"Good luck, rendezvous with Cho'lu on the surface and send comms as soon as<br>
possible with your status. Blake and Saladin you two are taking the lead on<br>
the surface so nobody leaves the established caves without informing them is<br>
that understood?" Vilqa said from the door of the shuttle.<br>
<br>
Marcus looked at Vilqa, "Understood Captain." He looked back to Blake and<br>
the others, hid mind now remembering Federation protocol for landing in<br>
unknown conditions, questions to ask, searches to make. It was going to take<br>
a team effort and without a doubt would require every bit of skill each<br>
officer had.<br>
<br>
Cait nodded her understanding and looked over at Marcus with a grin. They<br>
served together for a long time now, not counting the time he was off the<br>
Vimy and she new he was someone she could trust to have her back no matter<br>
what.<br>
<br>
Marcus smiled back to Cait. They had not been able to catch up one on one<br>
for a while, due to motherhood and the craziness of war. Perhaps the ride<br>
there and back might serve such a purpose.<br>
<br>
Barely able to sit still, Takis fumbled with his equipment in an attempt to<br>
contain his excitement. Only aboard the ship for a litte while, and already<br>
swimming with quite a few officer types! He didn't hold any expectations<br>
that he'd be more than an information gatherer, but then again, he loved the<br>
work, even in a dangerous environment. "Anybody bring a magazine?" he<br>
joked, to no one in particular.<br>
<br>
Marcus quirked a brow at this old earth reference, "They would hardly be<br>
appropriate for the mission at hand, and regardless exist only<br>
electronically except for in the oldest museums." He smiled, "but if you are<br>
interested I can certainly help you find some when we return to the Ridge."<br>
<br>
"Nah, 'sokay," Takis chuckled. "I was just hoping to pass the time,<br>
otherwise I'll get nervous and jump out the viewport 'n swim back to the<br>
ship." He laughed heartily.<br>
<br>
Toby shook his head and chuckled then looked at K`y, wondering if she was<br>
wondering the same thing he was. How was it they always ended up with such<br>
odd crew? At least most of the crew was tried and true and would look after<br>
the new ones. That was one thing that seemed to be a standard tradition on<br>
the Vimy Ridge, even back on the Audax.<br>
<br>
The little doc settled in seat behind the pilot, pulling out a hypo and<br>
injecting herself. "Anyone else get motion sickness?" If this pilot turned<br>
out to be from the Justin school of insane piloting or if the trip go rough,<br>
she really didn't want to be tossing her cookies.<br>
<br>
Justin took hes seat next to the pilot "Shields online, weapons offline to<br>
conserve power. life support, gravity plating, secondary systems all report<br>
nominal. Ready to depart once everyone is onboard. Just take is slow and<br>
easy.. you don't want the Doc there decorating the inside of her EVA suit..<br>
or yours."<br>
<br>
Matthew nodded. "Understood" he said as he worked the controls to get<br>
underway.<br>
<br>
Vilqa tapped the door frame of the shuttle and jumped back, "Safe travels."<br>
She then backed up so the doors could be closed and the shuttle could<br>
depart then spoke to Toby, "She will be fine," the Captain of course spoke<br>
to Cait; "And will be back up here before you know it. I do hope the new<br>
doctor clicks in well with everybody; away missions like this to an unknown<br>
when being new is always a bit unnerving."<br>
<br>
Kat took her seat not far from Cait, She fidgeted with her equipment for a<br>
moment trying to calm her nerves. Being aboard the shuttle made her think<br>
back to the disastrous Tamco mission. She was relieved not to be in charge<br>
of this one as it was left to the more experienced officers. She'd observe<br>
and learn more from them as she could building more self confidence. She<br>
glanced at Nick and to the seat near her wondering if he'd take it so maybe<br>
they might get a brief chance to talk. She wanted a chance to clear the air<br>
between them and<br>
admit her mistake and try to fix the strain on their friendship.<br>
<br>
Toby stepped back and nodded to K`y, "Oh I know she will be. She does<br>
alright on her own, and she's been showing signs of needing to go, to do, to<br>
get some peace and quiet. Not that Rose is a troublesome child. Just typical<br>
in wanting a lot of mommy and daddy time. And the new doctor will be<br>
alright. She'll take care of him to." He chuckled, "She can mother him for a<br>
while."<br>
<br>
Nick took his own seat, his eyes moving toward the ramp that the everyone<br>
was using to board. Trying to mentally prepare himself for the mission, he<br>
turned his head toward the pilot for a moment... despite his preparation,<br>
his thoughts kept going to Cugino... and the O'Rourkes... damn, what he'd<br>
give for an old earth vice... a simple cigarette sounded wonderful right<br>
