The pilots assembled in the briefing room, there they sat, Colonel Edwards was feeling refreshed, after having a good nights sleep and waking up early as he did and taking a morning run, he was the old fashioned sort, He knew it and liked himself for it.

Hades walked it, with the slight air of exciting about him, it was odd as the perceived personality of Commander was not one to have fun, but it seemed as if he had a slight twinkle in his eye as he faced him, but only for an instant, then it was gone and he was all solemn and business like. He started the briefing, slowly walking around the front of the room as he did so.

“Morning pilots, I trust you sleep well. I am sure some of you are eager to learn more about the XPS-1 and even have a go. I regret to inform you however that there has been a change of plans. Don’t worry, the XPS training program will continue as planned after you have completed one quick task.”

“You are the best pilots, selected for this program, to operate vehicles that others can only dream of, to complete missions that would be impossible to others, to be able to carry out orders without needing to worry about diplomatic relations, or bureaucratic red tape. The orders to form this team, which we shall call the Black knights (occ if anyone has a cooler name let me know) cam from high up, and if by chance the order was written down, it will only ever be seen by at most 3-4 pairs of eyes, EVER!”

“Due to certain events, ther is a need for you to master another type of vehicle first. Do not worry, this is an easy one and you should be able to comfortable fly it by the end of today, and complete the training and mastery of it in max 3 days. The briefing will be an on the job one, so please come with me.”

Hades led them to one of the hangers, where a passenger container sat. Hades gestured to the container. “This is a personnel container, it is basically a cargo container modified to carry troops or staff, it has comfortable seats, and inside it has a holographic projector which will allow you to see the pilot’s view and also the exterior of the ship. Please go in and strap up. I will be your pilot today, and you will hear my voice through the com-link.

Edward strapped himself in, noting the comfortable chairs. The holographic projector powered up, and he had a clear view of the hanger. Over to one side it looked as if Commander Hades, who was now in a sleek black jump suite, was walking towards a vehicle.

The c0ckpit slid open and the commander sat in and the translucent dome slid shut, then the whole thing lifted off rapidly. For something that looked like it consisted of two retracted arms, a c0ckpit, thrusters a main engine and a retractable frame with a booster it seemed amazingly agile, but then again it could be put down to the commanders flying skills.

Hades flew CMV1 over to the container, and hovered with the rear facing the container a few mm off the ground at a hover, what looked like a rectangular frame extended from the rear of the CMV and clamped onto the container, there was what looked like a thruster on the back of the frame, the whole process took no more than a few seconds, it was quick and efficient. When the CMV rose the container rose with it.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard the CMV1, CMV stand for Cargo & Maintenance Vehicle. As you can see it is build for the rapid pickup and delivery of cardo, as well as emergency repairs in hazardous situations. The CMV is extremely durable, quick and agile, the two retractable arms have self interchanging tools that range from laser cutters to wielding tools, to claws etc all the tools necessary for repairs. CMV’s rarely operate above ground, for herein lies the greatest advantage of the CMV, it’s maneuverability in tight places like tunnels. Sit tight here we go.”

With that Hades flipped a switch and a pair of thick steel doors slid open to reveal a tunnel, Hades smoothly accelerated the CMV forward, and for the first few minutes went rather slowly as they often came to places where there were 6 or more smaller tunnels branching off. This gave one a true appreciation of the ACTUAL size of wolf airstrip, above ground it was a normal sized airstrip, but underground it was vast, and extended a considerable distance for many miles in all directions, the rooms were connected by circular tunnels and it was through this that the CMV1 flew.

After about 5 minutes of graceful maneuvering, Hades thumbed the intercom switch, “Alright ladies and gents, you have had the VIP style treatment, now lets get down to business, we have a schedule to keep.”

With that through the hologram they could see the commander flip a few switched and then his fingers started to play across the control panels set in each armrest. In response the CMV literally stopped stone dead in mid air, dropped 5 feet and shot off at a great speed.

