When Stars Come Crashing IC (Sci-Fi|Survival/Action)

[Arengin Union]

The Star of Fortune

OOC

A New Beginning.

The CCS Star Of Fortune surged through the empty vacuum of space, the sun of the Copernican-122 system shined on the ship's hull as it cruised through the void of space, passing by the aurora of the Gallians. A Colony Class Ship, and this wasn’t the typical colonial ship, this was the newest of models. The Promethean C-200, one of five that had been built in the last decade, capable of carrying 15,000 people, this ship was massive and carried tons of equipment and supplies for the colony in the far away planet of Snomia 0B80, this was one of the many planets in the frontier regions of the Milky Way galaxy that had all condition of earth, plenty of water and resources as well as wildlife so varied and distinct it had to be studied. Snomia was located in what the Tribune's Protectorate assured was a safe sector, cleared from Reformation, pirates and rogue militia presence by the might of it's military prowess. And who could not believe them, as far as most people in the inner planetary systems knew, the Reformation Belis was losing a futile guerrilla war, and was no more than a mere collection of scattered and poorly organized insurgents.

The planet was promising, the new fauna and flora that the science division would find was of immense potential, and who knew what else they would find. The ship finally began to exit the inner voids of space to reveal the planet in its splendor, filled with a lush green and blue, the planet was indeed reminiscing of the long dead Earth. Everyone aboard the ship looked out from the any windows or any monitor broadcasting the planet, everyone was in awe at how similar to Earth it looked. Captain Maralich for his part was not concerning himself with the planet, rather in which area was the best to land. He was a man in his 40's, not the best looking Captain for such a primal mission, but he was smart and resourceful, a main reason he had been named Captain was for his abilities with diplomacy, capable of handling each separate member of the crew team. At the bridge everyone was busy, concerning themselves with the ship and the exploration team that would be sent in first. It would still take some hours for it all to commence, but the bridge was filled with crew members examining monitors and checking for status on the ship systems. It was all normal.

“Captain, all systems are steady. We have contacted Chief Polecks for preparations on the exploration team.” A crewman said as the captain listened from his seat in the middle of the bridge. He nodded and kept looking into the monitor in his own seat.

“Captain, we have scanned the planet's surface, suitable landing areas have been located but we still need to make sure we do not disturb the wildlife too much.” Another crewman told the captain.

“Very well gentlemen… connect me with the ship’s speakers.” Maralich said with a calm voice to his crew assist-man. He was soon connected and his voice would be broadcasted all around the ship.

All around the ship, the captain's voice through the loudspeakers of the ship was heard by everyone. “Attention, Captain Maralich here, to all crewmates, and passengers, we will be preparing for a landing on the planet in a maximum of 4 days until the exploration teams can asses the landing areas. All members of the crew. Attend to your given duties and prepare everything for procedure. For our colonists, we thank your for your patience and hope you find your new home suitable. Maralich out.” The captain’s words pressed the crew to ready themselves as the passengers themselves were excited for this new life.

In the security deck, everyone was getting ready. All security officers prepared their gear and vehicles were getting ready for recon once they landed. Dozens of men and women in military type suits and with their weapons strapped to their backs or fronts ran around the deck getting ready for the reconnaissance missions. On the main deck above the vehicle bay, one of the security officers walked passed the many riflemen and officers that were jogging to their positions and getting ready. Leon Markevez, he wore a determined and ready face, noticeably scarred from the years of war, and his stubble resonated a sense of experience to a great degree. He walked with confidence but uneasiness as always. He was already in full gear, his standard outfit with a green olive camouflage look to it. He walked to the stairs leading to the upper deck where he arrived to Chief Poleck's office, he was let in by the guard at the front. As he walked into the room Leo saw the many photos of Poleck's time in the military and his medals in a shelf near his desk. The security commander was writing something on a file when Leon walked in, he stood there quietly as the Chief finished up and set the file aside.

“Sit down Markevez.” The commander said with quite the rough and old voice, not a voice of an old man per say, but a voice of someone who had seen it all and done it all and lived through it all. He was an experienced military man and was determined to led the security division at the best of his abilities, as much as he hated Maralich's guts.

“I'm going over to talk with the Captain soon, so make it quick cause I ain't got all day.” The commander interlocked his hands and set them on his chin while looking at Leon.

“Sir… I think we should make sure the escape pods are all in functioning conditions.” Leon stated out right, not beating around the bush like most would. The commander seemed surprised about this but not really given Leon's proneness to security measures by the books.

“There’s no need for it Leon. The ship is on prime conditions and we're sending the reconnaissance missions out soon. Checking the pods manually would only waste more time. Besides I've already made sure that the systems are stable and ready.” Polecks responded, while serving his coffee.

Leon insisted. “Sir, there's always a risk of landing propeller failure. I advise we make sure the pods are in conditions manually since last exercise I detected a malfunction in several at the lower levels.”

Polecks looked at his coffee than back at Leon. “Fine. Take some men and make sure everything is okay. I already talked with Helkins and Kowalski and the others, they’ll know what to do. Dismissed.” Polecks seemed to have changed his tone from calm to annoyed but in the end he left Leon to do what he deemed necessary. Leon simply nodded and walked out of the room back to the main deck. He then walked towards the elevator, he then gathered the first security crewmen he saw, a group of 12.

“Okay boys. We gotta go check the status of the life pods. We’ll go in three groups. Each will inspect the life pods and start the simulation for them, then confirm on the comms. Any questions?” No one asked anything, they simply looked at Leon with a bit of confusion.

“Okay then. Let’s get going.” So then the men walked to the elevator.

The loudspeakers of the security bay then sounded the voice of Polecks. "All members of the security team that have reconnaissance assignment, group up at briefing room 5. That is all."

[The Manticoran Empire]

Sergeant Phillips heard the announcement over the intercom and rose from his bunk, crossing his small room to his wall locker and removing his uniform from it. Hanging up next to it was the dark dress uniform of the Commonwealth Marines. The war was a not-too distant memory for him, the images of shattered bodies and the smell of propellant and death as real today as they had been at the war's end. At least, at his war's end. And his war had ended shortly before this mission began. His military career had begun in the fighting with UEC remnants in 2337 and lasted until some of the last skirmishes with Reformation Belis in early 2349. In these clashes, he had seen first hand the brutality of man and the terrible effect that their weapons could unleash on mankind. He had watched as young boys had their flesh melted from their bones by nuclear fire and saw the effects of modern weapons of war as they shattered battle plate and bone with ease. Many a young man had died in his arms, softly mumbling for their mothers as their life-blood poured from the cavities blasted into their bodies by unseen enemies. Many a young man had died in front of his face, the color draining from their faces and the light leaving their eyes as his slid the blade of his combat knife into the weak joints of the battle armor. Even more he killed without ever seeing their faces, destroying their lives from many meters away with is rifle. It was these that haunted him the most. The ones he had seen, he could pray for. He could offer their souls some peace. The ones he never knew, what could he do for their souls? What could he say to someone who's face he didn't know?
He forced the thoughts from his head and dressed hurriedly. He had no interest in being late for this briefing. He walked out of his room, stopping in the doorway. He turned around, convinced he heard someone behind him. But there was no one. He was alone, still. Alone like he had always been.

[Ruskland-Preuben]

Combined Computer and Server Room(CSSR)

What used to be a somewhat spacious room with severs and machines surrounding a clear central area with a console and chair on the first few months of the flight had been turned into the personal space of Ichi Okami, which practically assured that a mess would exist, though this time, duty called, and the mess wasn’t as severe as his old workstation back on Terra. Clean corridors between server towers had smudges of differing liquids, though all on the floor, but still as disgusting to others. The central area had been turned into the primary room of the Chief of Computer Engineering, and the room assigned to him had been turned into an area where he would only use the bathroom or play something on the emulator he had, and with him only going there to either clean himself, which was a rarity, or to get something, which too was rare due to most of his stuff being inside the CSSR, the room was cleaner than his usual.

