The Forgotten Land

Outside the confines of the ship, beyond the docks, the city Meleager nearly glowed with life. It was dark out, but people still roamed the streets, and would all night, what few hours of night there were on the planet. The area around the docks was vacant, but it wouldn’t be for much longer.

The captain paced on the bridge, erect, her dark hair pulled up high on her head. She pulled out a pocketwatch and checked it. “Three hours until takeoff,” she said aloud. The only one there to hear her was her Commander.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said. “Which means the first ones should be showing soon.”

“Eh,” she said. “It also means we only have three hours to get this piece of shit flying at its best.” She rapped her knuckles on one of the control panels. “Damn cheap feds.”

“Garth has been doing an admirable job fixing things up.”

“Indeed, but I still miss the Zephyrus.” She sighed. “Ah well. Six months babysitting after landing and we can get back to where we were.”

Commander Wells nodded, looking out the front windows at the dock. Captain Argonova wouldn’t stop pacing, and she stopped in the middle of the bridge.

“Damn it all,” she said suddenly, with a sigh. “This whole place,” she said, gesturing to the bridge, “is gonna be… superfluous, in a decade, what with these A.I.s in ships now.”

There was an almost expectant silence, but they heard nothing. The A.I., it seemed, was too busy to comment. “Tell Ms. Maris to hurry up with her last checks on AriOS,” she said. “We’ll need the A.I. working when they start to board.”

“Yes ma’am,” Wells said, nodding, before he turned and started back to the real heart of the ship – the main computer control room.

Argonova crossed her arms, looking out the window and checking her watch again. Shouldn’t be much longer now. The packet they received should have told them to be two hours early or so. “Wells!” she called, and he stopped just at the door. “Ask her to help receive people as they come in,” she said. It wasn’t in her job description, exactly, but she didn’t have anything else to do after final checks, and she certainly seemed social enough.

Argonova turned back to look out the window of the ship, lost in thought. The sooner this mission was done with the better…

((Feel free now to write some intro in the city. You have full creative freedom in whatever you write – just know it’s a large, crowded area. You can play around with whatever futuristic tech ideas you’d like.))

[Attn: Open]

"The Shuttle will now be arriving at Meleager - East Station, Hollsworth Space Docking. Please make sure your -"

Gendrick had listened to several such announcements and had started to tune them out when the novelty had worn off.... it had taken perhaps twenty or so stops before he'd lost his sense of appreciation. This having been the third Magnetron Bullet Train he had been on, the second of the day.

Shouldering up his duffel he looked towards the door and the rapidly slowing scenery outside... the Grav stabilizers are so smooth, I can't even feel the acceleration as we stop.

"We have arrived at Meleager - East, Hollsworth Space Dock. Thank you for riding the -"

The announcements were also tedious after a point. "Excuse me. Excuse me, sorry for that. Pardon me. Thank you." he finally worked his way out of the throng of people leaving the train, and over to the directory. "Alright now-" Gendrick said moving his fingers over the map, to find his place.

"Hello and Welcome to the Hollsworth Sta-"

"Ahhh!" Gendrick said as the holo-avatar appeared just outside the directory screen. "By God, don't just jump out at me like that!"

"Might I help you with your travel and destination plans?" The interaction program repeated, obvious not a full A.I.

Placing his finger on the station, "No thank you, I am good." and in his other hand pulled out his holo-pad (well his older brother's hand-me down actually)from his shirt pocket and pulled up the information package he'd been sent while the hologram disappeared. "Alright. I head out from -" Gendrick looked at the map then left, then right... "Alright the west exit. (Which happened to on his left). Then I follow this one, get on the shuttle... and ask there."

Pulling himself from the directory booths, Gendrick start walking and making his way to where the Arion was docked. The information package they had sent said ten minutes from the station. Once again Gendrick, looked at the holo-pad in his hand before storing it back away in his pocket.

