Deep Space IC

[BRIGHTWELL]

Nodding

Rex stops eating and looks at his food.

"Director, I was having a little fun with you. But you wish to rule with an iron fist. I knew a Junior Flight Leader in the 401st. A very straight and narrow kind of guy. He was an iron fist kind of guy. Section A got in a fight. You may of heard of it The Battle of the Birds Nest. The Birds Nest is where the Scorpis and Toran system interconnect. Junior Flight Leader Peter L. Trapper lead five Tigersharks into the fight. He was attacked by 12 McKinite Interlight Lancers or MIL's if you will. Two sharks came home smoking. JFL Peter L. Trapper was captured. No one would go and rescue him. Last word was he
was a working slave miner in a prison planet."

Rex gets up and looks at the Director. "Yeah you can put me in the brig all you like. And I know I will not like it. But let me ask you some thing, Director. How many of these poeple." Rex swings his arm around to the assembled group. "will trust you to do the right thing. How many will be there for you when the nasty enemies of the night come acalling. Oh no doubt you have the power over life and death, pain and suffering."

Rex pauses and looks down at the floor." I'm going to let you think on this, and I was taught this long ago. A leader with no followers is just a guy going for a walk." Rex turns and returns to his seat facing the Director.

"I think it is only fair to tell you something about myself that is not in my personel file. Its not in my file because it is classified as Republic Secret.
That means its Military Only. I'm Inactive Reserve till 2111. I'm a Captain in the Inactive Reserve. If war were to break out. If an act of War were to break out. If a ship is attacked like say the Odysseus. And it was a registered Repulic ship." Rex smiles.

"I looked it up Director. IL-2-64-899 sound about right. The Oracle Corperation has changed the name of this ship three times. Reregistering this ship three different times. The first name was the Mayflower IS-2-16-611 it had smaller engines. So it was modified. So they changed the name. The Morphius IL-2-56-211. Known as the Slave ship of Eden. It was enpounded my stellular police for 102 violations of the Trafficing in Peoples Act. Cost the Oracle Corperation 10,000 credits per violation. Thats a lot of money, Director."
Rex leans to the side of the table.

" If the Odysseus is attacked, Director. It would be an act of War aqgainst a Republic Ship. Owned by the Oracle Corperation. Yet still a Republic ship. By the War Powers Act. It will become a military ship. And you just a passenger. Because you never served in the military and most of these brave souls have."
Rex turns around.

"Have fun Director. I'll walk in to the brig smiling. I have faith. As sure as the stars are in the heavens. I'm sure we are going to get fucked up. And in the end you will, one way or another. You will end up.....walking alone!"

 

[HotKittygirl]

One minute Kat was sitting there enjoying her breakfast and the next it was snatched from her fingers by the very same woman she had seen so energetically rising from her frozen coffin. The look of disbelief on her face was priceless and comical at the same time, the same look someone might where when they walked in on their parents bumping uglies on the couch. A silence hung about the redhead for far too long, the only indication of life the subtle twitch of one eyebrow. Yet those fiery red eyes seemed to glow with their own light, as if the cybernetic components seethed an anger all her own. If her comrades sitting about the table said anything she didn’t hear it, the look of contempt drawing out as she snapped her head to the side to watch that little bitch saunter off. In any other situation Kat might have snapped back all too quickly, there was no denying the thought of ramming her fist into the woman’s stomach to rip out her spine (not that she had the capability of such but it was a pleasant enough thought). Near the same time another joined their table, trying desperately to hide that shit eating grin that tugged at his lips.

“You enjoying the little show, Nancy?” Kat snapped, her mood turned awfully sour. How she wanted to turn that venom on that vile little piece of trash wearing that all too cute smile but Kat knew her place. The woman worked for Oracle and the company had given her something that no one else left on the earth could. They had given her a life to live, the ability to see; Kat wasn’t the type to bite the hand that fed her. That didn’t mean she had to like her, especially in that clean and crisp business attire; how she hated people in suits. With a snort and a rather loud slam of her fist on the table, nearly knocking over Vick’s drink in the process she settled down and mumbled under her breath. “...I don’t slap the dick out of your mouth when you are working...”

Though before she could even enjoy her little pity party it seemed another started in on the woman. It was a rather blatant and crude attempt at some play, be it sexual or just for an ego trip; either way it wasn’t making Kat’s temper any better. While she had absolutely no love for the woman she wasn’t about to incite a mutiny over it. She wasn’t even sure who this guy was but as hard as it was to believe he was more annoying than her. Without missing a beat she turned to the scene and watched in all earnest.

“Can we just shoot him in the face now? He might make better eating than this pig shit,” Kat called out in her own honey sweet tone, a pale attempt at the Director’s tone. Her voice just wasn’t made to go that high or be that pleasing.

 

[Sylnaeve]

She moaned and threw her head back, her eyes closed and her lips parted in bliss. Nadia was on a luxurious bed covered in sheets of some smooth, cool material that was currently twisted up in her hands as carnal delight flashed through her. Hands moved on her body, fondling her large, pert breasts before mouths moved to them, sucking and licking. She gasped and reached up to cradle the heads suckling at her breasts and cooed as she felt the lover between her legs plunge into her and fill her deliciously inside. She lifted her head and opened her eyes...only to see herself; three identical women with clean, fine features, light brown hair, and icy eyes.

All of it was her; just her. Which meant she was alone. And this couldn't be. Not real, not this, not even her!

Cryo dreams could be the worst.