(Let the direction of the front of the CMV always be called North) Now the CMV really showed of its agility, even carrying a container. One minute it was flying straight forwards, the next minute they were still facing forward but the vehicle was moving diagonally in the NW direction. The CMV darted and dodged through openings with ease.

As this whole crazy flight was taking place, Hades calmly explained about the CMV. If you closed your eyes and listened you would almost certainly assume that he was talking to the pilots I in the briefing room, if you opened your eyes you would find yourself on a rollercoaster, no something 20 times faster and more scream inducing than a puny roller coaster.

“Corporal, I am sure you will like this ship, as it owes it’s maneuverability to thrusters and these do not run out. For travelling in metal tunnels, the CMV can generate a magnetically repulsive field that will prevent it from hitting the walls, in non-metal tunnels it has air jets which perform the same function. The CMV basically has a few modes, one of which is hover.”

As he was saying this a wall suddenly loomed in front of them approaching them rapidly. Hades response was to make the WHOLE CMV container and all suddenly switch from horizontal flight to vertical, it swooped up like a plane, and the shot through an opening at the top just as Hades smoothly finished his sentence.

OOC:How about Phantom Drakes? Subtle as a phantom, powerful as a dragon

IC:
A commander Hades walked in, Kant was sure he caught a glimmer of something in his eye. Was that... excitement? But then he was back to his usual self, and giving them some interesting news. Their little team was going to stick together, and be given missions that only they and their new space plane could handle.

"What do you mean, high up? As in the highest ranking officers in the US airforce?"

They were given more news. They were going to spend a few days practising with a new craft, which should be a lot easier to handle than the damn space plane. hades lead them to a hanger, which contained a very unimpressive looking container. They filed in, and it had another hologram thing installed. How many of these does he have? It showed Hades getting into some form of vehicle, which Kant guessed was going to be the new thing they were going to learn to fly. Hang on, Hades is going to fly it? If he flew it well, Kant's opinion of him could well go up. If he couldn't fly it that well, then his opinion woud reach an all time low.

The thing was surprisingly agile, and clamped itself onto their container. Then the whole thing took off, and flew down into some tunnels. Kant dind't like having to watch it through a hologram, he would have preferred them to install windows. Hades explained what the vehicle, called the CMV1, was actually for, and it didnt sound all that interesting. Kant much preferred breaking stuff to fixing it.

As they flew through the tunnel, kant realised that there was a whole network of tunnels under the airstrip, stretching for who knows how far. It was an uneventful little trip, and Kant was starting to get bored. he was releived when the Commander's voice came over the intercom,

"Alright ladies and gents, you have had the VIP style treatment, now lets get down to business, we have a schedule to keep.”

Looks like this might actually get interesting. And indeed it did. Despite the heavy container it was clamped to, the CMV could dart through the tunnels with ease that a typhoon fighter would struggle to match. Hades continued his briefing, in an unnaturally calm tone, whilst Kant's knuckles were white with holding on to his armrests. Hades explained his calm state, the craft had devices that stopped it from crashing. This didn't calm Kant in the slightest, as his distrust for technology didn't allow hihm to rest comfortably with it being the only thing between him and a fiery death. A wall was suddenly in their way, but the vehicle swooped upwards with unnatural agility.

This is one hell of a machine.

Kimberly was surprised when they were told that they were starting a new air craft today. And for a new mission. Already? Well she knew that there would be on the job training with this but to be told about a new mission on the second day of being there? Note to self. Things move fast here. Be prepared. Stay healthy. Take vitamins, all that stuff.

She took her seat, nest to Steve, and they both noted the hologram. They both watched Hade’s movement along the controls. Steve taking more notes of the subtler movements of the craft then Kim. Watching Hades like he was teaching Steve how to play a new video game.

Then the plane went vertical. Steve laughed an Kim’s reaction. Grasping at her harness. He’d have to remember that combination. Kim on the other hand had instantly forgotten it in her sudden surprise. She smacked Steve on the shoulder for his stupid grin. Then settled back into the ride, and her mental note taking.

