Lost Harbor - atlantis-mission

Lost Harbor

Atlantis RP / atlantis-mission

On the following day, after the initial security team assessment, the expanded landing party materializes in a small clearing on a forested hillside overlooking a river valley. This is Site Gamma, a hilly temperate rainforest relatively near the western coast of one of the southern continents. The weather is cloudy and cool, but not cold, as it is spring here, and an earthy scent of damp soil is in the air following a recent rain.

After 5/22/2024 12:00 AM

@Atlantis Crew On the following day, after the initial security team assessment, the expanded landing party materializes in a small clearing on a forested hillside overlooking a river valley. This is Site Gamma, a hilly temperate rainforest relatively near the western coast of one of the southern continents. The weather is cloudy and cool, but not cold, as it is spring here, and an earthy scent of damp soil is in the air following a recent rain. BEGIN MISSION BEGIN MISSION BEGIN MISSION

:: Kate takes a deep breath of the fresh air and looks around, tucking her hands into the pockets of her field jacket, immediately clocking a couple of things that are attractive to her about this area, despite its dissimilarity to her tropical hometown and yesterday's site. Not all wonderful places are like home, after all! She smiles and surveys the forested valley's verdant greens, vibrant and lively with emerging spring life. ::

:: Lexy was most excited about this site and had decided to save it for last. As she materialized, she kept her eyes closed for a few moments, allowing her other senses to do the work. The earthy aroma of the wet soil and plant matter in various stages of decomposition was subtle but comforting, reminding her of the temperate rain forest in which she spent her youth. She could feel this damp earth slightly spongy beneath her feet due to moisture retained in many layers of organic matter. The cool, damp air clung to her exposed skin the way the morning fog clung to the valley floor below. From every direction, the creatures of this forest called to each other, possibly alerting everyone to the away team's presence. ::

:: looking up into the trees and seeing none of the creatures she's hearing, Lexy murmurs,:: Self: Upon seal and seabird dreaming their innocent world my shadow has fallen.

:: Kate hears her wife's words, but does not recognize them. She ponders their meaning for a long moment and, given their surroundings, the relevance is clear, but the source eludes her even though her guess is that it's from Earth. With a small smile, she turns to Lexy for the answer. :: @Cdr Alexis Wright: What is that from, a poem?

:: Lexy nods, her gaze still directed at the surrounding trees, and responds in a murmur :: @Cdor Kathryn Harper Yes. An old Earth poem. I can't help but think about how our very presence can change the trajectory of these places. I have a scientific urge to study and catalog, but a conflicting spiritual urge to see our exploration and colonization as intrusive and invasive and self-centered. :: finally meets Kate's eyes and offers a small apologetic smile :: Sorry. It's complicated! Don't mind me.

:: materialized with the away team and took a moment to take in the sights before lifting her holocamera to adjust the settings. She smiles at the poem quote, then ponders Lexy’s thoughts on colonization as she zooms in on a colorful bird perched in its nest a good distance away. She had a point. And yet, here they were. :: @Cdr Alexis Wright: I feel that. At least we do it better than our ancestors did. It’s a beautiful place. Maybe the birds won’t mind sharing it.

:: listens to the others, as they are all nearby from their recent transport to the surface. Even so, she hadn't stopped listening to the wildlife around them since they had arrived, angling her finned ears in an attempt to better recognize and remember the sounds. She smiles at @LCdr Emily Acacia, then addresses @Cdr Alexis Wright although is loud enough for everyone to hear :: Some birds may be scared, others curious about us. We are here now, and perhaps we have always been meant to be, at this moment in time. Perhaps it was even foretold. We cannot know if we will do harm or make it better for having visited, but we can do our best.

:: Kate considers her wife's words in light of their primary mission of exploration, returning her smile as their eyes meet. She then nods in agreement to the viewpoints offered by Acacia and Kuari, thinking them to be reasonable compromises, though she doesn't think that it was foretold like Kuari had put forth. :: @Cdr Alexis Wright @Cdr Kuari @LCdr Emily Acacia We could be altering the evolutionary future of any place we visit just from our presence . Whether the driver is a footstep from an alien or a cataclysmic meteor impact, it's still foreign influence, and we mitigate now as best we can.

:: looks at @LCdr Emily Acacia and @Cdr Kuari in turn as they speak to her :: Both: Indeed, valid points. It's just something I think of in situations like this. It's like the Uncertainty Principle. The mere act of observing it could be enough to change it. But! :: with a nod to @Cdor Kathryn Harper :: As always, Star Fleet endeavors to be a good and fair steward, and that is our role today. :: looking around at the assembled crew, she sets about her task. Pointing down to the fog-shrouded valley below, she says, :: All: Somewhere in that fog you will find the river. The headwaters are not particularly far away, so I suspect the water will be quite cold and that the fog will burn off to some degree as the day progresses. :: points around to the trees :: All: Orbital scans indicated that this is a thriving ecosystem with both plant and animal life and potential megafauna. No person should venture too far away from the clearing alone, just in case. Set phasers to a low stun and make plenty of noise to give creatures a chance to remove themselves from your path. Additionally, There's a high probability for a wide variety of plants with edible or medicinal properties, and identifying them may prove useful to future colonists. I recommend carrying a rain poncho with you as well, as our weather models indicate rain with sunbreaks throughout the day.

:: nods thoughtfully, also often finding herself thinking such things and glad she’s not alone. At the mention of “megafauna” her interest is piqued, and she once again lifts her camera to the treeline, taking a few pictures while she waits to spot more of the elusive native animals. She has her sample kit with her, excited to learn more about these potential medicinal plants as well. New planets were a chance for new medicines, and she was excited for the opportunity to study them. She approaches the gear that got beamed down with them, grabbing herself a ran poncho as recommended. In preparation, she had braided her hair in the elaborate patterns used by her father’s tribal culture, keeping her hair from puffing up in the rain. :: @Cdr Alexis Wright: You had me at ‘megafauna’. All over this area?

