Hey, I just joined and I'm trying to get through training.  Anyone have any advice or anything for me?

Alright, I should be able to get the bio to you sometime tomorrow (I imagine between 12 and 5)

pssst... *whispers* hey I'm new too. Listen to that Shazam guy.  He's wierd, but helpful Btw, welcome man.
 
-----------------------
~Zharyn~

Excellently- about as perfect as I expect from a new recruit and only minor and partially unnoticable problems stuck out to me.  One little error I noticed is that you used the language 'English.'  In the Star Wars universe, I don't think there was a planet called Earth, and if thats not true, certainly not England.  My point is that 'English' is simply referred to as 'Basic' or "common languague' because it is the center language of the universe where everyone converses in it when trying to communicate despite different regions.  This prevents them from losing themselves in translation and such... 

Also- you have what I call hero syndrome :>  You set yourself up to succeed wildly.  Sure, your story checks out and the background which you gave will give you what a substantial jump in ability next to others, but that is wildy above the norm.  Not everyone can be educated in hand-to-hand combat, be a genius, and have exceptional flight abilities.  If you are going to choose to do that, which I suppose I'll allow, you need to make sure you aren't saying that you are just flat out incredible.  That would be extremely unfair to the rest of the members of your squadron and really- the Navy, lol.  So, you need to say that sure, you're a natural, but you need a lot of work.  Trust me, combat training is a lot different than any recruit can come to expect.  They may be natural fliers but when two or three X-wings begins to follow them around, it remarkable how fast they panick.  Especially the TIE Fighter pilots, they've got no sheilds and maybe what made them so calm in the past was the fact that they were all brain-washed in the time of the  Emperor.  We're a little different though as you'll probably read somewhere in this training bit...

That rambling, lol, brings me to one other slight error (myes, I'll call them errors for now)- you said that you logged so many hours in certain fighters.  You need to understand that you haven't actually been in a real fighter yet for flight- you may have done that many hours in simulators and benefited greatly from it, but even still, that number is pretty darn remarkable.  We'll think of it as admirable though and that compliments your character's emotional description- so keep it.  However, I want you to change that to simulator time- your first post will have to be about flying for the first time (although I hope to get different ones when I get goin here), so lets not mess with that.

Now that I've basically spouted off for the last couple of minutes, I might as well tell you that was one of the better organized bio's I've seen from any recruit or even current members of the VEN.  If you don't mind, I'm going to use that as a basic template for the VENA's training process with some minor adjustments- I've just had too little time to get a basic template set up myself and yours seems to fit very well.

You've done very well and I can say that you are ready for the next portion of your training.  Follow the link below to be taken to a simple page about both equipment and tactical training in the VEN- this should give you some basic information for story post when the time comes. 

http://www.vastempire.com/wiki/index.php?title=Pilot_Procedure

There is an assignement attached to this, so make sure you post that here so that I can see it and evaluate it effiently.  The best to you- I can't wait to see your work here.  Rock On.
 
-----------------------
*Flash Was Here...*

CMDR/ESN Shazam/Nazgul 1-1/Phoenix Wing/mSSD Atrus/1VENF/VEN (=A=) (=*SA*=) (=*MA*=) (=*FOCE*=) [LoM] [LSM] [VC:S] [DSM]

Here is the assignment of two maneuvers you requested:


The High-Speed Yo-Yo (HSYY to simplify)

The HSYY is great offensive maneuver to use in a atmospheric setting.  While the enemy banks to one side or the other, the pilot of the tailing aircraft pulls their nose up, using the gravity to help slow them and pull the craft into a tighter turn.  You will lose ground, but if the maneuver is executed correctly than your ability to fire on the aircraft will increase.  This also takes away the enemies ability to try and pull up short, which can make any pilot overshoot.


The Immelman

This maneuver does not necessarily fall under the offensive or defensive sets, but rather is used to gain altitude, and when at the edge of the battle, return you to the fight.  It is executed by pulling the nose up and turning the body of the craft 180 degrees, so when you pull out of the turn your craft will be "upright" (obviously there is no up or down in space, but some terms must be used).

Well the next part is all about writing actually and it is your final one unless you call the exam 'written.'

I am satisfied with your answers and beleive that you have a good understanding of military material and flight so I won't hold you back in moving you to the next task.

Go to the link below and find 'the squadron' or "Chapter III.'  There you will receive instructions and parimeters for two post that you absolutely must make to get through flight school.  After you have put the two story post here, I will review them along with anyon who feels the need to bother, and I'll let you know how you did in getting some story across to us.  I hope you'll remain concious of your character and his attitude as well as your tactical and equipment training.

http://www.vastempire.com/wiki/index.php?title=Flight_School_%28FS%29

Once you have completed that, go back to Chapter III and read the portion on 'the squadron.'  That basically takes you through some protocol and jobs you'll be expected to carry out once you're in a squadron.  Its nothing really heavy, just things you need to know about the basic running of the VEN and is groups.

