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The evening air is warm and all seems quite peaceful amongst the Grasslands. Until you were to crest one hill and see a large, rather rudimentary structure that is over a fifty yards in each direction. A few last minute touches are being put on the interior and then men and women are all emerging.
Everett steps over the hill with his usual hand-rolled cigarette hanging out of his mouth and glances over the building a few moments before muttering something about how they don't make buildings like they used to in a very grandpa-y manner.
Wyri is trailing along after Everett at his own pace, the Aukami's cane sinking into the grass as he limps to the top of the hill. He gives the structure and approving nod. His lips pulled into a smile from the scars at his cheek, Wyri looks as ready as he ever has. He tucks one hand in his pocket, the other resting atop his clockwork cane, and watches the last of the construction in silence.
Vessa Harden strolls casually along the sand and over the hill, taking a good look at the building in curiosity she notices Wyri and Everett and snaps off a casual friendly salute, "Hey there, good to see you again." she greets as she goes to stand nearby.
Ruin is probably here in answer to a summons of some sort. At least, it's fairly clear that green and growing things are bad for the Lunite; he arrives with an inhaler in hand, and a small personal-use hypospray. Trust a Lunite to be allergic to planets. But he makes his way along, with an engineer's kit over one shoulder.
The last one out of the building is the slender form of Katrin, for once wearing pants. The speaks quietly to those workers gathered and they quickly go back inside to retrieve several boxes which are brought back out. While they are doing that, the young woman slowly walks towards the growing crowd, motioning them forward. "Good evening, everyone," she greets warmly. "Thank you all for being a part of this first exercise. My hope is that more will be arriving sooner, rather than later. They will be added variables to what will come."
As the crates come out, it is seen that they are in fact pieces of equipment with weapons and protective gear. There is even headgear with masks to protect the eyes. "As I would prefer no one be shot and bleeding this evening, I have gathered paintguns from local sources for this evening's practice. Each piece has already been checked and it is in excellent condition. Please come down and take what you think will serve you best." This includes handguns, rifles, even paintball grenades.
Everett steps down and collects a paint semi-automatic rifle with an internal magazine and loads it carefully, collecting several spare bullets in the process. He doesn't, however, pick up a mask.
Raising a silver eyebrow, Wyri's smile splits into a small grin. "Most amusing." He comments, limping towards the crates. The Aukami looks at the protective gear with distaste, but he equips it, protective mask first. His olive hand dips into one of the crates and he loads up with paint grenades, seemingly requiring nothing else. Vessa Harden grins widely at the idea and with a happy, "Kick ass!" she goes to choose two pistols, which she loads carefully, she also takes the protective gear and wears that as well. At a moments thought she grabs a couple of grenades with a shrug then heads off to wait.
Ruin eyes all of the weaponry with, if anything, a resigned expression. "Would someone like to shoot me now, and get it over with?" he asks tiredly. "I am not picking up a weapon. I'm sorry. I'll be happy to assume having been shot and spare myself the paintball bruising, mind."
"Protective gear required, Mr. Barclay," Katrin calls in Everett's direction with a shake of her head. She offers Ruin a smile as she looks up at the glowing man. "There is more to this than mere shooting mindlessly at each other. Both you and Wyri are here for the knowledge and intellect that you provide, not your physical prowess. I would request only that you wear protective gear so in case someone /does/ shoot at you, it will hurt less. I just recommend standing behind Mr. Barclay as Miss Harden would not provide you much of a shield."
"Now that you all are getting prepared, we can discuss what will be happening," Katrin says, standing back a little. "As you can clearly see, you will be entering a structure that none of you have ever seen before. This will help determine your ability to adapt. You will have to work amongst yourselves to make your way through different obstacles and reach your intended target, which will be me." She hops up and down for a second so everyone can clearly see her. "This is an extraction mission so if you do not succeed in the time allotted, you can safely assume that I am dead. Any questions?"
The small group of the Devil May Care is currently arming and gearing themselves up in paintball gear as they stand outside of a large structure.
Everett grunts and grabs the protective gear, donning it reluctantly as he asks, "And what is this time limit?" The cowboy checks the instructions written on the side of his weapon. The man's from the eighteen hundreds. Doesn't automatically know this stuff after all.
