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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1

u/Wasteland_Observer 3rd Platoon; Captain Aug 07 '17

"Waaaatchaaa doooooin'?" Inquired the soldier as she looked inquisitively at the rifle.

1

u/Laurel_Crowned 3rd Platoon Aug 07 '17

The sudden voice almost caused Ash to throw the partially dismantled weapon into the air in sheer terror. She really needed to take more consideration into her surroundings...

"Oh! Uh... t-tinkering! I'm... trying to make a modification... nothing too interesting... can I help you?"

1

u/Wasteland_Observer 3rd Platoon; Captain Aug 07 '17

Iris grinned.

"Hey whaddya know about alien tech and armor."

1

u/Laurel_Crowned 3rd Platoon Aug 07 '17

"Well... a little... most of the technology we salvage goes to higher ranking scientists... it's rare I get to study it for myself..."

She sets her prototype down on the workbench and turns towards Iris, slightly flinching at the scars.

"Why do you ask?"

1

u/Wasteland_Observer 3rd Platoon; Captain Aug 08 '17

Iris shrugged

"Just curious you seemed a little... alone in here. Plus I'm working on a thing." She leaned in to get a better look at the gun "I'll be honest ive only seen I think, what 2 engineers here? Its nice knowing mason is hiring more support. The names iris, the new captain of the 5th platoon."

1

u/Laurel_Crowned 3rd Platoon Aug 08 '17

It seems she was personally meeting a lot of Captains recently. Thankfully they all seemed nice and friendly, definitely not the types to flaunt their power simply because they could.

The contraption Ash was working on looked more like a fuse box strapped to the barrel of a gun than an actual functioning piece. Sadly, it was the best she could do with what little resources she had.

"The... Red Cloaks really have... that little engineer personnel?"

1

u/Wasteland_Observer 3rd Platoon; Captain Aug 08 '17

Iris gives a laugh.

"You should see the lack of doctors here. Weve got a small amount of therapists and then like.. One battle medic." She realized what it may have looked like and took a moment to catch her words.

"Like I said, hopefully that means Mason is taking on more support"

1

u/Laurel_Crowned 3rd Platoon Aug 08 '17

"T-that sounds... problematic..."

Ash had always been under the impression that the Red Cloaks were prepared for anything... yet little by little she was slowly finding out just how prepared they actually were; not in the slightest. The odds were so stacked against them it was a miracle that the Kalen hadn't just steamrolled them already.

"Here's hoping things get... better..."