IC

[AceofRoses]

                The original device looked something like an art piece. Perfectly round, it was about the size of a cantaloupe and was covered with odd swirls and lines. In the hands of some people, it moved. More so for some than others, which was why it took so long to discover just how many places it could be rearranged to reach. How exactly it did that they were still studying although it seemed to involve the harnessing of movement and energies associated with the patterns.


                The secondary device was a door, or more accurately it was an entire room but it was the door part that mattered. Set underground, there had been a handful of sketched ideas at moving it, but every one had failed. Crafted of the same living substance as the original device, the room had burrowed into the stone and bedrock around it until it would have taken years to dig all of the anchoring out. Even then, quite a few of the scientists believed that moving the room would destroy it, that for some reason it was important that it was exactly where it was. So, the military had build a base around that location.


                Tunnels ranged for quite a ways around the room, filled with labs, meeting rooms, control rooms, and a few other things. Most of those rooms were even more cramped than usual, filled with the various boxes ready to be shipped out now that the day had arrived. People had filled the space too, milling about. At the head of the doorway room, a clock counted down until it was time to open the door to another galaxy, and take the leap of a lifetime.

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                Christian Rowle stood in about the center of the room, just watching with the device in hand. It had already been set up and was ready to place in the small raised podium that would activate and open the door. Despite the constant nagging of the various military, the lead scientist was dressed in what could pass as formal, or semi formal. The undershirt was high collared, whether it was sleeveless or extended all the way to the wrists though, was hidden by the vest, and the fitted jacket over it. The black pants were fitted neatly, and held closed by a belt while the pale hair had been tied back into a high ponytail. Not that the white coloration was really an indication of age, even if on Chis it was a permanent state. No, the scientist’s face was smooth, and rather devoid of emotion. Maybe bored.


                Of course, anyone who had worked with Chris knew that the expression was just a standard thing. Those who knew her a little bit better than just passing coworkers could see the little things that hinted at the excitement. The fighting with the device, and the occasion shift to resettle the backpack slung over Chris’s shoulders. It was a full pack too, the standard issue kit that included all basic necessities like dried food, water, chocolates, high energy drinks, whatever other things to keep the human body set and ready on fuel. There was also apparently some form of standard issue sun protection, a fire kit, a head lap, flashlights, glow sticks, flares, first aid kit, a set of clothing that probably fit for all that it was standard issue, a knife, a blanket, and various other odds and ends.


                The standard issue com device that was patched in with all of the others given out to those who were going, was clipped onto the scientists lapel, ready to be put on once things started into the final countdown. Chris also had a personal knife, and a few other things on her person and tucked into the bag. The larger personal bag sat at her feet, ready to be picked up and carried through along with the larger case full of science equipment.


                Glancing up at the clock, Chris stared for a moment. Then the lead turned, voice pitched to carry over the crowd. “Final check for equipment!” She had already run through the list, with a specific concern on the generators, and the supplies to build custom generators once they arrived. Food and supplies had been high on the list as well, followed by the protective gear and weapons provided by the military, and then finally the lab equipment. While the main purpose of the trip was to explore and learn, Chris wasn’t willing to kid around and pretend that security and ability to survive and survive well didn’t come first.


@akinaxr@Spectre of the Fade@WhipDing@Cecilio@Tori_98

 

[Spectre of the Fade]

