[NOVA] Briefing (K/M 1.1)

WPTunes

Ksenia and Mei,

Seven of you are in the room, waiting for the arrival of Ezekiel Church, Director of Planetary Exploitation Special Projects for Melzer-Togawa. It's clear that this conference room wasn't intended for quite this many people at once, but you're making do. Sergeant Sung is at parade rest along the wall opposite the viewscreen, and PFC Sanchez is leaning against one of the long walls, looking at the door with the long stare of a career enlisted man to-be.

His eyes stray to you, Ksenia. How did he react to the surprise of seeing you when you first boarded? How is he now, a week out and ready to make the FTL jump? How are you?

Mei, Su Gaumata is sitting directly across from you. Ze is apparently a she today. Zir body shape doesn't change that much, depending on the physical sex ze chooses. What's the biggest telltale? What about Gaumata is your eye most drawn to?

At precisely 1900 hours ship time, Ezekiel Church walks through the hatch, his fingers running one by one through the antique soapstone prayer beads he always carries. After about three seconds where everyone does their own version of the "I'm ready" pantomime (the sound of chairs creaking, tablet screens flaring to light or going dim, PFC Sanchez straightening from his "who me?" crouch), Church pockets the beads and walks to the viewscreen, nodding to Gaumata, who taps his tablet.

The viewscreen brightens to a title slide.

MV-589 - "TARA'S FIRMA"
MISSION BRIEFING

Event-Type: Anomalous Psychic Emanations
Exploitation Class: Yellow (Unknown)
Risk Assessment: Low

Melzer-Togawa Megacorp
Directorate of Planetary Exploitation Special Projects

PROPRIETARY. NDA Required.

Gaumata taps his tablet again, and each of your devices pings simultaneously. Ze says in zir quiet, husky voice, "Gentlepersons, please attend to the documents you will find on your devices. These are brief, but thorough standard Non-Disclosure Agreements for the information you are about to receive. Sergeant, Private, Ensign, you will find an additional official document from your superiors authorizing you to thumb these NDAs. The rest of you agreed to sign in your contracts, although this is the first time you're seeing the document itself." Ze smiles.

Sergeant Sung immediately opens and thumbs the NDA, with a glance to Church, the Big Gun in the room. The rest do as they're told, with varying levels of alacrity.

What do you do?

Rich

[Ksenia]

Frakkin' Sanchez. I cannot believe he's only a PFC! We were in Boot together. I was a First Sergeant when I was discharged and that was almost a year ago. Damn, that man never thinks about his pay-grade. Or doing more interesting shit.

I knew he was on the roster, of course. He was surprised, of course. He didn't even know I was out of the Corps, so I got to tell him about some of the ops we ran during the Aenid Cluster Conflict. Then, we had to go round for round on the big accident, which wasn't fun. I hate that look of pity, that "aw, Ksenia, I'm so sorry" bullshit. Pisses me right the hell off.

A week later and he's better. I'm better. It isn't over yet, I probably need to kick his ass before he buys that I'm good to go with who I am now. He'll learn. Like Lourdes over there. Frakkin mock me and 4-D Tower Defense. Who has top score now, beyotch?

I scanned the docs earlier, I already know what they say. Regardless, I watch Mei out of the corner of my eye before I thumb them. I'm impressed with how thorough she is. Good on you, Mei.

Mischa

[Mei]

Ksenia and I arrive together, and I'm glad we're able to sit next to each other. Dai and Lourdes are next to each other, too. I nod politely but briefly at Gaumata. I find myself wondering what gender ze was born with. As a woman, ze spends time for a feminine hairstyle and a tiny touch of lip color and different shades around the eyelids, enough to cue a watchful eye that ze is presenting as she. It's pretty tasteful, and I'm well aware that's a skill I don't have. Also, breasts. Ze has more up top than me right now. Prettier, too. Ze is really carrying well a pair of glasses with some mother-of-pearl worked into the temples. I feel positively frumpy, and I nervously tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.

I fold my hands together over the table, waiting attentively. I look about at the crew, at Ksenia.

Church walks in, and Gaumata readies the precis. I raise my eyebrows, impressed at the title- "Anomalous Psychic Emanations." My mouth is a little dry and I feel a few eyes on me. I bite my lip, try to look competent and together. I'm very aware of Cribbage effortlessly presenting as such. I take a short breath.