:: nods at @LCdr Emily Acacia while donning her own rain poncho :: orbital scans were inconclusive due to the sheer quantity of biomass present, but many life signs were detected in a fairly even distribution throughout the area. Cross-referencing similar ecosystems on other worlds indicates the likelihood of a wide array of fauna, from the very small to, more rarely, the very large to fill the huge number of ecological niches that are present here.

:: Scott materialized on the planet, with his standard team in tow. He hears the conversation and ponders the thoughts that accompanies it all. ::

Security Team: Phasers down. Spread out in standard protection formation.

:: looks around through her camera for a bit, then takes a break to look at her scanner. She approaches the treeline, her scanner giving interesting readings to draw her closer. She follows the scanner to a perfectly normal looking tree, then squints at it, and her scanner, then the tree again. :: @Cdr Alexis Wright: I’m getting a reading… :: she reaches out to touch the tree bark. There’s a ripple, and the camouflage of the creature falters so it turns from tree bark colored to a different greyish brown. The creature looks much like a millipede, with notable differences being its chameleon-like camoflauge, and that, being stuck to a tree, it’s ‘taller’ than Emily. :: Self: Oh, gods! :: She jumps back, quick on the draw with her camera as she captures the creature scurrying down the tree and across the ground to find a safer one. :: @Cdr Alexis Wright: Did you see that!?

:: looks down into the valley Wright had indicated, imagining the river below the fog and keeping its existence in mind. Instructions not to go far from the clearing makes her consider just how much megafauna was actually here, and she finds herself a little nervous. Surely some of them could be predators? She would do her best to keep watchful within her considerable field of view, and listen closely for sounds of danger or distress. After all, the scans of the area were inconclusive. Kuari told herself there was room to still enjoy the exploration, however, when the sound of the millipede scurrying down the tree made her turn and look, catching a flash of the creature before it disappeared into the brush :: :: eyes wide, she hurried a few steps closer :: @LCdr Emily Acacia: What was that?

:: Kate puts on her rain poncho, raising the hood and looking around a bit as the discussion continues, finding the area pleasantly reminiscent of the part of Risa where she and Lexy have their home. At Emily's exclamation, she quickly looks, her sharp pilot's eyes locking in on the target as it scurries away to safety. Other have their tricorders and cameras already out, so she keeps her hands in her pockets and grins. :: @Cdr Kuari : A big bug! :: she looks to Lexy and Emily for confirmation ::

:: nods in thought, looking at the area where the creature disappeared to, though it is no longer visible :: @all: Yes, it didn't see much of it for very long, but I'd estimate nearly two meters long, and with an arthropod-like segmented exoskeleton. The fact that it has evolved such excellent camouflage implies that whatever preys on these creatures likely possesses a great deal of visual acuity for the evolutionary pressure for camouflage defenses to be expressed so strongly.

:: catches her breath, taking a moment to collect herself after the startle the creature had given her. She just reminded herself, it probably felt a similar spook. She looks around at her comrades, glad they got at least a glimpse of it. :: @Cdr Kuari: Yep, a big bug. :: she swallows then clears her throat to avoid her voice breaking as she wonders in response to Wright’s analysis :: @Cdr Alexis Wright: So… what eats that?

:: lowers her head towards the ground, creeping towards the brush on all fours, hoping to catch a whiff of whatever it was smelled like. She doesn't pursue it, however, as she doesn't want to frighten it off further, as doing so could make it flee headlong into an actual predator, which would make any harm that comes to it her fault. Finally backing up towards the others, she considers the comments about predators :: @Cdr Alexis Wright @LCdr Emily Acacia: There is a lot of forest so it may be difficult to see beneath from above, but I could scout the area from the air anyway.

:: Kate nods to her XO, even though she wasn't directly addressed. :: @Cdr Alexis Wright: I don't see a problem with it, especially if it could be of value to the survey. :: With a small chuckle, she somewhat enviously adds, :: @Cdr Kuari: This has been a good assignment for letting our Rucara friend stretch her wings!

:: nods at Kate and Kuari:: @Cdr Kuari : I think air reconnaissance would be valuable, especially as the morning progresses and the fog begins to burn off. But be careful. We don't know what other lifeforms you may encounter aloft that may react to the intrusion with fear or aggression. :: turns to Emily and looks around, pondering :: @LCdr Emily Acacia : Well, the camouflage may also be to hide itself from its prey. Perhaps it's an ambush hunter. But even if it is a result of predation pressure, the predator need not necessarily be larger. A group of smaller animals that hunt in groups could also prey on such a large, bulky creature. :: she stops for a moment, an odd expression on her face, something like a moment of clarity transforming into a wince, her shoulders rising in embarrassment as she meets Emily's eyes apologetically :: ...I'm not easing your anxiety at all, am I?

:: chuckles, shrugging :: @Cdr Alexis Wright: No, not really. But it’s alright, I’m sure whatever we find will be just as scared of us as we are of it. :: she looks around, once again raising her scanner to seek out new life ::

@LCdr Emily Acacia : Sorry! If it helps at all, I expect we will encounter significant biodiversity. :: pausing for a moment to think, she looks down at her feet and then hopefully back up at Emily. :: Did... did I mention the likelihood of edible and medicinal flora?