On the man himself, he observed his new home on his monitor. He had seen pictures of old Earth, draped in its greens, blues, and whites, but this was better, Snomia 0B80 was better than Earth by a long shot, and here, he could actually be something other than being a sedentary worker in front of a console. He would’ve observed the new blue marble further, but the announcement came in, and he now had a job to do. Checking the monitor and pressing buttons on the keyboard, he observed the many electronic systems of the ship.

”Ah, that malfunction in the pods again...” He had been alerted about it ever since Leon discovered it on a manual check. A popup.

”Pod sims again hmm? Well, better ready them before they get there.” He mentally mused to himself, and then he got to work, inputting the necessary commands to prepare the simulation, those who would be checking on the pods would be the ones to run it however.

“Today feels, somewhat strange.” He talked to nobody in particular, “But I think nothing will go bad or good today, just like any other day.”.

[Bearstin]

Civilian VIP room
Darren had been playing a game of spite and malice with his daughter Sara when the announcement came that they were landing. Just past the two bunks occupying the room, a small view port offered a beautiful look at the planet they were descending to. It looked like Earth, or rather, pictures of Earth before the war since the planet had been destroyed since Darren's parents were born. Sara smiled as she drew a card, placing the seven on a deck. Eight. Nine. Ten, the card she was trying to get rid of, and with her luck flipped over her pile and the next card was a jack.

"You're getting lucky angel," he said as she discarded a two, "but you failed to notice that my card is a queen. You need to pay attention to both your cards, and my cards."

"What if I was letting you get that card off?" Sara said with a laugh, though soon regretting it when he turned over a two, setting his ace down and then getting rid of one more card.

"Then you have made a mistake," he said revealing his next card to be an eight. He sat perplexed before ending his turn by discarding.

"All members of the security team that have reconnaissance assignment, group up at briefing room 5. That is all."
"Is that you?" Sara asked.

"No," Darren replied, standing up and walking to the view port, "I am a security adviser, not even. I'm called upon when they need advice, but for the most part, I am just a regular civilian. I don't assume they will need me very often. I'm on the paycheck surprisingly, figure its a thank you for my service."

"So your sole purpose in this whole journey is to forget mom's dea-."

"What the hell do you think," he said harshly, he turned around and noticed the look of pain on his daughters face, performing some breathing exercises a therapist had taught him, he walked closer to her so now only a five or so meters separated them. "I'm sorry. I loved her so much, since the day I met her in grade school, I chased her relentlessly, cried when she moved schools, rejoiced when she returned every summer. When she moved back home, she was the only thing on my mind. The day I married her, that was the result of two decades of love. She was the only woman I ever loved. To have her taken from me, its like i was drenched in fuel, set on fire, and tossed in a pit of fire ants. I'm sorry I'm so caught up in my sorrows, I'm sorry I dragged us out of our livelihood to come to this rock, I-."
"Dad. It's okay," Sara said, in a quiet voice. It wasn't sad, rather, understanding. Darren felt selfish, his daughter wasn't this messed up. She had dealt with her grief and he had failed. Darren could only sigh. He turned back around, marching to the view port to watch the ship cut through the clouds. He was more than ready for his new life.

[Parcia]

In la la land..

"Why is it, that the 110 pound red head is out performing you lot of 200 pound grown ass men!!!" The rain came down in small droplets, a drizzle. They were in full kit and gear, rifles slung and loaded. She was wet, dead tired, and ready to shoot her DI, but she was so close to graduation....

Reality, otherwise known as Crew Bunk #3465, Dorm 32.

She was day dreaming, her final days in Marine basic still lingering in her mind as she went through her PT routine when the call out for all Security team members to report to Briefing Room 5. She got up, throwing on her duty Jacket over her tanktop. Taking a moment to grab her belt, holding her side arm, spare magazines, ID card and PDA. Making sure to lock her door on the way out, she made her way towards the briefing room.

She seemed to arrive just behind the others, her red hair up in a bun and the sweat still visible on her face. She nodded to a few others and took her place.

[Vodkaslavia]

Star of Fortune Main Reactor Room

Tighten RSB-0045. Loosen RSTS-0005. Check the temperature... 573 Fahrenheit... Optimal. Replace Coolant in Tank #03.

GE-AMBER-0001 would go through the routine checks of the Reactor, ensuring everything was fine. She hadn't left the Reactor in three days, making her unaware of the ship's arrival. She would perk up, looking back towards the entrance of the Reactor where the only loudspeaker was, listening to the Captain's calm but firm words. Not long now. She'd turn back to the Reactor, continuing her checks. Pretty soon, the reactor will be put offline and brought to be the new power supply of the colony until more sustainable power plants could be built, so she had to ensure it was in tip top shape and no one would get hurt being near it.

GE-AMBER-0001 would slowly scrutinize the entire casing of the Reactor, looking for any defects. Stress Fracture... 2.6812 Femtometers across... 12.0044 Picometers in length... She'd pull out her Geiger Counter, putting it near the crack. No Radiation Detected... She'd press her hand against the crack, using her built in sonar. About 0.2297 Femtometers Deep... No Hazard Possible, Monitor for Changes. She'd pull out bright blue tape, carefully marking around the crack. Continuing around the Reactor, she would find no more evidence of breaks in the Core's Shielding.

She'd give the Reactor a gentle pat, before picking up her toolkit. She'd walk back towards the door, looking up at the loudspeaker to see if anything else would come through. She'd step through the Airlock door, holding herself there as the decontamination process would blow chemicals all over her to prevent any radioactive materials from being brought into the main Engineering bay and the rest of the ship itself.

GE-AMBER-0001 would let out a robotic sigh as she would finally sit down, placing her toolkit on the hook on her hip so she didn't need to hold it herself. She'd face the terminal she sat at, pressing a few buttons to lock down the Reactor door just for security measures.

Star of Fortune Cargo Bay

GE-AMHLR-011172 stood amongst some of the construction equipment in the cargo bay, going through his checklist to ensure everything was safe. The cargo bay was lucky to have a window, since it'd be adjacent to the hangar. He could see the planet come into view, taking his programming away from his usual duties for a moment as he'd step towards the window. He'd stand there, looking at it. "Snomia 0B80... 87.2% Match to Earth." He'd look at it for a while longer as the captain's voice came through the speakers. As soon as the transmission would stop, GE-AMHLR-011172 would turn around walking back over the construction vehicles and go through each one individually, ensuring each one was secure, not damaged by any rust, and the like. He'd go through each one lightning fast, knowing everything about each of the ships and only looking for defects.

Once all the vehicles were secure, he'd move on to the materials they brought with, making sure nothing was taken from each one. Oddly enough, some of the concrete mix they brought has been moved and propped up against the glass they brought, though nothing would be damaged. He'd pick up the bags, grabbing and moving them back to their proper location and jotting down on his checklist what was observed.

[Huntpublic]

John Cash
Colonial Marines Barracks

His arms were burning. Down and up, a constant repetitive movement that got the job done. Push-ups, anyone can do a few push-ups, but no matter how good you were, your arms will eventually hurt like hell. And that is exactly what John's arms were feeling. He was at 98 push-ups and counting. Through the pain, he remembered his father telling him something when he was younger. Before his dad went off to war, John started to remember the exact conversation and everything,

"Lemme say something son, do you want to be a man?" His father asked and then repeated himself.

"Tell me! Do you want to be a man?!" John's father grabbed him by the arm. Little John was crying a lot back then. He knew that his father was going off to war, and he was scared that he would never see him again.

12-year-old John replied meekly and through tears, "Yes,"

"Okay, first off, if you wanna be a man, quit that crying. Get over whatever is your problem, life throws you right hooks and left, you can't stop them. What you can do is eat those punches and move on. I know you are scared, but I'm not. You will take care of your mom if I don't make it. This will be the last few things I say before I leave, 'The difference between a man and a boy, a complainer, someone who can't handle life, is that real men don't know when to stop. Take those push-ups and pull-ups that you like to do for example. Some people who claim they are men can do 75 push-ups easy. But real men can get to 75 push-ups, yeah, but they won't stop until they can't do anymore. You will always seek success, YOU will always follow the rules and obey them. Do what YOU are told, and you won't have to worry about me not making it through this stupid war. Listen to me bud, I love you..." And with that Johns dad left to battle and never came back. How Johns dad died, he never knew, what he did know is that his dad was a very wise Man.


