Letter Bee — Roleplayer Guild

Mikhail Chekhov

Mikhail chuckled at the thought of Alex the Snob and Peppy Ponytail being 'smart', but realized that Merja was right in that they were smarter than her. But, and the young man hated to admit it, he also selected Merja because she was malleable - He can push her in a way he could not push Alex or Joey. So his next words were, "All right, ask Alex and Joey for me. But if you fail, you're going to help me. Is that a deal?"

And you will fail, were Mikhail's thoughts, You will fail to sway them, they might even say something to make you feel guilty, and once that happens, I'll swoop in and push you into helping me.

"So go on, talk to them," Mikhail said, choking down the bile that rose into his throat as he realized he was being manipulative. He couldn't resist blurting out a correction to the phrase he used. "I mean, go to them, if you want. I mean, the snob and the ball of sunshine who has never suffered in any way in his life are so willing to help a fatherless kid." No, no, this is even more manipulative!, he thought, but continued anyway, "Go on, prove me wrong."

I dare you. Merja would recognize this from her own psychology classes as 'reverse psychology', a form of manipulation. But intellectual knowledge was not the same as emotional realization and Mikhail counted on that.

Mikhail felt the pain he was causing Merja, or would cause to Merja in the future. He felt that this was unfair and excessive to someone who was innocent of all this. But he remembered his father - Vasily Chekhov didn't deserve death as well. Thanks to the Russian Government, Mikhail would never see his smile, or hear his affectionate words, or walk with him in London's parks. There was a void in his heart, a yawning rift that can only be filled by revenge. So he pressed on, pain visible on his face and eyes, ready to be used at a moment's notice. But then he looked at Merja's eyes and backed down, turning away.

"I'm sorry," he said in a milder, more subdued tone than his previous words. "Just ask them to help - If they refuse, then it's your choice if you want to stay with me." He then offered a bargain, something to sweeten the deal and lessen his own guilt over trying to be so manipulative without sacrificing any gains he made, "I'm not taking psychology, but I can help you study it - My dad studied it plenty during his line of work. and still has several books on it, all of which are mine now."  A faint smile. "That... And I know people when I really want something from them." 

Advertising his own manipulation, and selling it as an advantage that can help Merja ace her Psychology class. Mikhail felt it was a masterstroke.

He regained part of his composure as he said, "So, I think Peppy Ponytail - I mean Joey - ought to be nearby. Although Alex the Snob seems to have more resources at hand." A revelation of his true feelings and thoughts towards the two, meant to show Merja that he was confiding in her, even in a roundabout way. "I'm revealing my private nicknames for those two as a sign of trust. Trust and reciprocation of trust is part of social behavior, which in turn is part of psychology."

There was every chance Mikhail might have overplayed his hand, that he might have pushed Merja away with his show of manipulation and his unsubtle implications that said manipulation was directed at her. But it was a calculated risk - Mikhail had seen enough of Merja's personality to know that she would be more likely to be impressed at how Mikhail knew the subject she studied even better than her, despite not taking formal classes in it...

Foes and 'Foes'

Pilot Character Sheet

Name: General Julius Lee

Appearance:

Age: 58 (but looks much younger due to transhuman upgrades).

Personality: General Julius Lee is the usual sadistic prick that ends up hired by the MegaCorps due to their cost-effectiveness and perceived skill in battle. His employers, however, disregard the fact that while Colonel Julius Lee is somewhat competent, he steals from the achievements of his subordinates more often than not, in order to build up his own reputation. An exception to this are operations to capture as many prisoners of war as possible, as Julius sees capturing potential slaves of all races as an art form - Unlike his ancestors, Julius believes that slavery should be blind to matters of race.

Backstory: Colonel Julius Lee was a descendant of Virginian survivalists who were the first to swear fealty to Denver-Vegas when they proclaimed themselves the continuation of the 'Old US Government'. Because of this, many of his family received high rank, some due to nepotism, others due to skill. And so, Julius Lee had high expectations going for him growing up, although he had nothing to lose by disappointing them. Joining in slaving operations in the regrown Amazon Forest at the age of 18, then shifting to attacks on Fairbanks (where he was part of an operation that briefly sacked the Massachuets Institute of Technology) and Tshwane.

