Expedition Arrives on Naeya

(5) John is all pilot now. "Please make yourselves comfortable on the ship and please follow all safely precautions."

"Of course, and thank you," A'Dab says, settling into a seat. As the others do the same, John enters the pilot's cabin. Its door slides shut behind him.

Taking his seat, he taps a few buttons to close the hatch and prepare for lift off.

[16:42] John Sholakh (Sholakh Resident): start

[16:43] Captain John Sholakh: "everybody prepare for Launch."

The group is surprisingly quiet as the shuttle pulls away from the station and begins its descent. When they enter atmosphere they're in daylight, but very shortly, as they fly east, the sky darkens around them. Eventually they slow - slow more - there's a darker circle of shadow that rises around them, then a few lights right below. The shuttle hovers, shifts a little back, then a little left, and settles to a stop on flat ground. Engines whine into silence. The gravity changes as the planet's replaces the shuttle's artificial system. The door to the pilot's compartment slides open, and the hatch begins to lower its end to the ground.

"Ah, we are there then?" A'Dab asks, peering out.

"This is the base camp," John responds.

Kaori looks out into the humid night. "We are on Naeya." She stands, testing the gravity, which feels as she's expected thanks to the planetary survey report - just light enough to be pleasant. "Yes, Naeya." She walks down the ramp, bends over and takes a bit of soil in her hand.

A dark-clad figure, its back to the light from a tent, is watching with the appearance of patience. Kaori notices that mental trace first and scans a little further as she tests the soil's gritty texture with her fingers. There's one more mind close by, but it's asleep. Its dreams are too technical to be a Naeyan's. She straightens and looks around.

A'Dab asks, "This is out of the observation of locals?"

"No minds nearby except ours," Kaori confirms. It's hard to be sure of much outside the bit of light in the encampment's centre, but there seems to be a nearby ring of hills or cliffs surrounding the flattish space.

The watcher steps forward into the light streaming out of the shuttle's hatch. "Nice to see you again, Knight Ranger," she says. Kaori tucks that odd title away in her mind. "I see you brought the expedition safely here as I knew you would."

"Good to see you too, Shadow Ranger."

Kaori bows. "Myeong Mai be with you," she says. "I am Jo Kaori."

The shadow ranger smiles and nods slightly. "I am Balam Nolae, or Wind Song, the Shadow ranger currently assigned to Naeya."

Kaori gestures to the other arrivals. "And this is Dr. Nicotine Ester A'Dab, the diplomat and social researcher of our party. Captain Cleopatra Gama, a hunter of persons of interest - and our technical support, Technician First Class Shana Rann."

Ester smiles and bows. "Pleased to meet you, Wind Song,"

"Nice to meet you Doctor, I hope you have a safe adventure here," Nolae responds. "Now let me explain some things. as you get settled in here."

John's still standing by the shuttle's ramp. Dawn is coming; it casts a grey light on the open hatch. "I will be heading back to the station. I will be on the EIS Panther with Director Merci monitoring the Expedtion team. If needed, it has advanced medical equipment to evac to if one of you gets injured."

“Hand of the maker go with Captain," says Ester A'Dab.

Kaori's hand makes a small undisciplined movement in John's direction. Quickly, she stills it. "May you find unity in the chaos...take care as much as you can, John."

John smiles. "Have a safe time." He gives the small ritual bow of a Myeong Gai adherent. "May you find unity in the chaos _/||\_"

Nolae waves bye to the Knight Ranger as she knows him. "Safe Travels."

The hatch closes.

(6) Kaori keeps a tendril of thought on his trace as the shuttle lifts into the still-dark western sky. At the same time, she turns back to the Shadow Ranger, her face and voice calmer than she wants them to be. "We have a lot to learn before we leave this place."

Nolae says, "This is our base camp. It is safe here from the locals."

"So Ranger, what is it we need to know then?" Ester says in almost flawless Naeyan of the sort they've been learning with neurolinguistic support, as she does up her hair.

In one of the tents, the sleeping mind surfaces. There's a feeling of stretching, of dressing. After a moment, Corporal Jaxon emerges to walk around, checking the camp's systems.

Nolae says, "I will make a few quick points then we can continue after you have some rest."

