Aboard The Argo

Cockpit

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The cockpit of The Argo is able to hold 20 crew members in emergency situations. The main controls of the ship are here, with the flight team's three seats located immediately in front of the thick glass screens (which also have metal shutters available to block them). Other systems can be controlled from here, and communications from Earth and the other planets is often received here.

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Alec entered the cockpit area and nodded at a communications tech who was still running on their shift. He headed to the front, climbing down the ladder that led to the lower level before climbing into his seat. Strapping himself in, the seat was raised while a control panel was raised between his legs, folding out to reveal the various functions at his disposal. He tapped a button, and the metal shielding protecting the glass windows at the front of the ship opened. The vast expanse of space showed itself to him, twinkling stars the only companion. However, something seemed wrong - a bright star that was normally in the center of his vision was now not in sight. He tapped a few more buttons, and a screen on the console showed the ship's trajectory. "What?" he muttered to himself, before tapping a few more buttons to bring up a summary of the ship's course projections. After a few moments of staring at the information in front of him, Alec pressed another button at the edge of the console. "This is Pilot Alec Polansk. All crew members, please report to the mess hall. Repeat, all crew members report to the mess hall." With that, he unclipped himself and the console folded back away and the seat lowered itself. He remained staring out at the vastness of space before him. Not long after, he climbed out of his seat, scaled the ladder and left the cockpit via Argo: Quarters B.

Some time later, Alec entered the cockpit and went to his chair. As he clipped himself in, his seat was raised and his console unfolded for him. He tapped a few commands in and the glass windows brought up a crosshair, which centred in on a distant object. From there, the image zoomed in to cover the whole of the windows revealing the ship they had been heading for. The other vessel was dark, its hull carbonised from planet entry, but even with the black stains on it, English writing could be seen painted on the side. "Does that say... Polaris?" Alec muttered as he squinted at the image. As far as he could tell, the ship appeared to be a human vessel, though of an older build than The Argo. He steepled his fingers and looked at 'The Polaris' over them.

"What do you know about it so far, Mr. Polansk?" Toya asked Alec as she walked in, not bothering with pleasantries.

"Hey!" said Kyarion as he entered soon after Toya. "What it looks like?" he asked just before he saw the image on the screen. "It's... our? So much for alien speculations."

"That doesn't particularly mean anything, Mr. Kavarinen." Toya said blandly. "On the off chance that there exists an alien race capable of space travel, we have no way of knowing at the moment how advanced they are or how their civilization progressed. It could be that aliens have a similar sense of aesthetics to us, or that they are more aware of our presence than we are of theirs and designed a ship by our specifications." She paused. "Or, I suppose a more troubling alternative is that it happens to be one of our ships, but not necessarily our crew."

Marcus walked in and stood near the back of the room, quietly eyeing the image showing on the windows.

"It'd be a bloody coincidence if aliens spoke English too," Alec said, spinning his chair round so that he could address gathered crew members. The image behind him kept slowly zooming in and then suddenly pulling back, showing that they were still approaching the vessel. "It's human, from what we can see here. We'll stop a kilometre from it and take a closer look. And if I'm happy with what I see, y'ell need to decide which of you should go aboard."

"Reasonable," said Kyarion to Toya's last statement. He glanced at Marcus when he arrived. "Have we any record of ship named Polaris having launched? Information would be nice!" he said then and put his visor over his eyes, intending to check whether he could find any information from the databases he could access.

"Language doesn't mean anything if they've been studying us, Mr. Polansk. Besides, I don't understand a word of Ancient Egyptian, but that doesn't mean I can't trace over or copy some hieroglyphics." Toya pointed out.

"Are you trying to start a panic, cousin?" Pace grimaced.

"Of course not! But I'd rather we be prepared for any possibility than be caught off-guard." Toya replied, keeping the threatening messages in mind. She turned to Alec and raised an eyebrow. Trade one flying scrap heap for another? No, thank you.

Pace smiled at Alec. "I'd be willing to go aboard!"

Zhora entered the cockpit not too far behind everyone else and was greeted with a image of a slightly tarnished space-craft, very human-looking in nature. Standing further back in the crowd, she quietly listened to everyone pipe in about what was going on. "I'd be willing to make an appearance myself. If there are others aboard, I'll be able to help out if someone's hurt."

Raising his hands for quiet, Alec span the chair back round and tapped in a couple of commands to set the ship's speed to a lower level as they approached the other vessel. As he turned back to the gathered crew members, he stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Since we have no other name for now, we'll call it The Polaris." He eyed the people who'd volunteered to go aboard and nodded. "Those of you willing to go aboard will be allowed. You'll be accompanied by two members of the security team - just in case."

