Posted by Lieutenant Helena Laursen (Helm/Nagivation Officer) in side - sim: Boarding the Sojourner
Helena made it back onto the base and waved at the Security officer stationed at the gate as she approached. She flashed her ID, even though they knew her on sight. She made her way into the barracks, and jogged up the two flights of stairs to her room. She opened the door and stepped into the closet, dragging down one of her jump suits. She tossed it on the bed followed by her bomber jacket. The long chain with the pendant was pulled off over her head, pulling her hair to the side as she did.

Reaching down she tossed her duffel onto the bed. She hadn’t even unpacked from the Titan training yet. She grabbed the bag of dirty clothes and tossed it to the side. Her necklaces was dropped into the bag and she took the time to fold her jacket and pack it. The rest of her outfit went with the laundry. It smelled of smoke and booze from the bar. She slipped the black tank on and then stepped into her denim blue jumpsuit with the yellow pipping. She zipped it up to just under her neck and made sure her double Lt’s bars were straight on her left shoulder her name stitched in red on the right. A quick brush of her hair and eft fingers had her hair braided and pinned up. A quick look in the mirror told her she was presentable, and she was out the door.

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“I need to file flight plan for a transport shuttle to Beta Station for 0030.” The Lt manning flight control just looked at her. “Look Helena we all know you love to fly, but you can’t just file a flight plan because you want to.” The guy grinned at her.

Helena had done her homework though on her way there. “Cpt Marceau Renault has been given command of the SS Sojourner. He’s expected to board tonight. He will be here at 0030 to board and be taken to Beta Station. Do you want to tell him no?”

The Lt grinned at her, “Yeah we’ve got the information here. Once he makes the request we’ll get a transport set up for him. Besides you’re our best pilot what if we need you while your playing it up for the brass?” Helena’s glare was as icy as the glaciers of her Iceland home. The tension stretched for a full minute before the Lt started laughing. “Yeah yeah we know. Cpt Renault already sent the orders through. He’s recruited you as pilot, and I am not subjecting any other pilot to you being a passenger. How big of a transport do you need?”

“Five seater. Just incase he has more crew to take up with him. One way flight, I won’t be bringing it back, and we’ll be buzzing France and Iceland before we break atmosphere.”

The Lt, Weston by name, nodded, “Alright T-13 on pad Gamma. 30 minutes prior to take off you’ll sign in for pre-flight checks.” He shuffled several sheets together and passed over a clipboard. “We’re gonna miss you Laursen. Congratulations.”

Helena took the clipboard and headed out of the flight control office back to “her barracks to finish packing. She pulled out her comm ad dialed it in for Marceau. =C=Departure 0030 from pad Gamma, shuttle T-13. Don’t be late, Cap.=C=

=C= I’ll be there. =C= Marceau’s reply came through the comm.

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At 0000 hours Helena strode out onto Gamma launch pad and checked in with the engineers. She had her duffle and a backpack in tow. She stored them under the seats, and then started her visual inspection checklist before starting the preflight sequences.

Lt Laursen, pilot

Marceau headed back to his own place after his talk with Kelleher. It was a small one bed loft apartment in the down town area of San Fransisco. His bag was a large grey travel backpackthat was supposed to double as a suitcase. As long as he packed smart, it would fit everything he needed.

Unpacking his bag, he made two piles: laundry and fresh clothes. He figured he could wash his clothes on the ship, so he just chose what clothes he wanted to bring and set them back in his bag, separating the dirty from the clean. He tossed a few personal items in and a few books.

He looked briefly at his harp. It was much too large to bring on board. He’d have to leave it. He set a cover over it to protect it from dust. There was something he could bring. He picked up a smaller instrument’s case, unzipped it and peered in to make sure everything was there, and then set it next to his bag. It was a smaller type of harp that he also knew how to play, a lyre harp.

He slung both bags over his shoulder, then left, making sure the door was locked behind him. By 0020, he was at the Gamma launch pad, looking for either Helena or the right shuttle.

~ Captain Renault