(ATTN: ALL)
Rain pounded against the rooftops on the far side of town; sky scrapers pierced the sky, their glowing light cascading down onto the people below. Like a cruel, dispassionate angel.
The glowing sign of NE-android industries towered over the rest. It'd foreboding red sign showcasing its name like a war-banner.
"Now you understand what this entails, correct?" They had asked her this when proposing it to her. Of course she had known, she wasn't an imbecile. She was currently in her apartment, finishing packing her bag. She had long ago bought a mass manipulator, so she could fit and carry far more in her bag than she appeared to. She ruffled her hair between her fingers, forcing it up in all manner of spikes; and she surveyed herself in the mirror, black leather-like pants, black, high collared jacket, black below the knee boots, black turtleneck, and black leather gloves.
Black
black
and more black. She slung her bag over she shoulder, taking one last look at her apartment. It was large, hosting amenities that she hardly used or needed; it was sparsely decorated, if she wanted to leave at the drop of the hat she'd hardly have anything to take. She closed the door, locking it with her retinal scanner. She stepped into the elevator, and went on her way to the basement, she turned to its clear, glass side, seeing the filthy, vile city she called her home. She sighed inwardly, well at least she'd be leaving soon. She left the elevator and descended into her semi-private garage. The lights flickered on as she approached, revealing her black bike, her method of mobility throughout the city. She slung her leg over the bike, revving the engine. She placed her helmet on and released the break, zooming off. She zipped through the streets people becoming a blur around her. They had told them to arrive two hours early, but the sooner they left the better; the sooner she could get paid. Besides, she really had nothing to do to prepare. She zoomed to the docks, trying to remember what they had told her of the ships, she stopped, surveying the ships. She took off her helmet, steadying the bike with her foot and she checked what the ships name was on her holo-pad.

Nova remained silent and did not move a muscle as she heard the sound of the shuttle's engin run and the slight rain dropping onto its roof. Of course she wasn't moving or speaking, more out of obligation than choice.

Her hands and forarms were bound together by big metal cuffs joint together in the center. There was then a chain linked from these cuffs to the ones restraining her ankles. She also had a half mask covering her mouth unableing her to speak or even emit the slightest sound from her mouth. And finally she was strapped to a chair... Talk about paranoid. Worst part is, it was all useless, Nova had no Intention of breaking out or hurting any one.. All these people were innocent.

She than looks at every one of the guards stationed in the room, ten to be exact.. Honestly.. What is the point of even having guards here.. I can't even move a muscle.. She thought, sighing through her nose, which was quite awkward.

All the guards seemed to be uncomfortable, being around such a "dangerous criminal".. If only they knew who was the real mastermind.. But that wouldn't happen. Either way she would be off this planet soon gladly enough..

Nova smiles inwardly.. The rain, concentrate on the rain Nova.. she thinks to herself. It had been the first time in months since she heard the rain since she way in prison down god knows how far underground.

So she just sat there silently listening to the rain and forgetting the rest for now, her eyes closed and her face peaceful.

So that’s all the cryo-pods working.

”Yes, Ms. Maris. I believe that concludes your final checks?”

Phoebe sat in the main control room, the true heart of the Arion, unmoving. Her mind was in other places, searching through the corridors of the A.I.’s mind. Her mind swam with code. Yeah. It does.

”Very good. You might also wish to know that Commander Wells has entered the control room and is trying to get your attention.”

Phoebe’s mind twitched. Right! Ah, discedo.

She felt her mind slipping back into her body, blinking hard as she started to feel the chair beneath her and the Commander’s hand on her shoulder.

“Ms. Maris?”

“Yes, Commander Wells!” she said with a start, standing up quickly and turning to him. She hesitated - what, am I supposed to salute or bow or something? - and the man smiled.

“You’re no soldier, Ms. Maris, so don’t worry. I’m Saul to you.”

“Alright, uh, sir,” she said awkwardly. It felt too familiar, anyway. He looked at her, and shrugged.

“The Captain requested that you be at the door to direct the colonists as they enter,” he said. “You can also be there while the AI conducts her secondary checks of the colonists.”

