16095/Alternative Munitions

Alternative Munitions
Date of Scene:	17 October 2023
Location:	Weapons Testing: Triskelion
Synopsis:	Alexander gives Jacen a little insight into the SHIELD experience(tm).
Cast of Characters:	Alexander Aaron, Jacen Knight

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Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Along that 40 yard gun range down in the depths of the Triskelion, several of the team members from the various Tactical Response Units were having a form of a pow-wow. Not exactly informal as it was put on the itinerary, updating the various agents of the option of attending. But turn out for voluntary training was rarely indulged in too often unless one of the higher-ups expressed the... importance of such training.
    Team 2, had a good record about this however. Agents Aaron, O'Hara, and Quinn had sterling records for racking up hours in various training sessions. Agent Kelso, however... while his expertise was rather strong... he had different ideas.
    "C'mon man, how often are we going to end up shooting a freaking Werewolf." The taller agent stood on the range, hands on his hips and looking rather annoyed to be spending his evening this way as each of the agents stood at the assembly table and were familiarizing themselves with the various firearms and weapon loads they had for this particular... possibility.
    "Didn't you used to work with a vampire? How is this more far-fetched?" Alexander said sidelong to his co-worker and sometimes roommate.
    Kelso, however, still looked annoyed as he worked the slide of the automatic and grimaced. "Silver nitrate though? Seems niche even for SHIELD."

Jacen Knight has posed:
Not much of a shooter, Jacen makes his way down to look at the range anyway. It might be a good idea to look into getting better at such things. He pushes the door open and pauses. Somewhere in the recesses of his brain he remembers the itenerary. Not going to get some solo shooting in tonight.

That said, a lot can be learned by watching other and how they are operating. A slight frown at the mention of a vampire, but he doesn't comment. Silver nitrate gets a raised eyebrow, but considering spirit animals go everywhere he does he doesn't really think too hard about any of it.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    There's the sound of gunfire as O'Hara lines up her shots, her red hair pulled back in a ponytail. She grimaces as she checks the pistol as if it was somehow conspiring against her. Then she grimaces and fires off a few more shots. Just a couple rounds sent down range and already she's shaking her head. "Might be good if you can hit the buggers, but feels... I don't know, sluggish. Not looking at good penetration. Are we just supposed to splat the loads on them or what?"
    Agent Aaron shakes his head, "Nah, supposed to get in their blood stream. These are knock off rounds though, made from some of the originals we wrangled up." He takes a moment to step into one of the nearby lanes. Taking his own bead...
    All in all it takes them only about twelve minutes before the team's put several different calibers through their paces. The consensus from the tactical team? It's a firm 7 out of 10, with Kelso still making a face about the whole ordeal. It was quick, but they got the data and forwarded it on to R&D with just a few swipes of the control console at their end of the range. It was as the team was breaking up and heading off for the night when Agent Aaron turned and caught sight of Jacen keeping an eye on the proceedings. His eyebrows rose and he murmured, "Oh hey, Recruit..."
    A brief moment then he adds after perhaps catching a glance at the ID on the man's lapel. "Agent Knight. Can I help you?" He's moving down the weapon lanes, unloading and clearing the weapons and making sure they're safe before the next team moseys in.

Jacen Knight has posed:
Quietly he studies how things are playing out. He listens to every comment about how the bullet flies, how it needs to work, and the like. Not a gun guy at all, he just has to take it for granted the others know what they are talking about.

Once they have cycled through their weapons and doing all the the data work, he pushes away from the wall to see about potentially getting his hands on a weapon to study up close.

Not one to be bothered by much, Jacen lets a half grin touch the left corner of his mouth and doesn't comment on the mistake. Instead he replies,"I w's hopin' ta get down here'n maybe learn 'bout shootin' pistols. I mean I c'n make a shotgun dance, but that's a given. Used ta archery hunt, but I reckon prolly oughta be better't th' pistol'f they're gonna keep m' around."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    There's a slight tilt to the youth's head, his smile an open thing. Those pale eyes of his look almost otherworldly, but that twist to his lips brightens his features as he murmurs, "Oh there are rolling classes pretty regularly." He steps down to the next lane, but not moving away too much, just stepping up to the next pistol and Armalite that they had on that part of the range.
    He cocks his head to the side, "Correct me if I'm wrong, you didn't come up into SHIELD the more common way?" Likely meaning how they usually pull people from various other agencies and put them through an extended period of training.
    He clears the pistol, ejects the clip, then sets it down on the counter. He moves to the rifle and starts a similar break down, though not hugely elaborate. "If that's so, there are a good number of instructors running things. You just gotta sign up."

