The Naeya Expedition Departs

(1) Kaori hoists her carrylab onto her back. She's sent her two packs - one for Magellan, one for Naeya - ahead, but the lab is more precious than clothing, and harder to replace.

Stepping out into the main room of the acolytes' palace quarters, she looks around, focusing finally on her three centuries-old inherited bonsai. Normally she would put them in stasis during her absence, but in her travels between Shylzan City and Serenity Isle, she's been able to find a couple of people who can be trusted with their care. She bows to them, in honour of the ancestors who have nurtured them through the generations, and says a small prayer before going to the transporter pad.

Minutes later, Kaori steps off the pad onto the deck of the Magellan. Deliberately, she's arrived a little early, hoping to get Maggie's results on decoding the corrupted data crystal before anyone else arrives to distract her. She goes up to the familiar crew quarters, places the carrylab carefully on her preferred bunk, and heads for the bridge.

As she steps out of the lift, she looks up at the bridge chronometer. 12:15 local time - people should be boarding. She breathes in accordance with her training, requiring herself not to fret. As a result, she is ready to smiles as Captain Maggie emerges from her office onto the bridge. "Maggie!

Margaret Magdelena smiles back. "Good to see you. I am making final preps to get underway."

Kaori nods. "Then I won't bother you yet about any progress you might have made on that hashed-up data crystal." She seats herself at the plotting table and continues not to let herself fret.

Isabella Ingram, travel bag in hand, pokes her head out of the city centre shuttle at the port. Someone behind her pushes to get out, and she decides she'd better move out of their way.

She stands on the shuttle platform for a few moments, wondering if this was really a smart decision, decides smartness is beside the point, and heads for the TP point. That's one nice thing about working for the Empress - less time eaten on shore-to-ship shuttles! Before she leaves the port authority compound, however, she stops to toss some coins in the hat of a busker, for luck.

Kaori hears a hum from the transporter bay. A moment later, Bella steps onto the bridge. "Hi," she says. "Where should I put this?" She heaves her travel bag.

"The lift's over here." Kaori leads the way.

In a higher orbit around Cyhnon, Nicotine Ester A'Dab looks up from the cartoon she's watching at the cafe in the Gama refugees' City Ship as Cleopatra Gama walks up.

As the rain patters onto her cloak, Gama looks at her and nods. "Doctor Adab. Have the others arrived yet?"

A'dab says, "I believe they will be following. Shall we proceed? "There is no failure except failure to serve one's purpose." as it is written"

"Very well, let's get to the ship and we can make contact with the main expedition." She turns and heads towards the city ship's shuttle port.

The doctor follows Cleo to the docking bay as the city ship's announcement system streams C-Pop from the planet below. Gama keys them through the umbilical into the ship, then turns. "Doctor, welcome aboard the Saraph. I believe the captain is getting ready to get underway."

"Ah, excellent." A'Dab listens to the ship's announcement - "Tungsten quantum shift gel core activated!" - and it is ready for departure.

(2) [12:35] Saraph Comm: Cyhnon Control Station, this is Gama 6 Envoy ship preparing to get underway. I request comms with The Magellan, please. Over.

Kaori returns from the passenger quarters and takes station behind Maggie's shoulder. "Have we heard from Gama yet?" She glances again at the chronometer. 12:35. She's tempted to pace, but that would be very non-Myeong Gai of her. Instead she folds her hands behind her back and waits with an appearance of calm.

Having shaken out her clothes and claimed the bunk nearest the door - and noting the equipment case Kaori's left on a bunk by a window - Bella returns to the bridge, padd in hand.

[12:35] Magellan AI Navaids: Now establishing data link

[12:36] Margaret Magdelena (Magdelena Resident) makes an announcement over the ships comms " we will leave orbit shortly. Prepare for departure." She flips on the ships NAVAIDS computer.

Kaori can't help herself. "But have we heard from Gama?" she blurts.

[12:37] Magellan AI Navaids: Systems On Line

Maggie enters command codes.

[12:37] Magellan AI Navaids: Working

[12:37] Magellan AI Navaids: Command Codes Verified

Finally the external comm crackles. "Magellan. This is the Seraph. Come in please."

Kaori relaxes visibly at the sound of Gama's voice. She leans forward and activates reply. "Magellan here. Myeong Mai be with you. Gama, what's your suggestion for rendezvous?"

[12:41] Cleopatra Gama: " Oh, Magellan, I'm glad we were able to get through. The remainder of our expedition members have not been able to arrive yet. I suggest we rendezvous at Shadow Fox Station. Ask your captain if that will be acceptable."

[12:41] Kaori Jo: "Not from the perspective of briefing, but if that's what will work - " She looks at the captain. "Maggie?"