She nodded. All colonists who were boarding apparently went through some security procedures before even stepping foot on the ship – military personnel searching their person and belongings for contraband, identifying registered colonists and the like. AriOS would be doing a similar procedure, checking colonists against her databases. They still didn’t quite trust the A.I.s for that. “Sure thing,” she said, giving a nod and an awkward half-salute. Saul Wells smiled.

“Get to it then. Shouldn’t be much longer before they start to show.”

Phoebe nodded one last time, awkwardly skirting around him and walking towards the doors to the control room. The doors opened up on their own – Not exactly, that was AriOS who did that – and closed behind her, and she picked up her pace to a jog as she started towards the main doors.

The ship was silent as she passed through it, but she could still see the mind of the computer in her head – watching her running down the hallway, the Captain pacing in the bridge, the boy in the maintenance shafts working on the ship. The ship was the A.I. – her hologram was only the interface. She controlled everything the ship did, and if she malfunctioned…

Phoebe came to a halt near the airlock doors and caught her breath. “Opening the airlock,” she heard AriOS say over the intercom, as the doors started to hiss as they opened.

“Officials at the docks will be conducting checks outside. I cannot exist past the airlock so that is where I will do my own follow-up checks. What do you wish to do, Ms. Maris?”

“I can stay in the airlock with you,” she said into the open air, and as the inner set of doors finished opening AriOS’ hologram appeared inside the airlock.

“Very good. Inner doors will remain closed until colonists have been confirmed. Please step inside.”

Phoebe stepped into the airlock and the inner doors closed shut behind her. A few seconds passed, and the outer doors started to hiss as they began opening out onto the docks. Not much longer, then…

Juno found the name of the ship, 'Arion'. She dismounted her bike and rolled it alongside her into the bustling port. She saw people greeting one another and others boarding. She walked down the aisle, looking for the ship; finding it after a few freighters and cruise liners. She walked down the aisle, to the ships airlock, seeing two people up ahead. She straightened, trying to recall whatever the procedure was to enter the ship. She didn't remember because they had never really told her. She walked up, readying herself for the possible information they would ask her for. Her eyes surveying the ships exterior, she maintained her placid expression.

[Attn: Open, Arion Boarding Crew, etc.]

"Stupid piece of junk!" Gendrick said flicking the holo-pad a few times, till the stupid piece of technological stupidity started projecting a decent image again... Stupid projector needed to be rebuilt, but there never was enough time. 'This time, I will make time to fix you! You malfunctioning hand me down.' he vowed to himself.

Still standing beside on of the boss stop he checked the data-map again. "Alright, I'm on Docking Strut Nine." he said looking up at the marker column and verifying it. "Shouldn't be too hard to find from here. Now what did that ship look like again?" His fingers tapping and looking through the files to pull up the Arion's picture.

"Damn thing." He started flicking it again till the projector popped up a tiny model picture. "There." Gendrick said with a sigh of annoyance looking down at the holo-pad. "Time to find this thing."

-----------------------------------------------------

"Bag." Called the Security Guard as he held out his hand. To which Gendrick complied without hesitation... after all these guys where pseudo-military and he himself wanted to stop standing in line any longer than necessary. Opening the bag, the guard continued the procedure as he ruffled through Lockwood's Clothes. "Is there anything besides clothes in here? Anything I should be aware of?"

"No Sir. I already had my belongings shipped out here on the last space lift." It had been something of a necessity, and a rather costly one at that. Then again, his father had made a good point to send it out in advance so as to avoid it being 'lost in shipping.' or 'late'.

"Seems to check out." The man said as he handed the bag to another guard who scanned it with some sort of metal detector or perhaps something similar. "One relic holo-pad, and the clothes on his back. Packing pretty light Lockwood, sure about this? You don't have to make up that bit about 'Your stuff on the space lift', we understand."

Gendrick bit off anything that might throw him from the ship, instead tightening his hand slightly and letting it go. "Agriculture and Hydroponics." he just had to say something. "At least I probably won't be going hungry."

"Guess there is that. Luck Lockwood, you'll need it." The guard said returning his duffel and holo-pad, before calling for the next person in line. Gendrick proceeded past the guards and to the ramp to the ships boarding air-lock.

