Prologue
In Scene: Whichever characters you want (either or both)
The lounge of the OSF Guangzhou was normally a sterile, institutional kind of room, one large table, a few small tables, a couple of plants from Earth, Voom, and Samsara, and a nice if sanitized large viewport looking at the oncoming Drift Space as the Guangzhou soared on its mission.
But tonight, at 18:00, it had been transformed. The lighting had been muted, and more tables added to accommodate the entire crew at the same time. A buffet line was set up off to the starboard side of the room with literally dozens of options, and some lively jazz played over the speakers. Foot-tall cardboard letters in various bright colors read “Welcome Aboard New Officers and Crewmen.”
"New Officers and Crewmen" includes Dr. Ilrani Ezdottir Yusil, Lieutenant Rudo Clausius, and most of your secondary characters.
At the buffet line, a thirty-something non-commissioned officer and several crewmen are waiting to serve. A red-haired Lieutenant in Sciences division has just reached the front of the line.
"Good to see you again Lieutenant. Your face always brightens a room. Got some Southern style BBQ brisket here, fried green tomatoes, and some potato and leek soup down at the soup station. What can I get for you?" The man is very attentive, waiting for her response patiently despite the line queueing up.
"I guess since you went to the trouble, I’ll have to try your brisket and the tomatoes. And can I get some of the Samsaran mint curry over blue rice, as well," Janessa says confidently.
"You got it, at your service as always." He gives her a heaping helping of each.
Standing a head above most the human crew, Ilrani came dressed in her traditional Dakkaran silks. Dark blues and grey intermingled with the strange white mesh of fabric that clung to her neckline, like a spider's web draped over her shoulders like a shall. A black band traced her neck, a loop of silver that looked suspiciously akin to an engagement ring acting as it's clasp.
Black hair cut close to one's chin certainly wasn't the typical look of her kind, well known instead for their long silvered locks. Her current look was more an indicator of her time spent amongst humanity, having abandoned tradition to blend in more with Terran society.
Of all the things she'd adapted too, however, it was humanity's odd obsession with coating everything in breading to dunk within super-heated animal lard that never made a strong impression. Her nose curled at the wide spread of 'southern comfort' tended by Aldestein. "I'm hoping this isn't indicative of the crew's overall cholesterol levels. Half of my job is making sure you're not killing yourselves off before any of our unfriendly neighbors have the chance themselves."
"Ah, welcome to our new Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Yusil!" Adelstein says cheerfully as you approach the line.
"Fear not. I've got some nice cazza worms, stewed glow-lichen and slab shrooms over here. One of our cooks did an internship at the Dakkar embassy in Manhattan."
Yes, Sir. Indeed. If you could point all that out, sounds... interesting.
It was the Rudo Clausius, Head of Security. Athletically built, and a hand over six feet tall. But, something about him made him seem bigger, a certain gravity as if the universe conspired to place him where he was needed.
What he lacked in charm, he made up for in steadfastness.
I suppose that makes you the first line of defense, Doctor... takes some pressure off of me. I've heard there was "good" cholesterol and that cholesterol is actually required for proper brain function. Centuries old debate, I reckon. He smiles.
Once Adelstein points out the Dakkar delicacies, Rudo steers quite clear of them. His plate winding up heaped with meats and salads.
Before Yusil has a chance to retort - Doctor, please join me. It's not often he has to physically look up to folks.
She hums mildly, eyes glancing over the more familiar tastes and flavors. It'd been a long while since she'd had decently seasoned cäzarr, Richard had never cared for them. A corner of her lip pulled at the memory before she turned her focus. "I suppose I may as well. Rudo Clausius, was it? I've taken the liberty of familiarizing myself with everyone's medical records."
Before leaving the table, the woman ensured her plate had her personal favorites. A measured indulgence was fine on occasions such as this, she reasoned.
Rudo, Janessa... come! Bring your new friend! Oren's unassuming smile lit up the room.
She too was relatively tall for a human, but slight of build.
"Be right over, Oren. I'm gonna grab some sweet tea." Janessa had gotten to know the Ensign over the year since she'd been here.
