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Post by KD on May 15, 2011 11:53:54 GMT -5
"That's correct." She glanced up, slightly distracted, eager to see EDC's masterpiece. And hers. Eden was the first fully functional deep space terrarium of this size, it had taken years of research and development. But she hadn't been called one of Earth's foremost botanists for nothing.
She glanced up as the screen above Liam's head blinked and words scrolled across it. Hey, Celeste, I think he likes you!
She scowled as the words disappeared before Liam could look at them.
She frowned as Carmine's message showed up. Well, at her leisure meant she could at least take a look around Eden first.
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Post by Joe on May 15, 2011 12:13:21 GMT -5
"Uh-huh.." He noted her expression, she didn't want to talk. "Now entering Hydroponics Deck and Control Facilities, thank you for using the transit system." Sounded the PA. Without a further word he stood up and exited the tram. On his way to the emergency shuttle bay he would have to pass through the "park" area of Eden. He approached the door to enter, and proceeded through. Upon entering the park he was immediately splashed with synthetic sunlight, and it almost felt real. In fact, everything about the park felt real; the sun, the smell of pollen in the air, and even holographic projectors at all ends that made it seem to go on for miles. The tall trees masked the projected sky above. Liam hadn't been born on Earth, he had never truly experienced the level of nature that most humans took for granted, though Titan had gotten pretty close. Reeling from nostalgia, Liam shook himself back to reality and proceeded toward the maintenance hatch on the opposite end.
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Post by KD on May 15, 2011 12:23:15 GMT -5
"I apologize, I wasn't scowling at you, Jinx was playing a bit of a joke with the screens." Celeste glared back at the tram, wanting to make amends as best she could before he disappeared. She wasn't good with socializing, but that didn't mean she had to be rude.
She could tell the real trees from the fake ones immediately, of course. Personally, she despised the holographic projections both of sky and distance. There was a beauty in contrasting it to the depths of space. In her considered opinion, the terrarium was beautiful as it was.
She grudgingly admitted that this particular area was more for the benefit of the crew and they liked it. Back in the Grotto where the more practical growing and experimental growing was, they didn't bother with the illusions.
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Post by Joe on May 15, 2011 12:35:36 GMT -5
As he climbed through the maintenance tunnels to arrive at the Hydroponics Emergency Shuttle Bay he made a startling discovery. The shuttle for this area was completely missing. He ran over to the launch computer and pulled up some data. He immediately activated his communicator, "Captain were you aware the Hydroponics shuttle has been launched? It's no longer in the bay." Carmine came back, "Interesting, there's nothing in the records of a passenger or who authorized the launch, they would have had to override the emergency launch protocols to make it function normally." Liam thought for a moment, "So what does this mean?" "I'm not sure, it could simply be a malfunction, I'll send a report immediately." He lowered his communicator and scratched his head, not much else for him to do here. He checked a few maintenance valves then headed back through the maintenance hatch and towards the transit station.
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Post by KD on May 15, 2011 12:41:03 GMT -5
Celeste was standing at a podium at the entrance to the 'park' area. She was frowning, her brow furrowed. She turned abruptly, heading for the tram, and nearly crashed into Liam as he passed, pulling back just in time with a murmur of apology.
Jinx stirred a bit as Carmine relayed information about the missing shuttle to her. She frowned, continuing to keep the crew information flowing to the AI and turned part of her attention to this new puzzle. She delved into the stored history and frowned even more. She delved deeper into the past all the way back until the point where the crew had gone to sleep. There was no record of anyone overriding the protocols...no information imprint left of the shuttle having been lost. That wasn't possible...
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Post by Joe on May 15, 2011 12:53:03 GMT -5
Liam didn't notice Celeste, ignoring her as he rushed by. He activated his comm again, "Officer Rostov this is Flight Officer Jacobs, I'm sure you've heard but we've got a missing shuttle on the Hydroponics deck. Listen.. I need you to see if you can find any information on it, and you're going to need an access point outside of the AI core. I don't think the captain has full access to the shuttle data for safety reasons." He glanced back and noticed Celeste, stopping a moment, "Are you okay?"
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Post by KD on May 15, 2011 12:59:03 GMT -5
She wasn't okay, she was even less okay overhearing his message to Jinx. She frowned and met his gaze, deeply troubled. "Someone was in the terrarium's back decks...the research station and the experimental gardens...while the rest of us were asleep."
