Star Trek: Starbase 777 - etd-shuttlebay

Shuttlebay jail for their crimes. No, not really. They were just helping prep supplies, organizing everything in their proper place. Putting those muscles to work, you know?

Mae'ra slipped into the shuttle bay after some time passed elsewhere on the ship. Having been presented with the fairly firm fact their seemed to be little for her to do, she'd elected to head to where she reckoned she could be of help. The shuttle bay she'd just slipped into. Once she familiarised herself with where things happened to be, Mae'ra headed over and simply started to help lift and carry as needed.

Well, shit. Consider them assembled and ready to rumble. Kirio, having finished loading up all the supplies, reached up to wipe sweat from their forehead. All in a day's work!

Maggie was here to join the away team.

Mae'ra looked up at the comm call and frowned a bit then. Well, time to move, she reckoned. So, as she happened to not be part of the away team, Mae'ra headed off! She elected to head for the bridge!

Eddie arrived fairly quickly to the shuttle bay from the labs.

To the surface he went! Although Ed was secretly hoping for something a little less scary than the meat moon that his roommate described this time, beggars couldn’t be choosers. Or however the saying went.

Don't mind him just sort of... appearing by the shuttle's side... yeah... "I think Starfleet ships could use a designated smoking zone..." he murmured under his breath, definitely noticing some familiar faces in the crowd while slinking around. Well, damn.'

Twelve quietly entered the shuttlebay. Med pack over one shoulder, the El-Aurian xB conducted one final mental check of what she'd packed in the pack as she walked. After she then briefly paused and looked around the room, Twelve spotted one familiar face. A engineering lieutenant she recognised. One she also seemed to remember that Elohae had encountered when he was kidnapped with the others by the Tal Shiar. She nodded briefly in greeting in their direction before she headed closer to the side of the shuttle. Once there, she waited for the time to arrive for them to depart!

Groznin entered the shuttlebay with Maiek, still completely oblivious that he was anybody other than a random guy Starfleet had recruited for this mission. He stood back in the shuttle bay with the backpack he had brought with him on the mission, filled with food items away teams commonly requested extra of. Over the years he had found that a fed away team was a happy away team, and a happy away team was more likely to be successful. The backpack included many water bottles with extra electrolytes and the very popular candy bar variety of rations, as well as a few more savory options.

Tavek stuck close to Ed, not sure exactly why. Maybe he was just comfier around the engineers than anyone else. He didn’t know anyone else here, and he’d rather stick to the people he knew. Didn’t that guy, that civilian guy, look a little familiar too? He could’ve sworn he’d seen a face like that before. But some of the memories he had made in his previous body were hazy, so he couldn’t quite put two and two together.

She had come along with Ed and any engineers that voluntaried themselves for the ground team. This had the potential to be very fun, she was thinking, when her eyes recognized someone that was not part of their usual ranks. She was pretty sure she knew where they had met before…. She hoped this mission did not go like that, and at the same time she remembered it was probably good to have someone like him around if it did.

And in entered some guy who literally just got here. He'd hoped 777 would throw something unexpected at him sooner or later, and it was a delight to discover it was sooner. "Mirum iucundum; a pleasant surprise, to be thrown into the fray so quickly."

Upon the new doctor's entrance, Groznin's heart dropped. He had had his suspicions when the name Dmitri Durovsky had appeared on the away mission roster, but he hadn't actually believed it to be him. Now, with the man standing just feet away from him there was no denying it. Groznin hadn't even known that Dmitri had become a medical professional, let alone joined starfleet. He averted his eyes away from the man and back to his PADD, now was not the time for a reunion. There was a mission to attend to.

4

Evoras arrived with the other people coming from the bridge and stood where she usually ended up standing, a little off to the side of the crowd of people forming so she saw the people present and arriving without having to turn. Some faces she was more familiar with than others, from some having been on the station longer than her to her having seen them the first time in their file when the members of the away team had been finalised all manner of officers were present. It couldn't been too long now until they were complete.

Oops, the big boss was here. Iki stuck to Eddie, shooting him a look that could either mean "looks like we'll need to behave" or "wanna see how much we can get away with?" and given Iki's general personality, it could truly go either way.

9

Nevada entered the shuttlebay and scanned the faces already present. Why did there have to be so many people? Just… in life? Once again filled with the dread of not knowing any of her coworkers, she snaked through the crowd until she reached someone else in a medical uniform: Dimitri. She gave him a stoic nod she definitely hadn’t practiced in the mirror hundreds of times before proceeding to try to blend in with the shuttlebay wall.

"How often does the starbase assist colonies like this?" he decided to ask out loud, because honestly, he might as well make some small talk to avoid the awkwardness. Maiek was left feeling a bit out of his element, knowing a bit too much but also not enough, all the while working with Starfleet for... technically only the second time ever?.. Ack. Somehow, the godawful prison felt more stable than this. Maybe he should get some tips from his colleagues back at the station...

Eddie looked to Evoras and then looked back to Iki. His look was obvious agreement, time to see how much they could get away with.