She joins Oren, Rudo, and Dr. Yusil at the table. Being in the sciences, Lt. Williams had talked to Dr. Yusil a couple of times in the lab, but she was unfamiliar with Rudo.
Captain Cooper is manning the ship's helm, along with one or two other crewmen, to give everyone who wanted the opportunity to attend. A decent portion of the crew has turned out, so far, and others were still filtering in.
CPO Adelstein's team of himself and three other crewmen had spent days preparing for this welcoming party, a rare chance for large portions of the crew to gather at one time when duty was not so hectic. In addition to the buffet, a small bar was being set up, and a couple of crewmen were carrying in a small keg of some sort.
Yes, Doctor. At your service.
I imagine civilians concern themselves with privacy, but most of my life... I've been documented. Weighed, measured, timed, monitored. He shrugs.
I met Oren a few years back, on assignment. She's a kid at heart, infectious smile. But can muster "professionalism" as needed and keeps a cool head about her.
She talks and people listen, it's the strangest thing.
On the shorter end of humanity's limits yet no less hampered, Taylor Young was busying himself by familiarizing with some of the primary bridge crew. He spoke animatedly with them, silvered arm flashing through the air in sweeping motions while clenching a glass in a mechanical grip. It was a rare moment when he was free to let loose from protocol to chat about the recent wins by the Martian Olympians during their latest interstellar series.
"Always happy to see my dust-brothers and sisters making their names known. Hey- Did you hear about that Veskin from Egypt who made it into the Terran League? Phew! Her rig was something else, I swear by Deimos." He laughed, green eyes alit with mirth.
-
Ilrani however paid the sports nut little mind, merely mentally scheduling a date to have his prosthetics examined when he got a little too loud. "Some people have a natural magnetism to them, I suppose." She spoke with the appropriate amount of interest. "It's a shame I myself am entering a ship awash with new faces, I could've used familiar company."
"It's a shame I myself am entering a ship awash with new faces, I could've used familiar company."
"Well, we'll just have to get to know you then, and we'll be familiar faces. Besides, I'm sure I'll see you around the lab often enough."
"Of course. I'm looking forward to it. Are there any ongoing projects the science crew have been conducting I should be made aware of?" She enquired, eyebrow raised in interest.
"Mostly just astronomical surveys and astrophysics experiments at this point. But we do have samples from avians on a moon in Ross 248 we picked up last month," Janessa says eating a slice of fried green tomato.
She humms briefly through a sip of her water, setting it down to respond properly. "Interesting. I'll take a look at those later once I'm finished establishing myself. Are you settling into your own role, Security Chief?"
Arkady was almost certain she'd managed to get all the grease off her face, although of course, her hands were another matter. No matter how tech things got there were a surprising number of things that still needed some kind of lubricant, and the stuff just never came off no matter how haw you scrub.
Still, a meet and greet meant getting scrubbed, dressed and not wearing armour. Worse, it meant wearing dress shoes. She never managed to find a pair that fit quite right, and they were never comfortable. When there was a chance, she would lose them somehow.
"Sorry I'm late!" she called as she rushed through the door. "I had an idea that I really wanted to try, and then it took forever to get cle- ohhhh, is that fried camembert?" She course corrected towards the buffet, zeroing in on the variety of deep-fried goodies.
A shake of the head at the display, the Dakkaran poked at her food with a single thought. 'Humans.'
Oren, Janessa... The big man seems nearly bashful and hides behind a few forkfuls of food. Chewing thoroughly.
Security Chief... he chews a bit, as if day dreaming or losing his train of thought.
Nearly choking, Ehem... oh, you mean me! His cheeks nearly rosie with embarrassment. A big kid himself, you realize... as he'd called Oren.
It's been quiet, so difficult to know how my flock or commanding officers will take to my instruction. Hopefully, as they may take to whatever scripture they fancy.
If they want to live.
It's the hardest part you realize, not the enemy... that's usually identifiable, quantifiable and readily neutralized.
