Welcome to Gaia! ::

The mess hall was somewhat unusual on the ship in that it was the one area on the ship that was utterly lacking in tasteful interior design. Asture, blindingly lit, white and utterly square, it would have been more appropriate as a high school cafeteria than an eating establishment on a spaceship out in deep space. The sheer clean whiteness of it all made the already-forming food stains and shoe scrapes on the tile floor even more offensive to the eye, the harbingers of what was no doubt a very dingy future for the mess hall.

The stark bleached nature of the hall made the doctor look even paler in skin, his hair seem even blonder and his blue eyes washed out even lighter as he and Alezandir stepped inside and got him something to eat. The doctor was still dressed in his white scrubs with white shoes and a white labcoat. In Alec’s opinion, the doctor looked like a ghost.

“This, what is this?” The doctor asked as he was handed a tray with some silverware. He was pointing at some vaguely food-like blocks on plates.

“Standard protein rations.” Alezandir responded. “Until we get actual food, it will be blocks like this except for special request by the captain.” The doctor reached out and poked one of the blocks. It squished under the pressure of his finger.

“Interesting.” He replied, and grabbed a couple for his tray. He helped himself to some blocks of other vitamin and mineral varieties, a glass of water and turned from the serving line to face the rows of tables with stools in front of them to eat. Someone already seated at one of the long tables noticed him and waved the two over.

“You’re the new doctor, aren’t you? Oh, this is good, this gives me a chance to introduce myself. I’m Deuce Two Beta. I’m one of your new medical assistants!” Deuce Two Beta stood up and offered his hand to the doctor over the table. He had apparently not wasted any time in getting himself individualized after waking up out of his podsleep. Deuce had shaved the back of his head and dyed the frizz of hair left on top bright green. It matched the green of his eyes perfectly, and as he extended his arm, the doctor noticed ink drawings all over his arms. Deuce followed his gaze, grinned and gave the doctor’s hand a hearty shake. “Gonna get all my tattoos redone as soon as I know there’s a good tattoo artist awake. I had to scribble them down as I remembered them. Have a seat!”

“Oh, uh, yes, thank you. This is Alezandir Twelve Theta-“

“Alezandir Four Delta.” The large man corrected.

“Right. Sorry. Naming convention. Don’t like it, I find it very confusing. Once I settle on a name, think I’m uh, I’m going to keep it simpler than that. For my own sake. May I just call you Deuce right off, then?”

“Oh yeah, that’s find. I don’t stand on ceremony, as you can guess.” Deuce grinned, but the doctor just sort of stared, shook his head and went on to eating. Deuce decided to direct more of his conversation towards Alezandir.

“I’m an extra-terrestrial biologist by nature. I specialize in the biologies of non-human lifeforms. Probably the only one of those awake right now! But when I heard that we were short on medical staff, I volunteered to help out. I’m fully qualified – I started off as a human biologist and sort of…expanded my field. Besides,” Deuce pointed at himself. “Aliens are the reason people look the way they do, anyways. Thousands of years ago, aliens landed on Earth and seeded all of our DNA.”

Alec tried to hide his ‘oh great, this guy is a total nut’ face, and partially succeeded. Deuce chortled a bit.

“Hey, it’s okay, I’m used to people not believing my theories. You should have seen the reaction I got in Egypt when I presented my thesis on the pyramids being ancient beacons transmitting our progress out into space.”

”Oh? Did you publish a paper on it?” The doctor asked with his mouth half-full. Apparently, the protein blocks agreed with him. He shoveled in another mouthful while waiting for an answer.

“Yeah, and it’s probably in the ship’s archives somewhere. You really want to take a read?”

The doctor swallowed.

“Yes, I very much so would. I-I-I have already queued up several papers and dissertations from my own field of neurology to read up on and I, uh, I’m sure yours would be a fascinating read as well.” Deuce looked pleased and grinned widely at the doctor.

“Fantastic! I’ll send your datapad the information on it. I have several papers published, maybe you’ll want to read those as well. I can see we’re going to get on just fine, Doc.”

“Mm. Yes, I hope so. Have you met the other medical assistant yet? Chloe something something.” The doctor washed down the remains of his meal with his entire glass of water. “She’s a forensic pathologist.”

“No, haven’t had the pleasure yet. I-“ Deuce was cut off by the ship’s AI suddenly appearing in the middle of their table. Her midsection was cut off by the table, giving Alec the unsettling feeling that they were being addressed by a girl with a vivisected torso.

“Delta Squad is requested to assemble in Shuttle Bay 5. Repeat, Delta Squad is requested to assemble in Shuttle Bay 5. Are you responding?”

Alec stood and nodded. Sounded like a new assignment had presented itself.

“Yes, I will be there shortly. Doctor, I trust you can find your way back to the medical center?”

“Certainly, I-“

“Deuce Two Beta is requested to come to Shuttle Bay 5. Repeat, Deuce Two Beta is requested to come to Shuttle Bay 5. Are you responding?”

The AI had turned around completely to address Deuce, who nodded.

“Sure, I’m on my way. What’s up?”

“Instructions will be given upon arrival in Shuttle Bay 5.” The hologram turned again to face the doctor. “Doctor * to Shuttle Bay 5. Doctor * to Shuttle Bay 5. Are you responding?”

The AI seemed to skip a beat when she didn’t have a name to load, but the doctor understood what she meant.

“It looks like we’ll all be going down there together. Well, I’m finished with my first meal, so that should be all right.”

The three men exited the mess hall and headed toward the shuttle bay to receive their assignments from the Captain and Lt. Commander Usher.

Ran nodded towards the commander.

" Very well commander."

