Lets Go On A Mystery Tour Part One

Posted on Sat Jul 4th, 2020 @ 9:40pm by Lieutenant Commander Aurelia Taylor & Legate Imik S'Niohun [Lia Taylor] & Lieutenant Commander S'hib & Ensign River Lokaa

Mission: Season 3: Episode 4: Cause and Effect
Location: Various
Timeline: Current
1805 words - 3.6 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

Lia entered the shuttle bay and walked over to the little group that consisted of her team, "Ok, is everybody here?

Filled with excitement and anxiety river nodded and looked to Lia, in all there were three other people in the room besides herself and now the commander, she was glad S'hib was among them.

Imik simply bowed her head in response to the Commanders welcome, she had seen or met one or two of this little group but there were some she didn't know.

“Ma’am... whats this about, I thought...” S’hib said as he looked around at the group, some of whom could barely be considered humanoid, himself included. “I thought we weren't allowed down on the surface?”

Turning to her Officer, Lia nodded in agreement. "In a way your correct, but it's Earth your not allowed down to. We're going to the moon, seems somebody has left a little something that shouldn't be there". She moved a little closer to S'hib, "Now if you don't want to go, say so now and I can try and find someone to take your place".

River nudged S'Hib, "He'll be fine ma'am, I'll look after him" She said and though she was half teasing she genuinely meant that shed have S'hibs back be it attack from a hostile force or a mental one which required his hypospray.

“It’ll take me a little longer to get my EV on than the rest of you, but I’m still going.” S’hib replied stubbornly.

"I don't care how long it takes, within reason of course. But I'm glad your staying with us S'hib, somehow this sojourn of ours wouldn't be the same without you". Lia placed her hand on his shoulder as she spoke, with Turak in charge while she was away things seemed to be going along just fine.

“Cant let you have all the fun...” S’hib grinned, lifting his head up and to the side so he could still see Lia with one eye.

Anje walked in next, Milla behind her carrying a big bag full of gear, no doubt Anje's eva suit, "Hi! I'm here." She said, walking over and placing an arm around Lia's waist and her head on her shoulder, "So, everybody ready?"

River watched the engagement with much interest, she had become friends and even enjoyed her department leader's company but she would never in front of others hug her. She wondered if perhaps they were lovers, she'd have to ask S'hib later.

“We should get suited up first, there won't be much room in the shuttle to do so once we are all inside.” S’hib said as he looked around at the assembled team.

"Totally agree." Anje smiled, there was room to board in the EVA suits, there was room to sit in them, but there wasn't enough room to put them on while already aboard. That said Anje, with Milla's help, began getting into hers.

"Commander... with your permission, I need to get mine out from Storage Facility two, it's uh... not exactly standard issue." S'hib asked even though he was already back peddling backwards towards the exit, as stubborn as any Sequus.

"Get gone S'hib, and make it quick". She turned towards Anje and placed her arm around her waist, "Hello beautiful, glad you could make it". She then moved and grabbed her EVA suit, "I never did like these things, but needs must I suppose".

Wordless S’hib nodded and took off, his hooves clicking along the deck as he rushed towards the lower levels where his EVA was stored

Having grabbed her EVA suit River didn't take long to get into it, she was small and graceful so it putting on the suit was never the problem, walking around and fighting in it however was a whole different ball game. "You'd think they'd develop something a bit... skinnier," She said her helmet in one hand. She had heard her boss' comments towards the newcomer and found herself debating whether it was professional or not.

With her suit on, Lia moved towards the shuttle. "Right, once our dear comrade S'hib returns. We'll shove off, I'll explain our remit on the way".

--Shuttle Bay 1 lower level / Storage facility--

Rushing into the storage room S'hib glanced about the place as the lights came on, the plasma bulbs flickering to life after what must have been a rather long time, even the air tasted somewhat stale despite the ships life support keeping everything circulated.

"Computer unlock container Tau Seven Sigma and increase light levels by thirty percent... be nice if I could see what I'm doing." S'hib snorted as he hurried towards a tall dark metallic box, it's locking mechanisms clicking open to reveal his brilliantly white EVA suit.

Archaic in design compared to the sleeker Starfleet suits with thick padding and armoured plexisteel plating along the arms and torso, the Sequellian design was evocative of the early warp capable species attempt at exploring the stars, with its enlarged power pack encased in the back and wholly alien helmet design with no visible glass showing.

