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Post by Ironhide on Oct 3, 2011 8:06:49 GMT -5
Ironhide chuckled a bit at the young mech's clear excitement. ~"Aight then, if ya really feel up ta explorin', lets go have a look at the trainin' grounds."~ he offered and stood, offering his hand to Runner as he headed towards the door to lead him out again. He did notice that Runner was moving more carefully than before and figured the young mech's tanks were a bit sensitive about being so full, so he kept a close watch on the youngster to make sure his excitement levels didn't set off an unexpected tank purge anyway.
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Post by Barricade on Oct 3, 2011 8:25:30 GMT -5
Runner grinned, holding onto Ironhide's hand with glee. ~"Alright!"~ He cheered, following Ironhide's lead as the older mech walked. He wasn't sure if he liked the feeling of a full tank, after growing so used to feeling it mostly empty. He didn't like it, but at the same time he did, since he knew it meant he wouldn't be feeling hungry any time soon, which was a good thing. ~"How big are the training grounds? Hoe many are there?"~
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Post by Ironhide on Oct 3, 2011 8:40:06 GMT -5
Ironhide smiled as he led Runner out and towards the training grounds. ~"Well, there's eight different courses n they're pretty good sized. They all got their hazards n challenges, one even kinda looks like Kaon. Fer the more advanced trainees, we have auto-canon turrets n combat drones they get ta fight with, but ya ain't up ta that level yet. We start young ones of with team trainin' n dactyl ta dactyl fightin' so ya dun hurt each other. Then we move up from there."~ he assured Runner, leading him up to a higher vantage point over one of the training courses. This particular course looked like the inside of a smelter and recycling factory, complete with pits of molten metal. A group of five bots moved carefully through the area, checking blind corners and deep shadows as they moved, while another group of five waited in ambush farther ahead. ~"Ah, hunt/track trainin' n ambush trainin'. Mid level trainin' here. Weapons're set ta stun fer this. Hurts a lot still, but dun do any real damage."~ he explained, pointing out the weapons the mechs were carrying.
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Post by Barricade on Oct 3, 2011 8:59:14 GMT -5
Runner moved closer to the window, all but pressing his face against it. ~"It's so big...Can those pits actually hurt them? Would they die if they accidentally fell in?"~ He watched the teams move, seeing if he could learn anything from both what they were doing right, and what they were doing wrong. ~"Do they get live weapons later? Ones that can actually kill them? What happens if they accidentally kill someone else?"~
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Post by Ironhide on Oct 3, 2011 9:13:10 GMT -5
Ironhide gently rubbed Runner's back to soothe and calm him some as he listened to the young mech's questions. ~"Yeah, they can, but there's safety grates ta protect younger teams. They fall in, they get close enough ta feel the heat real good, but not enough ta seriously hurt em. They learn quick ta keep their footin' n watch where they're goin'. Later on, when the safety grates're pulled off n advanced teams go through, we can lose one sometimes, but they're grown by then n should know better."~ he said, though the tone in his voice said he didn't like the idea. ~"Live fire weapons're given ta the ones goin' through their final provin' grounds. By then they slagin' better know how ta handle 'emselves n get it right. It's rare ta lose one at that stage though, n our Lord High Protector sometimes watches the final provin' ground runs. He uses it ta see their strengths in person so he can place em properly where they'll do the most good fer all o' us."~ he added as the two teams engaged each other, keeping clear of the pitfalls around them and using the terrain to try and gain the advantage.
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Post by Barricade on Oct 3, 2011 9:19:32 GMT -5
Runner began to softly purr when Ironhide started rubbing his back, listening to the answers the mech was giving him. ~"So, it's kinda like you showing me around first before I have t'start navigatin' on my own?"~ He asked, looking back up at Ironhide. ~"To make sure I've got an idea of where to go?"~ He could understand why the grates would be removed later, and it didn't seem to phase him much that bots could get killed. When every Cycle of life was a struggle, it was hard to sympathize with those who'd likely had it easy in the beginning, and didn't learn when the safeties were there, then dies when the safeties weren't. A real fight didn't come with safeties.
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Post by Ironhide on Oct 3, 2011 9:45:53 GMT -5
Ironhide nodded in response to his questions. ~"Yeah, actually. That's a pretty good comparison."~ he replied, smiling softly at him as he continued to rub Runner's back soothingly. Runner was certainly proving to be a quick witted and smart young mech, which made Ironhide smile all the more proudly at him. ~"Ya learn what not ta do while ye'll still survive yer mistakes. Those that dun learn by the time they get ta the provin' grounds run usually dun usually survive their first real combat anyway. Least if they die here their chassis is takin' care of properly instead o' bein left ta rust in some dark fergotten corner er alley er hole somewhere."~ he added in explanation. He knew Runner had a very rough first few Ano-Cycles of his life, but Ironhide was determined to show him a better life, to give him a real second chance that far too few ever got to see.
