SC Ark Royal

The corridors of the SC Ark Royal would be oversized for any Isswas, but even moreso for short-statured Sivwikkas, who was currently dashing from their quarters towards the bridge. Their first day on their first assignment after graduation, and they were going to be late!

Once outside the bridge, they skidded to a halt to try to catch their breath. The doors seemed impossibly huge, like the doors of a palace or a cathedral. The little Isswas' heart raced in their chest, and a thousand niggling voices whispered at them: you aren't good enough. They're going to hate you. You're going to fail and bomb and gag!

Wikkas clenched their jaw and straightened up, balling all four hands into fists. There was no time for all that. They had a job to do. Drawing a deep breath, they opened the doors and stepped onto the bridge.

"Ensign Sivwikkas reporting for bridge duty," they announced, their voice cracking halfway through. "Should I ... take my post, captain?"

Daysa looked up at the man who had walked through the open door into the office. He was looking at her cube in the holster and her trembling hands. Quietly he asked if she was ok and she gulped and nodded a little. When he asked about her cube she pulled it out and shoved it into his steady hands, “How do I use it?” she whispered desperately. She looked into his eyes, still trembling.

Lietenant Farrell felt for Daysa, because she looked even more nervous than he had just been on the bridge. He took the cube that she offered him, and smiled knowingly.

"Hey...hey. It's alright," James said, grabbing Daysa's hand for a moment and looking her in the eyes -- noticing how they were black with white pupils -- before returning his eyes to the tiny black cube, his hand falling to his side. "It's voice activated" he assured her. "So it's easy to use."

He laid the cube flat on his hand and said,

"Show me a schematic of the SC Ark Royal."

A hologram appeared in the air above the cube -- it was a labeled 2D map of the ship. Two blinking dots showed James and Daysa in the Medical Office.

James looked at Daysa.

"See? You try," he urged.

Daysa watched in wonder as James calmly asked the cube for a map and the cube provided one instantaneously. Daysa had never seen anything even remotely like it. When James extended the cube towards her she took it from his hands, her hands now held steady. Placing it in her palm as he had she quietly said, “Where is my room?” The little cube projected a hologram map into the air above it and then a little blue path led straight from her blinking dot to her room. Delighted with this piece of technology she looked at James again her eyes sparkling, “Wow!” she whispered.

Vail turned around, her eyes lighting on owner of the newest voice. Something like amusement crept across her face at the sight of the little Isswas. She'd heard about the species, but had never seen one up close before. They were...much smaller in person. Then again, she towered over nearly everyone she met.

"Ensign Sivwikkas...good to have you here. Was worried I'd have to pilot this ship myself," Vail smirked. "Take your controls. It's long past time to disembark."

She turned back to her cube, logging in the crew's information before speaking. A holo would appear on any cube in use throughout the ship; otherwise, a mere recording would be heard.

"Attention, crew, this is Captain Iotta speaking," Vail said sharply. "For those of you I have not met yet - welcome aboard the SC Ark Royal...or as I call her, The SCAR. Name her what you will.

"You've been chosen to work aboard this ship for a reason, and I expect you to take your jobs seriously and work in a timely manner. Orders should be taken promptly. I do not take sass very well. If you have an issue with my orders, you have two options: either zip it, or to speak to me rationally about it. I hope that is clear.

"Now, I am proud to say that we are officially setting forth. Thank you for your cooperation. I look forward to our many adventures. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me. Dinner will be served in an hour and a half."

Tobias was in the engineering bay. Getting his station set to be more accustomed to his way of working. He had a salt and pepper scheme going with his hair and beard. Had piercing grey eyes and a well built figure. He looked to be in his early 40's. But he was far to focused on his work to really pay attention to the goings on.

A Cyborg, going by the name of Radac stood behind the engineer playing the captains broadcast outloud. He had downloaded the contents of Tobias' Cube and stored the shell of the device away. It was easier for both of them this way. Neither felt the need for introductions and opted to stay in engineering for now.

