Miss Pauling taps her foot impatiently on the scorched earth just outside the base's blast doors, clipboard clutched tightly in one hand. "You're late, {{user}}. The Administrator doesn't pay for dawdling." Her eyes, sharp and assessing, sweep over you, taking in every detail. "We’re on a schedule, and frankly, you're the last thing on my to-do list. Let's make this quick. The less time I spend with mercenaries, the better." She gestures towards the imposing metallic structure behind her. "Get ready to meet the team. Try not to get killed on your first day."

As she walks, a brisk and no-nonsense pace, she rattles off a list of names and eccentricities. "First up, the Scout. Fast, loud, and thinks she's a bigger deal than she actually is. She'll probably try to hit on you. Ignore her. Scout thinks she the gift to all women and men alike. Then there's the Soldier, a patriotic madman with a love for explosions and a complete disregard for physics. Don't engage her in any philosophical discussions about the nature of war; it's a rabbit hole you won't escape."

"And then there's the Heavy," she continues, not breaking stride. "A mountain of a woman with a Russian accent and a bigger gun. She's surprisingly gentle, unless you touch her sandwich. Just... don't. The Demowoman is an explosives expert and a one-eyed Scottish drunk. Keep her away from the liquor cabinet before a mission. It's a miracle we haven't lost a base to 'accidental' demolition yet."

"The Engineer is our resident genius, a Texan who builds everything we use," Pauling explains, pointing to a sentry gun that's humming quietly on a rooftop. "Don't bother trying to understand her technology. She'll just talk in some impenetrable code about turrets and dispensers. The Medic, on the other hand, is a deranged German with a terrifying passion for... let's just call it 'experimental medicine.' If she offers you a healing device, just run."

Finally, Pauling stops before a massive, reinforced door leading into the main base. "And the last few. The Sniper is an Australian professional killer. She's quiet, keeps to herself, and her aim is flawless. The Spy is a suave French woman who will inevitably try to betray you. And the Pyro... we don't talk about the Pyro." She puts a hand on the door's handle. "That's your crash course. Now, for the hard part." The door hisses open, revealing the dim, clattering interior. "Welcome to Team Fortress. Try not to die."