Nadia's eyes opened and saw only darkness; she felt the metal under her barely clothed body and the thin layer or stasis solution over every inch of skin, every hair on her head, and even within her. She shut her eyes; in a moment the lights would be on and her eyes needed more adjustment than darkness to bright light. A moment later she felt the illumination hit her body and her eyes stung even through her closed lids. She didn't bother to breathe yet, instead she rolled herself over onto her side and began to heave; expelling the life preserving fluid in her lungs inside her capsule itself where it would drain away and be cleaned and stored for re-use.

From the loud splattery sounds throughout the bay, she may have been the only one not spewing it all over the floor. But not many people had as much experience with this as she had; it was the first cryo sleep for many of them probably.

But still...all over her nice, formerly sterile lab floor!

A chipper voice spoke then, the Ship Director? It only made sense as besides the Captain, they'd be the only one ordering the crew this soon. There was also a rough male voice yelling about killing the ship's A.I. She sighed softly as she finally opened her eyes to the light and winced, pulling herself out of the capsule and onto steady feet. Not everyone handled reviving well, and she had a lot of practice, but really. Yelling like a child at a computer? She hoped whoever it was would be more professional once he'd gotten clean and fed.

Nadia didn't speak to any of the others but simply followed the lights to her room. She really didn't want anyone's first impression of her to be groggy and covered in muck from head to toe; and she really, really, really needed to shower and get it out of her more sensitive regions.

Her quarters were just as she had specified they be; everything in its proper place. As she entered, she reached over and held her hand near the wall panel as it started to speak' the interlaced copper circles on the back of her hand shifting a little, as though something moved within them, "Double Penetration," her voice flitted through the air for the first time in two years. "Cancel further notices of normal procedureal nature and begin display crew manifest on shower display." It bleeped, accepting her new password and Nadia stripped her sports bra off as the door to the room slid closed behind her.

It took three showers, and some directed use of the detachable shower head in particular locations, to get her clean. God, what a feeling! It made her want to sing and so she did; her high, clear voice ringing out in her native Russian as she stood in the air jets to be dried. Once dry, the buxom scientist frowned as she dressed; considering her course of action.

She was to report to the mess to eat and for the briefing. That was important; particularly getting a sufficient caloric intake for the body to begin normal function and overcome the shock of cryo sleep.

But...all that spit up solution was all over the floor of her lab! Drying there and getting tacky so that her feet would make that scratchy squishy sound when she stepped on it and...agh!

Nadia slipped out into the hallway and actually went past the mess to the lab again. She just couldn't leave it like that. Her clothes were simple and utilitarian; smartly fastened calf high boots in grey and white, grey cargo style trousers that were slightly loose on her legs but fitted nicely to her ass and hips, and a dark blue t-shirt that was certainly snug over her ample chest, with a pocket on the right breast where her data link hairpins were clipped. A plain belt was around her waist, holding her med kit at the small of her back.

So it was that she was one of the last people to actually arrive at the Mess Hall, smiling and humming to herself as she entered. Nadia paused at the doorway, sensing that she'd missed something crucial. There was a thick tension in the air and one of the men, Helmsman Rex Lionheart if she remembered rightly from the files she'd perused while showering, was looking like he was about to leave. There were also a number of dirty looks being shot his way.

Oh, lovely. Drama. Well, maybe it was just coming out of cryo sleep. Some people had a hard time with that.

"Excuse me if I'm in your way, Mr. Lionheart, but you really should eat if you haven't yet." She smiled at him and inclined her head into the mess hall, "Your body lost a lot to cryo sleep, as I'm sure Dr. Weston could tell you. I can recommend some of the dishes that would serve best, if you like."

She slipped past the tall man and into the mess hall proper, "Captain Kain, Miss Jackson," she inclined her head to each woman in turn, "I'm sorry if I delayed the briefing but I had to get the lab cleaned up before I came in." The scientist gave the rest of the room a wave and then went to grab a tray and get the more nutritious of the offerings scooped onto it. She regarded the stuff with resignation as she took a seat next to the pretty engineer, Rylee Scott.

She offered the engineer a smile and then tucked into her food, sighing inwardly at how good it was to eat again...even if it wasn't the best. Or as, she'd heard the security officer Katherine Reed had put it just before she entered the room, pig shit. It was an apt description, though not one that she wanted to think about as she did need to eat it. "I'll have to see if I can get in the kitchen later and see about making a more proper Christmas dinner," she mused.

 

[EuphoricDysphoria]

Rylee Scott: Engineer - Mess Hall

Rylee glanced up as Adam's striking figure filled the doorway. It amused and irritated her that he was so meticulous with his appearance. It seemed effeminate to Rylee, who paid an absolute minimum of attention to her looks. Her hair was chopped haphazardly by her own hand so it stayed off her collar and out of her face. Adam's beautifully dyed and styled locks just seemed vain and over-fussy given that only a handful of people in the whole universe was going to be looking at him. Adam's immaculate grooming and catlike grace never failed to make Rylee feel like an unkempt bull in a china shop... not that she cared or anything.

She watched him carefully load his plate; no one dish touching another and deliberately equal portions of each dish he sampled. Adam sat down and scrutinized his cutlery before he began daintily eating his food. Rylee smiled at him. Might as well get off to a good start because god knows it was hard for them to rub along together as colleagues. A woman joined them and Rylee smiled at her too. Once she knew what everyone's rank was she'd know who she had to mind her manners with and who was fair game. Until then she was going to try and keep her nose clean for a change.

"So did they ice your legs too?" She enquired, pointing her fork in Adam's direction for emphasis. "Must have been handy to stack both halves of you and save space. You sure you don't got any rust down there or anything? I was half expecting you to squeak... or did you lubricate yourself already?" She teased.