While John had that flashback he did more push-ups and he didn't even keep track of how many more he did. All he was focusing on was pushing through the intense pain in his arms, the burning, and the weakness that he slowly felt pushing through his arms. With one final breath, one more loud groan, he collapsed onto the floor right below him. Rolling over on to his back. Trying not to cramp up his triceps, John slowly rose and was about to start doing pull-ups, but then he heard the captains announcements, "Attention, Captain Maralich here, to all crewmates, and passengers, we will be preparing for a landing on the planet in a maximum of 4 days until the exploration teams can asses the landing areas. All members of the crew. Attend to your given duties and prepare everything for procedure. For our colonists, we thank you for your patience and hope you find your new home suitable. Maralich out.” After hearing that, John went over to his closet. One could call it that. But really it was just a glass box with fluorescent white-bluish lights in it and a mannequin wearing his Colonial Marine Outfit. He just was making sure everything was there. His helmet and visor were clean and functional, it seemed like the CS Rig Suit was in good shape. He looked over to his bullpup rifle and inspected it. It was clean, it was perfect and readily functional. Everything he had was prepared, his survival kit and his ammunition. At the given order he was prepared to do his duty. In the meantime John grabbed his Rosary and put it around his neck, gently holding the Crucifix on the end of it, he prayed. He asked God for his hand of protection over him, the other crew and colonist and the ship itself.

[Acerbez]

The lab facility was quite bare... Not bare of supply, but bare of activity. The last week or 2 all of the teams had already set about ensuring everything was in order come iminent landing. 2 weeks was hardly iminent, but organization was important... Out here, Chaos would be harder to dispel than usual. It seemed that the majority of field scientists had taken to recreational activity rather than linger around the labs. Best they all use this time to relax because who knows when the next time theyll kick their feet back up.

Cainin had been seated on top of one of the lab counters, a good 3 or 4 meters away from the disposal bin. Using crumpled pieces of note paper and other less important notifs, he was tossing them at the disposal's opening. "Scoring" and also not, not for the sport of it but for the simple entertainment.

"Can we be there already..." he thought to himself... The compressed and manipulated air of the Star of fortune was making him feel... Quaint. He wished to take a whiff of fresh air, to be one of the first to have the cleanest possible smell inhaled ever.

Can you imagine that? He thought... This would literally be the freshest smell and cleanest non-smog polluted air anyone could ever get a whiff of. The number of crumpled notifs began to pile up on the floor making a moderate mess near the bin.

Suddenly a passerby strolled past the doorway. Cainin slid off the counter top and hastily began picking up the rubbish- thinking he was about to be chastized for goofing off or something of the other. You know? Being called a scientist and everything, one has to act like one. But they just continued on, not even stopping in the facility, wasted energy of rushing in a professional way.

"Heh". That was dumb, he thought. Now finished with clearing his mess he made for the exit of the lab facility.

He made off to his own quarters to take yet another peek at the all window view of the new world's landscape and await landing... Additionally, he remarked to himself that it'd be best to always be seen in his science get up. "All these bad ass security fellas, well you know what? Im a god damn scientist- When was the last time you analyzed the recognition of methylated putrescine and catalyzed the deamination of a compound to 4-methylaminobutanal?? Never... That's what i thought, Astro boy toy."

"This fresh air is going to be something..." he exitedly thought, quickly leaving his little glory episode behind. As he walked on to his quarters, he took note of every breath he took and tried to imagine how the next one will feel.

"Hell yea". he muttered beneath his breath, making his way to the designated exploratiom briefing where the other non security personell would be.

[Arkeyana]

There was a slight whir as the small robot came online, it's two optics lighting up as it flexed each joint and spun it's turbines a little, making sure everything worked. It lifted from it's cradle, scanning the Star of Fortune's Cargo bay. It started to move around the cargo bay before sighting another mechanoid...GE-AMHLR-011172? Over by some construction equipment. The little robot beeped a greeting before moving on towards the exit.

[Vodkaslavia]

GE-AMHLR-011172 would hear the beep, causing him to look about the cargo bay. He'd see ME-EU-V, then wave to him, letting out a friendly boop in return. He'd turn back to the equipment, continuing his scrutinizing of the tools, materials, and other things they had to make sure no one was tampering with it.

[Arengin Union]

Bridge of The Star of Fotune
August 2349.

Chief Polecks footsteps could be heard by everyone as he entered through the slide doors into the bridge of the colony ship. Most of the crew members didn't pay much attention as they kept to their tasks, a massive holograph of the planet adorning in the middle of the bridge. Polecks looked around him, both his robotic and natural eye looking around the bridge as if it were the first time he had been here, it wasn't, he was simply a man that liked to look at every single detail around him. A trait taught to him by years in the military, fighting in the Ceriphian insurrection and later the Remnants war not so long ago. As he walked in the platform above the many crew managing the ship he was then greeted by a voice that simply made his teeth cringe.

"Ah, Polecks! I'm glad you're here on time." Captain Maralich said outloud, leaving a pad to his secretary and moving past the hologram of the planet and to Polecks. Polecks kept a straight posture, clearly surpassing the captain in height. Maralich, having to hand to reach to of Polecks, who preferred to keep them behind his back simply patting him in the shoulder and guided him to follow him to his office.

"We need to talk about procedure, I wan't us to land as soon as we can but I just want to make sure we're all on the same page." Maralich kept yarping about procedure and how this wasn't his first colony establishment mission and the like, which only made Polecks turn his eye in unamusement.

Soon the two men found themselves sitting down in Maralich's office, the many miniature ship models and photos of the man adorning the walls and furniture. They were everywhere, almost as if the man was in love with himself. Polecks himself kept some photos of his friends and his sons, but nothing else, to him those were just things, what mattered was the memories within oneself.

"So I've finish the authorizations on what the exploration teams are allowed to take with them tomorrow. I expect you have gathered the teams by tomorrow of course." Maralich handed Polecks the pad with the list, the security chief slowly picked it up, with little expectations to say the least.

As Polecks guessed, the team were not allowed to take any rapid firing weapons with them, no explosives, no more than 2 all terrain rovers wit them which limited the teams to only 18 people and they rovers couldn't have any offensive measures like the pulse cannons or the perimeter turrets, just the shock wavers.

Polecks looked at Maralich, the smug on his face said it all. Ever since the trip had started Maralich had been pretty restrictive about the issue with armament. Keeping most of the heavy gear within the confines of the armory bays, and limiting civilian access to weaponry which Polecks somewhat agreed on but to keep the security team from a rapid and quick access to their weaponry was simply asinine to him. Poleck's had kept quit about his feelings over this for a while and now that the Captain's days as commander were numbered Polecks would take no more of this bullshit.

"I respectfully disagree with this list and I request you to let me personally pick the gear that we will need to explore the planet before landing." Polecks set the pad back on the table and kept a still rough face in contrast to Maralich's fading smile.

"Polecks you know I can't do that. Out of principle and procedure, captain's ship, captains orders. I pick what I deem necessary for such missions, we're not going to a war here okay. The RB is out of this sector and I honestly see no need for you and the other security members or even our passengers to carry those things with you." Maralich referred to the blue MR pistol on Polecks holster, as well as the other weapons that he had allowed so few civilians to own simply to keep them from later reporting him to the Commonwealth's Weaponry Rights Commission.

"I don't have a gun at all. I served in the Navy and I didn't ever once carry a sidearm with me. You s-" Maralich was about to go on a speech when he was stopped by Polecks.

"I've seen men severed in half by machine gun fire, I have seen children go fatherless and motherless in the blink of an eye. I lost friends, the few I ever had to hellfire. I've seen things that you nor the other desk bureaucrats calling themselves 'military higher ups' wouldn't believe. You never carried a sidearm in your life because you've never been at the other end of one. I don't need you giving me a second rate speech, especially when you've never commanded real men in your entire life." With that, Polecks got up from his seat.