Eventually, he was promoted to the rank of General, where he participated in the War of the North Pacific against Red-Star, where in the closing months of the conflict, he turned against the Japanese Rebels he was supposed to be supporting and carted them off as slaves to Denver-Vegas when the peace treaty between them and Red-Star was signed. He thus got the hatred of Natalie DuPoint, one of his own ace pilots, because of that, but the General didn't mind her feelings. Instead, he deepened the wound by taking credit for her achievements in an operation against rogue bandits in the Andes.

Then one day, it was discovered that Tshwane Mining Inc. was on the verge of rediscovering NC Core Technology, and seeing a chance to gain glory for himself and more slaves of all races, Julius got himself the plum position of leading not just the Denver-Vegas force, but the Paragon and Fairbanks ones going to besiege Cape Town. There, he will either get glory, infamy, or both.

He has not considered the possibility of defeat.

Tactical Preferences and Skills: General Julius Lee is almost like his Red-Star Foes in that he prefers the use of flanking manuevers, EMP weapons, sleeping gas and intimidating the enemy into surrender in order to capture as many people as possible.

Notes: Julius Lee has a Sync Ratio of 50%, making it easier for him to use Non-Humanoid NCs.

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NC Character Sheet

Code-name: Intimidator

Appearance:

Body Type: (Bipedal, Hover, Tank-Tread, .etc) Tank Tread

Type of NC: (General-Purpose, Interception, Assault, .etc) Heavy.

Equipment & Armaments:

Twin-linked Railguns - Intimidator can fire hyper-accelerated metal shells that, like Natalie's Mecha, can pierce through an entire 21st-century Aircraft Carrier from bow to stern, even if fired from half a kilometer. 

Giant Resonance Cannon - Intimidator's third main gun was once another railgun, but Colonel Julius Lee has replaced it with a Sonic Gun that fires concentrates sound waves that can shake apart most metallic objects, including NCs.

Anti-Air Autocannon Side Platforms x3 - Three side platforms with 'conventional' chemical-propelled guns which thanks to a unique, hard-to-produce explosive compound, can propel bullets at equivalent speeds to a railgun. Though mainly used as Anti-Aircraft defense, these guns are also useful against infantry, mowing even the power-armored elites down in huge numbers. However, the price for this is that these weapons explode when shot, causing 'Sync Pain' to Julius...

EMP Missile Side Plantforms x3 - Three side platfoms with EMP Missiles.

Pilot Character Sheet

Name: Natalie DuPoint

Appearance:

Age: 18

Personality: Natalie is a brash, fun-loving girl who loves her twin brother a lot; this love has resulted in a grudge against people who had previously hurt them, like Alexander Sky and Haven as long as they keep the former within their ranks. This grudge, however, does not prevent her from treating her enemies with honor, including Alexander if he ever falls under her power; Natalie is aware that this makes her the better person. Note however that her sense of honor clashes with Denver-Vegas and the common corporate ideology except when it makes for good PR, but Natalie does not really care; she feels that her ability to pilot well benefits the executives more than her 'unruly' behavior.

Backstory: In a small town on the Great Lakes were born two twins, Nathaniel and Natalie, who lived happily in said town and grew up watching the Reality Games together. Despite being normalized to accept violence and death as part of their entertainment, it seemed as though they'd grow up 'normal'; stuck together as humble farmers and fisherfolk... Until a local privately-ran hospital discovered that they had an average Sync Ratio (55% for both), enough to operate the man-machine interface of an NC. They were 13 then, and were promptly packed off to an NC Pilot Academy; their parents were promised millions of dollars for handing them over.

Three years later, Nathaniel and Natalie were deployed to support a rebellion in Japan against Red-Star, the Chinese-Controlled Corp that was controlling the archipelago. It was a disaster, as Nathaniel was captured on his first engagement by Alexander Sky of Red-Star and his Phoenix Inferno, and promptly taken to their torture rooms. Natalie, in her grief and rage, killed many Red-Star conventional forces herself, and also took down several of the enemy pilots. Nevertheless, Denver-Vegas was forced into a draw against Red-Star, and was barely able to demand its captured pilots back. But what did it matter? It meant Nathaniel would be given back!

