Shuttlebay ( Open )

[science_blues]

The shuttlebay was of a predictably reversed layout from that to which Spock was accustomed. The shift was a simple one, however, and she acclimated to it almost immediately. It took only a brief few moments before Spock located an acceptable shuttle and began the forms required. They were completed expediently and Spock assigned the two Yeoman on duty to the task of checking the supplies. As they did so, Spock moved to the bay console and checked the sensor alignments of the craft.

She did not need to glance at the chronometer to know the time. She had approximately 1.32 hours before the remainder of the team were required to be present. Ideally the checks she was engaged in would only occupy 35% of that time period, leaving the remainder for open study of the scientific and linguistic data the Enterprise had assembled.

Comments

[science-blues.livejournal.com]

"Not to my knowledge," Spock replied, which was to say: no.

"Repeatedly, it has been related to me that there is a hostile presence within an unreasonable range of the Enterprise. Though they are currently disabled, I felt that overt reliance on the transporter would be unwise.

"If you feel differently," Spock continued placidly, "The transporter is available and it is your prerogative, as the commanding officer of this mission, to select it if you choose."


(OOC - No worries. Since there shouldn't be anything particularly dramatic about this mission, we should be able to get through it pretty quickly.)

[original-fine.livejournal.com]

Jim waved a hand. "No, I was just wondering. You have a point--the transporter's caused a lot of havoc lately. You seem to have everything arranged."

It was a strange situation. A disparate group. But the mission itself was quite simple, and Jim was glad just to be doing something again.

[headnursechapel.livejournal.com]

Christine smiled in greeting as the rest of the landing party trickled in. She didn't know the security officers, but it was a pleasant surprise to see her own Captain Kirk walk in. Ann was right behind him, and Christine nodded to her, pleased that she'd been chosen to join the mission.

[anna-kowalski.livejournal.com]

Anna decided to introduce herself to nurse Chapel while Captain Kirk was talking to Commander Spock. "Hi. Anna Kowalski," she said, holding out her hand.

[just-uhura.livejournal.com]

As she hurried into the transporter room, Nyota noted that she was one of the last people to arrive. Normally she would have made sure to be one of the first, especially considering who the Science Officer on this mission wa.s It was foolish, she told herself, to be so concerned with impressing this Spock as she had been with her own. But still she couldn't help feel slight disappointment that the first two meetings with this female version of the Vulcan she knew were marred by her slight unprofessionalism.

"Anna," she greeted with a rushed smile, tucking her PADD beneath her arm and giving the group a nod in greeting.

[original-fine.livejournal.com]

Jim smiled, shaking Anna's hand. "Good to have you," he said, and looked up as Uhura arrived.

"Lieutenant," he acknowledged, with his habitual blend of casual professionalism. "Looks like we're all here. Uhura, I'm interested in how much progress has been made deciphering their language. How long do you think calibration of the universal translators will take?"

[ann-mulhall.livejournal.com]

She didn't interrupt the captain, but Ann was occupied with examining the female Spock. Not overtly, and not rudely staring, but it was her first opportunity since meeting the younger captain to meet a double. And the comparison was fascinating. Uncanny and clearly a genetic goldmine. Seemingly a perfect opportunity to observe both the nature-nurture question and gender normatives.

But their mission was of another nature, and Ann schooled her thoughts to what little they knew about this planet.

[just-uhura.livejournal.com]

"It's difficult to say," Nyota admitted with a heavy sigh, once again holding her PADD out before her to reread the notes she had made. Despite her frustration that she had been able to make limited progress with the language, which she was was unreasonable since she had so little to compare it with, she felt that warm buzz of excitement at something new to figure out and unravel. When was the last time she had a professional challenge such as this?

"I've got little comparison, and of course this is something brand new. But enough was deciphered to reciprocate the greeting. I'm hoping that, if willing, interact with this species will allow us to better grasp the language. The intonations, the way they speak seems to me as if they rely almost as much on body language as they do on the spoken word." Poetry in motion. She was looking forward to seeing if her hypothesis was correct.

[original-fine.livejournal.com]

"We'll make extra sure our tricorders are gathering visual as well as aural data," Jim said. By "our" he obviously meant "everyone who's not the captain." "If you've got any data on the body language, you can brief us in the shuttle. Any questions?"

