001 Shot Fired [text; action for Rocket Base]

[shest]

I'm going to list a series of words.

If they are at all familiar to you please respond otherwise dismiss this.

Cold War
Spetsnaz
Lyndon B. Johnson
Nikita Khrushchev
Tselinoyarsk

[About an hour later on the Rocket frequency:]

My name is Adamska. Code name Ocelot. Call me either. I'm a GRU Major if that means anything to any of you.

I would like to speak with whomever is in charge here.

Comments

[text; private]

[shest]

Whatever the Nazis had at their disposal, I'd imagine.

I don't know anything about who they had working for them, however. The Cobras aren't a group who will ever be in the history books and the same goes for their enemies.

[text; private]

[enjoymyatelier]

I'm sure that was something. There are rumors that there were some particularly bizarre magical families allied with the Nazis and the Allies in my world, but I've never particularly cared for that sort of thing.

They would have been working in the shadows from the perspective of the average person, certainly... but at least someone would have remembered them. I've never liked the idea of oblivion, myself.

[text; private]

[shest]

I believe The Joy will be remembered, but unfortunately she defected to the Soviet Union. She won't be remembered kindly if the public wants to remember her at all in the years to come.

I can't say I relate because oblivion isn't something I particularly fear, myself. It's one of those things I signed up knowing was a possibility.

[It's a complete and utterly lie but he also isn't going to talk about the whole elaborate mission that ended in her murder which it's still fresh on his mind.

Though the whole "I don't fear being forgotten" thing is true, at least partially.]

[text; private]

[enjoymyatelier]

...ah, well that's unfortunate. I can't really say that notoriety is nearly as bad as oblivion, but it's close.

Of course, that's probably more necessary for me than you. It's not meant as an insult; it's simply how magic functions.

[text; private]

[shest]

It happens.

So how does magic function? I'm still not sure I entirely understand.

[text; private]

[enjoymyatelier]

Well, it is a bit difficult to explain to people who haven't been raised on it from birth... but I've done it a few times while I've been here.

Basically, humans who are capable of magic have what are called magic circuits. Think of them like a sort of secondary nervous system, I suppose. Those allow us to use magical energy, Prana, as we see fit --- either directly from our magic circuits or conduits that can store Prana for later use.

That's the base explanation for it, of course... and the majority of us would say that most of the magic that can be performed through that method is not "true" magic. The technical term for it is Magecraft, but it's simpler to refer to it as magic when explaining it to people from other backgrounds.

[text; private]

[shest]

[It's true that Ocelot doesn't really understand magic, but at least it makes some sort of sense, having it be something that a person is innately born with.]

I see.

There's no equivalent for me, but I believe I get the gist of it now.

: [text; private]

[enjoymyatelier]

That's the most basic explanation, of course. It's really far more complicated than that... but it is a science, after all.

[text; private]

[shest]

Of course.

I only wish I could see it in action.

[text; private]

[enjoymyatelier]

Well, as I said, you might... but that's really quite conditional, unfortunately.

[text; private]

[shest]

If you ever find yourself suddenly having reacquired the skill, contact me.

I'm interested in seeing it in action.

[text; private]

[enjoymyatelier]

Oh, I will, don't worry. I get to use it so rarely nowadays that I rather enjoy getting to let loose when possible.

[text; private]

[shest]

I look forward to it.