The New International Sealab

[Todd_McCloud]

Roughly ten years ago, nations in The East Pacific, in order to understand and study at previously unlivable depths, came together to build an International Sealab, a facility used to further education and development in the region, as well as strengthen bonds in the realm. They created labs in two locations - one in the “ring” region in the ocean, and one in the sea bordered by Infinite Loop, The Capital District, and Juthra. This focuses on the latter sealab, which just finished construction roughly one year after the first one.

The building, which consists of various ‘sections’ built and designed by different nations, is connected via a series of tubes (no pun intended) and, in some cases, is joined wall-to-wall. The facility is massive - larger than the first sealab - providing sufficient space for some 80-100 people to live comfortably for an extended period of time. Central to the lab is a greenery where plants and vegetation can grow (as well as supply sufficient oxygen), and a cafeteria where all scientists may eat. Classrooms also exist for students wishing to learn more about the sea on a more personal basis. Sleeping quarters and living quarters are located in the central section as well. Labs are sporadically placed around the premesis, and two airlocks - one off the central room and one off a back hallway - provide chambers to ready people for diving. Here’s some pictures:

Living quarters, located on the Central Section.

Inside an occupant’s living quarters.

http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2009/06/17/gal_hotel_underwater.jpg
Cafeteria / eating location A (B is a lesser cafeteria)

http://thefoologs.com/BLOGIMAGES/2007/09/underwaterroom3.gif
View from a gathering room, overlooking the living quarters.

((OOC, you get the picture)).

Various underwater subs / diving equipment have been fashioned exclusively, donated by various nations, for the advancement of underwater exploration and discovery.

FINALLY, the facility is completed, powered up, filtered, ready to be of service. Nations have been contacted to invite their team of scientists / observers / students into the facilities, and diving subs have already started to dock with the various national boats in the region.

https://forum.theeastpacific.com/invision-404

Note: DFD edit of title for simplicity.

[Todd_McCloud]

http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/7528/arbbd.png
Clumsy and brainy, Elana Navinsku climbed out of the diving sub and entered a new sea lab, representing the first vulpine sentient aboard the confines. She looked around the premises - a large gathering room with chairs, tables with various magazines and papers, some televisions, and a refrigerator - with her glasses she quickly picked up and set on the bridge of her muzzle. The short vulpine sentient jerked her arm from one of the loose bolts on the portal, yet managed to keep her lab coat in tip-top shape and walked into the room, her white tennis shoes scooting across the floor, peeking over her jeans.

She was a bit nervous at the structure, overwhelmed with the fact of living underwater, not just working underwater too. It wasn’t really the fact that she hated being underwater, but that there were always precautions to be taken, and a very healthy imagination only magnified those precautions. But, alas, it was her second lab, now. Bigger than the first, and with more appeal. Though that didn’t make getting used to the conditions any better.

“Hello? Anyone in for today?” she spoke in English, hoping it didn’t sound too off. Yes, she actually spoke Engish. She went out of her way to learn the language, realizing not many spoke Unonian outside of the vulpine nations and communities.

Elana was the ‘storybook child’ of the fishing village of Denur in Vekaiyu. Every kit in that town wanted to grow up to fish, to dive, to live on a boat and let the sea determine where one landed. That… didn’t entirely appeal to her, though. Sure, she was able to go to college and learn about the sea, and, Almighty forbid, live in the sea, but she just never felt like she belonged. She hated getting her hair wet. She needed a special prescription swim mask because her eyesight was bad. She could barely stand upright on a boat because her coordination was poor. Heaven help anyone who entrusted her with the skill of knotting, or spearfishing, or shipbuilding. But math… and biology… and science in general… that was her skill. That was her shipbuilding, her spearfishing, her knotting. Something her townsfolk didn’t quite understand, no matter how many times she tried to explain those things were more fun to her than her failings with her own people.

She brushed the hair out of her eyes, falling slightly around her neck. “Come on, there should be some people around.” She moved further, actually picking up her feet this time, and sat in a chair, enjoying what appeared to be a Scientific magazine in English. “Alas, a challenge.” She smirked as she worked her way around the different characters, different text, and reclined in the chair, paying little attention to the thousands of pounds of water above her.

[Fabricati_Diem]

There was a loud bang. Jericho Zanth had sat bolt upright, forgetting where he was. Cursing, he pushed his way roughly out from underneath the desk, massaging the spot on his head where he was sure that a lump was already forming.
He was tall,over six-foot-three, stick-thin, and of indeterminate age. He looked to be fairly young, but his short, untidy hair was graying, which gave him the appearance of a middle-aged man. In reality, he was in his mid-twenties. His clothes were in a permanent state of disarray, and he always wore a large coat lined with an unknown number of pockets. There were rumors that even he didn’t know what was in all of them. The wire-rimmed glasses he wore didn’t with his appearance. They gave him the look of an owl. Overall, he was a very eccentric-looking character.
He blinked and looked around the room, trying to remember why he had sat up in the first place. Oh, yes - someone had come in.
He didn’t stop to say hello, though - his pen, the one he had been trying to retrieve, had rolled out from under the desk and was skittering across the floor. He chased it for a second until it rolled under another desk. He dove after it, utterly oblivious to the vulpine woman on the other side of the desk.

