<<This roleplay came up on a July 17th saturday night
***JOINT ROLEPLAY POST*** (Loonie, IonMage, Zager, Greghannibal, Neos)
SETTING The crew of the Tranquility is currently assembled for the most part in the base's mess hall, save for a few exceptions. Engineers, scientists, even a few Earth Force observers are all located in the mess hall, save for a few exceptions like McAllister and Harris deciding to spend this time outside on the plains (suspicious is it not?

) and Stahley who is currently knocking on McAllister's door at her quarters. Otherwise the mess hall is lined around with lasers producing quite a lightshow. Holograms also play on the walls and the chef managed to actually recruit some waiters to serve drinks. Indeed the mood is quite festive for this year's New Year's Eve!
<Viktor_Oskari> ::leans over to the bartender at the mess hall counter and speaks a bit concerned:: You sure we'll be able to stuff everyone here and on the 2nd floor of this mess hall? It's mighty packed heh... ::he says then to himself as he continues to observe the crowd::
<Shelley_Draco> ::Draco continued to eat the food that was served, careful to not eat anything that could cause an addiction, such as junk food. She never stopped for festivities, even when submerged in them, and she wasn't ready to start now::
<Rina_Delmar> ::Ice had acquired a glass of wine, and was sitting off in a corner, watching the procedings.::
<PVT_Stahley> ::Alex knocks on McAllister's door again, and, getting know reponse once again, he turns around and heads back to the mess hall as the party begins.::
<Neos> ::Neos was off to one side tending a drink, observing the crowd in teh room & concentrating to still the voices in his head::
<Viktor_Oskari> ::notices the sarge sitting by herself and decides to approach her, whilst having a feeling that he really should ask something:: Do you ever take a brake from work? ::he said as he smiled lightly and sat opposite of her::
<Shelley_Draco> ::She looked up as her immediate superior approached. Not many really asked such a question to her before, at least not in the non-sarcastic manner in which Viktor had asked:: "Only when needed, such as simple fatigue-hampering rest. Play is not for the military, in my eyes."
<PVT_Stahley> ::Alexander Stahley walked into the mess and looked around at the party goers. He smiled and nodded to some earth force members he had met who had done the same for him. He had told them the names of his brother and sister, but apprenttly they had never heard of them. Distraught, he continued to wander around and mingle.::
<Viktor_Oskari> But we're not on military duty right now Draco. At this moment we don't have anything or any obligation that we could tend to. I guess one could say that we still need to do much before we have a fighting chance against the aliens but,...personally I prefer doing so in my own time.
<Shelley_Draco> ::She swallowed a piece of chicken, however the chef got his hands on some:: well, consider; we could be attacked at any moment. What if we got attacked now, and all our soldiers happened to be drunk or lovemaking at the time? It would not be good.
<Rina_Delmar> ::Rina set the empty glass down on the table. She rarely drank, reserving it for celebrations.::
<Viktor_Oskari> True...::he nodded his head a bit as he turned it towards Stahley, whom he had just now noticed coming into the room::...still if that were so it would mean that each and every one of us would always have to be ready for an attack at all times. I'd say that could breed paranoia rather all too easily. ::he concluded whilst returning his look onto the Sarge::
<Shelley_Draco> Truth. But it has been proven that one person could tilt a battle, though I doubt I could do much against a full battleship, we do have a defensive advantage.
<PVT_Stahley> ::Smiles at the Lt. and Sarge, and makes his way over to the buffet, piling loads of meat onto his plate::
<Viktor_Oskari> ::grunting slightly to himself he considers that for a moment:: Well...for now anyway...Earth Force may report their resources are being reclaimed well and our engineers have also tagged along with their personnel and confirmed that success. Still...all it would take is a single recon order from the aliens in Vienna and we most certainly wouldn't be able to hold out...jeeze just look at these last few missions. Our functional manpower went down like hell during the last few missions. Too many of us are getting injured on the battlefield...I dunno ::he concluded, rather embarrased for not really making a good point, but not showing it too much::
<Shelley_Draco> Indeed. How is the tranquility's VR unit? If we could get it working, we could train. Its apparent we need a refresher course.
<Viktor_Oskari> Might not be a bad idea. Right now it's not faring too well ever since the crash, though Kovalev tells me it should be ready within a weeks' time for sure.
<Neos> ::Neos tested his new cybernetic leg by doing a short walk around the Mess Hall, he couldn't quite get used to the feel of it and couldn't wait til they got access to some form of regenerative technology::
<PVT_Stahley> ::Took his plate to a table with some earth force members he had befriened, who called him over. After a few minutes of chatting, they got into an eating competition.::
<Shelley_Draco> hmmm... well, worm is not one I know for reliability, but, perhaps hes changed. And even then, he should be able to get it working fast. Within a couple weeks time on the side, or will it take up the queue?
