Archi the Atmomancer

As the drop ship's hatch slammed open Fixit put on his own helmet. It clicked into place, magnetic latches around its rim connecting with their partners in his hardsuit's collar. There was a short hissing sound as air flooded into the helmet and the turquoise outlines of the helmet's HUD sprang into life, tagging each squad member with their name, rank and role in the squad. He took the rifle from his shoulder, holding it at the ready. Before he could even step out onto the twisted surface of the homeworld he heard the sound of hard light generators conjuring projectiles from nothing. There was an explosion, and he stepped out into the open to the sight of flames rising from a mass of plants spewing some form of gas. Well, looked like the Rules of Engagement were out the window. "Hold your fire, damn it!" he said over the comms, hoping someone would heed his order despite his rank.

@, @@FractalMoon, @, Fixit was somewhat surprised. The way those two had been talking he expected they'd have seen the surface a few times, but in actuality they had precisely as much experience as he did; precisely none. Still, they'd been in training long enough. Fixit had been in training for about six months. He knew how to handle the rifle slung over his shoulder and the Hard-light Bubble Shield Deployment Devices hooked onto his belt, and he was fully aware of the capabilities of his armour (he had even attempted to make some changes to the shielding output system, though he suspected there was more to it than electronics so he left it alone.) "No need to worry," he said, spurred on by an odd feeling of comradeship "Every one of us made it through the screening process and through the training; we can do this. Take it safe and slow, cover your squadmates, and show what ever's down there what you can do."

My girlfriend broke up with me. Yes, you read that right. She broke up with me in January after seven months of hugs and kisses. About eight months of grief ensued. I reflected on relationships; my actions in the relationship, what relationships meant to me, what relationships should be. Ultimately, after a low point at which it seemed that friendship was out of the picture, I layed myself bare. All the feelings I had repressed for eight months came out. I asked to put it all behind us and start again as friends. She said yes. Ultimately, I got out of a relationship that I was uncertain about in the latter stages, learned things about myself, and am a better and happier man for it. Adversity, if you persevere and get through it, will always result in you becoming stronger.

@, @@FractalMoon, @, Fixit couldn't help but chuckle at the weapon specialist's use of the word "zombie." Even Fixit knew more about the abominations on the surface than that. As far as he knew, reanimated corpses were among the least horrific things one could run into down there. "Zombies. Right," he said "Anyhow, mah family hailed from the southern regions before... Before all this happened. Or so my parents say." "As for rookies... Well, I hate to breatk it to you but I've never seen combat." Now he felt out of place. What if he was the only one who hadn't seen the surface up close and personal? "How long have y'all been part of the programme for?" There. That might clear some things up.

INTJ. I've taken this before and I can't remember what I got. I think it was INTP? Anyways... 33% Introverted (Moderate bias) 25% Intuitive (Moderate bias) 1% Thinking (Marginal bias) 22% Judging (Slight bias) So apparently I'm Princess Celestia. And - oddly enough - if I were to be more extroverted I would resemble Trixie in personality; my favourite pony.

@, @@FractalMoon, @, Fixit saw Cosmic coming in his peripheral vision and nodded to him also as he entered the rapidly forming semi-circle of conversation. "Weapon Specialists. Librarian," he said in greeting with what long ago would have been called a slight Appleloosan drawl "How are y'all?"

The Silmarillion. I think it would be fantastic. So much more epic than the Hobbit. They would have to pick one part of the book to base it on - preferably Feanor and his war against Morgoth - but I think it would be as good as Lord of the Rings if not better, bringing one of Tolkien's less popular works onto the limelight and giving us some good old fashioned high fantasy media.

I was playing Infinite Space on the DS and had totted up about 72 hours of game time. I saved the game as I had been playing for a few hours and... The game crashed. I had no option but to turn off the console and the save got corrupted. I was not impressed.

Statistically speaking, the chances of you developing a crippling injury in the next ten minutes are in positive correlation to the amount of paint you have ingested throughout your lifetime.

@, @@FractalMoon, Fixit hadn't been paying much attention to the conversation thus far. He had been more occupied with the rifle in his hands, a contraption whose engineering was beyond his area of expertise. Fixit was a mechanical engineer. His specialty was physical machines, large or small, that worked through the manipulation of forces. He could talk all day about the operation of the Citadel's inner workings, the engines that kept both aircraft and the Citadel aloft, and he could even tell you a little about thr ancient times, when great ships had traversed the land by way of rail - "trains", he believed they were called. But this thing - this gun - ran on magic. And Fixit did not have the faintest idea where to start with that. Much like this squad of rangers, come to think of it. Where to start with the Team Integration Effort? The mare giggling with the automaton across the ship seemed to have a passion for technology, but she was far too bubbly and would probably try to get chummy. Not that Fixit minded chummy per se; he simply didn't appreciate people he barely knew treating him as a long-lost friend. The team leader - Sai, if he remembered the dossier - might make for intriguing conversation, being a Librarian and as such a custodian of all sorts of interesting knowledge... But she was also a changeling, and not so talkative herself. Fixit had nothing against changelings. They just... Well, it was difficult to trust someone who could change their face at will. They could become anyone or anything. Where was the constance? Did that person undergo fundamental change with every new physical incarnation? Did that person even have a concept of self? Perhaps he should find out. Fixit unclipped his harness for the nonce and stood. He slung the rectangular battle rifle over his shoulder and strode to the front of the craft where the Librarian stood. She appeared to be already engaged in conversation with the team weapon specialist (her regulation armament giving her away). Instead of interrupting, Fixit sidled up to the pair and have them both a respectful nod.

No, if I'm going to find love I want to know I've done it because I am worthy of someone's love affection and have found someone equally worthy of mine, not because I traded a piece of myself as a shortcut. I'm not so desperate for love as to sell such an important part of myself, anyway. Better to find it naturally if you ask me.

Scottish (preferably Highland as it's a bit softer), Received Pronunciation and a typical French accent are all very alluring from my point of view.

I'm getting my results this Thursday also, and given my mock results I am looking forward to it very much. I'm looking forward to the next level of study too as I'm finally able to concentrate on subjects I enjoy. I will be taking: 1) Maths 2) Further Maths 3) Physics 4) Computing