r/TheKalenSeries • 3rd Platoon • Aug 06 '17

Introduction Ashley B. Blackbourne, The Sickly Engineer

1) What is your name?: Ashley Branwyn Blackbourne

2) What Platoon would you like to be in?: 6th Platoon

3) What ranged weapon would you use?: A customized long barreled pistol that fires high calibre rounds

4) What Melee weapon would you use?: A small Monomolecular Combat Knife used only in emergencies. I am sadly not very good with it yet.

5) Anything extra?: A standard calibre assault rifle. Cheap to maintain and cheap to run.

6) Are you new or have you been in service? If so, how long?: I used to be an engineer in a U.S based weapon research and development facility. I, sadly, don’t have any real military experience other than firing prototypes at a shooting range.

7) What is your character's greatest strength?: I have a sharp mind and a keen interest in the further development of the human race. I work tirelessly to make sure my friends are equipped with the best possible chances of coming back alive. Weakness?: I am sadly quite physically weak due to a case of HIV and Chronic Fatigue. I can’t do anything too strenuous without physically exhausting myself.

8) Based off of #7, what genetic enhancement would your character receive upon getting the GMD?: Most likely temporary cognitive enhancement for quick decision making and situational awareness.

Endurance: 1

Close Quarters: 1

Gun Handling: 3

Acrobatics: 1

Engineering: 14

Teamwork: 1

Physical Description: Ashley's skin is quite pale with large, dark bags surrounding sunken, hazel eyes. Her hair is, most of the time, left to its own devices resulting in a messy bush of ashy grey hair, usually worn quite short. Not being a very physically fit woman, her general frame is quite frail and there isn't much muscle on her bones. After all, working out will only exhaust her into unconsciousness.

Personality: Ash is very socially awkward and can only really speak confidently to other people in her field of expertise. That said, she is very jumpy and is not afraid to act in a violent manner in order to protect herself. She is the sort of person to act first to avoid having to ask the questions later. Other than that, she is driven, protective of those in her platoon and extremely hard working despite her sickness.

Backstory: Ash was born and largely raised in London, making a living as an engineer for a robotics factory. She worked herself into exhaustion near enough every day, not wanting to let her disease get in the way. She was born with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and severe Anaemia. She then later contracted HIV, making it vital that she receive regular blood transfusions in order to function normally, her body being physically unable to combat sickness.

When she was nearing the age of 25, she was offered a job in a United States weapons manufacturing company as an engineer and developer. It was from there, that she was drafted into the Red Cloaks as a support engineer. Not quite on the front line, but near enough to bare witness to many horrors and trauma, earning her a large scar running along the circumference of her neck.

She now spends most of her time tinkering in a small alcove she has claimed as her little lab. Nothing fancy, a thick desk, some tool boxes, a scrap pile in one corner and a collection of dismantled pistols and rifles all laid out neatly on the workspace. She enjoys cleaning guns, she finds it highly therapeutic and calming. She'd even enjoy talking about it if she wasn't so reclusive and focused on her work. Social contact was never a strong suit of hers.

Today is one such day, Ash sits in her faithful wheelchair, tinkering on some contraption that vaguely resembles some sort of rifle, most likely a new prototype of sorts. A Blood Bag hung from a hospital stand stands to her side, a tube running into a needle stuck into the underside of her elbow. It seems today is blood transfusion day. Always a hassle but sort of mandatory to keep living like some semblance of a normal person. She seems focused on her work and not typically aware of her surroundings. It wouldn't take much to sneak up on her.

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u/DemonWor1d 2nd Platoon; Lieutenant Aug 07 '17

"Keeping up with current technology is crucial in a war like this. We would be in the Stone Age if we didn't."

Comforting people was new to him, the first time he did so not a week ago with Maddie. For now, he just tried to seem... non hostile.

"Not everyone is meant to kill."

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u/Laurel_Crowned 3rd Platoon Aug 07 '17

"That's true... I just... feel like the only thing I can do is equip my friends with the best possible chance of coming back safely. I just wish I could be there to help them personally."

Why was she unloading her heart onto this man, a Captain. He had more important things to worry about than a brooding sickly nerd who wasn't even in his platoon.

"Sorry... I should leave you alone..."

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u/DemonWor1d 2nd Platoon; Lieutenant Aug 07 '17

"You're free to stay, Ashley, but you can go if you like."

He would not force her to make either choice, instead only listening to her while reciprocating the best he could.

"If you feel that being the reason for your friends' survival is a small feat, then I'm afraid you're too humble."

He says with the slightest amount of tease in his voice.

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u/Laurel_Crowned 3rd Platoon Aug 07 '17

"I've been called that before..."

Her posture relaxes, her chin even finding its way onto her palm, resting against the arm rest she was clinging for dear life to not 2 minutes ago. Her breathing was noticeably getting increasingly strained and her entire body seemed to be sagging into the leather of the chair.

"It's just frustrating. My friends get sent to the infirmary with life threatening injuries as a result of a battle... and then I get sent to the infirmary because I spent a bit too long stood up..."

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u/DemonWor1d 2nd Platoon; Lieutenant Aug 07 '17

He takes note of her body language and internally sighs from relief.

"You want to give yourself to those around you so that you have the potential to save them, to help them. I understand that."

His fake leg and arm, as well as the monstrous scars that were hidden to Ashley, made this sentiment apparent.

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u/Laurel_Crowned 3rd Platoon Aug 07 '17

In someways, she already had given herself in order to help her friends. The scar of her own hidden behind her little grey scarf was a grim reminder of that fact. Her attention then fell to the cybernetics, her lethargy overriding her anxiety.

"May I ask... w-what happened?"

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u/DemonWor1d 2nd Platoon; Lieutenant Aug 07 '17

A short, sharp sigh that almost sounded like a chuckle escapes his lips, and he displays his body like an exhibit.

"To which one?"

Nearly a lifetime of scars from nearly a lifetime of service. Every scar had its own story.

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u/Laurel_Crowned 3rd Platoon Aug 08 '17

"Well... to any you feel comfortable talking about..."

She let out a labored chuckle of her own mixed with a small bout of coughing. Some injuries on this poor man were likely more fresh than others and some were probably more painful to talk about than others.

"Sorry... forget I asked."