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”Yes, that is the moniker that you’ve chosen to use, isn’t it, Prisoner 46257?” Tellestria replies to Mayhem with obvious disdain. ”I personally have never worked with astrazoans before, but I do note that AbadarCorp had high hopes for finding use for your unique talents. It seems that they continue to hold out such hopes - as, I expect, do your fellow crew mates.” He sniffs and levels a flat stare at Mayhem’s jubilant smile.
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Mayhem's features sag, as if they have turned to putty, then spring into a guise that is nearly indistinguishable from Tellestria's
Mayhem/Tellestria sticks out his/her tongue at Tellestria prime, then retracts it and starts staring suggestively at one of her escorts.
He/she bends over laughing, and when they straighten again Mayhem's familiar features are once again in place.
Asenath suddenly feels a prickle on the back of her neck, noticing an almost expectant lull in the conversation behind her. Tearing her attention away from the charms of Officer Derrett and his tale of roommate woe, she swivels her head impossibly back to peek over her shoulder.
Ezra Tellestria, her boss -- in all his foppish, resting-b~&*%-face glory, stands among the rest of the crew, cutting her -- and apparently the defiant one -- the insincere smile and subtly punishing stink eye she remembers all too well from pilot corps orientation.
Whoops, she breathes, trying not to blanch. She turns back to Derrett -- wouldn't do to appear too whipped in front of Mister Face Down on the Ground -- with an apologetic grin. "Looks like we need to cut this short," she whispers to the amused guard. (Those eyes! That smile!) Then, more loudly, "Drinks when I get back? You're not allowed to say no." She taps a stern finger on his chest and reseats her bag, turning away. "Bring the roomie!"
Putting on her best look of unconcern, the pilot bridges the few steps over to join the group, sensing she's just missed some sort of... shenanigan. This might not be so dull after all.
She nods at the boss. "Brother Tellestria," she lobs into the silence. "A pleasure."
There, you see? I can match you smirk for smirk. Don't give us that smarmy look; I'll get your precious whatever-you're-sending-us-for back safely.
[b] "And please accept my apologies; what did I miss?" [\b]
Jarix shudders at Mayhem's display of his? Its? race's ability. He takes a step back in disgust.
"Work release. Its better than the alternative, but only just."
Mayhem shrugs, not really making an effort to remove Mallura's hand from his arm.
"Besides, haven't you heard? I've been rehabilitated. Nothing but clean living and the straight and narrow path for me now!"
He gestures as if to take in the whole docking bay.
"See? Not even one injury."
Wink.
Mallura looks Mayhem up and down, her eye squinted in disbelief.
"Bull-fleem," she says flatly. "Listen, Mayhem, this whole gig is a distraction for me. Unlike you, I'm actually here to straighten up and get my life on track. I have people who count on me, so no funny business, alright?"
Mallura's antennae twitch as she sends a message to Mayhem, Dammit, Mayhem! What did I say about funny business?
Trying to master her frustration, Mallura steps forward and gives Tellestria a slight bow, "Mallura Barbinis, Mr. Tellestria," she says warmly. "I believe I've been brought on as the captain for the crew you've brought together. I'll do my very best to keep them in line so we can get the job done, sir!"
Leaning against the ship with his arms crossed at his chest, JD regards Tellestria as he speaks.
The drone floating silently beside him shifts his iris to a brown colour, and whispers quietly to JD "αυτός ο τύπος είναι ένας κώλο"
ήσυχο ρομπότ He snaps back under his breath. but he's right, this guy in an ass
"Prisoner 46257"
well, that explains alot.
He continues to watch the Tellestria and the crew interacting in front of him, sizing up the group. He remains silent.
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The AbadarCorp manager stares flatly at Mayhem's antics. He glances down at his data pad and sighs deeply.
"Mallura Barbinis, Mr. Tellestria. I believe I've been brought on as the captain for the crew you've brought together. I'll do my very best to keep them in line so we can get the job done, sir!"
Tellestria looks up at the lashunta damaya woman with a tight-lipped smile. "Yes, Miss Barb. It seems that you're good at making rash decisions without consulting others - like naming yourself the captain of this crew. Those types of moves are what landed you here, correct?"
The thin-lipped smile gets thinner. "Let me disabuse you of any notion that the Estex Corporation will be able to free you from any further entanglements in which you find yourself during our contractual employment 'arrangement'. Do worry about keeping yourself in line first, please."
