[snip]

The Shuttlecraft Bordeaux left the Merrimack and made the short journey down to Ardan V with Erik, Cara and Clifford as pilot. Cara and Erik weren’t carrying phasers. The idea was to land in the main square of the Miner’s village, right beside the building where the first half of the landing Party had taken up residence, and to bring both them, and their engineering equipment, back home. They’d need to make two trips to bring the other half of the party back, but they were still underground in the tunnels.

Ensign Steward sat at the back of the shuttle behind the pilots holding his medical bag. This would be his first away mission not just on the Merrimack but outside of the academy training, so he was slightly nervous.

Cara was no pilot, but being larger than a human, she did covet the bigger seats at the fore of the shuttle. She sat back and let Clifford pilot.

As there was no field surrounding the planet anymore the shuttle encountered no barriers and easily landed in the same clearing the first shuttle landed in. There was a clear path in the jungle leading to the administration buildings.

Stella ran across the field with her pack bouncing on her shoulder and the last of her mental and physical reserves being used quickly. As she finally cam to the shuttle she leapt onto the ramp and was in a seat in two movements. The entire thing looking something like a cat pouncing. As she relaxed into the seat then she let loose a small whimper as she tried to catch her breath.” Thanks for the pickup.” she managed finally to say before she seemed to melt into the clean and cool seat.

Stella Gagnon Lt.jg Comms

Cara opened the Shuttle doors to find Stella waiting, “Why …isn’t someone glad to see us! …but we can leave just yet, Stella. We need to fill the shuttle and anyhow, I was hoping that I could meet the Aenar. Erik is here to treat your injuries. And Clifford came because he is better with phasers than us. Where is Captain Glen?”

• Cara, Science