Lawson Creed
Standing in his assigned place like a beacon or perhaps a statue of military precision, Lawson waited for the countdown in silence. He wasn't particularly excited, or particularly scared. Maybe there was some primal part of him, something small and tucked into the sheer instinct of the subconscious that had a reaction, but there was no conscious feeling. It was another day, another mission. Protect the scientists, kill anything that threatens the scientists, the other members of his team, or himself, try to learn useful shit. Simple. Didn't matter they'd be halfway across the galaxy or the universe or whatever it was.
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That said, he had sent a video message to his grandparents the night before, a simple thing saying that he loved them, that he was doing something important, that he didn't know when he'd be back. Most missions hadn't called for that kind of measure.
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The aura of stillness about the sniper might be off-putting. If the full camouflage uniform, combat armor, and weapons weren't alarming enough, at least. And if one watched him long enough to notice that he didn't shift on his feet or twitch his hands or fiddle with his belt. He merely stood and watched. His equipment was far easier to observe, as he didn't bother concealing any of it. A sniper rifle rested on his back, over the top of the assigned backpack, a bolt action with a camo-patterned fiberglass butt. It was an up to date variant of the Marine Corps standard with all the bells and whistles, if one could recognize such things. There was also a Glock handgun on his right hip (which was his personal property) and a KA-BAR combat knife on the other hip. He bore the assigned backpack well, even with the additions of his own canteen, several packs of ammo for the rifle and the pistol, and, strangely enough, a small pouch of flower seeds. Lilacs. They were his favorites.
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A soft shift of his left shoulder, in an attempt to loosen the stiffness of the joint, was the only real movement he'd made in the last couple of minutes, other than blinking, tracking figures moving about the room with his eyes, and breathing.
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He checked his equipment when ordered, even though all he was in charge of were the items on his person and he had checked those at least four times in his quarters that morning. And, overall, Lawson was...Ready. Ready to go, ready to leave his planet behind and go into the unknown. What little he owned was with him, sold, given away, or being shipped to his grandparents. He had given them the best goodbye he knew how to, and no one else in his life was important enough to warrant such an effort. Yeah, he was ready. Prepared as best as he could be. All there was now was to wait, and he was very good at waiting.
Tagged: N/A
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Mentioned: @AceofRoses
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Dorian Ghannam
Dorian was not fucking good at waiting, okay, not normally, not when he was pissed, not when he was happy, and definitely not when he was this excited. Because this mission? Following this great big group of asshole geniuses and trigger happy grunts through an impossible door to a different galaxy? That was his idea of an awesome time and honestly he just wanted to get to the main event already. He'd packed all his crap, handed that and his condo over to his best friend, said goodbye to said best friend (there may have been tears, but Dorian wasn't gonna admit anything and Dean would die before telling anyone) and checked over the equipment before he passed out the night before. His equipment. Well, not his, but the repairing and conditioning of the equipment was his designated duty so he had no small amount of claim there okay.
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Weird to think he'd be excited about being a glorified mechanic, but hey. Whole 'nother galaxy. The opportunity was worth the job, though he'd not say as much to the "fellow" scientists. He did their dirty work; they could deal with his bitching.
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Shifting in an impatient and irritated fashion, he took a deep drag off the cigarette he'd lit a minute or so before and tapped the expensive steel toe boots he'd bought himself against the floor. Waiting sucked. Government jobs were all 'hurry up and wait' and he did not have the patience for such shit. He couldn't touch, couldn't poke or prod, couldn't ask the people milling around preparing for the thing what they were doing or what was going on. Curiosity burned under his skin like it was in his very veins. Curiosity was denied, denied, denied.
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He wasn't even supposed to have the cigarette.
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The cigarette was to the filter by the time he finished giving the final check over the equipment he would watch over that had been called by his boss, ensuring everything was there and no dents, dings, knocks, or other visible damage had occurred while it was being moved around base. Systems checks would happen on the other side of the door, because he'd done them on this side earlier in the morning and everything checked out just fine. He even checked his own backpack, and sure enough, all his shit was still there. He'd added some notable items to the standard pack and removed much of the food with the exception of the energy drinks along with the clothing; he'd thrown in a jacket designed for welding, goggles for the same, a supply of rods for the arc welding machine he had not quite gently requested be added to the equipment list, a brand new sketchbook and pencils, a smartphone packed with music, and a solar-powered portable charger for the phone. He was wearing jeans that looked to be stained with grease or oils of some kind and a gray shirt with "Always carry with you a ready wit and a sharp knife" printed across the chest in white, and sure enough, there was a large survival knife in an elegant sheath strapped to his right thigh. Nothing on him, besides the standard backpack, was anything less than top dollar quality.
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Would the compass on his knife work on the planet they were going to? Huh. Worth investigating.
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Crushing the cigarette filter under his boot, Dorian grumbled about checking and rechecking and tediousness then went back to waiting. They were getting closer to going, maybe. Most likely. It still felt like years were slowly creeping by, drawing out by tenfold the time it took to get fucking leaving already. This was gonna drive him nuts.
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Tagged: N/A
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Mentioned: @AceofRoses
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[NorthOfOrdinary]

Elsa stood squarely at attention until the order was given to check gear, her red beret folded atop her head. She didn't smile. She didn't quiver. 


"Jawohl, meine Frau!"


It had been ingrained in her head how to respond to an order since she was eighteen. Since then, she had earned six more years of experience in both training and a tour in combat. Perhaps, that was why she had been chosen by the fatherland to represent the European Union. Her discipline seemed unmatched to her, by any of the exploratory party save the American Marine Corporal. He was a stone wall. 


Elsa unslung her rifle, a modified G36, in one fluid motion as she checked it over. Next, she drew her sidearm, a USP P12, and checked it. She had disassembled and cleaned each one multiple times in the last couple days. On her combat harness was a large knife, strapped to her bosom, as well as an assortment of magazines and grenades in case they needed them. Her ruck sack was full of gear as were her pockets. The woman was prepared to enter a war zone. She finished up her gear check and snapped to parade rest, her rifle sling once again tight against her shoulder.