I move on to the authorization document, busying myself in checking the signatures, chain of command, chain of trusts. Looks okay, so I make secure copies for later detailed review. I'll quickly skim the NDA for the usual legalese hotspots- when it expires, who it doesn't cover, any compensation, the usual. As long as nothing seems out of line, I'll thumb my authorization and code it.

Even though it looks like we'll be dirtside, I still hope for some real space work this mission. I don't want the crew to see me as just another Psi Ops spook.

WPTunes

Ksenia and Mei,

After everyone has had a chance to read and thumb acceptance to the NDA, Ezekiel Church begins speaking. He doesn't clear his throat or hesitate, like most people do when starting to address a group. His dark eyes seem to take all of you in at once. "Just over 22 standard days ago, a privately held tramp freighter with Mars registry, charmingly designated as the Charlie Chaplin, was forced to exit FTL in Melzer-Togawa licensed planetary space including the potentially habitable MV-589, due to an immediate and critical need for engine repairs." Lourdes smirks at this and mutters something about amateurs.

"As protocol and treaties require, the Charlie Chaplin contacted Melzer-Togawa, and maintained an active link while in M-T space. While in orbit around MV-589, effecting the needed repairs, all members of the crew reported similar auditory hallucinations and reported these back to Melzer-Togawa through the comm link. Again as per protocol, this time corporate, Melzer-Togawa sent a two person orbital survey team to do a quick-burn accelerated evaluation. This team also experienced similar auditory hallucinations and reported upon return that there was indisputably a strong psionic emitter on the surface of the planet, which they triangulated to an area of approximately 240 square kilometers."

"Ensign Mei, as the ranking member of the military contingent, you will be receiving orders from your superiors before FTL that should give you some detail on why Space Corps decided to become involved when Melzer-Togawa shared information about the nature of the auditory hallucinations. Orders will also confirm the following assignments. The exploration party will include Ensign Mei as mission specialist, PFC Sanchez, to provide security for Ensign Mei, Dr. Gaumata to represent Melzer-Togawa's interests and evaluate any discoveries, and Ms. Cribbage, providing security for Dr. Gaumata. Captain Dai and Ms. Lourdes will remain with their ship, of course. I will remain aboard to provide any needed support to the ground team, and Sergeant Sung will remain aboard as liaison with Space Corps and to provide real-time tactical assessment. Oh, and Captain Dai, Melzer-Togawa and Space Corps will be invoking the Special Circumstances clause of your contract. Ensign Mei will pilot the ship in from orbit."

"Dr. Gaumata will transfer all of the telemetry and data about MV-589 to your tablets. Thank you."

He remains, but clearly doesn't expect questions. Mei, at this moment your tablet pings with an official document from way up the chain of command. It is marked "Eyes Only."

Ksenia, Sanchez leans over and says, "Looks like we're the babysitters." He's got that grin. You remember it, but you haven't seen it yet this trip.

It's 4 hours until FTL. How do you prepare? What do you do?

Rich

[Ksenia]

"Sanchez," I answer him without leaning over. "You better hope you can keep up, man. Ensign Mei is one helluva soldier." I chuckle, shake my head. He'll never learn. I just hope he's still an expert marksman.

I prepare by having a small meal. Well, "meal" is generous. It's the food paste that sustains the biological parts of me. I don't eat anymore, because I can't digest anymore. So I take in this bland-ass paste, and it breaks down in my bloodstream and supplies nutrients to my body that I need. I prefer it to the IV.

I'll spend an hour reading over the charts and files, doing some research on the star cluster nearby, do some analysis on the gravitational pulls, anything involving the slipstreams, really anything I can learn about it. Half an hour to clean and spit polish my weapons and boots. Some light reading, conversation with Mei if she's up for it, or with Lourdes if Mei's occupied.

Mischa

[Mei]

Hmm, MV-class. I call up some notes in the briefing, start planning for gravity differences and potential atmo hazards. Looks mostly okay, but there's a few flags I need to review in detail, some chemical traces, geological notations... I blink and look back up. Focus, Mei!