[12:43] Cleopatra Gama sighs... "We apologize for the delay."

[12:44] Margaret Magdelena: "I am setting course for Shadow Fox Station. That will be our rendezvous."

[12:45] Cleopatra Gama: "This is the Seraph, we acknowledge. We anticipate getting there in a reasonable amount of time. Safe journey Magellan. Safe journey."

[12:46] Kaori Jo: ""To you as well, Seraph. May you find unity in the chaos."

[12:46] Margaret Magdelena (Magdelena Resident) " Ready"

[12:46] Margaret Magdelena (Magdelena Resident) " Steady"

[12:46] Margaret Magdelena (Magdelena Resident) "GO !!!!"

With Magellan well under way, Maggie leaves the con and enters her office. Kaori watches the changing patterns of light in the viewport, then steps back to join Bella. "I'm afraid you won't have much company on this trip," she says. "For the first part of it I expect I'll still be trying to squeeze information out of a data crystal."

Bella grins as she takes photos of the bridge with her padd. "I think I can keep myself occupied while you're wrestling."

Kaori turns to Maggie who has just appeared in her office door. "Maggie, if you're not needed elsewhere, we should talk about the progress of decoding that crystal."

Maggie says, "I was getting the last of the Linguacodes from the surface before departure. I am having the ship finish decoding while in warp to prevent any compromise of the mission. It should be ready shortly."

Kaori smiles. "I should have known you were already dealing with it."

Bella clears her throat. "I'm going to make a big assumption here - that you're going to be able to share at least some of the classified information connected with my press assignment. Can you tell me about this data crystal? Why is it so important?"

"We don't know - entirely, yet," Kaori says. "It came from a highly confidential source. I was expecting it to contain cultural data on Naeya, and the situation that required our expedition, but there's not enough readable on it to make clear whether that's what it is or not. What I've read says that Naeya is assumed to have been settled a thousand years ago by Shylzani who stopped briefly at Cyhnon but moved on because they wanted a less technological existence. Another portion talked about NARI-class droids." She keeps silent about the crystal's third topic - the Ziera. "There's no indication of what I read of a connection between NARI droids and Naeya's settlement. But the Night Serpent ships clearly have an interest both in droids, and in the Anigisul System.

Maggie looks into her office as a "task completed" chime sounds. "Please enter my state room. Please have a seat." She gestures for Kaori to come in. "Bella, if you would like to be in this, please enter."

The reporter doesn't need to be asked twice. She sits on the sofa, leaving Kaori the chair facing Maggie's desk.

(3) Maggie sits down and glances over her data terminal before she says, "As you are aware, we are on our way to Shadow Fox Station. That is where Admiral Merc will be in Command of the Expedition to Naeya."

Bella leans forward, already fascinated. "Does this mean that Admiral Verne has reconciled herself to Unification?" she asks. Her stylus fairly dances; whether it's a real reconciliation or not, it's definitely news!

Maggie answers, "That is beyond the scope of this briefing. Shadow Fox station will monitor the situation on Naeya. If an emergency occurs that requires rescue or evac of the expedition team, Shadow Fox station will take care it. Shadow Fox station is the closest source of assistance for the expedition. "

Kaori looks at her hands, then back at Maggie. "Admiral Merc in command - that makes sense, given her location." She manages to keep concern out of her voice.

Maggie continues. "When arriving on the planet Naeya, the expedition will land on a deserted island and take a boat to a near by fishing village. At the fishing village they will need to find one called the Shadow Ranger. The Shadow ranger will be the guide and protector of the Expedition."

Kaori nods. "I was told we'd have a guide. I'm glad it's a person with defensive skills as well."

"The Shadow ranger will be able to help with all required communications back to the Shadow Fox Station."

Kaori turns to smile at Bella. "And that's where you'll be - gathering all the publishable background you can on Admiral Verne and her operations, and hearing our reports."

Maggie says, "Bella, as Correspondent/Reporter for the Imperial Throne you be provided a bunk in the crews quarters on Shadow Fox Station. I hope you find them satisfactory."

Bella looks up. "Crew quarters will be fine. In fact, crew quarters are good." She grins. "The Admiral's bedroom might be more comfy, but crew members will likely drop telling bits of information."

"You will be provided transportation as needed by the Dragon Slayer Squadron Commander. "

"Dragon Slayer Squadron?" Kaori asks.

"I will be making regular trips back and forth from Cyhnon to Shadow Fox station."

This time Kaori lets relief show. "I'm glad of that."

"Additional information will be provided by Admiral Merc prior to dropping off the Expedition on Naeya. Remember, all Expedition team members must be able to blend in with the locals until notified otherwise. This is Admiral Merc's call. Admiral Merc is the best source of info in the Anigisul System since her station has been since before the unification. Quasar scout ships will be on constant patrol and always have a ship with in two hours Naeya to provide Emergency support."