"Oberleutnant Baker, reporting." 


Elsa knew she had to be here, to see the other side for herself, as soon as the offer had come up. She almost declined it. She almost said no. Her parents and her sisters had cried when she told them she'd be gone for an extended time, if only they knew for how long. There was always the chance she wouldn't make it back from a deployment, but this mission felt realer. They were leaving the planet and for better or worse, she had to be a part of it. She was anxious to leave, nervous like an athlete before a big game, but ready as a wolf in the Black Forest. She wore her game face as she waited for the orders to move. 


The man in front of her, the mechanic, showed what she didn't- tapping his new steel toed boots as he grumbled. She almost smiled. It could've been cute, if not for the cigarettes. Her own combat boots, flat on the floor, were well broken in from use as was her camouflaged uniform. The waiting was normal for her. "Du müsst ruhe sein." She whispered quietly to just him as she removed her beret and fixed her long blonde hair before dawning her combat helmet. "We will go soon enough." 

 

[AngelofMusic]

                He was here, he was really here. William Pince, newly made Dr in both the sense of degree and profession was here. When Rowle had first mentioned the position, he had thought it was too good to be true. An opportunity to actually follow through with his dreams. A chance to get out of the soul sucking work that was the synthesis of new drugs. Not exactly for the betterment of the world, although there did make progress. No, any drug he had developed had to be something that would continue to bring the masses back. There was little money in a permanent cure. Here though, he could do that. He could use his free time researching whatever he wished. So long as the Dr. Rowle approved. He had meant to ask about the specifics of that. What they were and weren’t allowed to do. He would get it done eventually, once he had had a chance to sleep. 
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                When the call went up for final check, Will sat. His enthusiasm had landed him with something of an odd job. Instead of just carrying bags or equipment, he got to be one of two who were pushing a fully loaded cart through. Not that Will cared. The cart was full of all the supplies to set up the base medical operations. The extra items meant longer to check everything over. Each piece accounted for despite the fact that this had been done at least twice before. Dr. Rowle probably wanted everyone to be sure. Or she was bored and anxious. 
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                Glancing around, Will breathed out. Dr. Rowle wasn’t the only one. The difference between the science department and the military was clear. Those in uniform stood still and ready, while the others shifted, and muttered, and in general gave some outlet to their excitement.  ​

 

[akinaxr]

Milo glanced up from his paperwork, thoroughly going over the procedure for the mission.  It seemed the higher he rose in the military ladder, the more it included his head bent over stacks of paperwork.  He was starting to get wrinkles around his eyes from squinting at the ink filled pages.  The amount of work for the mission alone was bound to age him well before his time.  Luckily, he had yet to find a grey hair amidst the mess of brown.  


His biggest hassle with the Andromeda project involved the doctor "in charge," Chris the ice queen.  After being given the task of overseeing this mission it became clear to Milo that his superiors had put him here as a joke.  He was one of the few within the military that could even partially hold their own against her.  She had a tenacious personality and didn't care for the politics or ranks involved in the military side of things.  Strictly speaking, he was supposed to be the one up calling for people to prepare, but the doctor always did things her way.


He mumbled to one of the privates to return the papers to his bags and sauntered off towards the doctor.  His boots clomped against the floor with a satisfying sound.  Reaching Dr. Rowle he stopped and with his trained military rigidity asked, "Dr. Rowle, do I need to inform you again that any orders for my men are supposed to go through me?"  He dropped the stiff posture for a more casual stance as he teased, "It's not hard to remember.  I have the highest rank among the military personnel here, so any orders should go through me first.  I don't understand why you refuse to follow this basic procedure."  His eyes were trained on the sphere as he talked and he had to resist the urge to touch it.  He didn't understand the science behind it, but he knew touching and moving the sphere without the proper knowledge could be dangerous.  


@AceofRoses

 

[WhipDing]

Cassie wandered aimlessly around the room, attempting to look as busy as possible. She knew she should probably be more interested in all this than she currently was -  what's not to like about weird, inexplicable technology that no-one really understands? But that was the issue - not understanding something like that made her... uncomfortable. Normally, she was the person people came to for that kind of understanding, at least in her field. But here, she knew nothing at all.


Lost in her own thoughts, it took her a few seconds to process the command to check her equipment. She snapped back to reality, and began rummaging through the small bag that was strapped across her torso. It contained exactly what she was expecting of course - she'd made sure of that. Food. Water. Torch. All the basics were there, ready and set for an emergency. Notepads, pens and marker. Good for keeping records. And then there was the more specialized equipment; a set of sample tubes and collection tools All of them purely surgical, of course. Combat was something she hoped she could avoid entirely if possible - she'd been quite reluctant to take even the knife she'd been given as part of the set.


