=OOC= Warning note - this is a touch long. =/OOC=
Racoon T7 shuttle (Ke-T7-1B Long Range) - en route to UX-11 IX
The somewhat angular form of a M2-2A Mindy Powered Armor stood before him. His two-toned eyes caressed every surface, front and back, as he conducted his pre-operation checks. Despite the fact that he was not going to be going into a hostile environment or instantly lethal atmosphere, if there was one thing Jonathan had been known for during training it was thoroughness. Leave no stone unturned. Satisfied with the exterior, he removed his Mindy's headpiece and cracked open the suit, likewise inspecting everything within.
Around him were a number of uniformed personnel. Two were flight crew attached to support the pair of pilots up front. They were busy resecuring the other powered armor suits otherwise secured to the deck along the center of the shuttle's hold. On its last leg of a personnel transfer run, the shuttle had already dropped off the other 23 passengers, and picked up 12: the other occupants. All Infantry. Once he was dropped off, the rest would be dropped off somewhere else; Jonathan didn't know, and didn't care.
Stripping out of his clothes, he slid neatly into the Mindy while one of the flight crew stuffed his discarded clothing into his Type 31 Rucksack and secured the bag closed. The other flight crewman helped him secure his armor's helmet while the Aetheric Generator spooled up. As the power began to flow, readouts sprang to life in his head's up display.
SYSTEM STATUS:
Ke-M2-E2901 Armor Integrated Electronics System
*ONLINE*
Ke-M2-E2902 Conformal Psionic Signal Control Device
*ONLINE*
Ke-M2-F2901 Titanium Alloy Chassis Layer
*GREEN*
Ke-M2-F2900 Flesh and Hemosynthetic Interior Insert
*GREEN*
Ke-M2-F2902 Outer Armor with Thermoptic Camouflage
*GREEN*
Ke-M2-G2901 Aetheric Generator and Capacitor System
*ONLINE*
Ke-M2-P2901 Combined Field System
*STANDBY MODE*
Ke-M2-P2902 Gravimetric Backup Engine and Thrusters
*STANDBY MODE*
Ke-M2-R2901 Inertialess Drive System
*STANDBY MODE*
WEAPON STATUS:
FIXED:
Ke-M2-W2902 Forearm Weapons (Right Arm)
*STANDBY MODE*
Ke-M2-D3000 Forearm Ellipsoid Shield (Left Arm)
*GREEN*
Ke-M2-W2903 NSD Upper Leg Hangers (Right Thigh)
*STANDBY MODE*
Ke-M2-W2903 NSD Upper Leg Hangers (Left Thigh)
*STANDBY MODE*
MODULAR:
Ke-M3-W3001 “Kalamari” Manipulator Arm System (Dorsal Hardpoint)
*STOWED, OFFLINE*
Ke-M2-W3001 Shoulder-Mounted Aetheric Pulse Cannon (Right Shoulder)
*SAFE, STOWED, OFFLINE*
Ke-M2-W2906 Shoulder-Fired Missile Pod (Left Shoulder)
*SAFE, CLOSED, OFFLINE*
Ke-M2-W2907 Countermeasure Augmentation Pods (Right Lower Leg)
*SAFE, CLOSED, OFFLINE*
Ke-M2-W2907 Countermeasure Augmentation Pods (Left Lower Leg)
*SAFE, CLOSED, OFFLINE*
As the AIES continued to run through its start-up diagnostics, the flight crewmen outside were checking his external features one last time. At about the same time that his suit flashed its final status message, the flight crew were giving him a thumbs up.
"ETE* 10 minutes," the shuttle's co-pilot announced on an omnidirectional broadcast. "Flight Crew, secure stations and prepare for landing." On that announcement, the pair moved about the cabin, checking that their passengers safety harnesses were (still) properly secured, conducted a last-minute sweep of the cargo, then moved to their seats in the forward compartment. Jonathan reached up with both hands, grasping a pair of handholds purpose built into the ceiling for just such a situation.
Light as a feather, the shuttle touched down not far from the YSS Eucharis. As the rear loading ramp lowered, Jonathan was quite grateful for the power armor: the world outside was cold, as indicated by his sensors, and plenty damp as well. Reaching down with his left hand, he grasped the straps of both his standard issue duffle bag and waterproof rucksack. He was grateful he had secured the latter, as sensors indicated the presence of incliment weather nearby. Stepping down the ramp, he surveyed the landscape, which was completely at odds with anything he could have possibly imagined.
First, there was the Eucharis. Planetside, cargo bay opened, loading elevator rising up into the hold with ... was that a GRAND PIANO?! The instrument vanished from view and he continued his survey while walking forwards, the Racoon shuttle lifting off behind him and departing for other destinations.
Next, the massive field of cargo containers, a shuttlecraft, a pair of outdated and horribly inefficient Nepleslian power armor suits, a damaged but mostly intact starship, and various crew of the Eucharis scampering about the veritable treasure trove of goodies scattered both in and arround the cargo containers. One of them also seemed hell bent on keeping the clucking chicken secured underneath one arm.
It wasn't dificult to locate the Captain. She was the central nexus of this chaotic flux of activity; though currently engaged in securing blankets and other sleeping type paraphernilia. He opened up his stride, crossing the distance to the outskirts of the cargo 'yard' quickly before slowing down to delicately pick his way through the stuff.
"Shôshô Ketsurui." Dropping his duffel and ruck, he bowed. It may have felt more comical than it looked, especially with a shield attached to his left forearm, but Jonathan bowed anyways. "Santô Hei DarkSky, reporting for duty."
=OOC=
*ETE = Estimated Time En route.