ataraxion | 005 | video | space training part two

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005 | video | space training part two

Hello, Tranquility. [ Carolyn looks a little rougher this jump, with a healing gash on her temple and uneven hair. Still, she's giving the camera a slight smile. ] This is Carolyn Fry.

Some of you may recall that Ellen Ripley and I were holding space training classes. I understand people are still recovering from our most recent event, but I'm going to continue with them this month. A recording of the last session and any future sessions can be found in the following link. [ Here. ] If you can't show up for any reason, I'd strongly suggest looking these over.

This session will be held in the shuttle bay, like last time, and focus on using the decontamination chambers, getting in and out of a space suit correctly, and a review on shuttles. This is open to everyone and I highly recommend going if you've never been to space before. Some of us have, and we know what we're doing. If you have any questions now, feel free to ask. If you have any suggestions for things to cover in the future, I'll take those, too.

[ She pauses, then switches gears. ]

On a personal note, I'm looking for someone who can cut my hair. ... Thanks.

[ And the feed switches off. ]

((ooc: Probably not going to put up a log for this session of space training since people are still backtagging the jump and the SH plot, unless a lot of people want me to. Feel free to handwave that your character showed up though!))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

What?

When I signed up for this, I forgot you intended to fill my workspace with wide eyed newbies every five minutes.

They won't be going near most of the shuttles. You'll be fine, Casey.

[ A grunt. This one is: I don't believe you but I'll agree anyway. ]

You see that you do that. Make sure they know to avoid low lying cables, too, I'm welding in bay 26.

And they can keep their voices down. You don't want to see what happens when people damage my calm.

[ That last bit might be a joke. But there's always a risk when not taking Casey seriously. ]

And we'll be in bay 01. Nothing to worry about.

[ Pause. ]

You could always take a break for a while and show up yourself.

Hmph, and do what? Scare people into taking you seriously?

[ That rankles a little bit, and her voice gets harder. ]

Do you know how to use the decontamination chambers, Casey?

[ A pause. Oh. Right. That would be the sound of him getting in trouble at last. ]

I know how to get in and out of a spacesuit, and your crash course on shuttles is like my ABCs.

[ That would be a no. ]

You didn't answer my question. I'll take that as a no.

You have one hour to get your ass down here.

[ Congratulations Casey, you've just volunteered to help her set up. ]

I didn't--

[ How you remind him of Beckman right now, Carolyn. Except, you know, younger and hotter.

Wait.

No, this can never end well. ]

Does that mean you want me right now, or in an hour?

[ Was it ever going to end well? ]

Now, but I'll let you finish up what you're doing.

Don't make me wait more than an hour or I'll come to get you, and you're not going to appreciate that.

[ I'll be in my bunk. ]

I'll be right there. Casey out.

[ She's waiting for him in bay one, arms crossed over her chest, one booted foot tapping. Her comm's in one of her hands, held out so she can check messages and the time.

Tick-tock, John. ]

[ He only takes twenty minutes. And if she asks why it takes that long, he had to walk the full length of a residential deck first. Always ready to do his duty, that's John Casey.

Or maybe he just doesn't like it on Carolyn's shit list.

Maybe what's most telling is he hasn't managed to think of a smart ass greeting for her even in the time he's had, so he doesn't say anything, just shows up in her presence. ]

[ In all honesty, the lack of a smart ass greeting has her raising an eyebrow. Still, he's there, and if she's cooled off at all in the past twenty minutes, she doesn't let it show.

Her communicator goes back into her belt, next to her knife, and she nods toward the closest working shuttle. ]

Sys check. Go. I'll be right behind you.

[ A grunt. Great. A test, and he forgot to study. Giving her one last look he heads into the number one shuttle, rolling his shoulders as he goes and standing to flick on buttons above his head, making sure nothing was turned on that was unnecessary, docking clamps communicating, headlights turned off, then slipped down into the pilot seat, running a phantom start up to check the flight controls while he went routinely from one check up task to the next. Autopilot, structural integrity, containment, then each of the maneuvering thrusters in turn, as though he were checking a plane's systems before take off. Meanwhile the engines whirred to life, providing just enough turnover to check that everything was in working order.

Of course he might have overlooked one or two things, since this wasn't a fighter jet. The groaning of metal as a thruster set on amber rather than red provided torque against the docking clamp was more than enough to make Casey shut it off again just a fraction of a second later, the engine noise whirring down to a hum. ]

I meant to do that.

