing (although callbacks and scenes will depict it), but will be run on a basis of a randomiser for races, and will run based on two-part responses to a GM and to the paddock. Working with a team of engineers, sponsors, media personalities, and most of all, other pilots, this is a slice of life RP that also combines interview and conversational elements in the futuristic, glamourous world of Formula AG. Welcome to the top step and a futuristic, top-level sport.

There will be curveballs, dilemmas and as the GM, I will be certain to give you the hardest challenge of them- a three-time winner with a winning streak they don't want to let go, at the best team on the grid.

Posting is divided into two:

A) A question will be asked by an interviewer (the GM) which will come up for your character specifically to answer, and provide insight- this includes aspects related to your character's personality, history and results. This is a "monologue" almost- fleshing out your character!

B) Posts related to your character's personal life, set both off-paddock at the factory, and on-paddock at the circuit.

Character Sheet (WIP)

Name:
Alias: (anything else you are called)
Team: (What group do you belong to)
Gender:
Age:

Personality:

Backstory:

Racing DNA

Overview: (What sort of racer are you? All out speed driving like a glass cannon on corners, an energy systems fiend, or taking a balanced approach?)

Skills: (What else do you have in your wheelhouse? Engineering skills, data or analytics talent, or are you a fashionista, talented at other sports or hobbies that make you stick out?)

Special Trait: (What makes you special? What's your USP- a unique implant, or an extra-ordinary skill that sets you out from the field?)

Controversy :(What's your controversy that follows you around, no matter what you try and do about it? As one of the most scrutinised people in the world, was it an implant that isn't accepted, a thing you did in your younger years, or something else that gets people talking about you?)

MISC
Theme Song:
Likes:
Dislikes:
Other Information: (anything fun you wanna add)

---

Your appetite wetted by the world? Time to look under the hood. In this special piece of pre-season warm up, we meet the ships, the teams, and the current, three-time champion, Amy Stirling.

Your Nemesis

The camera pans to a mid-twenties woman with striking features—half-Korean, half-English. She’s the epitome of professionalism and charisma, Amy Stirling herself, dressed in the liveried overalls of a certain Silver Apex. And on the other end, Aurora Baxter, Formula AG's iconic reporter. The floating camera projects a perfect hologram of her from every angle, capturing her every nuance, but tracking the real, actual, Amy herself.

Aurora begins, looking into the camera, then back over to her subject, a certain look in her eyes. First of the season interview, after all.

"Amy Stirling, three-time Formula AG champion. How does it feel going into this season?"

"Well, Aurora, it’s actually four-time champion now. And we're aiming for five by the end of this season."

Aurora raises an eyebrow, intrigued. "Confident as ever! Do you have any surprises planned, or do you think the competition is lacking this year?"

"I wouldn’t quite say that," Amy responds. "The competition is fierce, as always. The top level is incredibly high now, and it’s tough to see dramatic changes. But we’ve got some upgrades in the pipeline, and I have to thank my team for that. The Federation of International Anti-Gravity Racing (FIAR) keeps asking us to tone it down to avoid more regulations, but why should we? The crown is up for grabs, and we’re here to give it our all."

Aurora chuckles. "Those are fighting words! Who would you say is your main rival this season?"

"Honestly, it’s hard to say. Southern Cross has potential, and Harrison is always a strong competitor, but I’m not overly concerned," Amy replies confidently. "As for Valkyrie, they lack speed, and the rest... well, we’ll see."

Aurora nods. "What about the newcomers this season? Any advice for them?"

Amy smirks. "Best of luck to them. They might snag a win or two, but it’s a long season. We’re here for the marathon, not just a sprint."

"Interesting perspective. Can you give us a glimpse into a day in your life as a top-tier pilot?" Aurora inquires.

"Of course," Amy says, glancing out the window. "It’s not just about racing. I couldn’t do it without our sponsors and the amazing team behind us. There’s a lot of work that goes into it—physio sessions, neural simulator training, and intense strategic planning for each race. And, of course, staying ahead of the competition. It’s a lot of work, but I always make time for these interviews!"

Aurora smiles. "Sounds like a busy schedule. How are you feeling after your off-season treatments?"

Amy beams. "The treatments have been a game-changer. I feel like a completely new person. Let’s just say, between us, I think what’s coming this season will be hard to beat." Her response tells it all, a cocky, almost devouring grin that hides that even for someone this dominant, she has reason to hold her view.

"That’s exciting to hear. Thank you for your time, Amy!" Aurora concluded, nodding and disappearing from screen, as the camera returned to position, and was locked off by a physically present member of the production crew.

As the interview wraps up, the camera angle shifts, revealing the Silver Apex factory in the window adjacent to the interview room, and Amy becoming one of many inside of it.

The factory behind that comes into view, well, it's quite the place. If the future of industry was sometimes depicted as a dirty place that looked like Detroit, this was not that. More like a NASA satellite white room with white, teal and rose neon yellow coloured paint with more cutting edge blemish, holographic displays, a mix of four-legged and two-legged robots and yet at the middle of it, people working on various stations and platforms. This is still an engineering lab, after all, just one of the coolest ones in view. And at the centre of it all, there lays Silverstone Apex's craft for the year, a wedge-shaped ship bolted in a frame, with its iconic livery.

There's more than a feeling that while this is an inside look, it's a reminder of how high the levels really go.

---

The Ships

With Aurora Baxter's brown hair and beaming smile once again in frame, we're introduced to Silver Apex's craft in the flesh, freestanding, and without any frame at all. Instead, a gentle thrum can be heard, almost like a pulsating noise, and it's clear that these ships are something else.



"So, if you've never seen what an Anti-Gravity Racing Ship looks like, let me introduce you. We're in an era of some of the fastest, most capable craft on the grid with the new ELS systems and FIEAR-514 standards for ships, pushing speeds over over 500kph, and pulling G-Forces over 15G at any given time, and that's considered a conservative guess!" Aurora beams, almost with a characteristic glee, walking about.

Looking up, the angle tilts to see the underside of the ship.

"So, how does this all work? Well, it relies upon the same principle of repulsion that a Maglev train would have against a magnetic track, with an exceptionally strong series of electromagnets. However, to make this craft truly float, these magnets are bonded to an almost grain-sized anti-matter capsule generating repulsion and lift, passively carrying the craft over any surface through a clever quantum-engineered thrust vector. This is the basis of an Anti-Gravity Generator. Now, this allows craft to hover off the ground lightly, and is becoming more common in your cars and bikes at home."

"What might be different to your typical craft at home, is the engagement of a series of pulse engines powered by 100% sequestered biofuel, left to the teams decision on how to mount them, which allows for propulsion and the craft to accelerate not only forwards but through the horizontal plane too, augmented by a complex electrical system using supercapacitors built into the ship hull. Whilst not capable of flight due to their aerodynamic profile, these ships stick through corners, and can hold incredibly speeds doing so due to their advanced aerodynamic profile, made of nanite-hardened composite, titanium and other rare earth materials. Make no mistake, no friction means that these gigantic air brakes are needed for the sharpest of turns alongside thrust vectoring, whilst ailerons pull the ships through gentler bends. These ships come with cutting edge AI and supercomputers built in, making sure all the pilot has to do is push it to its limit, with the stability managed automatically. Some teams prefer an aggressive setup, other teams a gentler, easier to fly arrangement. But make no mistake, at these speeds, the pilot is fully in control."

Aurora clambered up on a ladder, the open cabin a fighter pilot styled cockpit. Minimalist, a handful of large displays, all AR-enabled and enhanced with physical holograms made it look very spartan aside from a very wrapped-up and comfy seat.

"Pilots sit in here, and pilot the craft manually using a joystick, assisted heavily by a neural link to simply think the craft through corners, another pioneering invention developed by Formula Anti-Gravity. With a continuous oxygen and anti-G air supply, pilots are secured tight in here and even can take on water through the straights, albeit no fix exists for taking a drink through our corners!"

Aurora stepped down, and with it, picked up an apple, the pulse getting much louder, for this next little demonstration.

"Now, onto our newest addition, our Energy Leech System, or ELS. A complicated energy system is baked into each craft, and means that racers aren't just looking to set the fastest time- they're fighting for position and energy the entire time against every other racer on track. Unlike other types of racing, energy deployment doesn't just depend on braking- with no friction, there's no energy to recoup! Instead, the supercapacitors deploy energy when you want a boost, and are charged via rapid induction over passthroughs on the circuit, often at a time loss to the pilot through a sub-optimal line. This can generate boosts that can send craft to over 600kph, and is often signified by a blue streak lighting up the chassis side. But most of all, what adds to the strategy this module at the front of the craft. This is an energy leeching system- and it can wirelessly steal, and taper energy from craft in front, or behind. Whilst only activatable every other lap, this can turn the tide for overtaking and switch craft through well-executed practice and moves to slingshot opponents back, and you forward. Of course, overtakes on pure pace exist, but pilots aren't defenceless!" Aurora took the apple and lobbed it, and the craft....spat it away.

"That is a field generator, not unlike what you may have seen protecting spectators! Pilots can avoid getting leeched through its use at a lower energy cost, and the deployment of it means it's about knowing when to push, when to defend, and when to attack. This means pilots can steal, protect, boost and gain power throughout a race. Good pilots can fly fast. The best know when to attack, and when to defend. Make no mistake, this system is vital to learn to be the best on the grid. However, this is also used as the craft's final safety mechanism- and has saved drivers from serious injury and worse, shielding the cockpit and its pilot from serious injury. This system makes Formula Anti-Gravity safe....and is certainly worlds beyond where we once were!" Aurora jokes, moving around, the field deactivated from the translucent bubble that now has faded back.

"Lastly, you've likely seen these ships go inverted at some circuits with complicated loops and leaps. How do they do it? The same system works in parallel with magnetic induction grabstrips, or MAGs, for short. This allows ships to climb directly upward, dive inverted whilst glued to the surface. They once joked Formula One cars could drive upside down, and Formula AG really does!"

"Craft come in different type and shapes, and teams have different priorities. Do you go for speed and absolute pace through an , do you go for stability, with a craft that's easier to push, handling, with enhanced aerodynamics, or perhaps an enhanced energy system? Either way, the design of the ships are all different, and all prioritise different characteristics that fit different pilots. Oh, who of course, are the main characters we need to talk about!"

With it, Aurora pulls out of shot, and immediately, the next cut pops into place.

The Pilot

A hologram pops up, and next to Aurora is almost a mannequin of Amy posing, if Amy was split into two with her internal organics in a blue-dot representative pattern that stylishly reveals her various organs and limbs. This would be weird, if it wasn't for the fact society is maybe a bit more comfortable with looking at the human body's modifications, given the boutique nature leaking out into the world now.

"So, you want to know more about our Pilots. Whilst sometimes prototype, experimental and subject to regulation change, many of the modifications you see on our pilots, just like our ships, may one day come to your door, from eyesight improvement to neural links, pioneered for our craft. As the world's leading sport, we're proud to have some of the bravest and most cutting edge technology in our sport." Aurora's still beyond positive, and if you're at this point getting weary, she certainly isn't.

"So, a typical Formula Anti-Gravity pilot can be just like me and you, but their bodies and minds are certainly anything but. Prospective pilots are first given an introduction from a young age through simulators, and after gaining core skills in karting, simulators and other pilot programmes, they will slowly raise through the ranks into junior automotive, and anti-gravity machinery. Due to varying laws, neural links of course, don't come into the picture until children are about 14 years old, and augmentations are banned before 16. Formula Anti-Gravity takes this extremely seriously, and FIEAR limits dictate permissible, and non-permissible changes." Aurora's tone seemed almost like it covered a legal basis...for some reason.