It didn't take long for her to sort through everything, and have it re-packed back into her bag and various pockets. Although this was partially due to her relentless organization skills, it probably had more to do with the fact that she wasn't really carrying much to begin with. Considering her specialized role here, there wasn't a lot that she really could carry, other than the larger-than-normal portions of food and water, and obviously the usual iron supplement pills. Pocket microscopes, scalpels and containers were really all that was needed for any organic study - anything else was either too large to bring or too niche to be worth it. And to be perfectly honest, she felt that summed up her entire presence here - really, really niche. That wasn't any guarantee that they would find anything even remotely alive, let alone an observable ecosystem. The higher-ups clearly felt it was an important possibility though - why else would they have enlisted her to come otherwise?


Well, it wasn't her problem. Adventure was adventure, and that was enough for her.

 

[AceofRoses]

                Chris had caught the approach of the military man, memory supplying that he would be Milo Bunchannon, the highest ranking on the military side of things. A general if she was right…or rather a brigadier general. It was a higher rank than the last time they had worked closely together although she couldn’t seem to remember what rank he had been then. It was unimportant overall, so she had never bothered to look it up or ask. All in all, she was somewhat glad that it was someone that she knew who would be leading up the military, even if he didn’t seem to have the same opinion of her. It didn’t much matter, the military didn’t seem to be fond of her anyway. Of course, she wasn’t fond of their paperwork and overcomplicating of things so it turned out fairly even.


                Her thought as she looked him over on his approach was much the same as it had been the last time. That he looked like a military man, which was somewhat unfortunate as she thought he might look decent with a slightly longer thatch of hair. His face was set in unhappy lines though, Chris wondering at the display of emotion. Was he actually upset and either not bothering, or incapable of hiding it, or was that just his resting expression? Given what he opened the conversation with she decided it might be him upset, or a combination. He might also just always be upset. Giving a minute shake of the head to dispel the thoughts, the scientist focused on what he was saying, and what exactly the problem was that had him upset. Which turned out to be her leading, which had also been the subject of a few emails. She would have to remember to add the tone that the general used any time she read his emails in the future.


                Her head tilted to the side ever so slightly. Just enough to shift the ponytail’s weight without really ever breaking eye contact. Her voice also didn’t really change, remaining even and somewhat aloft, like she was commenting on the color of someone’s shirt.  “I believe I gave a general order that was already predetermined. If you care to repeat it you may be all means.” Although in her opinion it would be a waste of time. As was this argument but then that was standard for this sort of thing. “Or would you rather save time, and give the order for everyone to ready themselves for departure.” Her lips turned into a faint smirk, as her fingers traced over the orb. “I’d offer to let you open the door too, but it very well may not work.” The device could be incredibly finicky, and Chris didn’t feel like leaving anything to chance, especially on someone who had never opened the door before.


@akinaxr

 

[akinaxr]

The brigadier general clenched his hands into fists, resisting the urge to use them.  This was Dr. Chris Rowle's special skill, she managed to piss people off and usually in a way that humiliated the other person and gave them no room to argue.  He glanced at the sphere again before replying, "It was merely a reminder for next time, though I doubt the information will stick."  He grunted and looked out at the packed carts piled with equipment for the lab technicians, and other carts filled with basic living needs.  No one knew what was really waiting for them on the other side of the door, and Milo had been in charge of seeing to all of the personal needs any specific person on the mission would need.  Though he hoped most had come prepared already, it was necessary to include back up supplies.


He returned his attention to Dr. Rowle, "How long until we move out?  If we plan to start this up soon we should get them lined up and ready to file through."  His dislike of the doctor would not prevent him from making this mission a success.  He'd remain civil and business-like to her at least.  


@AceofRoses

 

[AceofRoses]

                It was true, it wasn’t likely to stick or affect future decisions. The military had lectured Chris over and over again about the right way to do this thing. About what paperwork had to be filed in what order and yadda yadda. Yet interestingly, her way or the military way always ended up the same in the end. Hers just got there faster. Chris had thought that Milo knew that already though. Perhaps he thought that aspect would have gotten any better in the time between. Her smile was slight. If anything it had only gotten worse since with her knowledge of these devices, the military couldn’t really replace her.




                Or rather, they could vaguely decide the schedule until Chris figured out more about how this technology worked. Something the military hoped would happen quickly so that they could use the rest of the technology instead of just opening the door every now and then. It was a course she had expected fully, and had prepared for. Something the military wasn’t likely to enjoy but they could hardly argue that her efforts were going to waste when her team produced technology involved in healing rather than understanding of weapons.