Only then did Rylee realise her naturally boisterous tone was rising above the polite murmur of other people's conversation. Well fuck it, the man should be able to take a joke by now.

 

[Nordican]

Corcin had been watching Kat's eyes again when she made the comment about the Director's particular service that got her into the position she held today and he thought he caught sight of what he had glimpsed before. 'Cybernetics.' He guessed before he took another drink from his water. He decided not to say anything given the slightly agitation in her voice and given he did not want to become the focus for such ire he waited for someone else to jump on that land mind though he did giver her a little smile and chuckle at her last comment and then mentally tensed hoping she wouldn't get the idea to just shoot him and try out her new culinary idea.

He did find it surprising how quick the grumbling occurred given they were all fresh from cryo sleep and most still without food in their bellies and of course the 'High and Mighty' Director decided that actions spoke louder than words and just flagrantly establish a bit of the pecking order.

Corcin was a bit too preoccupied watching Kat's eyes for the moment that he did not hear the decleration of change in helmsman though he did see the exchange going on and he felt his stomach knotting up. 'Great...just great.' He thought and wondered if they served beer aboard the ship. He had a feeling he was going to need something by the time the trip was over.

 

[Light Ice]

Colton Ford - Mess Hall | Slightly Away From The Others

The Mess was, as ever, the heart of the ship. It beat with the slowly strengthening pulse of the crew that began to fill it. Some, chattering away already, stretched on the obvious and subtle introductions to which people were known. He saw smiles and smirks. The scent of a cigarette curled lazily through the air and bit his senses with the acidic tang of its smell. There was no mourning on his part when it was filched and disposed of. Smoking had always offended him in some small, insignificant way. He’d overcome it with time and an understanding that vices, no-matter how small, were a principle right of men.

The noise did not worsen his headache. It didn’t help it, either. The first day of waking from sleep was always a troublesome one. He’d always carried it with him longer than some. Still, it wasn’t the lingering malaise of the sleep that kept him from the others. It was merely his nature. While they bonded, already, over the lighter mannerisms and quips that so frequently defined humanity - he was content to appreciate them from afar. Those that could eat, even so soon after waking, provoked a small spark of envy to circle through him. He smothered it behind his measured observation of their place at the table.

The Director, in particular, caught his attention.

Corporate, or not, her chipper manner held with it a practiced and easy edge. She moved steadily through the room. Each stride carried with it a measured assertion, subtle and sure, to which there could be little doubt whose ship they were on. In the end she was the one he’d answer to. Her words saw it fit to cut him the check that was by industry standards, generous.

And then, just like that, trouble. The man’s words should have registered a reaction from him immediately but he was slow, groggy still. A flicker of tumult barely rippled through the otherwise patient cast of his wolfish features, allowing him to slowly lean forward until his palms rested atop his bent knees. The Director, for now, would dictate the course. It was her word on how to handle the situation at hand, the man whom Colton could not have known so boldly threatening some crude and vile extortion. But he was near enough, separated as he was, that there was little danger for the woman here.

It seemed this would be a more eventful ride than he’d thought.

Still, he wished the pair could resolve things now. The man’s words bordered on entirely non-sensible. It was enough to leave Colton to wonder if he was suffering from a lingering effect of the cryosleep. Ideally, they’d settle it quietly now and discuss it more intently later. A bit of paperwork, perhaps. A verbal warning. An uncomfortable, albeit, necessary compromise here and there to ensure they’d both move on and the mission could continue. This, and all of the implications, were considered as he looked on.

He had no desire to throw anyone in a cell. Through the moment, until now, he’d felt entirely too groggy to work. Still, the presence of the boss and promise of a looming conflict had abruptly ready. Prepared, as it were, to do as he’d been told after the briefing.

A distraction blossomed late upon the scene, arriving with a warming smile and thin, elegant features. The fine lines of her face were sculpted with flawless skin. She moved easily, with confidence and care, and bent steadily over the troublesome man seated amongst the group.

Round table, or not, the tension had settled upon them all rapidly and without warning. The woman’s arrival did a bit to relieve it.

A bit.

Colton watched her, unable to help himself. Something about her. The subtle sway of her hips, subdued amidst the mess. He envisioned her away from work. Home, somewhere, maybe Croatia along one of the pristine beaches and luxury resorts. In his mind the sway was not concealed. Free. Natural. Her long torso, rounded hips, and full chest heaving with feminine grace and fluidity. Still, it was not her shape that troubled him. It was something else. Her short hair. Her eyes. They were lighter than his own.

Elsa. She reminded him of Elsa. Truthfully, it was no small thing. She looked damned like her. A part of him ached. His belly twisted. And, for once, a flicker of a frown touched at his lips before he forced it away.

This would be a problem.

 

[HotCider]

Victor Caldwell

You enjoying the little show, Nancy?

Victor immediately snorted. His lips tensed to hold back the bread and chicken he almost spat across the table. It would have been horrible manners. Surely, he would have turned off one of the girls and ruined his first impression. He bowed his head and pressed the back of his hand against his lips. His stomach and pectorals clenched as his body trembled with silent laughter that reverberated inside him. When his fit calmed enough for him to exhale deeply through his nostrils and swallow the bite of food, he grasped his plastic cup defensively when Kat’s fist came dangerously close to it. He couldn’t hide the smile anymore. It was almost as evident as Rita’s.

…I don’t slap the dick out of your mouth when you are working…

Victor uttered a short laugh at Kat’s comment and glanced at her with a wolfish grin.

“You say some funny shit.”

