( august intro log )

[hownkai]

Who: Everyone
When: August 1st and on
Where: The Moira
What: New “guests” join the crew on their journey and implement some changes.
Warnings: None for now. Please label your content!

I N T R O L O G

old but unfamiliar faces "We sometimes encounter people, even perfect strangers, who begin to interest us at first sight, somehow suddenly, all at once." The Ingress has pulled you in. Your body experiences several sensations at once: being pushed forward as if a hand is resting on your back, momentary and startling blindness, a gentle ringing in your head. You have difficulty discerning whether it is hot or cold, but where you have been prodded is noticeably warmer than the rest of you. Some may suffer from dizziness while others are perfectly fine. Once equilibrium has been reestablished, you will notice you are standing on a long platform and that the room is filled with a soft cerulean light. It's slightly humid and dark despite the glow around you, and nothing is familiar. Shortly after, you are led out and toward the medbay. Inside this room, you are given a physical scan and offered a contract to sign that states you are now part of the crew of the Moira with a specific job. Any questions you might have would be answered in a straightforward manner as well as an explanation about how the Ingress, the thing that has pulled you onto the Moira, is broken and bringing people here unintentionally. This process also consists of a complete work-up of medical history and current health, and afterwards, you are given your MID, a device that is integrated into your hand or wrist with only the slightest pinch. From there, you are guided out of the medbay and to your living quarters. At first, this month seems no more unusual than the previous one for those who have been aboard the Moira for any amount of time. The crew who had landed on the slaver outpost were rescued, and with everyone aboard, the ship has pushed forward into the darker parts of the Runoff. Anyone arriving through the Ingress follows the same routine—moving from the Ingress room into the Medbay for their physical and contract before being assisted by seasoned crew members and helped to their assigned decks. But all familiar things must eventually come to an end: two final travelers come through the Ingress. The first, and most noticeable difference between them and all the others, is their clothing. Both are dressed in standard Moira uniforms, though they bear the insignia of one sharing the same rank as Captains Cúrre and Thán. After a moment to take in all the people on the platform ahead of them, one of the two latest arrivals approaches one of the Ingress panels and begins to manipulate the controls. The Ingress completely shuts down. Unlike before, however, there isn’t an imbalance felt across the ship; everything remains normal and stable. Utilizing the computer systems located in the Ingress room, they send out the following message to the crew via the MID: To all those aboard this vessel: I am Ira Phirun, assigned captain of the Moira. First Mate Egan and I will be commandeering all rights to the ship as soon as word is sent to those currently in charge. Expect a more detailed report as soon as all records and logs in Navigation have been reviewed by myself and the First Mate. All questions will be answered in a timely matter. For now, there will be no interruption of daily routine or reprimand if conduct among ranks is broken. Thanks for your time. Heading to Navigation, the Captain and First Mate, for seemingly unknown reasons, approach Navigator Manasseh and have her show them all records and logs of the Moira. Those working in Navigation when the Captain and First Mate arrive will see Mana greet them in a professional manner. Oddly, the Captain and First Mate act very familiar with the Navigator. They review all documents, but when they come upon news that the Ploiatos is on board, their mostly friendly demeanor shifts quickly. The Captain issues a sharp order, unintelligible to those who are close enough to overhear parts of their conversation, and without any warning at all, Mana loses consciousness and collapses right there on the bridge. Within minutes of this happening, the ship as a whole falls into a low power state with basic functions only. Mana’s MID alerts Medbay, and without hesitation, Captain Cúrre places her in cryo with strict orders to those who work there not to disturb the unit. As promised, the Captain and First Mate soon address the crew. ☄ lights down low The lighting has dimmed in all the rooms and halls, the normally crisp air that is pumped from the vents low, and all machines and tech are running at half-speed. These effects can be found throughout the ship. Water in the showers remain hot for only a few minutes before reverting to cold. Recreational equipment powers off not long after it has been turned on. The sanitation and water filtration systems require an hourly manual reboot, and all unused areas of the ship have no power allotted to them until a crew member steps inside. Even then, most functions are not optimal. It’s as if the Moira has been transformed into a dark house with only a candle flickering on the window sill. ☄ reuse & recycle The Captain and First Mate are quick to establish that this is a new regime and go about making the ship and its crew more efficient in the wake of their change in course and the low power state of the ship itself. This means they will systematically inspect each occupied barracks room and leave notes for what needs to be disposed of or stowed away. Unlike before, this is no longer a pleasure cruise, and each member of the crew is a guest on board; they will not tolerate useless clutter. Anything seen as unnecessary will be either placed into storage in the Cargo Bay or disposed of through the airlock. This new need for efficiency also extends to the need to conserve resources until they reach their destination. The showers are set to an automatic timer to minimize water waste. Those few minutes of hot water are all a crew member is now given. Meals are smaller, bordering on ration sizes, and luxuries are done away with entirely in order to preserve supplies so that the ship can go longer before needing to dock at a planet. ☄ new jobs, same faces The Captain and his First Mate, as expressed in their addressing of the Moira, explain that work efficiency is a priority. Applications for a head of the following departments will be accepted for a short period: Navigation, the Tower, Medbay, Defense, the Hold, Sanitation, Ingress work, and the Galley/Mess Hall. (Here.) After reviewing what they receive, one head of department will be chosen and tasked with helping crew find positions relevant to those departments and their own skillsets. They will be allowed to retain any positions that they held before that aren’t ship-functional jobs, but they will have to be done in leisure time. In two weeks time, they’ll be accepting department position applications which will be approved, and all those that do not apply will be assigned in accordance with their initial work application. They will also choose three individuals to act as guards of Ploiatos to ensure that there is a rotation available at all times. Will you choose to follow this new decision and promote yourself into a position of responsibility? Or will you simply wait for a reassignment?