:: smiles and bows her head as Harper gives her permission to fly, and nods dutifully at Wright when told to be careful. While she was lucky enough to have not yet encounter a flying predator large or fast enough to be a threat to her, she knows she must remain vigilant. After all, it only takes once. She listens to Wright's theories about the creature, and perks up at the thought of new things here they might find to eat ::

:: Kate also perks up at the mention of potentially finding new things to eat, with never-before-tasted flavors, a possibility that had not occurred to her. She checks her tricorder, looking for anything like fruits or berries that may be nearby. ::

:: smiles, nodding and looking between her scanner and the scenery a few times as she has this conversation :: @Cdr Alexis Wright: Yes, and I’m quite interested in both. In fact, I’m picking up a concentration of beta-glucans, which could indicate one such medicinal plant. :: she nods a ‘this way’ sort of nod, and begins tromping into the woods towards the source of her scans ::

:: after nudging Kate to indicate wordlessly that she's going with the CMO, jogs to catch up with Emily and then falls into step alongside her :: @LCdr Emily Acacia : How far in? Can you tell?

:: Kate nods to Lexy and starts to follow along out of curiosity, then looks behind to everyone else. :: @Atlantis Crew: Feel free to come along, but if you don't, stay in teams of at least two, with the exception of @Cdr Kuari for obvious reasons. Be careful and have some fun! :: smiles and catches up with Emily and Lexy ::

:: keeps looking between her scanner and the landscape as she leads her impromptu group into the jungle. She waves her scanner wand over trees and vines :: @Cdr Alexis Wright: It seems to exist in small quantities all around us, with pockets of concentration every so often. One such concentration is about twenty meters that way. :: she points in the direction they’re heading :: @Cdor Kathryn Harper: Whatever it is, a lot of it is underground.

:: looks back at @Cpt Scott Ammora's security team briefly before trailing behind those seeking edibles and medicines, curious as well. She soon slows to a stop as the tree cover grows thicker, with no sign of opening up ahead. Deciding she was more useful getting a better look from above, Kuari backtracks to the clearing and stretches out her wings, holding them out for a bit as she walks slowly to get the blood flowing and to feel what kind of lift she can get in this environment. Taking note of which way her people had gone, she beats her wings powerfully until she is far enough above the trees to settle into a glide in their general direction ::

:: walking abreast with @LCdr Emily Acacia , she cranes her neck to look around, gently pushing long frond-like structures growing in the understory out of their way as the small group works their way toward Emily's find :: @LCdr Emily Acacia : Is it entirely underground? In this kind of environment I wouldn't be surprised to find an organism that fills a fungus-like niche, creating a mycorrhizal network to enable communication between different plants. :: as she ponders this hypothesis, she hears the familiar sound of @Cdr Kuari 's wings beating nearby, and she looks up through the canopy to try to spot her airborne friend, but the intensity of the shadows and morning light make it hard to make anything out. ::

:: comes to a stop near a fallen tree, and nods as Wright speaks :: @Cdr Alexis Wright: Fungus is a good thought, it’s… here. :: she points to the fallen tree. The tree itself is quite plain, greyish brown bark and green leaves as one would expect. Growing up from the ground is a mess of white fibers resembling loose wool, or rolled up bunches of spiderweb. Branching out from this fibrous base are tiny forests of these fibers sticking straight out of the tree bark, each one with a tiny pearl of purple liquid at its tip, with smaller fibers growing out of it in every direction. The fibers could almost resemble dandelions, but with more space between the fibers and no seeds to be found. :: @Cdr Alexis Wright/@Cdor Kathryn Harper: I think it’s this wooly stuff. Really rich in some interesting polysaccharides.

:: Kate directs her tricorder to scan the "wooly stuff", and while her science background does let her understand the readings, she waits for the analysis from the proper scientists that are present. She notices a particularly large flying insect-like creature alight on a nearby branch, and directs the tricorder at that. ::

:: Unsurprisingly, Lexy is almost immediately squatting next to the fallen giant, closely inspecting the wooly structures and their purple produce :: @LCdr Emily Acacia / @Cdor Kathryn Harper Whether or not these are actually fungal, they do seem to be occupying the same ecological niche as agents of decay. It appears as though this purple liquid drips onto the late-stage biomass below and assists in breaking down the cellulose. Really interesting that nothing seems to be eating it. :: pulls out her sample case and carefully gathers a sample of the liquid, taking care not to nudge any of the filaments, and looks up at @LCdr Emily Acacia :: Are the polysaccharides you're detecting in the liquid, or the filaments themselves?

:: squats down next to the fallen tree with Wright, smiling as the more sciency of the two of them begins gathering samples. She had a sample case of her own, but was still looking at her scanner to try and determine the source of the readings indicating potentially beneficial compounds. :: @Cdr Alexis Wright: I’m reading a couple similar ones, looks like a novel glucan structure, in its what my best guess is its insoluble form in the fibers, and in its soluble form in the liquid. But what’s really interesting is the pocket concentrated enough for the scanner to pick it up from a distance seems to be under the bark. The liquid seems to drip down and seep into the wood, and that’s where this is. :: she shows Wright the scanner output, which is the shape of the molecule that is, as Emily had suggested, similar to ingredients in medicines known to increase immune function. ::

:: looks at Emily's scanner output with a thoughtful 'hmmm' :: @LCdr Emily Acacia If my hypotheses about this ecosystem and this organism's role within it are correct, then what we're looking at here might be where the liquid is actively decomposing and metabolizing the host biomass. Does the structure of the molecule differ from within the filament to where it has detached from the parent organism and collected in the host?

:: Kate carefully considers all of the information revealed about the fungus-like entities, but one thing stands out to her - Lexy said that nothing seemed to be eating them. She ponders why this might be and puts forth a hypothesis. :: @Cdr Alexis Wright / @LCdr Emily Acacia Could nothing be eating them because they're toxic to the local fauna?

@Cdor Kathryn Harper Well, specifically, I was referring to the purple liquid. There don't seem to be any smaller lifeforms gathering it, which would make sense if it is a biodigestive agent. The fruiting bodies themselves, however, I'm not prepared to say that nothing is consuming those.