Kyarion scratched his head at not finding any information about the ship, but then shrugged it off. "I can go. It is rather unique experience going to an alien ship, definitely." He certainly didn't have it in him to think that there would be something threatening in the unknown ship – dangers due to malfunctions or the like surely, but not hostile beings. Even if there for some inexplicable reason were hostile creatures, Kyarion didn't think it would be that problematic.

Priyaan squeezed in between the other crew members to see the ship on the screen. "Woah..." she breathed.

Alec nodded at Kyarion and Zhora's offers to go aboard The Polaris. "I was hoping you two would be up for going." He looked down from his chair at one of the Dee cousins - was it Pace? "What is your specialism again?"

"I'm a biologist!" Pace grinned.

"That could be useful - head down to the science center and gather whatever equipment you need," Alec told Pace. He looked over the other members of the crew. "Good. That should be enough for a first outing. As I said, I'll have security with you just in case. I'll be staying aboard The Argo."

Pace grinned brightly and ran out to Argo: Science Center.

"If there aren't any aliens on Tau Ceti, you just made his decade," Toya said dryly.

Nytera emerged behind Piraan and stared out the window. "I want to go." She immediately stated stubbornly. Instantly her mind started trying to think of a way to sneak out with the others going to explore the ship.

"A human weapon might be an asset if they're hostile." Toya pointed out. "But it's best she has a handler to make sure she doesn't sneak off."

Marcus' eyes widened at Toya's comments. How could she suggest Nytera being allowed on that unknown vessel?! He started squeezing through gaps in the crowd to be able to get to Nytera.

"I'm afraid only official crew members can be given leave of the ship for now," Alec said in a commanding tone. "Last thing I want is untrained civvies getting themselves in trouble over there." He flickered a grim glance at Toya after her comment. "And we don't need people trying to cause arguments either." He looked back at Kyarion and Zhora. "Grab whatever kit you might need for over there. Then meet the security detail in the docking bay. Zhora, give my instructions to Pace on your way." He let his gaze wander over the other crew members. "Everyone else, I'm sure you have duties."

Priyaan tugged at Nytera's arm. "Come with me," she whispered to her, trying to get her away from Marcus.

Toya shrugged at Alec and gave him a blank look. "Whatever you say, Mr. Polansk."

For a brief second Nytera looked hopeful. She was completely willing to play the weapon card, regardless if she didn't know how, as long as it got her on that ship. However, her hopes were crushed almost immediately after Alec's statement. Priyaan seemed to know what to do and she ducked down, hopefully out of her uncle's sight, and followed. "Where are we going?" She asked the older woman.

Kyarion gave Nytera a curious look but said nothing. "Some tools are good if there is something stuck or needing repair," he said. "I will grab a toolbox. Pace... ah, he is gone already! Zhora, you will join him to get some scanners, yes? See you in the docking bay." He turned and headed to Argo: Quarters B.

Priyaan motioned at Nytera and led the way to Argo: Quarters B.

Nytera couldn't keep back a small smirk as she followed Priyaan to Argo: Quarters B.

Listening to Alec as he gave out his commands, Zhora nodded slightly at the male to show that she understood what he wanted her to do. Looking to Kyarion as he began to speak as well, she gave the male a smile. "Yep, see you there!" As people started exiting the room, she followed their example and made her way to Argo: Science Center.

Alec addressed the remaining crew. "The rest of you, get to your duties." He span his chair round so that he was viewing the other ship again.

"Nytera!" called Marcus as he searched for his niece. His eyes were frantically studying the faces of the crowd as they started filtering out of the cockpit.

"I think she already left with that skinny lady." Toya told Marcus as he passed her.

Marcus followed Toya on their way to the door. "I have a bad feeling that she's going to cause some trouble. Or get in trouble. Do you know where they went?"

"They went into the quarters. Aside from that, they could've gone anywhere." Toya glanced at Marcus from the corner of her eye. "But I wouldn't put it past either one of them to sneak off for the sake of 'research'."

"Thank you, Toya," Marcus said quickly before pushing his way past people to get to Argo: Quarters B.

A moment later, Priyaan re-entered the cockpit, noticing that it was much quieter than before. She sat at the edge of the platform before the drop-down to the pilot seats, leaning on the railing as she looked at the ship on the window screen.

