7168/Training Evaluation Day

Training Evaluation Day
Date of Scene:	08 April 2019
Location:	The Triskelion, New York City
Synopsis:	Several agents have their skills evaluated, these are a few highlights.
Cast of Characters:	Melinda May, Hawkeye (Barton), Phil Coulson, Winter Soldier, Jemma Simmons, Crimson Dynamo, Forge, Foxfire

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Melinda May has posed:
It happens every three months like clockwork, so no one can claim to be surprised. It's Field Readiness Evaluation time. It's not to pass or fail agents, it's to determine where their skills need brushing up. There are senior agents here to evaluate the newer/younger agents in varying disciplines such as firearms use, hand to hand skils, and a smaller area for what was listed only as 'individual skills'.

May is overseeing the hand to hand skills area, where each newer agent is instructed to take down or strike May within thirty seconds and no weaponry of any kind is allowed.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Clint is on hand to evaluate, *gasp* marksmanship. Though thankfully for the agents being tested, his station has ICERs not bows. So, small mercies, the badnews is he's presiding over an obsticle course with pop up targets who shoot back.

In keeping with his name, Clint's taken a high vantage, letting his Sky-Cycle hover in mid air above the course, with his bow in hand and quivver of arrows strapped to his back.

Phil Coulson has posed:
Phil Coulson is a name well known among SHIELD circles, if one pays attention... but he hasn't been seen for a while. 'On assignment' was the official explanation. Whatever the truth there is, he's finally come out of the woodwork, and had been doing work on Lola when he was called in for the RET. He's wearing casual black from head to toe as he watches the new agents from the sidelines for now.

Senior Agent Coulson is one of those who always keeps an ICER and a regular Beretta on him, with the ICER being on the overt side holster. "Evening all. I'm Senior Agent Phil Coulson. Agent Coulson for short, if that's too much of a mouthful." Phil quips as he gestures to the various courses, "I'm the one you talk to about evaluating hand to hand, and your spycraft."

Winter Soldier has posed:
This is....well, it's kind of a token thing, Buck being what he is. But he's not refused to go through the evaluations. If he's gonna be a real boy again, then let them see him going through the tests. Steve would give him the patented Cap frown of disapproval if James were to be that much of a princess on that front. He's in the same sweats the other little agents are, the metal hand hidden by a glove.

Jemma Simmons has posed:
    Normally, there would be a pair of scientists about, for really there is hardly a Simmons without a Fitz. But....Agent Jemma Simmons is on her own at the moment. It seems that *someone* caught wind that the evaluations were about to go down and came up with a handy excuse to not be in the building when they were scheduled. Not that Jemma was especially mad at Leo...but at least Fitz could have warned her.

    So, instead of testing others on their scientific knowledge, it is Jemma who is going to be tested. She waits for her turn with the firearm accuracy obstacle course. She isn't running through it yet, but like any other scientist, she is studying it...watching and, more importantly, preparing.

Crimson Dynamo has posed:
    The Crimson Dynamo had been invited rather than required, but it was more of a formality right? The Russian had her own training routine, so of course she wouldn't bother showing. Only she did, on time and everything. Dressed in a brilliant red T-shirt with the old Winter Guard logo emblazoned across her chest, a pair of ratty BDU trousers cut into shorts and flip flops. Armor and all, notably absent for once. A shocker, right? Nevermind the cigarette tucked behind her ear, or the notably blood shot look in her one good eye.

    Casually she saunters on over, fiddling with her prosthetic arm some until she seems satisfied and flicks the little access door shut with an audible clack before those fingers start moving again. "What, entire thing in doors and out of weather?"It's hardly a complaint mind, she'd trained outdoors like any good VDV even in the deep Russian winters.

Melinda May has posed:
May is in her full combat gear instead of exercise togs, and evaluating a smaller group of agents than the others. "You are here so that I can determine how your unique skills and abilities can be effectively integrated into your field readiness," May tells those around her. "This is not weapons competence, technical savvy, or hand to hand discipline, those are being evaluated separately."

She steps into the center of the area set aside for her evaluations. "Who's first?"

