#1: Arrival at Withera

[Poptart]

Yeru Manaka paced across the Cafeteria of the Exodus of Illiya restlessly. He wasn't usually the sort to grow nervous about upcoming events, but this was different. This was the introduction of a new staff, in a new system, under a new command style, and there was more going on that that. He glanced surreptitiously across the room at his best friend and lover, Sinne Korekelu, who just happened to be the Captain of the Exodus of Illiya.
Outwardly, Sinne showed no signs of trepidation at the upcoming orientation, but Yeru knew better. After living two years with the man, he felt it was safe to say that Sinne was just as nervous as he was. Yeru allowed a small smile to play across his features as he watched the other man.
"What are you grinning at?" Sinne asked, half-amused, half-defensive.
"Not grinning. Smirking." Yeru corrected gently.
Sinne rolled his eyes, sighed, and looked at the nearby chronometer. "Well, best to get this over with quickly," He said and pushed away from the table. "If they aren't assembled by now I'll have their hides."
"I do not see how removing the skin from their bodies would help our mission any, Captain." Illy, the ships AI stated.
"Thanks for that disturbing mental image, Illy." Sinne said sarcastically.
"You are most welcome, Captain." Illy replied cheekily.
"Smart-ass computer." Sinne muttered, then glared at a nearby wall. "Not a word, Illy."
Yeru rolled his eyes and followed the Captain from the Cafeteria to the RecDeck, where the rest of Sinne's crew, and his group of scientists, were waiting to be briefed.

[Damsel Of Distress]

On said RecDeck, young Jini Silica was practically vibrating with excitement. It was his first actual journey more than a few parsecs from home, and he was excited. He seemed to be the only one of the crew to feel anything more than fear, though. The rest seemed inclined to sit quietly and engage in nervous habits like lip-biting and eye-contact-avoidance. And the Geeks, (no offense to them by the name, it was the just the Common way to speak of their like), gathered together in one massive congregation that dared anyone, even the Captain himself, to intrude on their conversation.

[Clary]

Mirisa Todoki pulled back from the group of Geeks slowly, easing herself away so that no one noticed the passage, and allowed herself a slow, sweeping view of the room. Her fellow Geeks, all grand-total Six of them, were clustered around in a tangle of jargon and technobabble that she, quite frankly, didn't feel like listening to until she absolutely had to. Her eyes only landed on them for long enough to identify them and move on. The rest of the people in the room were the ships crew, eleven men and women trained to make the Exodus of Illiya run smoothly and perfectly. For the most part they all seemed to fit the bill for Standard Crew, stiff looking, nervous trepidation at meeting their commanding officer. All except one young man, who couldn't have been more than twenty - if that. She didn't allow her outward expression to change, but she frowned inwardly. He looked a bit like trouble. She was just about to ease herself back into the Geekfest when the double-doors at the front of the room swung open. Her gaze shifted instantly from her peers to the two men standing in the doorway.
One she dismissed from mind almost immediately, the younger, albiet taller, of the two. Captain Korekelu, she thought distastefully. She hoped to have little to do with him beyond the confines of this orientation and the neccessary reports she would undoubtedly have to make. The other was more interesting, and much safer to take to mind. Her immediate superior, and the only member of the Geek-Squad (aka Scientific Community) who had higher clearance and quote-unquote 'rank' that she did, Doctor Yeru Manaka, PhD. He didn't look as foreboding as some of the rumors had said, but then the old addage 'never judge a book by its cover' was always the philosophy she'd lived by. She settled back into a nearby chair as the two men walked to the front of the room.

[Aozora-Chan]

Talni Farr reached up to push her glasses up forgetting that they were no longer there and were contacts. She shook her head at herself and turned the page in her book. It was a book about stars, some things she felt she would need to look at and memorize for some later help and experiments. Her golden hair swung down in her eyes and she shook her head to get it back behind her ear.
It didn't coroporate so she reached up and brushed it back. She could here the faint ticking of her watch and realized that she was close to having to pay attention to something. Anytime she could actually here the watch ticking meant that something important was about to happen. She glanced up at the recdeck door and took a deep breath, almost a gasp, but not quite. She could be in trouble now,she still sat crosslegged on the floor against a wall, and had a book open on her lap. Now she sat up straighter and tried to look presentable for her higher-ranking officers.

[Poptart]

Sinne looked at the stiff-backed crewmen and nodded in satisfaction. They were doing as they'd been trained to do, and they were doing it well. His eyes glided past them and to the grouping of Gee- Scientists. Most had at least attempted to sit in the chairs and pay attention. He tried to restain himself from glaring at them too harshly, but found himself failing miserably. Especially the one at the back, who hadn't attempted anything of the sort.
"One of yours?" He murmured quietly Yeru, inclining his head toward the wayward woman.
"I'll talk to her." Yeru said quickly. "Don't single her out."
Sinne made a non-commital noise, then sighed. "You owe me."

[Aozora-Chan]

Talni good just tell that she was in trouble, but, the book open in her lap was calling to her, she wanted to keep reading and then get back to experimenting. Thankfully the ticking of her watch kept her aware enough and sitting up. Finnaly she sighed and stood up sticking her finger in the book at the place she left off. She stood up straight

[Poptart]

Sinne looked her over thoughtfully.
"Are you eyeing my subordinate?" Yeru asked softly.
Sinne shot him a look and Yeru looked slightly mollified. "Can we just get this over with?"

[Aozora-Chan]

"Hello Captain, Dr. Yeru." Talni said to her superiors, "Do you have any orders for us, and its nice to be out and under your command." She straightened againand resisted the urge to open her book back up that was still marked by her finger at her side. Her eyes strayed slightly but she snapped back to attention determined to keep her job. She loved her job.

[Poptart]

Sinne raised an eyebrow in surprise. He'd certainly not expected anything like that. "Why don't you take a seat, like the rest of us, miss. . .?"

[Aozora-Chan]

"Yes Captain." Talni walked over and sat in a chair, looking as military as possible. It was how they seemed to be expected to act so for her job she could do it. She set her book on a small table and let it fall open to the spot she had left off. just so I don't have to hold it anymore

[Poptart]

"I believe that was an invitation to tell the captain your name." Yeru said in amusement. Sinne merely glowered at the two of them. "And for future reference, drop the 'doctor.'"

[Aozora-Chan]

"Yes Captain, Yeru, I'm sorry," She nodded her head slightly, "My name is Ms. Talni Farr."

[Poptart]

"Ms. Farr," Sinne said. "No orders other than the ones you were given before we left Earth. And that goes for the rest of you too. Just carry out the orders you were given and don't bother me unless we're in danger of life and limb. And if it's your fault that we're in that danger-"
"Yes, Captain," Yeru interrupted. "I believe we get the point."

[Aozora-Chan]

(What was their orders from before?)

[Poptart]

[They've got a few things to research and a base to build on a planet.]