Putting everything on in such short order was going to be a mission in itself.

"Make it quick..." S'hib scoffed as he hastily removed his uniform and began the painfully uncomfortable process of getting his legs and hooves into the flight suit.

--Shuttle Bay 1 upper level--

S'hibs padded grav assisted hooves thunked onto the deck towards the assembled team waiting for him, his tall form made even more so by the vast bulk that now adorned his torso, the plexisteel casing wrapping up and around his shoulders to encase the back of his helmet into the power supply and oxygen tanks.

His face was entirely obscured behind the helmet, instead replaced by a glossy yellow screen that followed the sharp contours of his angular and boxy helm.

In his thickly padded gloves, he carried a pulse rifle, the only thing that was even remotely Starfleet looking in design.

"We all ready?" He called out, the internal microphone relaying his message to the helmets of the others as he continued walking towards the shuttle, his view of everything awash with a hint of yellow as the micro cameras along the surface of the helmet highlighted and outlined the space around him like a topographic map.

Having taken a seated position on some cargo containers River wanted to applaud as the Sequus re-entered the room, "We've been ready for years!" She teased jumping down "That looks way cooler than mine, though it doesn't look comfortable" She turned to Lia "I think we're ready Ma'am."

A quick glance at S'hib's EVA made Lia think, "Are you gonna be able to work in that suit S'hib? You sure as hell don't look comfortable, and just a little stiff". She turned to River, "Grab that kit your sat on, and load it on the shuttle". Lia now looked for Anje, "Anje my sweet, here are the co-ords required. Tell River where and how you want that equipment loaded".

"The suit was originally designed for deep space asteroid mining, it might look dated, but it'll get the job done." S'hib replied as he walked up to the shuttle, crouching into the confined space as best he could.

River nodded and moved back to the pile of stores she had been sitting on, she welcomed the manual labour and perhaps less for Shib was the strongest in the group so as she began taking several handles in one widened grip she hummed to herself. It wasn't before long with six boxes, three in each hand the handles held precariously in each she looked to the Envoy to be directed their location.

"Well, with most of us going to be in the back in the crew compartment, let's load it in front near the cockpit area, since it will just be myself and Cdr. Holmes up there." Anje suggested, "And stack it as unobtrusively as possible, please, Ensign."

River nodded and placed the boxes she had already carried as specified by the commander, in the front and out of the way. Making several trips she finally carried the last few boxes over to the shuttle having to reach a little higher and then strapped them all down in case they had any 'turbulence' "All done Commander" She said finally hand on hips having broken into a little bit of a sweat.

River's voice caught Lia's ears, she turned to face the ensign. "Thank you River, you'd better get a drink and rehydrate yourself". She now turned to the rest of the away team, "Ok people, lets lock and load. Get yer butts on the shuttle, Anje, if you wouldn't mind getting this road on the show". The last mistake was quite deliberate, she wanted her team to feel relaxed and at ease with what lay ahead.

Imik now moved away from the shuttle and removed the Federation EVA suit, using the transporter she beamed in an Ojnas one from her quarters. Although the Federation EVA had been made with her in mind, it didn't fill her with confidence. So she now quickly redressed herself in an EVA of her own kind, then before she was missed returned to the shuttle and entered it. Her Ojnas EVA was quite different from the Federations, as her species had rather different requirements from bipeds.

"Alright, let's get strapped in and cozy, folks, it's lift off time." Anje laughed, she loved taking off and flying the shuttles, that had never faded for her.

Moving through to the rear end of the ship River strapped herself in next to S'hib though leaving one seat due to their EVA suits, though it was the Sequees' suit that took up most of the room. Pulling the strap over she clipped them into place and looked to the front thumbs up. "Good to go."

Seeing everyone all belted in and ready to go, Anje began lift off procedures, once she called docking control, "Elysium docking control, this is Rogue One, requesting permission for take off." She said, laughing as she closed the channel at the name she'd chosen for their shuttle's designation, mainly since she wasn't sure what shuttle they were on, the damned things all looked exactly alike.

Imik sat and watched everyone, her mind drifted to just what was on the surface of the moon. This was her chance to show her people in a good light, so obeying orders would be uppermost in her mindset.

=Elysium Control to Rogue One, you are cleared for departure, be careful out there.=

"Understood, Control, Rogue One out." Anje replied with a smile as she began lift off procedures, in seconds the shuttle was off the deck and headed for the bay doors.

Continued in Part Two.