[ATTN: Juno]

The guards had set up several lines by then to boarding the Arion, and the one that had finished with Gendrick gestured then to Juno. He raised his eyebrows. "Looks like we've got a badass over here," he said, sounding amused. He held out his hand. "Bag. And identification for you and registration for you to bring that bike aboard."

[ATTN: Gendrick]

Phoebe straightened, breathing out as they let another colonist on board. The rear airlock closed behind her and the doors in front of them started to open again.

The man who stepped up to board was rugged, clearly a man who worked with his hands, with a holo-pad on his left arm. The thing looked antique. Phoebe straightened, flashing him a smile. You belong here, this is where you're supposed to be, so act like it!

"Welcome aboard the Arion, sir," she said, as the airlock doors closed behind him. "If you don't mind we'll begin secondary checks. Partially they're to make sure the guards outside did their job, and partially these are to test the new security method that uses solely A.I. scanning so..."

AriOS' hologram hadn't moved from Phoebe's side, staring over at Gendrick. She didn't need to move any closer to analyze him - the technology was already installed inside the airlock, and likely now she was searching through her databases for an application photo that matched him. "Ah, sorry, she does that," Phoebe said sheepishly, as AriOS kept up her unblinking stare.

[ATTN: Guards]- Juno looked at the man, her eyes placid, unblinking and rather unnerving. As she looked at the man the gaze might have either melted or frozen the skin off his body. It wasn't quite a glare, but the irritation and contempt could be felt crawling up the spine. She slung the bag off her shoulder and tossed it into is grasp, it being heavier than its appearance implied. With her newly freed hands she reached into her jacket and pulled out a stack of slim, neatly folded papers. "My ID and registration, licences, and permissions for the bike and guns." She placed her helmet in the bikes side bag, running her fingers through the front of her hair, lifting the slightly damp strands off her forehead.

[Attn: Phoebe, AriOS, Open]

Gendrick watched as the Air-lock doors opened, without hardly any noise... good maintenance, as expected considering they have had time to do some. Then he caught sight of something rather unprecedented... a very cute... what was the word?

"Welcome aboard the Arion, sir," said the girl... perhaps she's called a greeter since that's what she is doing. "If you don't mind we'll begin secondary checks. Partially they're to make sure the guards outside did their job, and partially these are to test the new security method that uses solely A.I. scanning so..."

'Now how exactly where they going to scan me?, I didn't see any machinery in the Air-lock. Perhaps infra-red, magnetic, ultra-sonically... well there was probably a list of ways it could be done really. Medical technology is really getting real crazy this century.'

"I. See." he hadn't actually noticed the A.I. Well not at first, the staring.. was that how AI's where supposed to be?. "Tech sure is something out here away from Julanitcia. On Mars." Gendrick added the last part rather quickly, the girl probably didn't know where Julanitcia was. Now that he recalled, she was called a 'receptionist' that was probably the word he had been looking for. "I'm not sure how I address you... Ar-e-Os." He slid the holo-pad into his breast pocket and held out a hand towards them.

Pink really did suit her, and the clothes where rather daring in his opinion, but he started to see a lot of rather starling things since leaving home, clothes being just one of them. He offered his name first, it was rude not to introduce oneself first. "Gendrick Lockwood. Pleased to meet you both."

Attn: Guards

Nova opened her eyes as she noticed the shuttle was landing, it seemed it was the time.. One of the men watching her then came up and unstrapped her from the chair. He than abruptly forced her up, very roughly to be exact, and than dragged her to the doors as they opened up, revealing the outside world.

It was nighttime, her favorite time of the day, if she could smile, she would have at that moment, but her mask unfortunately forbid her from doing so. She was then pushed out of the shuttle, followed by the ten guards, and than was escorted to what seemed to be a line up to get into a ship. That ship was her freedom, well, hopefully..

The man holding her than brings her passed the whole line, cutting in front of every one, and went up to the Guards in charge of verifying if the people were truly registered colonists. The man finally says "Here she's on your hands now, here are the papers proving she has been registered." he says taking out the papers from his pocket and handing them to the guard, as well as giving him the keys for the shackles and mask.