It's the charge, the ones you are tasked with protecting that are the biggest unknown.
There it is, isn't it... entropy.
Shaking his head, he continues.
And for all that you try, you just can't be everywhere at once. Neh? You are probably one of the few onboard that get it.
You have so many patients, you can perscribe, but you can't be everywhere at once to enforce.
That's the trick. That's the stuff of legend. Be everywhere at once.
By the end, it's as if he's talking to himself.
Apologies, I digresss.
The Saint is so modest. Oren chuckles inwardly, her lilting voice and laughter brightening the room.
Piloting a shuttle is nice, too.
Maybe not as important as Medicine or Security... but people have to go from point A to point B, comfortably. I negotiate that distance.
The best part is getting to talk to and listen to so many people. Each with their own story and views. Facinating.
Come on, everyone share!
Reaching for her glass, she raises it as if toasting.
"Our security chief seems to fancy himself as quite the philosopher, hm? 'Saint' indeed."The woman spoke with a quirk to her lip, before indulging her appetite. The cäzarr wasn't quite as she expected, but the Terran flavors weren't exactly unwelcomed either. Reminded her of home.
Considering the darker skinned human for a moment or two longer before responding, "Personally I don't usually divulge my entire life story to those I've known for a few minutes. If we're to be on the same vessel for a long span however, I suppose most of it will come out eventually. You may ask if you wish."
Stepping away from the bar to pick up some grub- (Wait, were those actual grubs?) -the pilot found himself nearly bumping into the woman helping herself. He's not quite sure how he didn't notice her, but he could pick up that tell-tare scent of grease anywhere.
Smiling as he spoke, "Ah, you must be one of the fine people keeping this bird running."
As Ensign Young waits for Lt. Simmons' reply, back at the table, Lt. Williams acknowledges Rudo's reflections.
"Like the saints of old, you have big shoes to fill, Lieutenant. Security Chief Khamphet was a very brave man. He took a fatal plasma bolt intended for me."
Then, feeling as if she'd maybe overstepped and made the Rudo feel uncomfortable, she laughed nervously. "I'm sure you'll do fine."
Rudo does seem to get quiet.
Looking to the Doctor and then Janessa, It's not a name he'd picked for himself... but it stuck and would have been bad luck to refuse it. You see, it was bestowed upon him by three nuns.
Oren paused there, as if considering if she should go on. Or if perhaps she'd already said too much.
We were on Proxima Colony, when the D'naki attacked. We were falling back to more defensible position and my job was to shuttle civilians to safety.
I was cut off from the convoy by shelling and our trans-bus was disabled. A lone soldier appeared, and blew a missile intended for us, right out of the sky.
They stayed and defended our position against no less than four D'naki until they were joined by the rest of their company and drove the D'naki into retreat. Rudo was that lone soldier.
My passengers were civilians, but mostly children either cut off from their parents or orphaned. Their chaperones were 3 nuns.
A Medal of Honor and a promotion to LT later, and here is our stalwart Security Chief.
He waves off the story. It's what a soldier is called to do. I just got lucky.
I remember you taking out a very bewildered D'naki yourself.
Shuttle pilots don't get Medals of Honor, it's not a thing. And, I'm OK with that.
Well, folks. That's how I came to know Rudo.
"That's quite the story." She offered, eyebrows raised. "I was stationed on the Daedalus at the time. We were in route to lend our assistance in repelling the attack. Afterward I was one on one of the medical teams deployed planetside to lend humanitarian aid. It seems as though we just missed each other."
"Excuse me, doctor. I hate to interrupt, but the Captain says I've got to scan for blood alcohol level if I want to have this bar we set up," Adelstein gestures.
"I've got a multi-comp here, but I don't know how to read the bio settings. Can you explain to me quick what's over .08% on this readout?" he says, holding up the scanning computer. It's the same sort you or Lt. Williams use in your duties, able to take various bio-readings and other life-science related tests.
"Hm? Ah, you'll need to pay attention to this part over here. It's not too hard to figure out once you're used to it." She notes, before detailing things in more technical terms a moment after.