Would this vehicle come with an instruction manual as well?

Molly grinned with excitment as she heard that they were going to be learning how to fly another aircraft and then beamed as she learned that Commander Hades would be their pilot. She followed the others and quickly strapped herself in. The ride was uneventful for the first few minutes then it dropped. They were on the freakest yet coolest rollor coaster ride in midair ever. "Commander Hades, this is awesome."

(OCC the team is now called the Phantom Drakes unless someone doesn’t like the name)
“I am glad that you seem to like the CMV’s.” Said Hades as they flew through another set of thick sttl doorw which slowlyt slid shut behind them, leaving them in a totally dark room. Hades switched on the floodlights and parked his CMV to allow the pilots to get out.

The main lights were switched on, and they found themselves in a gigantic metal walled room, it could probably hold at least 2-3 A380’s parked end to end. Hades had landed in the middle of a semi circle made of CMV’s.

Hades waited till the pilots had exited his vehicle then turned to face them.
“For this vehicle, you will be pleased to learn that despite what it is capable of, it is easy to pick up. All of you could do that in one day, but I demand more of you, you are the best, so I am guessing that three to four days will have you flying a CMV like an extension of your body, and maybe up to my standard.”

He turned and gestured towards the CMV’s each of you ahs been designated one, your jump suits are in the room over there, it has separate changing rooms, but you can do that later.

This is hands on learning, walk up to your vehicle and place your hand where indicated, that vehicle is now yours. You will have noticed that there are a few ways to fly a CMV. There are the joysticks, the pedals and the keypads. The CMV is a quick in quick out vehicle, so the c0ckpit opens and you can just jump in, all controls and around you. For the first exercise I want you to ignore the arm control first.

When you get in there is a mag repulse switch and a hover switch, I want you to turn both on, the mag repulsion will repel you from the walls and your teammates. The hover mode is what I was flying you in the first leg of the journey. Try it out. Whe you are ready you will notice that there are some light beams sweaping around some from floor to ceiling and some from one wall to the other. Try flying your CMV in hover mode without getting touched by the beams. There is an indicator on your HUD and will tell you your score.”

Hades landed them gracefully, and Kant stepped out into the light. That was certainly an experience. He spotted the group of CMVs, and some airbuses behind them. Kant wasn't sure he wanted to know what they were there for. Hades instructed them that they should have mastered the CMV in a few days; after his experience in the simulator he wasn't even sure he could do it in that amount of time.

Hades gave a brief explanation of the controls, which Kant noted was more than he had received for the simulator, and then gave them a mission. Avoid the lights. Got it. Kant definately wouldn't be relying on the repulsor things, but he would turn them on anyway. He'd be stupid not to. He made an easy decision as to how he would pilot it; joystick. He preferred to feel the plane, as though it were an extension of himself. he lifted up from the ground, and spun the CMV in a circle. He pulled the nose up and shot upwards, slowing down as he neared the lights. He rolled to the side, sliding neatly between a pair of horizontal beams, then leveled it out and aimed for another pair. There were closer together than he had expected, and instead of slipping between them one hit him. Damnit.

Both Steve and Kimberly stepped out into the lights. Following Hade’s directions they both found their own CMVs and put their hands where they were instructed. Kimberly noted on the fact that they had jump suits but they weren’t taking the few minutes to change. Well this again proved to her about the tight scedual.

Steve climbed in t his and found the controls Hades had indicated. Flipping those on. Yeah being able to be repelled from the walls and the other training pilots would probably be a good thing. Hmmmm… perhaps he could use that. He eyes Kimberly who had taken the seat next to him on the ride over. She was still examining her controls, hadn’t even turned on the hover mode or the mag repulse.

“Hey Kimmy.”

“It’s Kimberly.”

“What ever. Well I want to see something kimmy.”

“It’s Kimberly… and what?”

