Gem held up a hand. "Actually, with this bein' ev'ryone who answered the postin', w' need t' getta move-on preppin' the Key f' departure.
"First, though, I'm lookin' forward to workin' with y'all," she started, folding her hands behind her back. "I trust y' know y're jobs well, an' I hope y' trust me enough to get us aroun' in one piece. What I'm expectin' from ya is a "yes-ma'am" first, in all situations unless I give permission oth'wise. Reason for this bein' that ya can ask why later an' some orders'll require immediate action to work. From time t' time, though, I may ask for suggestions. But this's my prerogative.
"If there's clearly somethin' wrong with me, with th' ship, or with a crewmate, I'd ask ya to bring it to my attention. I'm not th' type t' hand out punishments for opinions, especially ones founded in concern for y'r fellows.
"All-'n-all, I'll trust you t' do y'r job an' not steal from th' ship an' crew, and I 'spect you to trust me and y'r crewmates to do our jobs."
"Now, since y're all 'ere, we should probably get ya set up w'th' computer system," noted Gem. She tapped the wall beside her with two quick ones and a single tap, which was all that was needed to bring up a projected computer terminal. She smiled. "I've arranged th' computer t' respond with a 'volumetric display' when th' wall is tapped like that. Anyway, from what I understand, Kassi, y've already introduced y'rself to th' Key..." -- she had seen the computer's notice when she checked for Lance's status -- "...but we still need t' arrange y'r access privileges. So, simp'ly say y'r name and stand in front o' this terminal. It'll scan y'r face, take a ret-scan, an' I can set y'r access from there."
"While y'r doin' that," the Commander continued, "'ere's what we need t' take care o' before leavin' Pisces.
"A full-ship tour can wait 'til we're under way, because now we're down t' just over three hours 'fore they 'spect us gone. Unless y'all want standard rations, we're needn' foodstuffs...y'r getting an allowance f'r that, an' what y' get'll have t' last ya aroun' two months.
"I'm assumin' y'ave y'r own clothing.
"Nicolai, I'm assingin' you with stockin' th' armory. Small arms and a few rifles are what I was thinkin' of, with plenty o' ammo an' maybe a few explosives in case. Use y'r own judgment on what's best when it comes t' weapon make an' ammo type. Th' ship-mounted weapons're already taken care of.
"Kassi, Eliot, when y're done with food shoppin', go ahead an' take a look around th' Key. Kass, y'r gonna be drivin', so make sure you're familiar with th' Key's movement, weight dist'ribution, an' maneuverability. She's been pretty even-keeled on th' way 'ere. Eliot, I'mna ask ya t'do th' same, only w' th' engines. Once we're out, I'll compare notes with ya."
With a determined smile, Gem looked at each of them before nodding. "Let's get this done, eh?" Taking out her datapad, she accessed a program. "Who 'ere doesn' 'ave a personal money card?"