A strixian woman steps over to join the group. Ezra Tellestria breaks his stare at Mallura and cocks an eyebrow at the address.
"I can assure you, Ms Asenath, that there's no known social order - familial, organisational, or collegial - that would account for sibling-hood between us. Your crash course in piloting will hopefully make you minimally useful to the crew of this AbadarCorp star vessel. And much in the same way that Miss Barb will be keeping her hasty executive control in check, I will trust to a reasonable extent that you will be keeping your recently-liberated libido in check. I hope we are clear on this matter."
The manager sniffs at the silent scowl from the mechanic conversing with the droid and pitches his voice into a tone suitable for a schoolmaster addressing the back of the classroom.
"You must be Jeryn Power. I recognise you from your lack of social graces and your metal pet. Would you like to introduce yourself to your fellow crew mates, or are you content to remain as you are here on Absalom Station: indistinguishable?"
Mallura glares daggers at the AbadarCorp representative as he dresses her down. Worse still, however, are the insults the "caring" manager hurls at Asenath and Jeryn. She didn't know the first thing about either of these people, but she was none too keen on this attitude of Tellestria's--as if he owned each of them and was getting a kick out of breaking them down.
Still, she thinks to herself, It won't do any good to let him get a rise out of me. Just have to play it cool for now Barb. With any luck, he'll just hurry up and give us our assignment, then we can be done with him for as long as this fleem-show lasts.
Asenath favors Ezra with an obedient, deferential smile -- and a cheeky salute, popping ramrod straight and touching a black wingtip to her right temple.
“Yes sir! No fraternizing with the boss, sir! Thank you for your feedback! You need have no concerns on that account. And may I offer again my apologies -- I was rather thinking of your pastoral relationship to your crew, as a superior in the Church of Abadar. I won't think of it again.”
Aaaaaand just like that you’ve absolved us of any obligation to have a shred of respect for you, Ezra. Way to go, Middle Management Screwup!
She cuts her eyes to the lashunta woman -- captain, yes, called it and favors her with a wink.
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"My associate and I were just discussing how excited we were to make way on this wonderful ship you've provided for us" He sais as he uncrosses his arms, pats the ship fondly and stands up straight.
Without considering if Tellestria bought his white lie, he faces his new crew and looks to each one of them as he speaks.
"I am J.D. Power, and my companion's chosen name is Shimoda-Uxbridge, however he prefers Sh-Ux."
When his eyes meet Miss Barb he nods and in castrovlian, speaks a single word of greeting.
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Aaaaaand just like that you’ve absolved us of any obligation to have a shred of respect for you, Ezra. Way to go, Middle Management Screwup!
She cuts her eyes to the lashunta woman -- captain, yes, called it and favors her with a wink.
As if sensing Asenath's growing disdain for Tellestria through that wink, Mallura arcs an eyebrow at the strixian, No need to send him into more of a rampage,[i] she seems to say with her look.
When his eyes meet Miss Barb he nods and in castrovlian, speaks a single word of greeting.
Mallura meets JD's gaze and nods in return. [i]This one at least seems to have a level head and can see that this moron isn't worth the trouble, she thinks. Speaking of which...
Mallura's gaze snaps back to Tellestria, her face now set in determined defiance. She steps forward from the line-up of her crew, moving quickly forward until her face is barely a foot from her manager's, then turns to face the crew. "Mr. Tellestria is right," she begins firmly. "I may have been presumptuous to assume that I would be your captain. For that, I apologize. However, I do hope to prove that I was not wrong in presenting myself as the most capable candidate for the job."
She turns on her heels in an almost military fashion and begins to stride back and forth in front of the crew, addressing each of them with her eyes as much as her words. "First of all, as Mr. Tellestria showed you, I do also go by Miss Barb, if you care to use that name. But you can call me whatever seems right. More importantly than what I'm called, though, is what I hope to do if you do assent to name me captain. First of all, I plan to stand up for you. No matter what the circumstance, no matter who is coming after you," she pauses and shoots a glance over her shoulder at Tellestria, "I plan to be there to take the hits right along with you."
Miss Barb stops pacing and stands near the manager once again, "Aside from that, I plan to keep us moving forward until this job is done. And in that regard," she turns once again and lays a withering eye on Tellestria. "If you're quite done insulting us, sir, I think you mentioned something about telling us about the colony where we're headed, as well as the objectives for our mission. I think we are ready to hear them now."