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Post by Barricade on Oct 3, 2011 9:49:57 GMT -5
~"I'll survive."~ Runner's voice was firm, confident. ~"I'll survive, n' I'll teach others how t'survive as well."~ He was already putting thought into becoming a trainer, like Ironhide. To him, it was just like running a gang on the streets of Kaon. How hard could it be? ~"Maybe there is something good that comes from living on the streets of Kaon..."~
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Post by Ironhide on Oct 3, 2011 10:12:42 GMT -5
Ironhide nodded at the practicality of that statement. ~"N maybe ya can pass on what ya learned ta others, help 'em ta better survive. Help me ta better teach 'em how ta survive."~ he responded. Being as old as he was, Ironhide was sometimes looked upon as just a grouchy old rust bucket by the younger trainees, particularly ones from the better off cities like Iacon, and it was getting worse as the Ano-Cycles wore on, frustrating the burly mech more and more. He didn't tell Runner about that though, not wanting to worry or upset the young mech needlessly. Besides, Runner would see it for himself soon enough anyway, and Ironhide felt there was no need to make a big deal about it.
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Post by Barricade on Oct 3, 2011 10:17:14 GMT -5
~"I'd have to think of better ways to teach them, though..."~ Runner turned his attention to the training ground for a few more moments before looking back up at Ironhide. ~"They wouldn't learn how I learned. They're too old."~ He took hold of Ironhide's dactyls and stepped away from the window. His tank had settled down some, and wasn't hurting as much. ~"Was the trainin' grounds the last things you needed to show me, or is there still more?"~ He hoped there was more. He wanted to see more.
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Post by Ironhide on Oct 3, 2011 10:54:41 GMT -5
He smiled at Runner and stepped away from the window with him. ~"True, but I can help ya with that part. 'Sides, ya still got a few Ano-Cycles yet 'fore ya gotta worry bout that part."~ he assured the young mech. He led Runner down the corridor, pointing out where each field entrance and exit was, some of them circling back on each other, others extending outwards to meet up with another part of the structure that surrounded them. He also showed Runner where the older trainees quarters were, where Runner would be moving to after his next growth cycle. ~"Ye'll get yer permanent squad mates then. The trainees're in teams o' five n each team's linked in pairs. Each pair o' teams gets a Seeker Trine assigned ta their unit fer aerial cover. Once assigned, ya live with her squad til ya leave here, n the rooms're set up in two clusters o' five with three more perched on top so the fliers got roof access. Ya won't have ta worry 'bout that fer now though. Ya go through base trainin' til ya ready fer the next level."~ he told Runner, preparing him for what would be coming up in the next few Ano-Cycles.
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Post by Barricade on Oct 3, 2011 17:35:50 GMT -5
Runner chuckled a bit. ~"What's a bit more worry now as opposed to later. Now, I've got longer t'figure it all out."~ He replied, looking at the different areas Ironhide pointed out. He could tell that Ironhide hadn't been joking when he'd said that there was an area that looked remarkably like the streets of Kaon. He looked at it a bit longer than the others, feeling the barest of pangs. Kaon, for all its brutality, had been his home, after all. When they reached the quarters for older trainees, he looked around more, though didn't try to enter any of the rooms. ~"You're stuck with 'em, even 'f you dun get along with 'em?"~
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Post by Ironhide on Oct 4, 2011 10:24:45 GMT -5
Ironhide chuckled a bit at that. ~"Naw, ya ain't stuck with 'em, n we try ta match bots up with each other as carefully as we can anyway, makin' sure everybot gets along alright."~ he assured Runner. Typically they didn't have issues with matching up teams, most tending to get along with each other pretty well. There was the occasional odd mech out, however, and sometimes those were shifted to solitary training instead, just to keep the peace. He didn't need to inform Runner of this however, figuring he would do fine in a group situation, plus he figured the young mech had as least another Ano-Cycle or two to meet and situate himself with a small group the instructors could turn into a team.
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Post by Barricade on Oct 4, 2011 13:49:53 GMT -5
Runner nodded, venting to himself in relief that if there were issues, he wouldn't necessarily have to deal with them the whole way through training, though he really wasn't expecting any. Plus, as Ironhide mentioned before, he still had some time before that happened. ~"Is that everywhere to go?"~ He asked curiously, having forgotten about the visit to the medic that was to be in order.
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Post by Ironhide on Oct 4, 2011 14:24:32 GMT -5
Ironhide smiled reassuringly. ~"Just the medic ta make sure yer all okay n see if ya need any repairs. Dun think repairs're gonna be needed, but still gotta be sure yer okay ta start trainin'."~ he said, draping his arm around Runner's shoulders. ~"Dun worry, I'll go with ya. Dun like goin' ta medics myself, but sometimes ya just gotta do it."~ he added with a chuckle, hoping to put the young mech at ease at least.
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