He was excited. Routine, perhaps, but this wasn't just a new planet--it was a new planet in a new universe, with a team drawn from three different dimensions.

[headnursechapel.livejournal.com]

Christine shook her head, and the rest of the party followed suit in indicating that they had no further questions. There was an indefinable feeling of anticipation in the air as they filed into the shuttle and took their seats, but she couldn't bring herself to share it. Between trying to get used to the idea that the newest Spock on board was a woman, and her lingering uneasiness at leaving De again so soon - despite reassurances that he would be fine - Christine was feeling distracted.

She settled into her seat and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly in an attempt to clear her mind and focus on the mission.

[science-blues.livejournal.com]

The flight algorithms booted quickly and the controls responded to the sequence immediately. As Spock initialized the bay protocol, she paused to regard the others in the shuttle. Their restraints were in place, as she would have expected, and Spock returned her attention to the console. The bay pressure normalized and the shuttle idled as the bay doors parted.

"On your mark, Captain Kirk," Spock stated evenly. On his order, the transport could begin. "Flight time should be approximately five minutes, forty three seconds upon departure."

[original-fine.livejournal.com]

"Carry on, Mr. Spock."

Everyone was settled into their seats, a neat little team despite the fact they were drawn from different dimensions. How was it, Jim wondered, that the pieces could fit when the game should have been entirely different?

The shuttle slid through the bay doors, and Jim thrilled as always to the purely psychological sensation of space surrounding them, the scant protection of the tiny shuttle highlighting the silent emptiness of it. But it was neither. The universe teemed with life, if you knew how to find it. And here they were, Kirk and Spock and crew. Not his Spock, not really his crew, but it still felt right somehow.

The planet loomed before them, larger and more purple as they descended, and Jim felt that thrill of new discovery rising in himself at the same rate.

[science-blues.livejournal.com]

As the planet leveled on the view screen, the horizon of the world curving diagonally at an approximated angle of 28.8 degrees, Spock turned her full attention to the instrument panel before her. The intended trajectory mapped itself out in a series of numerals and coordinates and Spock spoke as she ran and reran the landing calculations that would permit them to set down on the surface.

"The scientific report of this world classes it as M, habitable and sustaining to carbon based life," Spock explained redundantly. "We will be landing at the apex of a coastal inlet, precisely 1.367 miles from the origin of the native signal."

Three of the sensors trilled in unison as they approached in a curve against the atmosphere. The ship shook slightly, as the intertial dampeners activated, and then everything was relatively smooth.

"The trek will require a brief foray through the dense ecological barrier of m3-137q4, an environment presumably classified as a rain forest." Spock would not disclaim this informal relation of data with the obvious fact that they'd not been studying the native lifeforms long enough to definitively classify anything. Surely, that also, was implied. "It would be prudent to mind your step so as not to damage yourself, one another, or any native life."

The shuttle touched down easily and Spock slowly disengaged the controls, deactivating and locking the systems in grey mode.

"Are there any queries?"

[anna-kowalski.livejournal.com]

Both Anna and Lieutenant Hamilton double - checked their PADDs and quickly reviewed the last of the little data the team had about the planet before they left the shuttle. It was almost all scientific in nature - basic geological, climate, and atmospheric readings. There was almost nothing about the natives themselves, except that they were a fairly advanced culture, communicated through song, and were receptive to a Federation presence.

Anna didn't particularily like the lack of real information, but the natives seemed peaceful and, after all, the purpose of this mission was to get more information.

Hamilton gave a little shrug, indicating he couldn't think of anything to ask.

"I can't think of anything right now," she answered Commander Spock. This was definitely a learn as you go situation.

Description

[npc-aliens.livejournal.com]

Outside the shuttle was a virtual paradise. The sky was a soft lavender in color, almost blue, and the water reflected that as it lapped against the white sands of the beach that had been the one spot clear enough to land on. It was very warm outside the controlled environment of the shuttle, but not over bearing. A deep breath brought the scent of green things and sand, but surprisingly not salt. The scans of the planet had indicated that every bit of their oceans were fresh water, not salt.

