Industrial Arts, Tuesday

[not_a_whiner]

"Good morning," Kaidan greeted the students as they piled into the Danger Shop. It had been set up much like a regular shop class, with working benches for everyone to sit at, tools hanging off the walls and several machines of varying types sitting in the open spaces. "Welcome to Industrial Arts. For those of you who haven't met me, I am Lieutenant Commander Kaidan Alenko. You can call me by my rank, or you can call me Professor - whatever you're comfortable with."

But he was enough of a stickler for authority that he wasn't going to immediately offer up Kaidan. Not that he'd call anyone out for using it, but... no.

"We won't be using any of these machines today," he added, "First I'd like to get an impression of who you all are and how much experience you've got. That way, none of you are going to have to sit around bored by me plowing through basics you already know. It also means I can get a feeling for how much you know about safety regulations."

He pointed at a sheet of paper hanging on the wall. "I know this is the Danger Shop, but that doesn't mean safety isn't important. In the future, you might work with the real stuff, and then there's nothing that'll keep you from losing a finger. So: no shoving or horseplay during class. Don't wear long or loose clothing or jewelry while you're in class - that's an easy path to an accident. And always pay attention to the instructions before you use anything. I don't care if you think you've got it all figured out - do."

He patted a stack of laminates next to him. "I'll be handing these out in a minute. Safety regs for all the machines," he said. "I don't have any TAs yet, so if any of you are interested, come talk to me." ...The segue made sense in his head. "Okay. That's the, uh, stick in the mud stuff. Here's what we're going to be doing."

"I'm going to divide the time we have up into blocks of three weeks. Every three weeks, we spend time on something else, be it woodworking or auto repair. While all this is going on... you work on your own project." He smiled briefly. "See, at the end of the road, there's not going to be a final - you're going to be facing off against each other. I want each of you to find a partner and spend the next thirteen weeks working on a battle robot of your own design. The last week... well, we see who survives. We're an uneven class, so one of you can do it on their own - or with my help. Your choice."

He cleared his throat. "Okay, so much for class plans," he said, "Now I'd like each of you to let me know your name, how much experience you've got with engineering, and... something you'd like to build before you die."

Comments

Sign In!

[not_a_whiner]

'Cuz you can.

Re: Sign In!

[hasadestiny]

Lex Luthor

Re: Sign In!

[faithandscience.livejournal.com]

William Murdoch

Listen to the Lecture

[not_a_whiner]

It's week one! Try not to fall asleep.

Introductions

[not_a_whiner]

The staple of week one. Name, experience, and one thing you'd like to build in your lifetime.

Re: Introductions

[faithandscience.livejournal.com]

"William Murdoch, I've been working at the repair shop in town almost as long as I've been here, where I keep myself busy building versions of modern conveniences that would work with my time's level of technology," he smiled, "and I'd like to build a flying machine."

No, he didn't believe in aiming low- apparently, somewhat literally- at all, why do you ask?

Re: Introductions

[not_a_whiner]

"What is your time's level of technology, exactly?" Kaidan said.

Because, well. That might mean the kid had some skills.

Re: Introductions

[justbeingbay]

Bay had spent the lecture twisting her hair up into a safety-first bun, grateful to have a form of fidgeting that didn't look like fidgeting. She really should have read the class description more thoroughly.

"Hi, I'm Bay Kennish," she said. "I've done some sculpture and made stencils and stuff. So, um ... how hard are you going to laugh if I tell you I'm only here because it was the only class with arts in the name?"

Re: Introductions

[not_a_whiner]

Kaidan offered her a wry smile. "Next time, you might want to go through the class description," he offered. "Not that I'm not glad to have you around, but... some of the classes around here can be kind of special."

Re: Introductions

[walkswithcoyote]

"My name's Mercy Thompson. I've done some rebuilding of cars back home and I kind of think it might be cool to build a car from the ground up sometime."