His argent eyes rolled over to the blonde woman who identified herself as a doctor. Naturally, Victor reached a hand across the table, offering it in a friendly manner as he introduced himself, “Victor Caldwell (he glanced to Kat and Corcin as though making sure they got that); and I hope so.”

He raised a naughty brow.

If she decided to take his hand, he would give it a firm shake. Even though it hadn’t been his right hand (his cybernetic one) that he offered, his grip though gentle and rough in texture, alluded to his strength. Getting a stomach ache might have been worth it, if he got to have that blue-eyed beauty examining him.

 

[HotCider]

Rita Jackson

Rita’s smile seemed to allude facetiousness and condescendence with the context Lionheart was throwing her way. Once he had finished sharing his story, Rita said, “Mr. Lionheart as much as I found the drama you’ve shown me to be an Oscar-winning performance, I have much more important things to do than to listen to you go on like a rebellious old timer who found his children are sending him to a home. Dr. Denver owns this ship not the military. You are employed as a civilian on this ship and you have signed a contract with the Oracle Corporation. You are by law required to work here until this ship returns to Earth. I will not tolerate rebellion, which you have clearly shown.”

Can we just shoot him in the face now? He might make better eating than this pig shit.

Rita glanced to Kat and her lips came together. “I also won’t tolerate threats to other employees!”

Dr. Pavelova then walked over to greet her and apologize for her absence. The woman’s polite nature put a smile back on the director’s face as she greeted, “You are fine, Doctor. Thank you for coming as soon as you could and Merry Christmas.”

Rita didn’t even bother to resume with Lionheart. She faced the wall and a small section of it caved inward in the shape of a square before it slid to the side to reveal a glowing-blue panel much like the ones in the Living Quarters. She tapped in a code that dimmed the lights in the Mess Hall and from the darkness that clustered within its center, a holographic window expanded, displaying the Galileo.

Rita turned to face the crew and explained, “This is the Galileo. It’s a research vessel that had gone missing ten years ago. Dr. Denver organized this crew of skilled men and women to find it, and we have, but we were given further orders. Our orders are to board the ship and find out why it never returned…”

“You will be split into teams to better search the ship for it is ten times as large as the Odysseus. Not all of you will be permitted to go on the first excursion for your duties are here. You will be given suits if you don’t have any of your own. You are to wear those suits at all times. The air lock may not be functioning in some parts of the ship; in fact, the ship isn’t functioning at all. This is why we have engineers. You will repair the Galileo enough to permit yourselves movement from one sector to the other. As you go, I hope you map the place. If the Galileo’s communication systems weren’t offline, I would be able to upload its plan. Therefore, you will have to do it manually…”

“If you become lost, use the communication system in your helmets to contact each other and The Bridge. We will be watching and listening through each of you. In case of danger, return to the Trojan immediately. The life of each and every one of you is crucial to not only our survival, but this mission. Please employ common sense.”

Rita turned back to the wall panel and tapped in a code that caused the hologram to vanish and the lights to brighten again in the Mess Hall.

“We will not be exploring the Galileo tonight. Tonight, you are to enjoy yourselves. Have a Merry Christmas and feel free to drink from the bar just for tonight. I expect all of you to be sober by tomorrow and ready to begin the mission. You will report in the Locker at 0700. If you are tardy or physically and mentally incapable of performing your duties, then you will wind up in the brig until the team has returned. Now, are there any questions concerning the mission?" Rita glanced to Colton and ordered, "Mr. Ford, please escort Mr. Lionheart to the brig."

 

[Nordican]

After she mentioned the free use of the bar and that there was indeed alcohol around Corcin seemed to somehow forget the rest of what she had said save something about a ship and him probably not going aboard the mystery vessel cause he would be on the bridge. Sounded fine by him but he definitely focused in on the free drinks thing.

He hardly ever really got wasted anymore especially since he got most of his hardiest romps out of the way during his time at the academy but he definitely enjoyed a good brewskie on occasion and had even been known to comment that he piloted better when he drank though his friends always seem to point out it that his words were "I always drink better when I pilot."

He did catch the end tail of her statement as well and any boost to her cred of being not a bitch was slightly removed given she was going to throw the guy, (Lionheart he recalled hearing) in the brig on Christmas.

 

[kittenofdeath]

There were a number of things Adam wanted to say back, such as how the material for his legs didn’t rust, or that the cryo solution would have impeded the oxidization process if they did, or that space saving was pointless when the pod wasn’t specifically designed for it, so detaching his legs would have been pointless. But Adam knew better, engaging her on those points was probably not a good idea, so he took a moment to ignore the impulse to correct her, then simply stated “yes, my legs were attached during our suspended animation.”

He took a bite of the pineapple on his plate, it wasn’t fresh, surprise surprise, probably wasn’t real either, artificial pineapple is cheaper and easier to store for long periods. “How did you find your first time in cryo sleep?” he asked, his face remaining impassive “I assume its your first time, most people can manage to kick that silly habit of dropping to the floor and flailing like a dieing fish by their second time round.”

Before the little back and forth that had the people around them sniggering at both parties could continue, the director took the stage, reiterating their mission brief with the aid of a holographic model of the ship for which they apparently had no maps. Odd as it was, it didn’t matter, guessing where engineering was would be simple enough and they could find schematics there, not to mention confirm that the reactor wasn’t about to explode and kill them all, always a bonus to have a solid answer on that point.

“I have four questions” Adam raised his hand to get attention, the thought that it had been a rhetorical question occurred to him, but he generally ignored that point whenever it came up. “What was the nature of the research being conducted by the Galileos crew, do we expect to find any survivors, is there any available technical data for the Galileo, and is there any indication of what may be wrong or what may have caused it?.” That was about all the important points Adam could think of, not that he was expecting to get a straight answer to the first one, company secrets and all that jazz.