Winter Soldier has posed:
Might as well get it done with....and he's got enough respect for May's skills to not assume this will be anything like a cakewalk. So Buck orients on May first, stepping up in mute presentation. "Ma'am," he says, politely, pale gaze fixed on her. Can't afford to be distracted, even by the Dynamo's presence.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Smiling from his high perch, Clint spins the remote to start the course on his finger and says, "Alright, who wants to go first?" he asks. "I promise to go easy," he says very visibly crossing two of his fingers holding his bow.

That said, he's got his eyes on May and Bucky too, because that's going to be a helluva fight.

Forge has posed:
Forge has settled to one side, arms folded over his chest, observant in his quiet and reserved way. His appearance is not interesting, the technology consultant is here to assist with tech oriented evaluation, and fitting additional spycraft to the agents depending on their various needs.

Or, well. Cybernetics maintenance, repair or upgrading.

Even if Forge is not recognized, his purpose at this evaluation is in very strong evidence through the tech on the table beyond him, and in the style of the goggles perched in his hair, and the tablet in his hands. Trying to decipher what is actually on his table might cause more than a headache, though: it's something of a jumble of things.

Phil Coulson has posed:
With no initial takers and Bucky and Melinda going at it, Phil moves away from the sidelines and heads for one of the benches. "Did anyone bring popcorn? Because this is a popcorn moment." Phil quips as he turns his attention to the two, crossing his arms as he watches for now.

Jemma Simmons has posed:
    "Why didn't I set up a biology station? Oh, yes, silly me...because this is field agent evaluation, not research and development evaluation." Jemma is really talking to herself, seemingly to psych herself up for a run through the shooting range/obstacle course. Because, even though she is still a scientist, she is still a field agent. And...therefore needs to keep up on that aspect.

    Of course, when all eyes seem to shift to watch the pending face-off between May and Bucky, it is only a manner of time before Jemma shifts her attention that way, too. Despite her being nearly to the beginning of said course.

Crimson Dynamo has posed:
    "Yeah yeah, lets get after it."She has places to be, naps to take obviously. So the Dynamo eases over towards Clint with a wave of that bright red metallic arm of hers, giving Jemma a little nudge with the elbow as she passes "Come now Doctor, lets dispense some medicine shall we?"She settles up to the start line casually, kicking out of her flip-flops as she snags herself an ICER.

    "Am I shooting for score, or for time or what?"And a hitch as she checks the magazine is seated properly. That prosthetic left eye blazing to life with a pulse of red light. "Oh no rifles, just pistol yes?"And finally she sweeps her gaze downrange to size things up.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Clint grins down at Galina. "Time, and not getting hit by return fire. Each hit is a ten second penalty."

The course itself is an urban setting, tight alleys, buildings, lot of windows, the sort of setting Galina would have likely seen often in the VDV both in training and in practice.

Like with most courses of this type the targets pop up at random intervals. Each one firing back as it does. The object is to get them before they get you and move on as quick as you can.

"There's ten targets on the range," Clint says. "Fair warning, the last one's a real doozy." He lifts the remote, finger hovering over the button. "Say when."

Foxfire has posed:
Agent Probate Micah Murphy hasn't ever done one of these despite having been here for several months. Why? Well because he's a probie and he hadn't been nearly ready for one of these yet. But now here he is, coming in the door.

And he's kind of wishing he weren't here. Let's see. Agent Barton. Agent Coulson. Agent May. Check. Check. Check. Check. It's like a who's who list of people he doesn't want to have to be called into the office for.

But this is part of the job so he looks between the two people who do NOT have anyone in line. Eeeny. Meeeny. Miiiiney... okay no he's going to Forge. Because he doesn't know who he is and he figures he'll start with the guy who scares him less.

If only he knew.

"Uh, hi. Agent Probate Murphy reporting." That's his introduction. Smooooth, yes.

Forge has posed:
"Welcome, Agent," Forge replies to Micah, with a no-nonsense nod, adjusting his tablet to skim through to pull up the information he needs on this particular agent. "How do you feel about defusing a bomb today?" Forge asks without indication of whether or not he's actually joking. The small smile could lend either way on the features of the tanned man.

"Agent... Murphy?" Forge checks, and offers a gloved hand for a curt handshake, other hand still tied up with the tablet. "I'm Forge." The greeting is given with a calm, even tone.