                The hum was quiet, fingers tracing a particularly complicated spiral on the orb. Then, Chris glanced towards the back of the room and at the clock. “Would you do me the favor of seeing to everyone getting organized?” Chris didn’t even seem to notice that the orb had shifted until it was held only in one hand, the scientist giving a general wave to indicate the rest of the people. “I’ll open the door as soon as everyone is ready. Since we are unsure the kind of power requirements moving this amount of mass will take, it would be better to move all essential items first, and in as big of groups as possible.” Chris had estimates only to work with, little samples of how much power it had taken to move the probes through, but even the largest of those was dwarfed by some of the carts. “Move them in a single file line, and the door will close on someone.”


@akinaxr

 

[Spectre of the Fade]

Dorian Ghannam
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"Don't-" Dorian turned around, attention snapping to the person behind him who's said something in German or another one of those European languages. Considering she followed it up with some platitude about how they would be leaving soon, it was easy to assume she had said something like 'calm down', even though he couldn't speak a word of any Germanic languages. Well, he knew nein, but that was no and it was easy. And a couple of curse words. Those didn't really count.
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"Don't tell me to calm down," he snapped after giving the soldier a once over. Blond. Really soldier-esque, all discipline and shit. Spoke German, so probably the NATO loan. The fact her first words to him directly were probably along the lines of 'calm down' and therefore one of his biggest pet peeves? Irritating.
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Dorian opened his mouth to add something else, likely an explanation, something rude, or both, when his attention was caught by Rowle arguing with the Army guy. General something? Rowle was brilliant, but childish. The general guy was a soldier and a shitty diplomat. Either way, the situation was beautiful. More delays. "And I thought I was supposed to be the shining beacon of unprofessionalism," Dorian remarked, intentionally speaking loud enough to be heard by either party. If he was going to talk shit, he was going to be heard, dammit. No point in doing it behind their backs.
Tagged: @Tori_98 @akinaxr @AceofRoses
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Lawson Creed
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The General's entrance had Lawson drawing himself up and straightening his perfect posture even further, as if that was even possible by that point. The man was his superior officer. A soldier worthy of respect. And as for the confrontation, he wasn't surprised in the least. He'd seen tension between the two before. Having it out now, before they walked through the gate that could make their careers, was to be expected. Wouldn't be good for morale, if he was to judge. General morale, anyways. Lawson himself couldn't care less. His confidence and willingness to follow either of their orders wasn't based on their conduct with one another.
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So, he stood in silence and continued to wait. They'd get to moving when they got to moving.
Tagged: N/A 
Mentioned: @AceofRoses @akinaxr
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[NorthOfOrdinary]

Elsa cracked a smirk at the mechanic as he snapped at her. She might of even giggled had the General's appearance not saved him the humiliation. "Sprechst du Deutsch, Amerikaner?," She whispered. "Du bist sehr lustig." He had understood her well enough before, but she felt like testing the limits of his ability to translate her language. At the least it'd give the German soldier entertainment while they waited. 


 Perhaps quietly whispering while in formation wasn't the most professional thing in the world, but judging by the rifle barrel measuring contest in front of them, the General was the most lacking in that field. She didn't know senior American officers to be so undisciplined. Then again, she hadn't met many Generals in Afghanistan. They didn't typically lead combat missions from the front lines... ever. Elsa almost wondered if it was a punishment assignment. 


Her mechanic 'friend' must of read her mind because his line about beacons made her guffaw.  Such things were never said in the military! Laughing wasn't good either. Least she was an officer; Elsa snapped back to attention faster than a private at boot camp as she caught his gaze headed their way. Her whole body tightened. Whether she respected him or not yet, he was her superior officer and she'd treat him with respect. 


"Oberleutnant Baker requesting orders sir!" 


From her experience, it was always better to be proactive then to apologize. She returned to being a solid brick of paratrooper, ready to advance. 


@Spectre of the Fade @akinaxr

 

[Spectre of the Fade]