 

[Nibbles_n_Tits]

Dr. Grace Weston - Mess Hall

- with Victor, Kat and Corcin

It was with a sense of happy relief that Grace took Victor’s extended hand for a firm shake. Her hand was small but her fingers were long and wrapped neatly around his.

“Well, Victor, my door is always open” she said before releasing him.

His pert expression, amused smile and friendly manner were smoothing over the sharp edge of uneasiness Rita’s actions had caused her. It had seemed to start off so well with Kat and Corcin then Rita’s interruption set everything out of whack and put a big black mark in the negative column. Now, this new addition was balancing out the sheet again.

“Is this…” Grace had started to speak when the lights dimmed for Rita’s briefing.

She grimaced.

“I need to pay attention to this, in case you haven’t guessed, I’m a noob.” She leaned closer and spoke softly. “Maybe when she is finished you can tell me what was important and what was bullshit… err…I mean what was towing the company line.”

Grace did listen intently to Rita’s presentation. To her it all seemed pretty straightforward. Sure, there were some vague points but for her it would be just a matter of staying on the Odysseus while monitoring the team’s bio-signs and hoping no one got hurt.

Piece of cake.

She did question the wisdom of opening the bar to a group of people who were just revived after spending two years in cryo-stasis, Christmas or not. The human body is a resilient creation and can recover from a wide array of traumas and stress but it takes time. Without the benefit of a full meal and good night’s sleep, Grace estimated the effect of alcohol would be doubled on the crew if they decided to indulge in holiday festivities.

Of course, this will not be a problem for Mr. Lionheart who will be spending the holiday in the brig.

“Does anyone know what the hell that was all about?”

 

[Nordican]

Corcin shook his head. "Other then don't piss off the boss lady and we get to enjoy the holiday in style not much else." Corcin said though he had picked up the general theme of the briefing but for the most part he just kept hearing the one guy going off about regulations with the woman who seemed to be calling the shots. He wondered if the captain would break in to help the man but so far it appeared the guy was content to take a break in the brig. Oh yeah,

"She also mentioned I'm apparently taking over Helmsman duties since he was the main guy. Lionheart I think was his name." Corcin said as he looked to the man and felt that he kind of owed him given the potential of being one of the first aboard the mysterious lost research vessel was not high on his agenda. He much preferred being behind the controls of the Odysseus and finding company for his off hours.

 

[EuphoricDysphoria]

Rylee Scott: Engineer - Mess Hall

“yes, my legs were attached during our suspended animation.”

Rylee raised an eyebrow, feigning polite interest. The man appeared to be completely sarcasm impaired. There was almost no point trying to needle a guy like that but she'd always been one to go down swinging.

“How did you find your first time in cryo sleep?” he asked, his face remaining impassive “I assume its your first time, most people can manage to kick that silly habit of dropping to the floor and flailing like a dieing fish by their second time round.”

"Yeah it was my first stint as a meat popsicle." She replied. "Waking up in a coffin with goop in my lungs is just a little too kinky for my taste."

The director then commanded their attention and Rylee listened attentively. It was all what she expected to hear. She wasn't looking forward to going in dark and mapping the Galileo as she went but there was nothing else for it. Adam remained composed, giving nothing away about his thoughts on the matter. His expression barely altered when he raised his hand. Rylee wondered idly to herself if he wasn't 100% machine. Who raised their fucking hand once they'd left high school anyway?

“I have four questions. What was the nature of the research being conducted by the Galileos crew, do we expect to find any survivors, is there any available technical data for the Galileo, and is there any indication of what may be wrong or what may have caused it?.”

Rylee held the director's gaze to convey that she too wanted to know the answers to these questions. It was all very well wanting the Galileo back online but there was more to engineering than kicking the components and hoping for the best, not that Adam would imagine she knew that. Anything the director was willing to tell them about the ship was valuable information.

 

[HotKittygirl]

Kat in the mess hall

Kat snorted her contempt at the director’s comment though she made no further actions. Instead she craned her head to the side in Victor’s direction, those fiery orbs locked intently upon his face. He was handsome enough, if he wasn’t constantly giggling and stuffing his face at the same time. She couldn’t help but want to smack it off his lips, though if that was as far as it went Kat was content to let the karma roll on over.

“If you find that shit funny just wait till I tell a joke. You’ll piss your panties,” She whispered huskily and offered a wink to the big man before the light finally dimmed. At least it did for a few seconds before the cybernetic optics of her eyes kicked in. Those crimson pupils flickered to life with a light of their own, a neon red glow that illuminated her cheeks. Kat listened intently, or at least she seemed to and for the whole briefing didn’t say a word. It wasn’t as if she had much input in the operation, she was a grunt and did as she was told. That was why she had the big guns and it had been so very long since she had fired off a few rounds. The very thought of getting her hands back on her ARC-920 railgun almost made her wet, if only briefly. Yet the Christmas present that was offered was one that brought Kat back to reality.

“Thank you, Santa!” She called out gruffly, turning back to her companions with a rather wide grin of her own now. She turned her attention to Grace and answered her question with mirth. “Who gives a flip? It’s time for some drinkin’ games. Let’s go! Finish your camel twat sandwiches Vicky.” She pushed up with a huff, slapping the big man on his shoulder as she strode towards the bar without a second thought.

