E.S. Berkhard---1st Mission. "Getting to know you, getting to know all about you...."

[proxy_explorers]

Each crewmate had woken up in a cabin assigned to them, with their name and role on the door outside. It was a pretty nice little cabin, private and with a private bathroom. Like a basic hotel room honestly, in shades of deep blue and rich brown wood and steel. Clean sheets on the bed, clean linens on the desk waiting for use, and a closet full of uniforms for their use. (Each consisting of dark blue BDU pants and jacket with rank and name, a black undershirt, and black boots. These uniforms are modified for non-humanoid wear as needed.)

A small note was on the desk, on top of the linens. "Welcome Explorer! For your first mission, you are to proceed to the Waystation's VR deck. There is a map accessible on your Omniband, which will also be used to lock and unlock your cabin. Each Omniband is individually designated. It is recommended Omnibands be worn at all times." Indeed, there is a small blue, silver, or grey band that looks like a circular smart-watch on the desk. The 'band' itself will expand to fit over any width, or can be unlocked and flipped to form an 'S' type shape with the screen, to act like a traditional phone.

Explorers can explore their ship if they want. Although they won't be able to undock or leave the Waystation. Heading out further into the Waystation, they're free to explore there as well. They will be prompted by their Omniband though, to gather in the VR Holodeck. The longer one takes to get to the VR Holodeck, the more insistent the prompts will get--starting with a beeping, that will only get worse the longer it takes. There is no way, short of hacking the Omniband, to disable this beeping. This is the first 'mission' after all!

Once there, the sliding doors will open to reveal what almost looks like any good 2010's employee conference room, although the table has been moved to the side and laid out with snacks and drinks. Stepping in will prompt a "My name is ____" badge to appear with the person's chosen name on their clothes in an appropriate place. Also on the table are various ideas for Ice-Breakers! A big banner spans the room and says "Welcome Explorers!"

It appears your first mission is for everyone to get to know each other!

OUT OF CHARACTER
This is for your chars to get to know each other, since you'll all be working as a crew. The MDSOBs have tried to make it welcoming and easy and encouraging. Below there will be a thread for some different Ice Breaker Activities. Please respond there for threads.

Comments

[pilot05]

Wufei is very used to assumptions being made about him, so it doesn't bother him as much as it probably should that he's almost certainly giving this weird guy the wrong impression. The 'advice' is greeted with a lifted brow.

"Or perhaps you're simply bad at reading social cues," he replies dryly, picking an imaginary bit of lint off his arm.

[callsignhornet]

Shepard hummed an agreement as she took another sip. Even with with her training, it was a little difficult to help keep her ‘self’ separated from the ‘Commander’.

“No judgment, trust me. Sometimes a situation might take any one of us out of our preferred wheelhouse - but so long as I can help it, I’ll try and keep folks where they’re comfortable.”

For a moment, she joined Ambellina in scanning the room. Certainly a motley crew, but fortunately there weren’t any particularly conflicting temperaments. Not yet at least.

“First time sailing?”

[callsignhornet]

“I see.”

Shepard kept her expression casual in the face of both his evaluation and response, though internally she winced slightly at the latter. It would explain his caution and his general temperament, at least. Definitely a colony kid.

She cleared her throat lightly, before turning her attention back to the meat.

“The salami will give you a stiffer texture. If you’re not used to meat, it’s easier to adjust to”

[pilot05]

He pushes down the urge to sigh. It's like dealing with new recruits, except he doesn't have the authority here to make her go scrub toilets until she realizes talking to him is a bad idea.

A dozen different replies filter through his mind, each one slightly less rude than the last until he lands on something he hopes is reasonable enough. "What I am used to is people giving me a wide berth on reputation alone." Which wasn't going to work here, for obvious reasons. "I do not require coddling or comfort." What he required was an aspirin.

[callsignhornet]

That is the response that earns a slight pop of her brows and with it she turns to face Chang Wufei properly.

“Well, fortunately for you - neither of us has the luxury of our reputations.”

The scar that cuts across the bridge of her nose is thin and subtle, but no longer obstructed by her habit of holding her profile. Still she stands a little straighter, the Commander leaking into her tone a bit.

“So enlighten me Chang. Because you’ve got a lot of steel in you for an engineer and now I’m curious.”

“

[callsignhornet]

Still entertained, Shepard scoffed and shook her head lightly. Clearing her throat, she straightened out her jacket, so the Shepard - Captain was highly visible.

“Look, all I’m saying is others should get their first before you get your seconds…”

She canted her head to make sure she got a good look at him.

“Glass.”

[fourglasswalls]

"Oh yeah, you're totally right! As soon as I stop having firsts!"

Not a clever joke or wordplay or misdirection. Glass really is just that sort of cheerfully innocent.

[pilot05]

When she turns to face him, he does the same, almost like it was a reflex, like he expected some sort of confrontation out of it and was entirely comfortable with the idea. He notes the scar, but his gaze doesn't linger there, and he squares up to attention with the change in her tone.

"I'm an engineer because that is what is required of me," and because he didn't play well with others. "My reputation is primarily that of a terrorist. Five of us came from the colonies to destroy the earth-based government, and we succeeded. I killed the earth sovereign in the final battle, avenging the death of my wife and paving the way for peace, only to challenge that peace the following year with the sovereign's daughter. What is yours, Captain?"