Jemma Simmons has posed:
    Galina earns a smile from Jemma as the nudge from the Russain is received. "Ah, Galina! So good to see you!" There is a slight, albeit nervous, chuckle given at the mention of 'dispensing some medicine', though all in all Jemma seems to be taking things in stride. "Oh, I don't know if Agent Barton is allowing teams of two through." Because, if so, then Fitz would have been dragged here...kicking and screaming all the way.

    Jemma does takes a step back, to allow Galina to go through first. Not because Jemma is nervous...well, maybe because she is nervous. But...also to take note of the course itself. It may look random, but there may be a pattern involved...and if there is, then Jemma would be the one to discover it.

Melinda May has posed:
May nods to Barnes. "Best three of five, Barnes. And don't hesitate to tap out if you need to." She stands seemingly relaxed, though upon seeing Phil lacking someone to evaluate out of the corner of her eye, she glances toward the other senior SHIELD agent for half a second before returning her attention to Bucky.

Then, without warning or asking if he's ready, she rushes forward as if planning to attack him straight on.

Winter Soldier has posed:
Tap out? There is neither skepticism nor scoffing at that. He may come in with the advantage of the supersoldier serum he was given, and all its concomitant benefits. He may have size and mass on her. But then, Buck trained whole clutters of Widows, so he's got a very healthy respect for the damage a woman can do to him.

"Yes, ma'am," he says, simply. His initial response is a deft sidestep, reaching to try and seize the striking hand, pull her forward and off balance - turn the straight lunge into a full forward throw.

Crimson Dynamo has posed:
    Spare magazine tucked in a back pocket Galina squares herself up, drawing that pistol back against her chest before laying her open left hand overtop her right. That very distinctive Russian ready up then, as to be expected. Shoulders slumping as she lowers her chin. "Ready!"Theres a beat to let the course begin, before she's off like a shot! For a woman as beat up as she is, she's pretty fast yo!

    The first target pops, and is enguaged immediately on the move with a neat string of four rattled off fast enough to have let off the last one before the first casing hit the floor! The next target swings up on the opposite side of the street, and she drops a knee immediately. She hits the ground in an awful hurry, driving a shoulder into that plywood car before swinging her good leg out to steady herself. Loosing another string of four whilst she peeks out of cover from an unexpected angle.

    Then it's a pair across the street, and she neatly swings her leg back and around to drop her shoulder to the ground hard. Four and four, fired from under the rear fender. Then a roll onto her back to eject that magazine, which she pitches downrange casually to a call of "grenade!" Not that the targets would fall for a ruse, but hey this is a show right? Anywho she rolls back over her shoulder and onto her bare feet, putting another string of four immediately downrange into the fifth target."Reloading!" another call out.

    Of course she just reloaded, it's a dummy call out. Not the sort've thing they teach you in school, ya'know?

Phil Coulson has posed:
The bomb comment gets a look toward Forge from Phil. He didn't see any bomb containment units coming in, so it was probably a joke. Probably.

Bucky and Melinda get his full attention as they go at it, with Phil leaning back into the wall at his bench for now, seemingly content to let events play out around him for now.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Tucking the remote away in one of the pockets of his tactical webbing, Clint watches as Galina breezes through the range, making a good showing for Mother Russia.

"Man, I feel sorry for," he puts on a /bad/ Russian accent. "Moose and Squirrel."

Though the range is only half-way done. After the first five, the rest begin to open fire.

Six. Second floor window to Galina's right.

Seven. First floor, to her left a second later.

Eight. Pops up in half-cover behind a plywood car.

Nine. Pops up long range obscured by debris with only a small hole to fire and be hit through.

Ten... Wait? Where's ten? Nothing pops up.

But up on his Skycycle, Clint knocks and draws his bow, taking aim...

Foxfire has posed:
"Nice to meet you Forge. Code name? Or something else? Sorry, I don't gess that's important."

Defusing a bomb. Gulp. Hopefully it's not a real one but he's seen stranger, more deadly tests.

"Uh, sure. Bombs are fun. Well, unless you're defusing one I suppose. Where do I start?"

Is that a joke? He so hopes that's a joke.