Jacen Knight has posed:
"I'll look't gettin' inta classes soon." he agrees and smiles fully, at ease with the other pretty quick. He might not speak like normal people, but he dose like to interact.

He shakes his head and admits,"Nah. Didn' come up th' usual way. Prolly shoulda, but I wasn' military'r law enforcement. My grandfather w's a Cherokee shaman, he took me inta that world'n maybe an agent'r two mighta seen me runnin' fast, liftin' stuff I shouldn' be able to, or other such things. Animal spirits go with me, several totems. Kinda helped move me along. Folks pay 'ttention when you c'n lift a pickup'r c'n run close ta hundred miles'n hour."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Alexander's lips part in understanding, "Ahh, so like over with the WAND people." His nod is given and then he seems to recover his manners as he steps away from the last firearm, extending a gloved hand. "I'm Agent Aaron. Alex if you're inclined. 2nd Tactical Response Team."
    And should the other man avail him of the handshake, he'll find Alex's grip to be firm but not aggressive. Very business-like as it's just three short shakes and then done as he shifts his weight onto his back foot.
    "I'm sure you've gotten this a lot, but welcome to the asylum and all that." His lip curls up a little more. "How are you handling the adjustment from..." Whatever 'normal' might be like for a man and his spirits.

Jacen Knight has posed:
"Yeah with th' Wand folks." he agrees. When the hand is offered, he takes it and shakes. He has a firm, business like shake as well. Once that breaks he tells the other,"Jacen Masters. Ya wanna get m' attention fast it's Jacen. Folks callin' me Mr. Masters ends with me lookin' f'r my dad." he admits.

He chuckles softly and nods,"Yeah I've heard that a time'r two. It's been an interestin' asylum ta say th' least." He considers the last queston and admits,"It's been an adjustment f'r sure." he starts,"I still pull some shifts at local hospitals'n still work on m' ranch ta relax. Keep things'n perspective's th' only way ta balance it all out."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    There's a slight exhalation from the blond youth that might be a laugh if he gave it a little more energy, his smile turning a touch wry, or amused. He gives a nod and follows along with the other man's words, then turns and starts to walk a little along the range. Not leaving, more just that leisurely pace one has when they walk and talk. The goal of that stroll? It looks like it may be the other end of the gun range lanes, near the door that leads to the stairs for the control room. Or maybe the console that's embedded in the wall there.
    "Yeah, I think most of the folks that come into SHIELD from the normal vectors don't understand the sort of culture shock you get when you get sorta dropped into the deep end." He walks along until they're near that data system and he swipes a hand over to bring it to life.
    "I sorta had a similar thing. Weirdness with the parental units. SHIELD helped out and I sorta... felt obligated to give them a hand too when I could. If that makes any sense."

Jacen Knight has posed:
Taking the hint, Jacen falls into stride next to him to walk and talk. He does look the room over once more as they walk. He listen to the other talk,"I am a paramedic and have been in the thick of some things. Still, this is different. I try ta be available ta work's medic if needed though."

"Still, this's a little more structured th'n a retired bull rider's used to. Still gettin' th' hang o' things." he agrees,"My folks'r on ta th' next life. Grandfather did a lotta th' teachin' an' raisin'. Kinda not th' most traditional in th' minds of th' general public."

A nod and at the last he agrees,"Kinda felt like SHIELD's done 'nuff f'r th' world'n general'n if they wanted me ta help, who'm I ta say no?"

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    At the mention of his family having passed his brow furrows slightly, that hint of solemnity touching his features as he gives a single nod, respecting that passing. Then as Jacen elaborates he listens and replies calmly, "Yah, I had a good bit of home-schooling too." He offers as he rests a hand on the display-pad next to the console.
    A nod is given though the mention of SHIELD doing good has him get a slight hint of a smile before he adds, "So I'm sure someone's probably already shown you this, but maybe not in the easiest of ways. Any of these data displays or systems hooked up to SHIELD actual, you can log in with your ident, and browse the offerings for training. Since SHIELD's got such a..." He turns his head and looks at Jacen, then sort of looks past him. "Wide breadth of people, they do a ton of classes. You sign up. Hopefully we learn a thing or two."
    His lip curls up a little more, "Though be careful of any of the CQC courses that Chang teaches, she can be pretty harsh."

Jacen Knight has posed:
Not mentioning more about the parents, Jacen nods and admits,"I got some o' th' book learnin', but mostly I w's a sports jock. Good't chemistry'n physics, but not much else. I w's a linebacker'n a wrestler'n high school. First one all district, second one made it ta state, but not quite a champion."

He looks at the operation that Alex is showing him, studying it closely and admits,"I reckon I w's shown when I first come in, but a refresher f'r me ain' never a bad thing."