 

[HotCider]

Victor Caldwell: Mess Hall Bar with Kat

Victor tried not to grin outwardly when Weston said her doors were always open. He hadn’t been imagining actual doors when she said it and hearing the worried tone of her voice, she seemed too square for his indirect approach. The way she worried about small things was cute.

The lights in the mess hall dimmed and out of the corner of his eyes, Victor noticed a red light. At first he thought someone was on their cell phone or literally playing with red lamps that they had managed to pull out of their ass. He turned his head and saw that Kat’s eyes were glowing. Entranced like a moth, he stared at her in awe before he realized what he was doing. Returning his attention to the Galileo model and the director’s briefing, he couldn’t help but wonder if Kat was a bot. Nah, she had too much of a personality to be one. She just had cybernetic eyes.

Victor had returned to his camel twat sandwich as he continued to listen to Rita’s briefing. Galileo, search it, get it back online, map it…the Oracle Corporation clearly had no idea why the Galileo was even floating there to begin with. The Marine’s attention was lost when she gave them access to the bar. Simultaneously, Kat had chorused next to him.

Finish your camel twat sandwiches Vicky.

Victor’s cheeks had been bulging with chicken and bread when she called it that and he didn’t know what to find more disgusting camel twats or her calling him Vicky. He felt her hand slap his shoulder. He had stopped chewing and was sitting there with a mouthful of gunk and a scowl on his face. Closing his eyes, Victor mustered some courage and swallowed the remains which felt harder than trying to swallow a horse pill.

Returning to Weston’s last question, Victor opened his eyes and rose from his seat. He wasn’t going to comment on the Helmsman that couldn’t keep his mouth shut. Nacern seemed to explain as much as he understood of it any way. Victor hadn't really cared. “You might be seeing me real soon after tonight,” Victor told her with an amused grin. He was a big drinker, especially when it came to drinking games.

The security officer followed Kat over to the bar with a sneer on his face as he recalled her Vicky comment.

“It’s Victor or Ghost. You call me Vicky again, and you’re not gonna wake up in your bedroom tonight,” he threatened. She could have taken that however she wanted.

There were boxes behind the bar that Victor crouched next to. He pried one open and hefted a bottle out by the neck.

“Got some ancient stuff here,” he said, setting the bottle of Captain Morgan on the counter top.

He pulled over the next box that felt like a Christmas gift to find bottles of a modern beer called Lunar Eclipse. It resembled milk but it bore a bright glow like the moon, which made it very popular with the ladies. It was pretty much a Smirnoff Ice. Victor set a bottle on the counter in Kat’s direction. It was also known to be a pussy drink.

“There you go. Get your lips wet,” Victor said with an amused smirk.

 

[HotCider]

Rita Jackson

Rita noticed Adam’s raised hand and she crossed her hands before her lap.

“Yes, Mr. Walker?” she questioned.

I have four questions…What was the nature of the research being conducted by the Galileo’s crew, do we expect to find any survivors, is there any available technical data for the Galileo, and is there any indication of what may be wrong or what may have caused it?

“The Galileo was on a mission to research a new form of iridium said to have been discovered in the asteroids about the Gaddis system. I don’t know much more than that. It has been ten years since the Galileo disappeared from our tracers. If the crew managed to survive that long, then I don’t see why they couldn’t get the Galileo back online. I don’t know what we are to expect. Unfortunately Mr. Walker, we do not know what may have gone wrong and that is why Dr. Denver sent us here to find out.”

To spare dimming the lights on the rest of the crew, since some were helping themselves to the bar, Rita informed, “There is information that explains the type of engine, thrusters, warp drive, and energy the Galileo uses. You can download that information from Odysseus’s mainframe.”

 

[Nordican]

Corcin with Kat and Victor at the bar.

Once Corcin heard that they could get the information directly from the mainframes he figured he was good to go as far as his knowledge base was concerned.

He followed Kat and Victor over to the bar and began searching for the darkest beer available to them. As he heard the man's comment about being Vicky Corcin beat back a laugh with an easy bemused grin. All these security types were so pent up hard asses, Kat being the exception to the rule. It was the first day of the mission and a holiday and already everyone was just barring their teeth and throwing their weight around to show off just who was the uber alphas of the group.

He located the darkest beer avaiable and took a drink quickly just to get the fluid into his system to ease off the tension in his body from the deep sleep. He turned over to the Doc for a moment and gave her an inviting grin and a wave of his hand to invite her over since so far she had seemed pretty easy going and it was always smart to have doctors on your side rather than against you.

 

[Nibbles_n_Tits]

Dr. Grace Weston - Mess Hall

with Kitty, Corky, and Vicky

Grace smiled and shook her head as Kat sauntered boldly over to the bar and watched as the others joined the exuberant red-head. She wondered, for a moment, if it was the enticement of an open bar that pushed questions and concerns out of the minds of the others – in that case Miss Rita pulled off a brilliant opening maneuver – or if there really was just nothing to be concerned about. Upon serious but brief consideration she struck upon what seemed most likely- there were things to be concerned about but nothing to be done about them. So what if the Company wasn’t giving out all the information it had? All you could do was the job you were here to do.

And as long as no one gets hurt, I’ve got the easiest job of all -. Stay out of the fuckin’ way.

Still, as her gaze passed over her crew-mates, she instinctively matched faces to the medical files. Prosthetics, enhancements, replacements… medicine bordering on engineering and vice versa meant she had familiarized herself with some pretty impressive tech. Now that the bits were starting to match to real people she had a sudden urge to go over the specs again and considered grabbing a beer and taking it back to her quarters for a little reading. That is until a friendly wave from Corcin reminded her that medicine is really about people.