"It isn't an abnormality," Kirio chimed in helpfully. "We're mostly deployed for recoveries from disasters, so I'm glad we're.. not doing that, this time. Not that I don't like helping people—" oh, here you go, putting your foot in your mouth— "but that everyone is safe from harm. So...." They trailed off, clearing their throat. "I don't think we've ever needed a specialist, though.."

Technically, this was kind of his first time working with Starfleet too. Sure, he studied at the technical academy, and they gave him the Lt. JG. rank after that based on medical experience (not because he was the special-est boy ever, as much as he thought he was - that was just how it worked) but he'd never actually... Had a posting before. Not to mention his backwoods colony hadn't been Starfleet's priority most of the time, probably. "Of course, I'm here if there is any..." He didn't finish his sentence, glancing at someone who'd caught his eye. Very, very interesting.

2

"Well, there's a first time for everything I guess. Didn't expect myself to be the sacrificial lamb, though," ha-ha, get it. Anyways, "I'm sure it'll be fine. They need supplies and some repairs. Sounds pretty easy to me."

"Ooh, don't use the e-word, you'll curse us.." Kirio shifted from one foot to the other, crossing their arms. "Not actually, but it's a funny coincidence, no?"

4

Unbelievably correct. Last time he’d said something like that, um… Either way, Ed narrowed his eyes slightly at the dude up ahead. The other seemed to recognize him, but there wasn’t quite enough that Ed knew about him to remember. Maybe he was a little familiar, come to think of it.

"I'm speaking somewhat from my own experience," he replied, somehow finding the perfect timing to stare right back at Edgar, unblinking. "Helped in similar causes back home."

1

Iki was glad that Eddie was agreeing. Again, unclear if they were on the same page, but Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum would probably get on the same page pretty quickly anyhow. "I can name at least one mission the crew of the Starbase went on that employed a civilian expert. Well- presumed civilian expert." And actually, Maiek would have been quite familiar with that particular mission, but of course, Iki couldn't know that.

7

Groznin looked around the room, taking note of everyone in attendance, making only the briefest of eye contact with Dmitri. "I believe almost everybody to be here, and yes, let us avoid using the word "Easy" when it comes to away missions." He'd been around long enough to see even the simplest of missions go sideways in ways you could never expect.

"Do tell?" he was curious, okay? This was curiosity. Not snooping.

Joining the group in the shuttle bay, Shocei found a convent place to stand out of the way. She carried a tool case and belt over her shoulder, expecting to do some kind of repair work on this one.

"Didn't mean for everybody to jump on you for saying that," Kirio mumbled apologetically. It'd probably be fine, right?

He shivered at the stare from Maiek, eyes wide as he looked the fuck away before the dude could see him as a threat, like eye contact with a wolf. Okay, yep, this guy was… familiar.

Iki had to resist the urge to call the mission easy just to spite some superstitious fools. "I am unsure of the amount of information that is public knowledge, so I cannot state more than what I have. But Starfleet's use of civilian knowledge when relevant is as old as the Fleet itself." Iki may have been a smartass, but they weren't a "sharing military secrets to make a point" kind of smartass. "In comparison to what that team went through however, this mission should be quite.... easy." Okay, urge not resisted. It was just a little too- well, a little too easy.

He wasn't as subtle as Groznin was; his line of sight could burn a hole in Gruznin's head. Lots of staring going on in the shuttle bay today. "Hopefully I can be of some help, anyway," he said, redirecting his attention to Iki.

Twelve, though she wasn't one who tended to do so, smiled ever so slightly at the Ensigns observation. While in some ways she elected to respect superstitions other people believed in as it was conducive to efficient function when one interacted with patients, she also lacked evidence to prove superstitions were true. They were just things people elected to not do for some reason she'd not yet managed to wrap her head around. At least, she believed as much, so she smirked. Part from that, part from the fact that a ensign happened to have just done that. However intentionally or unintentionally. The smile or well, smirk passed swiftly, replaced by calm concentration though. While nobody at present needed medical attention, it paid to be prepared. So, she checked her med kit again, assurred herself all was prepared.

Groznin averted his eyes from Dmitri and turned them to face Iki with a stern face. There were only 2 ensigns here, and a good spread otherwise, if not a little heavy on Lieutenant Junior Grades, but he would hold back judgement until they were on the planet. The one ensign, the cardassian, seemed like they could be trouble. Between them, the civilian, the statements that the mission would be easy, and Dmitri's sudden appearance, Groz had a sinking feeling about the success of the mission.

Tsk-tsk. Alright, keep your little secrets, science ensign. Maiek valiantly resisted the urge to lean against the Starfleet's shuttle as he spoke, "Can't always know for sure, but you have to do what you have to do with the hand you're dealt with. Be it an easy one or not." He apparently was also not above messing with some superstitions. Which... hm!

If there were anything in the universe that would make Evoras believe in the concept of jinxing it, the away missions on 777 would be it, alas believe in it she did not. "Regardless of what awaits us, I expect everyone to do their best. A presumably simple mission is no excuse to slack and should complications arise I trust they will be dealt with." She scanned the people present, catching the eyes of all that would meet her gaze. Once that was done she turned to face Maiek. "Before we proceed any further, is there anything you would like to let everyone know in regards to how they should conduct themselves to best avoid offence or conflict?"