"From there, pilots will advance through our feeder Junior Formula Anti-Gravity programme, with all teams providing feeder programmes both regionally, and globally for entry into Formula Anti Gravity. Other pathways, such as Rally Racing and legacy Automotive categories still feed pilots with unique skills on a fairly regular basis. Teams will often pursue talent that they think are ready and provide them with augments, implants and bioengineered changes, that some would never notice! Let's take a look at Amy, for example." Aurora calls out, walking around the star of the series, scaled up. Again, this is weird to you, but how else are you going to look inside someone?

"So, we start here- a neural link at the base of the neck, and neuron optimiser means that a pilot can often think superhumanly fast, and bond with their ships to think tiny maneuverers and refine what they're steering in tandem with the ship AI systems. Safety mechanisms exist, like on any neural-interfaced device, but extra safeties are added for each pilot, just due to how much information is coming through. This is a bit stronger than your one at home, folks!" Aurora commented, pulling down on Amy's hologram.

"For the rest, due to the staggering G-forces faced, pilots also contain either implanted boosters or modifications to the heart, lungs and cardiovascular system, often being able to shut and open up through corners, forced through the neural and AI interface system. This literally means that pilots are able to push through corners without second thought. Seats, and pilot suits themselves actually are linked to the anti-gravity generator on the ship, offsetting through an opposite push effect that prevents G-Lock, yet still needs the pilots themselves that go to the top level to have a minimum performance threshold. This has changed how fast pilots can humanly go, and we're still exploring the limit!" Aurora mused, pulling out Amy's arms, and the prosthetics there.

"Whilst prosthetic limbs aren't desired by all pilots, many now preferring either bone reinforcement or other musular-skeletal mods that often exceed the performance of artificial equipment, some pilots prefer to pick out hands, forearms, or entire limbs dependent on their race style where bone deficiency or faults mean long-term replacements are the best way to go. Like replacements you can get at your Doctor, they can be surprising to the user at first, but become a second-nature fit that bonds with the craft as easily as the human body." Aurora commented, then pulling back the pilot themselves.

"Pilots wear a complex breathing system, directly piped into their throat, and this is monitored through an advanced and complex AI system to monitor pilot condition as well as brace them through every corners. Their pilot suits are advanced models of those used by fighter pilots of old, providing pressure and stopping blood flow pulling pilots out of consciousness. If you see them struggling to make words when they climb out of their cockpits, don't be alarmed- they're often adjusting and not just lost for words!" Aurora's beaming a lot. You probably get the drill here, as she turns to the camera, and Amy, weirdly for a hologram, does exactly the same.

"Teams have the opportunity to work on pilots, from cognitive ability to physical capacity and other biochemical changes that allow them to think, fly and go faster. In a sport of marginal gains, pilots are never shy to try anything that gets them an edge. Make no mistake, pilots are certainly all human, but their abilities are anything but! So, thank you and let us know what more you'd like us to show you!" Aurora's last comment left, as she dissolved the hologram, peeling back, and the clip fading to black.

The Teams

Ten teams are presented. You may, or may not be a local to the team, but whoever you sign for, know that your objectives, season and targets will be very different. The teams themselves don't have the same imbalance as modern Formula 1, but they do have quirks and specific aspects that suit some pilots over others, with rankings presented.

Silver Apex

Silverstone Apex (commonly referred to as "Silver Apex") (United Kingdom)

Colours: Silver (Red, Blue)

The best team in Anti-Gravity racing, in almost every measurable metric, and pipped only by Southern Cross on absolute speed, Silver Apex can be compared to the dominance of Red Bull or Mercedes blended into one. Based in Silverstone, United Kingdom, the Apex have come directly out of another incredibly successful pair of F1 teams in southern England left a mega-corporation of an advanced engineering company as a singular monolith, armed with the best engineers, bioengineers and well, the best pilots followed immediately to that project. They resisted and stayed independent in the face of other acquisitions- and now, are reaping the rewards of being the elite. Whilst other countries could pour entire national incomes and megacorps into it whilst the UK barely coughed a cent, Silver Apex simply benefited from history and racing roots to create the best team that just wins, all the time and can't be outbought or sold- which in some ways, is actually really admirable. Other AG teams all had to start in the same area as they did- and taking engineering talent away from Apex is near impossible, let alone race wins, so they have a head-start.

Whilst into this season it looks like they haven't got the best craft for outright speed, their energy systems are cutting edge and the craft handling and stability is sublime, and their pilots come with some of the best mods out there the market can provide- if anyone would put money on a team to win this year, you couldn't do wrong with them. After all, when the pilots make most of the difference, and the team the marginal gain, it's all about your drivers and Amy Stirling is proof that the model works.

If you're an Apex pilot, you're an Apex Predator- and you'll be pushed as far as you can, or dropped when you stop delivering. This team is very much the cold, clinical side of racing- no time for environmentalism, this is peak engineering and pushing the boundaries of what you can do, and their technology, once again, proves that they're more than just a corporate- a lot of the good in the world has been generated by cutting edge research from Silver Apex's labs, helping millions in healthcare, the space industry, augmented reality and in of itself, energy-saving tech for anti-gravity platforms.

There is of course, a dark side to the competitive nature of this team Pilots are infamous for being dropped from the second seat, unable to keep up with their main racer, and moral questions are being asked of what you do with lots of pilots absolutely covered in experimental, cutting edge augments once they're done. Amy Stirling, the racer that causes this is the reason they're the best, and piles the pressure onto team-mates expected to perform. No need for a team-mate who can actually compete with you normally if you can win alone, right?

Both of their ships are a brilliant metallic silver-snow white in colour, with a crimson red and navy blue stripe, a design language that reflects into their pilot equipment. Clean, efficient, yet elegantly British in every single way, yet stealing more than a little from a certain modern design.

Ranking:
Energy Systems: 9
Speed: 8
Handling: 10
Stability: 7
Pilot Mods: 10
Total: 44/50

Current Pilot: Amy (Ji-Soo) Stirling (British / Korean)

Appearance: Half-Korean and half British, Amy is the look of a pilot that oozes elite, with her platinum blonde hair and pouting look, manicured face and body like someone might have, and actually did, create from thin air. With synthetic forearms and hands encased in a beautifully designed, 3D printed composite, Amy seems on the surface seems to have very little in the way of other augmented modifications, albeit under the hood, she's running more rare earth in the way of changes than you'd ever know, including a synthetic heart, reinforced blood vessels that are almost as clever as the enhanced neural link she has in her brain, and adapted bone marrow and lung structures. Her range of modifications would make most people wince, and she's been comfortable being an experiment, to a point even someone like Layla would be in shock behind the posters you may see- because she'd look almost completely normal in society. She's the poster child for the sport and design labels fall over themselves to put her face wherever they can in their advertising and other campaigns, considering you can't really see much of what's going on under the bonnet.

Background: Born the daughter of two racing drivers and then, anti-gravity pilots, Amy was born into a culture of racing and if anything, bled for it harder. The best racers are made to suffer- and Amy certainly did, going through then-cutting edge modifications and neural interfacing far before many would, and piloting craft significantly earlier. It paid dividends- her control and understanding was years ahead of others, at the cost of absolute ruthlessness, to an almost beyond obsessive degree that risks her body, mind and anyone in her way. Zygon gave her a start, but everyone agrees- Silver Apex pushed Amy from just a Chaebol doll that could push hard in a race to a force of nature that seemingly, nobody has an answer to. It's not about how good your energy deployment is, or racing line- it's everything else, and she lets perfection be a goal worth having.

Nobody can deny- Amy has the ability to put fear up you when she's behind, because she will make that move, like it or not. She doesn't do title fights- she does domination, and she has shattered the morale of her team-mates, rivals and others around her, even outside the sport. If it wasn't for her marketing pull, and the fact she pulls in audiences with her interviews and her zero fucks given attitude and commitment, people would tune into something else. This is her show, not yours, is her view. And she wants it again. Team-mate? Good luck.

If you had to have a nemesis, Amy is that. Even off track, she will never play fair with you, unless it's her gain, your loss.

Skills: Her unparalleled reflexes and control over her craft are a result of her extensive neural and biomechanical enhancements. She’s a master of both aggressive racing and strategic overtaking, often using her superior tech to outmaneuver and outlast opponents.

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Southern Cross

Southern Cross (New Zealand / Oceania)

Colours: Neon Yellow and Black (Green/Teal Blue, Ship dependent)

Based in Christchurch, New Zealand, Southern Cross is the team representing Australia, New Zealand and Polynesia in general and does so with flair, style and a passion that only anti-gravity fans adore- and with no precedent before it, they are making history, here and now. Southern Cross developed from a range of engineering firms following refugee crises hit the South Pacific as a collaboration- and the Oceanian Whanau, in a rare move that probably equalled Estonia's embracing of the internet, jumped onto anti-gravity technology before it was really a thing to invest and provide technical specialists from across the Pacific, including refugees from Japan, China and Indonesia. They put all their eggs into one basket, and against all odds, like some miracle, it worked. Their name, a reference to the stars in the night sky, is very telling for the ambition and hard work Southern Cross have put in

Coupled to the Kiwi and Aussie need for speed, and the engineering, and talent for racing grew into a wild culture, Southern Cross has spawned into as a moderately-sized team that punches significantly above what it should, probably being a team close to bottom that is now close to winning it all. In fact, some would say, it's a miracle that this isn't a backmarker considering the shoestring resources available- but their passion is a hell of a thing and a strong local pool of anti-gravity racing talent, including an elite talent in Harrison Makara has paid dividends to create the fastest, most loose ship there is. Passionate racers who adore the project make these ships work- whilst not clinical and efficient, this is a family that looks after its own, and so long as that team stays together and rides that metaphorical wave, they'll be there to stay and prove you can win without going to a mega-corp or becoming relentlessly obsessed with perfection.

Don't be fooled by the artistry on display- whilst probably one of the best looking ships too, Southern Cross on paper, is the absolute fastest team and has exceptional handling, and whilst their ships have only above average-energy systems, their low stability and only above-average modifications for pilots means that an elite pilot could take this craft to race wins if they treat it like the glass cannon it is- pushing the craft to 11/10ths being how Southern Cross keep up. Culturally, this team is one of the favourites of the grid- and actively, one of the greenest and most environmentally accented. If winning means getting to represent this better, they're certainly pushing this aspect, though some would say the team is mired in controversy commenting on other teams such as Zygon.

Their ships, lovingly referred to as "Wakas" or "Rafts" come adorned with incredibly detailed indigenous designs that vary from season to season, but always include a yellow and black base- the ship piloted by Harrison Makara in particular is a neon green and yellow painted in indigenous form that is instantly recognisable, whilst the other ship is currently adorned in an incredibly ornate Polynesian design, a navy blue, black and yellow design including Maori Koru and coral. Whilst they're on a streak, this is the opposite of Silver Apex's approach- their angle is much more representative of the part of the world they are from and they push that angle, hard.