Athena Mccauley
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It had been months. Months filled with preparation and training and overseeing the requisitioning of every single official piece of equipment they would carry through the portal, down to the pens and pencils, like a quartermaster officer risen to the incredibly high rank of Major ought to. She knew everything was in place. The proper people had all the gear they'd requisitioned or been informed it couldn't be acquired. All her work had been loaded in the neatest and most organized fashion her people could manage onto the carts, in the best condition they could be. It was done. The paperwork was filed. Her staff, while not accompanying her through the portal, were just as diligent in these final checks as she was. And she still couldn't get rid of the feeling she'd forgotten something.
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Sometimes, she was convinced spy work was easier than this.
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Striding into the artifact room with a clipboard in hand, Athena Mccauley nodded to each team member she passed. Many, she'd worked with personally, handling requisition requests and gathering their equipment. She'd been in charge of getting gear for the Science team as well; bringing in a civilian for such a simple job was out of the question. Bringing in a spy for the position clearly wasn't, though. Much as she may have wanted a less numbers and stress intensive position, she wouldn't complain. It was a good position for an intelligence agent with the casual trust the quartermaster tended to earn. She'd make herself worthy of it.
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Athena was dressed in a clean and untarnished pair of Army fatigues, the combat boots on her feet also clean and worn from walking rather than actual combat, dark hair pulled back into a short ponytail that was as neat as her clothing. Two bags rested on her back, one being the standard and unaltered backpack and the other being a personal bag. It contained one uniform, two outfits of her civilian attire, several changes of underclothes (especially socks), a Glock pistol with a suppressor, three boxes of ammo, and a picture of her mom on a bridge in Venice with her girlfriend. The only other supplies she'd need were paper and writing utensils and there was enough of that going with them to satisfy a small army of writers.
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Tamping down the feeling of forgetfulness, she turned attention to the task at hand: reporting to Buchannon.
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"The final reports, sir," Athena said after stopping in front of her superior, smartly as any good officer, offering the clip board with her left hand and right hand at her brow in a salute. She may have been a spy, may have learned all the particulars of being military for the cover story instead of actually in the service, but it was damn hard to tell. Her timing, interjecting during the clearly tense discussion and just after the engineer who's had the balls to argue with her about weight limits, was excellent. Tension this early was a bad sign. Would she say something? No. Would she try to figure out a way to fix it before it turned into a conflict of interest between teams? Of course. "Glad I'm not late. I apologize for the delay, we had some trouble with the paperwork." Fuck paperwork, honestly. She'd become a field agent to escape it, but here she was. She gave a respectful nod to Doctor Rowle before looking back to the General, waiting on a response.
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Tagged: @akinaxr @AceofRoses @Tori_98 @Cecilio @WhipDing
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[WhipDing]

Cassie snapped back to reality to the sound of her superiors bickered amongst themselves. It wasn't the most encouraging scene in the world, but not particularly surprising either - Dr. Rowle was somewhat infamous for being... difficult to work with. She hadn't worked much with her before, but even the short experiences had quickly taught Cassie that opposing her was really more hassle than it was worth. Not impossible, but really not worth the effort. Clearly not something the military branch of the operation had grasped yet. She discretely rolled her eyes and slunk off into a corner of the room. This could definitely take a while.


The situation seemed to be only getting worse, with even the technician stoking the fire, when who she assumed to be the second-in-command approached the two figures. It was quite impressive, really - changing the subject like that. Took a lot  Cassie smiled inwardly, making a point of not looking towards the main group. She squeezed a small piece of putty rubber between the fingers of her right hand, channeling her now-building excitement into a repetitive, therapeutic motion. Looked like things might get moving again.

 

[akinaxr]

Milo had lost.  If he said anything to the group now he'd look like an idiot.  This was not the best way to start off his first official days as commander of this project.  Out of the corner of his eye he glanced around at the group that was resettling their bags after checking their equipment.  He ran a hand over his short crop of hair.  Before he could say anything in retort, his second-in-command appeared at his elbow.


“More paperwork, great.” He muttered, taking the stack from Athena.  Idly flipping through the pages, he pretended that the embarrassment of losing to Dr. Rowle for the umpteenth time hadn’t happened.  He didn’t have the best control over his temper, especially around people like Chris Rowle who purposefully disregarded the order the military provides.  This sparked a sudden idea.  He turned to Athena and asked, “I need you to go around and make sure our last checks were correct and everyone’s organized and ready to move when we open the doorway.”  He kept his voice low enough that only the doctor and Athena could hear.


Proud of himself for figuring out a way around losing to Dr. Rowle again, he turned his attention back to the co-leader of this mission, “Are we about ready, doctor?”

 

[AceofRoses]

                Rowle’s head had tilted slightly, her eyes scanning over the military second in command. This one she didn’t know near as much about. Rowle had seen the personnel files but after a while they just all started to appear the same. Still, the woman seemed to have everything down, and had done a rather admirable job of inserting herself into the little display set up just so that anyone who truly had a problem with the science and military leaders arguing with each other could opt out now. Once they went through the door after all, there was no going back.


                Giving a sharp nod, Rowle turned her attention back to Milo who was asking if they were ready. “Ah, yeah. Could you set up whoever is going first to scan the area and secure a perimeter? It really should be military that do that, although please do not touch anything. Given the alien nature of the place we are going to, there is no guarantee that anything is safe or harmful based upon our knowledge from earth.”