Ricky jogs up, fashionably late, and slides into line behind the others getting geared up. At the jumping up and down that Katrin does he comments, "And we'd hate to see that," with a wry smile. He looks over some of the other people assembled, before he starts to gear himself up.
Wyri looks up as Katrin mentions death. But of course it's a training mission, so he resumes adjusting the straps on his protective gear. "I should've worn green, I think." The Aukami murmurs, planting his cane in the ground to free up both hands. He glances towards Ricky as the man arrives, his blue glowing eyes tracking the man for a moment before he tightens his last strap and retreives his cane.
Vessa Harden chuckles a bit about not making a very good shield but nods agreeably enough, she nods a friendly greeting to Ricky as he arrives before going over her own paintball weapons to make sure she knows how to use them properly. I am interested to know the time limit as well. Any intel about the building that we can know?"
Ruin frowns a bit at this. "...a noncombatant who glows in the dark...on an extraction mission." The tone suggests he's heard less intelligent ideas, but probably not recently. He thinks about this for a bit, then shrugs and goes to put on protective gear.
"Suspend disbelief for the time being," Katrin calls toward Ruin with a shake of her head. "The goal of this mission is to see how you work together as a team and to familiarize yourselves with each other. You will have thirty minutes to get in and retrieve me," she explains, sighing. "There will be a large countdown clock inside that you will be able to see from any part of the structure. Refer to it for how much you have left."
Everett scratches his head and goes silent, trying to identify the various parts of his not-particularly-user-friendly weapon before actually chambering a round with a pull of the bolt-action (Because of course he went for that) "Alrigh'. Just tell me where to stand and lemme take the bullets, I guess. Ain't nothin' new."
Ricky finishes strapping on some of his armor, and then meanders towards the front, "How bout we avoid getting shot to bits? Novel approach I know, but, let's see if we can't do some textbook fire and maneuver. Who here has any sort of small arms training?" he asks as he turns towards his crewmates.
The Aukami glances about at his co-workers. "I suggest we leave her. If she's gone and gotten herself captured, obviously the DMC needs a new owner. One with glowing eyes, perhaps?" Wyri lifts his clockwork inlaid cane, inspecting it innocently. He glances across to Everett. "You played this particular game where you came from?" His blue glowing eyes then turn to Ricky. "I'm afraid I'm not very handy with a pistol. I'll be interested to see how far I can lob one of these grenades, though."
Ruin gives Ricky that tired, patient look he directed previously at the equipment. "I shot a man in the head who was already dying. He'd just killed a friend of mine, during a training exercise. The condition for being spared the firing squad was a vow never to pick up another gun again. I don't have a great deal of luck when it comes to training exercises. I *have* been shot *at* a lot. That can count, if you like." He dons a protective suit, and picks up his engineer's kit again. Once that's in place he picks up his allergy meds again. And then studies the house.
"I heard that," Katrin calls towards Wyri with a cross look. "See if I bake for you again anytime soon." She rolls her eyes and then bounces off and into the maze. "I will give you five minutes to determine your course of action and settle who is following who and then your thirty minutes will begin," she adds and then disappears inside. One of the workers makes his way over and clears his throat. "You have your choice of which entrance you will go through. That will also determine your route so choose carefully."
"I been a soldier and I been a lawman, so I'm a pretty damn good shot." Everett says, puffing on his cigarette one last time before dropping it and crushing it out with his heel. "Ain't never played this game 'fore, but I been in a real war." the cowboy scratches his stubble and leans the rifle on his shoulder.
As his teammates speak up, Ricky considers each of them. "Alright. You first," he nods to Ruin, then points to Everett and Wyri in turn, "Then you, then you. Then me. We'll walk in a stagered line so we don't make one single target. When we hit opposition, get to cover. Everett and I will lay down fire, you two move in and try to disable our obstacle at close range. Sound good?" he asks, looking over the group.
Wyri gives Ricky a sceptical look that might suggest getting in and disabling things at close range isn't his speciality. He doesn't say anything though, the Aukami pats Everett on the shoulder. "Ah, well then this'll be all new. After you, big chap."
Ruin gives Ricky a look that suggests it's probably a great thing that Ruin isn't a doctor. He takes a deep breath, breaks into a short-breath coughing fit, and makes use of his inhaler. With an eye to the towers, he starts heading for the building. Apparently if he can breathe, he can run.
