Posted by Lieutenant Lily Locksley (Chief Medical Officer) in Main Sim: Shuttle Howlett

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Celador Theinna (Security) in Main Sim: Shuttle Howlett

Posted by Gamemaster Wookius Furrius (GM) in Main Sim: Shuttle Howlett
Posted by… suppressed (25) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Jason had made a swing by the replicators before heading to the Shuttle Bay. With Ground crews getting the shuttle ready and loaded up with the survival grew he had requested, he swung by to get a uniform that was more fitting for the environment down there. The last thing he wanted was being ill-prepared for what was a head of them.

Arriving at the shuttle bay, he was a bit disappointed that the other two team members had not arrived yet. He made sure to store his backpack and other supplies in the shuttle. Then he walked back to the entrance to the shuttle as he waited for the other two team members to arrive. Checking his watch he joked, “and here I thought Remy ran a tighter ship than this.”

• Lieutenant Jason McLeod (CIO)

“He is from the big Easy and a Cajun’....they are a laid-back people,” Lily said walking up to the shuttle. “You however seem to be more on the straight and narrow path kinda people.” She had heard they had a new intelligence chief. They were a rather fun group of people in Starfleet. They always thought there was something where ninety percent of the time there was nothing. Reaching into her bag she brought out a small plastic bag. “Cookie,” she offered him.

Lily Locksley CMO

As the gorgeous brunette medical officer walked into the shuttle bay, he couldn’t help but smile. “Lieutenant Lily Locksley,” he said with a smile and offered his hand to shake hers as he continued, “I am Lieutenant Jadon McLeod”. He allowed his native South African accent to dominate his dialogue. The cookie was a pleasant surprise, then added, “I had some pretty crazy, um cookies, on Vesta III.” He gave her a nod as he took the cookie, “just what the doctor ordered.”

“Oh, I know the Captain is from the Big Easy,” he finally rebutted with a grin. “Don’t let this fool you. I am just as laid back. Though, there is a time restraint on our mission.”

Scanning the two entrance hatches, “it would appear that we might be leaving our Helm Officer behind if the girl doesn’t move her tail.”

“She will be along or I can fly. Just got my license a couple of months back.” While the wording was slightly odd, the tone was matter-of-fact and with the hint that she was serious and not joking. “This is slightly different than what I have been practicing but one only really needs to know how to point and land right?”

Jason gave a laugh at the statement, “a Doctor, a baker,” he said holding up the cookie, “and a pilot. Glad you are on the team.” He glanced out beyond the entrance to the shuttle bay with the planet in the distance, “I think this will be different for all of us.”

He turned back to the medical officer, “I hope you enjoy camping trips.” He motioned with his head to the gear already loaded in the shuttle. “Looking at the conditions down there and what we could find, there is a chance we might be on our own for a while,” he explained. “Are you read in on what is going on,” he asked.

• Lieutenant Jason McLeod (CIO)

“You have no idea where I come from,” she let out a laugh. “I am pretty sure it will be fine. I pretty much exempted from arboreal and forest landscape survival at the academy. The benefit of being raised on a commune.”

“Country girl, I take it,” he said with a hint of a familiar smile.

“Are you really offering cookies before a flight? Not those cookies from the jar, right?” The clipped, English accent of the ships CSO sounded behind them as his footsteps became audible almost at the same moment.

“No,” she let out a small laugh. “We don’t use replicators where I am from. Too many replicator toxin’s.” She gave Duncan a sly smile. Replicator toxin’s was a huge conversation the last time she went home and a point of making Duncan want to break out the old whiteboard and show Lily’s family engineering basics 101.

“Okay love you have the cookies, but you didn’t tell me you left your tinfoil hat back in our quarters,” Duncan returned the same smile that Lily was giving him as he approached. “You know for people worried about toxins, they are weirdly ok with using poo to grow their food.”