Energy Systems: 9
Speed: 10
Handling: 9
Stability: 5
Pilot Mods: 7
Total: 40/50

Main Pilot:

Harrison "Firehawk" Makara (Australia)
Age: 23
Appearance: Sharp in his features, with piercing green eyes, dark hair and deeply tanned skin, having half Australian Indigenous roots, half distant Croatian blood, Harrison is equal part native, equal part surfer, all chilled, elite racer. His suit incorporates designs inspired by indigenous Australian art- a striking green, white and yellow- and of course, the Firehawk features on his helmet, his personal logo and the fire-spreading native Australian bird.
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Background: A local hero from Melbourne, Australia, Harrison represents the side of the team that stayed local to its roots and arguably, is the most environmentally activist of all the drivers while being a charmer. Fun loving, charming, and a marketing poster boy, Harrison a great antidote if you hate Amy's virtuoso streak. But make no mistake- Harrison is fast- and whilst hesitant to take on too many more changes to his body (outside of a series of complex tattoos that glow a vivid blue in UV light via bioluminescent bacteria) and having still has a lot to learn in the energy management field, he's got raw talent in spades that some are curious will challenge Amy in the championship, being still younger than her. Someone to keep in your corner, but don't forget- he can pull out the speed and when it comes down to it, expect no favours.

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Valykrie AGR Sport

Valkyrie AGR Sport (European Union)

Colours: Dark Grey/Yellow (Pink/Blue)

Based in Aachen, Germany at the apex of Europe's various countries, Valkyrie AGR Sport represents the European Union's effort in AG racing, being more than just Germans. Made up of engineers formally from the European Space Agency (or going to it) and other European engineering and racing firms, Valkyrie is the best of rest- the most balanced craft, with level-headed, pragmatic design that just gets consistent results and has beaten the cockier or bigger organisations for it. The EU, as an organisation plagued by turbulence and disruption has finally started to get stable once more and Valkyrie AGR represents its commercial interest in R&D, in trying to develop new engineers for space-fairing ventures and increasing technical output in bioenergy, physics and research. Of course, as the birthplace of racing, the EU has piled money into this project, as a stand piece that should unite, and bond together the various nations of the union. They have won races and have been a solid competitor, but have lacked that final push that is perhaps from a lack of spirit, lacking the fire of Southern Cross, and the efficiency of Silver Apex.

EU regulations means that pilots don't go as far as they do elsewhere for biomodifications and augments therefore scoring them below average, but their engineering status means their ships are around 3rd on the grid- close to some of the best handling and most stable craft, Valkyrie make some of the best balanced ships, that come with energy management systems that still pack a punch- particularly in harvesting, where they can really draw in competitors fast. New racers in particular thrive here- and will learn to make the most of a very rewarding ship, fast.

Their ships are a collage of lots of paints- mostly yellow and dark grey that wouldn't look off on a premium German car, blended with a high-voltage teal blue and pink streak that really takes the colour theory to another level, this team is one you can't easily miss and feels new, even for an old union.

Energy Systems: 7
Speed: 7
Handling: 10
Stability: 9
Pilot Mods: 4
Total: 37/50

Main Pilot: Dorian Pascal Hornfleur (France)

Appearance: Tall, curly haired, and naturally zesty, Dorian is very much the European racer you could dream of- a French-born, German speaking Alsace native living in Luxembourg, a real product of the European project. His suit features the ship design reflected in turn, and his modifications, whilst present aren't dominating of his figure.

Background: A polyglot, an old-school racer before anti-gravity leagues, and a gentleman of the sport in his late thirties, Dorian is the sort of guy you can't help but like, and marketing teams think the same. Dorian has been around for a while and started at Valkyrie and is now ending his career there in his last season, and whilst his racing doesn't set the world on fire, he's been a reliable enough choice, as a veteran in the sport. He knows how to keep position, and will lead Valkyrie to a season it could do better than ever before. Whilst rubbing shoulders with Cassie Neves, a new rival, he'll certainly try and make his point this season that wisdom beats impatience.

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Al-Saqr Racing

Al-Saqr "Falcon" Racing (Arabic Union)

Colour: Light Green and White

"Falcons Racing", or Al-Saqr Racing is based out of Abu Dhabi, UAE, and represents the wider Arabic world and Middle East of the more unified "Arabic Union", that has come together following a decade of warfare in the Middle East. Made up of various conglomerates that reinvested sovereign wealth funds generated from oil production and reinvested into climate mitigation and survival, in a post-oil world, Al-Saqr's aims have been to rapidly grow anti-gravity racing and technology to cities rapidly trying to grow their technology sectors. Where they lack is perhaps their final third- producing a craft and pilots that on paper, should be approaching dominance- yet lack the heritage, balance, or pure speed of their main rivals above them.

For absolute speed, they are third to Southern Cross and Silver Apex, and whilst their craft's handling is generally poor, pilot mods are second to Silver Apex due to a huge biotechnology push in the UAE, Qatar and Oman, and their craft's energy systems are very solid. This is a craft that is a bit of a dark horse- you could sneak a few wins between the bickering of the big teams, and it certainly feels like it relies on a pilot that's willing to take a few modifications to push themselves before they really make the most out of their ship.

Saqr's craft have a predominantly green and white paint job in a geometric, hex pattern, with streaks of gold, with smaller black and red stripes.

Energy Systems: 8
Speed: 9
Handling: 5
Stability: 6
Pilot Mods: 9
Total: 37/50

Main Pilot:

Layla "Yalla" Al-Nadir (Jordan)

Appearance: Graceful and fierce, with almost glowing dark eyes and a determined look, Layla is a modern Arab through and through that hides a lot more than first meets the eye. Her suit combines elements of traditional and futuristic designs linked to the team livery, but doesn't cover the fact she's got all four artificial limbs, and an array of modifications that when you look closer, pushes even Amy to look much more human. Beneath, she is probably second to Amy in reality- but makes far less effort to hide what's going on.

Background: Layla has a background in engineering, biomechanics and lunar mining work- and is probably the person on the grid most would point to in being the most "modified", with obvious gold augments everywhere. Cyborg or not, Layla is certainly more than human beneath, and it makes her incredibly frustrating in close quarters to race against, or to play ping-pong with. She may not be champion material, but you'd want her in your team, and she leads Al-Saqr as a nation-bred driver, making brave overtakes and using her advanced mods to help in energy management and taming the wild ship of her team. Layla is probably the most outspoken on technological development- even more so than Amy, and is a perfect vessel to push space-faring initiatives and research projects to go without limits, happy to put her own body on the line.

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Zygon

Zygon (Korea):

Colours: Dark Red (Navy Blue contrast)

Korea's anti-gravity team located in Seoul, and formed out of a mega, mega-Chaebol from a collection of automotive producers, Zygon is on a bit of a spiral at the moment and has not been living up to former constructor dominance. Some point to the fact that Zygon is by far, the most corporate team on the grid- and lots of chop changes mean that Zygon is just not able to keep up. Even in a hyper-advanced economy, one of which has reversed multiple crises and worked with local partners such as Japan and Taiwan as the core of a newly resilient East Asian Union, Zygon's not the symbol of renewal many imagined it would be. No amount of bribing gets you places (if true)- this team used to be tightly run but changes have meant that they have dropped down the order. Whilst a vast array of resources, almost to the point of eclipsing Silver Apex exist, they haven't been used to their full potential and the team is feeling that slump in this season. It's a recovery job to get them back to where they should be- but that will take a master politician, rather than technical specialist to make happen.

Zygon's craft is relatively balanced in the group- with above average (third to Silver Apex) in handling, and third in pilot enhancements, albeit losing speed and stability relative to others, their ship is difficult and will need a lot of work to improve throughout the season. That said, a far better ship could be made out of the tools to hand with the right team- and no doubt, when Zygon get their act together, they will be a sleeping giant, just requiring the right pilots and management to do so.

Zygon's craft are painted in an ornate red, with a bluish-purple pearlescent interlace upon it, the old Joseon colours, and often come with some traditional decaling that follows it. This is a team based in heritage, and whilst Korean culture is hypermodern in the sporadic sponsorships used, it still blends the new with old seamlessly.

Energy Systems: 8
Speed: 7
Handling: 7
Stability: 6
Pilot Mods: 8
Score: 37/50

Main Pilot: Cassie Neves (Scottish / Portuguese)

Appearance: Cassie is a red-haired, freckled, short pilot that seems to be approaching the prime of her career into her third year of anti-gravity racing- with a range of modifications, including one augmented arm and two eyes in particular that glow a hue of blue, Cassie is a blend in more ways than one of her Norwegian and Irish roots.

Background: A non-native lead driver, Cassie's selection in Zygon, a very classical, very native-oriented has raised many, many eyebrows. Many wonder how a fiery driver formerly of Valkyrie will deal with Zygon, and perhaps, the move to a team where she no longer plays second fiddle to Dorian, leading a team hopefully to recovery and beyond. Cassie is certainly no slouch- her approach is fiery and whilst it didn't suit Valkyrie, it may just suit a team that needs a driver to take more risks and take advantage of the resources on offer. Cassie is fast, but time will tell if she can really compete with Amy or the higher tier drivers. Cassie excels in aggressive racing and taking risks that others might avoid, and it's this that really cuts her out of the midfield. Her skills in handling and speed are notable, but she sometimes struggles with maintaining consistency and stability.

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Nordic Call

Nordic Call

Colour: Pink (Blue, Gold, Aurora Spray)

A pan-Scandinavian team, Nordic Call is a homebrew team sponsored wholly by an entertainment and telecoms conglomerate that pioneered holographic displays, calls and augmented media initiatives to the world and now backs its local team in the beautiful restored wilderness of Lulea, Sweden. With smaller budgets, the has a lot of heart and exists almost as an incubator for green technology, in a parallel with Southern Cross. Drivers are elite in this team, and their youth programme is probably the most competitive to get into, despite being a middling team- almost providing a driver academy that opens doors to sister and other associated series by proxy, due to the investment and time they get.

Whilst not having the fastest craft, they produce some of the best engineering talent and energy system engineers on the grid, and signs of that can be seen in the higher than average handling of their craft, their reliable stability and exceptional energy systems. Speed is still a problem- but get this sorted, and Nordic Call will go up the ranks.

The team's crafts take on a "Aurora" theme this season, albeit are painted in an aurora-like pink, dark blue and gold, the livery glowing in UV and infrared, with pilot suits following the same pattern.

Energy Systems: 9
Speed: 6
Handling: 7
Stability: 7
Pilot Mods: 7
Total: 36/50

Main Pilot: Astrid Elin Thorstad (Faroe Islands/Finland)

Appearance: A blonde, tall product of Nordic Call's excellent youth programme, Astrid wears a stylish, minimalist range of augments and modifications, given she's a serious marketing tool for the team. Wearing a pilot's suit that matches the team's eye catching livery, Astrid is dry, cold and often, one of the most unintentionally funny people on the grid for her stoic, cool demeanour. She parties hard, and works even harder to save the world.

Background: Astrid hails from a family of engineers and environmentalists, and was groomed from a young age to excel in a high-performance sport while adhering to principles of green technology. Her engineering background allows her to push the boundaries of anti-gravity racing technology, combining cutting-edge innovations with a deep respect for nature. Astrid is probably the second to Harrison's activism on the grid, speaking out on environmental issues, albeit catching more than her fair share of flak for criticism of space-faring and mining operations and her parties. Make no mistake, Astrid elicits her own brand of controversy more than she perhaps should to go further in her career.

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Miller Motor Racing

Miller Motor Racing (Federated American States)

Colour: Teal Blue (Red, Blue, Green Striped)

Formed in Montreal, Canada in the aftermath of government collapses caused by cataclysmic climate change, the Federated American States (FAS), made up of the old United States, Mexico and Canada is in recovery, with significant work to do to catch up with the rest of the world due to the disproportionate impact of changes. Formed out of the remaining automotive conglomerates, Miller Motor Racing was a small firm that has been contracted to run the wider racing operation that they own and present that face. This change from a small shop to a heavily backed firm has meant the staff haven't come yet, but when they will, it'll be a hell of an operation at the likes of Zygon's old arrangement, and this is likely to create a big culture shift in this team.

