http://on-her-korhal.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] on-her-korhal.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2007-09-12 09:46 am
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Alternative Tactics, Wednesday Period One 12/09

Today, class was in an actual classroom. Kerrigan was probably going to glare at you if you had a problem with that, though.

"Last week, you all got a taste, not only of the sim, but of the unpredictability of the battlefield. You can't go into dangerous territory, especially not alone, expecting to be safe just because you carry arms - some of you were already aware of that. Now all of you are. Vigilance, teamwork, stealth: these are the qualities you need to acquire.

That's not a matter of theory. The first two, we'll work on throughout this course through practical exercises, because I could stand here talking till I was blue in the face and you'd probably still be rolling your eyes until the bad guys came up and bit you in the butt. The third is what you're getting a small peek at today."

"Stealth is the art of being where no one expects you to be - to be, in whatever capacity, completely invisible. In small numbers, stealth is our greatest ally. The tactical advantages are vast. An ambush, a retreat, all of it requires that we understand stealth - and when to use it. Next week, we'll put this into practice in the sim environment. This week, I'd like to talk to you about the options."

She indicated the large screen beside her. "Technology works," she said, "As you'll see in the video demonstration here. Depending on the level of tech in your time period, there'll be opportunity for personal cloaking, radar shielding, or good old fashioned walls. The most important lesson you can learn up front is to know what you're working with, both in terms of technology and manpower. Kinda obvious, I know, but you don't wanna go rushing into battle with your brain on a platter."

Watching the vids play, she explained personal cloaking, its benefits and drawbacks, and how to use it to quickly and safely take out larger threats while avoiding scanners and watchful infantrymen. "One single, properly trained soldier under a cloak can disable key weapons too dangerous for a visible unit to approach, allowing the regular army to march in and take out everything else. With proper maneuvering, of course. You don't want your G-- stealth units killed because you didn't bother to scout for scanners."

"As you can tell, we'll be working primarily with my era's level of tech during this course, but for your own safety, I'd suggest discussing your own experiences with stealth technology. And keep yourself updated. Scanners, whether it be your eyes or a computer, can do you in every time. These are the basic principles that exist in any century, regardless of technology: if there's a way to avoid it, there's a way to detect it."

"So go on, discuss stuff. You can come to me if you have any particular need for my opinion on your performance last week. You'll be back in the field next week, so enjoy the peace while you can, Lee."

[ wait for the ocd UP!. slightly lame-ish class today so we can storm antiga prime for great justice next week! ]

Re: Discuss Stealth Techniques In Your Era

[identity profile] he-lived.livejournal.com 2007-09-12 01:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Harry looked a bit wary, but replied, "All right. I can cast Disillusionment Charms with it. What about you?"

Re: Discuss Stealth Techniques In Your Era

[identity profile] stupid-toasters.livejournal.com 2007-09-12 01:19 pm (UTC)(link)
"Our ships use cloaking shields and FTL drives," Lee replied.

Re: Discuss Stealth Techniques In Your Era

[identity profile] he-lived.livejournal.com 2007-09-12 01:20 pm (UTC)(link)
"I have no idea what that means," Harry admitted.

Re: Discuss Stealth Techniques In Your Era

[identity profile] stupid-toasters.livejournal.com 2007-09-12 01:28 pm (UTC)(link)
"FTL drives are when the ships in a fleet jump from one set of coordinates to another," he explained. "It's a very, very quick method of travel but it also allows the ships to almost surprise an enemy by just appearing out of nowhere."

Re: Discuss Stealth Techniques In Your Era

[identity profile] he-lived.livejournal.com 2007-09-12 01:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Harry raised an eyebrow, impressed despite himself. "What about when you're not in your ships? How are you stealthy then?"

Re: Discuss Stealth Techniques In Your Era

[identity profile] stupid-toasters.livejournal.com 2007-09-12 01:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"Then, it's a matter of training," Lee told him. "Techniques and strategies on how to move around the enemy, approaches that they wouldn't suspect, and how to disappear into your surroundings."

Re: Discuss Stealth Techniques In Your Era

[identity profile] he-lived.livejournal.com 2007-09-12 01:57 pm (UTC)(link)
"So you simply use camouflage?" Harry asked. "Guerilla tactics?"