[callsignhornet]

His explanation earns her full attention. No sympathy, no fear - only the clear direction of focus towards something important being said. So young and for what? The Earth seemed to have taken a particular turn where ever (or whenever) he was from.

“Firstly, in the spirit of transparency- it’s Commander, not Captain. In the Systems Alliance Navy, I have also undergone Special Forces training, earning the highest designation. I am also Special Tactics and Recon agent for an organization known as the Citadel, and of an alliance of eight different species working towards the protection of the Galaxy - three of them acting as Citadel leadership - I am the first and only human SPECTRE agent.”

Thinking for a moment, Shepard relaxed slightly. And her stance eased into something a little more casual.

“If you really want details, I will oblige you Chang. But my record is good enough that a private organization spent two years and a lot of money bringing me back from literal death. We will be here all day.”

Re: Main VR Holodeck

[callsignhornet]

“Slow down!”

It came out as more of a bark than Shepard was intending, but considering that the young woman in question had just about bowled her over - she was willing to give herself some grace.

“Are they starving people here?” she asked more to herself, than expecting an answer.

[callsignhornet]

Shepard took a deep breath, before lightly tapping Glass on the shoulder.

“Could you turn around? Didn’t catch what part of the crew you were with.”

[crimsongirl]

After hearing him say that, Homura waited till she was finished her snack before speaking up. Might as well throw an icebreaker of her own.

"Yes, I hail from the planet Urath, and am here for all forms of meat. All your base belong to us."

Re: Main VR Holodeck

[crimsongirl]

Yeah, this should have been the expected reaction. Homura though was hardly caring between smartass remarks and her casual eating. She did at least have some manners, finishing up her latest treasure of meat before speaking.

"Whatever that armband is wouldn't shut up till I came. Blame that. Might as well get some food in return."

[pilot05]

He listens, the only real reaction is an ever so slight twitch in his features at the word 'alliance'. He knows it has no connection to the alliance in his world, but the word is still pretty loaded for him.

He waits until she is done to reply, and tips his head forward in a slight nod. It might even count as a bow. "Then you of all people should understand, Commander, that not all of us are capable of reintegration with civilian life. You will find that I am both dependable and willing to do the difficult and ugly tasks we may be faced with. What you will not find is an abundance of tact or kindness." As if this conversation didn't make that obvious enough.

[callsignhornet]

Shepard returns his nod, jaw setting slightly more for Wufei than at him.

“Well, Engineer Chang, capable of and willing to do are two very different things. I advise you be very careful in your applications of hard decisions on my ship. Beyond that, if you’re willing to keep to early hours, then I can give you the fight you’re so clearly spoiling for during morning exercises.”

After a moment of clear consideration, Shepard gives him a look, eyebrow cocked and smirking faintly.

“Does that work or do I have to dog-walk you twice a day?”

[pilot05]

Willing to keep early hours... he almost laughs, and it eases quite a bit of the tension out of his face, allowing a little smirk to take up residence there. "Is there any better way to know a soldier's capability than to fight him?" he asks lightly. "I'm very capable with a sword and hand-to-hand, but I'm best in a mobile suit," not that he expected to find one all the way out here, let alone two.

"And if you think you can handle sparring twice a day, you're certainly welcome to try," he's not trying to be a smug little bastard, it's just that his fighting skill is his most prized attribute.

[fourglasswalls]

"Right, that's the way!" Glass said, as if the other guy had actually done anything. "Nathanial, huh? So whaddya go by? Nathan or Nate or Nat or Na? Or Big Na-Na The Niel? Nay-to-the-than-to-the-thiel-thiel-thiel? If you haven't thought of any of these and you like them, you can steal them, by the way. I'm the last person to get in the way of a guy and his hip-hop-slash-DJ name of choice."

[fourglasswalls]

"That's possible!" Glass said, with such enthusiasm and good cheer that it actually seemed possible. "But one of us is greeting people at this obvious welcome party, and one of us is brooding in the corner, so I'm feeling pretty good about how I've read the room, honestly."

[fourglasswalls]

"I'm Security!" said Glass, turning -- a full circle, with his arms at his side, and then another one with them over his head. She wanted to get a good look at him, right? That's what she'd meant, he was sure of it.

[fourglasswalls]

With a massive gasp, Glass recoiled. "Not my base! That's where I keep my stuff!"

[pilot05]

"I see," Wufei's mouth tightens into a frown. "You simply lack self-preservation instincts."

[hunter_marked_soul]

"I'm sorry--are you by any chance mad, sir?" Nathanial's tone as he asked this question was quite serious. Both gentle and sympathetic if the other was, without any negative judgment. It was also quite ironic, coming from him.

Still, if he was dealing with a madman, he'd rather know so he could adjust accordingly.

[fourglasswalls]

"No way! I'm in a very good mood." Man, did this guy sense his Rage? That could be a problem in the future!

[hunter_marked_soul]

Perhaps he'd phrased his question wrong. "I mean, are you touched in the head slightly? I recognize you're speaking words, and they almost make sense. Yet some of them could be so much gibberish for the understanding of them to me."

[hunter_marked_soul]

"I could recognize some of the basic functions of furnishings in my room, and recognized that this is clothing and a 'uniform'. The device on my wrist however--I have no reference for. It might as well be pure magic, for all that I can tell." With a hint of smile. "Any aid you could give, I'd be quite grateful."