[ She could get used to being the one hovering behind the pilot's seat instead of the one sitting in it and being hovered over. There's an essence of power there, of control, and she'd be lying if she said that she didn't like the feeling. There's been too little control over her own life lately.

Casey fucks up and she shifts her weight, hovers over him a little more. ] Do it again. You need to know this.

[ And if he thinks she won't make him repeat it until he gets it right, he's got another thing coming. ]

[ So bossy.

He likes it.

Casey gives her a look somewhere between appreciative and sullen and powers everything back down, flicks everything on the board back to off, and stands to start the procedure from scratch. Power up, systems check, sit down, systems check, flight procedure, airlock door closed, everything right down to the moment where he'd ask the flight operator to clear him for take off, black box recording.

Still smoother this time, but he might have overlooked something. None the less, believing he's done pretty well, he gives her a smug look over his shoulder. ]

How's that?

[ She's not sure how to take that initial look but she does roll her eyes at the smug one. Calm down, Casey. ]

Better.

[ It's not hard to admit it. She doesn't want to tell him he did a terrible fucking job when he didn't. Still, he did overlook at least one or two things. ]

Again. Walk me through it this time, outloud. What you're doing and why. [ That way she can correct him. ]

If you like.

[ Off everything goes again, heading back through the panels, back to standing up, giving Carolyn just the briefest appraising look before he sets back to work again. ]

Basic start up procedure. Bring on internal power, turn on the main computer, automatic systems, external power. Can't do anything without that. [ The engines hummed to life. ] Then check all unnecessary components are turned off. These are the key systems unrelated to the flight and complicated sciencey stuff, same as you'd get in a passenger jet: headlights, emergency systems, safeties, auto-pilot. Communication with the docking clamp, with the shuttle bay door. Check all the internal electronics are functioning correctly, then do a final sweep. [ He tapped each in turn. The standing up bit he'd more or less perfected. Flight was trickier. He settled into the pilot's seat again. ]

Now for the business end. Engine temperature, coolant levels, emergency engine cooling, fuel levels, fuel temperature, engine jettison protocol, hydraulic responses all a-ok in the thrusters, engines clear of debris and working properly. Maneuverability comes last, this is all about making sure everything's working first. Get any of this bit wrong, and everyone's dead; even a good emergency system won't save you from a shoddy system's check.

Next comes the sciencey stuff. [ The bits he always fumbles over. Some make sense, because he's flown planes. Others...not so much. ] Internal pressure monitor, emergency decompression, emergency forcefields, hull-sealant [ At this point he kicked the metal canister under his seat. ] Oxygen levels, emergency oxygen supply [ A tap of his hand against the panel in his seat beside him. ] Internal gravity, though I sure as hell think I'd know if it was working by now, uh...what do you call it? Deflectors, to stop space dust ripping us to pieces.

[ He thinks that's it. Now the maneuverability checks. ]

Final engine check. Black box on. Giroscope at level, plotting and course of the Tranquility recorded, bay cleared, containment-- [ Once again every bay door on the shuttle slid closed, and a hiss and a change in atmosphere announced everything was sealed tight. ] Check pressure and oxygen levels again, containment stable. All engines in systems check mode. Heat main engine, reverse thrusters - 1, 2, landing thrusters - 1, 2, 3, 4, port thrusters, bow, amidships, stern, starboard thrusters, bow, amidships, stern. [ He checked the last off with his fingers, rather than doing them. ] All engines to green, radio for permission, release clamps, check cargo bay doors are open, check for traffic, proceed with takeoff.

[Pause. ]

Damn. I forgot to check in my rear view mirror, didn't I?

Edited 2012-10-15 22:22 (UTC)

[ Carolyn can't help it. She laughs, head ducking down. ]

Make sure you check your hull integrity while you're checking your internal pressure -- and at the end there, make sure your passengers and the rest of your crew are ready to go.

[ Still, she claps her hand on his shoulder, squeezes. ]

But you did well.

[ Casey tilts his head back, leaning into his seat slightly and looking up at her. ]

Right. Common human decency, my greatest failing. I'm not supposed to give that whole air hostess 'here are your emergency exits' spiel, am I? Cause I'd look terrible in a skirt.

You're not that bad. [ Compared to... Riddick. ] Just tell them to sit down and strap in and keep their hands away from the doors.

[ Though she tilts her head. ] I'd be more worried about the top than the skirt.

[ He rolls his shoulders back slightly, primping. ]

Who says I need to wear the top?

What, you'd wear the skirt and not the top?

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