>>FROM: @CMDR | TO: @ALL | ATTN: ALL COST OPERATIVES

[byfist]

We have a few matters to discuss, and not as much time as I'd like for each of them, as often is the case. I hoped to give you more time to recover but the Watcher wants the next dance to start, so dance we must.

To begin. We have final confirmation on when we will be heading too, if not where. Enough that we are comfortable to begin your training. Late 1916 Earth, it looks like. Which... for those of you that are not familiar, is in the middle of the First World War. We aren't sure which Front yet, we hope for confirmation in the next few weeks so that we may brief you fully. But that can come later. For now, your orders are to report to Sergeant Chiron. He, Special Operative Young and I will see to your training. Report tomorrow morning 0600 to begin.

Secondly, as to the matter of rank. Seems many of you have never been in an army before to know these rules or have had your memories erased. To which we are still working to find out the direct cause of.

I am Commander Grothia, previously of the Regent's special division, defected. I oversee this contingent of COST, which there are many and we number only one amongst.

2IC is Sergent Chiron, Centaur, formerly the trainer of Grecian Heroes. Many of you have met him so far, he has 5000 years worth of history in that head of his. Use it as frequently as you can, I certainly do.

Lastly, there is Special Operative Young, whom you have all met. By that, I mean the crows. Yes, all of them are one woman. Stop feeding her, she'll get too fat to fly again.

They both answer to me, as you do. When I am not present, orders are to come from Chiron, when he is not present, it defers to Young. Likewise, I overrule any of their commands.

Unless special circumstances dictate it, I am the only one who enters the field with you. I will not dictate your every move, you are all far too capable for that. But let me be understood:

In the field, if I give an order, I expect it to be followed. If you have issues with that order, you may bring it to me - privately. I will always hear you. But if you openly question me in the field and get others killed for your insubordination? I will not hesitate in what I have to do to save lives.

To the final matter, and in regards to that. I know many of you found the work in France distasteful, getting the King and Queen killed for being hapless fools. I know it seemed extreme to just leave them to their fate.

But let me be clear if you interfere and change history as much as some of you might have by what you think is saving lives? I will leave you in the next plague-ridden field we find ourselves in. It is not single person's choice to dictate these events. Take France. Some of you have never seen or heard of Earth, but for others - those events are what birthed their whole new world. You would deny them that because you could not stomach what must be done? Mourn privately if you would, I will not say it is easy or fair or kind. But I will not tolerate such selfishness in my unit.

That is all. All operatives please acknowledge within the next 12 hours.

[ ooc: make sure to head over to the training info to get a look at what your characters will be dealing with ]

Comments

@BURGERKING

[dipolar]

Acknowledged.

[byfist]

See you in the training room.

un: @MINIMALCAT

[hakanai]

Orders received.

I know nothing of this war but know enough to place it hundreds of years after myself, which is long after the advent of gun based warfare as I witnessed in my time. Assuming for advancement and what that means for battles in said future leaves me with a question: how bad are the basic conditions likely to be?

[He's got an idea and it's not pleasant, but when you get sick easily it's something one needs to know in advance... and it's not like he knows much about whatever country they'll end up in.]

[byfist]

Horrific. The First World War has a death toll in the hundreds of thousands, with an inability to truly cope with that fact. As many will die of sickness, infected wounds, as they will a shot to the head. Most soldiers end up suffering from PTSD, or shell shock as they call it then.

@BOARING / private message

[lonelywar]

[Much of the message was a bitter pill to swallow.

Ignorance was always a poor excuse, but Ashitaka hadn't known that the queen's death was not only ordained but required - perhaps it was something he should have grasped readily with common sense, for it's not often that such an important figure would disappear in the annals of history. He had thought he could try to find what good he could do in these times and places he was taken to, but that personal conviction feels further and further away now. He merely resolves himself to follow what orders the commander might give, a burning like bile in the back of his throat.]

I understand, Commander.

[There is a pause.]

I do have a personal concern, however.

In France, I found it difficult to wield a firearm. It could be painful, and sometimes I found myself fearing I would lose control over aiming and firing.
Admittedly I did not pursue it further after I realized this. What is your guidance on how I should go about this problem?

[It would be foolish and selfish to expect himself to be somehow exempt. The mark recoiled violently from the type of weapon that had wounded and corrupted it, acting capriciously and dangerously. Of course, it acted in such a way when he wielded his sword (just to a much lesser extent) and he had started to train towards controlling it. Perhaps the same could be managed here.]