"For that matter, She muses, "Blood alchol levels vary between species. For humans .08% is what's generally considered 'impaired'. Dakkaran are on about similar levels, perhaps a little higher on our end. Sammsaran edge out around .06%, while Vesk can tolerate a frankly staggering .5%. If one ever challenges you to a drinking contest, I strongly suggest you decline."
"Ahsertain," Arkady attempted to explain around a mouthful of something deep-fried and terrible for the mortal form, before swallowing and replying to officer Young, "Ah, yeah, I certainly try," she said cheerfully, her eye drifting to the buffet for her next victim.
Before she could choose she remembered her manners and held out a hand. "Lieutenant Vassally-Simmons, or Arkady. Pleased to meet you." There were many reasons she hadn't gone up in the ranks.
"Taylor Young." He responded, gripping hers with his own. He'd worry about wiping it down from grease later, perhaps after a good helping of that 'fried chocobo' that's been calling his name all evening. "I'll be one of your pilots following this evening, for however long they keep me stationed here I suppose. You know it is sometimes, I'm sure."
"Taylor! Bring your new friend over! And more of those potato wedges!" Sapna calls out across the room. She's a gunner that occasionally handles the bridge weapons station, but more often is manning the heavy laser cannon turrent on the lower side of the ship, or on a security team on landing parties. She's in Lt. Clausius' department.
Loading a selection of food onto her plate, Arkady smiled at the introduction and nodded over to the other lady calling on Young. "Friend of yours?" she said cheerfully as she headed over to meet her.
"Ah, yes, you are the engineer. Now I remember!" the woman says in a rural Gujarati Indian accent. "You came buy and recalibrated the swivel on the chair in the laser turret a couple months ago. I'm Sapna, Warrant Officer Patel. You won't see me much, I'm usually in "the hole" please, have a seat with us lowly Ensigns and non-comms!"
After the Doctor finishes helping with the BAC scanner, Rudo seems to have been waiting his turn.
No story... the events mentioned are documented and attested to by OSF Commanding Officer on scene and signed-off on, by the operational arena's Executive Officer. It's all in my jacket.
I don't bring it up much, but she does. He thumbs at Oren. And, I don't defend it as some matter of testosterone pride. I merely mean that Oren speaks the truth. Norns and all.
A quick sip of bubbly-water, What's your weakness, Doctor?
The question comes before another forkful of food fills his mouth and is methodically chewed upon. His eyes constantly scan the room, and note Sapna Patel.
It's so unfair, I never get to sample enough of the beautiful dishes. I can only eat so much. The statement is innocent enough.
Oren brings her utensils upon her plate, the motion is almost delicate, ceremonial.
I can eat a little more, but best save it for dessert.
"Never intended an implication I thought you'd invented it. Storied come in both fictional and non." She replied, managing to keep her tone neutral enough. His follow-up question had her raising a brow, "Plasmafire and sunlight, same as any other Dokkaran."
-
Young smiled at both woman, "I'm sure hoping we'll all be friends at least. Good company can be a lifesaver aboard a vessel like this. Ain't nothin' worse than being stuck in a cramped room for years with nothing but the crushing vacuum on one side of the wall, and absolute jackasses on the other."
I'm not good at nuance, chose not to take the chance is all. And, sometimes I can be... blunt.
In response to her raised brow...
My duty is to protect you, I can only do that if I know which aspects of you I need to shore up and which I can trust to hold their own.
One individual might be stronger at range as opposed to close quarter combat, in which instance I'd make sure their was a physical security presence near them, etc...
Plasmafire and sunlight, noted. He nods in thanks.
"Well," Janessa noted cautiously, trying to mend her botched interaction, "in that vein it's probably best keep an eye on me, if we're planetside. I tend to get reeled in to my multi-comp when I should be drawing my laser, which I'm not all that good with anyway."
Crew meeting is tonight. Interfacing with fully biological life is tedious, but team cohesion is important.
A tall android steps into the room, their crew uniform in impeccable condition. Dark hair in a short, military style stands in stark contrast to their unusually pale skin. What’s visible of their skin is partially covered by slowly shifting patterns that resemble circutry, and their eyes have a pale blue glow.
