<span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><div><div><div class="im"><div style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80);">Kylee paused before Lox, waiting until he was free for a few minutes.<br>
"Commander, I was curious as to which of the shuttles not going to the<br>surface have been most recently serviced?" she asked.<br><br>Justin continued down the line of people checking their suits. Most were in<br>
perfect order, though some he noted were nearing their lifespan, others had<br>a glitch here or there. "Shuttle 12 is the last one to be serviced before<br>We started modifying shuttles for this mission. What do you have in mind<br>
for my shuttles?"<br><br>Kylee arched her brow slightly as he referred to them as his shuttles,<br>seeing he was highly protective of them. "If the captain approves it, I am<br>planning to use one to explore the asteroid fields to look for more<br>
information on the source of that iron," she explained. "Don't worry.. I'll<br>take care of it.."<br><br>"Actually, if I have any say about it, you won't be using that shuttle. You<br>need the metaphasic shielding we installed on this one, the one already on<br>
the surface, and the one behind this one. If you give my team another 2<br>hours, they can get you one for exploration with the needed modifications."<br>Justin said as he finished checking another suit. "For safety, you should<br>
also wear an EVA suit while exploring."<br><br>Kylee nodded, sure the captain would prefer her using a shuttle with that<br>shielding, though she would be far enough away that any radiation would be<br>minimal. "I'll let the captain know, she wants me to wait a couple hours<br>
before exploring anyway," she said, wrinkling her nose slightly as she<br>thought about wearing the EVA suit, letting out a sigh. "If you think it's<br>best, though would prefer to avoid wearing that damn thing.."<br>
<br>"I'm just trying to anticipate what Dr. Brody would require of her changes.<br>I hate these things too. That far out, you should be fairly safe, but one<br>of those large flares reached the probe we had in the belt. Without the<br>
shielding, you would burn up just as fast." Justin said. "We need to<br>figure out a way to stop them. That's your department. Once you know,<br>either contact me, or talk to Lt. Honeydew in Engineering. we will make<br>
sure whatever needs to get done, does."<br><br>"Hey, Chief!" Crewman Daephon said, coming up behind Kylee. "Are we going<br>or staying? I'm all suited up."<br><br>Kylee glanced back over her shoulder, looking at Crewman Daephon. "You don't<br>
have to call me Chief, crewman," she said, a slight smirk upon her lips.<br>"You're going, I'm staying.. and hoping to go elsewhere in another shuttle.<br>You will be taking any readings needed, such as radiation levels, leeching<br>
effects of the soil, etc," she stated, glancing back to Justin and nodding.<br>"Don't worry.. I won't do anything too stupid out there.."<br><br>Kat awaited inspection of her suit she hadn't used it much and figured it'd<br>
pass. She fidgeted while standing in line. 'what was the hold up' she<br>thought. She watched Lt. Reed for a moment feeling a sense of pride over the<br>fine officer she'd watched him become thinking it was just over a year ago<br>
she'd noticed him during her first away mission since reporting to the<br>Vimyridge. She mentally prepared herself for the mission hoping it'd be as<br>successful as the first.<br><br>Justin moved down the line to Kat, and started checking her suit. "Tisk<br>
Tisk, you haven't been taking care of your suit. Power levels are at 75%,<br>and the recharger log says you haven't had it in for charging in over 2<br>years. " He looked up at her and grinned "You pass.. get aboard."<br>
<br>"I'll try to follow your example, then," Takis said, heading back toward the<br>departure area. He re-checked his equipment and prepared to get going, all<br>the time trying to paint all the new faces in his memory, and attach<br>
overheard names to them. When he was able to do that, he started throwing<br>in other observations that might help him later. The Chief...the<br>Lieutenant...whatever seemed a much more eager type than any other Science<br>
Officers Takis had worked with. Sometimes the department heads seemed to<br>get jaded...because of all the bureaucracy, he supposed. But then, Takis<br>had only served planetside so far. Maybe these spacer types were more<br>
excitable as a rule.<br><br>He finally decided he was properly outfitted and began helping the other<br>crewmen load up for the mission.<br><br>Kylee watched Takis as he moved back over with the others. Studying him for<br>
a moment, she turned and walked over to him, leaning in close to speak<br>softly with him. "Be very careful down there.. with the radiation, those who<br>live on the planet are going to be desperate to escape. Keep your phaser<br>
handy, and don't take any unnecessary risks while you work," she said<br>softly, knowing that those on the surface were sure to be panicking. "I know<br>you'll do fine down there, Takis."<br><br>"Thanks, Ch...Ma'am," Takis said, hitting his temple on an overhanging<br>