He looks at Nova one last time before turning away with the nine other guards. Nova hears him mumble. "I hope you rot in hell you monster.." she closes her eyes for a moment, trying to cut off any emotion before turning towards the guard that was apparently in charge of her now. She just waited for him to tell her what to do since she really couldn't do much on her own free will yet.

[ATTN: Juno, Rosella]

The guard raised his eyebrows, snatching her papers away and dropping her bag down hard at his feet. "I hope you don't talk to your waiter like this, Ms... Fellekry," he said, glancing down at her papers. "Can't imagine the food you get is any good."

He took a step back, starting to go through her papers and her bag ponderously slow. So slow, in fact, that Rosella reached the front of her line before he was halfway through.

The man in charge of her line gave her a friendly smile. "Registration and luggage, miss," he said, holding out a hand.

[ATTN: Gendrick]

"Atalanta is famous for technology," Phoebe said. She blinked as he held out his hand. "Ah, Phoebe Maris," she said, grasping his hand - huge in comparison to hers.

"Gendrick Lockwood, yes," AriOS suddenly cut in, her voice curt, and Phoebe jumped. "Resident of Julanitcia, Mars. Skilled in Agriculture and Hydroponics. Equipped with a defective holo-pad..."

"Yes, yes, is anything out of place, AriOS?" she asked, cutting her off. Was it just her or did she sound almost insulted?

"Negative. I had several possessions listed under his name already stowed. If you wish to have that holo-pad fixed, I'm sure head engineer Garth Severan may be of assistance."

"Alright," Phoebe said, as the inner doors started to open. "Thank you, Mr. Lockwood. If you need anything, directions, clarification, ask it aloud and AriOS can hear you anywhere on the ship." She gave him a small smile, nodding her thanks and waving him out of the airlock as she prepared to meet the next one.

[ATTN: Sullivan]

Meanwhile, AriOS' voice spoke also inside the vents Sullivan hid in, recognizing the binary he was using to communicate. "Please remain calm, Sullivan," she said. "You have done nothing wrong."

[ATTN: Nova]

The guard that Nova had been handed off to raised his eyebrows, looking over her nervously. "Right," he said, looking over her papers. "Yes. Let's get you into the airlock, then?" he said, looking behind them to see the airlock doors had opened up again.

He waved down another guard, and the two of them started to lead Nova up into the airlock. Phoebe blinked, taking a cautious step back.

"Miss, please stay back," one of the guards said to Phoebe. "We'll stay here with you until she's inside," he said to her, as the outer door closed.

"You may release her," AriOS said. "Step back into the corners." The two guards exchanged looks, letting her go and darting back into the corners of the airlock as a barrier suddenly popped up around Nova - perfectly round and glowing faintly blue. "I will do secondary scans like so," she said.

[Attn: Pheobe, AriOS, Open]

The receptionist took his hand... it was a good thing too. The A.I next to her had a displeased look on her face.... or was that a projection error... The girl was introducing herself when the A.I. cut in....

"Gendrick Lockwood, yes," She was most definitely upset...

'Great I've just upset the ship.' This flight suddenly seemed like it was going to be much longer than he had thought.

"Resident of Julanitcia, Mars. Skilled in Agriculture and Hydroponics. Equipped with a defective holo-pad..."

"Yes, yes, is anything out of place, AriOS?" The girl said turning around and facing the A.I. her hands going to her hips.

'Mustn't stare' he rose his eyes from her lower half. This was one cat fight he'd like to avoid at all costs. Real or Not, any smart man didn't get in the middle of that.

"Negative. I had several possessions listed under his name already stowed. If you wish to have that holo-pad fixed, I'm sure head engineer Garth Severan may be of assistance."

Gendrick took the opportunity to rub his left arm and wrist. The metal filaments inside where humming... matter of fact if he paid attention and toned out the girls just a slight bit he could notice the faint hum of the room - 'or I just am imagining things.

"I wouldn't want to bother the crew with something so trivial. I'm sure they have other duties more pressing, and I can see to it myself." He'd find out where his room was, and if any of the gear he had marked for his room was inside.