Re: Introductions

[craftyladyparts.livejournal.com]

"I'm Jessica Drew and I've been working at Stark Industries in town for the past several months in addition to tinkering on my own for as long as I can remember," Jessica said. "And I'd like to build a jetpack sometime."

Re: Introductions

[upmysleeve.livejournal.com]

"Ace McShane, I mostly build explosive devices but there was that drone remote in robotics, and .... better explosive devices?"

Points for consistency, right?

Re: Introductions

[dollpocalypse]

"Topher Brink, my experience is varied and mostly just really impressive, promise, and I think I want to try out one of those dentist chairs. But with lasers. Or something else cool."

Oh. Oh, Topher. Oh dear.

Re: Introductions

[makemyownway.livejournal.com]

"I'm Cade, I work at the shop in town along with, apparently, half the class, and I like to tinker. My uncle makes weapons and starships in his spare time--I'd like to combine those and make a ship with a really advanced weapons system," Cade said.

Re: Introductions

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

"Tony Stark," he said with a quick grin. "Uh, back home the name is usually associated with technological innovations from either me or my dad. Well, I had this idea for a cell phone that is part of the body."

No, Tony. Tony no.

Re: Introductions

[nonelikemesince.livejournal.com]

Anakin let out a tiny, tiny little exasperated sigh. Just because he was used to the introductions by now, and just because he only had to do two of them, it didn't mean he enjoyed them. But oh well.

"Anakin Solo," he said, and give him some credit for not sounding too petulant about that? Maybe? "I've been building things since I was really little. Droids, starships, other things. Jaina's better than me at the actual mechanics," he was quick to add, "but I'm really good at programming."

Which apparently included getting semi-sentient machinery to do what he wanted, but certain sore spots didn't need to be brought up, right?

"I'm working on an astromech right now," he added with no small amount of pride. Because Fiver was totally going to be better than Rowdy, so there, Jaina.

Re: Introductions

[hasadestiny]

"Lex Luthor, I'm a bit more of a find new uses for gadgets than build them from scratch guy, and I'd like to build a legacy." Sorry, Kaidan, someone was a little punchy from Josh's class still. "...I mean things that'll help people."

Re: Introductions

[monkeymonkeydie.livejournal.com]

Bucky stood on his desk with his paws on his hips. "Safety rules are for babies and wussies," he declared. "My name is Bucky Katt, and I've built all kinds of awesome things, like... um. I can't remember, now. But they were really cool at the time. I'm really good with hammerers and nailers, and... that thing you use to saw with, and cardboard, and tape. Duct tape builds anything. Mostly, I'm an artist in found-object design, like taking things around the house and making them better."

He preened a little, and then gave the final question some thought. "Before I die, I'd like to build... um... a global empire. Yeah."

Re: Introductions

[notagoose]

"Shane Gooseman," Goose said. "I've had basic instruction back home but I haven't had that much experience," he paused, "I'd like to build my own spaceship one day,"

Pick a Partner

[not_a_whiner]

Who could best fit your battlebot style?

Re: Pick a Partner

[walkswithcoyote]

Mercy looked around for someone who might be willing to partner up for the thirteen weeks.

Re: Pick a Partner

[dollpocalypse]

"Someone who'd like their robot to include lasers, come talk to me," Topher said loudly. Then more quietly, by way of explanation, he added, "I'm really good at lasers."

Re: Pick a Partner

[monkeymonkeydie.livejournal.com]

"Whoever wants the full battlebot Bucksperience, raise your paw!!!"


(...That is, so long as you don't mind either a) doing all the work while Bucky yells at you for doing it wrong, or b) not having an actual functional battlebot. Left to his own devices, Bucky would probably end up "building" a Roomba with a knife duct-taped to the top.)

Talk to Kaidan

[not_a_whiner]

If you want to volunteer for TA'ing duty, or... anything else.

OOC

[not_a_whiner]

Yay, week one!