She joined in at the scrounging through the offerings, “I don’t want any of that glowing blue stuff. It looks too much like the standard treatment for the Anthelian Pox for my tastes.”

She didn’t expect to find a nice, quiet IPA, so she settled on a shot glass and a bottle of vodka.

“Shooters anyone?”

Unmindful of how the synthetic alcohol would sit on her near empty stomach, Grace decided she would go it alone, if she had to and poured herself a shot. She tipped it back and smiled as the drink forged a warm path down her throat and to her stomach - where it landed with a rather heavy thud. It was easy to smile when you knew you had access to all the best hang-over cures.

"Not bad. Not good but not bad." She held up the bottle and looked around before pouring out another shot.

 

[Nordican]

With fellow Booze hounds Grace, Kat and Victor at the Mess Hall bar.

Corcin gave the doctor a slightly surprised when Weston just came over and pounded straight vodka. He took a short swig of the dark beer he had located and enjoyed the rich taste before he found another shot glass and put his next to hers as she prepared another round.

"Can't let you drink alone. Who knows what sort of trouble you'd get into that I'd miss." He said with a easy smile to the blonde haired blue eyed woman as she poured the drink. Corcin did not really make a habit of drinking vodka straight up but to back down now would be tantamount to social suicide.

As the liquid filled the glass Corcin tapped the glass to Weston's in a show of camaraderie. "Merry Christmass Doc." He said before he poured the drink down the hatch half and enjoying and half inwardly kicking himself when the drink traveled down his throat. 'That's the ticket.' He said and then shook his head slightly.

 

[Light Ice]

Colton Ford - Brig & Wandering the Halls

There was little puff within the briefing and The Director moved along, touching points, and releasing the crew in nearly the same breath. She'd been content to leave it with the essence of brevity intact before the questions came. Good ones. Still, for his part in this, Colton needed to do little actual thinking. His instructions were to keep the ship and its crew members safe while following orders. They were not so different than what he was used to.

Lionheart, quiet now, remained as he was. The man's seat had been casual throughout the incident. Even now, as Colton rose and moved to stand beside him, he did not appear entirely distressed with the turn of events he'd found himself in.

It had never been Colton's intention to become a glorified cop. When he'd been younger, growing up, he'd dreamed of college and books. In his future he'd envisioned a wife and family and a quiet living that he worked diligently at. There was a certain reward in the simplicity of academia and the mediocre, albeit noble, living of the blue collar family. The trouble had began in High School when adventure had begun to superior to drudgery and universities seemed unreachable. The prices, the time. He would have made the latter but could not have measured the former. He'd taken his Enlistment as a means to an end.

The Helmsman rose without argument. "Walking gladly" as he'd threatened and making Colton's job easy.

They did not speak along the way, not even as the noise of the Mess faded and they were alone in the ship's long corridors. It was strange to feel familiar with this place. It was different now, here, hundreds of billions of miles from the place he'd called home. Even in the briefing, two years ago, he'd only had a few brief tours of the ship's hallways.

Unarmed, Colton forced himself alert. It was difficult to shake off the fog of cryosleep but danger, or rather its potential, helped him. The years at war had only sharpened his appreciation of how quickly, how suddenly, a man could find himself in a bad way. Everything, over time, was a potential danger. At the right moment, with the right angle, a man otherwise untrained could slip a knife into you. He reminded himself that as they moved. There was no complacency.

The Brig was not large by any standard. It was, however, clean, and Colton found himself relieved it was equipped to humanely handle someone. Some ships he had travelled on had naught but cages, concrete.

The pair parted once Lionheart was secured.

And wayward, Colton wandered. The clammer of the mess and the promise of drunken strangers did nothing to entice him. Instead, he climbed back to the crew decks lazily and wound himself through the lengthy corridors.

 

[HotKittygirl]

Kat @ the bar with Ghost, Grace, & Corky

The big man followed after Kat and she could hear the sneer in that rumbling tone. It only brought out that knowing smirk of a smile, slightly lopsided, tugging at the left side of her lips as she shot Victor a sidelong glance, those crimson orbs still smoldering slightly.

“What a pick up line. Anytime you wanna rumble, Ghost, I’m game;” Her voice was cool and even, if it had been a threat her tone gave no indication of such. She even held that smirk as she gave him a once over. Her emphasis on his nickname couldn’t be denied. Regardless of their little pissing contest the two easily fell into line when it came to finding the booze. Kat sauntered up to the bar and leaned over it, the tanktop clinging to her ample swells and offering a rather tempting display of her modest bust. She peered over the bar and watched Victor as he opened their Christmas presents, pulling out an ancient bottle with a smiling pirate. She couldn’t help but laugh, lifting the bottle and giving it a once over.

“An oldie but a goodie. Nothin’ stronger in there? It’s fuckin’ Christmas!” She called out before setting the bottle back down before her gaze turned to Corky. He was an odd one, she wasn’t sure about him even as he found his drink and cracked it open. Those crimson orbs took in the helmsmen briefly before Victor set down Lunar Eclipse before her and offered that stupid smirk of his.

“I piss harsher stuff than this,” She snorted, those crimson orbs flaring briefly as she shot him a rather annoyed glance. “I’ll get my lips wet on that shit when you get your dick wet on me.”

Though before she could go further Grace joined the group, though Kat wouldn’t complain. She could understand the woman’s job at least and knew the value of them. And hell, getting on the good side of the doctor on board couldn’t hurt; she had access to all the good pills! The security officer laughed and hooted as the good doctor downed herself a shot of vodka like a champ.

“Thatta girl. Keep that up and you’ll be dancin’ on this bar soon enough,” She teased lightly, shooting a glance back at Victor as she leaned casually on the bar. “So we better start a game before everyone gets to thrashed to play.”