Melinda May has posed:
Anticipating how Barnes would likely respond to her straightforward charge, May does very much get thrown by the supersoldier, but not before she sticks a small disk to his metal arm that buzzes and snaps like an arcing electrical circuit.

For her part, May rolls with the throw and uses the momentum to regain her feet and turn to face Barnes again. Some might even accuse them of choreographing it, if they didn't know better.

Crimson Dynamo has posed:
    Incoming fire is noted, and well she's well situated behind that car for the moment. #6 is enguaged after a burst of fire, four right in the bread basket. #7 though gets her moving, kicking off as Incoming fire asserts it's right of way. She's across the street in a flash, driving her support hand out to grab the corner of a building as she zips by. The spin is all the more violent and sudden, stringing up fire without a moment's hesitation.

    From her back she rolls to one side, bracing a foot against the side of that building to drive a neat pair foreward through the car's cutout where a windshield would be. That leaves #9, which she presumes early on to be a double. Another roll over her shoulder onto her feet and she's off like a shot, a flying leap across the street to adjust her approach before loosing a trio of rounds on the move. One of which passes through that gap, which leaves..

    She searches her sectors with text work care, before a glance skyward and..."Oh.."She rolls back, dumping that mag up towards Clint if only because she absolutely doesn't have to get good sight alignment.

Forge has posed:
"Most know me as Forge," Forge replies in answer. Forge skims the file on Micah, and also looks rather penetratingly at the young man himself. It's not terribly invasive, but there's a 'knowing' that Forge does: a thoughtful, steady look, as if somehow his gaze could tell him the best way to test the agent, or even what type of test result Micah would end up with. Forge shows little of what he makes of Micah one way or the other, just addresses his tablet with a series of touches, and then turns behind him to pull one of the modular objects loose. He also bends to snare one of the standard electronics kits that the agents often have access to, in a situation where they might expect some kind of terrifying device that may melt some city blocks.

"Pay quick attention now; there will be two clues here," Forge says directly, and then makes two changes to the device, quickly: he swaps the power supply out with a cross rewiring, and then adds a secondary detonator of some kind. He turns the device in a very specific way while doing the latter. "I didn't bring a containment," Forge says simply. Either he expects the agents to do well, or will bail them out, or it won't actually explode.

Forge sets it on the cleared table near the kit. And gestures at it. The little lights blink eerily in blue. "Use the kit, get a scope of what it is capable of. Decide if it is best to defuse, or do something else." Forge reclines to observe, partially sitting on the edge of the tech table. No pressure.

Winter Soldier has posed:
Ah ha. That's it. The current from the disc crackles along the alloy arm, weaving little arcs of electricity amongst the plates like stitches of bright thread. Buck takes the hint, and the metal arm is promptly tucked behind him, fist at the small of his back. A Widow's trick indeed....and it leaves him with only the right one, the one made of ordinary flesh and bone.

There's that crooked little grin from him....and then he's coming in, feinting with a boot at her belly, but turning it into a kick aimed down and in at the insideof her shin, trying to knock her foot out from under her.

Foxfire has posed:
No pressure. Right. Well. Micah takes a deep breath and opens the kit, cataloguing it's contents. He looks at the device, back at the contents, and back at the device.

Alright. He can do this. Machines are kind of his thing.

It's almost like he can feel that penetrating gaze on the back of his head. The one Forge gave him at the start. He might not be doing that right this second but Micah can still feel it, like spots of heat on the back of his skull. Active imagination, much?

"Right so. Secondary detonator. Electronic blasting cap. Redundant power supply. It's a clever bomb. Cut the power wire and the secondary detonator will still go off. Cut the secondary detonator and the primary one will go off. So they both have to be cut simultaneously." Or the explosion has to be contained somehow. As he puzzles out the power situation in his head, Micah looks around the room. Is there anything here that would do a credible job of that? Trash can. No. Lunch bag. No. Steel target. That'd work, but he can't bend those so, no.

Defuse it is.

"Right. Tripping both supplies simultaneously. That should be impossible unless I can somehow cause the power supplies to trip eachother. I need more wire." He looks around. If he had a brass bullet casing and a couple of twist ties he can probably make this work.