Wrong. They were all wrong. This was going to be the most baller mission ever ventured upon by a Starfleet officer. He was going to do GREAT. They would all get promoted immediately after the mission. That's how good they would do. Dmitri would get DOUBLE promoted. Lieutenant commander speedrun. "Yes - any customs or taboos we should know about?"

10

Maggie was blankly looking at the utter state of this shuttle bay, and she thought she needed therapy.

Iki wasn't catching anyone's eyes, just let out a small "heard" at Evoras' command and then settled to look at the civilian expert, noting with some satisfaction that he clearly also thought the superstitions were at least a little bit stupid.

God, the vibes in here were bad. Like, capital B, Bad. Rancid, even. That was too dramatic, maybe. Either way, shit felt off. Ed tucked another stray curl behind his ear, twisting it to have something to fidget with as the others talked, hoping they could get moving soon and not stay crammed in the shuttle for that long.

4

"No? Not really," he full-on shrugged as his attention shifted to Evoras. "They don't expect you to come in and immediately get their way of life, and I can assure there've been no reports of some strict taboos everyone needs to know about before coming in. So, just get in, do your job, and get out, all the while being respectful. If something's amiss they'll politely let you know, I'm sure of that."

"Sounds reasonable." He liked that person's long hair. That was completely unrelated to the mission, so he didn't say it, but he thought it. If long hair didn't transform his scalp into grease central, maybe he'd try it out, too.

Iki briefly wondered what the fuck Maiek was doing here if the colonists were literally nice, and then decided that was probably the kind of question people tended to prefer them to keep to themself. Especially since he was there already anyway, them asking him really wouldn't change anything about the mission except genuinely upset some people. They'd toed the line enough with their mockery of people's superstitions, at least for now.

"If they're so polite why is he here?" Eddie whispered to Iki saying out loud the same thing they were thinking. But Eddie made the mistake of speaking a tiny bit too loud that the people immediately near him could hear.

Iki elbowed Eddie, but also looked at him while moving their head pointedly which clearly communicated "that's what I was thinking!!!" to their friend.

"Because sending someone who understands is a show of good faith, and some of the people might choose to speak to me instead of any officer here, which includes the heads of the village - something that was, actually, included in your mission brief, was it not?" came the helpful reply, and oh, no. "I suggest you learn to whisper, ensign. Most of the species present here have the ever so slightly superior hearing."

Basic politeness and respect for other cultures was something a group of starfleet officers better have learned enough about in their time at whichever education facility they had attended, still she had some people she would be trying to keep and eye on. She nodded at Maiek, before raising an eyebrow and looking very pointedly at the two science Ensigns. "We are not so short on resources that we need to operate at the bare minimum. It is better to be reasonably overprepared."

Maggie hummed as she looked at her science crew, she didn’t say it since her boss seemed to think it was kind of silly judging by the reaction, but she was definitely thinking similar things. “Okay! That all makes sense!”

Jayri stood behind the cluster, words and sounds passing into her mind to little visible reaction beyond a faint, neutral smile, as her indifferent gaze lazily shifted between faces when they spoke. She recognized a few, and knew the names of a handful, but she didn't think much beyond that. She had a job to do, and nothing more. The worst thing she could do, on a mission like this, was stand out. Lest she overreach, again.

At some point, the sound of the shuttle's opening doors cut through the human noise.

He made his way to and through the door.

Maggie walked after him.

Garcia was no stranger to religious beliefs, thanks to her family roots, and even upheld some traditions herself, which is why she was not particularly nervous about interacting with the colonists, if she ever did during this. She stepped in, her smile still on, which she offered encouragingly to the others from her division.

Groznin entered the shuttle as well, but tried to stay away from Dmitri. He did not have time for this right now.

Having accidentally tuned out most of everything else besides the important stuff Mr. Expert was saying, Kirio blinked themself back to focus. Away we go!

Holyfuckgetthefuckintheshuttlenow. And so he did.

After being put in his place by Maiek and Evoras Eddie entered the shuttle trying not to make eye contact with his boss.

After remembering that he can't actually smoke in the shuttlebay, Maiek had to put the box back into his pocket with a weary sigh. Well. Fine. It'll have to wait until the landing, he supposed... And with that, he made his way into the shuttle as well.

Iki followed after Eddie and Maiek, optimistic this would be a simple mission and they'd be home again soon. They were immune to vibes. #justvulcanthings (edited)

5

After ducking out to find something she forgot (impressive, as she seemed to have a whole tool kit on her) Shocei returned to find a shuttle. Ideally the one with other engineers, but her familiarity started and ended with yellow uniforms. It’s not like ops would be that poor company. Probably.

Paco and Maya played a bout of rock paper scissors to see which one of the two would be part of the away team. Needless to say, Paco won best of 7. The anthropologist walked in with a smile as he read through his PADD to get a fuller picture of what they would be dealing with. (edited)

And with that, the shuttle was boarded and it was off...