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:: opens her eyes to the rising light in their heated tent and takes a deep breath as she stretches ::

:: already somewhat awake when she feels Kate stir :: CO: 'Morning.

:: woke up with the sun, out gathering more plant and animal DNA samples before departure time ::

:: narrows her eyes at Lexy, somehow awake before her :: CSO: Good morning... now where is my wife? :: smiles ::

:: really seems to enjoy stuffing leaves and petals into sample tubes ::

:: is already up and moving, pushing the marines through some morning calisthenics, yelling orders the entire time ::

:: yawns :: CO: I just woke up. I was planning to roll over and go back to sleep, but I suppose that doesn't really work with the whole returning-to-duty-this-morning thing. :: stretches ::

:: psuedo-cooking a breakfast over a heater with holographic flames ::

::wakes in her own bed in her quarters and stretches after a refreshing night's sleep::

:: sits up and looks around the tent, noticing the mess they made last night, and smirks :: CSO: Yes, back to work, but it is work that lets us camp in wonderful places like these.

:: keeps close to the campsite, occasionally catching a whiff of breakfast and cracking a smile ::

:: sits up, rubbing her eyes :: CO: Indeed. But we'd probably better start breaking camp. Well... maybe after breakfast.

CSO: Mmm! Breakfast sounds great. After a bath, though. :: pokes her head out of the tent and takes a deep breath of the crisp morning air ::

::it's a bit later than usual, but she figures no one else is gonna be on duty super early after that party anyway; shuffles out of bed and gets her morning ablutions started::

CO: Mm.. I think I'll wait and take a sonic shower back aboard the ship.

CSO: You can sonic shower any time! :: sees that their secluded campsite has remained private, so she emerges from the tent and walks into their remote part of the hot spring for a bath ::

:: eventually runs out of species to sample, wandering back to camp to check on Navarro ::

:: is tempted by the hot spring, but it's also cold out there ::

:: is reclined against a tree eating a slice of bacon as Emily approaches :: MED: Hungry?

:: barely gives a quick morning wave to her friends before continuing to yell orders at the marines ::

:: sighs and wraps herself in a blanket, pushing the tent flap open and braving the cold, hurrying across the camp site to the hot spring and only shedding her blanket before hopping in ::

:: smiles, looking around to make a plate for herself :: NAV: A bit. How’d you sleep?

:: beams at Lexy ::

:: is taking one last flight, at first over the hot springs area but finds herself wandering further out, taking advantage of the time left to explore one last time, knowing she has to go back soon. She's not used to the cold, but she can look forward to the controlled environmental settings in her immediate future ::

MED: Quite well! Camping is much better without having to fight for your life. Who knew?

:: yawns into her fist while frying up more bacon, having been up all night, as is her custom ::

:: watches a sweating marine jog by and chuckles, munching down on some bacon :: NAV: Yes, the food is much better.

MED: Though I seem to recall some excellent fish. :: chuckles ::

:: splashes playfully at Lexy before resuming her bath in the hot spring ::

:: catches Acacia's eye and grins mischeviously, before turning back to the marines to keep pushing them :: MED: Morning!

:: carefully trying to keep her hair dry, but is splashed :: CO: Hey!

:: waves in greeting to Grey, leaning over to Doc, her tone bemused :: NAV: She seems to enjoy this part, perhaps too much.

:: lightly splashes again, giggling :: CSO: What?

:: quietly answers :: MED: Perhaps she is trying to make her mark.

:: makes her way to her friends, snagging a strip of bacon :: MED/NAV: Bored Marines doesn't equal good for anyone... tired marines are good marines :: grins before returning back to the Marines ::

:: nibbles quietly on her bacon, looking forward to a shower and crawling into her bed after a long night ::

::steps out of the 'lift half an hour later, uniformed and ready to go with cup of java in hand... and looks around the bridge and sees... no one else from Alpha shift:: Self: Wow, still not back yet? ::wanders past the command circle and a few members of beta shift who are apparently still not relieved of duty, and signs into her station, kicking off the aMED and telling him to go get some sleep::

:: laughs, nudging Grey :: CTO: I feel safer already.

:: finishes a cup of coffee with a laugh and stands, stretching ::

MED: You better! :: laughs; she's very much a morning person ::

:: groans :: CO: How can you have this much energy this early in the morning?