Walking out the inner Air-lock door he smiles. "By the way -" he rose his voice higher as he stopped at the door and looked at girl. "Maris. You seem less nervous now. Let the little stuff slide, and try to relax. Bye Phoebe."
The door started to close as he passed it, probably AriOS shutting him out.

Gendrick heard them close with a hiss, he started down the hall and went in search of his room. "A pretty girl like that, should be careful not to draw a man's attention to her hips like that." he mumbled quietly to himself, "Those clothes don't help either, they cling to her like water on a lily." he sighed shaking his head.

Not having to worry about swallowing his pride, he asked for directions from one of the crew. Seemed the Colonists where all staying in this area. Finding his room he touched the button and entered the room.

"uuhhhgg, Cryopods." he groaned when the doors opened. "I just got the taste of liquified limed jello out of my mouth from my last trip." Walking down the rows of pods he looked over the glowing names on the panel of the cryo-hatches.

Great, I would have loved one near a wall. he said finding his in one of the clusters in the middle of the room. Opening one of the lockers next to the pods, he made sure to stow his duffel. It fit with just a bit of cramming. "Geez, are we supposed to just stand around for now or what?"

"Nah, best go to the hold and make sure everything arrived. Maybe they will want a hand stowing everything before lift off."

(Will head to the storage Bay unless anyone stops him to talk or anything. Leaving it open.)

Rion has already checked the security thrice. Additionally, the place used to be quiet. He hears voices everywhere, now. The colonists must be arriving. He is a little lost--not on the ship, but with how to fully communicate without it becoming entirely awkward.

He is at the cryo-pods, searching for the one with his name on it. He finds it quickly, almost bumping into a rugged looking man as he places some stuff into the pod next to him. He backs away, balling his hand into a fist with his thumb curling over his fingers and placing his thumb against his chest. Then, he rubs his chest in a circular motion with it, clockwise to the man's view.

The female voice of an AI shoots forth as his hands begin to move more quickly after the man sees him. "My apologies. I did not see you there. Please forgive my clumsiness."

He stops signing now, but the voice keeps speaking. "The man before you is called Rion. The AI that is speaking to you is referred to as A.I.L.A., or Aila, if you prefer."

The man begins to sign quickly with vigor--"I know that you didn't say that. You were rude enough not to introduce us, so I took the liberty of doing so. Be silent if you have nothing to say the man, speaking to just me will make him feel left out."

Rion crosses his arms, his shoulders slumping apologetically.

(ATTN: Guard) Juno's gaze fell on him, utterly unamused. "That would require me to actually go out to resturants, to begin with-" She tapped a finger rythmically against her arm. "And two, I don't like people- especially men who make a point of making snide remarks." Her eyes scanned him, making note of his every movement; she had become increasingly irritated with him. Normally, she would have just walked away, but she was being forced. She took a mental note of the people around her, a mixture of men and women, all appearing rather different than one another.

[Attn: Rion, A.i.l.a. , open]

A sudden noise next to him, then the quick sound of a person recovering their balance startle Gendrick... "Thought I was alone in here. I didn't see you earlier, sorry."

What was the man doing with his hands?

"My apologies. I did not see you there. Please forgive my clumsiness."

"ah-uh???" his mouth hanging open in in confusion... it most definitely was a man before him, he could see the person's face and everything.. Well Gendrick was pretty sure it was a man. Though he wasn't about to bet on it right now.

"The man before you is called Rion. The AI that is speaking to you is referred to as A.I.L.A., or Aila, if you prefer."

'ohhh! That explains it.' Gendrick was glad he hadn't opened that can of worms. The man was making those odd signs again with his hands, where those supposed to mean something.

"I know that you didn't say that. You were rude enough not to introduce us, so I took the liberty of doing so. Be silent if you have nothing to say the man, speaking to just me will make him feel left out." The man crosses his arms and slumps defeated...