Their craft is mid-pack- neither slow, nor the fastest, with good energy systems and high level stability, making their ship a rock in the corners and turbulence, whilst only having moderate speed. The base design, however, is considered very improvable. Their pilots are only ahead of a few others in biological modifications, although due to investment coming in, it's likely they can close the gap very quickly, and develop on a design and pilots that in theory, could put them significantly higher up the grid than where they are now.

The team's livery is a mixture of the FAS's colours- a red, blue and green stripe pattern is laid on top of a predominantly teal blue ship, and a littering of sponsors.

Energy Systems: 8
Speed: 6
Handling: 7
Stability: 8
Pilot Mods: 6
Total: 35/50

Main Pilot: Max "Wedge" Wedgewood (United States)

Appearance: The cookie-cutter, blonde-haired American, Max is every marketing team's dream. While slowly gaining more and more implants, he's still got the looks that matter for selling his team, standing relatively tall and usually wearing a pilot suit matching his team's livery.

Background: Youth is on Max's side- with a season in the series, Max is a young gun looking to impress, and other teams are certainly looking. Max has raw talent, is fast, knows how to manage energy systems and whilst inconsistent and still needing to develop, can handle a craft in streaky moments like a top level racer. This has created an awkward vacuum- it's inevitable he will go to a bigger team if nothing changes, but the question is, will the craft improve first or will he be shown up?

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SuperCat

SuperCat:

Colour: Orange (Dark Green, Red)

A Kenyan-led, East African Union team based out of the cutting edge coastal tech hub of Mara City, Kenya, SuperCat, commonly nicknamed by African supporters as "The Lions" are a major renewable energy and construction company turned anti-gravity racing team with a hell of a point to prove.

Whilst many would think of Africa, the investment into the coastline has changed things dramatically, and a new wave of African engineers are coming in to design and bring their ideas to the table. The ship is fundamentally basic at present, given SuperCat entered last year for the first time, but improvements are being made and it performs well on speed and energy management, whilst also having biotechnology advances benefit its pilots. The ships are less stable than most and it makes it one of the poorer ships on the grid- but there's some gold to be found in this ship in its above average handling, good energy systems.

The livery of the team draws on earthen reds and dark greens, significant amounts of it on top of a orange base, plastered in sponsors.

Energy Systems: 7
Speed: 5
Handling: 8
Stability: 5
Pilot Mods: 8
Total: 33/50

Main Pilot: Kofi Mensah (Ghana)

Appearance: At over 6"5, some nickname Kofi the giant of the grid, in spite of the fact nothing could suggest he's a gentler, kinder person- and would you believe, wheelchair bound until the age of 15. Dressed in a black and orange pilot suit, Kofi has his fair share of augments and has all prosthetic limbs, some of which were very early in their development and therefore have hamstrung his pathway to more- considering there really isn't much more that can be done to him that hasn't already been tried or banned beneath the skin. Make no mistake, Kofi may be lovely but he's certainly not underequipped.

Background: Kofi is an African veteran of anti-gravity racing, going round the circuit in teams and back to SuperCat as their new lead driver, having a personal stake in the team. His skills are clearly in craft development- and he may not be the fastest, but he certainly knows how to use strategy and mistakes to quickly adapt and score well for the team. Kofi is charismatic, passionate, and most of all, one of the nicest guys on the grid- he's almost loved by all and his word holds well among peers, bringing Africa to the big stage in a way only Kofi can. He is deeply committed to promoting sustainability and often uses his platform to advocate for environmental issues. His infectious enthusiasm and positive attitude make him a favorite among fans and peers alike.

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Carrera Condor

Carrera Condor

Colour: White/Black (Wipala Pattern)

A Chilean-Argentinian-Bolivian-Uruguayan-Spanish joint venture based in Buenos Aires, the difficulty of all nations working together through a special purpose joint company has been nothing but turbulent, yet a show many will watch. Many would probably say it hasn't been a success- but occasional wildcard results have meant that Carrera Condor has persisted, the South American contingent that currently represents Spanish-speaking South America and arguably, most of the Iberian-speaking world making inroads into racing from an area not typically known for producing anti-gravity racers. That said, when you've got big salt flats, testing is much easier than elsewhere!

The deposits of rare earth minerals, as well as lithium has meant that wealth in South America has skyrocketed the local economy and prudent investment despite war has returned well in engineering capacity and talent locally into local manufacturing. The ship is above average for speed, and has decent handling and good energy management, albeit having poor stability. Pilots similarly, have not got the best modifications on offer- although this is beginning to improve.

Arguably, their livery is one point that they finally got right- after a relatively boring period of light blue and yellow, they embraced their Quechua roots and now sport a fully rainbow Wiphala livery, with seven colours turning their craft into a dazzle of light on a white and black backing.

Energy Systems: 8
Speed: 8
Handling: 7
Stability: 6
Pilot Mods: 5
Total 32/50

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Main Driver: Ava Villarosa (Chile)

Appearance:
A curly-haired brunette with a caramel complexion, Ava is relatively tall compared to other pilots, and seems a little more militarily-inclined, which is where many of her implants are originally from. With green eyes and a natural charm, Ava comes across easy in interviews and to sponsors, though she seems to have an exceptionally sharp tone of voice, her suit predominantly black with white detailing and Wiphala patterning.

Background:

An ex-Chilean Air Force test pilot, Ava is in her second season of anti-gravity racing and is adapting as the new face of an entire continent. Her race skills aren't the most amazing, but her energy management skills, thanks to her use of weapons systems in another life, means she knows how to control the race- and often, this slowly, building approach has given her the ability to act more like a tortoise, rather than a hare. She may not be a pick for a top team as a first driver, but she excels at consistency and managing her position well, making her hard to fight with in the lower to mid tier.

Fitzroy Orbital AG Racing

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Fitzroy Orbital AG Racing:

Colour: Black (White, Red)

Sadly, someone had to take the wooden spoon- and the other side of the British teams, at a complete opposite end of Silver Apex is Fitzroy Orbital Racing, a smaller team based in Sheffield, England. The Yorkshire Team, as they are comically referred to, is the project of one Maxwell Fitzroy, a billionaire from St Kitts and Nevis with far too many business interests to possibly care about a racing team, and therefore, has been kept as a token platform for his wider bioenergy, space and aeronautical interests that he has acquired over the last few decades.

Being run by a reclusive rich man with a waning interest in racing has made any real investment into the team difficult- and as a result, pay drivers (what there are left of them, considering just how much prestige is on the line for the teams and the researchers investing time into them) often come into Fitzroy and often end up getting thrown out just as fast. Apex engineers have come here to start their careers and improve their prospects, but they leave fast when they realise what's going on. This isn't a place you stay, but still, considering the occasional shock result that comes their way, based on a core team that really care and will look after young talent (and paid drivers, as well as Henry), means that they've often come up with the most innovative solutions where investment or care didn't fall through the cracks. This is a team with heart, but that heart is not a healthy one.

Whilst AG racing is nowhere near as poor as Formula 1 once was in imbalance, making it theoretically much more about the pilot, the team is struggling to consistently score points and it cannot keep the marginal gains it has going. The silver lining is the craft is at least faster than some other rivals such as Carrera or Zygon- but has horrible stability, poor energy systems and handling is so far, lacking. Pilot modifications are at least somewhat decent, but are a rare silver lining for what is otherwise, a turbulent team. Where the team will excel is in making the most out of large leaps in technology- whilst the investment may not be forthcoming from a man with almost far too much money to imagine and the time isn't there to boost their reputation, the team is stubborn, plucky and will find a way to make leaps or advantages count when they get them, bagging points.

Their ships are painted black, albeit distinctly from Silver Apex, contain a significantly larger portion of white and red. "The Yorkshire Rose" features in the colourful design of the craft, setting it apart, but certainly not adding any speed.

Energy Systems: 5
Speed: 5
Handling: 5
Stability: 4
Pilot Mods: 8
Total: 27/50

Main Pilot: Henry Fitzroy (British)

Appearance: Dark skinned from his father's original Caribbean roots, Henry is relatively tall and tidy looking, not really needing to put himself in the limelight for sponsors and advertising considering he's staying close to the family fortune.

Background: The son of Maxwell, Henry is no doubt, a product of his father's recent privilege. Henry is a playboy, and hasn't been augmented so heavily, perhaps taking it not so seriously and being more of a "gentleman" driver that really isn't impressing. Beating him is easy enough- but not pissing him off is arguably harder, and a tightrope to walk to keep the funding going for the team and Henry's interest, which is what may perhaps be keeping Maxwell in the sport, going. That said, there is probably more to Henry than initially meets the eye, and his motivations, in spite of his poor results seem to not be said to anyone.

Formula AG 2094 Season Schedule

March 5, 2094
Oceania AGP
Auckland, New Zealand
A scenic circuit running around the highly developed Auckland Harbour and CBD, with MAG tracking over water at the Auckland Harbour Bridge and using the SkyTower as a gigantic corkscrew- the season opener may no longer be in Melbourne like F1 once did, but always gets wall-to-wall coverage with a mix of extremely high speed and then sudden close-quarters, tight street circuit fighting. Balance is needed for victory here, that and a lot of bravery.

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March 19, 2094
Cape Town AGP
Cape Town, South Africa
A scenic circuit around Table Mountain winding up and off the plateau, with anti-gravity sections offering breathtaking views of the coast and city, this track uses the wide-open expanse to allow racers to really push their craft's top speed in the autumn heat, vertical sections with MAG strips adding a different view to Table Mountain's winding sinew.

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April 2, 2094
Japanese AGP
Tokyo Expressway Circuit, Japan

A high-speed evening street circuit weaving through Tokyo’s neon-lit skyscrapers and highways, with gravity-defying loops inverting ships on course and holographic advertising zones on the Shuto Expressway and Shibuya, speed is preferred but the relatively long lap rewards good handling and good energy management. If you think Midnight Club went fast through Tokyo, you've seen nothing yet, and the hyper-modern glow of Tokyo almost seems surreal.

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April 16, 2094
Italian (South Tyrol) AGP
Marmolada AG Race Circuit, Dolomites, Italy

There are many race tracks in Italy, but nothing seems to beat the future temple of speed that is Marmolada Circuit, the longest, fastest and most outright bonkers piece of short-term engineering in Northern Italy on the AGP calendar- a proposal that took ten years in the making and mandated the use of lots of cutting edge technology that is assembled by drone in two days and disassembled within days of completion. Introduced as the first "Nature" race of the Formula AG series, ships go up the now protected and geoengineered Marmolada Glacier and sinew around the top of the mountain, before following the tight valley roads of Passo Fedaia and chicanes, the frozen shores of Lago Fedaia, before back up again using MAG strips heavily. Yes, it's all blanketed in snow, and makes this the first race Formula AG completes in snow. Speed is key here, and ships are often unleashed to their greatest extent here, with upgrades targeting aerodynamics and pulse engine upgrades.

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May 7, 2094
Portuguese AGP
Circuit de Algarve, Portugal

A redesigned version of the traditional track, Circuit de Algarve offers the first real track-based circuit experience of the season, with high elevation change and for a Anti-Gravity Ship presenting tighter overtakes and significantly harder turns than even a progressive street circuit. It's an old circuit, but the best handling craft here dominate.