Everett shrugs and falls in line, keeping his rifle shouldered. "Whatever ya' need. Just don't expect me to go fiddlin with your fancy-pants technology." the cowboy grunts out something about the future.
Ricky pushes down the visor of his helmet, and then says, "Let's move," before breaking into a jog towards the building himself. The man checks over his paintball gun and then asks of Everett, "Not even gonna use a comm?"
"I think my fancy pants will be just fine without your fiddling." Wyri reassures the cowboy's back, giving a little chuckle as he sees Ruin moving ahead. He moves off after Everett, his cane tapping on the ground as he limps along. He's certainly not going to be doing any running, any time soon.
Ruin *is* using the technology. At least as far as he's got any that's useful on him. Absently turning the commlink dial to see if there's anything to pick up. Reaching the corner, he pauses. "...I have to ask myself whether it's better to take this seriously, or say to hell with it and die for coffee." He looks behind him. "Anyone want to wave a stick or something? Charge in?"
Thirty minutes on the clock.
As the group comes to the first corner, there is a creaking sound. As they actually round the corner they come face to face with a rather deep pit and at least ten feet across with three small pedestals spaced in between. They are just far enough apart that jumping would likely be inadvisable.
High up, it looks like there is a rope coiled and with enough length and swing that someone could possibly swing from it if they could just reach it.
Everett peers at the rope and says, "Well, who wants to go for this one?" the cowboy scratches his head and says, "I could try huckin' somethin' at it to get it down, if that'd work."
Vessa Harden peers to see what Everett is looking at, "What are you wanting to huck at exactally?"
"Why don't we just boost someone up?" Ricky asks, looking at the assembled group. He then nods to Wyri and says, "Here, c'mere and we'll boost up err...waht's your name?" he asks of Vessa.
Ruin mmms. "Human ladder is my guess. Tallest first, on the bottom, to support the shorter people. Use the wall for support until you're ready to get the rope. Or can see what's tying it up there."
Wyri takes one look at the rope, another at the pedestals, and then one at Ricky and the others. "You know what, I think I'm good for this one." His blue eyes glow a little brighter as he attempts to levitate himself. Perhaps intending to walk across the pit without the aid of a rope.
Everett shrugs and says, "Gimme a rock, I can prolly hit that rope." the cowboy pats himself down, "All I got is my knife, and I don't think that's gonna help out too much..." he shuts up as Wyri starts to glow and raises an eyebrow.
Vessa Harden grins and shrugs, "Oh and for those who don't know, I am Vessa and security and someone asked about small arms. I have training in those and some of the big stuff too."
Ricky takes a step back as Wyri steps forward. He looks over at Vessa, nods, and says, "Good. Stay in front of me then, and behind...err...him." he says, pointing towards Wyri as he crosses the pit.
Ruin watches Wyri go, then turns back to the others. "Human ladder?" he asks. "Marksman at the top?"
Reaching the other side, Wyri dusts his free hand on his jacket and looks back across to the others. "Need a hand with the rope?" He asks, examining the coiled rope. "I'm not entirely sure I could uncoil it with telekinesis..."
And knife it is. Everett unbuckles the boot-sheath from his ankle and hucks the whole kit-and-kaboodle at the rope in an attempt to knock it down. Apparently he's assuming he can get it back afterwards. Whether it works or not, who can say.
Ricky winces a bit, and then calls to Wyri, "Why not just push it back to our side telekenetically? We'll be across in a moment and on our way."
Twenty five minutes left on the clock.
Vessa Harden sighs at the random antics, "Maybe next time we should discuss before making odd movements individually?" she shakes her head, "The pushing the rope across would be great Wyri." she calls
Ruin waits, at this point. The suggestions have been made, so it's probable he's waiting for a decision.
"Alright, alright, hold your horses. No hurry, right?" Wyri reaches out with an olive tinged hand and his eyes once again glow perhaps a touch brighter then normal as the Aukami attempts to reach out telekinetically to uncoil/push the rope towards his team.
The rope comes swinging down out of its lofty perch and swings enough that if someone is paying attention, they can grab hold of it. "Across we go." Ricky says, motioning for someone else to take the rope.
Vessa Harden makes the attempt to grab the rope, "Might as well give it a go I suppose."
"Have at it." Everett says, peering down into the pit to look for his knife before shrugging, "I'll get it back later, I suppose. Not like it broke or nothin'."