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Tellestria smiles very differently at Mallura after her speech.
”It would be my pleasure to tell you about the colony that is your mission, Miss Barbinis, but I haven’t met your whole crew yet.”
His tone is sweet and somewhat plaintive. He then returns his cold level gaze at the dreadlocked man carrying the leather attaché case.
Something seems...off about Tellestria's change in tone, but Barb can't quite put a finger on this guy. Too much flash distracting me, she thinks as the station lights glint off of his armor.
Jarix looks between Barb and Tellestria as they work out their differences. He doesn't care who is what as long as he gets off this station. "You said she's not the captain. Who will be? You?"
A sour look comes over Mayhem's face as the talk of captainship starts.
"I can't think of anything worse than being in charge of something."
"I'm Lih Soloroh"
As he says his name, Lih furtively looks over the faces of those assembled for any glimmer of recognition.
Soloroh was an uncommon name, and he looked similar to the portraits of his grandfather, despite the Korashan hormones. Not a dead ringer, but unmistakable if you were looking for it.
'Captain' Ilaran Soloroh. He of course rose much higher than that in his time in the military and even higher when he entered civilian politics, but he never dropped the moniker. The perfect blend of decisiveness, approachability, and competence.
Well apparently here I am with the chance to become the next 'Captain Soloroh' myself. I wonder what he'd expect me to say here.
The old man had a whole slew of inspirational quotes, and like the best quotes always are, they were somehow both universally applicable and completely without unifying theme. Are you supposed to find your place and serve with humility, or take charge and author the future? Either way, Iralin Soloroh's got you covered, and there's someone happy to sell you a glossy black-and-white portrait with whichever guiding philosophy best fits your mood.
Of course, seeing as Lih was a Soloroh, Ilarin would probably say that 'finding his place' and 'taking command' were one and the same.
Well, sorry to disappoint, gramps. At least you have plenty of other grandchildren to put the Soloroh name on books, paychecks, and ballots.
"We're not seriously deciding who's going to be captain? We take off in less than an hour. Did you pick our names out of a hat, Tellestria?"
"Anyway. Since there are two Lashunta here I can only assume that means there's a lot of science to do."
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"Yes, Lih Soloroh. I'm not sure what hat that I would have pulled your name from - I'm not sure that I wear those types of hats." The manager takes a moment to smirk universally at the gathered crew. He then flips his handheld data-pad at the crew with a graceful motion of his wrist, projecting a hologram of a green-planet into the space between you.
"Your mission is to secure and salvage the AbadarCorp colonial expedition to this unnamed planet, known as Colony-753. The outpost was established in the initial glut of colonial exploration and expansion stemming from the discovery of Drift travel. Colony-753 registered domain rights with AbadarCorp upon arrival, but few communications attempts are logged after this, and none within the past two hundred years."
The hologram rotates and a red beacon indicates the site of the initial colony on the surface of the planet. Tellestria continues.
"The planet has a standard atmospheric composition and a mass two-thirds that of Castrovel or Verces. The core of the planet contains considerable magnetic ore reserves. As such, gravity is approximately twice the Intergalactic Gravity Standard, and more in rocky environments. Fortunately for your mission, you won't be travelling into any mountainous regions. The planet maintains an orbit to its nearest star of approximately 350 days and a rotation of 24 hours, so you shouldn't find temporal acclimation difficult."
Tellestria snaps the datapad shut, ending the holographic projection.
"As some of you who have experienced Drift travel know, the distances inherent to this form of space exploration are extreme. You will be on the very edge of mapped space; you will be alone and left to your own machinations. AbadarCorp has provided you with this knowledge as a means of divesting itself of responsibility for your acquired infirmary under Article 301a of the Employee Contract. Your account with AbadarCorp will be credited the compensation due - be it monetary or societal credit - upon completion of your mission. Implicit to this completion condition will be a mission debriefing interview with your local operations manager -" here, Ezra Tellestria does a small curtsy - "as detailed under article 751 of the Employee Contract. Full information, including the comprehensive literature of the Employee Contract, can be found on the Sphere. You are now officially cleared and called to work for AbadarCorp. So it has been written."