( ooc; For questions, go here. Please comment to activity check to receive new ranks (if applicable)! )

Comments

[caelus]

[ It's kind of hard not to notice the change. The people in charge now, all of a sudden, don't seem to have the word subtle in common usage. Jim knows people are going to be having a hard time with this, and it isn't just his new job but his experience as a captain in his own right that has him wandering halls to check in and check up on people.

While a healthy amount of fear and even paranoia can be good---well, Jim can't imagine what would be so bad that it would cause such a drastic shift in leadership such as this. Even their "passenger" can't warrant so sudden a shift. Wouldn't they have brought more people through after, then? Sure, what is implemented now might get them there faster, and yes, he does want to get home even if he just got here, but this does not feel like the right way to go about it. At the end of the day, this is going to wear on more people than it is going to help get this ship, her crew and passengers to their destination.

And there is the staring again, when the other guy agrees to speak with him. Is this like the Zelien thing, the underwear model thing, or the holy shit balls woman? God, he doesn't even know. He's already getting a headache, but he ignores that and smiles warmly. ]

Nice to meet you, Bruce. [ He shakes his head. ] No, we haven't met, at least not on ---my end. I can't believe I'm saying that now. A few people seem to have recognized me from other ---things. Which is fine, promise. Just a little jarring.

But yeah, just got the ---welcome. [ He lifts his wrist to show the MID, and shrugs. ]

[hyperkinesia]

[ In Bruce's defense, his staring isn't quite as blatant as some other people's, nor is he blurting out seemingly random exclamations that have no place in a conversation with a complete stranger. Granted, Bruce is yet to realize who this Jim is, but even when he does, any overly expressive shows of shock and awe are highly unlikely coming from the mild-mannered and self-controlled physicist. ]

No. No, I think I'd remember meeting you. [ Jesus, would he? Bruce has always prided himself in his memory —when the Hulk didn't take it from him, anyway—, but now, he's not even sure anymore. While the man keeps talking, Bruce keeps looking at him, mostly paying attention to the conversation, but a small part of him always trying to figure out where this strange familiar feeling comes from. ]

Not much of a welcome, I know. Been there. [ As evidenced by the MID on his own wrist. ] You get used to it eventually, if that's worth anything. It used to itch a lot, when I first got it. [ Without a doubt, he prefers the MID over these new captains. ].