As always, post all of your work here and any questions, comments or concerns- feel free to post, message of whatever way to get to me; it will be answered.  I can't wait to see how you do with these- rock on.
 
-----------------------
*Flash Was Here...*

CMDR/ESN Shazam/Nazgul 1-1/Phoenix Wing/mSSD Atrus/1VENF/VEN (=A=) (=*SA*=) (=*MA*=) (=*FOCE*=) [LoM] [LSM] [VC:S] [DSM]

Cooliooolio; rock on.
 
-----------------------
*Flash Was Here...*

CMDR/ESN Shazam/Nazgul 1-1/Phoenix Wing/mSSD Atrus/1VENF/VEN (=A=) (=*SA*=) (=*MA*=) (=*FOCE*=) [LoM] [LSM] [VC:S] [DSM]

Hey Gunnay,

Mabye you could take a look at my first post, I have you in it.  Maybe you could do somethring like follow my post's storyline but from your point of view... Let me know your opinion on this; if you don't like it, that's fine.  Just an idea for you...
 
-----------------------
~Zharyn~

Good to see you guys coordinating, but lets try to get this done so you'll actually get to a squadron.  Can't wait though
 
-----------------------
*Flash Was Here...*

CMDR/ESN Shazam/Nazgul 1-1/Phoenix Wing/mSSD Atrus/1VENF/VEN (=A=) (=*SA*=) (=*MA*=) (=*FOCE*=) [LoM] [LSM] [VC:S] [DSM]

(OOC: Just a note, I wrote this in the same time period that Zharyn did, but with my view of things, so anything spoken will be the same minus a particularly embarrassing point near the end.  Read on...)

"Desus One, two lit and ready to go," Captain Denar's voice cut through the air like knives.  His normally warm demeanor
suddenly became cold, all-business.  The Captain was smart and agressive almost to the point of being reckless, yet it seemed as if even in the sims he never allowed any of those in his Flight or Squadron to be endangered by his actions.  Calculated aggressiveness, a quality Gunnay had thought he embodied only to be shown the errors of his ways after a couple of messy mistakes in the sims, to be polite about it.

"Desus Two, in the green," Gunnay chimed in with a bit of nervous excitement.  Despite all he had been through in his life and all the training he had never piloted a craft outside of the atmosphere.  He glanced in amazement at his hands as if he could see the sweat pouring out of them despite the cockpits cool temperature.

"Desus Three, ready." Vash's voice sounded calm, but Gunnay was not yet an expert at judging peoples' feelings just by hearing their voice.

"Desus Four, all set," Zharyn reported in.  Just on first impression, Gunnay got the feeling that Zharyn was a bit brash.  The type that liked to tell himself he wasn't scared and acting brash to prove it.  This could get pilots killed in combat and Gunnay made a mental note to watch for anything Zharyn might do to endanger the Flight.

Gunnay was more then happy to be paired with the Captain.  While the other two may be content to push themselves slowly towards greater things, he was hoping the Captain's careful eye would push him to his limits. 

"Engage repulsorlifts.  Move out of the hangar and vector outbound from the ship," Desus Leader's cold, confident voice came over the comm.  A chorus of confirmations came in reponse.

Gunnay powered up the repulsorlifts and followed Lead out of the hangar.  A warm tingle ran up his spine as he passed through the shimmering exit.  He had travelled through space on multiple occassions before, but never in the pilot's seat.  He had to make himself calm down as his hands began shaking.  The smallest mistake could cause a fatal accident even with support craft so close by.

"Engage engines, half-throttle.  Finger-four formation. Let's take it nice and easy now; I don't want any accidents on my watch.  Head towards the dummy targets.  You can slowly throttle up when you feel up to it."

Gunnay shook his head in annoyed amazement.  A good ten seconds into spaceflight and Zharyn was already making poor decisions, throttling up so quickly so close to the hangar bay.  The Captain didn't mention it so Gunnay almost said something, but stopped, knowing that their every move would be analyzed in detail during the debriefing.  He throttled up at a good pace, listening in awe as the craft powered up to half throttle.  This machines amazing power made him feel like a small boy riding on a speeder bike for the first time.

"Very good, you all handle your ships well.  So as a little reward, you get to go through some maneuvers with me.  Follow my lead and stay tight, but we don't want anybody getting too close.  Understand?"

"Affirmative" came the three replies.

Leader put his fighter into a gentle bank turn to port, which Gunnay followed.  Next, he pulled a tight Immelman upward and rolled back to starboard.  Gunnay cursed at himself when he jerked a little causing the wings to shake.  He looked back and imagined Zharyn and Vash having a chuckle at his expense.  Even worse, what did the Captain think of his sloppy execution of that maneuver.