He put on a lopsided grin. “When you get started just hover in the open area for a minute.”

Steve turned the CMV and went to the open area before the lights. He moved the CMV back and forth letting himself see a better 3D view of the lights that were apparently obstacles.

In that time Kimberly had her CMV in motion and was just bringing it to a halt where Steve had instructed. He slowed his and came up beside her indicating he was going to move sideways. He shifted the craft so that it moved into Kim’s until he felt the magnetic repulse kick in. since she was just standing still in the air, hers moved sideways just out of the mag repulse area. Getting why he wanted to know that.

With the tight area who knows how close they might have to fly for periods of time. Good to know how maneuverable they could get. (Hope this little bit is ok to put in.) Steve leaned sideways seeing how close he could get. Gave Kimberly a wave thanks and entered in the light obstacle course.

Steve utilized the foot controls now. Imitating what he saw earlier with the hologram. He maneuvered between the first two lights. Swiveling the craft to the right, then tilting down avoiding the horizontal light right in front of him. He turned in a cork screw style going down, and using the other controls to move it sideways and turn at the same time, around another light and moving right when his indicator that one of the lights hit the CMV came on. Apparently on caught the back corner of the CMV.

Kim had made it about 20 feet through the lights when the same thing happened to her. One light going right through the cockpit.

Whoops.

She back pedaled before the light could go across her and turned to see how Molly was doing.

Molly had already climbed into one of the CMV's. She had sat down and had flipped all the controls indicated. She then put the machine in hover and went for a gleeful ride. She was hovering around avioding Steven and Kimberly, before she entered the light course. Dodging the light beams was actually fun. Of course it made her a little disgruntled as the indicator beebed showing that her left front had gotten grazed. She had a few other close shots but she managed to avoid all of them. Except for that one of course. Not bad at all, not bad at all. She grinned as she saw Kimberly looking over at her and gave her the thumbs up.

(OCC does anyone body want to take on Edwards as well, as I am having writers block for him. Please feel free to take him over so I can concentrate on Hades,but if nit then that is ok too.)
Hades looked with approval at the performance of the pilots, they wre doing better than he had expected.

“Well so far you have been maneuvering the craft with the bottom of the craft always paralle to the floor, that is the meaning of hover, and that is ti train how to transport volatile payload, a damaged ship or a damaged container or of course VIP passengers. Nice test by Steven to see how close two CMV’s can fly together.”

He walked to a console on a wall and began programming new orders. Immediately the laser like lights dimmed, and started to reposition themselves, more light emitting objects also started to enter the room.

“Now take your ship off hover, and see how you do, this time the light beams will reduce the power of the part that was hit. But before you start to zoom off on that mission, be aware that now you will be able to rotate your ship along all three axis where as before you could only do that to two.
After they had done that for an hour or so and were starting to get reasonably competent at it, Hades once again thumbed the intercom switch.

“I have two missions planned, both are for three pilots, they are Mission a Alpha and Beta, I will be joining group Alpha. The rest of you had better make your choice.” He then sat back and waited.

Kant smirked as the area became more difficult to traverse. He flipped the switch to change it out of hover mode, and spun it sideways to speed through a small gap in the light-beams. Confident, and pleased that it was now much more like ordinary flying, he spun and dropped downwards, racing towards the floor at incredible speed. He pulled up, but did so too late, and only the mag-field saved him. He cursed, and made a mental note that despite how good the CMV was, it had its limitations. He reverted to the course, and swiftly had sussed out the limits of the craft.

Commander Hades’ voice came over the intercom. Two missions? Well, if he’s taking Alpha, I know what my choice will be. He hit the communications button, “I’ll go with group Beta. Might get some more of the action if the commander doesn’t get in the way.” He kept a joking tone to his voice, but he meant every word.

(I’d take your NPC Hades but I have two already and normally that is my RPing limit in a thread.)