“Anyway,” she clapped her hands together drawing out the word. “Country really doesn’t fit me and my hometown. Think commune. We don’t use any form of technology past solar panels for power. If it does not come from out immediate environment we don’t use it which means home-cooked meals 24/7. I use replicators,” she let out a laugh, “but going home is an adventure not for the weak of heart.”

“Because of the poo grown food.” Duncan whispered, loudly, for the both of them to hear. “The poo-berry jam is good though, I admit. Except for the poo part.” The last sentence had fallen back to normal volume though.

Lily

“Seriously Duncan…I think you all just have a weak constitution.” Her smile shown at the man walking in with a little bit more energy than usual. “We give these to babies.”

“And then claim that they are so content because of the environment and happy lifestyle,” Duncan looked at the cookie, then at Jason, then at the cookie before looking back at Lily. “Sure the narcotic effect of those blue berries isn’t harmful or addictive and only short lived, but when everyone is buzzed its’ pretty simple to be so relaxed.”

Jason couldn’t keep the smile in as he turned to see the Chief Science Officer walking up. “Now this just got a whole fun kind of interesting,” he said matching Duncan’s proper English accent. He took a small bite of his cookie as he glanced at the two cups of coffee. After he swallowed, he uttered, “I could understand leaving the pilot out,” he said mocking disappointment in his English accent. “I’m hurt, Lieutenant Rhodes,” he said with a half-smile.

Duncan raised one eyebrow as he side glanced at the man. “You know mimicking someone’s’ accent is either due to jealousy or mockery, right? In either case it is exceedingly rude, Lieutenant. Eat your cookie, it’ll help with that hurt feeling.” The voice Duncan had spoken with had changed as he addressed McLeod. Where before it had been proper and clipped but casual enough, now it had shifted into something akin to the old movies where English Lords and Ladies spoke down to the lower classes.

Jason laughed of the change in tone, “well, it could be taken as flattery. What do they say by imitation,” he intentionally left the statement open ended for Duncan. “Though Jealousy could work to. I attended school at Northumbria University. There is a lot across England for others to be jealous of.” He gave a slight shake of his head, “regardless, there was no insult intended or offense meant. And if you took any, you have my apologies. Sometimes, I don’t even realize I am mimicking.”

The tall form of Duncan stood before them with two cups of coffee. Both were in lidded cups and one was significantly bigger than the other. That larger one he held out to Lily. “Your coffee, Rhodes Foundation Limited Edition as ordered Doctor. You can thank me later.” He winked at her as he kissed her on the side of the head, then grimaced as he saw the contents of the shuttle. “Okay maybe you should have both cups.”

Lt Duncan Rhodes, CSO

He didn’t bat an eye at the kiss instead took another bite of his cookie. He wasn’t in too much of a rush and these cookies were pretty tasty. Once the two had their moment, he ask, “so mate, will you be joining us planet side,” he asked effortlessly sliding back to his South African accent.

• Lieutenant Jason McLeod, CIO

“Oh trust me you want Dunc around when you are talking planet side away missions. He has the best tents and luxury items.” Raising a hand to cut him off before Rhodes could reply, Lily mustered the best English accent she could dropping her voice into a deeper pitch. “Why should we reduce ourselves to the level of the animals we are studying when we don’t have to.”

“Oh my god, no extra coffee for you.” Duncan looked at Lily and shook his head. “You know I’m not even gonna give you the option of front or back this time,” Duncan smirked. “That was pure mockery, and you get the front.” With that, Duncan placed a firm smack on Lily’s behind. “I’ll be joining you, you may need more than voodoo doctor magic down there and its’ a quiet day in the lab.” He spoke to McLeod, answering the mans earlier question.

Laughing, “Oh I do want him around.” Motioning to the two coffee cups, “he brought the most important part of the entire mission.” Turning to Duncan with a playful frown, “though your count leaves a bit to be desired.”

“My count is always perfect Lieutenant,” Duncan smirked. “Looks like we got a moment though if you want to pop out to grab a cup from the closest replicator, looks like our pilot isn’t here yet and that means I have time to stow the Rhodes Swiss Army Tent MkII. The Foundation hasn’t perfected the pop-up holo-tent yet, but if we can keep those darn IFEA agents away from the development center we should see it as public issue within the next year.”