:: ‘hmm’s as well, thinking on this :: @Cdr Alexis Wright: What if we’re seeing the organism before its edible stage? Maybe once the liquid breaks down the tree enough, it becomes more tasty? Or maybe it really is just a decomposer. It doesn’t seem to have any trouble spreading itself, fruit or no. :: she takes a laser scalpel from her medical kit, and begins slicing out a triangular section of the tree to get a better look at the inside, careful not to touch it with her bare hands and instead using a stick from nearby to dislodge the chunk she cut out. The purple liquid had turned the wood of the tree to purplish mush that had a rainbowish sheen like a puddle of oil might have. It smelled somewhat unpleasant once exposed to the air. Emily covered her nose. :: @Cdor Kathryn Harper: Oh, nice.

:: Kate nods, since Lexy's explanation makes sense, and then listens along as she and Emily continue the analysis. Out of the corner of her eye, her keen pilot's eyes catch a tiny bit of movement in the distance, and she slowly turns her head and locks in on the source to see a small quadruped unfurling a long nose proboscis, which it sticks into a hole in the ground. She slowly raises her tricorder and gets a scan. ::

:: is too engrossed in Emily's sample collection to notice Kate's sudden interest, instead craning her neck to get a closer look at the apparently oily substance. :: @LCdr Emily Acacia Fascinating! :: she rises to her feet to get a closer look, absent-mindedly dusting her hands off on her pants as she rises, a movement that causes the creature that Kate is observing to adopt a posture of what one would assume to be alarm, preparing to flee. Lexy remains oblivious to its presence. ::

:: Kate freezes when the creature suddenly is alarmed, but to no avail; it bolts, quickly vanishing into the lush forest. She checks her tricorder and finds a decent enough scan, at least, so she shrugs and turns back to the rest of the group, presenting her tricorder. :: @Cdr Alexis Wright: There was an anteater-like animal, but it ran away.

:: looks over at Kate when she speaks, having momentarily forgotten her in the science excitement, and listens with interest to Kate's description, tapping her own tricorder to Kate's to accept the data transfer and looking down at the scan :: @Cdor Kathryn Harper Mmm... Yes. Small to medium body size, quadrupedal, large elongated proboscis, I can see where the comparison to an anteater would come from! If they are in fact insectivorous, then there must be a thriving insect community in this ecosystem.

:: startles when the creature darts away, looking up and listening to the others’ analysis. She nods along, using sample collection tongs to put fungus goo, wood, and fibers into a large sample case. She reflexively smacks herself as an insect bites her, then looks at her hand regretfully as she realizes she’s killed a little alien. She clears her throat to dispel an awkwardness in her stomach, even though no one had said anything :: @Cdr Alexis Wright/@Cdor Kathryn Harper: There are plenty of insects it seems. Interestingly though, they don’t seem interested in this fallen tree. But underground, there are insects intersecting with the fungus fibers. Maybe they get the nutrients from it down there?

:: Winces slightly at Emily's regret, having done something similar in the past and not needing telepathy to know what she must be feeling, but takes the opportunity to move on :: @LCdr Emily Acacia @Cdor Kathryn Harper These micro ecosystems are truly fascinating and years could be spent studying each one, but unfortunately, that's not what we're here to do. If we think we have sufficient samples for now, I think we should move deeper into the forest and see how far this mycelial network goes.

@Atlantis Crew ACTION> Several hours of productive exploration later, as the day turns to evening, the various scouting parties converge on a forested clearing spotted by Commander Kuari's aerial reconnaissance that contains a hot spring. Crystal-clear water emerges from a rocky slope and burbles down over the rocks into terraced shallow pools with steam rising from their tranquil surfaces.

:: crouches near the water watching the output on a little water analyzer she’d brought along just in case. Between that and the tricorder, she could be pretty confident that the water would be safe for the crew, as long as… :: @Cdor Kathryn Harper: The light’s green!

:: having flown off and on for most of the day, Kuari favors her sore wings, happy to be resting in the clearing with her crew. Her mind is abuzz with the layout of their surroundings, and is curious about what everyone else has discovered. At one point after landing, she walks on all fours and sniffs at the sample containers at about her head's height that their scientists are carrying, but they are sealed well and she gets very little olfactory information from doing so :: :: turns her attention towards the fresh, steaming water that Acacia is analyzing. She was willing to bet the enveloping heat would feel really good on her sore muscles. It had been a while since Kuari had used a water analyzer and couldn't remember if a green light meant the water was safe or not. The other color would be red if it was unsafe, right? Glad she didn't have to interpret it and that's what they had scientists for, Kuari looked at Harper expectantly, her ears perked outwards probably a little too eagerly ::

:: With her hands in her jacket pockets, Kate enters the clearing and a broad smile spreads across her face as she takes in the scene. As the group approaches the springs, Emily answers her question before she can even ask it, seemingly knowing where her mind was going to go. She kneels by the lowest pool and dips her fingers in, finding the water to be perfect. Kate stands and turns to look at her landing party.:: @Atlantis Crew: After the successes of the past few days, I think we've earned a celebration! :: returns Kuari's expectant gaze :: @Cdr Kuari: Commander, let's set up a social here for this evening. Have Zaxiven bring down refreshments and please set up duty schedules to ensure that as many who want to join are able to. @Cpt Scott Ammora: Secure the area, but make time for yourself and your people to relax, as well. :: with a grin, she adds :: And set out some tiki torches. :: she then addresses everyone again :: @Atlantis Crew: Finish the initial survey of this area, then return to the ship to change for a natural hot tub party. We'll reconvene at sunset!

:: works with Science and Engineering staff to set up a protective force field and filtration bubble to contain the revelry and drastically minimize long-term harm to the sensitive ecosystem surrounding this hydrothermal feature ::

@Atlantis Crew ACTION> A little while later, as the sun begins to set, the scene is set for a celebration of a job well done. The hot spring's pools are surrounded by tiki torches, and Zaxiven has set up a bar along with many tables and chairs. The air is cool, but the water's hot, and steam rises into the fading golden sky as the Atlantis crew begins to arrive to relax after three long days of exploration.

