OOC Chat 1: Calculating navigational path
Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2021 12:48 am
The whole ship was abuzz with excitement and needless energy. Everyone had seemed to be checking their watches. Precious little work was getting done. It had been her cue to head to her quarters and get changed. She at least needed to put in an appearance.
It would need to be brief so she didn't drag down the mood.
The party in the lower decks was soon to begin and everyone was just waiting for the CO to declare the day over. Eric would be using the speakers to give an end of year address any minute now. Nearly everyone would then be off duty. A skeleton crew and some infantry volunteers would keep things working and act as security, but it would probably be the 2nd of January before most were sober and calm enough to return to return to their jobs. It didn't matter much at least. They were currently moving to dock with the giant jumpship that would take them on their first leg of the journey toward Rasalhague space. The incredibly large Overlord dropship was tiny compared to its vastness. Even if she opened the shutter on her port window she couldn't see where the other dropships in the Angel's little fleet would be docked to it. However, there was a certain familiarity in the process that she found comforting. It was one of the few aspects of space travel she enjoyed.
The loneliness being amplified and the claustrophobic atmosphere were not. They'd all be stuck in the vessel like sardines for weeks to come. In time they'd deploy, and she'd relish that and how busy she'd then be. She'd feel alive again. Be able to breathe in non-recycled air... assuming the world wasn't more toxic than reports suggested. Regardless, it'd be better than being stuck in the cold corridors and tight rooms of the Angels' Descent seemingly forever. Was this how a prisoner felt? She often wondered about that. Maybe, with her job, it was more how a prison warden felt.
That was how nearly everyone saw her.
With a sigh she slipped on the old jersey of what had been her local soccer team. It and the shorts still fit, though it was a little tighter than she remembered. That was fine. She'd not be in them long.
The public announcement system crackled into life before there was a chiming noise. She stood up to listen from hunting for her jacket.
'--hem---it's once...-again... Tessa, are you sure this thing is working?'
Eric's uncertain voice sounded in the room from the speakers down the corridor outside. She had to smile. The system had been just as patchy at the start of his address last year too.
'Someone just said the sound has been adjusted. Let's try this once more. Ahem, it's once again my pleasure to congratulate each and every one of you on surviving another year of mercenary life. You all know this work, this job, ain't easy, but here we all are about to face the new and unknown again. I don't want to look back however, but ahead. The Obsidian Angels have a new contract that we're en route to, and it's going to involve more action than we usually see. You'll each need to be prepared and ready by the time we touch down, me included.'
There was a pause.
'But that's months away. We have the joooys of interstellar travel to look forward to until then. I can't fix that. However, I can fix tonight. In just under four hours it will be midnight, by the Terran calendar, and the start of 3050. We don't get to celebrate much, but as usual we're going to celebrate this. You've all fought hard this last year and we've gone from strength to strength. There have been setbacks and, yes, we've had to mourn.'
Another pause. Come on Eric. Happy speech. Get it together.
"However! We're not ones to be dragged down by our pasts, are we? We're going to blaze the way to a new and brighter future."
She scoffed a bit there. That had been cheesy.
'That future starts soon and, with any luck, we're all going to be richer by this time next year. Maybe more famous. Enough that some of you might even finally retire. Yeah, yeah, maybe me too. We'll see. Anyway, I'll get to the point. From the end of this message, anyone who isn't on new year's duty assignment is free to enjoy themselves. You'll be on leave until mid-day on the 2nd. That means a lay in to get over any drinking tomorrow, to be clear. So, anyway, come to the party that Captain Kaala is kicking off in thirty minutes or otherwise have fun. Thank you for your efforts this year and for bravely putting yourselves in harm's way or supporting those that do. Each and every one of you is invaluable to our independence and success in this mad old universe. Stay safe, have fun, don't damage Miss-err-Senior Captain Giannou's ship... and happy new year. This is Major Voelker, Vowel, signing off.'
With the message done she resumed putting on her outfit for the fancy dress. What a frivolous idea. Typical Kaala. She forced away a grin. Couldn't be seen to be enjoying it.
The PA system then crackled to life again.
'AND DON'T FORGET TO DRESS UP! Drinks are on the Major everyone! WOO!'
That voice was definitely not Eric's. Even more typical Kaala. Monique shook her head as she moved to check herself in the mirror.
"Another year another C-Bill huh?" She took a deep breath only to slide a hand through her hair and to flick away her long braid. "At least there will be something to drink tonight."