"When we land, you're no longer the boss of me. And I am not apologetic about looking forward for that day. Until then, I'll go according to your orders, but I'll no longer be discrete about the fact that I don't like you. Good evening. Sir." And with that, Polecks left the room, giving his back to the Captain and not paying any sort of attention to the possibility of being reported for disrespecting an officer, which would be a futile effort by Maralich either way.

The Captain was left alone in his office, with his arms crossed in anger and his smile gone and his face now rather annoyed. He shrugged and opened a drawer to reveal a DP 390 Derringer and a bottle of wine. Ignoring the gun, the Captain picked the bottle and began drinking right out of it without pouring it or anything. At the first jug he then slammed the desk and uttered the words.

"Fucking asshole..."

Briefing Room 5

After some time, everyone that was supposed to join the Exploration team had assembled at Briefing room 5 at the security bay. Soldiers, scientists, and other people of interest to the exploration of the planet. Number about 80 or maybe 100 in total, all sitting down in their place as then a man in full specialist gear came into the front platform overlooking the members of the exploration team.

Daniel Kowalski was the man in the platform, long hair and a clean shaven face with a scar in the left side of his face. The room went quiet when then Kowalski began to address the crowd. A hologram of the planet appeared at the front of the group, Kowalski activated a green laser pointer.

"We've gotten confirmation on the exploration teams being sent tomorrow down on the planet. There will be a total of 5 teams, made of 18 people each. Only handguns and semi automatics are allowed for this, it sucks but it is what it is guys." Many of the soldiers in the crowd were noticeably upset and others booed, to which Kowalski didn't really mind as he continued. "Each team is assigned to a particular area and will make sure that it is of adequate conditions to land, not just in terrain but also in regards to local flora and fauna as well as a drinkable source of water. Understood?" Kowalski was then answered by a "Sir, yes sir!" coming from the soldiers in the crowd, with little concern over civilian questions he kept explaining the mission up until the end.

"In conclusion ladies and gentlemen. Keep your rovers close, don't stray off groups, and don't shoot at anything that is not trying to bite your head off. Any questions?" Kowalski asked, mostly this was the time for the civilians in the group to ask questions.

Life Pod Bay #1

"Sir, life pods in rows A and B are secured!" One soldiers said over the comms.

"Same for row D and E!" said another.

"Affirmative. Good job. Get back to the mess hall." Leon answered in his own comms as other troopers with him in row C finished up to check the life pods. He himself was checking one when he got the call.

"Let's hustle this up people. They've got chow waiting for us." Leon addressed the other 3 soldiers with him.

[Acerbez]

Briefing Room 5

After some time, everyone that was supposed to join the Exploration team had assembled at Briefing room 5 at the security bay. Soldiers, scientists, and other people of interest to the exploration of the planet. Number about 80 or maybe 100 in total, all sitting down in their place as then a man in full specialist gear came into the front platform overlooking the members of the exploration team.

Daniel Kowalski was the man in the platform, long hair and a clean shaven face with a scar in the left side of his face. The room went quiet when then Kowalski began to address the crowd. A hologram of the planet appeared at the front of the group, Kowalski activated a green laser pointer.

"We've gotten confirmation on the exploration teams being sent tomorrow down on the planet. There will be a total of 5 teams, made of 18 people each. Only handguns and semi automatics are allowed for this, it sucks but it is what it is guys." Many of the soldiers in the crowd were noticeably upset and others booed, to which Kowalski didn't really mind as he continued. "Each team is assigned to a particular area and will make sure that it is of adequate conditions to land, not just in terrain but also in regards to local flora and fauna as well as a drinkable source of water. Understood?" Kowalski was then answered by a "Sir, yes sir!" coming from the soldiers in the crowd, with little concern over civilian questions he kept explaining the mission up until the end.

"In conclusion ladies and gentlemen. Keep your rovers close, don't stray off groups, and don't shoot at anything that is not trying to bite your head off. Any questions?" Kowalski asked, mostly this was the time for the civilians in the group to ask questions.

Cainin was seated with his information pad and was aptly taking note to the instructions being given by Kowalsky. "Dont shoot at anything that isn't trying to bite your head off". Tsss... By the way all these gun slinging air heads are moaning about no automatic rifles, it'd hardly be a surprise if someone didn't shoot something.

"Ehhh Plot twist, these block heads get a quick swift kick in the ass just as an RB cadre is using this planet as a ba-
The hell am i thinking..? I didnt come out here for a god damn war." Cainin reflected on his rambling day dream and cut it short to discern where his group was and how the layout looked on the hologram while Kowalsky continued his briefing.

At it's conclusion Cainin would raise his hand somewhat lazily but still noticeably to question Kowalsky,

*Clearing his throat, and firmly inquiring* "Ahem, Mr. Kowalsky. I apologize for my perhaps ignorant question, but has the Captain divulged exactly how long our initial exploration will run? I had tried going through the open data channel to determine the length of days on the planet but couldn't seem to find any information and Professor Rodriguez had her hand's full." Hoping that he was not the only individual present that was completely unsure of the average time span of days on the new planet, Cainin adequately kept a straight face to appear as formal as possible.

"I Don't Imagine we'll be bolting all over the place, as it'll take some time for my colleagues and i to gather genomic or protomic samples. We understand that the aerobic respiration levels of the cryptograms and cyanobacteria are atmospherically suitabl-...." Looking around at a good proportion of blank faces Cainin paused subtly.

"Lament terms... lament terms...." he thought.

"Ahem... I just want to know, what is the vicinity going to be of the immediate landing zone in which we can operate and how long is the projected duration of this session before were expected to return to the ship?" Ending candidly, looking to Kowalsky for response.

Finding the best samples, ones worth discovering and ultimately credited for are not going to be hiding in the open. Somebody is going to wander a bit for that discovery... And it's going to be me, Cainin thought showing a gracious smirk/smile to Kowalsky.

[Huntpublic]

John Cash

After John heard the announcements he decided to go on a jog. Just around the ship, getting a cardio workout in before eating lunch at the mess hall. John put on his PT uniform. He put on a dark green t-shirt, black running shorts, and a pair of cheap running shoes. They were comfortable and not overly "hi-tech". He wanted to run one lap around the entire ship. Up near the Bridge but not inside of it, then down to the Cargo Bay, past the life pods and back to the barracks. It was a little less than a mile in the overall distance that he would run, but everything helped to keep him in shape if he needed to go down to the planet for some reason. He started out on his run, strong. He kept up a steady pace and controlled his breathing. He was nearing the bridge and saw a few important individuals walking in and out, he saluted them as he ran past them, "Sir,". A few more minutes of running he came up around the Cargo Bay and saw a robot working on something. Examining tools or something. He wasn't really thinking, John had just fallen into the pattern of repetitive steps and heavy breathing. John ran down the steps leading into the main cargo area, he went past the robot and ran up the steps on the opposite side of where he entered and exited the Cargo Bay. After around 10 minutes of running John approached Life Pods Bay #1 and saw soldiers securing the life pods. He also saw Sgt. Leon finishing up on his life pod. John heard him say "They've got chow waiting for us," as he approached Sgt. Leon.

"Sir," John said as he saluted Sgt. Leon, abruptly stopping his run. Under heavy breathing, "I will finish up my run, and get into more adequate clothing and I will meet you all in the mess hall, sir" and with that John left Sgt. Leon and made his way back to the Colonial Marines Barracks.

Colonial Marines Barracks

Changing out of his sweaty PT gear, John promptly made his way to the showers, acknowledging his fellow Marines who finished up their workout. After taking a quick 4-minute shower, John put on more civilian-like clothing, a sleek black suit that conformed to his muscular body. The suit had some gray lines on in and barely any armor on it. Just some carbon-fiber plates to make the user feel less exposed while wearing it. After folding his clothes and making sure his bed is made and neat, John made his way to mess hall, with his Bible in hand.

