Fire Brigade practice -- joint exercises with the Brigade and the Guard

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin's face appears for a few moments in the frame. He grins. ]

Welcome to the Hadriel Fire Brigade and City Guard joint training exercises! This will be the first event of its kind, and we expect to have more them in the future. All are welcome! -- Brigade members, Guard members, and any Hadriel citizen who is interested in joining the Brigade. But you don't have to promise to join in order to take part. You are welcome if you are merely considering it, or simply interested in learning more about how to deal with a fire. You may also ask questions via the network, if you are not able to make it to this event but want to talk to somebody about the Fire Brigade and its functions.

[ He starts panning his phone camera around to show all the activities that are taking place along the north shore of the reservoir and nearby. ]

As you can see, we have built two fire engines, and we are giving the participants a chance to learn how to handle them. The first is a ladder truck and the second is a tanker truck.

[ The ladder truck is tearing around the curves of the nearest road, it's driver and riders whooping and screeching with glee. You can hear them all the way to the spot where Curufin is standing. ]

As you can see, the tanker truck is parked and we are practicing putting out a fire.

[ The tanker truck is parked beside a large wooden shack that the participants put up last week, and have now set on fire. Glowing orange and yellow flames sweep upwards from its roof. Unlike modern fire engines, this one contains its own water tank, since the firefighters do not (yet) have access to the city's water mains. The firefighters have already attached the hoses to the tank and opened up the valves and are trying to douse the flames. ]

And over there, we're running some practice scenarios that involve rescuing people from a burning building.

[ The view shifts to the disused, unoccupied spire next to Spire Two. People are running multiple flights of stairs, huffing and panting, with laughter and curses. They then descend, lugging the rescued "victims," carrying them on their shoulders. A group of people outside are waiting their turn to run up multiple flights of stairs to rescue either an actual person who has volunteered to be the rescuee or. . . a store dummy. They have a number of these doll-like objects on the lawn, and people have to carry them back up again periodically, as they run out of them upstairs in the spire. Good exercise for your calf muscles, that's for sure! -- whether you're carrying the dummy or one of your actual buddies. ]

And over there, we have a little tailoring operation set up. We're all going to need protective gear, including fire-resistant clothing, and there is a logbook for you all to put your names, sizes and measurements down. Somebody will be there to help you take your measurements if you don't know them.

[ Shot of a table with book, pencils and pens, tape measure, and cheerful helper. ]

And last but not least, here's our pumping station on the riverbank, where we get the water to fill the tanker truck's tank. There, also, is the building we are currently using to house the fire engines, and in which we are also building a second tanker trunk.

[ View of the waterworks building on the edge of the reservoir. You can't see the machinery inside, but you can see an open bay on the side away from the river, where the firefighters must park the tanker truck and screw the hoses into the apparatus inside and activate the pumping mechanism in order to draw up water from the reservoir and fill the truck tank. The second tanker truck, which is still being built, is parked outside of the firehouse. Around it are scattered tools and equipment, and people are working on it.]

And here's everybody's favorite activity -- the lunch table! As I said, everybody's welcome, including those who are just looking for a square meal at the moment.

[ View of the buffet table, which is really loaded. On it is also a stack of brochures with a description of the Fire Brigade and how to sign up. Somebody who can answer questions will be there as well. ]

If you're here in person, have fun and don't break a leg! But if you do, the first aid station is over there. [ Pan to another area by the water, where a table with first aid supplies is found, and somebody who can help. ]

If you just want to make inquiries or comments by phone, that's okay, too. I or another firefighter will reply.

Enjoy, everybody! And learn something new.

[ OOC: Feel free to post your character into any of these scenarios, or make up one of your own. Put something in the subject line to indicate which scenario it is. Examples: driving the firetruck, putting out fires, rescue operations, protective clothing tailoring, pumping station & machinery maintenance, building the second tanker truck, lunch table, first aid station. Or, like Curufin says, it's okay to talk to the firefighters by video or text. This is also a mingler, a free-for-all, so tag around if you like. The purpose of this net post is for the firefighters and Guard members to get together so that they'll all be on the same page when the real fire occurs, and for the firefighters (and Guard members, and interested parties) to do some rehearsing of their skills.

If you want to sign your character up to be a member of the Fire Brigade, you can go directly to this site, where there is information about the firefighters. The signup sheet is on this page. If you have any OOC questions to ask, contact Haze at tangyminx or PM me at so_dark_a_road. (I'm logged into Curufin's journal every day, so I'll get your message quickly.)

In case you haven't seen Hadriel's September Rundown, the mods have planned to BURN UP PART OF THE CITY on September 14. So now is a good time to join the Brigade! Or for that matter, the Guard. And because that is happening so soon, feel free to just post your characters in here with short threads or single comments. There'll be plenty of firefighting "for real" in just five days! ]

Comments

[requiemshark]

This is helping! [Sort of. Ephemera likes Drake's grin, though.] I'd rather figure it out now than later.

[braveoff]

Figure what out?

[requiemshark]

How much the shield can take.

[He deactivates it with a shrug.]

Didn't have time to really test it out, before.

[braveoff]

Oh, right. You want me to fire the flamethrower at it?

[ He's... a little worried about that. ]

[requiemshark]

Yes?

[It seems like the logical next step. Figure out how much the shield can take before it starts wavering.]

It'll be fine, I'm not gonna do it without armor.

[braveoff]

......okay. But the second it starts to fail, move out of the way. I'll hold it steady.

[requiemshark]

You're actually worried.

[Ephemera's not sure what to do with that.]

Seriously, it's fine. Wouldn't even be the first time I've been on fire.