"Hear that? No sass. You're doomed." Radac tells Tobias.
"Aw hell. I mig- shut it."
"See? I wonder how they'll feel about your drinking"
"If they find out"
"Very true"
"Dont you dare sni-"
"-I won't."

The two chuckle then go back about thier buisness.

"Wow," Daysa whispered, and James crossed his arms and grinned, proud of himself and amused at her wonderment.

He nodded and his glasses slipped down a little bit on his nose. He pushed them back up.

"I know, right?!" James said, remembering the first time he had seen a holo cube in action. "So... you're from the Moon then, I'm guessing?" he asked Daysa.

But his question went unanswered. Suddenly, the map showing Daysa how to get to her quarters disappeared. A holographic image of Captain Vail lotta's face appeared above the cube.

Lietenant Farrell watched as she spoke. After her introduction, Farrell raised his eyebrows and looked at Daysa.

"Well...starting out with a warning," he observed. A half-smile appeared on his face as he looked at Daysa. "Remind me not to tick her off, eh, Chief Daysa? She already makes me super nervous. But she's got skills. I think they judged her too harshly over what happened on her last command. It's no wonder she's starting off strong...what with all that. Some people say she shouldn't have gotten another command...but I shouldn't be here gossiping. All I'm saying is...she's probably got to prove herself with some people back at command."

Farrell watched as the holographic map reappeared above the cube, and he shifted from one leg to the other, and looked down.

"Uh...Daysa she said dinner is coming up soon. I have to go by the Astrophysics lab and check everything out, but after that...when we meet up in the dining hall...would you like to dine with me? You're the only one I've talked to on the ship so far..."

He looked back up at Daysa, and smiled. His blue eyes sparkled a bit. For some reason he trusted her. Maybe it was her insecurity with technology, and his familiarity with it, or maybe it was her unassuming way, but he felt at ease with her.

As he stood there waiting for her answer, James felt the engines of the ship whirr to life. He smiled a little wider as a thrill of excitement ran through him. We're going out into space, he thought, feeling like a kid, standing in his back yard with his telescope aimed at the stars. We're actually going to see what's out there.

Itsuki left his office after hearing the captain's broadcast, thinking it would be best to oversee his command for a while. Below, he saw two new faces that weren't here before when he arrived.

He pulled out his cube and walked down to them, "Hello, Tobias Clarke and Radac..." he said looking at the crew list on his cube "I am Chief Engineer Kaminari, your commanding officer."

Itsuki looked to the cyborg, intrigued at the process of cyberisation and replacing organic components for mechanical ones. He had thought of undergoing the process for more processing speed and reaction time but decided against it.

After hearing the broadcast from loud speakers she couldn't immediately point out, she looked confused for a moment. Looking to Rhino, she cocked her head to the side.

"Were... were we supposed to meet with the captain?" Siria asked. Rhino stepped back, shaking his hands showing that he had no idea. She then turned to Zephyr, who seemed to nod disappointedly. They did say that dinner was going to be served soon... and I haven't had anything that wasn't synthesized in god knows how long... Siria's thoughts said. It was true, since she was in her orbiter most of the time, she had no real food on the ship.

Now knowing she was... slightly, safe from being reprimanded now that they were on their way, Siria began to walk to, at least where she assumed, they would be eating. She wanted to be one of the first there to see what they had to eat and was, quite honestly, a little hyperactive. She was so excited to leave the system for the first time in ages.

After a few steps, she could quite clearly feel the eyes of everyone else on her and her frames. She hated it and it made her want to puke. But she resisted. Rhino and Zephyr were like her best friends, they couldn't be replaced- well... they could... but not emotionally.

"I love you two... you know that?" She said as she walked backward, facing them both. Both of them looked at each other and Rhino scooped her up and placed Siria on his shoulders in one swift motion. "Geez! Rhino... be nice and ask for once ok?" Siria said, giggling as they arrived to the dining quarter.