Kaori's own local Naeyan is less perfect than Ester's; it holds hints of the ancient Aerok she's learned back on Cyhnon, and more than hints of her native Nihonese. "I suppose the GravDime jump takes a little recovery, even with the safety helmets," she agrees. "But your points would be much appreciated."

Ester listens to Noloe talk, taking note of her accent.

Nolae's face takes on sternness in the light of the rising orange sun. "This is the most important thing to remember: do not stand ou, blend in, for many reasons."

Corporal Jaxon notices the beauty of the silent one dressed in black but continues working.

Ester smiles, showing a shocking number perfect teeth "Of course"

Kaori sets down her carrylab. "Indeed. I believe I need to leave this here - I'll be taking soil and microbial samples, but will wait to analyze them if the equipment at the hideout isn't adequate to the task."

Nolae raises one finger. "Reason 1: is there is an agreement to allow this Shylzani colony to not be influenced by outside tech. This goes back over 1000 cycles."

Kaori bows. "We respect and understand the need to exist without non-Naeyan tech while we are here."

"2. The population is very spread out so there are many dialects. Some settlements see no outsideers for many years, so language diverges."

"Well that will make it easy to be strange then," Ester observes.

"But the region we will be in has become a pilgrimage centre, I understand?" Kaori says. "So they are used to strangers - just not non-Naeyan strangers."

"3. The locals mostly understand the common Shylzani language. Because your story is that you are from a culture or society that has been isolated for over 200 cycles, it will be understood why you speak a little differently."

Straight-faced, Ester says, "The real solution is to hire some local bards to spread stories of people beyond the sky with blue skin in flying boats, everyone will dismisses this as utter nonsense and ignore anything strange they come across."

Kaori shakes her head. "That would be interfering with the culture," she says. "The treaty was intended to make sure none of that happened...though space is big, and all sorts of things can happen." Then she smiles at the Doctor and chuckles. "Perhaps it would seem more natural if your accent were not too perfectly local."

As he makes morning coffee, Corporal Jaxon is thinking he doesn't envy them leaving the safety of the base camp for the dangers of this backward world. He's content to serve on the islet, with fresh air, fresh fruit, fresh fish, and warm showers.

(7) "Speaking of the pilgrimage, what do we know of this Stranger King Monk?" Ester asks. "Is he there?"

Nolae says, "The mysteries, including the Monk, are the main part of your Expedition purpose because I must maintain the secret role I have established here. This is why we needed to bring in outsiders."

"The role you show is as a protector, I understand?" Kaori asks. She's caught just a little from John's mind, and has a clear image of a recent chase through fields of grain after a wild dog. Dog...bigger than some wolves, and apparently less rational.

"We do have some dangers here but my role here was mainly to establish a friendly relationship with a few towns near what is called Unity Mountain. I watch listen and report back. That is my purpose here. I have not traveled up the mountain because it would take me away from my patrol areas too long. But i will make an exception to get you to the temple. After that you are on your own."

Kaori bows slightly. "We are grateful for your help, Shadow Ranger."

"Unity Mountain?" Ester asks. "That name seems a bit too much of a coincidence."

Nolae: "Yes Unity Mountain, The Unity Monk and the peace breaking out all over this world is a mystery. I have spoke the Monk some but many questions still need to be answered."

"Now -" Kaori says, and pauses. "Do you know anything of this Monk's background? Do the people in the community?"

Nolae says, "I have some info but when we go to the hideout you will find a lot more resources there."

"Very well" Ester says.

Corporal Jaxon finishes up the early morning routines and stands off to the side in case he is needed.

Kaori catches the technician's thought. Bending down, she picks up her carrylab and holds it out to him. "Is there a place this should be put? It's scientific equipment - reasonably tough but still needing care."

"Yes mistress. I will place it in the yellow tent for you." He walks over and gently takes it from her and carries it to the yellow tent,

Kaori smiles. "Thank you," she says. "Myeong Mai bless your service."

Corporal Jaxon bows humbly as he carries on.

Nolae continues. "At the hideout is everything you need unless you one gets gravely injured; then we take them to EIS Panther that is in orbit monitoring our situation."

Kaori turns back to Nolae. "I understand I will be able to read and transmit the data from the crystals in the hideout. Is transmission safe, though? If it turns out there is indeed something to worry about, that can intercept signals?"