He hopes. There is such a thing as being too clever.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Clint grins when she peices it together, letting fly with his arrow even as she empties the clip on him. The bike's not moving, and neither is he, both get painted. He's down and she's set a blistering time but now all she needs to do is dodge that last paint arrow!

Jemma Simmons has posed:
    The second half of the R&D duo studies the course...and the Russian upon it...as Galina gets through 9 of the targets. And...that 10th one? Jemma looks up almost the same time as Galina does, simply because of the clue given. And really, why would Clint be on his sky-cycle when it was perfectly clear to view the course from ground level? Logic takes the place of nerves...and Jemma actually seems to calm down, that jittery-ness fading to the background.

    Of course, that is not to say that she is going to fly through this course herself, but Jemma seems to feel comfortable at least to take a run, when her turn comes up. Though, for her, it isn't going to be a matter of how fast she gets through it...but if she gets through it at all.

    Just after that paint arrow hits something. Either Galina, or empty space.

Forge has posed:
Forge doesn't 'help', but he also seems to have stopped staring a hole into Micah's head, either, and has put more of his attention onto his tablet. He does, finally, though, say, "All of the device may be used." It is a minor tip, but a reminder that the device does have other timekeeper pieces on it: taking those wires could shorten the time of the whole, but there IS enough wire given, if Micah is quick about solving it in that manner.

The device is, of course, able to be solved multiple ways: the test is oriented in that manner. It's a Forge test: pushing agents to think in different ways around problems can teach an agent something in one of these sessions even if they fail. Sometimes it's more about improvement.

Crimson Dynamo has posed:
    She doesn't have time to get to her feet, so she does the other thing. She rolls out of the way, kicking at the floor to get her anywhere else. That arrow strikes home, nailing the floor just beside her shoulder with a wet -pop-. "Oho!"Comes the call out, rolling to her feet to give her shoulder a look over. "Well shot! You'd have had me if you were trying, not a terrible course."

    Casually Galina struts off the course of fire, making sure her ICER is safe before setting it down and stepping into her flipflops oncemore. "Is not so bad Doctor, just breathe and remember to take your time yes?"She half turns, staying to watch of course. "Do not let your heart make decisions, use most powerful weapon yes?" Team work, of course was always a central part of Galina's work.

    Until everyone died anyway.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
Clint salutes with his bow. "Glad you approve," he grins down at Galina. "Good run."

Then he turns to Simmons. "Ready when you are Jemma," he says reaching for his remote to kick the course back into gear for her.

Foxfire has posed:
Right. Other time pieces. Micah looks at the time remaining. He might make it. He quickly harvests other wiring from the device and chains it together. Yikes. That took the time down a lot.

It doesn't take him long to hook up the make shift wire harness though. This is going to be cutting it rather close. In three. Two.

"Here goes."

A loud noise comes from the device, which is cut off quickly as the power is killed. Micah's idea worked. But he was half a second short on time.

He blows out a sigh and shakes his head. "Not qutie fast enough." Good idea. Execution not quite there yet though.

Jemma Simmons has posed:
    "Use the most powerful weapon..." Jemma echoes Galina's words as she ponders her course of action. A look of what can only be described as a brillant idea crosses over her features as she offers a nod to the Russian. "You are absolutely right. Thank you, Galina." Jemma then walks over, to select an ICER paint gun to use. After weighing her options, she picks one up and walks to the line.

    It is then that Jemma calls out to Clint. "Ready."

    Followed immediately by a shot from Jemma's ICER, directly towards Clint and the skycycle, hopefully before the remote control for the course could be pressed. Because, logically, disabling the controller would be the fastest way to pass the course.

    Right?

Melinda May has posed:
May sees that crooked little grin and the fact that he took the minor shocker disk as a tap to take his metal arm out of play. Good form. And then he's stepping in to attack her in return, and she 'lets' him knock her foot out from under her. But, her weight is already on her other leg, so she 'falls' in response to the knock to her shin, rolling to her back and promptly tangling her legs in his to overbalance him and send him to the mats as well. At the same time, one hand snakes out and punches lightly at the inside of his right thigh, simulating an attempted hit to his femoral artery.