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May 21, 2094
Lunar AGP
Mare Austral Complex, Luna

One of the most standout events, the Lunar AGP is the Monaco GP of Anti-Gravity and quite literally, out of this world. Requiring complete changes to gravity matrices, complete biosecurity measures to be followed, and no spectators even from colonies in the area, and of course, a trip to our nearest celestial body which in itself, still requires incredible logistical planning. However, if you think you can hold your mind together racing on Earth, Mare Austral features MAG pulls into canyons, incredibly light gravity sections allowing ships to effectively fly and blast through gorges and crevasses in the shell of a former Helium-3 mining facility. This is everyone's favourite race, and there are never any favourites or best craft for the circuit.

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June 4, 2094
Monaco Grand Prix
Circuit de Monaco, Monaco

A revamped version of the classic street circuit, now featuring enhanced MAG-strip sections of banking and a vertical climb and chicane stretching into the harbour as a short extension, albeit somehow, remaining unchanged in almost every other way (although sadly, ships no longer fit through the tunnel after Portier, and skirt the sea). Somehow, the Monaco GP has still managed to remain almost the same despite literally being on the Moon before it- qualify first with pure talent, you usually will win here.

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June 18, 2094
British AGP
Silverstone Circuit, Towcester, United Kingdom

The classic Silverstone track almost has been unchanged bar a couple of banks and a MAG section replacing some of Sector 3, plus a high-tech pit area makes Silverstone the home of speed forever known. The home of Apex is a nearly impossible one to win at and gets record attendance still, with craft that are balanced winning here.

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July 2, 2094
Canadian AGP
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, Canada

The traditional track has been updated with digital spectator areas, with banking at hairpins to allow for greater speed. The Wall of Champions still gets decorated sometimes, and as the last event in the season, gets spectators to enjoy the baking summer heat of Montreal.

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Season Break

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August 6, 2094
Belgian AGP
Spa-Francochamps, Stavelot, Belgium

Another example of what AG ships can do, Spa is a short circuit now for craft that can accelerate faster than F1 cars could even think. With an extension in Sector 2 with a mag-strip complex through the dense woods, racing at Spa requires speed, handling and serious talent to win in rain, shine or sometimes, both in minutes.

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August 20, 2094
German AGP
Nürburgring, Germany

The iconic Nürburgring Nordschlife and GP Circuit is transformed with elevated sections and anti-gravity banked turns that will make your stomach churn watching, blending the traditional layout with MAG walls. The record is currently three minutes, 21 seconds by the way....

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August 27, 2094
Singapore AGP
Singapore Marina Circuit, Singapore

An iconic night race kept from racing of old, Singapore demands close-quarters, hard fighting with low top speeds in AG ships, given the circuit has barely changed since its original incantation, bar one loop and corkscrew in Sector 3. Rain, cyclones and hard weather make this race not just a spectacle in the dry, but a challenge in the wet to stay locked in.

October 1, 2094
Argentinian AGP
Buenos Aires Autodrome

A high-tech, brand new MAG-strip enabled circuit featuring anti-gravity barriers and loops built over the old Buenos Aires Autodrome, blending traditional and futuristic aesthetics means that a trip to Buenos Aires is proven as an unrestrained, no-holds barred racing experience. Overtaking is easy on long straights and balanced ships work well in the main, but this is the first purpose-built, real race-circuit for AG ships.

---

October 8, 2094
São Paulo AGP
São Paulo, Brazil
A dynamic street circuit built in the environment of the classic Interlagos circuit and using the track for much of its length, the track winds through the bustling cityscape, featuring elevated tracks and zero-gravity chicanes at inverted MAG sectors. This is a circuit requiring good technical skill, energy management and handling above all else, but is a true pilot's circuit.

---

November 5, 2094
United States AGP
Bonneville Salt Flats AG Race Circuit, Utah, Federated United States

The United States has never been big into Formula-styled series, but considering the first anti-gravity craft ever made took off at Bonneville Salt Flats, returning to Salt Lake City is a homage to where it all began. The baking heat turns the salt into firm ground for these craft to go fast over, and that they do- with MAG strips and the rolling hills of Graham Peak and then the dead flat, chicane-laden anti-gravity circuit in the base creating a really good spectacle for visitors physically there in person, laden with MAG strips, loops and a complex strip that rises out of the dead-nothing of Bonneville.

---

December 3, 2094
Turkish GP
Istanbul City Circuit

An absolute classic, this race technically crosses two continents! The relatively long circuit uses both the Bosphorus Bridge and Avrasya Tunnel to create an exceptionally high speed, end-to-end street circuit in the evening light of Istanbul, taking in its historic quarters and hyper-modern core. Flying past the Hagia Sofia, Maiden's Tower, little MAG strips are used but where the are, turns the circuit into an almost no-brake zone relying on mostly energy management and pure speed to win.

---

December 15, 2094
Dubai Sky GP
Dubai, UAE

And what a finale to end it on. A futuristic circuit that wraps around the Burj Khalifa at sunset, with panoramic views of the city’s skyline, the Dubai Sky GP is one of the most remarkable (imagine Sol 2 from Wipeout) tracks making heavy use of MAG tracks and sending pilots dizzyingly from skyscraper to skyscraper and around it on seemingly exposed track that without glance, appears to literally be hovering in the air. Three pilots have gone off track in the last four years, and specialist ejection protocols are recommended for pilots that exceed the force-field like edging of the track keeping craft on. You best be brave, and stability here really helps- but when it's the last race of the season, it's all on the line, all in the sky.

Formula: Anti-Gravity (An F1 Drive to Survive inspired, Slice of Life, Cyberpunkish/Solarpunkish RP)

With combined interest from the other IC, I will be setting up the OOC tomorrow!

Formula: Anti-Gravity (An F1 Drive to Survive inspired, Slice of Life, Cyberpunkish/Solarpunkish RP)

That is awesome both of you! With the combined interest- I will set up an OOC tomorrow!

Formula: Anti-Gravity (An F1 Drive to Survive inspired, Slice of Life, Cyberpunkish/Solarpunkish RP)

@LadyAmber

Awesome to have you on board! A Team Principal role would suit probably well for the first one, the last one certainly too, the owner aspect could also play in but would be a tricky one to balance but I'm open to looking at!

@Ocio

Awesome! That sounds like a great idea- we can definitely do that.

Formula: Anti-Gravity (An F1 Drive to Survive inspired, Slice of Life, Cyberpunkish/Solarpunkish RP)

Formula: Anti Gravity

Ultimate Speed. Ultimate Competition. And a heartbeat between defeat and ultimate, savoured, victory.

This is Formula Anti Gravity.

Anti-gravity racing pushes humankind to its farthest, fastest, most elite limit in 2094's season. Bioenergy-fuelled ships that can exceed 500 kilometres per hour and turn like a blur, coupled to complex energy systems, and then, there's the pilots. Enhanced, hyper-reactive, and pushed to their physical limits, and then beyond through implants, synthetic hearts and neural links.

At home, billions watch the fastest, most exciting sport that feels more like watching a boxing fight than a hyper-fast racing series. This is a sport about attack, and if you lack the fight, you'll never see the fire.

Now we pull back the curtain to inside the world of anti-gravity pilots, their stories, their teams and their lives.

Step into the shoes of one of the brand new racers and their team principals, in their first season with an established team, and followed by a meta-documentary crew, filming, following and asking the questions we'd all like to know as they travel the globe and beyond. But only one question really remains.

How far will they go to stand on the top step?

---

So, who is interested in a futuristic, slice of life RP focussed around racing? There's more to follow, but the below can wet your appetite. Teams will also be set out- including a range of approaches and nations, with their own take on the future of racing.

Inspirations and World-Building

Hugely inspired by the Wipeout series, although real-life Formula One, other racing contexts, aspects of Cyberpunk 2077 as well as other solarpunk, science-fiction and other resources tap into this RP. This is an RP that isn't in need of readers to understand any of these - lore and world building will come in very strongly throughout, and any lovers of a futuristic, sci-fi RP with a slice of life chunk would love this RP!

---

(Significantly more world building to follow!)

A world in the late 21st century, this world is one that barely avoided all-out annihilation after natural disasters, climate change, war, famine and disease struck the planet.

And yet, humanity, like it always seems to, avoided disaster by the finest of margins.

Nuclear fusion, asteroid mining, and unparalleled peace in our time. In a moment of the brink, we stepped back as humanity dwindled down to four billion, and outcomes for humanity improved, exponentially. Lifetimes extended, disease and squalor stopped, and humanity rekindling symbiosis with the planet it tried to kill for centuries by restoring our destroyed ecological world. A near-solarpunk utopia, in which well-regulated nation states and blocks such as the European Union, the Mexican work together, rather than over what is left. Prosperity, fairness, kindness.

An end to history?

But of course, that's because people need something else.

Enter Formula Anti-Gravity, a racing series developed after advancements in anti-matter and quantum technology, predominantly by the technology magnate, Royston Pierce (OBE). Ships that could literally levitate off the ground, and when coupled to a biofuel-powered engine, accelerate to speeds almost unfathomable to modern racing drivers. Race circuits sinew on classical circuits, to cutting edge, hyper-futuristic circuits that include magnetic induction and even complex energy systems that allow for energy leeching and pilots to push their craft even faster.

AG, as it's otherwise known, allows for "Ships", which are confusingly crewed by a singular "Pilot", who would look something akin to a modern fighter pilot in full oxygen-breathing equipment and pilot suits allowing them to take inhumane G-forces. With grids of 20 pilots, they are backed by teams that are a mixture of private and public ventures, from entities such as the European Union, Federated United States and many more entities working with new and old countries that have risen and fallen. Ships come with energy shields that allow for impacts, but also for energy management in leaching and boosting, creating a complex dynamic that doesn't just reward the fastest racer, but the one who can work their strategy the best.

The pilots themselves are at the absolute limit- but will be set to quite literally, receive as much work as their ships do. Unlike modern F1, where just the ship receives upgrades- the pilots do too in parallel. Of course, regulations and rules exist to what level they can be modified, but pilots are pushed with implants, upgrades and parts that well, come with positives and costs. Balanced with marketing needs, well, you're not making an entire cyborg out of a pilot!

Oh, and one last thing. For all those who prefer to adjust strategy, the Team Principals are also in the background- not needing much in the way of any implants, but much more focussed on running the show. They decide what upgrades go on, who is hired, fired and kept around, but most of all, have to deliver results. They are feisty characters- and playing one means you better know how to run a racing team at the top level!

Of course, you didn't think it was all clean and perfect? Corporate interests still meddle with racing and world affairs. Eco-terrorism, and the remainder of the world's turbulent past are still present. There's plenty of fundamentals left to ask, between those who want to help push humanity's efforts of global environmental renewal, versus those who want to push humanity into something else altogether, into the stars. There are no easy answers, and there are plenty of shadows still left unaccounted for.

But you're just a pilot, with no say on the matter, right?

---

How will it work?

This RP is an ambitious idea. This RP doesn't actually have any racing (although callbacks and scenes will depict it), but will be run on a basis of a randomiser for races, and will run based on two-part responses to a GM and to the paddock. Working with a team of engineers, sponsors, media personalities, and most of all, other pilots, this is a slice of life RP that also combines interview and conversational elements in the futuristic, glamourous world of Formula AG. Welcome to the top step and a futuristic, top-level sport.

There will be curveballs, dilemmas and as the GM, I will be certain to give you the hardest challenge of them- a three-time winner with a winning streak they don't want to let go.

Posting is divided into two:

A) A question will be asked by an interviewer (the GM) which will come up for your character specifically to answer, and provide insight- this includes aspects related to your character's personality, history and results. This is a "monologue" almost- fleshing out your character!