:: arrives back at the site, now in a swimsuit, after having taken a short break to shower and check in on Sickbay. She’d given all the staff permission to join the revelry with just a few remaining on call, those few being the ones who got to enjoy the last off-ship adventure of course. She spots Nurse Flowers in one of the spring pools and greets her enthusiastically as she slowly slides into the water herself, basking in the warmth ::

:: is wearing a flirty mint-colored one-piece that is mostly submerged as she soaks in the spring with a cold towel perched atop her head balanced between the two hasty brunette buns she'd pulled her hair up into. she keeps a lazy eye on the last of the engineering ensigns setting up the holoemitters for the massage station, feeling only slightly guilty about using the privilege of her rank and spouse to sign up for one of the first slots, but most of her attention is focused on the vision of Kate in her scantily clad glory, returning from the bar with drinks for them both ::

:: sips a cocktail as she manages to somehow sit elegantly on a barstool in a barely-there tanga bikini, un-crossing and re-crossing her long, slender legs with simple black thongs dangling casually from her feet. What swimsuit fabric is visible appears black at first glance, but shimmers like iridescent fish scales in the waning sun and the light from the torches when she moves. Her long jet-black hair is pulled into a tight knot at the nape of her neck, and she appears to be waiting for someone. She observes Emily's entrance over the rim of her glass. ::

:: Carrying two fruity drinks festooned with umbrellas, Kate approaches the pool where her wife awaits. She's wearing her red hair down and loose except for a crown braid that continues down the back, and her swimwear appears to consist of unconnected swirls of tiny semi-opaque bubbles that just cover what's appropriate before branching off into artistic whim on her chest, hips and back, unconcerned with any sort of cohesive structure in their arrangement while wetly clinging to her fair, freckled skin as she moves. When she settles down into the hot spring, the bubbles dissolve on contact with the water into a barely-there opalescent second skin. Kate delivers Lexy's drink by wrapping her arm around her wife so that the drink is presented in front of her. ::

:: giggles as some of the ephemeral bubbles pop with a subtle fizzing sound against her skin, marveling at the extreme detail that went into the clever body paint and her bride's daring choice to wear it in public. She takes the fruity cocktail from Kate's hand, sipping it gratefully and thoroughly enjoying the icy drink while standing in the hot spring water, smiling with utter contentment. :: @Cdor Kathryn Harper Mmmmm. That hits the spot.

:: settles into the water for a minute, basking in the heat and letting the steam work its way into her sinuses. Her hair was up in the elaborate braids that she would often wear on such occasions, braids some of the crewmates now knew had a cultural meaning based on their number and arrangement. Over the years, fewer braids had become many, now it was 12 of varying sizes all wrapped together into a lovely back-of-the-head updo. Her swimsuit was a shimmery blue or green depending on the angle, light, and heat. Of course she had noticed Kimiko’s first glance, but she had been so eager to get into the water that she’d not returned it. Now, though, as she caught Kimiko’s eye she smiled and waved, then mimed a hand motion about Kimiko’s drink. She wasn’t sure if her meaning would get across, of course she could have used some psychic suggestion, but her usual method for figuring out what to drink was ‘bartender’s favorite’ or ‘what s/he’s having’. Whether Kimiko would bring her a drink or what it would be was up to her. ::

:: Alec, for all his time spent around his crew mates, still felt slightly out of place amongst the more experienced crew, and so he had perched himself on a barstool with a worn book, content to sip at his glass of soda and read. His swimsuit was a soft teal, but it was completely dry; as he had no plans to get into the water at this time. He glanced up to see Dr. Acacia claiming a pool, and let his attention fall back to his book. Alec enjoyed being around people, but not in the center of the attention.::

:: V'Lar had, for his own part, been something of a stranger of late, and could not have been more satisfied about it...but not for reasons so anti-social as that might imply. Indeed, his good mood had arisen from a combination of both an engaged and a relieved mind. Only his Vulcan reserve had suppressed a show of some distress back at the Jungle site when, just as a textbook use for his very vocational specialty had unexpectedly emerged, it was just as suddenly, and very literally buried again. But rather than simply grit his jaw and "soldier on", he had put both his mind and training to use in making a case for why he should remain behind. A case which had ultimately swayed his superiors. It was only logical, after all. There was no way of telling when a proper expedition would be dispatched out this far, and no way of telling if they would possess diagnostic equipment of the same quality Atlantis possessed. Why not use what time they had to collect data and give the scholars to follow in their wake a solid start in studying a find of this potential importance? At the very least, some sort of shelter should be erected to protect the site...its construction supervised by someone who understood the various requirements. And so, he had stayed behind with what assistants could be spared, and the time had been productive indeed. That his name would surely come up in any subsequent scholarly discourse about this site, and the Vulcan Science Academy may take notice was simply...an agreeable byproduct of V'Lar doing his job diligently. But at the same time, he had spent enough time among people other than his own to understand the importance of adherence to social mores, even in a professional setting. And so here he was. And as it happened, he DID own swim trunks of an admittedly conservative powder blue, for use in holodeck swimming programs. And they proved equally useful here, as he found a spot and settled in. ::

:: She may be the CO, Commander of Third Fleet, and a Commodore, but she's still Risan, so there was no way Kate was going to just not wear such an amazing swimsuit, especially since it had been such a thoughtful gift from a friend. Kate lets out a languid, contented, "Mmmmmmmmm," as she sips the drink while snuggling against Lexy, her arm still around her shoulders. :: @Cdr Alexis Wright: It sure does. :: After taking another lazy look around the scene, she continues. :: Let's re-create this place as it is now on the holodeck. From your notes, I assume this site is your recommendation, and I would like to still be able to experience its pristine state once the colony is established.

