Un-Official Spacefleet RP

[Omni]

"More like preparing for," Ethan said as he held up the last bite of his food. "Keng said the ceremony was tomorrow, remember?"

He popped the last bit of sandwich into his mouth, then stood up and picked up his plate and cup. "Though we probably should go check our messages, I know I'm going to." He headed over to return the dishes, then toward the door. "See you in the infirmary?"

[zarikrahia]

Zari checked her watch. 'Tomorrow is closer than I would like. It's 7:45 now.' She sat back in her chair, slightly agitated. 'I've got the message, so if this is a promotion...rrr. I hate going up in public. I get really bad stagefright.'

[Kengplant]

"It's probably nothing too fancy. It's not like any of us can expect to be promoted to any kind of high ranking commander or anything like that. The people getting promoted will probably be all up on stage togeather. " Keng assured Zari. "Well, I need something to eat. Be right back." she got up and headed to the counter, sure there was service, but Keng felt like making her order sooner rather than later.

[Bacon]

"It's not like any of us can expect to be promoted to any kind of high ranking commander or anything like that."

Clint raised an eyebrow, "You don't think so? I should be a general just for putting up with all you non-commandos."

[zarikrahia]

Zari gave Clint a glare then returned to her 3rd sandwich. 'I certainly don't expect to be promoted to anything higher than a Janitor after the whole 'hacker' thing, the clones, faking getting kidnapped, and eating perfectly good Paper plates.

[Amneiger]

"What's wrong with the clones?" Amneiger glanced at the menu. I should probably eat something...maybe I could try this soup...

[zarikrahia]

'I told Stride they were for research purposes and would be staying in stasis, but now they're out and the sedative's worn off, If I want to stick them back in I've got to wait for another 19 shipments of the plant I use for the stasis liquid, and they can only do 4 a year.' Aeloan meowed.
<Aeloan> I dun wanna go back in there. I wanna help the twoleggers!>
<Salricio> Do shut up. Thank you. We're doing more good without than within if you ask me. Besides, I'm tired of dreaming about sparkplugs and swordfish. You can't make me! HA!>

Zari stared at Salricio, who has erupted into a series of 'Mrrt' noises, a few chirps, A sound like 'Manh!' and a few opinionated meows, ended with a soft snarl-mrrt that was clone laughter. 'Opinionated lil rascal. You won't go back under if you don't want to. I'm sure Strife wouldn't mind a feline combat force.' She repeated this in clone, the noises looking strange coming from a humanoid mouth.

<Zari> Don't talk so loud. People think it's odd to see someone having a converstaion with what looks like a mini-leopard. Look official. You don't want to go back into that stasis tank.
<Aikran> You heard her! Look official, or it's the tanks!>
<Ytrisan> I don wanna look 'fishul...I wanna sleep.>
<Latiere> Then you go to the tanks. Be reasonable>
<Aeloan> Yessah, Yesmam.>

Zari shrugged apologetically as the clones began arguing, then turned just in tme to see Aikran cuffing his son around the head to bring him back into line. She reached out to tug at the catclones collar. 'You watch y'self. Or no tuna. Sorry, what was that?'

[Kengplant]

Keng returned to the table with a plate of smoked ribs, a ceaser salad and mashed potatoes along with a large grin on her face. She was quite hungry.
"So, I miss anything?"
she looked over at the arguing clones.

[zarikrahia]

'Only the clones arguing about whether to look offical or whether to like slobs. It's a bit One-sided. Ytrisan versus the rest.' She gave Tantrum a good poke in the start button and it started behaving, judging by Zari's relieved expression.

<Zari> Shuddup!>
<Aikran> Yes ma'am.>

[Tirilia]

Deep in the morgues of the Spacefleet Armada, a single scientist works patiently at his craft, dissecting a former resident of the fleet.

How long had it been? In the dark, time does not pass.

A twitching finger. They'd never given her a funeral.