Following Hade’s instructions they flipped the switch controlling hover. Kimberly and Steve worked their way back and forth around the course. James using more aggressive moves. Flying straight at the lights before turning and finding out exactly how fast he could turn. Most of his flight was experimental. Like if he could turn right out of a barrel roll or turn while still in it and how sharp. He’d hit a few of the lights in the beginning but as time went on he was improving fast. Kimberly was on the other side working through the pattern in her CMV.

“I’ll take group Alfa” Kimberly chimed in over the communication.

“Beta” Came Steve’s reply as he slowed his CMV and turned it to face the rest of the group.

Molly grinned and thumbed the com unit, "I'll take Alpha happily Sir." She turned her switch to hover and went through the patterns in her CMV as well. She had gotten the hang of it pretty quickly and decided to do a loop da loop to avoid a few light beams. It worked like a charm, she was liking this place more than she thought she would. There was so many new gadgets to play with as well. She would be working with Kim and working with Commander Hades as well. Sweetness, oh how the guys would be jealous of her back home. Nor would she ever tell them either. She finished her patterns and returned to the rest of the group.

(OCC I will try to keep rping Colonel Edwards but if anybody in or out side of this thread wants to take him over feel free, as I am finding it increasingly difficult to RP for him as well. Btw guys this thread counts as a main plot thread as the XPS are heavily involved in the camp raids.)

“For Beta group, your mission is this while the good Colonel was doing some scouting and emergency repairs to a convoy it was attacked by enemy ground troops and fighters. His engines are down. The first wave of attackers has be barely pushed back. The door access codes and your HUD map have been updated. You will need to bring him back here together. The next wave of enemy will arrive in 10 minutes. If you are hit then that part of your CMV looses power. Now Go! (the battle field goes from desert to jungle with the convoy and the Colonel in the middle of the jungle, the sky is dark, there is a lot of smoke and you will encounter a sandstorm on the way out. You will also reach Edwards just as the second wave arrives, I will leave the size of the force and the number of fighters to you.)

For alpha group lunch is ready for us and to get it back here before it gets could we must hurry. A round trip on medium speed takes one hour. We have 30 minutes to do it. Our lunch is soup and noodles; they have been packed in those polystyrene bowls with a thin plastic lit. The trouble is that if you move too violently the food will spill. Let’s go!”

(Unspoken to the Alpha team but on the way back to compound your worries there will e three fighters chasing us all the way. Same rules apply if you are hit)

(Guys, also after this mission there is one more joint mission with the CMV’s then a short intro to the Claw, then for a jump in time to the first testing of the XPS. Hope the thread is not getting too boring)

OOC: Certainly not boring, flying is fun!

IC:
Lunch!? They were going to get lunch, whilst he had to go save the colonel? Boy, was he glad he chose Beta. It sounded a lot more interesting. He hit the intercom, "Alright Beta, let's go save the colonel. Follow me, we're going at max speed. I'll handle the fighters, you make sure the colonel gets to where he has to go." Without waiting for a reply, Kant sped towards the smoke. It wasn't long before he reached it, and now he could see the enemy. "You go rescue whatever's under that smoke, I'll try and keep the fighters busy." He had no idea if Steve would actually do what he was told, but he had no time to think as the fighters closed in. He spun as they opened fire, weaving through them and coming out the other side without a scratch. There was only five of them, at the moment, and he wasn't about to let any others join them. Unfortunately, the CMV had no weapons to speak of. That was, however, different from no weapons. He had the laser cutter, and planned on using it. He spun over, much more agile than the fighters, and sped towards one of them. They were nowhere near the pilot he was, and he had both speed and manoeuvrability on his side. He got in close, and used the cutter. It sliced through a wing, causing the plane to spiral out of control towards the earth. He nosedived just fast enough to avoid an incoming missile, and shouted in the intercom. "You going or what? I can't keep all of them busy forever." But that won't stop me trying.

OOC:By the way, if you want to ignore Kant's orders, then go ahead! it's not like he outranks you, he just likes to think that.