<Rina_Delmar> ::Ice had stood up and wandered over the where the Lieutenant was talking with the Sergeant, and was listening in on their conversation.::
<Neos> ::Neos wandered over near to where where Rina was listening in:: Doing a bit of eavesdropping are we?
<Viktor_Oskari> ::begins to notice Stahley at the back behind Draco:: Um,... ::now beginning to notice Rina approaching:: Listen,...I was wondering if you'd be willing to do me a favor. I don't want Stahley sick or puking tommorow. We'll be most likely having a mission or at least practice. So please do your best to make sure he won't fall ill tommorow. Namely try and occupy him somehow else than eating his guts out on the food. Coming from our farms it's not too good in large quantities
It's a public space, ::replied Rina to Neos:: How? ::asked Rina.:: Any suggestions?::
<Neos> Indeed ::Neos replied with a wry grin::
<Viktor_Oskari> Just talking to him might do it. Neos, you can help out too. A person can't eat when he has to talk now can he?
<Rina_Delmar> I'll try, sir, ::replied Rina, and wandered over to Stahley.::
<PVT_Stahley> ::Alex raises his fists in victory as the earth force solider gives up and collapses.:: Next. ::He belches::
<Neos> Even though Stahley appears to be a human with some skill in talking and eating at the same time ::Neos said turning his head slightly to Oskari::
<Viktor_Oskari> ::returns back to Draco and laughs for a moment:: You see...one could say that I'm currently doing more good by making sure our soldiers don't get sick tommorow than I would by keeping alert for any enemy that might try to attack us right now ::he concludes::
<Shelley_Draco> Perhaps. But I doubt he even would have gotten into that position on full watch. But no matter, it is your' call to make, and admittedly we have suffered some big damage, so perhaps this is for the best. Not all people have VRDS.
<Viktor_Oskari> Pardon me for being an ignoramus but VRDS is...?
<Shelley_Draco> Virtual Reality Displacement syndrome. Those who spend too much time in VR training get it and lose a sense of reality when they go into a warzone.
<Shelley_Draco> I believe its the reason mass VR testing was outlawed, and only allowed in conditions such as this.
<Neos> yes, the mind begins to struggle differentiating between what is real and what is simulation.
<Viktor_Oskari> ::he would've asked her about how much effect it had had on her, but with another person listening in he didn't want to discredit her:: Ah yes of course...can't believe I forgot about it. Well it shouldn't be much of a problem as long as the VR simulations are kept as 'special events' really.
<Shelley_Draco> In a war zone, there are no restrictions on its usage, and its even allowed for testing procedures. Just mass usage for training like the one I went through. It only shows up if one spends years worth of training in VR.
<Shelley_Draco> and even then, the real battlefield causes something similar to those whom survive it long enough, though I forgot the name.
<Neos> PTSD.
<Shelley_Draco> Ah, yes. I believe that may have been it.
<Viktor_Oskari> Hmmm...I'm not sure if that's so really. A certain soldier I spent time serving with didn't quite fare well after going through the VR. But as always it's very hard to prove if it really wasn't just the problem in him, since considering his nature he could've been a maniac really. And the battlefield may cause it I guess...still it would be a bit hard on a person to have to go to a battlefield and return to base only to find a similar condition in the form of the VR.
<Neos> though developments in psionics allow a much better psychological diagnosis than previous methods.
<Viktor_Oskari> Even so it can't be taken for factual evidence Neos. Though I'm sure if you were to diagnose a person with your psionics you would give a good estimate, a lot of people wouldn't take your answer for an objective one since "damaged brains" for instance can't be MEASURED in psionic terms. I'm not saying it's right for them to discount your opinion, but that's basically the way this system works right now...
<Neos> Though I believe this is a discussion for another time, as aren't we supposed to be celebrating?
<Viktor_Oskari> ::smiles slightly:: I guess so. ::and turns away:: But I'm actually kind of surprised that...
ACTION At this very moment the laser show in the mess hall turns red and blinks every second along with a mechanical voice counting down 10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...0! And afterwards the room goes alive in a long cheer, though jumping around is severely limited due to some lack of space.
<Viktor_Oskari> But in any event. I wish you both a happy new year. Hope we'll be able to make it a better one than the last one ::he slowly gets up:: Now if you'll excuse me, I have to check on something in the command centre right now. I'll see you both later.
<Shelley_Draco> Very well, then. ::She downs a drink slowly::
<Neos> Cheers ::Neos finishes off his drink::
FINAL SETTING And with that a new year begins and with it a hope that X-Com's efforts will not be as futile as before...ecetera ecetera. END SIM!