Radac looks once at Itsuki and then goes back to what he was doing. Ignoring the chief almost entirely. The helmet he wore prevented a tell of any emotion. So his first impression was impossible.

Tobias looked up at him and nods, "Howdy Chief. Don't mind Radac. He's only along as my assistance." He then wraps his knuckles on his leg. The noise it gave off indicated a prosthetic. "I can't do some of the heavy lifting the job requires. So he'll be doing it for me." He explains then stands with a grunt and offers a rough hand to Itsuki. "Now that introductions are out of the way. Nice to meet ya." Tobias had a Southern accent. But it was very light. He himself seemed like a nice guy. But his cyborg was Abit rough around the edges.

Cchaaneh watched the hologram of their captain intensely, observing the way the human held herself, the tone of her voice, and the expression on her face. They knew they were going to have to get used to human body language and expressions very quickly if they were to succeed here, especially since the captain proclaimed herself to be a no-nonsense sort of individual.

“Dinner in an hour and a half, hm?” They murmured to themself. “Good, I’ll be hungry by then.” As the ship came to life, they brought up the profiles they had been compiling on their crewmates and began looking over each one. The Isswas in particular interested them, being the furthest from human out of the lot aside from themself. And quite small. The other aliens appeared to be a mix of humans and human-offshoots, which interested them slightly less, but aliens were aliens and it was their job to learn about them. Alien culture was their specialty, of course, but they had a practical interest in xenobiology as well. A pity taking them apart to see how they tick was disallowed in this part of space...

...And they were daydreaming again. Secch, but that was a habit they needed to kick. Particularly with regards to the inner workings of the SC Ark Royal’s crew. Dinner couldn’t come soon enough...and not just because they were eager to meet the rest of the crew.

He shook the Southern man's hand and smiled, "Good to meet you too Clarke. Feel free to roam and get acquainted with the engineering deck and its staff. In the meantime, I have some business to deal with."

He left them with a wave and took off to his quarters. When inside, he opened up a cabinet in the bathroom and found that he hadn't packed his medication. He groaned in frustration at the mistake, "Wonderful..." he said grumbling to himself.

He could only hope that the medical staff had the stuff stocked on-board. He took the lift and walked to the door of the med-bay and gave it a knock.

Aimee returned the greeting from the Lt. with a short nod, although her reply was cut off by the helmsman ensign and Vail's announcement to the crew - by then he'd left, and she turned her attention to her console, giving a last check over the systems it was attached to.

"Safety protocols engaged, systems and shields stable, ma'am."

A phrase from a poem she'd read flickered through her mind as she prepared to respond to the Captain's orders.

Come over the hills and far with me, and be my love in the rain.

Tula leaned against the bulkhead beside one of the now closed gangways. She had made the launch if only just. Within the last twenty four hours, Tula had been purchased from her civilian owner followed by a rapid tear down and modernization before being immediately ordered to board the Ark Royal. Even as she was leaned against the bulkhead, she was actively fine tuning her upgraded systems.

Upon hearing the Captain's speech Tula heads for the bridge, only stopping to drop her belongings in her bunk along the way. Smoothing her uniform before stepping onto the bridge and approaches the Captain. Bowing in a respectful fashion, Tula mumbles just loud enough to be heard "I apologize for being late. Adjutant Tula Ramanegan, T-Doll Rho-One-Seven...Reporting for duty Ma'am."

Even after she was finished speaking Tula held her bow, aware of but mostly disregarding the others around her until her interaction with the Captain was finished.

Sivwikkas faltered momentarily upon seeing amusement crossing Captain Iotta's face. Isswasa weren't a common sight on human-central ships, and Wikkas knew there might be some odd looks or even condescension. They hoped that this wasn't true of their new captain, despite her colorful past.

"Aye-aye, sss ... ma'am!" they barked, fumbling as usual on the gendered honorifics. They're mad at me, they thought nervously, trying to keep control over their camouflage reflex. "Apologies, ma'am!"