'Pussy whipped by an A.I, poor bastard.' Gendrick crossed his arms in front of his chest for a second. "Well, sorry if this bursts your hopes. But you're not even in the top dozen things that have surprised me today." Letting out a sigh, he holds out his hand. "Rion. Aila. Gendrick Lockwood."

Seeing the man straighten up, Gendrick noticed the guard uniform. Then he noticed the open locker and the man's belongings in it. "Umm - I was under the pretense that this was the Colonist Cryo area. Aren't the pods for the crew in another section?"

Rion shakes his hand as he poses another question about his cryo-pod assignment. It is a good question--the crew is generally placed elsewhere. However, Rion isn't just part of the crew, as he is also to be a colonist.

He signs again. "I am a part of the crew, but I am also to be a colonist when we arrive. Though it is my duty as part of the military to escort this ship to its destination safely and prevent any damage to the ship, it is also my privilege as my last duty as a military officer. I will be nothing but a colonist when we arrive.

Well met, Gendrick Lockwood. You have an interesting name."

Rion stops signing and moves to look at the small storage compartment that is near his own pod.

[Attn: Rion, AILA, Open]

The man started signing again, his mouth moving in silence as if in memory of speaking. It was however the female voice that spoke, from somewhere on his neck. Must be a speaker there, somewhere.. probably part of the neural interface.

"I am a part of the crew, but I am also to be a colonist when we arrive. Though it is my duty as part of the military to escort this ship to its destination safely and prevent any damage to the ship, it is also my privilege as my last duty as a military officer. I will be nothing but a colonist when we arrive.

Well met, Gendrick Lockwood. You have an interesting name."

Seemed that this conversation was called to a close. Perhaps he simply felt odd having to speak through the AILA. Gendrick could understand that one, no man would want a woman's voice to speak for him. Gendrick wanted to ask why the A.I, just didn't fabricate his voice for him, but instead all he said was:

"Thank you. It was nice to meet you both." Before walking out into the hall and starting towards the storage bay. At least this time he had directions. If you had to stop for directions, you might as well get them all at the same time.

"Down this corridor and to the right. Then I can start from here." His directions started from one of the main corridors, and was pretty straight forward from there.

Nova let herself be escorted inside the airlock and there appeared to be a girl and an AI waiting there, probably to greet the colonists. She wouldn't be getting a greeting, the girl seemed nervous, with reason of course.. But still it sucked..

The AI than surprises Nova by asking the guards to release her, until a blue bubble looking thing appeared around her. Seems like even the AI did not like her. She simply rolls her eyes an slightly taps the bubble to confirm that it was a barrier. She than waits for the scan to be done with.

[ATTN: Nova]

Phoebe had seemed surprised earlier, maybe even embarrassed by Lockwood's parting remarks, but now she just looked over at the new woman nervously. The A.I. stood at her side, hands behind her back.

"Identity confirmed," she said. "Nova Hallibelle, former military, now accused and convicted of numerous war crimes, including murder of civilians, inhumane treatment of civilians and fellow soldiers, et cetera. Formerly sentenced to death, sentence changed to colonization."

AriOS gave her a level look. "You will be released from your bonds while on board, with one caveat: should you act or speak in any manner that is suspicious, you will be detained again, and should you act in a manner that I judge to be harmful to the common welfare I will not hesitate to kill you."

Phoebe was silent. Indeed, in every room there had been defense systems installed, of some sort, from simple barriers to full out hidden weapons in the more key rooms of the ship - a dangerous move, should AriOS go rogue. But that's why I'm here.

The blue barrier dropped, and the inner door started to open. "Unlock her please," AriOS said, and the two guards moved to remove her shackles and mask.

When the door fully opened, she nodded. "Welcome aboard, miss," AriOS said, her voice flat.

[ATTN: Sullivan]

There was silence as AriOS puzzled out his meaning. "No one is here for you, Sullivan," she said. "Calm down."

[ATTN: Juno]

He gave her a look. "And I don't care for arrogant women who think they can intimidate me," he said, zipping her bag shut and throwing it at her with a dry smile. "Thankfully, I don't have the sort of job where I have to be polite to such people." He jerked his thumb behind him. "Wait for your turn at the airlock."