"Auditory hallucinations," he says. That could be anything. Somehow I doubt it's electropop and macaroni commercials. I bite my lip, and try not to chew on the stylus as I listen. I feel other people looking at me out of the corner of their eyes. I'm the picture of attentiveness to Church.

I nod when he calls me out, trying that steely competent look Ksenia always has. My heart beats a little faster... I'm the ranking officer here! I'm faintly glowing with pride, but I'm keeping professional. Don't screw it up. Don't lose face. I meet eyes with Sanchez when Church assigns him to me, nodding appreciatively.

I keep my face neutral when Church assigns me the pilot duties. Dai's going to be miffed, and I don't want to rub her face in it. I try to gauge her reaction, though.



Then Ksenia speaks. I blush a little, and I fight down a smile. I can't keep it out of my eyes, though. "I do my best. 120%." I'm going to show Sanchez that I don't need babysitting! Maybe I'll challenge him to an arm wrestle. Guys tend to respect that. Or just share a meal with him? He seems to know Cribbage.



I spend my time reviewing data on MV-589, getting with Dai and Lourdes for ship operational details — and I do so respectfully, thank you very much — and familiarize myself with the ship. I don't want to eat before FTL. I'm excited.

WPTunes

The planet itself seems dead-boring from the data. Atmosphere isn't exactly hostile, but not friendly either. You'll all need to boost O2 if you want to go without suits. Some sort of scrubby carbon-based vegetation, gravity 72.459% standard. The day's about 30 standard hours long, temperature on the cold side where you're headed, well down below freezing at night. Nothing you and the others can't handle. That is, assuming that Gaumata's augs go beyond the sex-change thing, or ze has some prime gear. Which ze will.

Neither of you sees anything in the system chart or the planetary data which seems alarming. Well, other than the fact that there's apparently something on the surface which is emitting psychic signals capable of reaching a vehicle in an intermediate circular orbit, almost 19K kilometers away. That? A little alarming.

Mischa

[Mei]

Nineteen thousand klicks for a psionic broadcast is more than a little alarming, positively unhuman. I'm working on various exploration scenarios, trying to anticipate likely failures and opportunities, and I make a note to myself that I really need to bring my sketchpad to the alien world this time. I'm looking forward to experimenting with exploring without a suit.

My thoughts are drifting to Cora, wondering about her insight.

WPTunes

Mei, you taste the faintest tinge of copper on your tongue, and the hint of a... hand? ...on your shoulder, but nothing more.

Dai has dismissed your attempts to learn more about ops for this particular ship, clearly disgruntled despite your politeness and respect. She actually rolls your eyes when you try. "Plenty of time on the other side of FTL, Ensign." You find Lourdes in conversation with Ksenia in the common room, though, just finishing some story. "...so I told him, 'You want me to take the wrench out of your ass, you're gonna have to apologize first!'"

Rich

[Ksenia]

Lourdes' story about the wrench is obviously bullshit, but I like a tall tale. I play punch her arm with my left, "Classic!" I'm laughing a bit, feels nice to cut up with her, she's really calmed down since I whipped her ass at that game of hers. Then I tried an FPS with her, and she whipped me. It's cool.

Captain Dai is playing with Mei. Why does everyone want to make it hard on her? Well, I'm not going to disrespect her by standing up for her, so I let it slide. I give her a nod of greeting, nothing big.

Mischa

[Mei]

Dai puts me in a low mood. But I understand where she's coming from. It's her ship and a spook is flying it.

I'm glad to find Ksenia and Lourdes. They look like they are getting along. I'll stand by the doorway, looking hopeful to be included, but not too hopeful. I don't want to seem like the eager nerdy kid at school, even if I feel that way. "I hope you used enough lube!" I tell Lourdes, chuckling, hoping for camaraderie.

Dammit Mei, you are the ranking officer on board! I kick myself.

WPTunes

Mei, Lourdes looks at you for a silent moment that seems to stretch like an event horizon, then throws her head back. Actually throws her head back and laughs.

Ksenia, do you catch Lourdes, or let her fall out of her chair with laughter?

After she catches her breath, Lourdes says, "You're alright for a spook, Mei. You're alright." She's muttering to herself again, something about lube...