----
Battletech: Planet's Fall is now open for character submissions and out of character chatter.
It would need to be brief so she didn't drag down the mood.
The party in the lower decks was soon to begin and everyone was just waiting for the CO to declare the day over. Eric would be using the speakers to give an end of year address any minute now. Nearly everyone would then be off duty. A skeleton crew and some infantry volunteers would keep things working and act as security, but it would probably be the 2nd of January before most were sober and calm enough to return to return to their jobs. It didn't matter much at least. They were currently moving to dock with the giant jumpship that would take them on their first leg of the journey toward Rasalhague space. The incredibly large Overlord dropship was tiny compared to its vastness. Even if she opened the shutter on her port window she couldn't see where the other dropships in the Angel's little fleet would be docked to it. However, there was a certain familiarity in the process that she found comforting. It was one of the few aspects of space travel she enjoyed.
The loneliness being amplified and the claustrophobic atmosphere were not. They'd all be stuck in the vessel like sardines for weeks to come. In time they'd deploy, and she'd relish that and how busy she'd then be. She'd feel alive again. Be able to breathe in non-recycled air... assuming the world wasn't more toxic than reports suggested. Regardless, it'd be better than being stuck in the cold corridors and tight rooms of the Angels' Descent seemingly forever. Was this how a prisoner felt? She often wondered about that. Maybe, with her job, it was more how a prison warden felt.
That was how nearly everyone saw her.
With a sigh she slipped on the old jersey of what had been her local soccer team. It and the shorts still fit, though it was a little tighter than she remembered. That was fine. She'd not be in them long.
The public announcement system crackled into life before there was a chiming noise. She stood up to listen from hunting for her jacket.
'--hem---it's once...-again... Tessa, are you sure this thing is working?'
Eric's uncertain voice sounded in the room from the speakers down the corridor outside. She had to smile. The system had been just as patchy at the start of his address last year too.
'Someone just said the sound has been adjusted. Let's try this once more. Ahem, it's once again my pleasure to congratulate each and every one of you on surviving another year of mercenary life. You all know this work, this job, ain't easy, but here we all are about to face the new and unknown again. I don't want to look back however, but ahead. The Obsidian Angels have a new contract that we're en route to, and it's going to involve more action than we usually see. You'll each need to be prepared and ready by the time we touch down, me included.'
There was a pause.
'But that's months away. We have the joooys of interstellar travel to look forward to until then. I can't fix that. However, I can fix tonight. In just under four hours it will be midnight, by the Terran calendar, and the start of 3050. We don't get to celebrate much, but as usual we're going to celebrate this. You've all fought hard this last year and we've gone from strength to strength. There have been setbacks and, yes, we've had to mourn.'
Another pause. Come on Eric. Happy speech. Get it together.
"However! We're not ones to be dragged down by our pasts, are we? We're going to blaze the way to a new and brighter future."
She scoffed a bit there. That had been cheesy.
'That future starts soon and, with any luck, we're all going to be richer by this time next year. Maybe more famous. Enough that some of you might even finally retire. Yeah, yeah, maybe me too. We'll see. Anyway, I'll get to the point. From the end of this message, anyone who isn't on new year's duty assignment is free to enjoy themselves. You'll be on leave until mid-day on the 2nd. That means a lay in to get over any drinking tomorrow, to be clear. So, anyway, come to the party that Captain Kaala is kicking off in thirty minutes or otherwise have fun. Thank you for your efforts this year and for bravely putting yourselves in harm's way or supporting those that do. Each and every one of you is invaluable to our independence and success in this mad old universe. Stay safe, have fun, don't damage Miss-err-Senior Captain Giannou's ship... and happy new year. This is Major Voelker, Vowel, signing off.'
With the message done she resumed putting on her outfit for the fancy dress. What a frivolous idea. Typical Kaala. She forced away a grin. Couldn't be seen to be enjoying it.
The PA system then crackled to life again.
'AND DON'T FORGET TO DRESS UP! Drinks are on the Major everyone! WOO!'
That voice was definitely not Eric's. Even more typical Kaala. Monique shook her head as she moved to check herself in the mirror.
"Another year another C-Bill huh?" She took a deep breath only to slide a hand through her hair and to flick away her long braid. "At least there will be something to drink tonight."
----
Battletech: Planet's Fall is now open for character submissions and out of character chatter.
