[snip]

Returning to the business at hand, Glen asked, “Can everyone see the viewscreen clearly? It shouldn’t be long now before subspace radio reception clears.”

‘’I’d rather use my ears then my eyes ‘’ Cross chirped in ‘’Captain can you lower the temp in here? Preferable below zero ‘’.

Another person appeared at the door. “I’m the engineer. I’m here to turn off the heat!” said George Sherridan.

“Well you can start right in on the Dentist!” replied the Captain.

Before the room began to fill Lance acknowledged the question of his recent promotion with a “Yes Ma’am” he wasn’t sure what else to say, he certainly didn’t want to have to answer to many questions he certainly didn’t have answers to.

The CMO turned around ‘’Hi Lt Malone ‘’Em don’ think I’m being rude but forget the Ma’am just call me Cross or doctor ‘’ she gave him that angelic smile of hers…not that there was anything angelic about her .Looks could be deceiving but Lance was new and he did not quite know her…yet.

He took up a perch at the back of them rather crowded room. He listened and watched. He knew a bit about the early colony works but it was only a glancing amount, he figured he’d be learning more over the next few days. He took it the very battered A6 not pad and badly chewed pencil that lived in his pocket, it was full of his untidy scrawls. He called it his brain it was where he wrote down the random thoughts that went through his mind for later.

The female doctor saw his battered A6 and chewed pencil and thought I reckoned I would like this guy.

Another crewman followed George into the room. “I’m the engineer’s assistant,” he said.

“You know I had a premonition you were going to show up,” said Glen. “The engineer’s over there in the corner. You can chop your way right through… Is it my imagination, or is it getting crowded in here?”

McDuff shuffled in as the room filled further still. This was becoming uncomfortable. He hoped this would be brief so that he could get somewhere a little less claustrophobic - preferably back to bed.

Max was surprised with the number of folks that showed up after he asked for senior staff. He was not expecting to be overloaded. He was hoping the Admiral would be contacting the Merrimack soon to explain the situation further and provide orders on how to proceed. He just waited around to hear from the Admiral.

There had been some spillage of coffee around the machine. Faith said, “Can I come and mop up there?”

“You’ll have to start on the ceiling,” replied Captain Glen, “It’s the only place not occupied!”

The subspace interference was finally beginning to clear now and it looked like they would be able to take the conference call very soon.

OOC: So to clarify you guys are in the captain’s ready room which is where the CE said to go, NOT the briefing room which is a few decks down and much more spacious and where we usually go for briefings lol

With a beep the comm call came through and on the tiny desktop for the Captain’s work was done the Commodore came up on the screen. Stones looked confused a moment given the angle, =/\= Uh good morning Captain Glen. Please correct me if I’m wrong but there seems to be a and unexpected angle and room sizing issue on my end. The room appears far smaller then what I recall the Mariner classes briefing room has, and you all look quite uncomfortable. Should I send an emergency engineering team over to fix your communication displays? =/\= He asked.

Cross quickly scribbled something on her Padd and passed it on to Glen ’ Just tell him there is nothing to worry about and get on with whatever he has to say before we go crazy ‘.

“No, that won’t be necessary, Commodore, but if you could make the briefing short,” Glen said. “It’s getting kind of crowded in here and I’m not sure we have room for a long briefing!”

• Glen, CO