Giving Duncan a smile, Lily looked at the CIO. “He is right. The more stressed out someone is the more mistakes they can make. Trust me I am not going to give up climate control and a warm bed for sweat, bugs, and a dirt mattress. “Been there, done that and own several t-shirts that span my childhood to prove it.” Taking a sip of her coffee, she looked Jason up and down. “So what’s your story.”

Lily Locksley

“Me,” he said touching his hand to his chest. The man was tall well-built human. “I am just a country boy from Africa. And I am really good at languages, reading them, listening to them and speaking them.” Taking another bite at his cookie, “though I am not nearly as good at baking. My hats off to the baker,” he gave a salute with the cookie in hand. “Please tell me these are not from a replicator.”
- Lieutenant Jason McLeod, CIO

“Oh you can’t replicate the poo-berries,” Duncan sighed. “They have an enzyme that is resistant to replication, even disabling the narcotic filter on the replicators doesn’t help.” Looking at what was left of the cookie, Duncan shrugged. “Sometimes she mixes the replicated ones in with the real ones that her mother sends though, so you can never be totally sure which one you got.”

Rabb then gets to the shuttle bay. “Sorry for my tardiness,” she said. “I didn’t know I was needed here. But here I am.” She added.

PO Rabb

Giving the Petty Officer a nod, “next, please be sure to be more aware Petty Officer.”

“Welcome to the mission,” Duncan smiled at the pilot, then sipped his own coffee.

Turning to give the shuttle a visual inspection. Aboard were a pair of security officers that the Captain had suggested as well as their gear. “Petty Officer Rabb, could you please start your preflight,” he said with an equal level of respect as well as authority.

OCC: I am just going to jump in right here.

OOC: Perfect spot!! –Terry

IC: Celador stored his and his security companions gear then took up a seat next to him near the back of the shuttle. Having recently returned from a training mission on Ordin V, he was content to sit back and watch the senior officers of the ship.

He then turned to the good Doctor and her companion. With a smile on his face, “shall we begin our adventure,” he said motioning towards the shuttle. He took a side step to allow them to precede him.

• Lieutenant Jason McLeod, CIO

“Brains before beauty,” Duncan stood aside as well and looked at Lily with a wink. “In you go Princess, save me a seat will you and make sure the in-flight movie is something fun. Oh!” Duncan looked at Lily with a grin. “Does this count as our Honeymoon then?”

Lieutenant Duncan Rhodes, CSO

Motioning the two newlyweds onward, “well then, allow me to play the part of your concierge.” He looked around, “shall I get the bags,” he said playfully.

Lieutenant Jason McLeod

“Everything is packed already,” Duncan raised an eyebrow, letting the typical English dryness out in full force. “Onwards to Victory!” Duncan used his coffee cup as an impromptu flag, and followed Lily into the shuttle and their seats.

Lt Rhodes, CSO

Rabb did her preflight checks and everything was a good solid green and was very happy to say they are underway on their mission. “Although I am here. I am not so sure I’m aware of where to go or what this whole mission is about.” She said.

PO Rabb

The shuttle’s comm chirped as a message came in from the captain. “Bridge to shuttle Howlett, dere was one escape pod dat left de Pythagoras and was ‘eaded for de planet. Track it. I’m ‘opine it leads you to de campsite.”

Boudreaux (CO)

The shuttle launched, swinging smoothly out into space. The Pythagoras was not far away, and the planet below, dark blotches signifying mountains surrounded by a uniform grey mist, looking for all the world like rocks surrounded by a wash of cotton balls. Here and there in the atmosphere storm or other clouds hung.

Initial scans traced the escape pod to near the atmosphere, disappearing through what was now at least a cloud bank and area of showers. Traces diminish rapidly from there. They may need to sniff it out more directly once they descend.
- Wookiee

Watching the readings, Duncan looked back at Lily then the others. “Its’ not quite a simple follow the dotted line, chaps. We have some dispersion of the signal. Maybe we can get a better read once we land, look for life signs or anything else that will give us a lead.”