Re: Discuss Stealth Techniques In Your Era

[identity profile] stupid-toasters.livejournal.com 2007-09-12 02:00 pm (UTC)(link)
"Spies," Lee added. Not that he'd used these. But he had studied. "That's what my world has to work with."

Re: Discuss Stealth Techniques In Your Era

[identity profile] he-lived.livejournal.com 2007-09-12 02:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Harry nodded. "We do the same, mostly, but with magic."

Re: Discuss Stealth Techniques In Your Era

[identity profile] stupid-toasters.livejournal.com 2007-09-12 02:04 pm (UTC)(link)
"What can your magic do?" Lee asked.

Re: Discuss Stealth Techniques In Your Era

[identity profile] he-lived.livejournal.com 2007-09-12 02:07 pm (UTC)(link)
"Do you know what a chameleon is?" Harry asked after a moment. It was a fair question. Hedwig had confused him, after all. Harry didn't have much confidence in Lee's ability to recognize basic animals.

Re: Discuss Stealth Techniques In Your Era

[identity profile] stupid-toasters.livejournal.com 2007-09-12 02:08 pm (UTC)(link)
"An animal, right?" Lee asked.

Re: Discuss Stealth Techniques In Your Era

[identity profile] he-lived.livejournal.com 2007-09-12 02:10 pm (UTC)(link)
"It's a lizard that can blend in with its surroundings. Like if you put him up against my shirt, his skin'd take on the same pattern. That's what Disillusionment Charms do. You cast them, and then the wizard or the object doesn't turn invisible, exactly, but it blends in perfectly with whatever's behind it."

Re: Discuss Stealth Techniques In Your Era

[identity profile] stupid-toasters.livejournal.com 2007-09-12 02:15 pm (UTC)(link)
"Handy," Lee remarked. "How long does the spell last?"

Re: Discuss Stealth Techniques In Your Era

[identity profile] he-lived.livejournal.com 2007-09-12 02:24 pm (UTC)(link)
"Awhile," Harry replied. "No idea when it starts to wear off, but I wore one for a few hours before it got taken off."

Re: Discuss Stealth Techniques In Your Era

[identity profile] stupid-toasters.livejournal.com 2007-09-12 02:30 pm (UTC)(link)
"Can anyone detect it?"

Re: Discuss Stealth Techniques In Your Era

[identity profile] he-lived.livejournal.com 2007-09-12 02:35 pm (UTC)(link)
"Don't think so. You can see someone with one, you just have to look," he replied. He thought for a second, then fished around and brought out a quill. "Here, I'll show you what I mean."

He struggled to remember the incantation before tapping his wand against the quill.

It slowly began to blend in exactly with the desk, the shape of it still visible.

Re: Discuss Stealth Techniques In Your Era

[identity profile] stupid-toasters.livejournal.com 2007-09-12 02:42 pm (UTC)(link)
"Wow." Lee touched the area where he'd last seen the quill and moved it around. It kept blending. "That's really handy. And no side effects on people?"

Re: Discuss Stealth Techniques In Your Era

[identity profile] he-lived.livejournal.com 2007-09-12 02:44 pm (UTC)(link)
"Not that I know of. Hermione might know," Harry replied thoughtfully. "She knows things like that. I tend to just like to know how to use the magic, not how it works."

Re: Discuss Stealth Techniques In Your Era

[identity profile] stupid-toasters.livejournal.com 2007-09-12 02:47 pm (UTC)(link)
"I haven't met Hermione yet," he said, stumbling over the name. Weird name.

Re: Discuss Stealth Techniques In Your Era

[identity profile] he-lived.livejournal.com 2007-09-12 02:51 pm (UTC)(link)
"She's down the hall from us," he told him. "Maybe she'll even loan you her copy of Hogwarts, a History."

Harry was so helpful.

Re: Discuss Stealth Techniques In Your Era

[identity profile] stupid-toasters.livejournal.com 2007-09-12 02:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"Maybe," he said. "I could go see her."

Re: Discuss Stealth Techniques In Your Era

[identity profile] he-lived.livejournal.com 2007-09-12 03:01 pm (UTC)(link)
"Tell her how you told me to drop the boot on you when you do."

Re: Discuss Stealth Techniques In Your Era

[identity profile] stupid-toasters.livejournal.com 2007-09-12 03:03 pm (UTC)(link)
"Or maybe I'll ask her out to a movie," Lee said, just to test for reaction.