He thinks about it a adds,"Really need ta look inta some strikin' classes. I c'n bring 'bout anyone down to th' ground an' keep'm there f'r a while, but not so good't punchin' an kickin'. I mean I took Killer Kreel off his feet'n dropped him on his @$$. Just not likely to punch it out with anyone."

He raises a brow and he asks,"I'll keep that name'n mind'n be wary o' takin' her class." A smirk again,"I mean, prolly need someone ta whoop me in shape, but all th' critters followin' me 'round c'n be harsh enough."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Alexander listens with an openness of expression, just something easy-going about him as he follows along, those pale hazel eyes watching the other man with a clear curiousity. He nods at points suitable, those small breaks in the rhythm of the man's words, then he exhales a small laugh at the mention of Killer Kreel, though his brow furrows slightly. As if the name struck a chord or perhaps sounds like another name he knows.
    "Well really you have some of the best instructors in the business running around in here." He gestures to the display panel, then swipes his hand back down it to 'close' the interface. He gives a nod as he steps away from that part of the range, now though likely making his own way to the door, but clearly in no rush or having no pressing business demanding on his time.
    "Have they angled you at any particular specialization, or you still feeling that out." He glances to the side as if realizing something, then back. "To be fair I'm not up on what WAND does with their people. Or like... how they train them. Do they train them?" His eyebrows rise.

Jacen Knight has posed:
Jacen doesn't really know a stranger, easily falling into conversation with pretty much anyone. Whether they can understand him is another thing, but if they don't ask he just goes with the idea that they do.

"I'm tryin' ta get more time here." he admits,"Still gotta keep m' licensing current an' th' ranch mostly runs itself, but still gotta go home sometimes."

"As f'r specializations. They like that I'm a paramedic, th' Wand crew has their way o' things, but it's kinda hard f'r anyone in there ta instruct me on how ta use my power. I gotta b'have or th' some o' th' spirits don' wanna play. Some of them like ta misbehave, but most have a certain code o' conduct f'r me. Th' bear always wants ta go, th' eagle's kinda fickle yet."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "That's kinda interesting," Alexander rests his hands on his hips, pausing in the stroll toward the door. He cocks his head to the side curiously, "Are they ancestral spirits or anthropomorophic representations of a pantheon?" The young Olympian's head tilts the other way, almost like a quizzical canine. "Or like a representation of a cultural zeitgeist sort of thing?"
    Apparentlly he's dabbled his toes into the mystical end of the SHIELD pool now and again, his manner is still rather open, likely no offense intended though the way he phrases those terms might imply a lack of... reverence.
    He then touches the security panel next to the door to the entrance to the range, causing those reinforced double doors to slide open, revealing the hall and its traffic beyond.

Jacen Knight has posed:
Not many ask too many questions about his power so he smiles when Alex seems interested in him. He considers a moment and then he tells him,"Think of a totem pole. Each animal spirits a totem. So kinda like a ancestral spirits, but not exactly. They have come ta th' aid of m' ancestors f'r long's anybody c'n remember."

He considers and adds,"Ya gotta better handle on th's kinda thing th'n most people do. Most folks tend ta me like, oh bear. Cool. It's 'bout all I c'n get mosta th' time."
He waits by t he door and will walk into the hall with him,"If y'r eyes c'n see th' spirit world, then they are able ta be seen. If not, well they're seen by th' effects that they cause in th' world 'round us."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Oh no it's..." Alexander's pale eyes distance a little, as if looking past the other SHIELD recruit. He pauses and then after the space of two heartbeats, elaborates. "Sorta a thing, my family comes from a semi-magical background. So in their early years there've been like, experiences." Another pause, "And things."
    His pattern of speaking, his casual manner, almost Californian in its own way, just that easy-going way of him. Less hinting at prevarication and simply perhaps ignorance. "But that's good, I know that some time ago Agent Foster, she was looking for someone of a sort of Shamanistic tradition."
    Then there's a pause and he adds quietly, "She's passed on since, unfortunately. Did you have a chance to meet her?"

Jacen Knight has posed:
"Family tradtion's it were." Jacen nods,"I c'n understand that." He considers something and then adds,"Sometimes I think may if I'd stayed on th' outside of th' family tradition I'd have more'n one world championship. Prolly still be ridin' truth told."

Considering the question at hand he admits,"I've hearda Agent Foster, but I don' think I ever met'r. She's spoken of well by pertty much everyone. Ain' never head a bad thing 'bout her. Not ever."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "She was a good soul," Alexander says as he starts out into the hall. Then he gives a nod, "C'mon. I'll show you why the 3rd Sub floor cafeteria is better than the main floor one." He half-smiles and starts the short trek toward the elevators, intent on giving Jacen some insight into the Triskelion from a squaddy level of things.