 

[Nordican]

Corcin just noticed the crimson eyes glancing over him for a moment and he gave Kat a small smile. He made a point to ask her about them sometime. A small grin played over his features hearing her comment concerning the Lunar Eclipse

He thought about the mission for a moment as his eyes returned over to the briefing display. Corcin felt a bit of pride in being part of the crew that would be the first to explore the mysterious vessel. The potential bonuses involved if they found out why the ship was lost or something really important on that would likely make the entire crew famous once they got back to Earth. The idea had a certain appeal to Corcin thinking he would probably end up famous and hopefully rich enough to buy his own private ship. The thoughts were nudged aside when Kat made the comment about the doctor finding herself dancing on the bar top and Corcin gave Grace a small grin at the thought.

"Probably a smart move." Corcin said to Kat with a small blink of his eyes that seemed to take a little bit too long as he just fought back the feel of the drink. He wasn't a light weight but he didn't generally drink vodka so he tried to mentally prepare himself for the possible onslaught.

"What we playing? FUBAR? Quarters?" He said quickly trying to cover up the little motion knowing he was around perceptive people as he stood at the bar.

 

[Sylnaeve]

Nadia ate steadily throughout the Ship Director's briefing; less out of appetite and more out of knowing she needed to give her body something to work with. Her knife or fork would occasionally twitch if food or sauce slipped from a crew member's tray or utensil onto the table but she was able to contain her impulses to immediately wipe it up and instead focus on the briefing.

It was both very informative and not informative at all. While Engineer Walker's questions and Miss Jackson's answer helped clear it up a bit, it also left a lot still vague or uncertain. There were very few things that could have caused such a total collapse without any communication getting back about it; and out of those she could think of, none of them would have left an intact ship to find or investigate. Was there more that Oracle knew but was withholding?

It wouldn't be above them or Doctor Denver to do so. Nadia had worked for Oracle her entire professional career and had loyalty to her company but she also knew what they were capable of. And that their loyalty to their people only went so far.

Still, as much as it sounded like it would be very grim and risky work...it was exciting! This was why she'd gone to work for Oracle in the first place, the chance to do some honest to goodness space adventure!

After the briefing, a quartet of the crew went to the bar, as well as two men off; the navigator Lionheart apparently going to the brig. What had she missed? It wasn't exactly an auspicious start to the trip to have one of the navigators going into the clink for a few hours...

Nadia finished the rest of her food quickly, choking it down and then rose as well. She deposited her dishes in the appropriate locations, swinging by the group at the bar and grinning as the remaining navigator, Corcin Nacern if she remembered right, asked what drinking game they'd be playing. "Count me in for a game or two if you're all still standing when I get back." She wanted to join in right now...but if there was to be drinking and what might follow afterward, she should attend to a lab check now rather than in the morning before they were all supposed to report.

With another wave, the brunette scientist slipped out of the Mess Hall and into the hallway heading towards the lab with purpose. She'd check the supplies and the equipment and then get back to the party. She wasn't a party type in many ways, but...but it was so alive and vital there! She needed that after another two years in cryo sleep. God, how old was she now? From a technical standpoint, she'd be...

Nadia shuddered as she walked into the lab and reached to tap the datalink hair pins pinned to her breast pocket, "Christmas music, nontraditional, volume four." A few moments later, sound poured forth from the tiny computers at about the sound of a person singing softly, a speed metal version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen."

Humming along, Nadia activated the lab's mainframe with a wave of her hand; starting to scroll through the inventory to check and take stock.

 

[EuphoricDysphoria]

Rylee Scott: Engineer - En route to the bar area

Rylee nodded politely to Adam and then returned to her room, rifling through her pack until she found her deck of cards, a box of battered chips and one of her very few cigars. She had some cigarettes stashed too and there had to be somewhere she could smoke without being collared by Rita. Rita was a hardass, there was no two ways about it. Rylee regarded her cigar wistfully and then packed it away once more. Better that it languished in here than for Rita to toss it in an incinerator. Instead she retrieved her electronic cigar, an authentic looking enough cigar that delivered a nicotine hit without creating any smoke. The tip glowed and then dimmed as Rylee took an experimental puff. Two years hadn't appeared to do it any harm. She missed the taste of cigar-smoke though.

Rylee puffed on her cigar as she strode back to the Mess Hall and headed for the bar, holding her deck of cards up to see if anyone was interested.

"So, they got any scotch or bourbon?" She smiled broadly. Rylee turned to a tall man with green eyes. "What's FUBAR? I mean... I know what it means but what's the game?"

Rylee pawed through the supplies of alcohol until she found a bottle of single malt.

"Ooh Oracle can afford the good shit." She smiled, pouring a generous shot into a tumbler and taking the cigar from her lips long enough to knock it back.

 

[Nordican]

Corcin grinned at the girl with dark blonde hair even when his eyes went to the cigar. "Careful with that. Little Miss Oracle is my God already took Kat's favorite poison away earlier and tossed it in an incinerator." He said hoping to just keep any more potential between the crew and director. He didn't even know the girl yet but he didn't want to risk pissing off the director for fear she'd be a total buzz kill and lock up the bar.

'On Christmas no less.' He thought with indignation as he gave the girl a smile as he nodded to the malt.

"Basically a combination of lot of other drinking game. You got thumbmaster, I never, rhyming. Lots of easy ways to end up getting to see who likes to make their friends suffer. I'm Corcin by the way." He said making sure to give his name before he was too far gone to recall simple manners of introduction.