"Good to see you're still with us, Miss Ranchet." Toya said to Priyaan.

Priyaan turned so that she could see Toya. "Oh... umm, thank you," she said, feeling that perhaps she was walking into a conversation where she'd have to attempt to lie.

"I suppose our teenage rebel is off moping and keeping her nose clean, right?" Toya asked sarcastically.

Priyaan didn't catch the sarcasm, and nodded. "Yeah, she's upset that she can't go over." She tried to steer the conversation away from her revealing Nytera's plan. "You never know, the ship might be completely safe and we'll all be allowed over." She looked back towards The Polaris on the screens. "I wonder what they'll find."

"No need to wonder," Alec said without turning round. "I'll have video footage fed directly from the crew's helmets back here so we can see first-hand what's there." He finally turned the chair so he could address Priyaan and Toya. "If you two want to watch, you're welcome. I could always do with an extra set of eyes."

"Of course." Toya nodded. That ship was possibly the source of the messages she received and her cousin was going in there without knowing if there was any danger or not. She did not intend to take her eyes off that ship.

"I was hoping you'd allow us to stay and watch," Priyaan added. "It's exciting! A new spacecraft, unknown to us! I absolutely have to see what's inside!"

Alec nodded at the two women. "Good. Thank you." He turned his seat back towards the screen. He pressed the comm button on his collar. "Security away team: This is Alec Polansk. Let me know when your helmets are secured and I can activate camera feeds."

"Mr. Polansk?" Toya walked up next to Alec and kept her voice low so Priyaan could not hear. "Should we tell them of the threats?"

Before Alec could reply, he received a message through from the security captain. Listening to it, he nodded to himself before turning to Toya. "No," he said after a pause to consider it. "I don't want to cause undue alarm. For all we know they could have come from someone aboard the ship." He looked back at the screen. "And if they came from there, I'm sure the security boys will be able to handle it."

"....How good of you to have such faith in your people, Mr. Polansk." Toya said blandly. Her voice and face seemed as indifferent as always, but her hands were shaking at the thought of her cousin on that ship without any knowledge of the homicidal exchanges.

Priyaan watched Alec and Toya talking together. What were they hiding? They seemed to be keeping their voices low enough to avoid her hearing.

The sound of one of the security team's voices came through into the cockpit's intercom system. "Polansk, we're suiting up now. Confirm current links with myself, Smith, and Kavarinen. Helmet cam links pending for Dee and Locklear."

"I'm activating room based telecom now," Alec announced as he tapped in a couple of commands into his console. The screen changed to show 5 screens, 2 of them blank. As he tapped in more commands, the screens displayed surnames underneath them. The three active showed the views from the helmets of the suited up team members. "We have you up, Captain Lipman. I have two crew members in the cockpit with me here who will be aiding us ad helping keep an eye out for you." He turned so that he could see both Priyaan and Toya. "Your voices will now be heard by those team members heading to The Polaris. Please keep this in mind."

"I will." Toya said. At least this way, she could keep a close eye on her cousin. And maybe keep an eye out for whatever Priyaan and Nytera might have planned.

Priyaan nodded, avoiding making any sound. She looked at the screens and was relieved to see no sign of Nytera, though she then felt some worry that perhaps her friend wasn't even in the docking bay.

One of the blank screens activated, the one labelled 'Dee'. "Your cousin is now online," Alec said to Toya without turning round.

"I noticed." Toya nodded to herself. "That only leaves one helmet cam." She turned to Priyaan and scanned her face. The other woman seemed to be looking for something in particular...

Alec chuckled to himself. "Zhora, taking her time getting ready as usual." He sighed and tapped in a command that brought up the external cams' view of The Polaris alongside the helmet cams of the crew arrayed in the docking bay. He paused, looking at the other ship, before tapping in another command. "Unidentified craft, this is Alec Polansk of The Argo. Please respond. We are readying a shuttle to board you, with aid. Please respond."

As the silence returned from the other ship, Priyaan shivered. With it floating on the screen, with no sign of activity, it had taken on the menacing air of an empty creature's shell. I hope I haven't helped Nytera get herself hurt, she thought to herself.

Toya narrowed her eyes at the ship. "I suppose their communications are down." To most, that sentence would have seemed uncharacteristically optimistic of her, but there was a bitter undertone present for Alec's benefit.

"Well, we'll know more when the away team is over there," Alec said as he closed the communication link to the other ship. "Still. It's odd. No messages of any sort, not even an automated message." He frowned as he viewed the ship on screen.