Ruin reaches forward to take the rope, then, giving it a hard tug to make sure it's not going to snap and drop him halfway across. If it's good, he'll go after Vessa.
The Aukami looks quite pleased with himself. Quite pleased indeed. But his work isn't done yet. Wyri takes a step towards the edge of the pit, looking down at where the knife had fallen. "Well.. we can but try." He tells himself, reaching out for the third time today with his telekinetic powers to retrieve the knife.
Vessa Harden gives the rope a pull herself and makes sure to put her weight against it here rather then trust it to hold over there. Seeming sound enough she shrugs and says, "Here we go." with a grin then swings across."
Ricky stands to the side and lets the group starts crossing the chasm. He turns to watch the way they came in case of ambush or some other trickery.
Everett collects his knife and waits for Vessa to send the rope back his way, muttering something about dime theater antics in the process as he slings his paint-rifle across his back.
Ruin swings across after Vessa, and then ties the bottom of the rope into a knot to give it a bit more weight and support to swing it back to the others.
Wyri stands out of the way, looking ahead lest another danger present itself. Vessa Harden waits for the others to swing over, "Thanks for getting the rope and stuff Wyri," she smiles then begins looking for danger herself.
Down the hallway the group goes and come to an intersection. Left or right?
After landing, Ricky starts to follow along at the back of the group. When the team arrives at the intersection, he calls from the back, "Left." Why he chooses left is anyone's guess.
"No opinion." Everett says, unslinging his rifle ane leaning it back over his shoulder, "Whichever way anybody else wants to go. Could split up. Would rather not." the cowboy also takes a moment to strap the bowie knife back to his ankle, testing to make sure it's on securely.
"I like left." Wyri says to no one in particular. He takes his place after Everett, one hand on his cane, the other tucked in a pocket. "You're most welcome." The Aukami replies to Vessa, offering a thin smile on his scarred face.
Ruin follows Ricky along the left hand path. On his PDA, he taps guesstimated distances in, creating a map as he goes.
Vessa Harden nods and shrugs, "Is there any way to tell what is in either direction with electronics or your psychic abilities Wyri?"
Ricky hears Vessa's question, and then says, "Yeah, any way to read Katrin's mind to figure out the shortest or quickest path to her from here?"
There's apparently an intercom system. "That's cheating," Katrin's voice protests. "None of that."
"Oh, right, thanks." Everett says to Wyri before returning to his usual state of perpetual confusion, "Y'all can do that?" the cowboy scratches his head and says, "okay, so that's out... Hm..."
"Even a telepath would have a rough time in Katrin's mind." Wyri replies with a grin. "I could levitate my way out of the maze, perhaps. But would I risk a paintball to the head?" He glances across to Everett. "Not a problem, glad I can be of at least /some/ assistance today."
Vessa Harden nods then looks both directions, "In that case, since our maiden in distress has put the kabosh on using the easy way, left works for me."
"C'mon, c'mon the clock's ticking." Ricky says, starting to move towards the front of the group. Apparently leading from the back does not work for him.
Apparently the group is going left. As they progress down the hall, they come face to face with barriers and along this way are men shooting paintballs at them at a rapid pace.
Ruin slands a look toward Wyri. "It's usually considered impolite to mentally assault your employer simply because you have trust issues," he says mildly. It's pure luck that a paintball whizzes past his ear instead of catching him in the face, and he drops to the ground. "Over to you, gun-toters."
Everett dives for cover behind a barrier and takes aim with his rifle for a moment before pulling the trigger, barely keeping his head out of cover long enough to take a shot at the furthest bad guy he can see.
With another raise of his eyebrow, Wyri decides he doesn't need to dash for cover. No, the Aukami makes his own cover. With a motion of his hand a force wall is erected around the tall and slender being, paintballs hit it and splatter against it harmlessly. "What's that?" He calls back to Ruin. "I could hear above your nearly being shot."
Vessa Harden dodges in the opposite direction to Everett and does much the same, she pulls both of the paing-pistols and choosing carefully, she sqeezes off a shot each.
And Ricky moving to the front seems to have been a Bad Idea. He watches a paintball whiz past him, and then quickly drops into a crouch. The man returns fire, not aiming all too well and simply just trying to get into a position where he might not be such a large target.
