LSDF Val'ta, Launch Deck
Porrim cleared her throat after looking at her watch, clapping her hands and looking amongst the hopefully calmed crowd. "Alright. Ladies, Gentlemen, to attention." She ordered, waiting for people to get into position. She saw Elm clambering up Mirage's frame, and clicked her tongue. "Elm, come down, quick smart."
Once they were down and in formation, Porrim begun. "Alright. Today marks our first expedition. Despite the rocky preparation," she levelled her gaze towards the belligerents, "I am sincerely hoping for a smoother expedition. Before we take our shuttle down though, I'd like to outline how we survey a planet." A hologram appeared by Porrim. A facsimile of Tange IV, where the exploration would be going specifically. It zoomed out,
and revealed the rest of the system it was in, with the Val'ta represented as a glowing white arrow near Tange IV.
"When the Val'ta enters a system, we send drones through the system to examine the area, be it a planet, a section of asteroid belt, gas planets, or other phenomena and signals." She nodded as an image of a drone appeared. A grey-white drone with a sharp, spindly body and fluorescent cyan accents. "The science team has authority over those drones, mapping the area over the course of half an hour or so as the Val'ta moves through through the system and between the planets. More specifically, we're they're scrubbing for any signs of remnant Mee-shoo-vurthar."
"Good news is, no major signs have been found on any of the non-inhabitable planets, nor have any hostile IFFs or signals been found. Or anything, really. Tange I is just a mining ball, Tange II was one of the easiest to evacuate thanks to its small agricultural population, Tange III is a rock," Porrim was reciting the systems out as she'd been told to, "Tange V is asteroids, Tange VI is a gas ball - there used to be a military installation there, Tange VII is another asteroid belt that was not mapped properly and is actually getting data on the system now while Tange VIII is to the best of my knowledge, an unexplored ice ball colder than the winter where we're going."
Porrim did omit something though, the one planet they were not far from at all. "Tange IV though, was the capital planet, where a majority of the system's population was centred, was the main target of the Mooshyvorthy three years back - nearly four, and where some areas of interest have been highlighted by the drone exploring it, especially in Misato City. Photographs please!"
A short sideshow begun to take shape, four places of interest within a few kilometres of each other in Misato City's CBD, mostly intact and wrecked to hell.
- One of the buildings had collapsed parallel to the road and took out a few others nearby, leaving a main road of the city blocked, and the only way down the street through the building's wreckage. The rest around look a bit shabby too. Caution is advised when traversing through this area.
- A weak distress signal was detected in atmosphere. An aerial photo revealed in detail that a section of the neglected and overgrown park in the city appeared to have been cleared for what appeared to be a crude homestead with a couple of acres of land to spare. The occupants were not distinguishable on the map. The beacon's weak signal source might be due to poor power, and coming from a crashed spaceship resembling a Courier 2A.
- What appear to be a handful of buildings are on top of a car park, erected from local materials. No use of infrastructure or signals have been found in the location. Snow on the top of the carpark was cleared too, showing signs of use, or at least care. Drone was unwilling to go further. Written in was a note reading 'that is one sturdy car park'.
- There appears to be music being broadcast from an inner-city radio station, close to the river. The music sounds like smooth jazz, and has been identified by a pop-cultured member of the science team to be work of Aoi Tanaka, Yamataian Musician. No advertisements play, no speech is heard, no other handling or microphone noise, nor does the station supply any digital information, being a purely FM-band transmission.
"Our survivor policy is diplomatic quarantine. Medical staff, be alert and for Goddess' sake watch their hands. If they cooperate, search them. An additional shuttle can come pick them up if need be." Porrim advised firmly. Good, unseen hands could cause a whole world of hurt. "I'm anticipating we split into two groups moving not far from each other." The hatches of the shuttles opened up, ready to take people in. Projected to the left side of each one was its number.
Everyone had their number allotment from 1 to 3. "As stated in your briefings you will pick a shuttle, we will ferry down together and start the expedition. Frame Team."
She looked behind herself to the three Whirlwinds, standing tall behind her. "You will be deploying shortly after we do, taking the catapult at minimum strength since you'll be taking an atmospheric entry and providing three points of overwatch. Please try not to break anything." She then levelled her gaze to the Sally-Come-Lately-And-Previously-Underdressedly. "J'ann Sulei," Porrim pointed at J'ann and snapped his fingers at her - at least he'd gotten into something more suited for the task at hand, "you're in Shuttle One with the Helashio, the Doctor and I. I'll have to inspect your gear for you. Do you know where your towel is?"
Porrim looked up to the others in her briefing. "Do all of you know where your towel is? Quick smart, time's up!" She snapped her fingers and turned around, pivoting on her heel, feathers of her wings rustle behind her. Any faster and she could've lost some. "Commencing mission!" She walked towards Shuttle 1's hatch. "And
move, men!"
She wasn't referring to just the men in the group. It was meant to put down the Lorath soldiers since men were the fairer sex. All throughout she seemed particularly snippy. There was more to officer's college than making connections and having loads of carnal encounters, and it was boring - or possibly exciting to adopt personae. Perhaps she'd calm down with the views.
Tange IV, Misato City, A Clearing by a Shack and a Wreck a Park
The one running at the farm and getting the snow off the roof could've sworn they saw something zipping by overhead. A spindly white-grey thing with a glowing cyan motif, leaving a trail as it went. It certainly didn't look like any bird they'd seen, or a beacon from the Nepleslias - it was moving too quickly to make out who made it really.
Was something coming? Surely they didn't send just that...