They scan the room, taking stock of the assembled company before walking briskly to the buffet, body like a coiled spring, ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice.
Nodding at CPO Adelstein, Legion says in a flat, even tone, ”CPO Adelstein. I hope your day is proceeding well. Is the usual nutrient paste sythesizer functioning, or has it been repurposed to accommodate for today’s event?”
Oren chimes in. Don't you worry Janessa, he's had his eye on you...tilizing... critical functions protocol! Yep, that's it!
I think that means... he secures those who may be specialized in critical functions required for mission success. Multi-Comp, yep.
Smiling, the woman shrugs and hides behind a big forkful of food, she's too full to eat.
The Security Chief nearly chokes, coughing once to clear his windpipe.
Nodding at CPO Adelstein, Legion says in a flat, even tone, ”CPO Adelstein. I hope your day is proceeding well. Is the usual nutrient paste sythesizer functioning, or has it been repurposed to accommodate for today’s event?”
"Would I do you wrong like that, Commander? Of course it's functioning! But...If you feel up to it, me and the cooks put some good effort in on some very special dishes," Adelstein says, gesturing at the buffet. "You might sample one or two on the side with your nutrient paste."
Oren chimes in. [b]Don't you worry Janessa, he's had his eye on you...tilizing... critical functions protocol! Yep, that's it!
*raises her eyebrows suspiciously.*
The woman resists the urge to roll her eyes at the display, choosing instead to focus on the more serious aspects. "I'm a doctor, not a soldier, Security Chief. That being said, I know a few tricks with stimulants that can be both debilitative and beneficial. My aim with a pistol is competent, one needs to be if they intend to deliver said stimulants at range. There's little to brag about in that sense."
Legion gives the CPO a quick nod and a slight smile, "Thank you. The requisite amount of nutrient paste please. Hm, the worms and lichen seem efficient. I will have a portion of those, as well."
With their plate full, they look around the room, noticing a free seat at the large table that the new officers have taken a seat at.
"Good day. I am Commander Legion-12, Chief Mate of the OSF Guangzhou. I take it you all are newly appointed members of the crew?" They see the dakkar food on Dr. Yusil's plate and continues, "Excellent choice. Organisms low on the food chain are highly efficient sources of nutrition."
Rudo shakes his head and smiles as innocently as possible towards Lt. Williams.
It's true, different situational parameters necessitate different prioritization of defense or security to accomplish mission... success.
He then turns to the good Doctor, Thank you, Dr. Yusil... of course.
Does anyone else find all this security-speak just boring? Enough about me.
As Commander Legion-12 approaches, Rudo stands. Yes Sir, Commander. Dr. Yusil, Vanessa Williams and Oren Knightgale and I am Rudo Clausius.
He trusts the Commander will take nanoseconds to cross-reference names with rank, role and probably serial number.
As Legion takes their seat, quite possibly the most unusual member of the incoming crew makes their way into the room.
The door to the lounge slides open and a swarm of sky-blue insects (which upon close inspection resemble a cross between a beetle and a dragonfly) in the rough shape of a humanoid swarm walks in, it's feet only barely touching the ground as it makes it's way to the buffet table.
The sound of a thousand thousand small voices all at once emanates from it's form, "A delicious looking array of biomatter! The Orion Space Force does not disappoint. We are excited to try all of this. The wandering hosts see little use for diverse biomass portfolios."
With a plate consisting of small amounts of every type of food at the buffet, Canny Resolve looks around the room for anywhere to sit as constituent parts of the swarm land on the plate, taking small bites of whatever piece of the meal suits their fancy.
She gave the android an appraising look, possibly humanity's most impressive display of ingenuity. Modern androids truly were absolute marvels of bio-mechanical engineering. Ilrani's read many research papers while working for the company, though many of the principles were dizzying even for her. It's almost like they were truly alive.
"Quite." She nodded towards it. "That, and these are much easier to farm then the some of the other species found on my homeworld."