:: looks around one last time into the great wilderness beyond, takes a deep break and turns around, knowing she will probably never see this planet again, but duty calls, and she begins to fly back to the hot springs ::

:: shrugs :: CSO: I do not know; I just always have.

CO: It's gross.

:: finishes off her breakfast and sighs happily :: NAV: Thanks for the food. We should probably get going soon.

MED: Of course. I feel like driving a starship today, after all.

:: nods and puts her plate down, beginning the process of breaking down the tent ::

:: laughs and breaks into a swim, swimming around a bit wth practiced form before finally exiting the spring and toweling off next to their tent ::

:: joins in, grateful for the ease of breaking down a modern campsite ::

:: finishes her bacon and jumps in to help out ::

NAV2: How was the rest of the night, anyway?

:: smiles warmly at Suzuki, not having greeted her yet :: NAV: Good morning!

:: ducks inside and pulls underwear and a uniform out of their bag and starts putting on the Captain's persona ::

:: dismisses the Marines to break down, moving to join her friends with another piece of bacon stolen from the pan :: NAV2: Good morning.

NAV: Peaceful. Cold. :: dips her head in greeting to Emily ::

CTO: Good morning, Captain.

:: approaches the hot springs area from above, taking note of the campsites as a whole, and lands near the hot spring to warm up before lending herself to help people pack up ::

:: lingers in the hot water up to her chin a bit longer, dreading getting out ::

:: now dressed, she notices Lexy hasn't reappeared, so she looks outside and sees her still in the spring ::

:: takes a fresh towel from near the heater out to the shore and waves ::

:: dusts her hands off, their camping supplies reduced to a small box :: All: There we go. :: she looks around at the marines and their boxes, nodding :: All: Looks like no one needs help.

:: looks at Kate :: CO: Come closer.

:: settles down next to her friends, happily nibbling on her bacon strip ::

:: walks up to the water's edge and offers the towel ::

:: takes a deep breath to steel herself before heaving her body up to ground level and snatching the warm towel, wrapping it around herself before reaching down to grab her discarded blanket and wrap that around herself as well... then hurries to the tent ::

:: follows along, a bit slower, drying her hair with a future hair-dryer as she goes ::

:: taps the auto-transporter on the box of camping supplies and it shimmers away ::

All: See you soon~ :: she muses, then taps her combadge and orders a beam up for herself, wanting some time to unload her samples in the med lab ::

:: stands to check in with the Marines, making sure no one needs any help, before finding boxes of her own to carry to add the stack the Marines were making ::

:: styles her now dry hair into the side-twist ponytail again before getting a quick breakfast set up ::

:: looks around to see if anyone needs any more help packing up, yawning again into her fist ::

:: quickly dresses, her hair braided and piled on top of her head, still mostly dry ::

:: hands Grey a cup of coffee that he set aside while she was exercising ::

:: hums in quiet delight, grinning at Navarro in thanks :: Doc: Thanks!

:: intended to warm up in the spring, but it's too hot against her frosted fur, and finds herself getting wrapped up in supervising as everything is packed up ::

:: appears on the ship, three full sample cases waiting for her in the lab. She double checks the contents, having a few minutes to spare ::

::putzes with her hair, rearranging her jewel-toned tresses into a messy low bun as she waits for the rest of the crew to arrive back from the planet.::

:: gathers up the few things she brought and calls for a beam-up ::

:: once breakfast is ready, she munches on bacon with one hand while carrying stuff into their shuttle with the other ::

:: checks the time and decides to unpack later, leaving her sample cases in the lab and heading for the bridge ::

:: emerges to the smell of breakfast and begins to munch while breaking down camp ::

CTO: No problem. :: heads over to Jester :: NAV2: Hey, see you after my shift?

::Is meditating on a mountainside, facing into a blizzard, his voice bellowing out across the valley he's overlooking, strange resonations occuring with the wind. The head of his cane shines with an arcane glow, as he empty milky eye survey realms beyond sight.::

:: just has time to nod and wink at Zorro before she shimmers away ::

:: pauses for a minute to properly appreciate a cup of coffee ::

:: watches as the marines shimmer away, one after another, before also calling for a beam-up of her own :: NAV: See you on the bridge. :: shimmers away ::

::His ruminations are disrupted by a gentle beeping on his chest. His pupils return, as he gazes up into the storm.:: Self: Time to go...