:: looks askance at Kate with a smirk over the sugared rim of her glass:: @Cdor Kathryn Harper And when, pray tell, did you find time to read my notes while we were perfecting the whorls of your body paint, Katy-Kat? :: laughing, she took a sip of the slushy drink before continuing :: I've already done detailed drone holo-imaging while we were setting up, so I think we should have all the data we need. My hope is that the colonists will be gentle to these ecosystems, though.

:: Kimiko catches the movement of @LCdr Emily Acacia out of the corner of her eye and quickly interprets it, pausing first to look over her shoulder to see whether Zorro had made an appearance yet, but alas, he had not. With a slight shrug, she turns to the bartender and orders a fresh cocktail for herself and another for Emily, thanking him as she took the glasses and checking fruitlessly for Zorro once more before moving with catlike grace toward the pool in which @LCdr Emily Acacia is submerged, carrying the colorful glasses. ::

:: arrives back at the hot springs, somewhat late after the start time. She had stayed on the ship a little while longer in order to make sure the duty shifts were covered adequately, and that the most crew possible could join the event, a job well done in her mind. Satisfied, she breathes in deeply of the cold air as she passes the first torches, ready to relax after a long day. At another party, she might have started bounding around in excitement, but her long recent flights and travel on foot had taken the energy out of her. Kuari had looked forward to the water ever since they had discovered it, and after greeting people along the way, steps up to the pool and down into it. She smiles at the other bathers as she adjusts to the temperature, careful not to slosh onto those nearby ::

:: grins appreciatively at Kimiko as she brings a drink, curious what the selection had been. She takes the drink with a :: Kimiko: Thaaank you! Hop in, the water’s great! How have you been since I last saw you?

:: Kate laughs softly at her wife's playful jab while smiling inwardly; a captain has her ways of knowing, after all. At the remark about the colonists, she speaks up, :: @Cdr Alexis Wright: I think they will be. Take a look at Trondheim and what good stewards the colonists are there, even before they met the Salbjorn. Now they're practically druids with how they're living in harmony with nature. :: She sips at her drink, then smiles and waves as she sees @Cdr Kuari approach. ::

:: chooses to answer the unspoken question as she glides into the spring, taking a spot next to Emily :: @LCdr Emily Acacia : Zaxiven called it a Grand Tour of Berry Daiquiris. Each colored ball represents a different famous berry flavor from a different world. It seemed... extravagant.

:: inclines her head in acknowledgement of Kate's point about the Trondheim colonists; perhaps she can dare to hope that the colonists that come here will treat this place with the same reverence. The longer Lexy spends working in a high-ranking Science position in Starfleet, the more she finds her own ethical positions coming into conflict with her profession. Clearly, it is she who is changing, rather than the job -- Lexy has lain awake many nights trying to find the faults in her own reasoning to try to get back on the same page as her colleagues and her former self, but she simply has not been able to. Even now, there is a part of her that is screaming bloody murder at her for allowing this fragile alien ecosystem to be carelessly used for recreation like this, but there's another part of her who knows how crazy she would sound to the others if she gave any more voice to those thoughts, so she swallows them back down with a big pull from her drink and becomes very interested in some of the extremophilic plant life clinging to the wall of the spring ::

:: acknowledges Kate's wave with a deeper smile, briefly showing just enough of the diagonal zipper of her big smile to be seen, then slowly moves deeper into the water to settle down into its warmth. Kuari deflates her lungs a little so that she better submerges and doesn't float like a duck. The heat seeps into her muscles and she closes her eyes, enjoying the scent of the water and sounds of the environment ::

:: smiles and gives and appreciative ‘ooh’ at the name of the drink, taking a small sip and then nodding approvingly at the flavor :: Kimiko: I love a good berry. It’s so cool how berries from different planets can be so similar. Nature is funny that way. :: she sinks into the water a bit, sips her drink once more, then sets the glass down by the side of the water :: Kimiko: So what do you think of this planet?

:: Kate doesn't need Emily's empathic ability that she shared through their strange bond to sense her love's discomfort, and she doesn't really think that there's anything else she can say that will help. Perhaps something self-indulgent could take her mind off of such high-minded ethical concerns? Looking around at the activities brought from Atlantis, she sees that the holographic masseuses are ready, so she raises her empty hand from the water and points while speaking just above a whisper. :: @Cdr Alexis Wright: Care for a massage, Rosie?

:: looks around at the lush, verdant foliage encroaching into the torchlight :: @LCdr Emily Acacia : This site is obviously less ideal for rock climbing than the first. But on the whole, the planet seems quite serviceable. :: she sips the contents of a green orb with dark fuschia speckles that seem to crackle lightly on her tongue ::

:: jumps slightly, somehow startled from her reverie by Kate's soft inquiry occurring just as the communicator pinned up in her hair buzzed to alert her that her appointment time had arrived :: @Cdor Kathryn Harper : Oh! Yes. I'd actually almost forgotten! How silly of me! :: she stops the buzzing with a touch and ponders her mostly-full beverage for a moment before shrugging and attempting to finish as much of it as she can in a go.