"Nice, you all are decent pilots for people who haven't even flown a real Interceptor before.  Let's shoot some targets now.  Follow me and cut throttle when I say, then reverse-thrust to a stop."

"Copy that" was the unanimous reply.  Odd, the pilots seemed to have the same response to everything.  Gunnay wondered if Flight School was just stamping out clones or if individual abilities were ever factored in.  Of course, the difference between the Captain and his instructor in the sims was huge.  Thus the reason for the former having his current rank and the latter being a lowly Lieutenant at an age when he should have at least been a full Commander.

Target practice was interesting, but bored Gunnay.  The first seven he scored easily, but suddenly the last three got more difficult and Gunnay's last shots all missed by inches.  He knew he'd get flack for that when they got into debriefing.  Sadly he knew that the worst would come in the cantina afterwards.  He hoped that Vash and Zharyn were calculating enough to give him shit for the mistake, but not overdo it.  That had happened once on Coruscant when his hand-to-hand combat instructor had thrown him out of the ring ten times in the space of thirty minutes and a less well-trained student had dogged him in the cantina afterward, going so far as to push him.  The man had only realised what a mistake he had made when he woke up in the hospital with his right arm in three pieces and a broken nose.

"Good job.  Let's do a little dogfighting practice.  Vash, you're with me; Gunnay is with Zharyn.  Vash tries to shoot me; Gunnay tries the same with Zharyn.  Use targeting lasers only; they're visible but won't do any damage. Feel free to do any moves you want, but don't endanger anyone else. You copy?" Once again the three pilots blurted out the same word at the same instant.

Gunnay tried to get a lock on Zharyn, but the sweat on his hands caused them to keep slipping inside the gloves, making minute, but important mistakes.  Soon enough Zharyn was behind him and closing in on painting him.  Gunnay tried a few desperate maneuvers including shooting past the Captain with very little room to spare, but since his hands had slipped, he had to go over the top of the Captain instead of underneath.  Since Zharyn was slightly "above" him that would have made him have to pull out of his position, but because he went over, Zharyn's locked solidified and he got painted.

"Shit," Gunnay said to himself, "Damn sweat, how are we supposed to stay alive with our hands slipping?"

"Two tips: first, get a pair of wicking gloves from the equipment room on level three.  That'll let you sweat as much as you want.  Two, turn off your comm before you start talking to yourself, trust me, it can be embarrassing.  Luckily your comm is only open to me so I'll let it go this time.  Now switch back to the Flight's channel," the Captain said with a chuckle.  Gunnay smacked the his helmet's faceplate and almost lost control of his craft again before he slammed his hand back down onto the controls.

"All right, pilots.  Nice job, get some more sim time in for dogfights, but overall, very good.  Let's head back to the ship, half-throttle.  Form up again."

"Yes, sir," came the same uniform response.  Gunnay thought he heard a sigh of exasperation from the Captain and smiled.  They would let their own personalities out soon enough.  Of course no one wanted anything on their record before they even got out of Flight School, so until then the Captain would probably remain the single most frustrated person in a 1000 kilometer range.

Time to head back to base and face the debriefing.  Gunnay sighed, he'd been through worse.

-----------------------
Crewman Gunnay
Trainee, Vast Empire Navy
TRN/CRW Gunnay/Training/VEN/VE

Alright, I'll work on that.  And as for the jumping around, I was following Zharyn's and there wasn't much room to add detail, but I tried to include as much of my character's personality as possible.
 
-----------------------
Crewman Gunnay
Trainee, Vast Empire Navy
TRN/CRW Gunnay/Training/VEN/VE

Thanks Jaden, and Shazam, I sent in the Aviator's Exam and am working on my atmospheric flight post.
 
-----------------------
Crewman Gunnay
Trainee, Vast Empire Navy
TRN/CRW Gunnay/Training/VEN/VE

Oh, you may notice I didn't spend much time on tactics and maneuvers.  Well, having read a large amount of the EU books, it seems they focus more on plot then actual fighting.  Reading back, I know I didn't spend enough time in that area and this wasn't my best piece of fiction ever, but I think I changed things up and provided a new, refreshing post.

Oh, and sorry for killing the IVE guy, but he was a dick... haha.
 
-----------------------
Crewman Gunnay
Trainee, Vast Empire Navy
TRN/CRW Gunnay/Training/VEN/VE

Congratulations Gunnay!!!
 
-----------------------
Senior Crewman Goltred Skydark
Vast Empire Navy

FM/SCRW Goltred/Kaph 7/Phoenix Wing/mSSD Atrus/DEF/VEN/VE (=*A*=)

Way to go, man!

(P.S.- I didn't make a stupid decision in that first post lol)
 
-----------------------
~Zharyn~