:: takes a contemplative deep breath and smiles :: CSO: You know, after what we went through, this place was... therapeutic.

:: nods to Grey as she disappears, then calls for a beam-up of his own and follows suit ::

:: loading the last of their things into the shuttle with a mouthful of bacon:: CO: Oh, of course.

:: arrives on the bridge, raising an eyebrow. She takes over her usual station, waving lightly :: CMO: Good morning.

:: snaps one more holo of the site, then sets the camera up to get a pic with both of them in it ::

CSO: Come on, take a pic with me!

<Amber Sun> ::Is sat beside Ilaihr, cheefully playing in the snow, making angels, with his heavy body.:: CEO: Did find?

CO: Kate, we need to go! :: exasperated, but knows Kate won't budge until she gets what she wants, so comes over for the picture ::

::in the middle of a sip of coffee, puts down her mug:: MED: Good morning! ::smiles:: How was your shore leave?

:: arrives on the bridge and crosses to the helm, finding it unoccupied, but that is not strange given so many were partying and the ship was in orbit ::

:: returns the smile :: CMO: Excellent! Seems some are still enjoying it, hm?

MED: As in, they're still not back yet? It would seem so.

::Shakes his head.:: Amber: No. ::Sighs.:: We should beam back to the ship.

:CSO: They will not leave without us, do not worry. : poses with Lexy and triggers the camera ::

:: looks exasperated in the picture, immortalized ::

:: enters the bridge, adjusting her hair as she walks over to her station with a grin to both Acacia and Tailor brightly ::

:: calculates a couple of courses in advance, preparing ::

CO: Of course they won't, but that doesn't mean we should keep everyone waiting!

:: looks at the holo and laughs, showing it to Lexy as they enter the shuttle ::

:: nods lightly, signing into her station and pulling up some files to work on :: CMO: Did you get to do anything fun?

<Amber Sun> CEO: Ok. ::Plods up to Ilaihr and nudges him with his head.:: Amber Sun take care of you.

:: sulking, because she wanted to have time to take a shower ::

:: puts her coffee in the cupholder and powers up the Seraphim, running through a quick pre-flight ::

MED: I did some recharging on my own, which was nice.

:: sulks into her seat, doing her own pre-flight work ::

:: watches as one by one, people and things are beamed away, the wilderness slowly reclaiming its hot springs, the site of their party from the night before soon to disappear from the wild planet's history as if it were never there ::

:: smiles :: CMO: That’s always good.

::Pats the faithful bear.:: Amber: Thank you, my friend. ::Taps his commbadge.:: -Atlantis-: Two to return to the ship.

:: pokes her head out the door and triple-checks that they did not leave anything, then closes the hatch and returns to her seat ::

MED: Nothing fancy, just a bit of holodeck time.

CSO: Alright then, homeward bound. :: lifts the shuttle off the ground and does an arc around the area, spiraling higher as they get a nice aerial view of the spring and its surroundings ::

:: returns to her quarters and quickly showers, then falls into bed ::

CSO: I am glad we brought the shuttle. Kuari's view made me jealous.

:: anxious to return to the ship, worried that they will be the last to arrive :: CO: :: distractedly :: Uhm-hmm.

:: sensing her wife's anxiety, she sets up the rendezvous course with Atlantis and makes for space ::

:: within a few minutes, Atlantis's graceful form is visible above the bright mostly-white planet ::

:: sends the approach request and makes for the shuttlebay ::

:: taps at her console, getting some work done before the shift really starts ::

:: does take a reluctant moment to enjoy the view ::

:: a few minutes later, she gently places the Seraphim on the shuttlebay's deck and powers her down ::

::Steps off the TR pad after beaming back aboard. Leans more heavily on his cane than usual, also resting a hand on Amber Sun's shoulder.:: TRC: Thank you... my boy. ::Nods at the transporter technician, as he slowly starts to make his way to the door.::

:: takes one last look around, one last deep breath of the crisp fresh air, one of the last to beam up to the ship ::

<Amber Sun> CEO: What doing now?

Amber: I should... return to the bridge. ::Is still heavily coated in snow.:: Much work to be done.

:: secures her station aboard the shuttle and prepares to disembark ::

CSO: I am sure you want a shower, so go ahead. We will make for the other terrestrial planet in the meantime, since it is closer.