B) Posts related to your character's personal life, set both off-paddock at the factory, and on-paddock at the circuit.

Character Sheet (WIP)

Name:
Alias: (anything else you are called)
Team: (What group do you belong to)
Gender:
Age:

Personality:

Backstory:

Racing DNA

Overview: (What sort of racer are you? All out speed driving like a glass cannon on corners, an energy systems fiend, or taking a balanced approach?)

Skills: (What else do you have in your wheelhouse? Engineering skills, data or analytics talent, or are you a fashionista, talented at other sports or hobbies that make you stick out?)

Special Trait: (What makes you special? What's your USP- a unique implant, or an extra-ordinary skill that sets you out from the field?)

Controversy :(What's your controversy that follows you around, no matter what you try and do about it? As one of the most scrutinised people in the world, was it an implant that isn't accepted, a thing you did in your younger years, or something else that gets people talking about you?)

MISC
Theme Song:
Likes:
Dislikes:
Other Information: (anything fun you wanna add)

Formula: Anti-Gravity (An F1 Drive to Survive inspired, Slice of Life, Cyberpunkish/Solarpunkish RP)

Formula: Anti Gravity

Ultimate Speed. Ultimate Competition. And a heartbeat between defeat and ultimate, savoured, victory.

This is Formula Anti Gravity.

Anti-gravity racing pushes humankind to its farthest, fastest, most elite limit in 2094's season. Bioenergy-fuelled ships that can exceed 500 kilometres per hour and turn like a blur, coupled to complex energy systems, and then, there's the pilots. Enhanced, hyper-reactive, and pushed to their physical limits, and then beyond through implants, synthetic hearts and neural links.

At home, billions watch the fastest, most exciting sport that feels more like watching a boxing fight than a hyper-fast racing series. This is a sport about attack, and if you lack the fight, you'll never see the fire.

Now we pull back the curtain to inside the world of anti-gravity pilots, their stories, their teams and their lives.

Step into the shoes of one of the brand new racers and their team principals, in their first season with an established team, and followed by a meta-documentary crew, filming, following and asking the questions we'd all like to know as they travel the globe and beyond. But only one question really remains.

How far will they go to stand on the top step?

---

So, who is interested in a futuristic, slice of life RP focussed around racing? There's more to follow, but the below can wet your appetite. Teams will also be set out- including a range of approaches and nations, with their own take on the future of racing.

Inspirations and World-Building

Hugely inspired by the Wipeout series, although real-life Formula One, other racing contexts, aspects of Cyberpunk 2077 as well as other solarpunk, science-fiction and other resources tap into this RP. This is an RP that isn't in need of readers to understand any of these - lore and world building will come in very strongly throughout, and any lovers of a futuristic, sci-fi RP with a slice of life chunk would love this RP!

---

(Significantly more world building to follow!)

A world in the late 21st century, this world is one that barely avoided all-out annihilation after natural disasters, climate change, war, famine and disease struck the planet.

And yet, humanity, like it always seems to, avoided disaster by the finest of margins.

Nuclear fusion, asteroid mining, and unparalleled peace in our time. In a moment of the brink, we stepped back as humanity dwindled down to four billion, and outcomes for humanity improved, exponentially. Lifetimes extended, disease and squalor stopped, and humanity rekindling symbiosis with the planet it tried to kill for centuries by restoring our destroyed ecological world. A near-solarpunk utopia, in which well-regulated nation states and blocks such as the European Union, the Mexican work together, rather than over what is left. Prosperity, fairness, kindness.

An end to history?

But of course, that's because people need something else.

Enter Formula Anti-Gravity, a racing series developed after advancements in anti-matter and quantum technology, predominantly by the technology magnate, Royston Pierce (OBE). Ships that could literally levitate off the ground, and when coupled to a biofuel-powered engine, accelerate to speeds almost unfathomable to modern racing drivers. Race circuits sinew on classical circuits, to cutting edge, hyper-futuristic circuits that include magnetic induction and even complex energy systems that allow for energy leeching and pilots to push their craft even faster.

AG, as it's otherwise known, allows for "Ships", which are confusingly crewed by a singular "Pilot", who would look something akin to a modern fighter pilot in full oxygen-breathing equipment and pilot suits allowing them to take inhumane G-forces. With grids of 20 pilots, they are backed by teams that are a mixture of private and public ventures, from entities such as the European Union, Federated United States and many more entities working with new and old countries that have risen and fallen. Ships come with energy shields that allow for impacts, but also for energy management in leaching and boosting, creating a complex dynamic that doesn't just reward the fastest racer, but the one who can work their strategy the best.

The pilots themselves are at the absolute limit- but will be set to quite literally, receive as much work as their ships do. Unlike modern F1, where just the ship receives upgrades- the pilots do too in parallel. Of course, regulations and rules exist to what level they can be modified, but pilots are pushed with implants, upgrades and parts that well, come with positives and costs. Balanced with marketing needs, well, you're not making an entire cyborg out of a pilot!

Oh, and one last thing. For all those who prefer to adjust strategy, the Team Principals are also in the background- not needing much in the way of any implants, but much more focussed on running the show. They decide what upgrades go on, who is hired, fired and kept around, but most of all, have to deliver results. They are feisty characters- and playing one means you better know how to run a racing team at the top level!

Of course, you didn't think it was all clean and perfect? Corporate interests still meddle with racing and world affairs. Eco-terrorism, and the remainder of the world's turbulent past are still present. There's plenty of fundamentals left to ask, between those who want to help push humanity's efforts of global environmental renewal, versus those who want to push humanity into something else altogether, into the stars. There are no easy answers, and there are plenty of shadows still left unaccounted for.

But you're just a pilot, with no say on the matter, right?

---

How will it work?

This RP is an ambitious idea. This RP doesn't actually have any racing (although callbacks and scenes will depict it), but will be run on a basis of a randomiser for races, and will run based on two-part responses to a GM and to the paddock. Working with a team of engineers, sponsors, media personalities, and most of all, other pilots, this is a slice of life RP that also combines interview and conversational elements in the futuristic, glamourous world of Formula AG. Welcome to the top step and a futuristic, top-level sport.

There will be curveballs, dilemmas and as the GM, I will be certain to give you the hardest challenge of them- a three-time winner with a winning streak they don't want to let go.

Posting is divided into two:

A) A question will be asked by an interviewer (the GM) which will come up for your character specifically to answer, and provide insight- this includes aspects related to your character's personality, history and results. This is a "monologue" almost- fleshing out your character!

B) Posts related to your character's personal life, set both off-paddock at the factory, and on-paddock at the circuit.

Character Sheet (WIP)

Name:
Alias: (anything else you are called)
Team: (What group do you belong to)
Gender:
Age:

Personality:

Backstory:

Racing DNA

Overview: (What sort of racer are you? All out speed driving like a glass cannon on corners, an energy systems fiend, or taking a balanced approach?)

Skills: (What else do you have in your wheelhouse? Engineering skills, data or analytics talent, or are you a fashionista, talented at other sports or hobbies that make you stick out?)

Special Trait: (What makes you special? What's your USP- a unique implant, or an extra-ordinary skill that sets you out from the field?)

Controversy :(What's your controversy that follows you around, no matter what you try and do about it? As one of the most scrutinised people in the world, was it an implant that isn't accepted, a thing you did in your younger years, or something else that gets people talking about you?)

MISC
Theme Song:
Likes:
Dislikes:
Other Information: (anything fun you wanna add)

Raven Squad: Second Storm (Military/Spy-Fi RP)

Skybound! : The Setup

Fireteam Icarus

@LadyAmber

"We have this." Skye replied to Sam's comment, pulling out a vial, knowing the question would come.
"We found this in Nagoya, and scaled it up. The actual toxin itself is actually quite weak when in concentrate to react out, so some of this with concentration, and Sol Hestia dissipates quick. We just need to make sure it hits the tanks, and then it should be deactivated. Makes it harmless, basically kills off the chirality quickly and makes it react fully into a relatively weak drug. Of course, you spread that over a wide area.....bit harder." Skye elaborated, knowing that it was probably worth keeping in mind earlier on.
"Each one of you gets a couple of vials. Creates contingency....just in case shit really goes south." Skye added, the green-coloured stuff tiny, but enough to counteract. Not much of course. With that, Skye put her hands on the desk, the redhead leaning in. She had a lick of confidence on her, but there was still a line of concern that even for Skye was coming through more than maybe some of the team remembered. The stakes were high, and there was a feeling that this was personal for Skye.

She felt it in her heart, the biometrics were indeed something she could blast by, but had no uncertain doubt that Rose knew they were coming. It was inevitable, and the fight they would have would be intense. If done right, if the repeater was jammed first, then it would be very hard for Rose to pull herself back. She'd be forced into dilemmas, choices. She could only be in one place, right? Or at least, it would slow her down before she rolled it back. If they could at least turn it back to one version, that would be more than enough. But shit, this wasn't gonna be easy.

"Don't underestimate what we're up against. Me, Athena and Oliver will keep on the push, Sam, clean up traps and keep us rolling past any locks or doors, Purna, you have the exterior to provide a flank with your grapple and....well, you do you." Skye added, Purna chuckling, nodding with glee. She got him! Well, somewhat.

---

Iceberg Ahoy! : The Setup

Fireteam Viking

@Starlance

Tahlia heard Enri's comment and shrugged, surprised, yet not entirely unaware of the comment.

"Well, first time hearing that. Rolling with a set of highly dangerous mercs.....means you must have some skills with a computer. If it all works, it won't come to you firing bullets. Artemis have a lot of tech to play with that you can use to mess up their day. And somehow....I get the feeling you want to have a rummage, don't ya?" Her bushlander accent came out, to the point, unglossed but infering exactly what she had to.

"Jamie will clear the road forward. I'm sure he'll appreciate any help he can get. And there is the small matter of a fuckton of munitions that are gonna come in. I am sure someone of your calibre will enjoy the toys we have here." She bridged, her colourful prose still bringing a chuckle to the Kiwi, somehow in shock that they were along. But, she had the keys to that receiver, and well, how Rose's neural network had worked, from the very brief time inside that server in Nagoya.

---

The Planet Saver: The Setup

Fireteam Poseidon

The questions were diverse, but similar to Icarus's, dealing with the toxin was top of the list. Adam presented the same neutralising agent, and gave some better responses to Chuck's, and Ebrima's queries.

"We have reason to believe there's no way they can spread the toxin out to individual pontoons, without dissipating effect. They need it concentrate in a central point, before release. If they're doing it right, it's within a main store here, at the heart of the facility, on the third storey in a vat. Saves accidental exposure, given they don't want to accidentally just dump it in the sea and minimise the delivery of the payload. It would still kill millions, but nowhere near compared to being turned to spray." Adam started, bringing in the wider map.

"As soon as we dump the counteragent, we can get aerial support with relatively little risk. We need to save heavy fire from the central platform, so as not to destabilise it and kill us while we clear it. But we can eliminate armed boats and other assets on play, as well as the other supporting elements. It will give us a turning tide, as we expect enemy presence to be heavy once we get into the belly of the beast. Retreating is the only other option we have once the job is done- but any intel we find on the release mechanism and anything we can destroy, will make sure in case there's any more of it stored elsewhere cannot be deployed. So we will need to give as good as we get." Adam replied, knowing it wasn't ideal, himself he didn't like the idea of fire support- but then again, it would be hard to get in any other vein. More Special Forces troops, like SEALs or SBS would just clog the place and create more bodies in the way. A hidden hand from elsewhere would be good enough, and would at least level the vertical playing field a little.