                Her weight shifted, expression settling on one of her own team. A man whose sheet she remembered rather distinctly given that he had added his own commentary. “After the engineering and mechanical teams should go, to start getting the generators set up and vital instruments online. Medical should go shortly after.”

 

[Spectre of the Fade]

Athena Mccauley
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Well, that worked. Subtle one-ups were better in regards to morale than out and out fighting..but only in the short term. These two would need to work together somehow; gods knew what they would find on the other side of that portal. Athena would call herself more cautious than anything, when he finally got the time to sit down and think about it, but this mission was important and it was definitely something to be a part of it. She may have wanted to rip her hair out, may have wanted to tell every single supplier she'd fought with over rates and shipping on the phone that she would commit terrible acts to them if they wouldn't give her what she needed, may have wanted to gather all the paperwork and light the entire pile on fire, but it was important work. At the end of the day, she was proud to be here. Even if it was undercover. That said, she was afraid of what there could be on the other end of the portal. Hostile plant and animal life. Hostile sapient species. An unlivable atmosphere. A barren desert. An endless ocean without viable land. Damn, being conditioned to prepare for anything during her training in the CIA had some inspiring benefits, she'd tell you.
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Then again, it could always be rainbows and unicorns.
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​

"Yes, sir." She responded to Milo's order with a sharp nod, saluting before moving to accomplish what her superior had asked. She checked with the military members first, only asking if they were ready before moving on. No point in dawdling and nitpicking; it was too late to replace missing items now. They were going, or they weren't. The Marine reminded her of some of the agents she'd known in the Agency; unassuming, probably as polite as he was deadly, too quiet for her to consider them interesting company. He answered her question with a simple yes ma'am and resumed mimicking a statue. The Oberleutnant that was likely a loan from NATO impressed her, however. She'd looked through that one's file. Disciplined and skilled, the woman was a solid asset, but only time could tell if she was good company. She gave the woman a chance to respond and moved on as soon as they were finished, to repeat the process with the science team. They were all an intelligent bunch and she'd had to do an embarrassing amount of research on what all their degrees actually meant. The two doctors besides Rowle seemed alright, but she hadn't had dealings with either that weren't professional in nature, so she couldn't say for certain they would be good company. The engineer was problematic to both her temper and her stress levels, and probably problematic in general. She smartly and patiently repeated the process with the three science members, polite and respectful with each.
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Tagged: @akinaxr @AceofRoses @Tori_98 @WhipDing @Cecilio
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♠
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Dorian Ghannam
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Feeling vaguely put out that both of his superiors had ignored him, he frowned deeply and sat back, arms crossed tight over his chest. His thoughts at Rowle's directions were little beyond sarcastic. Yeah, yeah. Put up the generators, help set up equipment, don't fuck up the wiring. He'd done the drill enough times to be sick of it. There was some part of him that expressed cynicism and doubt in his abilities to accomplish the task, of course, as there was and always would be regardless of how long he practiced. The internal conflict didn't show on his face, and the belligerent personality he'd gained since the trial tended to hide it from the psychologists.
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The blond one was going to be a problem, it seemed. She'd laughed at his remark, retorted by asking him some question about German in German, and generally seemed like she wanted to continue the conversation. He couldn't for the life of him understand why she wanted to bother. The curiosity without knowledge, the lack of understanding, was as irritating as being told to calm down. "I don't speak German." He turned toward the soldier, lips pursed and eyes stormy. "I'm just not stupid. There are better people to talk to, why aren't you bothering them?"
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"I'm fucking ready," Dorian responded curtly to Major Whatever when it was his turn for her check, turning towards the Major and away from Elsa when she approached. His arms crossed just that much tighter until she walked away.
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Tagged: @AceofRoses @Tori_98
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[NorthOfOrdinary]

Elsa giggled as quiet as she could. She hadn't said he was stupid but he must of thought so because he was getting edgy. She purposefully gave him a beaming grin. "Because they don't make me laugh like you..."


The American mechanic's reactions were priceless. They reminded her of a friend she had in training. It was a shame he never made it through...or perhaps a blessing. Dorian needed to be able to brush things off to succeed in a high-stress environment. She half worried he'd shut down or act rash if they ended up in combat. 


As the major approached, Elsa once again rechecked her rifle and her magazines while the Logistics officer addressed the mechanic. When it was her turn, she simply saluted, "Jawohl meine Major, I am ready." 


Mentally, she couldn't wait any longer. Physically, she had been ready for weeks. Yet, as they stood there waiting, she couldn't help but wonder if they'd even make it back. Elsa attached a dog tags to her boot and hung the other around her neck. 