shuttle flange as he turned, but continuing as if he were used to doing<br>that, which he was. "I'll be careful. You do the same." He smiled<br>genuinely, though Nix's reminder struck a chord of dread in him and he went<br>
back to work a little more grimly.<br><br>Kylee winced slightly, partially from him hitting his head and partially<br>from the Ma'am. "Are you okay?" she asked, tilting her head to look up at<br>his head. "And.. how about you just call me Nix... that sounds better than<br>
any other titles.." she said, nodding slightly as she smiled. "I will try..<br>got to be willing to take some small risks.."<br><br>Opening comms Vilqa made one final request, "Lieutenant junior grade Juard<br>
please report to Shutty Bay 1, EVA suit mandatory. You have five minutes."<br>There was no need for additional conversation on the matter. Moving toward<br>the shuttle the Captain jumped in and approached Garret, "How are your<br>
nerves holding up?" she full well knew that the flight wasn't going to<br>necessarily be simple; especially with the impending flares and other<br>possible dangers that could loom, "I am going to need you to use your<br>
visuals more than usual. I don't know what sort of possible havoc the<br>radiation may cause to instruments and readings so don't fly blind only<br>counting on readings."<br><br>Matthew nodded his head. "They are alright, im just trying to recall<br>
something they taught us in the academy. All dealt with flying<br>instrument-blind through sorts of radiation. Ill be fine ma'am." Matthew<br>smiled. "I usually use my visuals all the time, so it will be fairly easy."<br>
<br>"I suggest you have Commander Lox as co-pilot but helm is your<br>responsibility and your specialty." She reassured Garret that ultimately the<br>flying decisions were his alone.<br><br>Matthew nodded in agreement. "Yes ma'am. Thank you. Ready whenever you are"</div>
<div style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80);"><br></div></div></div><div style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80);">Marcus
overheard the captain's encouragement to Matthew and added his own
version, "As long as we make it it on piece that's the main thing. We
can put up with a few bruises from the buffeting."<div class="im"><br>
<br>"Soon as Juard gets here we'll be good to go." Vilqa tapped Matt's shoulder<br>then made her way out of the shuttle past the stored boxes of medication and<br>other supplies, "It's going to be a tight ride. There's certainly a lot of<br>
supplies in there." she said as she jumped out of the doors, avoiding the<br>stairs of the shuttle.<br><br></div></div><div style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80);">Marcus
moved over to the supplies, starting to double check that all the
correct ones were on board. Cait would no doubt do the same, but she
had sent him a list and he would ensure that her stress levels were
minimal. The doctor needed to fully focus on the task at hand, it was
no doubt going to be a huge one. Anything he could do to re-assure and
make that job easier was a positive.</div><div class="im">
<div style="color: rgb(80, 0, 80);"><br>Toby moved over to Cait and when he got close murmured, "You be careful down<br>there, no unnecessary risks. Don't let your desire to save everyone<br>overwhelm your common sense, do what you can, and maybe a little more but<br>
don't put people in harm's way any more than you must."<br><br>Juard walked in looking around the room. He was wandering why he was called<br>here. "What is going on?" he said.<br><br>"I'll do my best, Toby." Cait murmred back. "After all, I have two very<br>
important people to come back too." She gave him one of her knock down<br>smiles and turned to Juard. "Ah, Doctor Juard, glad to have you aboard.<br>We're heading planetside to see about helping the population deal with the<br>
radiation flares. Its gonna be busy."<br><br>"What do you mean busy?" Juard replied second guessing his transfer because<br>of this.<br><br>The tiny doctor sighed. "We're going to have to innoculate the population<br>
and deal with whatever exposure to the radiation has done so far."<br><br>"Oh that is busy."Juard said with a smile.<br><br>Justin walked over to Juard "You ready to go?"<br><br>A look of horror crossed Cait's face. "Do not tell me you're piloting, Justin."<br>
<br>Matt laughed. "No, ma'am, that would be me"<br><br>Cait eyed the young ensign, much like a cat eyeing the canary. "You haven't<br>been taking lessons from Justin have you?"<br><br></div></div>
</div><div class="im">
"It has been more than 3 years since that mission Doc. It was also
an extraordinary set of circumstances. I doubt you will ever
experience such an interesting ride as that one, even if I am
piloting." Justin smiled. "He hasn't had a chance to try my
simulations.. though he should come down to engineering some time and
give them a try, it would be educational."</div></span>
<div><font color="#333333" face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br></span></font></div><div><font color="#333333" face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;">Marcus looked over his shoulder, "Remember, one piece, that's the main aim." <br>
<br><<Fin>><br></span></font></div>