Taking it in, he awaited any further questions, but expected that soon enough, they would be up and moving.

Skye Rosalind Lyons

Adam Stanislaw Kajtanowicz

Athena Anna Kanataario

Purna Chai Gurung

0300 Local Time

Armoury, Camp Hannula, Finland

All That Is Not Saved Will Be Lost

With Athena returning, she checked over her weaponry, finding places to holster it, the mouse-like Purna coming over and standing teeny by her titanic side, the two as opposite as they could ever be. If Athena, wrapped up in her tight armour, the kevlar suit almost flush to her assets and covering her from neck to toe seemed like she was perhaps even vaguely comparable to Purna's skintight gear in spite of the fact it must have still weighed a good 50kg on her, the fact it looked like the Nepali was half the height of her was a statement alone.

A strange pair, to say the least.

"You seriously need to take up my offer after all of this. I know you said you'd think about it....but seriously, you kicked some ass back in Marrakesh. Like a hidden hand." Athena said, looking down, Purna tsking, shrugging.

"I'm more of a one man band. Prefer the shadows. The quiet life, contract work. I'm here as a favour to a friend." Purna's response came back cold, considered even.

"Well, you deserve more. I know your story, Purna. You could help a lot of family with it. Stability isn't such a bad thing." Athena came back, this being a conversation that had clearly gone on somewhere before. Even if now was a bad time, Athena still had her business to do.

Purna shrugged, looking across to Skye, Adam, the others setting up weaponry, and then back up to her, craning his neck. The Nepali had a very blank look, almost as if by intent. If Athena's face was one of fame, Purna's was one of being a ghost, a shadow, another mere blend that could disappear into many different places. A Nepalese complexion helped with being a grey man in an awful lot of parts of the world, dark skinned enough for almost all of Asia, Africa, even South America. It made him dissolve, even more so than Skye did. So the offer was one to think on, but well, he knew how these things were.

"I could. But I do enough. See, Athena, I never think what it's like to be an elephant. A top dog. Ruling your jungle like you have no interruptions. You, your sister, your brother....unstoppable, always in public view. Yet I never want it. Do you ever think about the quiet life?" Purna queried, perhaps as if he was about to dig at something.

Athena snorted, chuckling.
"Nah....not really. Someone's gotta do it. And anyway, Freya won't admit it but she likes quiet. Jamie a lot more. I mean....a certain something like that, it opens doors you may not think about. Like being able to take things you like the look of." Athena hinted, Purna's face turning sour, as Athena shrugged, continuing.

"Worst kept secret here, for someone so good at them, I can tell. Look at him. He's telling Chuck about it. And you know what I think. I could just walk over there. You say you don't understand me. Power is power, Purna. Reason you haven't slit his throat is because you know you wouldn't survive it. He knows if I went over, I could snap him in two, or that knife ends up in Assam, tomorrow. I like taking what I want. Hard to say no to that way. Shocked you haven't already. That's why having a bit of a deal about you matters." Athena giggled, knowing if that wasn't a convincer, then maybe it was.

"He's earned it. Weirdly." Purna's voice coldly replied. She turned to face him, Purna's response eliciting an eyebrow raise.

"I mean....how many people do you think hate him here? Raphael's old team pulled him in. Enri, he might have left her to die, by accident, who knows. Me, he killed my friends. And Skye Lyons had to pick him out of a hat as the scariest merc that side of the Meridian. The stories aren't fake. Or he'd probably be someone we'd have to kill too. Took the chess piece off the board before we killed him...same goes for Chuck, same for a lot of people. Shit. I never like to think about odds, but one on one, in a cell, I'd never rule him out with you." Purna sighed, shrugging.

"But even I can't deny. There are the monsters you know, and the ones you don't. Guess it means we play the same game. Operatives like us, deal with the dirt, mud and grime of the world. So does Skye. In a position like yours....easy to take what you like without restraint when you get given it all. An entire firm. When you have nothing, you learn to respect the value of things. Even things that are priceless. It's not as simple as honour all the time. So....me and him, we have more in common than we'd admit. Perhaps I would do the same to him. Still might. And perhaps we all work together better because of it. At the end of it all, that's all that is left." Purna replied, Athena's face almost a scowl, as Purna sighed before she replied.

"I won't say no to contract work, because I know you need me. I can tell you always get what you want. A compromise after this is done. But only that. Then let's see." Purna replied, and with it, left Athena, leaving no words. For the woman that always got she wanted, that was not exactly everything.

"You really drive a hard bargain!" Athena replied, sighing, looking across at Oliver.

@Jamesyco

Walking over back towards him, where he was getting geared, the blonde giantess took in the isolated merc.
"You always talk to yourself?" Athena asked Oliver, going through all his bits, the wreck of his old suit replaced by a tactical arrangement of what they had now.
"Not bad at all." Athena commented, looking back across at the rest of the team, then back at Oliver.
"So, I have this insaaaaane idea right..... considering the world might end, we might all die, you know.....I would want to take you out somewhere after. Like, something really nice. And I know, it's not a girl's place to ask.....but, ah, fuck it." Athena's brain seemed to be on pivot, and no doubt, he was going to be a bit sidewinded by that.

But, perhaps Purna's words had rang true.

"A lot of guys probably struggle because they see this girl and think they can't handle her but.....but I wanted to tell you it's fine. And just that I was thinking about you a lot back in Marrakesh." Athena commented, knowing how insane it must have been coming from her. Yet, despite the endless thirst on the internet, on base, in a lot of places, she wanted to say it. And she saw it in him. Perhaps even the fact he WAS hard to get, made it all the more of a moment. His blank expression made Athena sigh.

"Look uhhh.....I know this is weird. I know I'm a bit much. But, just saying. Offer's there. And uhh.....I think you're kinda hot. Maybe it's the Viking in you? I don't know. But still. Sorry. I know, we have a job to do but if we're genuinely gonna die, I'm not doing it without telling you. Live in the moment and all that yeah?" Athena said, almost chirping at this point, because man, was

End of the world? Sure, but she was teasing away.

-

In the interim, Skye had a moment of quiet with Tahlia to share, checking the wingpack now attached to her back over, as well as the rifle, coiled onto her side, the tactical helmet on her head again, as well as the plate carrier and thermal suit now on. She was proud of Tahlia for getting back into business, perhaps making it seem more seamless than even last time. The legs were really doing their business for her, and Skye was proud. Even at the end of the world, it felt like something.

"You ready for this?" Skye asked, Tahlia's response perhaps sharpened back.

"Good as ever. You know, I don't get it....you survive all that shit, only to go straight back out? You know, you don't have to put yourself at risk....considering what she's done. All this. I know you'll never listen, and duty and that. But I guess...."

"You lead by example, Tahlia. You know that better than anyone. Same thing. I risked a lot for what this was."

"And when does it stop?"

"It stops when the bitch is dead." Skye commented, Purna walking over, chuckling too, in addition to Tahlia's response. Not exactly wrong!

"Nah, she never fucking stops. Too much Highlander in her!" Purna commented, looking to Skye, making the observation, chuckling as the topic changed.

"So, you got any idea where we'll see Rose? She has to be in one of the three places. Maybe not at once, but we're not all attacking simultaneously." Purna asked, Skye shrugging, looking to Tahlia, then back to the short, well-shaven Gurkha.

"You're talking to me as if I'm an expert on myself. I imagine she'll be there. Just be fucking careful, you two. I know you probably saw the notes. She really doesn't mess around." Skye retorted, adjusting her gloves, as well as her tactical helm, the one on which the oxygen system was currently cradled on top of.

"Point taken. Still doesn't make sense. With everything we know, it seems like science fiction. And to do it 30 years ago...." Purna commented, Skye running a finger along Purna's arm for a moment, looking at that.

"They said the same about that optical cloak. And Ban's arms. And Freya's coil. The cutting edge isn't on show." Skye chuckled, knowing Purna would get where she was coming from, as he finished up setting his own mags, Tahlia equipping much her own on her lightweight plate carrier.

"Fair point. Still can't believe we got to this. And how fucking insane she is.....I know why, but this took Artemis to another level. Not one I get." Tahlia replied, Purna shrugging.

"Morality is relative. You ever heard it argued that the world would be a better place with fewer people? There's 50 degree heatwaves at home, all sorts of crises in the world, and it's going to get worse. Doesn't mean you should end the world over it.....but a small tweak of character, more people are like Rose than we admit. Accept that we should all die, rather than do something about it. What is it they say. Easier to see the end of the world than the end of capital, and our economies?" Purna commented, Skye nodding.

"Aye, easily done to give up. But there's humanity in us. Sure, we could do more I suppose. Kill all the rich and first dagger's going through Freya's heart. But that doesn't achieve much. Just a lot of dirt and blood. Better to do something with it. Suppose destroying a geoengineering platform and a high altitude blimp's the only way we're gonna stop more, ey? Then maybe, we can put some pieces back together. Or at least, some smarter people than us might." Skye chuckled, her dry humour coming back, as Adam walked on over, looking across to Skye, a firm look in his eyes.

"Your team good to go, Skye?" Adam asked, the Scot nodding.

"Good as we'll be. Yours?" She replied, the Pole looking over his shoulder, his exo, silenced LMG and usual tools of the trade indicating so.

"Around the same. If this is it, I just.....I wanted to apologise. Bad time for it. But the last one we may have." Adam blustered, as Skye shrugged, looking on. He seemed confident, but anyone had to be to talk to Skye Lyons on her level.

"They were good times. Stop being so fucking awkward about it, Adam. Get on with it. It happened, and we'll have to remember that it did. Just don't fuck up, yeah?" Skye grinned, as Adam nodded, his demeanour cracking.

"You too." Adam put out a hand, and Skye shook it, a grin on both their faces, as they turned away, and with it, got last checks ready with their respective teams. With his helmet visor left open, Adam looked across to Ban, and his cutting edge augments, to Freya and Chuck, the two heavies providing them with some well needed muscle, to Ebrima, a member of the team that was proving themselves fast. He hoped it would be enough for where they were going. The look on Ban's face was one of exhaustion, and whilst he was an old member of the team, Skye had introduced Ban well enough that he was comfortable to work with him. Perhaps he was not so familiar with the sea, but he'd do enough. And on the platform, in the tight, claustrophobic spaces, he needed someone who could fight.

"We all good to go?"

@BigPapaBelial

---

Part Six: Iceberg Ahoy!

Solveig Theta Mine, Tasiusaq, southern Greenland

Fireteam Viking

0600 Local Time

The A400 was a packed place.

First stop? Viking needed a drop from the A400, and the crew sat in the rear of the plane were first out of the airborne Uber, via the
large, tactical hovercraft sitting there with a vehicular parachute pack attached to the roof, a 20 millimetre autocannon and a Trophy System to boot. An Infantry Fighting Vehicle, the likes of which they'd fought in Marrakesh, but way less armoured and way, way faster. Oh, and it could float.

In the meantime, Icarus had the front of the plane, staring on at the other nutters about to go raid Greenland, as the plane dived below 1,000 feet, banking hard, at the hands of one of Blue Sword's other pilots. Vincent would have been a bit more courteous, this pilot was going for it, no fucks given to the occupants, given the fact that the airspace was exceptionally hot out here.

With a stern look, Tahlia looked to Javi and Raph, plate carriers, rifles readied, a nod to the ghillied up Kiwi.
"She all ready to go? Just pull the payload chute, and then hit the throttle to Waypoint Alpha, dump me, then you guys crack on to Waypoint Bravo and you guys go to the top of the mine area and get to work." Her question was simple, Javi's energy, despite the fact he was now leading them into a warzone, was returning infectious.