Tellestria looks at each of you in turn, then steps sideways into thin air and disappears. The cadre of armoured AbadarCorp guards peels off and marches away, leaving you, your crew, Twizzle, and a few gawking onlookers in their wake.
Twizzle fishes a small datapad device out of one of her cheek pockets and glances at it.
"You all got about tree quarters of an hour before you scheduuued launch window. I'm happy to stick around to hepp."
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A small latch on the front right side of the drone opens and a single manipulator arm telescopes out. It's three fingered hand makes an ancient and very rude human gesture where Tellestria once stood.
Mayhem looks around at his fellow crewmates.
"Well, lets go kick the tires!"
As he walks toward the ship his form melts and shifts into that of Ezra Tellestria, crossing his eyes and sticking his tongue out of the side of his mouth. Mayhem/Tellestria then fishes out his comm unit and holds it up to take a selfie. He flips the unit around and begins futzing with the device.
And posted.
Shortly thereafter an animated image of Tellestria appears on the local infosphere with the caption, "My name might not be Ezra Tellestria, but isn't this the face of a complete and total prat?"
Mayhem's features shift back to normal. He spins on his heels and walks backward for a short way so he can look at his crewmates.
"You need to savor the little things in life."
He tosses the comm unit into the air, catching it as he spins back to continue walking toward the ship.
Jarix turns and goes into the ship. "Are the bunks assigned or should I just pick one?"
JD regards the drone with a smirk and shakes his head. He turns and follows Jarix into the ship
"Are the bunks assigned or should I just pick one?"
"We should get the big one, there's two of us" JD tells Jarix with a laugh, motioning to the drone following him quietly up the ramp.
He stops to regard the news quickly "A hero's welcome. Maybe we'll get the same when we return, but after that little pep talk I can't help but feel like we're all expendable"
He stops to regard the news quickly "A hero's welcome. Maybe we'll get the same when we return, but after that little pep talk I can't help but feel like we're all expendable"
"You don't need to feel it," Verne replies to the human, emboldened by the disappearance of their less than inspiring employer, "It's a fact."
If you have nothing to lose, does it make it easier to gain?
He surveys the others, then turns to Twizzle. "The first stop on this tour appears to be the sleeping quarters, however I'd like to inspect the science and laboratory capabilites of the Venture..."
I suppose I'd better ask Barbinis whether I am the science officer aboard this vessel. I'd just assumed.
As Verne speaks, he trails off as a new thought enters his mind. He looks over the red and silver hull with a finger paused over his chin. "Does she have a name?"
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Twizzle replies to Verne's question as she leads the crew through the new ship.
"Yeah, uh da ship doesn't have a proper name. AbadarCorp ships all take on unique alphanumehic identificators. Dis ship is identified as MRM3350, but hey, if you gonna go to Near Space, you can call da ship whatever you like, right?"
She jerks a clawed thumb at the physical science lab on the ship for Verne's interest.
"Here's you lab. Pretty well set-up for chemistry, geology, physics, and other such studies. Not so good for medical stuff."
Mayhem wanders into the third set of crew quarters with a double bunk and jumps into the bottom bunk.
Of course, why would you make it comfortable?
He crosses his legs and clasps his hands behind his head as he stares up at the bottom of the top bunk.
How did I manage to wind up here?
He shrugs.
Oh well, better make the best of it.
"This whole day has been an ordeal. Wake me up when something exciting happens."
Mayhem closes his eyes and drifts off to sleep.
Seeing Mayhem peel off into a room, JD turns back to Jarix quietly tells him "ok, now I'm not joking about the big room"
He gives an imlressed whistle when he looks into the physical science Bay with Verne.
"Twizzle, is the engineering station on the birdge or is there a dedicated engine and power core room where I can set up shop. I'd like to run my own diagnostics before we set off"
Jarix is fine with whichever room JD picks out. He even gives the mechanic first choice of bunks. "I just need a space for my stuff. I'm excited to be traveling the black to anyplace else."
He tries to make himself useful. Jarix sees about doing an inventory of the holds. He has an ulterior motive as well. He's looking for a good place to practice.
"Roommates, huh?" Barb asks as Twizzle leads the team aboard the ship. "Well, Asenath, shall we ladies stick together? Let one of the boys take the solo room?"