Lt Rhodes, CSO

Getting under the ‘clouds’, at least before they got to the ‘mist’ the sensors were able to pick up traces. Said traces were manifestly affected by the weather patterns and some dispersal but the computer could put those together, perhaps.

The campsite showed up on the scanners, however. Whether the two matched was another story. A scan from the shuttle would indicate no evident ‘pod’ signal or profile.
Wookiee
OOC: Where is your destination? The campsite? Sussing out the pod?

OOC: Campsite! Kate says super enthusiastically.

-Cel

As the shuttle descended further life signs began appearing. It was like a darting school of fish to the scanners - there one moment and gone another. Small signs showed up in the upper layers of the mist while larger ones showed deeper down. Diffusion in the mist didn’t help get a solid lock but the general mass of them made them come up almost as avian in nature.

The campsite was tagged by the shuttle nav computer. Several kilometers away there was a sensor spike of the trace from the pod in the upper mist bank. That was a positive indicator that it may have passed through the mists there. The downside was that it looked to be over a valley where it may have descended deep.
- Wookiee

Lily was not the best with non-medical consoles but she knew enough to read them. “Um Duncan,” she called out. “The Nav com has found the campsite but the readings are wonky on the pod. I can tell it is there but I can’t get a pin point read on it except it is in the valley.”

Lily Locksley CMO

Sec NE Wesson had slid into the pilot’s seat while Raab was busy with something else. “Sirs, I suggest we check the pod first. I know you enjoy camping, Dr. Locksley, but there’s a chance the person we’re looking for might still be at the landing site. We don’t know who may be at the camp.”

NE Wesson (Sec)

Cel came up from the back and stood behind NE Wesson. “What do the scanners say?” He asked, looking at the displays.

-Cel

The shuttle came to hover over the mists. It was like flying and being over a long cloudbank. Further along in the distance, mountaintops speared through the mists, snow fields on the mountains melding into the mists like they were an extension of the mists or vice versa. The mists themselves flowed slowly perhaps to what winds there were outside, but sluggishly, lazily. Suddenly something that looked like a cross between a short winged bird and swordfish leaped out from the mists, hanging in the air, something smaller speared on its beak, before descending into the mists. As it hung in the air as though suspended in its arc, those looking out could see the mountain beyond through it’s mostly transparent body.

“Transparent animal life?” Cel stated as he watched the bird descend through the mists.

“Oh good, you can see it too.” Duncan mumbled as he ran his hands over his eyes. “I thought Lily’s cookies had an extra special ingredient in them for a moment.” Glancing sideways at Lily, Duncan winked and put the last of the cookie in his mouth, chewing happily.

There was no signal from the pod; the mists were layered and scans either reflected or diffused at deeper levels. The pod looked to be beyond that. The campsite, however, was visible on scans. Two life signs, humanoid, could be detected at a lower level heading up in the direction of the campsite. They looked about 500 meters out from it, moving slowly.
- Wookiee
OOC: Note.. I am not ‘leading’ you to any one place, such as the campsite with the people .. but giving you options of what to explore. .. gene
OOC: Bump

Cel looked at the readout.

“I suggest we split up and investigate both areas.” he suggested, stepping back and reaching up to hold onto the cross beam of the shuttle.

-Cel

“You know that’s the classic recipe for death in a horror movie. Splitting up,” she said in a tone that would be unsure whether or not it was a joke or not. “The group splits up and they pick you off one by one. I vote I either go with the person who has the biggest weapon or we start at the campground and make it a field trip.”

Lily Locksley CMO

“Either way we all have to land somewhere, and a campsite seems as good a place as ever to make base camp. Lets hit the camp, see if those life signs can help us out at all or give us some news. From there, we assess if we make it a field trip and split the party. Now, who among us has the best ‘We Come in Peace’ voice?”

Rhodes, CSO