Mess Hall

John made his way into the organized line to get his meal from the Colonial Marine Chefs. He got Macaroni and Cheese, along with a piece of turkey with cold gravy on it. And his drink was just simply water. Nothing too special. John got his meal and made his way to a table by himself. He could sit with some of his friends, but John just wanted to focus on eating and reading the Bible, he was just starting Revelations, things got very interesting in the last book of the Bible. He opened the book up to Revelations and began reading. Subconsciously John stuck his fork into his macaroni and ate it. Eating the Macaroni shocked him as it was the first time he had tried since being on Star of Fortune, it was absolutely horrible. "Uck!" the loud exclamation that he made brought some attention of his friends sitting at a table a little far from him. One of them shouted, "You know, that the Macaroni is the worst meal right? I mean, they use it as chemical weapons against the enemy!" that joke made him chuckle. "Yeah, this is a total disgrace!" responded John, but in his head, he thought

"Honestly, you'd think as much as we've advanced as a civilization the military would make some better food,"

Reluctantly, John continued with his meal, trying to wash down each bite with water.

[Vodkaslavia]

GE-AMHLR-011172

GE-AMHLR-011172 would just be finishing up his checks as someone would rush by, his robotic eyes watching them as they pass by before returning his work. At the end of his check, he'd walk over to the cargo office, placing his clipboard back inside before stepping over to a wall and plugging himself in, idly standing there watching the materials while he refills his batteries.

After about twenty minutes, he'd unplug himself, briskly walking over to Briefing Room 5 to listen in. GE-AMHLR-011172 would step in just as Kowalski was beginning his brief. He'd stand there, perfectly like a statue, just listening and recording what everyone says.

GE-AMBER-0001

GE-AMBER-0001 would eventually grab her kit and walk back into the reactor, briefly checking the repair work she did earlier. Seeing that nothing has changed, she removes the tape from around the edges, allowing it to blend back in with the reactor casing. She steps back to the decontamination chamber, the chemicals removing any residual radiation again before walking back out to the terminals. She clicks a few buttons, indicating she'll be stepping away from engineering for a little while.

Once done with that, she'd walk out into the hallway, looking around for other signs of life. Not seeing any, she'd step out into the hallway, walking towards the bridge. A few moments later, she'd be walking in just as a rough-looking man would angrily walk out. "Good Evening Officer Polecks," she'd say as he walked by, her facial recognition able to catch the robotic eye of his. She'd continue through the bridge, her metal footsteps gently ringing through the floor, not as heavy as Polecks' but still quite noticeable. She'd walk over to the captain's office. "Captain Maralich, do you have a moment?"

[Vulkata II]

Geoffrey Landwall

An orange jumpsuit with the logo of The CCS Star Of Fortune stitched on the left breast, this was the normal every day clothing of Geoffrey and this he did not mind. On top of a small ladder with an engineering toolkit next to his feet and a welder on his hand, the blue spark of the equipment had forced him or pretty much anyone that didn't have a death wish to wear a welding mask.

There was a notice for the nearest engineer to fix a PSA and that engineer was Geoffrey, using his analyzer the little thing had found a loose wire and it Geoffrey's task to open up the panel nearest to the loose wire and reconnect with before welding it back together. Thankfully, the last part was the part where he was almost finished, with a couple more of arm grease the panel was back in place like it was never opened in the first place.

Admiring his handy work Geoffrey removed the welding mask and took a step backed, smirked, before packing his equipment in their proper storage and walked off with them to his quarters whistling. Sitting on his bed on a job well done his vintage iPod, a gift from his father that was so heavily tinkered it doesn't resemble anything at all but a blue rectangle with solders everywhere and played a song on random and relaxed.

"All my bags are packed
I'm ready to go
I'm standin' here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin'
It's early morn...
I could die"

Staring off at the roof of his room he wondered what the exploration team would find, he also wondered if anyone essential was near the broken PSA when the announcement was announced, if the latter happened he wondered what could the possible outcome be seeing that said unknown person was essential.

[Arengin Union]

TACV The Righteous Retribution

For years the constant hiding, hit and run tactics, and fear of being found by surprise had troubled his mind. So many people lost and so much of the previous legacy of an old dog now destroyed by a power that he knew was founded on lies and deceit, yet no one other than those that carried his same disposition and backstory would ever understand the precedents of such truths if. So many lies and yet so many truths, at times it was hard to tell them apart for just one slight mishandle could bring down a house cards in less than second, no matter how intricate it was build.

For now, Hauser couldn't bother himself to keep thinking of such things, the endgoal was still far on the horizon for the meantime. Yet it was closer than ever before. The Reformation Belis was in peril, its forces scattered yet prevailing under constant choke of the Commonwealth and its allies. With this operation going in full, that was bound to change.

"We still have yet to power up the device, but once we do so we will be able to intercept the ship right as it begins procedures to land. We've calculated that hopefully this will be happening in 24 hours. They will be caught off guard and their defenses will not be prepared to meet our firepower." Hauser's second in command, Perez finished the planifications on the hologram dish with as much enthusiasm as that of a prisoner heading off to the guillotine, but it was clear that he had put effort into the plan and he was confident that it would work.

Hauser for his part was no longer thinking, he was now analyzing. Two different things to him, thinking was personal, analyzing was mathematical and required the full use of one's mind. Despite the many enhancements and bio-mechanical repairs in him, it never once hindered his mind when preparing for battle. Three transportation vessels, 6 cruisers, 5 interceptors, and several other miscellaneous class ships. Their fleet was not what it was back in the war, but it would do to face the defensive capabilities of The Star of Fortune.

"At what charge is the device at?" Hauser asked, setting his hands on his chin and scanning the plans of the operation.

"At 75%, once it is done we can do the jump." Another voice answered, this one of Kilo, the head of the Reformation Belis's science team.

Hauser made a short hum and closing and opening his eyes he then said "Very well. I wan't all ships to be ready. Dismissed."

With that everyone left with no opposition and Hauser was left to his own. To now think, not analyze. He got up from his seat, the hologram of the plans now deactivating as he made his way to the window, observing the hundreds of men and women in his command, scattering down on the platform and getting ready to the last ditch effort to bring the Commonwealth to its knees. As he looked down, he could feel a chill down his mechanical spine, unnatural.

---

Briefing Room 5

There was little in realm of questions, Kowalski was sure that he could dismiss the team and be done for the next 12 hours, but lord and behold and egghead HAD to raise his hand. And naturally he had to answer. His name tag read Del'Soto and his color of his outfit bode the botanist and biological team.

Kowalski gave him a nod of acknowledgement, a rather annoyed one and awaited the question.

"Ahem, Mr. Kowalsky. I apologize for my perhaps ignorant question, but has the Captain divulged exactly how long our initial exploration will run? I had tried going through the open data channel to determine the length of days on the planet but couldn't seem to find any information and Professor Rodriguez had her hand's full." The first part of the question was one that Kowalski himself was not entirely sure of, he only knew that the exit to the transport ships would be in the range of the next 12 hours of so but he wasn't sure how long the exploration itself would take. He along the other fellow military man in the room where then taken aback by the next part.

"I Don't Imagine we'll be bolting all over the place, as it'll take some time for my colleagues and i to gather genomic or protomic samples. We understand that the aerobic respiration levels of the cryptograms and cyanobacteria are atmospherically suitabl-...." Del'Soto then paused when noticing how even Kowalski didn't know what the fuck he was talking about.

"Ahem... I just want to know, what is the vicinity going to be of the immediate landing zone in which we can operate and how long is the projected duration of this session before were expected to return to the ship?"

Kowalski pulled back his hair and then answered the question halfheartedly. If this guy wanted to lollygag by himself to try to be the next Darwin that was not gonna happen under his command that was for sure.

"I'm not entirely sure. The only confirmation I have is that we all must be ready within 12 hours and the call to the transport ships could be at any moment. So do with that as you will, usually these sort of things don't last more than a day or two. And we are only authorized to recon within a vicinity of 5 to 10 miles, and don't worry, you'll get to have your unsupervised field trips soon enough. But once we're there you don't wander off without an escort understood. Anything else?!" Kowalski looked around for anyone else with a question, and he really hoped no one else had one.

---

Lifepod Bay #1

As Leon and the other soldiers finished up with the manual pod safety test he saw as a soldier he knew, PFC Cash ran into the bay and it didn't surprise him to find him exercising. It was usual of him and of any well disciplined Marine.

