Prelude (Part C) - Fort Ohm, Orientation

Monte looks at Coppertop 5, disgusted that he has to answer to the robot.

"Gods be damned to you, you pile of junk. The name's Colter... Monte Colter. Aged Forty-two years. From the Montana Territories.

"I'm joinin' the Corps 'cuz I want every last one o' you buckets outta my trappin' territory an all the land between here and there, so's I c'n get back to plyin' my trade.

"No famly or kin that's any o' yer concern...

"My health is my own business, if tha's whatch'er askin', but I'm fit.

"I'm a trapper and a fur trader. I'm familiar with the unciv'lized lands, and how to survive and make a livin' offa 'em.

"I fought with an outfit durin' the Robot Wars. Beat you bastards back to the Mississippi and was posted to hold the line 'till we come to this standstill."

With that, he spits at the feet of Coppertop 5, now in an even surlier disposition than usual at the indignity of having to answer a robot's invasive questions, walks to the left side of the room, and stands with his back facing the wall next to the left row of pews, able to see the front of the room and the door behind from which he entered.

"Vivian Dazzlin Diamond, but you will find more papers on Vivian Hanlen."

"Great state of the Lone Star, Texas, I wan't to join so I can avenge some fallen friends and because I think I can make a difference. I have family my mother Emma and father Daniel, I have a little brother Victor. I ain't got no health problems least none Im aware of."

"As for what I bring, well Im a good rider, a good shot with most irons and I know how to fight.

Doc Murph makes his way to the Conference room after he finishes up at the armory.

"My, my Coppertop. They've certainly got you working hard, huh?" Doc takes the questionnaire from coppertop and sits down, producing a fountain pen from the inside pocket of his coat, and starting on the questionnaire:

1) Dr. Gregory Murphy, 37, Indianapolis, Indiana
2) I've come to help tame the west in the name of the glorious United States of America, and to test my application of Mr. Tesla's fine technology for broad application in the fight against the robot menace!
3) My mother and father have sadly passed. I've been told there is a half sister from my father's side on the East coast, but am not acquainted. I am a bachelor who has fathered no children.
4) I suffer from anemia which I manage with daily calisthenics and a healthy diet of red meat.
5) I am an experienced physician and dabble with the technologies developed by Mr. Tesla. I've developed and brought devices that apply his technology in ways that will be useful in bringing the robot menace to heel! I've spent months training myself physically and have developed some aptitude with firearms to be able to defend myself in the untamed western reaches of the rightful territories of the United States.
6) I've read many stories of their incursions upon civilized lands, and the tales of the heroes who have held them at bay, but hold no direct experience with this metal menace.

Doc stands and hands the questionnaire to Coppertop. "Much obliged, my good Cog. Please deliver this to whichever authority it belongs. I'll show myself to a desk." He says, making his way to a desk.

Collie had just used the little time they had to stroll around the fort before heading to the Conference Room. She is delighted to find Coppertop there but forces herself to restrain her enthusiasm.
She sits down in front of him and as she is answering his questions, watches every movement of the machine eagerly as if trying to understand everything about how he works just by observing him.
"The name is Nicolette Welles, Collie for short. Write down Collie. Like the dog. And don't you know it isn't nice to ask a lady her age? But if you have to know, 319 months, plus a couple of days. I'm from the east. Not far enough east that I'd have to swim to get here but almost."
"Because I've heard you lot need technology of the best kind. And how could you get that without a Welles in your corps?"
"It's just me and my dad, Nicholas Welles. And before you complain, he had that name before your Tesla fellow. And my dad spells it right."
"I managed to break my kneecap as a little girl. It's a fun story, maybe I'll tell you one of these days. Anyway, it never quite went back to normal. Dad made me a leg brace that helps with walking. I might be a bit slower on my legs than most people but at least I'm quick in the head, where it counts."
"What kind of question is that? You're talking to probably the most amazing engineer of my generation. Don't know how you people managed to survive so long without me."
"I've heard stories but we don't really have them back home. Haven't had a chance to see a live one yet but my dad had me inspect a broken one that he got smuggled east. Fascinating piece of machinery."

Before arriving at the conference room Roland spends some time going over his belongings and relieving his thoughts to his silent companion. "Oh I don't know Oliver. Some of these folks are a bit prickly, some of them a bit jumpy, most of them just as lost as the next. Who knows what'll come of it all. Oliver chimes in, perhaps with an unaware yet perfect timing.

"MEOW"

Roland stops and takes a moment to consider. "Yeah I guess you're right. None of these folks recognize my face and not a soul seems to speak that Southern talk the ways I do."

"Meow"

At least none of these folks seem the type to carry an excess of rope. I ain't never letting these white folks get that chance again." Oliver seems to have occupied his attention with a rather fascinating ball of dust and Roland sees this as a sign that he best get moving.

Roland arrives at the Conference room and proceeds to comply with Ol Coppertops Questionnaire.
The name is Roland P. Stubbs... He considers who might have a chance to review these documents a moment before adding. "Uhh but you can just mark down Fin. 28 years old and I'm from a ways down south. I'd prefer if we left out specifics if that cottons with you metalhead."
"I ain't one for big brains and all that technical mumbo jumbo but I got a lotta heart and even more muscle. I'm joining up to head west, fight the good fight. I'm a soldier when it comes down to it so's if y'all need me to bust open a couple overgrown toasters.." He gives Coppertop a look. "No offense. Alls I'm saying is if it takes a bit of throwdown to get out there then count me in.
"...no..."
Not a one! Healthy as an Ox!... Well a healthy one... I never got that saying...
"You must not be listening haha. What do I bring?" He proceeds to attempt to grab and lift Coppertop in the air as if he is doing a standing bench press lift. "245 lbs of pure muscle fella.""None so much as I expect to see out there."

One of Doc's eyebrows arches up at the Captain's introduction I imagine we've all read the papers. He thinks to himself, We know the folks who've gone missing out there. Plenty of tough nuts have been cracked across the river. He waits for the captain to finish and stands up.

Doc walks up to the leuitenant, stands at attention and gives him a sharp salute before taking his requisition billet. "Much obliged leuitenant." He reads through the form, checking to see what will be included in his requisition as he heads for the door to wait for the rest of the recruits before heading off to the armory.

Vivian collects her requisition form then salutes like Doc.

"Come on Doc, let's see what they have for us."

Monte grabs his and follows.

As Collie takes the form and follows the others, she comments: "Don't these people know to keep the best for last? If I already get all my toys to play with, what's there to look forward to during the training?"

1) Name, Age, Home location?

"John Gregory, from New Orleans, Lousiana. I'm 36, if'n it's any of your business."

2) Why did you decide to volunteer for the Tesla Ranger corps?

"You needed people, here I am. Muh daddy was a Ranger."

3) Do you have any immediate family (i.e. brothers, sisters, mother, father)?

"Muh father is dead, and I send money to my mother every month. No other relatives of which I am aware."

4) Do you have any medical conditions of concern?

"Nope."

5) What talents do you bring to the corps?

"I kin shoot, I kin ride, and I'm meaner than a Texas polecat."

6) Have you had any direct encounters with the enemy robots?

"Not unless you're one of 'em."

John follows the others, after collecting his paperwork. "Some things never change, eh? Hurry up and wait." He speaks to no one in particular.