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

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Lyn had noticed the young man -gosh, did he look young- and his trepidation, so she approached the refreshments table as well. If that happened to be in such a way that she couldn't sneak up on the young man - well, all the better for him.

"The salami is pretty good," she says as reaches for some of the meat on the platter. "Unless you're vegetarian."

Judging from his reaction, she assumed that he was unused to food period, or specifically this kind of food. At least it was simple to demonstrate that the food was edible at least.

It's probably for the best. He wouldn't react well to being surprised. As it is, he grunts when she speaks, pausing to glance up at her. "I am... unfamiliar," he replies with a shrug, and reaches for something tucked away at the back of the starches tray.

It's the most familiar thing there, and it looks just like a ration bar. Because that's exactly what it is.

Ah, a spacer or whatever the equivalent was from his home. Probably used to rations or something - she still had a lot of affection for galley food, awful as it was sometimes.

"That's fair. Me, I never quite adjusted to the taste of eggs that weren't powdered first."

He takes the bar from the starchy-looking area of the spread and Shepard gives him a small, slightly sympathetic smile.

"First voyage away from home?"

He bites off a corner of his ration bar and considers her question, glancing at her again, as if trying to work out a puzzle of some kind. "No. You can't travel away from something that no longer exists," and he takes another bite, turning his attention back to the meat. There were a lot of different kinds, and he could only identify a few of the items, himself.

“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”

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.

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.”

“

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?"

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.”

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.

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?”

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.

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

Re: Wufei Intro

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