The paint flying across the empty space is lessening considerably. Only one person left.
Shot one was successful, a quick work of the action later, Everett aims for the remaining mook and squeezes the trigger. Apparently he's done this before, or at least something similar.
Fifteen minutes left.
Wyri takes a bit of a look around. All the bad guys appear to be 'dead'. He lowers his force wall. "I think that went quite well. My contribution, once again, was amazing. Still, can't spend all day lolly gagging about." And with that, he starts limping off further into the maze. Slowly mind, so the others get a chance to catch up.
Vessa Harden snorts in amusement at Wyri, makeing sure to check to see if there are any surprise attachers she follows along after Wyri.
Victory! From the jaws of defeat no less! Ricky straightens up, having done his part, and then starts to walk on down the hallway, looking over his shoulder and saying, "Let's pick it up a bit."
Ruin gets up as the guns stop firing, and now that the mooks are paintballed, tags along.
The group is taken once again down the hall and they take a left turn only to find a large tower now blocking their way. There are a few ropes and a hard surface that it looks like they have to get up. Unfortunately, there are also more people positioned at the top of the tower and firing down. They have the real advantage here of both height and better cover fire. But at least there are only two of them this time.
Everett Grunts as his arm gets splatered with a paintball and switches his arm over, ducking behind a barrier and using it as a brace for his rifle as he aims up at the enemies on the tower, not firing yet.
This time, Ruin is ready. Or perhaps he heard the sound of gunfire before seeing it. The speed with which the glowing Lunite takes cover would make a rabbit blush. Vessa Harden does a rolling controlled tumble behind a barrier. Drawing both of the paint pistols again she takes aim and squeezes off from each
"Medic!" Wyri calls, then blinks. "Hang about, I'm a medic. Let's get that paint splatter looked at." He limps across to Everett, ready to deflect further paintballs if necessary. "Oh yes, that's a nasty hit there. We may have to amputate. Ricky! Hold him down. I don't have a saw, but lucky for you my pyrokinesis can cauterise the wound."
Not a medic, is Ricky. He glances over at Wyri as he calls for the aid and grumbles, "It's just a flesh wound. We'll wrap it up after we clear this obstacle." He then turns back towards the current problem, and squeezes off a shot at the last man shooting at the group.
"I'm going to have them start aiming at your head, Wyri," comes Katrin's voice of the intercom. "It makes for a big enough target."
Everett pulls the trigger, hoping to actually hit the other shooter, despite not having proper use of his primary arm, "Very funny..." he says to Wyri after taking his shot and ducking down again.
Ten minutes left.
Vessa Harden doesn't miss a beat and squeezes off a shot from each of her pistols again to get the annoying little gnat who just will-not-die!. "Down you go."
"It's important to keep one's head!" Wyri replies, watching Vessa take out the second shooter. He glances back towards Ricky and Everett. "I'd be careful of that one, she'll have your job if you're not lucky." He grins. "Well, now that they're taken care of, time to ascend." And with a slight flare in his glowing blue eyes, Wyri attempts to do just that. Telekinetically, of course, with levitation. Ropes are for people who aren't psionic.
Ruin gets up once the guns have stopped, as he did before, and sets about following in his mundane non=psionic manner.
Ricky mutters quietly, "Gonna have to buy a psi-blocker...." as he starts towards the ropes and incline. He looks at the problem, and then says, "Looks like we just climb up it?"
Everett grunts and tears a strip from the bottom of his jeans with his bowie knife, tying it around his "injured" arm before climbing over the tower to the best of his (admittedly not particularly great) ability.
Vessa Harden wanders over, puts the pistols away, and tries to climb up an available rope, "This will be interesting." she mutters.
Wyri's feet land on top of the tower. He leans on his cane slightly, watching people falling beneath him. "Not very good at it, down there, are you? Hang on. I'm going to try and haul one of you up!" Waiting for no objects on their side, the Aukami's eyes glow brighter, yet again, and he attempts to pull Ruin up the tower.
Ricky gets a little ways up the obstacle, before one foot slips and then his second, and then, he's tumbling back down towards the ground. The man does a decent roll over, but, is obviously not making it up the incline any time soon.
Ruin gives a shot at climbing - but. Scrawny, space-bred, indoorsy people do not usually spend their days practicing their chin-ups. He falls, to get briefly caught by Wyri and then let go again. This time, ha lands on the ground with a thump and a wince. "You realize the coffee is looking very inviting about now."