Hawkeye (Barton) has posed:
That was always an option, take him out before he could press the button. An early training mission with Skye had inspired him to have an 'outside the box' contingency. Clint just didn't expect someone to figure it out, but to be honest he should have seen it coming with Jemma.

His thumb is just hovering over the button when *thwap* the paint shell explodes against his vest splattering him in lime green.

Clint blinks, then laughs, moving the thumb aside. "Hell of a shot Simmons, you've got the course record. Zero point zero, zero seconds," he flashes her a thumbs up before saying to the rest, "Now that she's done it, none of you other smart asses better shoot me."

Forge has posed:
"Hang onto it," Forge says, rather directly, to the agent. A 'toy' to practice with, it seems. "You can change out the detonators into different settings, to challenge with other variations." Forge doesn't say how Micah did: the loud noise supplied that to everyone in the room, anyway.

He makes a few notes on his tablet and nods to Micah. "But, I suggest you head to Agent Coulson next, and come back for it," Forge recommends, without judgement.

Winter Soldier has posed:
He's lithe - he's never gained Steve's sheer muscle mass. But he's bigger than May, and he tries to use it to his advantage, going with her fall and trying to turn it into a grapple. A turn of his hip takes the hit on the thick of the quad. Buck's scrupulously avoiding using the metal arm as anything other than a point to roll over. ....but he's trying to snake the ordinary arm around her throat, turn it into a choke.

Foxfire has posed:
Micah nods to Forge. There seem to be other stations to cover so he goes to the next one. And the next. And the next after that. Hopefully the worst thing he comes out of this with is a bruised ego. But then, this is why they have probate status for people.

Crimson Dynamo has posed:
    "Bravo, beat my score Doctor."Theres a genuine smile there, which is a rare thing from the Russian. "Now I need a drink, and a nap, and a drink." Ever so casually she stuffs her hands into her pant pockets, casually wheeling about to watch the fight. "Vityaz Tovarich, not one step back!" The Crimson dynamo, one woman cheer squad.

Jemma Simmons has posed:
    As much as Jemma tries to hide it, there is a grin that spreads out over her mein. She chuckles softly..."I just Kobayashi Maru'ed my way out, really." Leo would have been so proud, dropping a Star Trek reference like that. "Basically, I cheated." She flashes a smile to Clint and offers him a wave as she steps back off the line, placing the ICER back down for the next unfortunate soul to try to run through the gauntlet. Now that the cheat is off the table, it might be more than a bit harder to get through the course.

    Jemma then shifts to join Galina, to watch the sparring session in progress. "I just did what you suggested...and used my best weapon." Which, of course, is her mind...and her ability to come up with unexpected solutions. With that, she settles in, watching the fight proceed.

    Which, knowing Jemma, is just as much of a learning opportunity as actually doing the sparring herself.

Melinda May has posed:
May's caught in Barnes' choke hold, and unlike just about every other sparring match anyone here might have seen her in, she doesn't instantly slip free. Knowing that she'd have about ten seconds if this were real, she spends that time throwing her elbows back into the man's ribs truly forcefully and otherwise trying to get him to let go. But, after the ten seconds she completely stops struggling and taps his arm twice. Uncle.

Winter Soldier has posed:
There's some motion in her struggle that makes Buck grin, and he mutters something next to her ear, in Russian. She taps out, and he lets her go in an instant. First fall is to him.

It's an odd challenge, though, the pair of them. He gets up using the metal arm again - apparently that shock wasn't sufficiently severe to really put his arm out of commission. More a token thing, to keep him from just falling back on it. "Keep this out for round two?" he asks her, waggling metal fingers at May. Galina gets a flash of a grin....is that the ghost of Sergeant Barnes, lady-killer of yore?

Melinda May has posed:
May doesn't speak Russian, though she'll remember that phrase and ask someone about it later. Maybe Romanov. Rolling to her feet, she offers Barnes a Japanese bow of respect. "I think we can both agree there is no need for a round two, Sargeant." And, perhaps completely unsurprisingly, she does not visibly react at all to the hint of a lady-killer grin that appears on Bucky's face.

The rest of the evaluations proceed apace, each person tapped to be here having to stop at each station in turn to get those different evaluations and their records updated to reflect where they might need any extra training or assistance.