"Sir." Cash said with respect to the sergeant. "I will finish up my run, and get into more adequate clothing and I will meet you all in the mess hall, sir"

"Carry on then Private." Leon said, finishing up on the last pod as Cash made his way out. Now with all lifepods secured, Leon and the others began making their way to the mess hall.

---

The Bridge, into Maralich's office.

As Polecks made his way out of the bridge, his heavy steps echoing in the silence of the hall he passed by a service robot and didn't give much attention to it, even when it a friendly greeting. Polecks was not a big fan of them, especially those that looked human in body design. It made him sick and only fearful that some day robots with human characteristics would exist. Lucky they didn't.

Maralich for his part was chugging down the bottle of wine, 2340, Isvrinado. Straight from Ingalo, the capital of winery in the Commonwealth and his home planet. It was a sweet wine, but every chug made his eye watered and the overall experience made him feel dirty, but it was such a delicious wine it was hard not to drink it, especially after the altercation with Polecks.

Then a robotic, female like voice interrupted his drunken fest. "Captain Maralich, do you have a moment?"

With a massive hurry the Captain closed back the bottle and set it under his desk. Shaking and nervous he coughed a little while trying to dissimulate what he was doing, he should've really closed the door when Polecks left.

"S-sure... come through! Come..." Maralich said while coughing up the last of the saliva on his throat. The robot came in and stayed still in front of Maralich's desk, Maralich didn't wait for it to either seat or not.

"What is the matter, uhmmm...." He struggled to read the robots serial number its shoulder and chest, the wine taking toll on his vision.

"Uhhhhh..." He didn't know what to do.

[Vodkaslavia]

The Bridge, into Maralich's office.

As Polecks made his way out of the bridge, his heavy steps echoing in the silence of the hall he passed by a service robot and didn't give much attention to it, even when it a friendly greeting. Polecks was not a big fan of them, especially those that looked human in body design. It made him sick and only fearful that some day robots with human characteristics would exist. Lucky they didn't.

Maralich for his part was chugging down the bottle of wine, 2340, Isvrinado. Straight from Ingalo, the capital of winery in the Commonwealth and his home planet. It was a sweet wine, but every chug made his eye watered and the overall experience made him feel dirty, but it was such a delicious wine it was hard not to drink it, especially after the altercation with Polecks.

Then a robotic, female like voice interrupted his drunken fest. "Captain Maralich, do you have a moment?"

With a massive hurry the Captain closed back the bottle and set it under his desk. Shaking and nervous he coughed a little while trying to dissimulate what he was doing, he should've really closed the door when Polecks left.

"S-sure... come through! Come..." Maralich said while coughing up the last of the saliva on his throat. The robot came in and stayed still in front of Maralich's desk, Maralich didn't wait for it to either seat or not.

"What is the matter, uhmmm...." He struggled to read the robots serial number its shoulder and chest, the wine taking toll on his vision.

"Uhhhhh..." He didn't know what to do.

GE-AMBER-0001 would step into the office, not really taking mind to him drinking as she didn't know what it was in the first place. She'd cock her head as he'd keep coughing. "Are you alright, Captain Maralich, sir?" She'd wait for him to finish, then stand there as he tried to read the tag on her shirt above her breastplate.

"General Electric dash AutoMated Building and Engineering Robot dash Zero Zero Zero One, sir, or shortened to G E dash A M B E R dash Zero Zero Zero One. Or Amber, if it's easier for you to remember, sir." Her stance would get a bit more relaxed, looking less robotic than it just was. That brand new robotic engineering seems to be bringing them closer to what Polecks hated, even if it was still clearly robotic-looking. "I came to ask for your permission to retrieve Cement Paste for the Reactor from our supplies in the Cargo Bay. There are several cracks that have been forming, most of them stress fractures, though there are some impurity fractures as well. At the current rate, there's a chance the reactor will not survive for longer than four more months, which is twenty-two months shorter than what it was expected to live. The Cement Paste isn't a perfect solution, but it would work better than the binding agent I'm currently using. If we were on the ground, I'd say we could just build a new reactor casing, but we're limited until we're on the ground." She'd pause, looking at him, though just as quickly as she stopped, she'd continue, not giving him a chance to speak. "The reactor itself is not suffering any adverse effects, and is still running at optimal capacity. If, by your order, you decide to cut back on some of the less important functions to reduce stress on the reactor, we could expand its lifespan from four months to six months, but the casing is severely hindering its lifespan. Its fuel will last us for another twenty-two months, but that wouldn't help anything if the reactor gives out, unless, once we're on the ground, we can build another reactor to replace this one, which would be the most optimal solution as it'd be able to live for longer than the current one, but it'd be much more resource and labor intensive than just rebuilding the case and moving the old core into it." She'd again pause, probably studying the confused face of her superior, though still continuing on. "Also, sir, would you happen to have any more music files in any of the terminals? I'd like to download some of them, if you wouldn't mind."

She'd finally pause, letting the information overload settle into the already drunk captain.

---

Briefing Room 5

There was little in realm of questions, Kowalski was sure that he could dismiss the team and be done for the next 12 hours, but lord and behold and egghead HAD to raise his hand. And naturally he had to answer. His name tag read Del'Soto and his color of his outfit bode the botanist and biological team.

Kowalski gave him a nod of acknowledgement, a rather annoyed one and awaited the question.

"Ahem, Mr. Kowalsky. I apologize for my perhaps ignorant question, but has the Captain divulged exactly how long our initial exploration will run? I had tried going through the open data channel to determine the length of days on the planet but couldn't seem to find any information and Professor Rodriguez had her hand's full." The first part of the question was one that Kowalski himself was not entirely sure of, he only knew that the exit to the transport ships would be in the range of the next 12 hours of so but he wasn't sure how long the exploration itself would take. He along the other fellow military man in the room where then taken aback by the next part.

"I Don't Imagine we'll be bolting all over the place, as it'll take some time for my colleagues and i to gather genomic or protomic samples. We understand that the aerobic respiration levels of the cryptograms and cyanobacteria are atmospherically suitabl-...." Del'Soto then paused when noticing how even Kowalski didn't know what the fuck he was talking about.

"Ahem... I just want to know, what is the vicinity going to be of the immediate landing zone in which we can operate and how long is the projected duration of this session before were expected to return to the ship?"

Kowalski pulled back his hair and then answered the question halfheartedly. If this guy wanted to lollygag by himself to try to be the next Darwin that was not gonna happen under his command that was for sure.

"I'm not entirely sure. The only confirmation I have is that we all must be ready within 12 hours and the call to the transport ships could be at any moment. So do with that as you will, usually these sort of things don't last more than a day or two. And we are only authorized to recon within a vicinity of 5 to 10 miles, and don't worry, you'll get to have your unsupervised field trips soon enough. But once we're there you don't wander off without an escort understood. Anything else?!" Kowalski looked around for anyone else with a question, and he really hoped no one else had one.

GE-AMHLR-011172 would listen from the back of the room, recording the entire conversation for later reference. He'd carefully watch Kowalski's stature, his glowing visual sensors carefully following his every movement, along with anyone else who seemed to make more exaggerated movements whenever they changed positions.

He'd raise his hand from the back, his speaker letting out a small beep before actual words would follow. "Mr. Kowalski, would you like any service bots to accompany the teams during the exploration phase? Simply answer yes or no."

[Huntpublic]

John Cash

After finishing up the poor excuse for a meal, John made his way back to the Colonial Marine Barracks and put on his Colonial Marines Outfit. He grabbed his AR-60 Bullpup Rifle and his APP-3 9 mm, and traveled to a near-by target range so he could get target practice in. John found his way to a open booth and grabbed a box of 7.56 rounds and a box of .9 mm bullets. He slowly put the bullets into magazines, two mags for each weapon. And about twenty-six bullets in the AR and fifteen in pistol.

John adjusted the target to move backwards 80 meters and brought his rifle to his face and he looked down his sights. He switched his weapon from "safety" to "semi" and began to shoot. Midway through his magazine John switched it from "semi" to "full auto" and finished off his magazine. After that, he quickly put his rifle to his side and then took his pistol out from his holster and continued shooting. After thirty minures or so of being in the shooting range, John finished up. He cleared his firearms, holstered them and went back to the barracks. John started to wind down and outtin on more comfortable clothes and took a well deserved nap.