:: Kate does likewise with her drink, but stops short of finishing it; she certainly could, but decides against it and leans over to interrupt Lexy. :: @Cdr Alexis Wright : Let's just take them with us. :: With her free hand, Kate clasps Lexy's and rises to her feet, leading the way to the pool's edge and the holographic masseuses that presented as strong-looking Risian women, a detail that had not been of Kate's design but was hardly surprising given the reputation of her homeworld's massages. Two of the masseuses nod to them as they approach and push two tables closer to each other before drawing a one-way privacy curtain around them that allows the occupants to see out. With a smile to her wife, Kate lets go of her hand long enough to place her drink on a nearby stand before lying face down on the table, not really needing to remove any clothing due to the nature of her swimsuit. ::

:: is somewhat embarrassed to be stopped from chugging her drink like some kind of hard-partying cadet, and can't help but glance around to see if anyone noticed before she is led away by Kate, whose bubbles are strategically re-forming to provide coverage as she emerges from the water. Before Lexy fully reorients herself to the moment, she is enclosed within the privacy curtain and what remains of her drink is gently being taken from her hand by a familiar smiling masseuse, one that she'd visited in this program before, who was now laughingly ordering her to hurry up and strip ::

:: nods thoughtfully, looking around and assessing the mountains, or lack thereof, that she hadn’t thought about climbing yet. She smiles :: Kimiko: I love the climate. Maybe it’s just the islander in me, or maybe I’ve been cooped up on the ship, but the air here is just so nice. :: she takes a deep breath, then another sip of her drink :: Kimiko: I can just picture the colonists enjoying these hot springs, too.

:: Kate settles down onto the table, but doesn't put her face down into the rest yet, instead keeping her head turned to watch Lexy through half-opened eyes. As the skilled masseuse places her hands on Kate's back and starts long, firm strokes up either side of her spine, Kate smiles languidly at her wife, finally speaking after a slow exhale timed with the masseuse's stroke. :: @Cdr Alexis Wright: Adding this was a great idea, Rosie. Nice touch.

:: sips her drink as well, thoughtfully watching faint wisps of steam rise from the surface of the water and dissipate into the cool night air :: @LCdr Emily Acacia : Would you ever choose that path, in another life? Become a colonist, starting fresh on an untouched world like this?

:: holding up a hand to stave off the masseuse for a moment, Lexy closes her eyes and takes a deep breath in through her nose, holding it for a few beats before exhaling slowly through her mouth, using this technique in an attempt to calm the anxious thoughts swirling in her head and ground herself in the present. After a few breaths, she appears to be visibly more relaxed, and she peels off her bathing suit before arranging herself on the table, which has been thoughtfully equipped with recesses to accommodate her large bust and allow her spine to lay more flat, which provides some instant relief. :: @Cdor Kathryn Harper This is one of my favorite programs! I hope people try it out.

:: thinks on the question for a moment, then shakes her head :: Kimiko: Unless in that other life I became a family medicine or general practice or pediatric doctor, maybe not. There’s less use for geneticists or immunologists on a new colony. :: she sips her drink, then adds :: Kimiko: Or, I suppose, unless I wasn’t a doctor at all. But that’s hard to imagine.

:: nods and sips her drink thoughtfully, considering :: I have to admit that there are aspects of it that are alluring, but colonists do seem to trend toward a more... conservative lifestyle than is my preference.

:: Kate replies as the masseuse works between her shoulder blades and spine, finally realizing that this was the same program that she and Lexy would use in the holodeck on Atlantis, just out of context of the resort on Risa where it came from. :: @Cdr Alexis Wright: Mmmmmm, me too. They're missing out if they don't try it! :: She raises her voice slightly in hopes of being heard, while keeping her head turned in the cradle so that she could see her wife between relaxed blinks. ::

:: Lexy, on the other hand, has her face buried in the cradle to allow her neck and shoulder muscles to relax, because that is what one does on a massage table. She allows the contours of the adaptive table surface to slowly make fine adjustments to conform to the swoops and swerves of her body, the face cradle applying gentle pressure to her temples and sinuses as the masseuse focuses ever deepening pressure on the postural muscles in her upper back. At times, it's just to the edge of what she can bear, and Lexy has to focus on breathing through it to keep from fighting against the masseuse, oblivious to the fact that Kate is observing her. ::

:: Kate realizes that Lexy is oblivious to her watching, so she gives up and, with a private smile, turns her face into the cradle and focuses on what the masseuse is doing. And it's a good thing that she decided to focus, because her massage turns toward the exertions of the past few days, working out some tension in her mid-back that requires a bit more pressure. ::

:: glances a bit as Kate raises her voice. If she were a cat, her ears would twitch. But she’s just a Betazoid, being strung along by vibes. She nods and sips her drink :: Kimiko: Yeah, being so cut off from the modern world is certainly a choice. But I like having a guarantee of running water. :: she bobs her head toward the massage area :: Any interest in the massage program? I believe it’s Risan.

:: ever so slightly smirks at @LCdr Emily Acacia and replies in a low, soft voice :: Oh, Emily. You know I'm a hedonist at heart. I'll never say no to guaranteed running water. Or a Risan massage.

:: lowers her own voice to a soft whisper. She cracks a goofy grin where she meant for a smirk to be :: Kimiko: Oh, I know. I like that about you. :: she slowly rises from the water, taking her half-finished drink and heading to investigate the massage program ::

:: watches Emily stand, water slaking from her skin, and make her way out of the natural pool they'd been sharing, not bothering to mask her own admiration of the view, not that she could hide it from Emily anyway. Once she is satisfied, Kimiko moves toward the edge of the pool, drink in one hand, and emerges with the catlike stretch and slink of a woman who is very aware that she is also likely an object of attention. With a few graceful strides, she catches up with Emily and joins her on her way to the massage area. :: @LCdr Emily Acacia : Too bad for Zorro that he's not here. It's rare to get you to myself.