"Maybe there are too many people in the room, Mr. Polansk." Toya said cryptically, recalling how the messages she received stopped when she contacted Alec.

Alec shook his head. "Priyaan has as much right to be here as you, Toya," he said. "At the moment, though, anything is possible."

Toya had not actually meant the double meaning of insulting Priyaan, but decided to run with it and see if she would break. "Of course she does. She has as much right as me or even, say, Nytera."

Priyaan felt herself sweating, her nerves starting to fray. Why is she bringing up Nytera? Has she spotted her? She swallowed down the lump of nervousness in her throat and attempted to ignore Toya's comments, instead keeping an eye on the screens of the helmet cams.

"Enough!" Alec barked. "Toya, your attitude needs to change if you intend to remain in this room." He made eye contact with Priyaan. "However, if you know anything about something that might jeopardise the mission, I suggest you tell me now."

Priyaan forced herself to look into the icy eyes of the pilot. "I have no information to share," she said as calmly as she could. "The last time I saw Nytera, she was climbing into her bunk. I doubt she'll jeopardise anyone there," she lied.

Toya narrowed her eyes at Priyaan, not believing a word of it, but kept her mouth shut. She did not want to risk getting kicked out.

The screen labelled 'Locklear' finally showed an image. Not long after, the comm link sounded out: "All away members on-board. Ready to disembark The Argo. Smith, confirm systems are a go." Almost immediately after, another voice took over. "Systems are a go. Activating pressure locks. De-pressurising docking bay. Opening bay doors. Awaiting final go."

Taking a moment to savour the moment of sending a team to an unknown location for the first time, Alec eventually said, "Yeh're good to go!" his excitement causing his Scottish accent to become accentuated. Seconds later, he watched as the shuttle appeared on the screen showing The Polaris, heading for its underneath. "There must be a docking bay down there," he said, mainly for his own benefit.

Toya rolled her eyes at Alec's excitement. She later found herself scowling at her cousin's staring. At least they're prepared... "You heard the man, Pace! Move your butt!"

Priyaan couldn't help but grin as she watched the shuttle head over to the other ship. When Toya admonished her cousin Pace, she nearly chuckled. However, her worries for Nytera made her amusement short-lived. Please be careful, she thought.

With the away team's cameras showing the interior of The Polaris, Alec watched the screens intently. "Already this is fascinating," he breathed.

Toya narrowed her eyes at the sight of the scratches. "Scan for traces on those. We might be able to tell if the claws were organic or mechanical."

A message came over the intercom from Luke: "I'd rather find the thing first."

Alec frowned. "Smith, my advisor here is under my command just as you are," he barked. After a moment, he watched Luke investigating the scratchmarks.

Toya's eyes narrowed and her shoulders tensed as her cousin approached the strange pyramid. 'We don't even know what that thing is capable of...'

"A living pyramid?" Alec murmured. He turned to Priyaan. "Ever heard of anything like this?"

Priyaan shook her head. "Never. Of course, I've only ever had Earth-based life to deal with," she added. The revelation made her feel increasingly nervous about her new-found friend being on board the other ship.

"Earth-based." Toya chuckled dryly. "All it takes is just the right combination of chemicals bonded and jump-started in just the right way. A single microbe on a single chunk of rock blasted past the atmosphere could make anything... Or it could just fry before it gets the chance."

Alec ignored the chatter behind him as he tapped commands in his console to bring up messaging options. He started tapping out a message on the big screen underneath the camera feeds, detailing their finding of another vessel and a seemingly benign alien lifeform, and that further details would follow. "Crazy to think that it'll be years before the laddies back home receive this," he murmured as he hit the 'Send' command.

"What was that?" Priyaan asked, pointing at the screens. "It looks like that shuttle thing has moved." Her suspicions were half-confirmed by Oscar and Luke's reactions to the vessel, squaring up against it.

"Nytera?" Alec questioned, after Kyarion suggested the pilot of the alien shuttle was the troublesome young civilian. He turned his chair to be able to look at Priyaan. "Any idea why your friend might be on an unknown spaceship piloting and unknown vehicle?"

Priyaan immediately put on a face of complete innocence. "I have no idea! Literally, she disappeared off in a piss about not being able to go, and I haven't seen her since!"

Toya rolled her eyes at Priyaan's insistence, not believing a word of it.

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Accessible locations from here:

Argo: Quarters B (accessed via doorway)

Argo: Science Center (accessed via lower doorway)

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* Aboard The Argo * Argo: Start * Argo Characters * Argo Rules*