After getting her sleeping arrangements ironed out and drops off her gear, she asks Twizzle to show her to the bridge. "I suppose I made a pretty big show of being the captain out there, but to be honest, I've never commanded a ship before," she confides to the ysoki. "Any advice?"
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”Don’t crash,” Twizzle quips back to Mallura.
Twizzle shows JD the engineering station on the bridge and Jarix the gymnasium/training room adjacent to Verne’s quarters. She then makes to step off the ship.
”Get her back here in one piece and odds are you will be, too,” the ysoki offers as a last bit of advice before she exits. The main hatch closes after her.
A radio call alert identified as ‘Absalom Station Control Prime’ flashes on the bridge main computer as a male voice sounds across the onboard PA: ”AbadarCorp Vessel MRM3500, this is Absalom Station Control Prime. Your launch window is t-minus 10 minutes. Execute pre-ignition manoeuvres and ready your stations. Please acknowledge.”
After placing his meager belongings into the solo cabin, Verne strides onto the bridge. He takes a moment to linger over the chair, control panels, and display screen.
It's not much, but it's going to be my home for Yaraesa knows how long.
"Miss Barb," he addresses the lashunta, "I'm uncertain of the extent to which you, as the captain, have had access to our personal records. Given the current positions available, I believe my skills would be best put to use if I were to assume the position of science officer."
Mayhem cracks an eye open.
Two minutes. That isn't much of a nap, but it's probably going to be the best I'll get before we take off.
After considering his options for a few moments, Mayhem kicks out of the bunk and makes his way to the bridge.
After all, no rest for the wicked.
He hums tunelessly to himself as he strolls along the corridor.
"Miss Barb," he addresses the lashunta, "I'm uncertain of the extent to which you, as the captain, have had access to our personal records. Given the current positions available, I believe my skills would be best put to use if I were to assume the position of science officer."
"I haven't seen anyone's files, Verne," Miss Barb replies with a note of exasperation, "I'm coming into this as cold as everybody else, except Asenath maybe, who seems like she had some training in piloting from AbadarCorp before she came aboard. If you think you'll be a competent S.O., then man your station. It sounds like Station Control is ready for us to shove off, and I'm not interested in hanging around any longer than necessary."
When she reaches the bridge and doesn't find Asenath there already, Barb opens the communications channel back to Station Control. "This is AbadarCorp Vessel MRM3500, Station Control. We're just getting settled in quickly and are starting up pre-ignition now."
She glides over to Asenath's station and flips a few switches to start the engines warming up, then turns on the ship's internal PA system and calls out to the rest of the crew. "Alright, everyone, this is your captain speaking. We've got less than eight minutes until our launch window. I'd like Asenath on the bridge right away to get us on our way, then once we're clear of the station, I'd like everyone on the bridge so we can sort out who's doing what. Okay...that's all." She sets down the PA handset and heads back to take her seat. Well, that was an order I think. I guess that does make me a captain. Well, assuming people actually listen.
Verne nods and sits at a nearby console.
Done with his inventory much sooner than he thought he would be, Jarix goes to the bridge and finds a seat at a gunner's station.
JD investigates the engineering console to check the status of the power core and sheilds.
He verifies that yes, there is a power core.
I guess it'll take me a little while to figure out the U.I.
Looks like AbadarCorp has added alot of bloatware to the basic Kevy interface. I wonder if there's a shipboard AI that can help
"Ship, do you have an onboard AI with vocal interface? What is the status of the power core and sheilds" He asks the air without any fear of looking foolish.
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Mallura rocks back in the seat at the helm position as she finishes her shipboard announcement, her eyes resting on the Drift engine controls of the piloting console. At that moment, Asenath arrives on the bridge and hurries over, cracking her knuckles in anticipation as she does so.
Verne serenely clicks through a triangulated exploration of the quadrant of space where the crew will be travelling as JD monitors thruster performance during his diagnostic analysis of the launch initiative of the Kevolari Venture ship.
Jarix marvels over his discoveries in the cargo hold on his way to the bridge. Lih stows his belongings in his quarters as Mayhem gets restless and wanders out of their shared quarters towards the bridge.
"AbadarCorp Vessel MRM3500, your launch window is t-minus 5 minutes. Power up Drift engine and enter coordinates."
"Alrgith, Miss Asenath, I started her up for you. Time for you to take the helm."
Miss Barb turns in her seat to find JD at the engineering station, "All systems go, JD?"