However, Nathaniel was no longer the same person he was before. Due to his low Sync Ratio, Red-Star saw no value in Nathaniel beyond turning him into a mining slave, and he had been worked to the brink of death before the news arrived that he was to be given back to Denver-Vegas. Outraged at how the enemy had literally broken her brother, Natalie was one of those who argued that Alexander needed to be punished for his crimes, and she was surprised that Red-Star actually followed them up on the recommendation, publicly humiliating and flogging Alexander before Denver-Vegas' ranks as a sign that they were willing to do anything for peace.

She remembered turning to Nathaniel then, hoping that the latter would smile, that it would be like the old days when they watched the Reality Games. But there was nothing, nothing but brokenness. 

In time, Nathaniel recovered some of his will to live, but he was forever changed by his experiences. "All of us are mere tools, even Alexander Sky," he would up saying to his sister, and Natalie was surprised at that. She was even more surprised when he said, "I want to forgive him; he didn't know what he was doing."

Nathaniel then entered a seminary afterwards, a seminary ran by loyalists to the Pope-in-Exile in Independent Fortress Switzerland. But Natalie was aware that he was happy, that he had achieved a happy ending. Not so for her; she still needed to fight for Denver-Vegas and one day, confront Alexander Sky about what he did.

Said confrontation did not have to end in death...

Tactical Preferences and Skills: Outside of her NC, Natalie prefers to hit fast and hit hard, using carbines, assault rifles, and even a light flamethower before beating a quick retreat. In her NC, however, she prefers to wade into the middle of battle, searing infantry and conventional vehicles alike with a Flamethrower whose heat barely skirts the restrictions on Energy Weapons, before engaging lighter Mechs in Melee, crushing them with her claw.

Notes: N/A

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NC Character Sheet

Code-name: Firestarter Charlie

Appearance:

Yes, it's a Contemptor-Pattern Dreadnought from 40k.

Body Type: (Bipedal, Hover, Tank-Tread, .etc) Bipedal

Type of NC: (General-Purpose, Interception, Assault, .etc) Assault

Equipment & Armaments:

Twin-Linked Railguns (Left Arm) - Twin-linked Railguns that propel hyperaccelerated bullets against a close-by enemy; these giant 'slugs' can pierce through an entire 21st century Aircraft Carrier from bow to stern, even if fired from half a kilometer. In NC-to-NC combat, their purpose is to deter Melee-inclined NCs from approaching Firestarter head-on, forcing them to try and flank it.

Close-Combat Claw (Right Arm) - A giant claw-like device built for close-combat that can grab enemy NCs and tear off their limbs, and which also carries a Flamethrower attachment in the middle of the 'palm' (See below). 

Flamethrower Attachment (Also Right Arm) - This flamethrower attachment vomits out flames so hot that it is rumored that its builders used an illegal Energy Weapon; a Fusion Gun, to be exact. This rumor is true but no one dares confirm it out of fear of reducing Natalie's effectiveness.

Head-Mounted Jammers (To each side of the Head) - To prevent missiles and drones from coming near Firestarter, an ECM Suite is installed in Firestarter's head that causes most forms of electronic communication to go haywire for 30 seconds, with a cooldown of 5 minutes. This does not work against other NCs or her own missiles (see below).

Back-Mounted Missile Launchers (Back) - Two sets of four long-ranged incendary missiles filled with chemical compounds that produce toxic smoke as well as fire; these are used to preceede Firestarter's approach and cover it with chaotic environmental hazards. 

Concealed Heavy Machine Railguns (Inside Armor) - Two sets of weaker railguns (able to only pierce one-third of the way through a 21st Century Aircraft Carrier) that extend from the front armor of Firestarter and fire a steady stream of shots against a distant enemy.