[caelus]

[ Jim is extremely grateful for that fact. He's not sure he can handle many more of those with grace before he just turns and walks the other way, honestly. It's a little weird. Scratch that, it's a lot weird. ]

Well, I'd hope so. Hate to think I'm forgettable, but I promise I wouldn't hold it against you. [ He chuckles softly at the mention of the typical welcome, and ignores the itch that starts up at the mention of said feeling from the other man. ] I'm not sure mine is going away as easy as just giving it time. I have an unfortunate predilection for being allergic to most of the known universe, according to my best friend.

[hyperkinesia]

[ Bruce can get that, honestly. Which is why whenever he's had this kind of situation happen to him, as it has a few times already, he's never made much fuss about it. Possibly the initial shock making him stare a little, but that's about it. Most people don't take it well when they learn they're fictional in some other universe, so naturally he does his best to keep that to himself. ]

Much appreciated. [ He offers with an amused lilt, eyebrows raising as he smiles at the man. Moving on from the topic of the MID, which makes Bruce feel a little too aware of the one around his own wrist too, he purses his lips and shrugs. ] Well, luckily for you, this is not part of the known universe. Not your own universe, anyway.

[ That's sarcasm by the way, he doesn't actually think Jim's lucky to be here. ]

[caelus]

[ It's really weird, isn't it? But if he is shocked at all and does stare, Jim doesn't really notice it, cause overall Bruce is just a friendly seeming guy. And he also appreciates the not telling him he's not real in another universe cause---no. His life is strange enough most days without that information. ]

Don't mention it. [ Jim offers a grin, fiddling a bit with the spot that has been itching a moment, before giving the other man his full attention at the sarcasm. It actually gets a chuckle out of him. ] Hey, far as I know none of us signed up for this vacation package. I would have gone for Risa, personally.

I don't know if that's gonna turn out to be lucky for me. It might just be a whole new amazing universe full of things that are going to kill me.

But that's never stopped me before.

[hyperkinesia]

Risa? [ Said partly like he knows the word, partly like he's asking about it. Yet another pluck at the strings of his memory, and now this all doesn't look so much as a coincidence to him anymore. So excuse him while he pays a little more attention to whatever Jim says as he tries to put the pieces together. ]

Oh, it's... we've ran into a number of things that are out to kill us, actually. So consider that a warning of sorts.

[ Can't be too careful here. Although if this guy has traveled across his universe too, then he might be more prepared for it than most. ]

[caelus]

Pleasure planet, or at least that's how they market themselves. People from my universe go there for vacations, and sometimes ships will come into orbit to allow shore leave. It's not half bad.

And I will definitely consider that as one. [ He's got to talk to Bones about getting something to counteract anything he accidentally comes across here. ]

Hopefully nothing will come of it, right? [ Ever trying to be the optimist, Jim. Just stay away from the pretty alien plants in the garden. ]

[hyperkinesia]

Right. [ Said like he's just learned a new thing, even though he hasn't— he's just been reminded. From that point onwards, it doesn't take much for Bruce to make the leap.

Risa. So— Star Trek. Enterprise. Jim. Jim.

It's only by a little that Bruce manages not to utter some form of 'holy shit' just then, in fact he puts an incredible amount of effort in not even showing on his expression that he knows who this man is. Kind of hard to succeed, considering he's having a major inward fanboy moment, but. He manages somehow. ]

Hopefully not, [ He pauses just to make sure he keeps his voice even, though he can't help fidgeting a little, the corner of his lips twitching. ] But I wouldn't let my guard down. Not saying you will, but... yeah. All things considered, it could be worse.

[caelus]

I don't expect everyone to know it here, but if you ever find yourself where I'm from, I'd highly recommend checking it out.

[ He has no idea the leaps and bounds being made in the other man's brain as to just who he is and what that means. The guy is pretty cool, though. ]

I don't plan on it. I'm gonna stop by medical and see if I can pick something up like what I keep on me back home. Last thing I need is to make friends with the wrong kind of plant or something here, right?

So, Bruce, what do you do here on the ship, if you don't mind me asking?

[hyperkinesia]

Good plan, [ He nods with a little smile. ] Though for the record, if you want to avoid the dangerous plants, just don't touch the ones that are isolated. Also the ones that have signs saying 'dangerous'.

[ You know, just a suggestion. Take it as you will. ]

I don't. I'm the chief science officer on board. [ He sounds just a little more proud than usual when he says it. ] What about you? What job were you assigned to?