Lt. JG. Gnai - A Normal Level of Excitement
Lich
((Gnai’s Quarters - Room 666, Deck 3, USS Artemis-A))
Gnai was excited. No, not just excited, it was thrilled. Its tendrils were glowing with all sorts of mesmerizing colors that expressed its elation over the upcoming survey mission. Finally, for what felt like the first time since it had left the Academy, it was going to get to actually put the bulk of its studies into use.
When it had seen the posting about the short survey mission via the ship’s computers, it had almost immediately signed up, without a second thought. Risa? Who needed Risa, when it had the chance to go and actually be an expert for once? Then, a bit of nerves settled in. If it was so quick to accept this, that might be seen as a sign that it was over-working itself, that it was far too eager to shirk its duty to relax and rest over shore leave… and that might work against it.
So, in the interest of not making Cmdr. Adea worry about its stress levels (they were fine, and they’d be far better if it was off on this shuttle scanning this fascinating star), Gnai opted to wait a few days, trying to estimate the perfect amount of time to make it seem like it hadn’t been sitting there and thinking about this survey mission every second of the day instead of enjoying the hospitality of the Risians.
After only about half the time it had initially estimated, it gave in and threw its name into the ring. It just couldn’t help itself!
As the hours until the posted meeting time dwindled, Gnai found itself sitting in its quarters with little to do, but go over the papers that it had downloaded onto a PADD for the trip again, trying to see if there were any gaps in the literature… When it looked at the chronometer in its quarters again, it realized that it was now potentially going to be late, so it threw everything it needed into a small bag (and a few extra PADDs for good measure) and rushed out of its quarters for the shuttlebay.
When it got to the shuttle bay, it saw a few familiar faces entering, and followed with them, giving a brief wave with its suit’s arm to its colleagues.
((Cockpit of the USS Galaktoboureko - Main Shuttlebay, Deck 11, USS Artemis-A))
Gnai: Oh, hello Lieutenant Sadar!
Sadar: Oh! Uhh... H-Hello. I’m sorry, I didn’t expect-
One final person had arrived to the shuttle, one that Gnai sort of recognized from somewhere… But it wasn’t certain it could tell immediately where it knew her from. Maybe crossing paths in the corridors? Some previous mission?
Vailani: Response
Sadar: Vai-net!
Her excitement over the newcomer was palpable, as was Gnai’s, albeit over different subjects.
Silveira: Looks like we have an interesting bunch here.
Imril: I try not to be boring.
Morgan/Vailani: Response
Gnai bobbed within its tank as agreement, but kept quiet. Sure, there was no one here that it suspected would be a large source of bad luck (unlike the former Vulcan member of their crew), but “interesting” was certainly a good way to describe them. Hopefully it wasn’t about to get put in prison, again, like it had the last time it had been on a team with Ens. Imril…
Sadar: Y-Yeah, we’ll be ready to take off soon. Uhh... The sensors are reading green, but maybe Ensign Imril should do a final systems check before we take off? It would be a waste to go to Laoi III only to realize something’s wrong.
Imril: Aye, Doctor. I was just coming in to start that.
Silveira: So, Lieutenant Sadar, what are we heading ourselves into?
Did… he really not know? Had he signed up for this mission just on a whim, unlike Gnai, who had been practically bouncing off the walls of its tank in excitement when it read the guidelines? It really didn’t understand some of its colleagues, no matter how much it tried.
Morgan/Vailani: Response
Sadar: Well, there’s a few separate survey goals associated with our trip. ::gestures to the bunch of PADDs:: I have a project that I’m hoping to find some biological samples for, and I know the tactical department had some concerns regarding the interplay between the new sensors and the targeting arrays for the shuttle’s weapons systems?
There was an obvious omission from the lieutenant’s summary, and Gnai worried briefly that the sole reason it was even here was off the table. But before it could respond to add in that facet, Lt. Silveira was already posing another question.
Silveira: Now that’s my language. And I assume I can count on your engineering skills Ensign Imril?
Imril: I expect so, Sir, yes. I wasn’t part of the team that upgraded the sensors, but I’ve reviewed the build notes. Everything looks pretty straightforward. These sensors draw a little more heavily on the shuttle’s power stores than the standard model for this class, partially to process the extra data. But nothing that will eat irreparably into the surplus generated by the engine core.
There was a brief gap in conversation, and Gnai jumped in.
Gnai: ::a bit hesitant to butt in:: There are also some anomalous radiation readings from the star in the system… Sir.
Morgan/Vailani: Response
Silveira: Is there a designated pilot, or can I take the spot.
Certainly not Gnai! It had no qualms about admitting that its shuttle piloting was rusty. Not that it was going to announce that. But if anyone asked, it would be perfectly clear that expecting it to pilot a shuttle with any level of proficiency was foolish.
Sadar: Response
Silveira: You will all be in good hands.
Morgan/Vailani: Response
Lt. Silveria sat down, taking the pilot’s seat of the shuttle. Gnai had no idea of his qualifications as a pilot, but it hoped that he wasn’t lying when he said they were in “good hands”. What an odd saying anyways, “good hands”! Were there ever “bad hands”??
Silveira: A type eleven I only flew… Once. But they say it’s like riding a bike.
Gnai: A bike…?
Sadar: Response
Morgan/Vailani: Response
Silveira: The expedition leader is Doctor Sadar, any complaints should be addressed to her.
The others seemed to be settling in for the flight, so Gnai found a seat of its own, stowing the small bag it brought underneath, and pulling out a PADD.
Imril: Doctor, a question not a complaint. You said you’re planning to pick up biological samples. How are we set up for storing them?
Sadar/Silveira: Response
Morgan/Vailani: Response
Those all seemed logical - and biological samples were far more within Lt. Sadar’s area of expertise than Gnai’s. No comment needed from it.
Imril: And how are you planning to test the targeting array?
Gnai: Will the interference from the stellar radiation be of any concern with the testing? Or will that be determined in situ?
Sadar/Silveira: Response
Morgan/Vailani: Response
Gnai: And… The study of the star, is that still set to proceed?
Sadar: Response
Morgan/Vailani/Silveira/Imril: Response
Gnai couldn’t help as its tendrils flashed with a bit of shyness and embarrassment.
Gnai: Thank you, sir. That’s the primary reason this decided to volunteer for this survey in the first place. It’s what this specialized in, at the Academy.
Sadar/Morgan: Response
Vailani/Silveira/Imril: Response
Satisfied, Gnai settled into its seat, ready to pour some more over the various PADDs it had brought. There was so much to see with this system survey, and it found itself getting a bit eager even over subjects that it wasn’t normally too interested in. The more it thought about it, the more it realized that the abnormal solar patterns could potentially impact the biology of the flora and fauna… and wasn’t that a fascinating thought?
Tags/TBC :)
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