[A bad joke, all things considered.]

[braveoff]

Uh. No shit I'm actually worried.

[ That's a terrible joke, man. Drake gives him a Look for it. ]

Just show me what to do?

[requiemshark]

[Ephemera winces. Yeah, okay. Not cool.] It's easy. Just point and shoot.

[He holds up his hand, activating the flame thrower. It has a tiny flame. Ready for the fuel to release.]

Make a fist and that releases the fuel. Relax your hand to lessen the amount. I've got a program to calibrate it so I don't fry shit every time I try to punch something, but you don't need to worry about that. There's no wind, so it won't backfire and catch you in the face, either. Got it?

[braveoff]

[ Drake watches carefully, finally giving a nod and holding his hand out for the gauntlet. Like hell is he playing around with napalm without something covering his arm. He still sounds worried as he puts it on -- the last thing he wants to do is get Ephemera hurt. ]

Make sure you keep your hand behind the shield, alright?

[requiemshark]

[Awesome, they're gonna do this. Ephemera unhooks the gauntlet, careful to make sure all the safety protocols are still in place, and hands it over. The tech is pretty straight forward, as far as this sort of stuff goes. Point and shoot, try not to set yourself on fire, and then go nuts. It's less powerful than his rig - which had been about seventy pounds heavier - but unfortunately a touch less accurate.

He decides not to mention that to Drake. It's totally fine. No need to worry the guy.

Besides, they're just running a test.

Ephemera stands, stretching before moving into position and activating the shield. He's careful to plant his feet and brace. When the fire comes, he might flinch otherwise. Human instinct. A rookie mistake he won't be making.]

Okay. Do a short blast first, so my HUD can get some readings.

[braveoff]

[ Drake flexes his fingers inside the armored glove, moves his arm around a little so he can get used to the weight of the gauntlet. Hmm. ]

Right.

[ So he just has to activate the flame -- there. And aim and make a fist --

The whoosh of fire startles him even though he's braced for it, and there's a bit of a kick he wasn't expecting, but it hits the shield square in the center. Drake relaxes his hand to stop firing and gives a sharp excited laugh. ]

Hey. I still get to try the whole suit on someday, yeah?

[requiemshark]

[Ephemera braces carefully. The shield takes the hit just fine. Doesn't even waver. Not surprising, considering all the shit he's seen Felix do with his. Block bullets, minor explosions, shrapnel...

Fire's a whole other beast, though, and Ephemera likes to know his tools before he goes into a fight with them.

His HUD beeps out some initial readings. Awesome, everything's still working.]

Good, that's perfect.

[Ephemera lowers his shield a little, grinning. It's hidden by his helmet but maybe Drake can hear it in his voice.]

'course. You wanna go when we're done with this?

[Because why not? Could be fun.]

[braveoff]

How'd it do?

[ He has no idea how fire would affect a shield like this -- he doesn't even understand how it exists in the first place, manifesting from nothing. But it seems to be holding.

And then Ephemera says he can try on the armor. ]

Sure. Lemme know when to blast you again.

[ He's a bit less worried about burning his friend now that they know the fire doesn't go through the shield right away. ]

[requiemshark]

Everything's looking good over here. [Here's to hoping his HUD doesn't flop over and die when the fire gets too hot. Because that's a thing that happens sometimes. Which he is not going to tell Drake, ever. The armor's fine, everything's good, no need to worry about small details like that. He shifts, lifting his arm again.] All right, hit me.

[braveoff]

Okay. Move out of the way if it gets too hot. Three, two, one!

[ Drake makes a fist again, and the stream of flame again hits the shield dead center, spreading out in all directions. Drake's keeping an eye on it, making sure to hold it steady so it doesn't shoot over the top. ]

[requiemshark]

[Three, two, one, and brace. The shield takes it just fine.

His HUD, on the other hand, has things to say.

Loudly.]

Okay, stop!

[Because ow, screaming alarms. Ephemera deactivates the shield and removes his helmet gingerly, blinking.]

Totally fine, don't freak out. Shield held just fine. Armor doesn't like the heat much. Visuals shorted out for a second.

[braveoff]

[ Drake barely hears Ephemera over the jet of flame, but he does and shuts it off immediately. His brow furrows a little when he hears the visuals shorted. ]

That.. could be really dangerous.

[requiemshark]

[Ephemera eyes his helmet unhappily.]

I think the shield might actually be stronger than the armor.

[Which is awesome. Sort of. Because he's got a cool alien shield that can deflect nearly anything an enemy could throw at him. If his armor survives the experience.]

[braveoff]

It's different tech, right?

[ Newer, at least. Drake might not be familiar with either but he can tell the difference. Meanwhile he's taking the gauntlet back off, offering it to Ephemera so they can finish up training. ]

[requiemshark]

Yeah, it's alien. Works better than the other stuff they tried to cannibalize.

[He shrugs, taking his gauntlet back.]

Felix stole a whole bunch of this shit from his old boss. I got the shield.

[braveoff]

Stuff they wound up with after the war?

[requiemshark]

Probably. Didn't ask.

[The universe is big and the Covenant has been around for a long time.]

We used to take their stuff all the time, during the war. Made our armor better, ships faster. Stuff like that. Shield's probably the only thing that worked without blowing up in your face the first eight times, though.

[braveoff]

[ Drake nods -- he can see how stealing someone else's tech would result in a lot of accidents. Not knowing how to operate vehicles, weapons. Wait. ]

Do the aliens shoot laser guns? Please say the future has laser guns.

[requiemshark]

[Ephemera laughs at that, just a little.]

Well, yeah. Also laser swords. They're pretty cool.