Name: Colin Summer

Appearance:

Age: 18

Personality: Colin is a kind and compassionate person who is easily appaled at the callousness and brutality of the Fairbanks Corporation, or all Corporations in general, but manages to hide it beneath a veneer of lies and omissions as well as his own usefulness to Fairbanks. Due to the discovery of his unique 'gift', he can afford to question or even cross Fairbanks and the Anti-Tshwane Coalition more than the usual NC Pilots, as Fairbanks is aware that he is in a position to suddenly rebel against them if they mistreat him. 

However, Colin knows this; that despite this relatively fair treatment, Fairbanks will not stop creating new races of man to live as slaves, Paragon won't stop enslaving the old races of man, and Denver-Vegas will just explot old and new equally. So, he has secretly pledged himself to Theodore Narra and Haven in exchange for a world where all sapient beings can live in harmony and symbiosis; mutual aid and support in an uncaring universe. But if Theodore is just another exploitative would-be master, he will turn against the General Commander and Haven.

Backstory: Born in an Independent Settlement close to Fairbanks territory, Colin was given over to Fairbanks at the age of 13 as part of the town's tithe of 'volunteers'. His unprecedentedly high Sync Ratio (100%) was discovered, but psychological exams showed that while he was no pacifist, he was not a born killer either, and trying to turn him into one using training and drugs would destroy his psyche, his brainstem, and with the latter, his Sync Ratio. In short, making him just another NC Combat Pilot was a waste of his potential.

Fairbanks being Fairbanks, however, they found another use for him. Noticing the correlation between Virtual Reality and NC Piloting, as well as having gotten some Red-Star Resarch Papers about the Neural-Net, the head of the Massachuets Institute of Technology decided to create a new type of NC that was just a core, an armored chassis, and an anti-gravity system. This new NC will use a combination of Neural-Net and Virtual Reality to enter computers and the minds of humans 'hooked' onto man-machine interfaces, like Virtual Reality Pods and Neural Combatant/NC/Mecha systems. However, unlike a certain Red-Star Artificial Human, this NC cannot control other Mechs; merely hack them for information.

But when Colin was hooked up to the NC, the results were not what he expected, he tapped not into computer networks and NC Cores, but inside another part of the Universe entirely; a compedium of all knowledge of the past, present, and possible futures. But due to such knowledge being too much for any human mind to comprehend, he was only able to return with bits and pieces. Not just that, but he knew that Fairbanks was going to misuse the knowledge he had, so Colin decided to lie to his superiors, saying that he was able to access several computer systems ran by other Corporations, but only acquired some information due to their firewalls. 

He then gave Fairbanks' Professors several tidbits about their enemies' plans, which satisfied them enough to allow him to be the sole pilot of the NC. And he promptly began trying to contact Haven...

Tactical Preferences and Skills: He knows basic marksmanship and how to punch, but is otherwise unprepared for violence.

Notes: No, I have not watched Natusme's Book of Friends.

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NC Character Sheet

Code-name: Panopticon

Appearance:

Body Type: (Bipedal, Hover, Tank-Tread, .etc) Other.

Type of NC: (General-Purpose, Interception, Assault, .etc) Utility.

Equipment & Armaments: 

Akashic Reader - Colin Summer can tap into the Akashic Records, a plane of existence containing information about past, present, and multiple possible futures. Not just that, but he can communicate, but not control, with any mind hooked up into Virtual Reality or an NC Core. However, the Akhasic Records are not a public library; much of the information within is incomprehensible to a single mind, meaning that Colin only has bits and pieces of important information. Not merely that, but should he spend too long in his NC, he can go into a comatose state where he forgets to eat...

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Allies

NPC Character Sheet
 
Name: Theodore Narra
 
Appearance:

Age: 58, but looks 21 thanks to Anti-Aging treatments.
 
Sex: Male.
 
Skills: Theodore's foremost skill is administration and logistics, as the brains behind Haven's attempt to expand its holdings on the Surface, he is a master at ensuring that supplies, money, and arms get to wherever it's needed - not an easy task considering Haven's need to keep itself secret. Though generally open and honest, Theodore knows how to govern his image, and what he projects is the aura of a benevolent leader, one who cares for the city and his people...which makes it easy to forget that he can and is able to kill, whether with guns, knives, or even his own, mysterious NC.
 