"Fuck yes! This is insane! On it, Tarly, get yourselves strapped in." Javi reacted, yelling out loud as the door began to open. With it, he bundled open a door, looking to Enri, nodding her in, as did Raph, sitting inside, and finally, Tahlia and Jamie, the latter known to the Kiwi as the team's shield when they were out there. They weren't doing much of the fighting- they had a flank to hit. The Kiwi, significantly smaller looked up at Jamie, the chilled out heavy taking up a lot of room, squishing Tahlia a bit.
"Shit. You better have your seatbelt on. I already don't have two legs, don't want to lose an arm. Chur." Tahlia half joked, setting her rifle out in a way not poking at anything, as Javi clambered into the driver's seat and put his phone ready.

Voodoo People started blasting inside the thing, the bassline hooked. Fuck. He know how to have this set.

"Did it have to be this fucking loud!?" Tahlia yelled, having to over the plane and the soundtrack, but Javi wasn't having any of it. He was in his own trance, already flicking switches, and remotely dialling in the static line bag attached to the hovercraft.

And with it, the circular parachute hooked up and fired on command, the security cables holding the hovercraft into the A400 to stop it from twitching, and then suddenly, the hovercraft was sent flying out of the back as the cables released, engines on full crank, the skirt and the entire thing inflating up with the deafening noise, albeit not as deafening as the sound of this. The A400 banked hard, and what was visible was something that took Tahlia's breath away, in the faded red colour of sunrise in a Greenlandic fjord.

Welcome to combined arms, full scale hellfire. The crystalline white mountains, the dark blue water strewn and littered with icebergs, a gigantic calving glacier at the end of the fjord, green meadows interspersed with grey rock and more importantly, a gigantic mine that was getting torn to absolute shreds on one bank of the fjord with the combined weight of full scale amphibious warfare. The huge explosion from an intercepted Tomahawk was broken by another actually finding market and detonating a large silo, and the sight of F35s, drones and amphibious assault craft, from Hagglunds to LAV-25s, were visible already in the sea alongside more traditional landing craft, taking fire but giving it back. Even a couple of AH-1Z and Wildcats were visible, ducking and weaving between icebergs and firing off missiles and rockets, popping over and under the radar detection, as the A400 certainly was.

It was a modern day D-Day in the other end of the world, to stop an end of the world. To the sound of The Prodigy and Pendulum.

"Vamos!" Javi yelled out, as the hovercraft oscillated under the circular parachute now above it, and the sea was getting close.

"Just fucking drive! Enri, 20 mil weapons station on the roof is yours to play with, Jamie, open a door if you want to help!" Tahlia called, as the splashdown hit, and Javi disconnected the canopy with another flick, flooring it between icebergs on the sea, and headed directly for the flank, away from where the main fighting was, but straight towards Solveig Mine.

(Javi and Raph are shared NPCs!)

---

Athena Anna Kanataario

Purna Chai Gurung

Skye Rosalind Lyons

Part Six: Skybound!

Somewhere 30,000 feet above Newfoundland, Canada

Fireteam Icarus

0630 Local Time

Dumping Viking had felt like a little lifetime ago, but it wasn't far to go from southern Greenland and clambering hard back to 30,0000 feet from about 1,000.

Skye felt the oxygen flow and the suits' insulation kick in providing lots of heat, and gave a thumbs up to Sam, sitting across from her, as well as Oliver, looking to Purna, who seemed quietly zoned in. Wingpacks, parachutes and all that attached, and the the team were ready to fly. Skye stood up and headed across to Purna, checking him over, and he repeated the same, silently. There was a palpitation in the air, a certain cobalt feeling that came with this.

Quite unlike the first time she'd jumped out of this A400, about two days ago.

Instead, it was a strange sensation that this was truly, utterly wild, Skye feeling the carbon-fibre composite wings protrude from her back, like a cape of plastic. Athena stared on into the distance, her enthusiastic and bottomless, restless self even finding a moment of zen before she went into overdrive. That moment was then ruined.

Someone was playing something through comms.

Athena looked around. This wasn't her prank.

Oh. Skye.

Kickstart My Heart.

"Really?" Purna asked, Skye shrugging. She was shithousing, even at such a time. Not that Athena cared, a massive grin visible behind her tinted visor, a full face item with the HUD and visor element, and an attached oxygen support system pumping hard into her lungs. Skye always liked her rock. A little more now, that being augmented with the door rattling open as the pilot punched it again, the dark turning to white light.

The cold was something else, and it rattled the plane with the door open as that now began to turn, Skye looking to the rest, chuckling. No fjords, just nothing but white and pink sky.

"Thought I'd get you in the mood! Remember, pick up the HUD, follow markers, and we'll make our way onto target." Skye stated, the red still on, but her walking out onto the ramp, taking a good look at the view beyond.

The dawn sky lit up with a pink, but most interestingly of all, the clouds, instead of being far below considering they were more than high enough for oxygen, carried on up almost all of the way as part of the thundercloud. Their target was through the side of a large piece of a storm cell, towering away as a cumulonimbus cloud, the very distant landmass below of Newfoundland and its various islands, as well as of course, the town of Dildo, very small, very far below a set of massive clouds that covered it all with a thick blanket far, far below. Perspective still, but a certain kind of beauty.

With it, Skye stood on the edge of the ramp, waiting for the red to turn green, looking inside. Athena and Purna followed, the moment fairly magical considering it all. It could be perhaps the last dawn they'd see, perhaps humanity if they fucked up.

The redhead took it all in, looking at the others assembled here. Purna had little to say, not that he would, but even he was impressed behind it all. This was a piece of kit he'd always wanted to try, but whatever resources Raven had mustered, they must have pulled it out of nowhere. A tool like this in his hands, now that would be something lethal.

"Once we get there, find a latch point at the bottom of the blimp. We'll work bottom to top, floor by floor, clearing whoever we find. Best case, Athena steals the thing, worst case, we get out, same way we came in." Skye barked out through comms, over the soundtrack, before giving a wry chuckle, seeing green flicker on inside the plane.

Skye even at the end of it perhaps had learned a lot from Xan, Sam, Freya, her friends, and perhaps the whole experience that had hit. She was tired, burnt out, seen all sorts of insane shit and well, wanted to remain stoic but instead, she felt like she knew there was only one such team that could get this done.

"Alright then, on me!" Skye yelled, and with a triumphant roar, made the short leap off the end of the platform, snapped to the side and hit the jets, and instead of falling, or even gliding, burnt off to the side of the cloud and hit throttle, the jets kicking in and the initial scream turning to a dull whine, as the lift kicked in and suddenly, Skye could bank hard, feeling the G-forces kick but this....holy shit, this did not get old! The team were skybound, and had a blimp to go intercept and take on. Athena and Purna ran after, and with a seamless drop, followed on line.

"Fuck yeah!" Athena yelled out, audibly screaming in everyone's comms, as she followed

"That got you awake!" Skye replied, looking over her shoulder, Athena barrelling over after a little wobble, a grin on her face of absolute childish glee. Purna not having any to return, in complete awe, but Athena was chatty as ever.

"You're telling me!" She yelled back, Skye nodding without showing it, turning the team slightly to the left, the awesome sight of the edge of the cloud, and the blimp somewhere on the other side of it truly, utterly magnificent.

If it wasn't so serious, this would be one hell of a way to see the sky.

---

Part Six: The Planet Saver

10 Nautical Miles west of La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain

Adam Stanislaw Kajtanowicz

Fireteam Poseidon

0700 Local Time

Meanwhile, outside of the A400's flight, the V38 Sioux, the jet-powered VTOL, the other prototype was now in the hands of Vincent Cisse, FFL pilot extraordinaire.

The ambiance was perhaps different in the VTOL, considering it all. Less rock or roaring rave, more Bonobo or Amon Tobin, a pulsating, yet understated ambiance. The job they had felt different. Maybe it wasn't killing the head of the hydra, but all its venom, all its poison, and the potential it had was here. This would be pivotal, in a way that felt dethatched, away, and much more a classic Raven op. A job that just needed doing, although the scale of the geoengineering scheme was going to be one hell of a thing to decimate.

The rain pelted yet was getting quieter by the moment, the clouds from sea spray and the Mid-Atlantic storm that was dying off still making the ride bumpy, but a good omen for hiding them coming in on the tails of that as it died off, bit by bit. It was leaving here, and headed south, as the team were.

Adam sat near Vincent, hearing the comms pluck up, the Senegalese having quite something to note.

"Boss man. Tell me. How do you find all of this....you know, I am still getting my head around Skye. All that crazy shit, non?"

"It's a job. I try not to think about it....lot of weight." Adam's reply was dry, not having the same level as Skye perhaps did, but well, appreciating Vincent. Who wanted a bit more.

"Well, mon dieu, please fucking make sure you stop this. Ma Senegal, it's close to here. If the rumours are true....merde, this is beyond bad."

"Make sure the fire support is good then. We'll let you know when it's clear to come through." Adam replied, Vincent nodding, looking over at Ebrima, further back.

"Ey, mec, you don't go being shit out there, eh? Africa depends on us. Whatever the French, Japanese, Israelis, whatever they say, that soil of ours dies too if you don't stop it." Vincent cackled, shrugging his shoulders as Adam looked probably as confused as Ebrima was. A crazy pilot, but a fucking good one.

Within a few minutes, he'd turned in hard, and altitude had been dumped with the stealth VTOL sinking it in. It was that time.

"Alright, rebreathers on everyone. The SDV sinks, we sink faster. Get after it, hold on, and then we power on to the platform." Adam added, looking across, the heavies setting up their own buoyancy aids, as he did himself, almost like an inflatable piece for when they needed to head back up. Ebrima and Ban would likely need the same. Due to the sealed helmet, Adam's rebreather connected to the CBRN system, as many of the others would have- and the suit being pretty much waterproof meant that it wouldn't fill up on the inside, or at least, it would piss out on the non-criticals.

As the VTOL's door opened, it sat so close to the sea that the waves almost crashed inside, Vincent expertly holding it on the margin. The dawn sat on the mostly clouded day creating an orange haze, with nothing but infinite ocean visible and the spray dying down. End of the storm. Somewhere 10 miles behind them lay the Spanish island of La Palma, but that was a long way back.
"Okay, go!" The comms yell was decisive, and well, their Senegalese man wanted them the fuck out.

Getting behind, Adam nodded to Freya and Chuck, and pushed on the SDV with a big concerted push. With it, the thing rolled along the floor, and off the ramp, skidding into the abyss and turbulent, almost violent black and blue sea, followed by Adam and team.

The water was cold, unrelentingly so, shoals of fish broken apart by the SDV and the VTOL's blasting of the ocean, but both faded away, as Adam took a hold of the side of the SDV, looking to the others.
"Ebrima, she's all yours. Works how the manual says it does. Prime VW Polo." Adam added through the increasingly garbled comms with a rare piece of wit, but pulled the hatch open for Ebrima, and clung onto the outside, as the others would. It would be a hell of a weight that it made ballast almost seem pointless, but well, one more thing to quickly adapt to. Adam was sure the driver of the team would be able to drive the underwater car, or at least would appreciate him working that one out. He was exacting, but well, he was getting to know them, trust them, even Ebrima's history was one that made more sense than before.

Perhaps it was less thunder, perhaps it was less shrieking through the sky, but this operation began with a gentle roll through the ocean waves to the offshore platform and underneath it, and the gigantic Amazon-warehouse sized oil rig slash biochemistry slash engineering platform that needed a fuckload of neurotoxin stopped.