The door couldn't open fast enough. 

 

[akinaxr]

"Makes sense" Milo grumbled, still feeling the need to prove himself.  "I'll send Athena through first with some back up and then I'll follow shortly after the mechanics once the generators get through." he nodded in the direction of the second in command that he'd just sent off.  "Once we've confirmed that we're all set we can start moving."  


He looked out over the group that would be heading to this new and unexplored world.  No one knew what to expect and the idea of not having a sure way home was intimidating.  However, soon enough whatever knots this mission had tied in his stomach would release once he had the goal of keeping all of these people alive.  That at least was something he could focus on that made sense, unlike whatever strangeness they'd find on the other side of the portal.

 

[WhipDing]

"All good here."


This was it. The energy in the room had shifted from frustrated anticipation to one of nervous excitement. No more checks, no more take-backs. Cassie knew she couldn't possibly imagine what came next, but that was really the whole point. After years and years of sitting quite comfortably in her comfort zone - and occasionally pushing other people out of it - she was finally planting herself firmly as far into the unknown as was humanly possible. The uncomfortable feelings from just moments before were still there, but now they seemed to feel... well, actually pretty damn good. A rush of terror and ecstasy surging through her veins all at once.


Last chance to turn back.


Not this time - this was what she'd wanted all along. She just hadn't known it until now.

 

[AceofRoses]

                Rowle nodded, turning away from the gathered crowd that was shifted and muttering. Impatience, although to be fair she had kept them waiting somewhat longer than she strictly had to. Rolling her shoulders into a slight shrug, she took a deep breath. Lithe fingers moved over the sphere, the lines and patterns crisscrossing the device starting to glow with an odd green toned light.


                When she held it out over the podium, it began to float. An impressive parlor trick, although it was nothing compared to the sound that rushed through the room. The floor under them lit up with patterns that resembled the ones on the sphere, all running towards the short flight of stairs. A single bolt rose up the center, and then folded open into a triangle.


                The view of the room was oddly blurred, like they were staring at it though water, or an old TV that didn’t quite get the light to pass through in the right order. Still it was enough. Letting a slight smile cross her features, Rowle made a simple hand gesture to indicate that they clear to start passing up the ramp and through the door. “Off we go.”

***
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                The control room on the other side was vastly different than the one on Earth. Most noticeably so in that it was very clearly not underground. Instead the room that was almost reminiscent of a cathedral sat on top of a cliff, archways that towered well over the height of two men overlooked open sky. A well placed illusion, even now, that made it seem like the place floated without earthly attachments. Films sat over each of the archways, a clear substance that worked the same as glass, save for its elasticity stretched over them. Some harnessing of science and nature no doubt, and likely as alien to them as any other material there. Even the walls weren’t quite in their realm, appearing almost like stone, or almost like metal, but not quite either.


                The material had worked wonders at withstanding whatever time the place was abandoned however, no cracks showed, and despite the sun that filled the room with diffused light, the vibrant paintings on the walls and the designs laid into the floor remained. None of the artistry seemed to be anything specific, made up of subtle lines that were only a few shades off from each other, winding together into some pattern that likely had to be viewed from a distance to make sense. Assuming it was supposed to make sense, or that a human could understand what kind of sense it was.


                For all the sense of artistry and grandeur, the space wasn’t actually empty. A few paces from the gate a few steps led up into a place filled with elegant flat surfaces that flowed with the same easy grace as the artistry. Doors led off along either side, and spiral staircases sat nice and neat between windows, leading up to at least two levels with far more than a story between them. The main door sat directly across, rivaling the galaxy door for size.

 

[WhipDing]

Cassie watched with anticipation as Dr. Rowle... well, she wasn't really too sure what she was doing. One of the engineers had tried to describe it to her before, and now she could understood why it was so difficult for them. The way the sphere seemed to behave to touch was bizarre, being both naturally fluid and intuitive, yet somehow mechanical and cold. It almost felt wrong to watch, in a way. But it was too late for that.


The sound wave slammed into her chest, sending her head spinning. Lights slashing out from all around, racing through the floor. A particularity prominent beam of light appeared in the center of the room, and somehow folded itself into a triangular shape. And just like that, the gate was open. 


------------


The room on the other side was incredibly different - in fact, there was very little to suggest the two were linked at all. She gazed around in awe. The architecture was nonsensical, a kind of organised chaos with no obvious goal. Yet somehow it seemed to serve some kind of purpose, with clear doors and pathways. It didn't look carved, or chiseled or moulded. It just looked like it had been there forever. As if it had no beginning at all. It all just... was.