[Parcia]

Doc.

She was...upset. Leaving the briefing after its conclusion, she stood in the hallway, letting others pass and shaking her head. She had been in enough combat to know sending them to the world with side arms and shotguns was absolute bullshit. She had seen the after combat reports of missions like that, were civies were dropped in just after worlds were cleared...only to have them not be cleared and the civies promptly slaughtered/rapes/enslaved by pirates.

She was going to do something, everything in her gut was telling her something was FUBAR about this whole fucking mission.

She wasn't going down to a planet like that. While she had checked out her side arm, and always kept her bulldog on her, she had an idea.

Ships armory, roughly 20 minuets later...

What most people didn't know about the SRM-20 was that it was one of the easiest fucking things to disassemble. A simple popping out of the captive pin, removal of the simple hinge pin, unscrewing of the barrel, and and detachment of the butt stuck...and since her rifle was Issued at a Marine armory prior to the flight, thus free of the normal Tracking implements used in civilian Issued rifles and pistols.

And thus, no one really batted an eye when the pretty red head medic walked out with the same large and bulky parts/maintenance bag she kept her weapon repair/upkeep tools in...and nor would they notice the 4 magazines she always kept her rig, nor that her weapons locker seemed only to contain her tools.

She made it to her room with few problems, a few maintenance bots poking around her secluded corner of the barracks, but she did let out a noticeable sigh as she placed the bag next to her rig were it sat on her desk.

She had an absolutely shit feeling about this mission, and took time to stock up on extra medical supplies.

The Standard Colonial Marine Combat Live saver field kit came stocked with 4 5ml vile of multi-use nano-med paste, linked in to her helmets command suit and the neural implant at the base of her skull that interfaced with her kit and her rig.

She added another two rolls of Smart Gauze, added to her existing four, Smart Gauze using similar tech to Nano-mad paste, being a sterilized wrapping coated with Nanites that work in tandem with the body's natural coagulants to quickly seal off blood loss, often ignoring or disinfecting the wounds too.

She also made sure to pack two mini-sprey cans of "Magma" disinfectant spray, having earned its name for the tell tale feeling when it was sprayed on a wound, the shit hurt like absolute shit, yet was comparable to military grade incendiaries when dealing with bacteria.

She also added to more auto-splints to her 1, and a set of 14 packs of andromorphiline injectors, the ultimate evolution of the tried and true Morphine, Otherwise known as gods gift to any in pain for hundreds of years.

She also packed her own field rations, her little box of spices and herbs, and a few small, paper backs hidden in the side pocket of her back, along side a medical encyclopedia.

As a rifle, ammo, plate vest and the weight of her rig it self, and she would need a self actuating exo-rig like her to move and fight effectively.

Putting it all away for now, she tapped in to her media player and plugged in her headphones. Letting the music set her tempo, she set about undressing for bed, settling for a tank top and underwear, before climbing in to her bunk and drifting off...

Yet sleep was not always peaceful for those like her...

[The Manticoran Empire]

Phillips had had no questions during the briefing but something didn't sit right with him. If this was the first recon on this planet the expedition was doing, it should be led by drones. After all, drones aren't as squishy as humans are and can be equipped with more sophisticated sensor packages. A drone section would have been perfect to scout out the area near the colony ahead of any manned recon team. Hell, the mission itself was simple enough that drones could have EASILY accomplished the mission, thereby not risking any lives in the process. That was the entire purpose of building drones in the first place.
And, of course, their firepower was being limited with no concrete reason as to why. With no knowledge of the local flora or fauna or if the planet harbored dangerous aboriginals or pirate bands, an armory limited to handguns and semi-automatic rifles and shotguns was hardly an intelligent decision. Even less intelligent was including non-military personnel on this op. This first foray should have been fully comprised of military and security personnel, fully equipped for a potential firefight. Until and unless it was demonstrated that the risk of a firefight with pirates or locals was a non-issue, it should always be considered. He'd seen what happened when people assumed they didn't need some pieces of kit. He'd lost three Marines in the war because they figured they didn't need more than the amount of oxygen carried in their vacsuits during a boarding action. 44 hours into the action, they had suffocated when their suits ran out of O2 during a firefight. He didn't care what the orders were. He was not going down to that planet without his assault rifle and plenty of ammunition.

[Arengin Union]

Artuca BV, Sector 1023 Far Off. Reformation Belis territory.
Supreme Commander Liam Hauser's fleet.

All ships were aligned into position, ready for whatever Hauser and the other members of the leadership council were planning. With such a small fleet under their command it was likely that they were simply readying for another fall back deeper into the far off regions. At this rate the reactors would melt soon and without coolant the RB would loose the few Freighters and Carriers it had left. But what did the grunts know, at least they were alive and they've been told to prepare for an operation that would ultimately win the war, at least thats what a few certain units had been told in detail, the rest were just waiting for whatever was about to happen.

The fleet assembled off orbit of Artuca BV, the ships dialing down to face the planet. The captains of each ship knew some parts of the plan, but other than that for them this was simply madness, a bet that Supreme Commander Hauser had made based solely on luck and luck alone. Within each carrier, freighter, corvette, and other ships the men within the bridge were dripping in sweat as they aligned the ship to face the planet. The soldiers and crew within the ships were utterly confused to what was happening.

Within The Righteous Reclamation, sitting on the commander seat of the bridge, Hauser admired the vast blueness of the planet. The Commonwealth so obsessed with expansion to every single Earth like planet, as if that would solve anything. At least the RB would save this planet from becoming another one of the Commonwealths resource farm.

"Supreme Commander." A voice over one of the terminal screen spoke towards Hauser, he got off from his thought and focused to the task at hand. On the screen was General Perez, his robotic arm holding onto the pad that send the image of his face back to Hauser.

"Yes, General." Hauser answered with a rough voice.

"Dr. Kilo has the device ready. Coordinates set, and our contact assured us they must be readying the transport ships by the time we get there. We will activate it under your command." Perez then gave a hand gesture to the soldiers within the room he was at, they started hauling a rectangular shaped device off into a cylinder which then connected to some wires. It was something that was obviously made from scratch and with whatever the RB had managed to get, nothing like tech ever seen.

Hauser nodded, he took a deep breath and looked down to the massive window of the bridge and into the planet again. "Very well General. On my mark in 5." Perez made another gesture, this one directed at Dr. Kilo nearby.

"4." The naval officers and crewmates of the RB at the bridge looked at their leader with eyes of uncertainty.

"3." The captains and officer in each of the ships making up the improvised fleet ordered their crew to hold on.

"2." The people within the bridge of The Righteous Reclamation closed their eyes and hold onto anything near them.

"1." Hauser closed his eyes.

"Now!" The words echoed through the silent bridge and as soon as those words were said, there was a light that encompassed everything. Something that didn't compare to even the combined power of 1,000 nuclear detonations. A light that was exactly what Hauser, Kilo, and the others wanted. With that, the force of a million speeds was felt as the ships began left nothing but glitters of light behind them.

As an aura of light rays glittered around the planet, as if nothing had ever been there, the entire fleet disappeared. Nothing left. Not a single living human soul on the planet's orbit. It had worked.

---

The Star of Fortune's Bridge. Captain Maralich's office.

Maralich tried his best to understand what the robot was saying, It was difficult for him to keep his eyes fully opened as the robot spoke. He nodded his head multiple times as if he understood the subject they were talking about. Something about the reactor and cement paste, whatever it was, he'd sort it out later. For now he just wanted the thing to leave.

"Sure, sure. Whatever its needed. You can talk with my assistant, Vince, he's out on the main deck." Then he thought about the music question, if he were sober enough he would've told her a straight "No" but right now he just wanted her to get out.

"Yeah yeah, music. There's my terminal over there, download whatever music files you want. Just let me rest robot." With that, Maralich stood from his desk and headed to the bathroom, not minding whatever else the robot was saying.

---

Briefing Room 5

Alas, there came another question. This one easier for Kowalski to understand and coming from a cargo and construction robot nonetheless, which made him chuckle a bit.