"Yes you will have a focused comms link to the EIS Panther which will provide emergency resources if we need any. The EIS Panther has a direct comms to the Carrier group that has arrived in the Anigisul system. I suggest you all get some rest. We will continue later"

"So not a strong signal needed then," Kaori says with a nod - realizing from the EIS reference that Isabella's informant is in no way ahead of the news. "That's good to know."

She looks at A'Dab. "A few hours of sleep," she says. "Although it's tempting to sample-gather!"

It's light enough now that she can see exactly what surrounds the encampment: the teeth of a broken ring of basaltic rock, matching the gritty dust that's still on her fingers, surrounding a small curved plain of tropical grasses and ferns, broken by pools of water and igneous rocks. A streak of sea is visible through one of the breaks in the circle, but it's distant - the camp seems to be a fair distance above sea level, well-sheltered from eyes on any seacraft that might happen to sail past.

(4) He salutes Kahn; their ranks here are the same, but she's in charge on the station. Reluctantly, Kaori sets aside her desire to talk and retreats to quarters; the expedition will leave as soon as its members have gone through decontamination. Ester A'Dab, Cleo Gama and the tech assigned to accompany them, Shana, have already finished.

"Best to follow the proper forms" Ester says as she puts on the Landuist eyebrows, causing her skin to darken. Satisfied with the effect, she begins pulling on tunic, leggings and cloak.

Kaori steps out of decon, tucking the crystal into her pendant. She smiles at Ester. "Very good. Most women on Naeya wear gowns, but protectors and travelling merchants do not. I expect healers are given some latitude! And the skin is excellent."

>> Ship wide Comms "EIS Panther arriving to the port side"

Chief McBribe salutes at Kahn and Sholakh and whirls on his heel to leave.

As Kaori dons a long-sleeved chemise of roughly-woven unbleached linen and covers it with a long blue gown, the comms crackle again. <<This is Capt Kahn, Expedition team prepare to board your chariot. Capt Sholakh is waiting.>>

Kaori finishes lacing the gown and steps into solid boots made wholly of natural leather - even the heels are leather, layers laminated together with glue made from animal sources. After a long look out at the sunlit crescent and black shadow of the smallish blue and green planet below, she steps out of crew quarters, just ahead of the others. "John," she says. "How are you?"

Regent/Captain John Sholakh: smiles at the four medievally-clad ladies. "I am doing well, Kao. I do hope all is going well with you."

Kaori glances at Ester.."Well, we don't have the security people that Dr. A'Dab wanted," she says. "But I think it may be to our advantage to have a small, less easily detectable group."

She breaks out in a full smile. "John, it is good to see you. You've been missed, and not only by your daughter."

"I have been taking care of my daughter. We do talk often."

"So many questions to ask..." Kaori says. "But time's short, so most of them will have to be about Naeya. Dr. A'Dab, I am being rude. Let me present John Sholakh, Regent of the Empire, father of the Empress - and pilot and security chief unsurpassed. John, Dr. Nicotine Ester A'Dab, of the Order of St. Beatrice." He already knows who Gama is, of course, and Shana Rann, like John, is stationed here.

John nods, his posture somehow slipping into Regent mode. "It is good to see you again. I think we met long ago."

"Please to meet you Captain," the doctor replies. "So will you be flying us down to this world?"

>> Ship wide comms << "The window for the darkside of the planet is closing. Expedition needs to get to the isle before sunrise."

"Are you ready to go?" John asks.

Kaori sweeps a scarf over her hair. "We are."

Ester A'Dab says, "Ah dark side, so we going full Teazer on this one?"

John says, "There is a base camp on a small island where I'll land you. From there I believe you will sail to the village. We'll do it in the dark to make sure no-one at sea observes. I do think do need to make haste go the planet so I can leave before sunrise from there."

Kaori picks up her carrylab and well-worn leather pack. "I'm hoping I can leave the lab on the island," she says. "I'll be taking samples for analysis." She turns to Tech Chief McBribe. "Thank you so much for your care of us, Chief Technician."

Chief McBribe waves as the expedition mounts the ramp.

Kaori grins as she sees John's old, rebuilt, personal imperial shuttle. "Still using your own equipment," she says. She heads for her preferred seat, and as she arranges her luggage she contemplates all she's experienced since her last trip in this craft.