:: pauses a moment to consider, then nods gratefully and scurries of to their quarters ::

:: smiles as Lexy departs, then enters the TL and directs it to the bridge ::

<Amber Sun> CEO: Eduda should rest. Great spirits of the new world have exhausted. ::Nods emphatically.:: Must regain strength.

:: exits the TL onto the bridge and offers a sunny greeting to those she finds there :: Bridge: Good morning, everyone!

:: looks up and smiles, replying reflexively :: CO: Morning.

:: barely looks away from her own console at the greeting, :: CO: Morning.

CO: Buenos días, capitana.

:: takes a peek at the TR's console, then runs into the quartermaster just outside in the corridor, checking in with him and looking over a PADD while crew busily crowd past into the ship to return to where they need to go ::

:: is actually surprised to have beaten Kuari to the bridge, but she takes her seat and pulls up the manifest and automated inventory ::

CO: Good morning, Captain. How was the camping?

:: gives one last nod and trots off, riding one of the lifts going up ::

::Shakes his head at the young Salbjorn, giving a genial smile:: Amber: Can never let the others see. ::Straightens his stance, placing his other hand back on his cane, before finally walking down the corridor.::

CMO: Oh, it was absolutely marvelous! And, after our time on the planet, I think a positive experience in the wilderness was especially welcome.

::nods thoughtfully:: CO: I'm glad you enjoyed it.

:: nods in agreement to himself ::

:: nods in agreement ::

:: enters the bridge, taking a look at everyone and trotting down to the center ::

XO: Good morning, Commander!

:: offers a big smile :: CO: Good morning!

<Amber Sun> ::Stares on curiously at Iliahr as he leaves, giving a worried frown, his fur and quills rapidly shifting their colours.::

:: returns the smile :: XO: I hope you had a nice time?

:: lies down with practice :: CO: Definitely. Last night was especially fun.

:: nods eagerly in agreement :: XO: Are we ready to depart? I was just pulling up the manifest and equipment inventory.

::After some time, steps off the TL onto the bridge. The snow now melting on his robes, as he silently take up his postion.::

:: peeks dutifully at her console :: CO: Should be. I checked on things from the transporter room. Yep...ready for departure. :: looks up ::

XO: Excellent, thank you. NAV: Zorro, take us to the other terrestrial planet.

CO: Course laid in and ready. :: already had it available as one of two options ::

NAV: Warp two.

:: engages the warp drive ::

ACTION> Atlantis warps away from the snowball planet.

:: works on some files on her console, keeping busy while the others work ::

:: several minutes later, emerges from the TL with her hair and uniform done perfectly and slips into her station, willing people not to notice her late arrival ::

:: senses Wright’s anxiety and doesn’t even look at her ::

:: notices, but definitely chooses not to say anything because it wasn't her place. She's come in late before, don't bring attention to Wright... ::

:: internally sighs with relief after a few moments; she hates being the center of attention and it appears to not have happened this time. ::

ACTION> A few minutes later, Atlantis pops out of warp and a barren, cratered, sun-blasted world appears on the main viewer.

:: initiates preliminary scans ::

:: looks up at the viewer in disbelief :: Self: Geezzz...

NAV: Standard scanning orbit, Mr. Navarro.

:: pauses her work to look up, interested ::

CO: Sí. :: settles the ship into the routine orbit for Wright to do science ::

All: The last one was much more fun, yes? :: looks around the bridge ::

:: has by now warmed up to normal temperature, nothing to indicate where the crew had just been other than lingering scents, and studies the main viewscreen, back to business ::

:: takes note of Ilaihr's robes instead of uniform, but honestly, that is the least strange thing to come from the old Aenar ::

:: nods lightly, watching the viewer :: CO: I don’t think I want to camp here.

MED: No, I think even the Gencodian world would be preferable!

:: gives an awkward laugh, not sure if she’s ready to joke about that yet ::

::looks up to the viewscreen, pulling herself out of her musings; she's been recreating a favorite place of hers in the holodeck, a stained glass solarium on her father's Montana farm that her mother designed when Velina was a small child::

CO: There are some mineral deposits of reasonable size down there, but otherwise my initial scans aren't picking up anything of note.

CSO: Catalog the minerals and move on then?

CO: Aye. :: sets to work on some quick cataloging ::

NAV: Set a course out to the ice giant, lieutenant.

:: has it ready to go :: CO: Course laid in, ma'am.