about now. He blew out a thin sigh, looking out the view screen, leaving his<br>
thought, and whatever emotions that may or may not have been attached to<br>
them, to himself.<br>
<br>
Marcus nodded to Justin's verbal checklist as he adjusted his own seat, then<br>
looked at Toby as the doors closed and the first officer stepped back in.<br>
"Justin informs us that things are ready to go so Matthew can take off when<br>
we're ready." He looked around him, wondered how K'ylana was really taking<br>
it. She never liked being away from the action. Wondered what Nix would find<br>
on the asteroids. Wondered if they could get clear communication from the<br>
planet to the ship with all the radiation problems. Wondered, in short, a<br>
great many things.<br>
<br>
K`ylana nodded at Toby's comment then turned on her heels, "We've got our<br>
own work to do. And if I know Nix as well as I think I do she is foaming at<br>
the mouth to speak to use about her little side foray that she requested. I<br>
am returning to the bridge, feel free to observe the shuttle depart before<br>
joining me."<br>
<br>
Toby gave K`y a smile of thanks, "I will be with you shortly after they<br>
leave. Have to make sure the new guy can pilot out of the shuttle bay<br>
without scraping the paint." He winked and turned his attention back to the<br>
shuttle and it's last minute preparations.<br>
<br>
<br>
[Bridge]<br>
<br>
Vilqa entered past the sliding doors, "Any confirmation the shuttle has<br>
departed? she asked the moment the Captain reached her chair. "No Ma'am.<br>
They have not left yet and we have not received any notification of issues<br>
either." the officer added before Vilqa could ask.<br>
<br>
Clearing her throat Vilqa spoke directly to the shuttle's comms, "This is<br>
Captain Vilqa any explanation for the delay?" Just because the bridge heard<br>
of no issues did not mean none existed.<br>
<br>
[Shuttle]<br>
<br>
Toby frowned as he noticed that the shuttle wasn't taking off yet, he didn't<br>
sense any problems from inside the shuttle and turned to look at the crewman<br>
overseeing the forcefield controls for the shuttlebay, who shrugged in<br>
response to the XO's questioning look.<br>
<br>
Matthew pressed a control to answer the captain. "Sorry, ma'am. I had a<br>
little<br>
trouble with the starboard nacelle. We are all set to go" he said. He was<br>
just<br>
about finished. "Shuttle craft to bridge, request permission to disembark"<br>
<br>
Marcus took a deep breath as they were cleared to go. There was always a<br>
certain amount of nervous energy to try and contain before leaving for any<br>
away mission. One of his Vulcan mentors at V'ron had taught him a few tips<br>
to deal with it, and so now he remained quiet, his eyes closed, fingers tips<br>
of each hand pressed firmly against the other, slowing his heart rate and<br>
running continuing to run through the mission routine in his head. After<br>
they departed he would probably have plenty to say.<br>
<br>
Cait was quite the opposite of Marcus. Yes, her eyes were closed, well, more<br>
like squeezed tightly shut. Her hands gripped the arms of her seat with a<br>
vice like grip. Always she blamed it on that time in the stone place,<br>
something fun to tease Justin about. Now it was a smoke screen to cover the<br>
real issue. The terror laden fear of being shot down as the shuttle tried to<br>
leave Katan'ka. She remembered the turbulance, felt the terror of her fellow<br>
passangers, the shock of glancing hits on the shuttle. During that horrific<br>
flight, she had kept her head and worked to try and calm the others. It was<br>
something that had to be done and she did it. Maybe this was something she<br>
should talk to Ivri about but maybe not. It wasn't like she refused to do<br>
shuttle flights.<br>
<br>
Takis smiled inwardly, and smirked outwardly when the Captain spoke about<br>
Nix. So his first impression had been right; the Chief was the eager,<br>
excitable sort. Takis wasn't, but he'd always been good at going with the<br>
flow, no matter how strong or fast the current. He suddenly started itching<br>
inside his suit and squirmed. He'd never admit it, even to himself, but he<br>
was much more a ground-pounder than a spacefarer. He always carried a very<br>
slight uneasiness with him whenever he left a planet's atmosphere, and he<br>
wouldn't even be on this ship if not for his stupid drive to try new things;<br>
a drive that often got him into trouble back home. Probably wouldn't be any<br>
different here. He puffed his cheeks out and sighed.<br>
<br>
Marcus looked up, "Ensign Garret, once we have left, how long shall it be<br>
until arrival?"<br>
<br>
"Well we are going to take things nice and slow, so probably shouldnt be<br>
more<br>
than thirty minutes, if we're lucky"<br>
<br>
"Bridge to Shuttle MacDowell, you are clear for departure." came the<br>
slightly<br>
delayed reply.<br><br><<TBC Have fun on the surface!!>><br>