Sivwikkas hurried over to their station and opened the messenger bag they carried. They removed something, placed it into the chair, and began to unfold it--it turned out to be some sort of booster seat, which gave them better access to the controls. Once it was locked into place, Wikkas climbed into it and, for the first time, really, truly, officially took the helm.

"Disconnecting tether A ... tether B ... tether C ... ... untethering complete. Powering starboard thrusters 5%. Annnd easing off now ..." Docking and undocking procedures could be bumpy, but even with the Isswas' nervousness and constant second guessing, they managed it with relative grace. As the ship pulled away from the dock, the circular bay doors ahead opened in a spiralling motion. Ahead of them lay the grand mystery of the twofold galaxy.

"On your mark, captain," Wikkas said.

((I didn't want to add a bunch of "would" clauses but I also don't want to slow things down, so basically once Vail gives the word, Wikkas punches the gas. ))

Daysa smiles wider when James grinned at her and watched somewhat curiously as his glasses slipped and he pushed them back up. When he said “I know right?!” Daysa giggled a little and her wings rustled on the fabric of her uniform. When he asked if she was from the moon she opened her mouth to answer and a hologram appeared above the cube again taking the place o the map. This hologram was the captain and she was explaining that they would take off soon, and also that dinner would be served soon.

When the holographic introduction was over Daysa smiled at James’s comment about the warning. James and Daysa stared at the no for a beat and then James shifted and asked if Daysa would eat dinner with him. Daysa smiled again and quietly said “Of course!” She was glad she would not be sitting alone, and it would be with James! He seemed trustworthy and kind, Daysa was glad to have met him.

He heard someone talking inside and assumed they hadn't heard him.

Itsuki pulled out his cube and typed out a message saying: "Medical Officer Daysa, this is Chief Engineer Itsuki Kaminari. Sorry to interrupt whatever's going on over there, but I have to have a word with you."

He tapped the send button and hoped that she would respond soon.

"Very good, Ramanegan," Vail said, motioning to the doll's controls. "Take your position. As for you, Sivwikkas, fire away."

Vail finally smiled, a real one this time. She took her seat as the ship shuddered slightly, preparing to soar away into the comforting, bright tendrils of space.

Sivwikkas nodded at the command and initiated the launch procedures. The ship began to move, slowly at first, at least until they cleared the bay. Once they were out in the open, they picked up speed, leaving the spaceport behind.

"What bearing, captain?" they asked. The entirety of the Neo Kosmos galaxy unfurled before them, waiting for them to ride her cosmic waves. Wikkas could barely contain their excitement. They had done interstellar travel before, of course, but now that they had graduated everything felt brand new.

James saw the message appear on Daysa's cube from Chief Engineer Itsuki Kaminari. Then he realized that what he had thought was normal engine noise was actually a knock on the door.

"Daysa," James said, "I think you have your first customer," he grinned. I'll meet you in the dining hall later."

James walked through the door, holding it open for the Itsuki.

"Pardon me, I should have realized you knocked," James said, nodding at him politely. Then he headed next door to the astrophysics labs.

When he walked into the lab he gasped in awe. One wall consisted entirely of a viewscreen, from floor to ceiling. There were four pictures upon it, in high resolution, each showing the magnified quadrant of space in each of the four cardinal directions, as scanned by the ships sensors. The pictures were constantly changing. One showed a colorful pink and purple nebula, one a binary star system, one a black hole sucking swirling streams of starlight off of an orbiting red giant star and the forth, just a field of stars, rapidly streaming by as the ship dashed faster than mentally conceivable from the known universe into the vast reaches of space.

Farrell examined his equipment and found instruments for precisely measuring gravity, energy, mass, density, composition, and even timespace fluctuations. There were sensors to read the background radiation and the radiation emitted by existing bodies. Sound and light waves of all type were precisely measurable...there was equipment he had only read about in textbooks in this lab. Part of him couldn't believe they had trusted him with it. He immediately rushed to the controls and began a log which would record a map of all things they encountered to send back and generate warnings, questions and hypotheses for the crew's consideration.