The rainforest was something similar to what might have been found on Earth, except... bigger. The trees were the size of redwoods, taking multiple people to get around it with their arms touching. Vines hung down with leaves as big as umbrellas, emerald with veins of pink. Flowers, big as a beachballs, spread out and hung in arrays of colors that were like a postcard.

The trunks of the trees were creamy white, and the wind was gentle. The air was very humid though, making the warmth a little bit worse. The sounds of unknown animals called back and forth to each other, evidently not disturbed by the shuttles arrival.

Re: Description

[headnursechapel.livejournal.com]

No one else had any questions either, and Spock pressed the button to open the back hatch. The security officers went first, not drawing their phasers but alert and ready to pull them out at any sign of danger. When they were assured that it was safe, Anna turned back and nodded to the rest of the landing party, indicating that it was safe to follow.

Christine walked out onto the beach with the rest, taking in a deep breath of the fresh air. The lavender sky and water, combined with the unexpected sweet smell of the waves, made everything seem just a little off compared to what she was used to. But she couldn't deny that it was beautiful.

She couldn't resist kicking playfully at the sand, wishing for a moment that she'd worn something other than boots. Hopefully they'd get a chance to come back to the beach at some point before they left this planet.

"Which way?" she asked brightly. Already, the beautiful landscape and fresh air were cheering her spirits.

[[OOC: Guys, just fyi you all are free to godmod me as you please in order to keep the story moving - including giving actions and dialogue to Christine. I hope no one else minds having their characters pushed around a bit!]]

Re: Description

[original-fine.livejournal.com]

Ann checked her tricorder. "Life signs show this way," she said, and Jim strode off in the direction indicated, not one to let anyone take point (and the potential danger) in his stead and expecting everyone to fall in line behind him. The forest was not so dense here by the shore that they couldn't pass more or less unhindered--the wide canopies of the redwood-like tress shaded the forest floor such that ferns and flowers carpeted but did not present a barrier.

If the natives proved amicable, Jim could definitely see leave being granted.

"Take readings of everything," he said. "You know the drill. Plant life, animal life, and other readings you pick up. We'll want a thorough preliminary report for Starfleet, so they know what to send."

[anna-kowalski.livejournal.com]

Anna and Lieutenant Hamilton followed after Captain Kirk. Anna scanned the strange but definitely beautiful forest with her tricorder while Hamilton kept an eye out for any danger as the party walked in the direction indicated by Lieutenant Commander Mulhall.

(OOC - Feel free to godmode Anna and Hamilton if needed, also.)

[npc-aliens.livejournal.com]

The wilderness seemed completely untouched by any hand but nature, contradicting their readings that there was indeed someone down here as well as the communications they had received. A creature went past them, seemingly unconcerned about something new in its territory despite its massive size. It was about the size of a rhino, covered in thick shaggy fur that was a deep moss green and brown, walking on all fours. Eye stalks turned, peering at them - all four stalks - before it continued to lumber along. Despite its clunky size, it moved gracefully through the trees.

[ann-mulhall.livejournal.com]

Ann tuned her tricorder on it as best as he could as it slid past them. As usual, her brain attempted to make various comparisons to creatures, both Terran and alien, she knew already--but her training let her dismiss them and focus on what was before her.

Unfortunately, it was going in the wrong direction. Kirk caught her eye as she glanced back towards the direction they were headed and shook his head.

"Plenty of time," he said. "It'll still be here."

It was all right. She had her preliminary readings, and the vid. She followed the group, proceeding at a brisk pace towards the readings they'd picked up from orbit.

[original-fine.livejournal.com]

The trip was fairly uneventful; the tricorder readings remained steady, and the weather and surroundings were pleasant. So much so, Jim could almost forget about everything else he was worried about: Spock, the Narada, how Jim was holding up, Tina... The air was slightly humid, but not oppressively so (or at least, not yet), and the flora was fascinating. Possibly dangerous, of course, as anything potentially was. But thus far, nothing had happened to give any indication that the planet was other than it seemed: mostly untouched and mostly friendly.

Which was highly unusual, in Jim's experience. Not that he expected hostility. Merely that he had come to anticipate the unexpected.