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"Auto-pilot Drift spring off module initiated," a female robotic voice announces over the PA system in response to a few jabs at the engineering station from JD. A low but rising hum permeates the air throughout the ship. "Coordinates detected. Calculating Drift time."
"AbadarCorp Vessel MRM3500, t-minus 2 minutes to your launch window. You will observe Intergalactic Pact Worlds Drift Launch regulations and only engage Drift capacity once physically cleared of Absalom Station. Please acknowledge."
Ahead of the nose of the ship (and visible to everyone on the bridge), the outline of the transparent window onto space outside of Dock 42 begins periodically flashing yellow. Asenath feels the controls of the ship jerk to life under her guidance as the gravity lock disengages from beneath the ship and the landing gear retracts.
The ship rotates slowly across the floor of Docking Bay 42, the nose smoothly following the automated launch arrows helpfully flashing across the main view-screen under the seemingly-expert control of the strix pilot.
Whew... close one
JD looks up at Miss Barb with a smile as of he knew what he was doing the whole time.
"All systems green, Captain. Looks like 9 days in the drift to the colony"
Nine days?! Just to get there?! Ugh...it's gonna take forever for me to get back to work.
"Very good. Thank you, JD. Asenath, once we have the all clear from Station Control, take her out and engage Drift drive." Mallura's voice rings out clear and steady, with a note of gentleness to it that makes every order a request for a simple favor from a dear friend. Yet the directness of her words tells you that there is more power there than might be initially expected, like a softly flowing stream that runs into a frothing rapids before tumbling into a powerful waterfall.
More than anything else, though, her entire presence demands attention.
Lih, after putting away his luggage, finds his place on the bridge.
"Nine days? Did anyone look at the entertainment suite we have onboard? Nine days could be a very long time."
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As the cosmos turns, may we feel your silence in our hearts. Help us to dispel tiredness, overcome difficulty. Build relationship, inspire diligence. Deliver excellence, develop trust, merit praise. Watch over us as we journey the spaces between. Beloved Shadow, may we be the light of your love.
Asenath eases herself into her station. She folds her wings neatly around the back of the pilot's cradle, stretches out her arms, and flexes each of her fingers in turn. "I'll teach you to cook if you like, Jarix," she offers idly, most of her attention drawn away by her controls.
She pulls on a connected set of delicate wire gauntlets. At the final clearance from Docking control, she draws and holds a deep breath, eyes locked on the holographic display. Green energy crackles from her fingertips and ripples in her eyes as she collapses her concentration down to an intense mutual awareness with the navigation system.
Asenath raises her hands, her fingers dancing and flashing like the flight of a pair of butterflies. In response, the ship begins to ease itself silently along the cleared pathway to the hangar airlock.
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"AbadarCorp Vessel MRM3500, your launch window opens in t-minus ten seconds....nine.....eight.....seven....."
As the countdown begins, the outline of the physical launch window begins flashing red with a faster cadence. Pedestrians within the Docking Bay either move out of the launch zone or - in the case of launch attendants - sport pressurised helmets. The ship manoeuvres smoothly in front of the launch window, hovering off of the ground in anticipation.
".....six....five....four...."
With an anticlimactic crackle, the largely-invisible forcefield across the window of Docking Bay 42 dissolves. An attendant waves a green cone from the docking gate station at the ship. The craft glides forward through the now-open door under impulse power into the space just outside Docking Bay 42.
".....three.....two.....one.....AbadarCorp Vessel MRM3500, you are clear for Drift engine launch. Have a nice flight."
"Engage Drift drive and take us out, Ms. Asenath," Barb commands as she leans back in her seat. She takes a quick look around the bridge and notes where everyone is stationed.
Let's see, Asenath is piloting, Verne is at the SO station, and JD is on engineering. Jarix is already on a gun--nothing too surprising there, given his military background. Lih seems a bit out of place. Looks like he wants to take over for Verne, but has more of a gunner vibe to me. And Mayhem...where the hell is Mayhem? In a brief panic, Barb twists rapidly around in her chair until she spots Mayhem standing on the entry deck right above her, having just made it to the bridge after meandering down the corridor. She sighs heavily and thinks, Hmm...we'll see what he wants to do, but I seem to remember him being good with a ship's guns too. Well, I guess we'll figure it out a bit more once we get into the Drift.