:: looks to Lexy to see if she is ready ::

:: finishes the last bit and then turns to nod ::

:: looks back to Navarro and nods before taking her seat :: NAV: Hit it.

:: engages the warp drive once more ::

ACTION> Atlantis leaves the sun-blasted cratered world behind in a streak of lights.

:: listens to the information gathering conversation, idly surveying basic information on her console, then switching to check on late arrivals to duty ::

ACTION> Several minutes later, we exit warp at the edge of this system, approaching an azure ice giant, with traces of higher wispy white clouds accenting the blue depths.

:: once again looks up from her work to observe ::

:: initiates routine scans ::

ACTION> Several large moons can be seen glinting on the main viewer, as well as a faint ring system.

:: pilots the ship into the standard science orbit ::

::Monitors the ship's systems, scrolling through the various sections of engineering; sending orders and setting schedules, whilst quietly listening to the goings-on of the bridge.::

All: This one is at least nicer to look at. :: watches the pretty blue cloud deck of the giant drift below on the main viewer ::

CO: The planet has a Hydrogen/Helium atmosphere. The moons are icy, but some of them have sub-surface oceans.

:: nods in agreement, glancing at Wright as she wonders if anything interesting is beneath the ice ::

:: watches the view of natural space beauty, with Wright's commentary ::

::glances at the new planet with a minor amount of interest, piquing a bit when Wright mentions subsurface oceans::

CSO: Oh, those are always interesting!

CO: Wait. Something interesting just came into range... something.. metallic in the atmosphere.

CSO: Metallic? In an ice giant? :: turns to Grey :: Is it a ship?

:: perks up her ears and looks Wright's way, as if she can somehow ascertain the meaning of her words simply by looking at her ::

:: raises an eyebrow, watching the planet on the viewer and listening intently ::

:: wonders who the hell would be down there, if it is ::

:: hearing that caught her attention, and she snapped her head to stare at Wright :: CSO: Metallic? :: immediately tabs the scanners, checking them carefully, peering at the screen in a visible attempt to make out the object :: CO: It's too far for our scanners to make out clearly enough for me to make it out... if we wanna see what it is, we have to get closer. I'll try and see if I can boost the scanners somehow, but we have to move closer if we want to get a good scan. :: is already tapping away on the scanners, trying to boost their power in any way she could from her station ::

CSO: Have you scanned for lifesigns?

:: stands, considering :: NAV: Zorro, take us down to just above the atmosphere and keep us in place there with the engines.

:: shakes her head at the doctor :: CMO: Too far away.

::Diverts extra power to the sensor and deflector arrays.::

:: mutters in frustation at the less-than-cooperating scanners, running the systems again, keeping an eye out on the lifesigns and weapon scans she was running ::

CO: Sí, capitana, powered synchronous sub-orbital flight, coming right up.

:: brings Atlantis down toward the planet, but keeping out of the atmosphere ::

::runs the general lifesign scan as the ship gets closer to the planet::

:: lets out a breath of relief at finally getting the scanners focused on the metallic object, and tabs in for a closer-zoom scan, peering at her screen as the results return... and she soon lets out a flood of curses as the scans clear up :: CO: It's a ship. Of fairly decent size, still waiting for weapons' scans to come back, but... whatever a ship is doing out here is definitely not good.

:: blinks, watching the viewer with an expression of disbelief ::

:: narrows her eyes, not sure about that interpretation ::

::looks closer at the viewer where the ship is supposed to be::

CTO: Shields up, configure for atmospheric flight.

CSO: Hail them.

:: nods, triggering the shields up and configuring for atmospheric flight, staring at the viewscreen intently ::

:: hails the mystery ship, not sure if there will be too much interference ::

NAV: Take us in, Mr. Navarro.

CO: Yes ma'am. :: Angles the ship into the atmosphere, shedding orbital velocity against their shields ::

ACTION> The shields light up orange with fire as we enter the atmosphere, and as they die down, the sensors finally identify the mystery ship.

::Stares out into the void, seeing if there is anyone out there to reach out to.::

:: lowers her eye ridges in a Rucara frown ::

ACTION> The ship is a Xovul dreadnought.

::blinks::

:: curses, very fluently and creatively at the final scans returning :: CO:... it's the Xovul. Again.

Red alert!

:: shivers ::

::sends casualty prep orders to sickbay::

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