"Mr. Kowalski, would you like any service bots to accompany the teams during the exploration phase? Simply answer yes or no."

Kowalski scratched his chin in thought, he didn't really care much for it but what the hell. "Sure, get to the loading area of transport ship 1 ASAP robot." Kowalski answered coldy.

The Sergeant then checked his watch to notice it was already getting late. "Alright enough chit chat. I want all groups to get to their assigned ships ASAP. Hangar 5 remember. We leave in 10. Come on people, time is gold." And he meant it. With that, soldiers, engineers, geologists, botanist, and etc. left the room and had to ready for the incoming mission.

[Vodkaslavia]

The Star of Fortune's Bridge. Captain Maralich's office.

Maralich tried his best to understand what the robot was saying, It was difficult for him to keep his eyes fully opened as the robot spoke. He nodded his head multiple times as if he understood the subject they were talking about. Something about the reactor and cement paste, whatever it was, he'd sort it out later. For now he just wanted the thing to leave.

"Sure, sure. Whatever is needed. You can talk with my assistant, Vince, he's out on the main deck." Then he thought about the music question, if he were sober enough he would've told her a straight "No" but right now he just wanted her to get out.

"Yeah yeah, music. There's my terminal over there, download whatever music files you want. Just let me rest robot." With that, Maralich stood from his desk and headed to the bathroom, not minding whatever else the robot was saying.

"Yessir." Amber would watch as the captain just straight up walks away from her, her LEDs turning a brighter shade of blue as the door closed behind him. SHe'd lift up her shirt, putting out a USB cable from her waist before walking over to the terminal. She'd plug herself in, taking advantage of the "generosity" of the captain to get the music files from his computer.

After about five minutes of downloading anything he happened to have, she'd unplug herself, retracting the cord back into her side. She'd get up from his terminal and walk back out into the bridge, her scanners looking about for anyone by the name "Vince". Unable to get a facial recognition, she'd take the initiative and go straight for the cargo bridge to pick up the cement paste on her own. If AMHLR is there, he can help bring some to the Reactor.

Briefing Room 5

Alas, there came another question. This one easier for Kowalski to understand and coming from a cargo and construction robot nonetheless, which made him chuckle a bit.

"Mr. Kowalski, would you like any service bots to accompany the teams during the exploration phase? Simply answer yes or no."

Kowalski scratched his chin in thought, he didn't really care much for it but what the hell. "Sure, get to the loading area of transport ship 1 ASAP robot." Kowalski answered coldy.

The Sergeant then checked his watch to notice it was already getting late. "Alright enough chit chat. I want all groups to get to their assigned ships ASAP. Hangar 5 remember. We leave in 10. Come on people, time is gold." And he meant it. With that, soldiers, engineers, geologists, botanist, and etc. left the room and had to ready for the incoming mission.

GE-AMHLR-011172 would nod, immediately turning and walking out of the room as soon as he's given the task, not waiting for everyone else. He'd walk through the hallway, his robotic eyes scanning everything, occasionally nodding to passing colonists as they acknowledge him. He'd arrive at the hangar, looking about and scanning all the ships. They certainly weren't of the "exploration" variant, meaning that the CoS either had really good intel on the planet in terms of its atmosphere, or they were feeling very lucky.

He'd see the paper labeled TRANSPORT SHIP 1, stepping towards it as it was where he was assigned. Looking over it, it certainly wasn't brand new, with scratches and burn marks indicating that this ship has been used in the past for other missions.

[Harbertia]

Hanger 5
MRS-3DN4 was at work, coiled around a landing strut examining the exploratory vessels. The 'worry wart' persona having kicked in after hearing someone say 'oh that malfunction in the pod again'. The unit had already made it's way to Lifepod Bay 2 after that, and then had tried to find away into the reactor room but such was an area it had no access to. It would have remained examining the Lifepods but crews it seemed where already testing them elsewhere- at least in Bay 1. Running possibly catastrophes through it's processors the unit had made it's way to one of the Hangers to investigate the transports that would bring the exploratory teams down. It could just imagine it- such a jovial time cut short by faulty plating and the screams of the dying. It saw outcomes of the worse sort and it worried. It however had to withdraw from the landing strut and return to a power source of some kind again lest it cease to function and be run over by a careless loader- causing said loader to tip over and crush some Human. The thought of such caused it to pick up speed towards a place it could charge near the entry doors. It didn't want to be caught on the ground where it could be considered a tripping hazard. Before seeing it- a biped labor unit had entered. Uncontrollably MRS-3DN4 began observing as was it's practice with any new entity it encountered. Still even while doing so it felt the nagging impulse to continue towards the charging port. The worry was a strain on it's processing and thus it would have to relieve one of the woes- the easiest worry to deal with was getting charged up and thus it continued across the hanger floor.

[Vulkata II]

Geoffrey Landwall,
Quarters

As the iPod sang into tunes Geoffrey was taking a nap in his bed, completely missing out the briefing of Sergeant Kowalski's entirely leaving him none the wiser. Waking up thanks to the scolding of a fellow engineer of his Geoffrey realized just how late he was but grabbed his toolkit and walked with the person that woke him up.

"Geoffrey, you need to keep drinking more coffee if you keep sleeping like this!" His co-worker shouted at him as he lead both of them to the Main Engineering Bay for them as well as all the other personnel that were included in their branch of profession.

Screens overlooking the systems of the ship were all being checked, for now everything was in great condition though everyone in the room wasn't checking on the Landing Pods in Hangar 5 as there were other crews and personnel that were called on that occasion. Geoffrey was checking on the airlocks of the hangars, the constant traffic that came from the mentioned hangar proved to strain the scanners of the doors and proved to be a hazard as well, setting them from auto to manual and kept the doors opened until they were either reverted back to its previous state or was shut down by the current or any other computer that had a connection to the door.

[Arengin Union]

TIME SKIP TO EXPLORATION TEAM SENDOFF

The Star of Fortune.
Hangar 5. Security Sector.

The entirety of the Security Sector within the ship was hectic to say the least, with the Military Class Personnel Vessel Carriers (MCPVC) getting ready for sendoff and the loads of gear and vehicles within them getting cleared as captain authorization compliant, for the most part. The dozens of men and women assigned to the exploration began to assemble on the bay as the auxiliaries pointed them to which ship to report to. There were 3 in total, each with their respective commanding officer and the vehicles within them as well. MCPVC-2, with Markevez as the CO, MCPVC-7 with Kowalski, and MCPVC-5 with Helkins as CO. Each were loading up the team members and they were all expected to be ready for the send off, with each CO at the cockpit of each ship and the members of the security and civilian teams inside the passenger bays, the cargo bays at the very bottom rear.

Within MCPVC-7 Markevez walked around the cockpit with some apprehension, he really didn't think this was necessary, at least not sending a bunch of people into an unknown planet, the only assurance they had was that it had water, and oxygen and that was it. No wildlife database, flora, nothing! This all looked a bit shady if he were honest with himself, Maralich was an idiot but he wasn't stupid, this order for an exploration team compromised of humans instead of drones as it usually was seemed very odd. Still, it was a job to do and they had to obey the captain, at least for now.

"All systems ready?" Flight pilot Nuron asked his co-pilot.

"Yes, sir." Answered the female co-pilot.

"Is all gear loaded into the cargo hold?" Markevez intruded.

"Yes, sir. All loaded and ready to take off." Nuron answered.

Markevez didn't answer back, he simply took his seat and watched towards the window at the front into the wide, blue and green planet. His back tingled for a bit, but it was probably just the nervousness. He looked on his gear, fully fitted with the Colonial Marine rig, his M57 on the rack besides him and his helmet on the side of his seat. He looked at his arm pad, switching on into the front cameras of the MCPVC, then the sides and the rear, still people loading into the other ships, his was ready for takeoff at the very least.

Within MCPVC-5 Kowalski was getting impatient, constantly telling the pilots to have just begin takeoff. Most people had gotten into the passenger bay but a few were still not in yet. It made him sweat as he walked around the cockpit, pulling back his hair and looking back and forth out the windows of the front. This was taking longer than expected.