Everett makes it up to the top of the tower and sighs, peering down at the remaininder of the team, "Y'all ain't never lifted so much as a sack o' feed, I can tell that." he calls down, scouting for enemies on the path ahead with his rifle. "Reckon you can get 'em up if I scout on ahead? Ain't guranteein' I won't get shot to death" he says to Wyri while he searches with his rifle while he has the high-ground.
Vessa Harden actually makes it up a little ways, a very little ways before her hand slips and she slides down to the ground again with a curse and gratitude for the gloves she us currently wearing
"You're all supposed to support and help each other," Katrin encourages from her lofty position. "This is the last obstacle and you all must make it over or this is a failed mission. And you have... five minutes left."
"Saints! But you are heavy!" Wyri calls down to Ruin, frowning deeply. "Sorry down there! I'm going to try again, okay? Okay!" And that's exactly what the Aukami does. No time for second guessing!
"Just grab onto the rope and climb if ya' can, I'm gonna try helpin' ya up up here!" Everett calls down to Vessa as he grabs hold of the rope, "Should be pretty quick!" Ruin calls back up, "It's the workbelt," as Wyri levitates him. "Silly me for thinking she'd want an engineer on this trip, you know? Thanks for the lift."
Ricky pulls himself up slowly, walks back to the rope, and then takes it up again. He gives the incline a determined look, and attempts to climb the obstacle again.
Vessa Harden nods and grabs the rope, trying to haul herself up again, "I will help Everett pull you up when I get up there Ricky"
"Only by the grace of my psionics have I been any aid, friend." Wyri tells Ruin as he sets the engineer down atop the tower. "I fancy I'd be handy with a medkit, if I had the forethought to bring one." He adds, on a slightly more serious note. The Aukami glances down towards Ricky. "Never fear!" He calls, attempting to levitate his captain. The stakes have never been so high!
Three minute warning!
"Just grab onto the rope and don't let go, we'll PULL your ass up!" Everett calls down to the captain he doesn't know, grabbing hold of the rope again, "Alright, everybody help out here..."
Ricky gets posed up by the girl. Says no more about it.
"Alrigh'." Everett says, grabbing hold of the rope and climbs down rather easily, jumping down at about seven feet up and dusting himself off, "Just lettin' ya' know, if you fall on your asses on the way down, I ain't catchin' ya!"
Vessa Harden shoots up to the top with ease and immediately turns around to help pull up Ricky. Once he is up she turns around and gets ready for the next task."
Ruin touches down at the top of the barrier with Wyri's help, then hops down to the ground. "I think we killed the captain. Anyone mind very much?"
Wyri might as well be walking down stairs as he descends to the base of the tower. He holds his cane to one side as he slowly floats down after Everett. "You know, I could be Captain."
Two minute warning. You better start running.
Ruin is...not running. He's got a fairly quick stride, being long-legged for a human, but a man with an inhaler is not, apparently, going to give himself an asthma attack for a test run.
Vessa Harden makes the attempt to climb down herself trying not to fall on her face. "Gah, steep." not the most graceful but at least not face first.
Ricky is sputtering. Two attempts up the wall and all this equipment seems to be wearing on the former soldier. His cheeks are red and he's puffing along as best he can. He's not fast, and he grumbles, "PT...every......day."
Time being of the essence, Wyri doesn't even hit the ground. Instead, seeing as his limp would slow him down, he continues to float along. The Aukami spots Ricky and with a, "Quit your lolly gagging!" Picks him telekinetically and floats the man along after him. He can't do much for Ruin. He's not Vessa, after all.
Everett darts around one last corner and, with the end in sight, stops and wheezes for a bit. It's almost as though a chain-smoking cowboy might actually have some sort of limit, but hey, he's made it at least, provided nothing horrible is waiting for them.
Vessa Harden begins hurrying and seeing a corner jogs around it while motioning the others to hurry, "Come on, we do not want to fail!"
Katrin stands at the end of the run, looking amused. "You know... I worry a bit that you all might actually let me die," she says teasingly. "But for a first attempt together, very good job. The more you work together, the better it will be. I consider this a success. You have all undoubtably noticed your own weaknesses and I hope that you will work on them. If you require anything from me, then you need only ask."