Rich

[Ksenia]

My laughter dies off, and I shake my head. Stop trying so damn hard, Mei. Stop being a kid. But Lourdes laughs her ass off, and that breaks the tension, thank God.

I catch Lourdes, because it's a reflex, and also, she's the engineer. It wouldn't be good to lose her. "Whoah now, L."

Mischa

[Mei]

I'm not a stuck-up. Just trying to find my place. Dai's pissy mood is getting to me. But I guess I am a spook to Lourdes.

And wow, Ksenia, she's fast. I look impressed. "Nice catch, Cribbage!"

Rich

[Ksenia]

I give Mei a look that pretty much says stop complimenting me. But it still makes me flush a little. Don't know where the hell that came from, not like I'm fast on my own. It's my super robo shit.

Mischa

[Mei]

I blink at Ksenia's look, taken aback. "I'll see you after the FTL jump, Lourdes. Fair wind and steady stars." I turn to head out, then remember to nod goodbye to Cribbage.

I walk to the common area, pushing thoughts of everyone out of my head, focusing down my psi. Remembering my exercises. I have an ache behind my eyes, but I don't want to see Gaumata. I aim to lose myself in the mission briefings.

There's work to be done.

WPTunes

Lourdes, still chuckling a bit, nods acknowledgement to Mei, waves.

An automated announcement comes over the speakers. Time to FTL 30 minutes. Time to FTL 30 minutes.

"Time for me to disappear into Engineering, then. You can come visit once we transition, but I pretty much bunk there while we're in FTL. I know I can slave everything to my tablet, but it feels better to be where the wires come together, y'know?"

Ksenia and Mei, the transition to FTL hits everyone differently. Some feel something mystical, some just feel nauseous. People gradually develop rituals after several jumps. What is the transition like for you? What's your ritual?

Mischa

[Mei]

I tell everyone that the FTL transition makes me sleepy and happy, like coming out of a good dream. And I tell them that I usually dream about doing gymnastics, or running a marathon. That kind of focused, directed, satisfyingly physical work. It's obvious that I'm built for it, and everyone in the Academy knew I was tops on all the physical charts. So it was no surprise that's how the FTL transition hit me. And it's no surprise that my ritual after is a shower. A nice, hot, slow shower.


Because that's not what FTL does to me. And I don't tell anyone what I really feel. Keeping it out of the Psi Corps files was one of the hardest pieces of psi work I did.


FTL excites me. It hits me like a thousand-meter rush of pre-orgasmic need. Desire.

And the shower... The shower covers a private ritual and a private need, thank you very much.


I've never told anyone this before. Please excuse me.

Rich

[Ksenia]

This will sound stupid, probably. Transition to FTL for me now is very different than it was before the accident. Before, the transition was just just something that felt weird, like a carnival ride. Pretty fun, really. There was one time I did it while I was high, that was crazy good. Don't judge me, I was headed to a furlough, it wasn't out of regs.

Now, though? Well, it's hard to describe, but that lapse of time makes my brain forget that I'm all frakked up. It's like my metal bits are just me, my old bits. I feel whole, not half a person, not a messed up cyborg bitch. I'm just Ksenia. Or K, if you're in a hurry. It's wonderful. I like it so much that I'm afraid I seek it out sometimes. I wish it lasted longer.

WPTunes

It's traditional to weather the transition in quarters, so you're both together when it happens.

So here's the thing. That moment of transition? Science insists, and instruments confirm, that it actually takes no time at all. None. The most accurate, pinpoint chronometer detects no skip in time, no pause between the time the engines are spooled up to the point of firing and the time the vessel is superluminal.

However...

As long as humans have been breaking this particular law of nature, perception has failed to conform to proof. It's a moment and an eternity both. Mei, you are at the very point where the wave of orgasm wants to break, forever, and then it is instantly over, you're dripping with sweat and ready for that shower. Ksenia, for a blissful eon that is over before it starts, you are just... Ksenia. K.

As you both come out of it, you hear the echo of a scream that might never have happened. Someone had a bad transition, but it doesn't seem to matter right now. You made it, and your mission awaits on the other side of three days in this grey nothingness. Again, as traditional, your view to the outside has been shut off. The view now is a field of flowers on some planet you've never visited, a mountain range in the distance.

--END SCENE--