:: some time later, the constant low-grade anxiety that typically thrums through Lexy has been thoroughly wrung out of her, and she is naught but a puddle of girl with limbs akimbo under a haphazardly draped blanket, her hair a bit wild from the massage oils. Lazily, she rolls her head to the side to regard her wife, in a similar state across the way. :: @Cdor Kathryn Harper : Captain, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask for permission to stay right here permanently. Mostly because I'm pretty sure I can't move. :: off to the side, folding a towel, the massage therapist looks very smug, for a hologram ::

:: can’t help but sway her hips a bit as she perceives being watched. She casts a glance back as Kimiko does the same, this time her smirk actually looking like a smirk instead of her usual goofy grin. She matches pace with Kimiko, judging which of the massage tents are in use and which are not as they approach. She can tell by whether the flaps are closed, of course, but she can also sense the people inside. Perhaps most interestingly, she has a pretty good idea where in the session the various patrons are by how relaxed they seem. The only thing obscured to her is the holograms themselves, but that enhances the anticipation of learning whether they are any good. And judging by the satisfaction of the tents’ occupants, they are. :: Kimiko: Hm, yeah. :: she replies a bit dryly, not too cut up about Zorro missing this. Like Kimiko said, it’s rare :: He’s missing out. But some things are more fun with just us girls, eh?

:: is not oblivious to these signals, and so as they draw close to the tents, Kimiko leans in close and speaks in a soft, husky voice, her breath warm on Emily's ear :: @LCdr Emily Acacia: I'd love to show you how right you are about that sometime. :: Without waiting for a response, she steps away to a vacant tent and, with a smoky look and a rare small smile at Emily over her shoulder, disappears through the flap. ::

:: The start of Kate's reply is somewhat muffled by the cradle as she begins turning her head to face Lexy. :: @Cdr Alexis Wright: Permiffen granted... Mmmm, we live here now. :: She basks for a few minutes, completely and utterly relaxed, before finally expending great effort to get up so that someone else could use the table. Once upright, Kate brushes the unbraided section of her hair to tidy it up a bit, then retrieves the fresh drink that was provided and takes a sip and she smiles and nods her thanks to the holo-masseuse before returning her attention to Lexy. ::

:: Lexy has spent this time as she typically does after a massage, stretching and twisting her body on the table and coaxing bones to clunk back into their proper places now that the muscles are relaxed. She then stands and dons her bathing suit again and makes a half-hearted attempt to fix her massage hair before just tying it up into a high ponytail and fluffing her bangs to the best of her ability. She re-applies some lip gloss and regards herself in the full-length mirror, making some minor adjustments here and there before she is satisfied and turns around to find Kate watching her, smiling. :: @Cdor Kathryn Harper : ... What?

@Cdr Alexis Wright: Just admiring my beautiful wife, that's all. :: Kate's eyes linger, as does her smile, for a moment more before turning to the tent flap and opening it. :: Come on, Rosie, let's go be social. :: They exit together, returning to their previous spots in the hot spring while greeting those they pass by. ::

:: Lexy, feeling much looser, actually joins Kate in waving small greetings to people as they pass, but still cannot help but glance over at her wife to ensure that she has reinitiated the strategic bubbles of her bathing suit. Not that Kate would care, of course, but... ::

:: raises both eyebrows in mild surprise. She wasn’t shocked, since she knew Kimiko pretty well at this point, but it made a genuine smile tug at her lips. Emily wasn’t flirted with often, and she couldn’t help but enjoy it. She slipped into the tent behind Kimiko, taking in the scene and politely nodding to the holographic masseuses out of habit. ::

:: Kate has, of course, reinstated the strategic bubbles of her swimsuit. While her native culture may lack most forms of modesty, she's been living out of it for long enough to internalize the societal norms of Starfleet as a gestalt culture, not to mention what is appropriate behavior for a CO while around their crew. Having secured fresh drinks, Kate and Lexy settle back down into the water near the others, causing the bubbles to pop and fizz back into the opalescent second skin. ::

:: strides into the airy tent with the grace of a cat, casually taking in her surroundings and evaluating them for hidden threats with the sweep of her gaze as she does when she enters any space, aware of Emily's presence behind her. Satisfied that all is as it seems, she stops before a chalk-written menu board listing the massage styles and essential oils on offer, taking a moment to consider in the fragrant air, likely due to the large bundles of flowers placed around the area, and the steady thrumming of the ambient psychedelic Risian music that seemed to be emanating from everywhere all at once at a pleasant volume. The combination of sensations was already making her skin feel electric, a vibe that was only enhanced by Emily stepping up beside her. ::

:: puts her hand on Kimiko’s lower back as she approaches, partly to indicate her presence to avoid startling her, partly to scoot her a step to the side so she can also read the “menu” board, and partly because it seemed like the thing to do in the moment. She scans over the board, tutting thoughtfully, speaking quietly to not throw off the ambiance :: Kimiko: These all look wonderful. I love the smell of lycanthee oil, have you ever tried that?

:: looks slightly up at Emily standing next to her, her face lovely in profile in the flickering firelight of this vestibule, and considers :: @LCdr Emily Acacia : At the risk of sounding egotistical, I think I give a better massage than a hologram. Would you like me to show you? I'll use your lycanthee oil, if you wish.

:: blinks, surprised for a moment and then intrigued. Her eyebrows raise and her smile turns into a grin. She purrs softly, not wanting to break the moment that feels like it could shatter like glass :: Kimiko: I think I would like that.

:: her lips spread and turn upward in one of her rare, secret smiles that Emily has come to know are reserved for only those with whom she feels intimacy as she reaches down and takes Emily's soft hand in hers, maintaining eye contact as she wordlessly leads her into one of the dim, secluded alcoves where the hedonistic ambiance and music would remain, but the holomasseuse would be immediately dismissed. ::

:: Having been delayed in the assault bay by a situation with his Mustang that required his personal attention, Doc arrives quite late. Scanning the party, he doesn't see Jester and Emily, but notices that the only area obscured from sight is the massage tents, so he figures they're in there. He shrugs and stops by the bar for a drink before wading into the hot spring. ::

ACTION> The Atlantis crew enjoys their well-earned relaxation for the rest of the evening. The following day, we are relieved by the California-class USS San Jose and USS Santa Clara to begin the process of establishing the colony at the site that we selected and blessed with our party. Once the situation is handed off to their capable hands, Atlantis once again warps out into the black.

END MISSION END MISSION END MISSION