The trek was a little over a mile, and they made good time. The signs of habitation were, at first, difficult to discern. But once Chapel pointed out something in the trees, they soon were all marking evidence that there were structures up there, blending in naturally with their surroundings but not made by the hand of nature at all.

It only remained to make contact, something Jim hoped Uhura would be helpful with.

Communication that relied on body language, he thought he could handle unless he got too excited. Communication based on pitch was... probably something else entirely.

[npc-aliens.livejournal.com]

(OOC: Course I had this all typed up at home and forgot it! Oh well...)

Music... that was one of the first things they heard as they got close. It blended sweetly into the sounds of nature, as if celebrating it. The tinkle of metal, the sounds of echoing voices that had no words, only notes contained within.

Around the next bend of trees, they came to a set of gates. The gates were as intricate as iron scroll work, all done in wooden vines that were still living as evidenced by the massive green leaves that were a definite part of the decor. They were massive, but not very defensive, meaning they must have been there for decoration and a marker. With closer notice, a barely distinguishable wall spread out to either side of the gate. Could it enclose the entire village?

Above the gates, in well hidden structures, two figures moved from their watch posts and disappeared into the village. There were strange creatures outside their gates.

[science-blues.livejournal.com]

Spock watched the perimeter of the settlement with keen eyes. Various non-humanoid figures moved along the walls, vanished behind flora, and reappeared in the form of indistinguishable motion. They were well suited for this environment, blended quiet sufficiently with the local foliage.

"Fascinating," Spock commented as the decorative gates parted and a rhythmic composition, likely generated without the filter of instrumentation, issued forth through the space. It was similar in timber and cadence to that which had greeted them. With a short look at the native Lieutenant Uhura, who inclined her head to both James Kirk and herself, the group progressed forward through the gates.

[original-fine.livejournal.com]

Jim was more or less in the lead, but Spock flanked him to the point where they almost stepped forward together. It was pleasantly familiar but also a little astonishing, and it warmed him somewhat.

But he looked to Uhura as they crossed into what Jim could only assume should be termed their village and were confronted with the creatures themselves. They moved gracefully, the sheen on their skin immediately termed "slimy" by Jim's human instincts but rejected by his brain as being likely inaccurate.

Uhura had prepared a short greeting, which she offered at Jim's indication. He watched them for signs that they were understood, his instincts on high alert out of long practice rather than immediate signs of danger.

[npc-aliens.livejournal.com]

Just within the gates were two large creatures, about the size of a small horse. Their stance was clearly defensive, as were the weapons held in their hands that were curved and efficient looking. The creatures, while clearly not humanoid, were surprisingly not totally unfamiliar to the eye. They resembled Terran tree frogs, but on a far more massive scale. Their bodies were slender, nearly delicate looking despite their size, but their bulk fit into the size of the rainforest all around them.

They had the strong hind legs of a frog, but the front legs and hands that gripped a blade in either were definitely meant for more then just hopping around. Along either side of their body, were tentacles, about five feet long each, that were held at their sides like wings. Their skin held a sheen to it, and looked almost like metal itself as if they were covered in liquid armor. Bright red eyes watched the approaching party carefully.

At Uhura's greeting, the two creatures looked at each one, then gave what could only be described as a chortle back. Sacs at their throats expanded and contracted rapidly, not to any bulbous size but noticeably.

There was a higher series of notes from behind the two frog-like creatures, and they parted. It was clear when sizing up the first two with the new ones that the first two were guards of some variety. The new creatures, three of them, were smaller in size and came in a much different style.

They had garments that wrapped around them almost like complicated shawls, completely unbinding and possibly just ornamental. The cloth matched their skin colors in an eye-pleasing combination, and each frog had a very different kind of skin. It was textured differently in each as much as the color was different. The one on the far right had skin that resembled the bark of the trees that they had passed coming in, white-creamy. The one on the far left had a leaf-pattern, so real that it looked like the wind would disturb the pattern. The one in the middle, a little larger, had skin that resembled the sky at night - black with spots of white in varying sizes.

It was that one that stepped forward, and speaking to them as a group, let out a series of notes that rapidly turned itself into a song. It was like musical beat-boxing, as some of the notes were clearly not just singing but clicking, softer and higher, sharper and looser, giving it a beat and more depth. It was happy-sounding, matching the greeting they had been given but longer.