[byfist]

[ Ah, her most worrisome soldier. She worries too much about that heart of his. ]

The firearms in France were very... simple. These come with a great deal more control and safety, for what is worth. That is what the training is for, it will help you adjust to it. Naturally, it will still hurt but we can pay attention to what concerns you.

un: @BROKEBACKSTAB

[handsomefoil]

Understood.

Branching off a little here but
I take we will not have to worry about any impromptu memory erasing in the future?
At least for the recruits who are currently present

[byfist]

In particular it seems to be the transfers. We aren't sure why this is happening, but the more careful monitoring we have in place at present seems to cause a lessening of this problem.

@JUGGALO

[masque]

[... first world war!?]

acknowledged.

[byfist]

Make sure to sleep well tonight, you'll need it in the morning.

[horsepowered]

Communication received. No follow up concerns.

[byfist]

[ God, it's not!dad. ]

Noted, see you at 0600 tomorrow.

@MOEPROBLEMS

[rippedoff]

If you want a job done right, I'm your girl.

Give me all you got at training.

[byfist]

That is what I like to hear.

Eager, are we?

[mylawn]

Acknowledged.

Is the warning about interference hypothetical, or should I be prepared for a different war than the one I learned about?

[byfist]

[ How are the kids? ]

We await final confirmation, but so far as our initial readings dictate - the interference seems to be localised to a particular theatre of the war.

Which is to say, it should be the same. But I dare not do more than hope on that, and I am particularly bad at hoping.

@MODERATUS

[bloodings]

cant you make this shorter? you talk too much.

[ She read it. She's just being an asshole. ]

[byfist]

[ To be a dick, or not be a dick. ]

Acknowledged.

@SHITWIZARD

[servant]

world war? it's truly at such a scale?

[byfist]

I am afraid so.

@ENTERTHEDRAGON

[ryuji]

[At least he doesn't think he's outright disobeyed any orders?

Gulps.]

Understood, loud and clear.

But... how are the crows one person? Are they like, animatronic and someone's in a control room like the dude in the Wizard of Az?

[The important questions]

[byfist]

They are a group sentience.

But I would suggest asking Operative Young yourself. She is partial to lambs eyeballs, I've found.

@NIGHTLIGHT

[fessus]

Got it.

Should we be waking up before 6 to eat or are we getting fed first?

[byfist]

You are being fed first. We don't expect you to march on an empty stomach.

@ALKOHEIST

[frogfractions]

You could have told us the crows were a ranking officer before I had a chance to consider locking them in a closet.

[byfist]

You didn't think to question it when they spoke to you?

I would suggest not making assumptions about any being you come across from here on out. Whatever rules you know about life I am afraid no longer strictly apply.

PRIVATE

[chariotry]

What's your relation to the sergeant?

[byfist]

When I arrived, bleeding from cutting out my own eye, half scared and so newly defected of the Regency, it is he who gave me my new name and tended me while I recovered.

Does that suffice?

[ He is more important to her than her own life. ]

@DRUIDBRO

[fernbeleafer]

if i just look up the first world war, will i find the right information to study?

[ because these years are hard to get the hang of and also it seems to have a thousand other names ]

[byfist]

Yes the library will give you a brief covering of it.

[ and she might regret this later but - ]

Sergent Chiron or myself might be able to answer some questions as well.

@AEGONNER - PRIVATE

[northerndragon]

Understood.

But you should know that if you did leave her in a plague-ridden field, she'd make herself queen of whatever country it was in within a year or two.

[byfist]

Does it a lot, does she?

@STORMBORN; private

[dorzalta]

See to it that you do re-obtain our memories.

[byfist]

We work towards it - but I cannot make a promise I am not sure I will be able to keep.

@COWBOYBEEPBOOP

[crownless]

Gotcha.

[Kind of. It's a lot to digest, beginning with their destination alone-- WWI's far, far closer to him than the Revolution. Enough to set even Travis on edge.]

any idea what exactly we're working with yet? messing with a world war seems pretty significant to me.

[byfist]

It is and it isn't. Therein lies the trouble. On a scale, it all matters. There is no loss or victory that will not change the world.

But then, on an individual level? Trenches are lost and regained in a matter of weeks, multiple times, and with so many theatres of war? You can imagine our headache in trying to pinpoint anything in this.

@LONERANGER not private in the slightest bit

[i_swear]

No.

[Guess who just got back in from his mission and isn't down for any kind of training. It's this guy. This guy right here.]

[byfist]

Good to see you returned, soldier.

Is there a problem?

[pointedlook]

Acknowledged.

Appreciate the clarifications, Commander.

[byfist]

Of course. I will see you in the morning.