The scientist pauses mid cut and listens. Nothing. He shrugs and continues.

Tombed within a locked slab, her fingers curl, each movement difficult, her fingernails scrape slowly against the metal. The scientist stops again and turns to eye the slab draws, their dull metallic surfaces reflect his frown back at him. A dull scratching noise comes from within.

This time he puts down his scalpel and listens. A thump echoes around mortuary and with his eyes wide with horror, he unlocks and yanks open one of the draws... and promptly faints.

For there, laying on the slab, her clothes still bloodstained from the shell that 'killed' her, Zarah's chest had risen sharply in a first breath...

[Omni]

Ethan walked down the corridor, passing several personnel. As he passed by, he would catch snippets of conversation, sometimes catching glimpses of their faces. But they didn't matter, not now, not to him. To him, they were just nameless people, nobodies, and he was likely the same to them. It was strange… despite being surrounded by people, he felt very alone.

Sector R

As Ethan walked into the sector that housed most of the Combat class, the general feel of the crowds began to change. Most of the personnel were either big and muscular, loaded with some kind of weapons, or both. Conversation tended toward things such as weapon functions, battle tactics, and who they had personally beat or blown up in the past. For the most part, Ethan passed by them unnoticed, though a few would pause their discussion and give him an odd look, as if wondering how such a young kid like him could be part of the Combat Class.

890… 990… 1090… He turned a corner. 1091, 1093, 1095, 1097

Once the lock confirmed his identity, the door to his room opened. Sure enough, a very synthesized-sounding voice greeted him.

"Welcome back Merc. Ethan. You have one message."

Ethan walked over to the message center, quietly wondering if there was a way to change that voice. He touched the screen, then the envelope, and began to read his message…

He was glad that he decided to finish his meal before heading to his quarters, otherwise he probably would have dropped it. He shut his eyes tight for a moment, then opened them and read the message again three times. Sure enough, the massage stayed the same.

Someone decided to promote him when he had only been there for a day.

Seriously, what were the odds?

[zarikrahia]

Zari grinned like a maniac. 'Yeah, I'm sure to be a Janitor now. I've just been emailed a question: Why didn't I submit the clones to quantine? Because any viruses in their system would've been killed in the stasis tanks. Who would promote someone who's just gone on two suicide missions in a row? Not me, that's for sure. I'd give myself a medal for pure stupidity. But not promote me, unless it's about me giving Davis Verdham that Viro-Immune chip for the computer-database. You can get them for dead cheap if you look in the oddest places. I found about 40 in a toystore of all places.' Zari chewed her paper plate, obviously deep in thought, then began typing on Tantrum, muttering in Illhvrii.

[Bacon]

"What are the sleeping arrangements?" Silna asked suddenly, "For me, I mean. I just joined Spacefleet... sort of. Do I have my own room, or what?"

"You know, I don't have a clue." Bacon replied, "I got the impression space is limited, because I got stuck rooming with Conan the Barbarian."

Clint laughed a wry laugh at the name, " 'Conan the Barbarian' ,that's cute. What, you get that from Star Trek or something?"

"No!" Bacon reacted defensively, but giving it some thought, he added, "Although in one episode of Stargate Atlantis, Rodney calls Ronen 'Conan', emphasizing his more-or-less barbaric behavior."

Clint paused at this comment, not sure what to say, "Ok... whatever."

Sighing at the off-topic side conversation, Silna restated her question, "Seriously, though, do I have a place to stay or what?"

[Fraze]

"I' i' th' 'ame boat as oo are, 'ilna," Fraze piped up over a mouthful of burger that seemed to the untrained eye to be slightly larger than his head. After swallowing, he continued. "I think my former superiors arranged for me to have quarters here. If nothing else works, you're welcome to room with me until you get a place of your own."

[zarikrahia]

'You think you've got it bad? My room's made for two and it's housing 9. I Ecks Dee at the thought of sleeping arrangements.'