Text;

[of_the_lake]

Given the lack of experience among our ranks, perhaps there may be more efficient means of readying you all for war. I, myself, suggest demos--for you to place yourself among the ranks of trained soldiers in wars long in the past in order to learn discipline and tactics.

The reason why I don't suggest sessions in the Virtual Reality Simulator is simply because it would have no effect on the world. Perhaps you could change the outcomes of wars to the benefit of the Initiative. While such a thing is no concern to me, I still volunteer my assistance. This is not my war, but I have experience to offer.

Comments

video;

[bittertears]

It's a rather interesting idea, I have to say. I'm sure the Initiative wouldn't pass up an opportunity to capitalize on the outcome.

audio;

[of_the_lake]

I don't believe it's an issue of the Initiative, rather than the individuals who would take it upon themselves.

[bittertears]

If that's the issue, then I certainly wouldn't mind volunteering myself for the excursion.

[of_the_lake]

If you're certain. You've collected a weapon from the Initiative, correct?

[bittertears]

I have, yes. I've carried it with me for well over a year now.

Text

[deadlybanker]

You would send untrained people into war zones just in the off chance they may learn something and benefit the Initiative? How could you suggest such a thing?
They would be up against professional soldiers. Those untrained you would send to war could be captured or killed, horribly, in combat. Is assisting the Initiative so important that their lives mean so little to you?

audio;

[of_the_lake]

You overreact immensely.

I am not making a demand and I am not suggesting the untrained be without mentor-ship or protection.

audio;

[deadlybanker]

[Audio hm? Fine then he will switch, but the anger he feels at the suggestion Berserker just made can clearly be heard in his tone.]

You consider it an overreaction to be horrified that innocent unskilled people would be placed into situations they were never prepared for?
Whether it is a with a mentor or not they require some instruction before being sent off to battle. It is cruel to do any less.
That this is only a terrible suggestion and not an order is your only saving grace.

audio;

[of_the_lake]

Then, dismiss it. Supplant it with your own ideals.

Regardless, these people may be forced to fight. If you cannot handle the prospect of willing volunteers looking to enter combat, then I have nothing for you.

[voice]

[owlbrain]

[huh...]

Did you have a specific war in mind?

audio;

[of_the_lake]

Not at all. It's a measure of presence and ability given anyone who takes my offer.

audio;

[owlbrain]

Considering our circumstances, that might be one of the quickest methods. [they hardly had time to really undergo training, especially since all of these catastrophes keep on happening out of nowhere.]

How long would -- someone who's completely new at this, for example -- undergo training for?

audio;

[of_the_lake]

As I've told one before, I am not one for teaching beginners. I would prefer if you were learn much more before you came to me for such a thing, lad.

Especially as my own restraint is little to none.

voice;

[hellosailor]

Going to have to second that other guy, this sounds like the worst goddamn idea I've ever heard.

[He sounds annoyed, but there's an edge of laughter there, like he can't even believe he has to say this] I mean, there's a reason they're not launching us at the UE head-on. That sort of war isn't the winning kind. As for turning the tides of past wars? Well pal lemme tell you, a few soldiers, especially untrained ones, don't mean anything in the grand scheme of things. In fact this just seems like a really great way to kill a lot of us off for not one good reason. And death is permanent, if you missed the message.

[Sully'd always taken that for obvious, but here it apparently wasn't.]

voice;

[of_the_lake]

It's hardly fortuitous--sitting on one's hands, assuming your problems will become lesser and lesser to the point that you won't have to risk your life for the things you value.

You call such a thing the 'worst' idea you've heard, but I'm simply suggesting the very same thing we were brought here to do--plunging ourselves into dangerous situations for the sake of making changes. Besides--when have I given you the inclination that I would plunge an intermediate student into the heart of a full-blown warzone and demand they return, an improved killer? You lack subtlety and wit, sir.

Re: voice;

[hellosailor]

And it sounds like you don't have enough sense to come in out of the rain. I've seen too many kids around here who'd take a suggestion like this seriously.

Look, I get it, you want to feel useful. So run a boot camp, but don't act like putting people on a random battlefield is likely to turn the tides or result in anything but a lot of broken bones.

voice;

[of_the_lake]

Training and the experience of a real war provide two different entities of benefit, far apart in their results.

I've been in countless skirmishes and just as dozens of battlefields resembling the border of hell and earth. If I were to act as a mentor in such a scenario, success would be guaranteed. You've only looked to the sophistry of my suggestion and not at all to the finer details which I would have to arrange for such a thing to wrench forward success.

Besides--should we simply wait for one massive battle to wipe out those of us who only have experience with illusions and safety cushioning?

TEXT.

[badnewsboy]

You're teaching people the art of stabbing!

voice;

[of_the_lake]

[...Oh god, is this...]

No. Rather, better ways of stabbing.

voice;

[badnewsboy]

[yeah it totally is.]

Useful, in the light of things. Stabbing and running!

voice;

[of_the_lake]

You seem rather excited about such a prospect. Are you suggesting it in jest or would you like for me to indulge your excitement in earnest?

[audio]

[pauldron]

And what makes you think we'll change the war in favor of the Initiative? What happens if we change the wrong thing and end up swaying it so the UE wins? [A pause where a headshake would go, then:] A plan like that's more likely to get us all killed than it is to change the war in our favor.

audio

[of_the_lake]

Most soldiers here have obeyed the Initiative and taken it on good fair that their subtle, very small movements and missions would be successful in achieving landmark changes in the world to benefit the Initiative. What I suggest is no different, nor have I given anyone explicit word that I promote dropping complete novices in the very center of raging, impossible battlefields to be gutted.

I cannot be blamed for anyone's inadequacies. If someone is not capable of defending themselves at all, they should not take to such a program. If we look to the outcome of a battle and do not determine whether or not one side is the moral superior, we should not participate. If we see no possible survival, we should look somewhere else. A plan such as mine is only capable of pointless deaths if one's thinking is shallow and if one's reflexes are dulled immensely as well.

audio

[pauldron]

Or if it gives desperate people ideas and they charge off without thinking. They'll have had to get the idea from somewhere, and I don't see anyone else talking about it.

Maybe instead of suggesting people go off to fight wars that still aren't ours? You put that experience you say you have to use and actually train people. It'll do more good at this point.

audio

[of_the_lake]

...I cannot effectively do such a thing. I've had to give up such endeavors, as I can scarcely control my arm in the midst of lessons.