Kaori lets her forehead wrinkle a little. "I'd made a request for current sound recordings from a population centre, so I can confirm and update language knowledge. That takes time - I'd hoped the Admiral would already have sent it. In a medieval context, translator use doesn't let you blend. It makes it more obvious that you're from outside." A bit of fretfulness enters her voice. "In fact the whole group will need neurolinguistic instruction, before we land. That's the main reason I hoped Gama and the doctor would travel with us - to get a head start on the language." She pauses, with a none-too-strong hope that Maggie will suddenly disgorge an encyclopedia's worth of neurolinguistically programmable data.

Maggie says, "Your group is supposedly coming from an island village that rarely travels beyond their island. They are only coming to the fishing village because of the news from there about a Unity Monk. The reason the expedition members will sound a bit different is that their island is isolated. Admiral Merc will explain more before you go to Naeya."

"Different accents are expected," Kaori points out. "But Gama and her colleagues have almost certainly never studied old Aerok, and languages change a lot in a thousand years without recording technology. We will need time to update our knowledge to the point of mutual comprehensibility. At least a few days, if the other expedition members all take well to the programming. Otherwise, we may need two or three weeks."

Bella makes a note to do some background research on the evolution of language.

Maggie says, "The Shadow ranger will assist with the communications. They know the people of Naeya very well. I been informed all will be worked out on Shadow Fox Station."

Kaori looks at her hands again. "That's comforting - somewhat - but we have a lot of learning to do before everyone will be ready to pass, if the locals have any intelligence."

Maggie glances between the acolyte and the reporter.

Under her breath, Kaori mutters, "Pil-yohaji anh-eun munjeibnida" - practicing her Old Aerok and venting frustration at the same time. "It's a problem that isn't needed. However, it is what it is."

"That concludes the briefing," Maggie says. "Thank you for your attention."

Kaori stands. "What about the data crystal decoding?" she asks.

In answer, Maggie leans forward and hits a button.

[13:38] Magellan AI Navaids: Now establishing data link

[13:38] Magellan AI Navaids: Link established.

Kaori hands over her cheap unnetworked padd. "If you could upload onto this -"

[13:40] Magellan AI Navaids: Transfer Complete

"That was quick -" Kaori takes back the padd and looks. "More - but not much more. I'd be grateful if you'd keep working with it."

Maggie says, "More of the answers you seek will be provided by Admiral Merc. I had the computer working on decoding since we left - I don't think more time with it will make much difference."

Kaori's eyes are a bit bleak. "Please keep at it. Admiral Merc is a highly competent officer - but we need to rely on more than her. I need to know what Dr. Lee wanted me to know."

She scans the skimpy additions, pausing when she comes to an item added to the Ziera section. In the context of the briefing just provided, it generates a frown. "You say our guide is a Shadow Ranger?"

Maggie scans the briefing notes and repeats, "The Shadow ranger will be the guide and protector of the Expedition." She pauses, looking closer at the information. "She is called Shadow Ranger on Naeya. Whether that is the same as in the data crystal I am not able to say."

Kaori shakes her head. "Thank you for the briefing, Maggie. I know it's not your fault that what you and I have been given so far is so - inadequate to the task."

Maggie smiles. "I am sure you will excel in your task on this mission."

Kaori pauses. "You wouldn't happen to have a planetary survey report on Naeya?" she asks hopefully. "That's one of the things I was hoping to find on the crystal - something that really would help orient us to physical conditions at the location."

Margaret Magdelena taps a few buttons and shakes her head. "That will be best for Admiral Merc to provide. She will do all the final mission preparations."

"All right." Kaori turns to Bella. "No deep revelations today, I'm afraid."

Bella tucks the stylus into its place on the side of her padd. "Not a problem. I have enough for a decent introductory piece." She grins. "And a bombshell about Verne's cooperation with the Empire. Not a very conclusive bombshell, but a bombshell. My editor will be pleased." She gets up. "I'm going to go turn this into an article. What time is evening meal?"

Maggie says, "If you need something now, you can get a snack from the replicators." She glances at the chronometer. " I do believe evening meal is still four hours away."

"Magellan's not really formal about meals," Kaori says. "The replicator's better than most. Its tea actually tastes like tea."

"Coffee ditto, I hope?" Bella grins. "I'll go try it out. Later!"

"What's our ETA at Shadow Fox?" Kaori asks as the door slides shut behind the reporter.

Maggie taps the for an ETA in the Navaid computer. "Looks like five days plus a few hours."

Kaori nods. "Well, I'm more in need of a nap than food myself. I'll go take one." She leaves to do her fretting in private.