Short bio: One of the first 'Adventurers' from Haven to make it to the surface, Theodore made his first appearances as a mysterious NC Pilot who saved Independent settlements and villages in exchange for information and supplies, and was strangely ignorant of how things worked aboveground, although he was clearly a vagabond, albeit one with an amazingly good salvaged NC. Making it to the ruins of Darwin, Australia, Theodore encountered Red-Star for the first time, but managed to pass himself off as a new mercenary, and thus found himself serving them in exchange for money and more information. Finding Red-Star's methods and ideology distasteful, Theodore took the first opportunity to defect to Denver-Vegas, then Volkov, before finding his way to Al-Amir Group of Companies.
 
There, he found a way back to Haven again, through another secret tunnel, where he immediately became a celebrity, with his experiences providing valuable information about the world outside. He was 24 then, and two years later, he would depart again to search for more information about the surface, as well as help build a network of proxies that would increase Haven's land-bound wealth. Various Independent settlements, outlaw bands, mercenaries, the Adventurers from Haven bound them together to create a force capable of taming the Australian Outback...and catching the ire of Red-Star in the process.
 
For although the rule of that corporation was largely nominal, it could not tolerate a rival power taking advantage of the island's still-immense natural resources, and so it sent a force to destroy the nascent 'Confederation', still not knowing that Haven was behind all this. The expeditiona involved a relatively small flotilla, composed of cruisers, transports, and a couple of light carriers. But it was technologically superior to the alliance that Theodore had helped build, and Red-Star was confident of victory. They were soon to be proven wrong.
 
In several months' time, Theodore had lured the enemy force into the Australian Outback, isolated whatever allies they found and began dealing them a death of a thousand cuts, using tactics learned from Al-Amir, as well as constructing hidden factories and supply depots in Australia's wasteland. He then, with a small squad of Haven NCs, which were secretly as advanced as the corporates' but managed to hide it, devastated Red-Star's own supply lines and patrols. before, in an ambitious amphibious strike, turning against the Red-Star Fleet, disabling most of its ships, but careful not to destroy so many that the Corporates stopped underestimating them.
 
And so Red-Star withdrew, allowing Australia to be the first large region freed from Corporate Control (not including the various Independents and virtual Nation-States in the Middle East and Africa, as well as the Latin American Warlords). This was something that Red-Star would have continued to do something about, if not for a series of renewed skirmishes with Volkov, Denver-Vegas, and Fairbanks; at the end of the day, 'Oz', for now, was just too much of a 'backwater' to focus much attention on.
 
But in the midst of triumph was a tragedy, for several of Theodore's teammates had died in the final strike, and in operations before that. This included close friends and even a lover, and Theodore was eager to get back to Haven, where he can rest and recover from the ordeal of combat...and begin the next round of plans to liberate more of the surface.
 
He knew that the 'Big Bad MegaCorps' were not going to tolerate any more territory out of their hands, especially not ones that were actually valuable in their eyes. But at the same time, Australia was not enough; the region of Oceania was not enough. It would take years, centuries, even, but the MegaCorps had to be brought down before there can be peace before Haven can have peace. And so, he proposed a risky plan: Include outsiders in Haven's plans; there was only so much that can be done with Havenite 'Adventurers'. No, outsiders were needed in order to provide the information and experience needed to actually make 'World Liberation' work.
 
And so, Theodore sent agents to the surface, agents whose goals were to build more networks aboveground, as well as find people, malcontents, and mercenaries, who were willing to work for his city, for a cause 'like none other'...

Bio Update (Applies only to RPGuild NCQ Canon): Theodore was instrumental in conducting the grand strategy that drove off Red-Star's largest assault on Australia yet, where the main thrust of their attack, the 'Darwin Offensive', was broken by a combination of his spy work and the incompetence of the enemy forces. However, quarrels with the rest of his command staff have given him a bitter taste in his mouth despite his victory, same for his own sub-par performance on the tactical level. 

Cape Town will be a moment of reassessment, a moment where Theodore feels he has to redeem himself and his reputation as a commander...
 
Notes: Music
 
NC: Perfect Qamishlo, Capabilities Unknown.

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