Jinx's voice came over both their comms. Working on it. Your problem too, Celeste, you'd better make sure to mention that when you report to the bridge.
"I intend to, Jinx."
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Post by Joe on May 15, 2011 13:07:49 GMT -5
He took a step towards Celeste, "What!? You knew about this? Was it one of your people?" He stopped a moment, "It's not my problem, just go to the bridge and tell the captain." He opened his comm, "Captain we need a security detail on Hydroponics. Something's going on here, I'm getting to the rest of my duties."
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Post by KD on May 15, 2011 13:19:41 GMT -5
Temper flared in her dark eyes for a moment before she stamped it down. "No, I didn't know anything about either problem until two seconds ago." She headed for the tram.
Jinx's voice flared over his comm, sounding amused. She overheard you and then I overheard her, jackass. I can do a search for the shuttle problem and the intruder in the garden problem at the same time, you know. Formality was not something Jinx put much stock in. No matter how many warnings she got.
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Post by Joe on May 15, 2011 13:31:40 GMT -5
"Fine.. do it." He muttered over the comm to Jinx. He cupped his face with his hands and rubbed his temples, showing stress. Something in his heart made his mood sink. He considered retiring to the crew deck. Liam headed towards the maintenance power-lift that directly connected to the crew deck; avoiding the tram and any awkward confrontation that might come with it. The crew deck housed all residences and entertainment, and either of those things sounded great at this moment. The majority of the crew slacked off the first day awake anyway, but he had decided to try and make some progress, but just ended up finding a massive problem and pissing a couple people off. He sighed and activated the lift.
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Post by KD on May 15, 2011 13:38:48 GMT -5
Jinx wasn't angry- it took a LOT to even irritate Jinx, much less make her angry -she seemed more amused by the whole thing. Her voice came over his comm a while later. Hey, Jacobs, I wanted to let you know that shuttle is the only one that appears to be missing. Thought you deserved SOME good news, you know?
Celeste listened to one of the research admins over her comm as he was going through the databanks in the research station. So far he and the people helping him hadn't found anything missing physically or information wise but there was a lot to go through. Once she got off the tram, she headed for the lift, emerging onto the bridge at a brisk pace.
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Post by Joe on May 15, 2011 13:46:43 GMT -5
The bridge had a massive panoramic view of the vastness of space outside the ship, dozens of operators sat at consoles around its perimeter, and a single security camera dangled from the center, with a red eye fixed on the end. Ahead of the ship there was a large debris field, and accelerator cannons were firing ahead to clear the way. A pale green world could be seen in the distance. The camera spun around to face Celeste, "Ah, Dr. Metria. I understand you have something to report? Something of some urgency, yes?"
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Post by KD on May 15, 2011 13:53:44 GMT -5
"Yes, Captain. Around the same time the shuttle was discovered to be missing, I discovered someone had entered the research and experiment station of the Hydroponics deck." That area, as the AI surely knew, was restricted for both safety and security, only Celeste and a handful of other scientists had access. "Whoever did it wasn't listed as authorized personnel. I don't know who it was. So far, we haven't found anything missing or tampered with, but there's a lot to go through."
Jinx spoke up. Captain, all other shuttles are accounted for. I've got a bead on what's scrambling the information for both the missing shuttle and the intrusion on the Hydroponics deck but it's going to take time to sort through it. I've never seen something like this before.
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Post by Joe on May 15, 2011 14:01:29 GMT -5
The AI seemed to process for a moment. "Thank you very much doctor, I'll make sure these incidents are reported to the proper place. I'm sure there's nothing to worry about." The camera turned to face the green planet in the distance, "However that is not the reason I asked you here. Do you see that planet in the distance? That is our first task. It's called Zephyrus, it was surveyed some time ago by a probe and was found to have a very temperate environment and a dense atmosphere, requiring very little terraformation to become habitable. There is a caveat, we do not know if it contains any harmful organisms or toxic substances." The camera turned back to face Celeste, "I know your record doctor, and for that reason I'd like to ask you to lead the away team when we make contact with the planet. You can choose your team, but we need you to study it on the ground and discern a threat level. I know you don't normally work in the field, but I don't believe anyone else aboard has your knowledge of botany." The eye stared knowingly at Celeste, waiting for a response.
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Post by KD on May 15, 2011 14:08:13 GMT -5
Celeste seemed surprised at first but while she hadn't done much field work since joining up with the Godspeed, she had certainly done it before. Many times. "Of course, Captain, I'll get started immediately."
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