She went back to looking at images of the planet that the ship picked up so that she could guide the crew if need be. Ran had little to no desire to go on to the planet herself. She knew she didn't quite fit in with the rest of the team.... quite frankly it scared her. Ran wondered where Steven was... he seemed genuine. She wasn't sure about everyone else. Ran had images of the planet, it's terrain, and it's inhabitants sent to the commander. It would help her be abloe to find her way on the unknown planet.

She was still talking to Usher when the other team came in, and continued her conversation. She nodded to Usher.

"I agree with you. You will have to take command of the crew. I will let Steven know, I'm sure he will have no issue with the fact that you will lead them safely through out the mission."

She had not problem with any of what he suggested, It should have been placed in the record book that these two finally agree on something. Something as important as their first planet fall mission. She's have to make note of the date and time.

Tapping her communicator, never one to fully turst the Ship's AI, she asks The ensign to join them.

"Steven Five Mu. This is the Captain speaking. Please join your crew in Shuttle-Bay 5, on Deck 2."

As soon as that was over she was finally able to give the Medical staff her attention. She tried not to stair at the man with the green hair. It really didn't bother her since he was sure they would encounter far stranger creature through out their missions and travels in space. It was rude to stare.

"Mr. Deuce, you will be going planet side with the Delta team as their medical personnel." She nodded to him motioning for him to join the others over by the shuttle craft.

She turned to the blonde haired Doctor speaking respectfully to him. "Doctor, there is not emergency, however, if there was I would need my top medical Doctor on the ship, as a precautionary measure. I hope you understand that I can not allow you to go along with the crew to the planet. I apologize for the inconvenience. You'll be staying on bored with me, for this one. Perhaps another time."

She nods to Usher once more, "Get your people ready, Mr. Usher you are assigned to leave as soon as Mr Steven arrives."

Steven was on the bridge at his communication station making some final preparations before heading down to the shuttle bay. he was just setting every thing to auto command when he noticed an unfamiliar light flashing on his control panel. It was alerting him that there was an urgent message on monitor. Quickly he brought the message up and his eyes broadened. He wasn't sure he was reading it correctly. After a triple check he ran down to the shuttle bay he was already late and had big news to share. As he reached the bay he saw the rest of the away team waiting for him impatiently.

"Sorry for being so late Commander, but there's a distress call coming from the planet's surface." He said out of breath. He tried to regain his composer before continuing. "The odd part is it's giving off the same sort of call that this ship would make if it were in trouble."

The Shuttlebay opened…it was an incredible sight to the Doctor. The giant doors slowly, silently slid open as the air was carefully vented out of the bay to be recycled in once they shut again. Outside, the vastness of space yawned, in every direction, pinned back only by the pinpricks of the stars an infinite distance away. He watched, the ship’s captain by his side in the protected viewing area as the shuttle’s nacelles ignited and it slipped outside of the bay.

“Amazing.” It was all he could muster to say. He had never seen such a thing before, at least not that he could remember. The shuttle shrank smaller and smaller into the distance as it began its course down to the planet below them, and the bay doors began to close again. “Captain…this distress signal…”

Serene looked away from the closing bay doors to the Doctor. He was the fidgety sort, never seeming to be quite sure where to put his hands while he was talking. They started in front of him, moved behind him, clasped, then he settled on sticking them into the pockets of his lab coat. She waited for him to finish his thought as they walked out of the podbay and into the hallways of the ship.

“You said it might be a trap. I-I-I, uh, I have no experience being a captain, or security or a communications officer. All I can remember is the knowledge from my own field. S-so please don’t think me out of line here. But i-isn’t there something else we could have done, first? Before sending our people down there? Into something potentially dangerous? I’m a doctor. To me, life is a precious thing – no – it’s THE most precious thing. I’m asking you…was this the right decision?”

*At the news of a distress call from the planet, Usher surreptitiously began to issue new orders. Unbeknownst to anyone else, the chief of security had Awakened Epsilon squad. He had planned to use them as an ace in the hole in the case of an emergency. The distress call had changed that. Alpha, Beta, and Gamma squads were busy elsewhere so there was no one else.

Boots thundered down the hallway and past a startled Captain and Doctor as a heavily armed Epsilon squad headed to the shuttle bay. There was no knowing what was waiting for the planetfall team and Usher wanted overwhelming force. Epsilon would follow the first shuttle down and they would rendezvous on the ground.

Usher knelt among Delta squad as the shuttle descended. They looked nervous and in need of pep talk. He looked all four of them in the eyes in turn.*

No other squad has performed with the crispness, professionalism, and intelligence as Delta squad upon Awakening.

*They beamed at his praise. Officer Melody seem particularly pleased.*

That's why I want you at my back on the ground. However, the situation has changed. We've received a distress call and we have no idea what we're walking into. I'm bringing down reinforcements in the form of Epsilon.

Great...noobs.

Stow that, Trevor!

*Usher nodded at Melody and continued.*

They maybe newly Awakened but they're your brothers and sisters. And they will have your backs. And you will have theirs. I know you will all make me proud.

Now, rules of engagement. Safeties off but do NOT fire upon anything unless you're attacked or on my orders. Ensign Steven is along as our communications expert and Medical Officer Deuce is our medic. Follow my lead and I'll get you all home safe.

YES, SIR!

Steven shifted in his seat impatiently. This mission was imposing enough without the newly discovered distress call. It only added to the stress of the situation that neither him nor Usher were sure Steven was the right man for the job, but he figured that this would be the perfect opportunity to settle those doubts. He looked out the window and only became more nervous. It wouldn't be too long before they landed. He only hoped they weren't too far from the source of the distress signal.