[Allegheny]

The military transport soared over the seas, the roar of the engine drowned out any other audible sound. Three passengers sat within the cargo area of the transport waiting to be dropped into the ocean in an experimental submarine. A crewman who had been sitting near the cockpit side of the craft had stood up.

His eyes glowed with a synthetic blueish hue, a side effect of the optical implants all military personnel were required to receive at a certain rank. Two of the passengers also had eyes that glowed with a blueish hue denoting that they had also served in the military. However they were no longer military personnel but now civilian private sector scientists who had been hired by the government for a mission of exploration, one a chemist named Dr. Laura Fisher, she had shoulder length brown hair and was fairly tall with a look of slight excitement on her face. The other was a biologist named Dr. Tiberius Decker, he had a shaved head and was of a fairly stocky build. The third passenger was a man who held degrees in the fields of of Biology and Physics from Smigsachenweiz name Dr. Ernst Lichten, he had obtained diplomatic passage to the sealab.

The Crewman walked over to were the passengers and submarine had been awaiting.

“We have one minute until we drop, please take your posts.”

Within 30 seconds all three scientists had strapped into the sub. The cargo doors had opened and a rush of air filled the compartment as the sun’s rays lit the entire interior.

A light on the control panel turned green and the sub lurched on the rollers falling backwards outside of the plane. The tail end quickly disappeared as the sub began to free-fall. Within seconds three parachutes were deployed and the sub gently touched down onto the surface of the sea.

An hour later the sealab was in sight as the submarine lined up for docking procedures.

“Equalizing interior with exterior atmosphere,” a digital voice chimed.

With a pop of the ears the atmosphere of the sub was equalized with that of the lab’s.

Fisher and Decker stepped out into the the main hub of the lab, their ocular implants quickly compensating for the brighter lighting conditions.

Fisher walked up to the other two scientists and gave a slight nod to the others she would be working with. “Hello, I’m Doctor Laura Fisher, please to meet all of you.” she said with a warm smile.

Decker ignored the other two and continued to take several packages to one of the residential areas.

[Fabricati_Diem]

Jericho stood up quickly, pen clutched triumphantly in his left hand. Then he noticed the new arrivals.
“Oh, hello,” he said brightly. “Are you going to be working here now, too?”
Without waiting for an answer, he slipped the pen into the front pocket of his coat, spun on his heel, and marched to the desk immediately beside Elana’s. While he sat down, he spoke quickly, without apparent need to pause for breath.
“I’m glad. It’s been a long time since I came here, and I’ve been pretty much alone for the past few months. The place is pretty much automated, so I’ve had food and everything, but it’ll be nice to have someone to talk to. I can talk to the plants, of course, but they aren’t great conversationalists, and the rudimentary AIs here frankly make me think that my brain is being liquefied when I speak to them. Their conversational topics are pretty much limited to whatever has gone wrong in maintenance during the past few days. Oh, and there are the other residents, of course, but most of them avoid me.”
The thought crossed his mind that this might be the result of his conversational skills, but it was quickly eclipsed by a list of research results that needed to be analyzed, catalogued and cross-indexed by the end of the week.
He brought the desk’s computer out of sleep mode, entered the password, and spent a few seconds clicking and pressing keys.
“All right,” he said, more calmly this time. “I’m supposed to check you in to the system. What are your names?”
He blinked, spun on his chair, and fixed Elanu with a piercing stare. “Waiiiiit,” he said slowly. His forehead creased with concentration. “When did you get here?”

[Smigol]

When others quickly left the sub, Dr. Ernst Lichten was still unstrapping. He stood up, straightened out and tried to get his ear unplugged. After regaining ability to hear sounds with both of his ears, he adjusted his tie and left the sub. In the light of the next room one could see the outfit od Dr. Lichten - dark grey suit. You could clearly see that it wasn’t one of those worth twenty thousand Smigsachenweizian Markes suits made out of most ellegant black, still it was very nice suit. It looked nice on him. He was 6’2’', of average build. Short blond hair, and slim face. He wasn’t very much handsome, but he looked very trustworthy, a trait that all Smigsachenweizians share.
“Ein Zeit Goatige liebit, kholieren!” Doctor mumbled old Smigsachenweizian proverb, which he decorated with old Smigsachenweizian swearword. Old Smigsachenweizian swearwords made every philosophical sentence, more confidence giving. He went into the room, where the nice lady doctor he was traveling with, spoke to quickly standing up, large, grey-haired man, and what looked like a female of anthropomorfic fox like creature. “Must be Vulpian” he thought. Of course there were Vulpians in Smigsachenweiz. They were everywhere. Though he never actually met one. “Fascinating creatures” thought to himself Doctor Lichten.
When the grey-haired giant sat down and started monologue, Dr. Ernst already came to the rest of the group. Of course he moved quietly. He didn’t want to disturb him. That would be impolite! He cannot let them think, Smigsachenweizians are impolite! So he moved completely quietly. Not particulary sneaking up, because that also could be frawned upon, but moving so he wouldn’t disturb the grey-haired giant, who seemed to evolved past the so uncomfortable habit of breathing. So he leaned on the adjacent desk, and waited for him to end. At one point he really wanted him to shut up. But he didn’t say so, or even shown it by any move of face muscles. Saying somebody to shut up, was impolite! Thinking? Well, he wouldn’t know anyway, he can’t read minds. So he just chilled there, leaning on the desk, waiting for the monologue to end. And it ended, when the long talking host, asked for their names. Though he almost immediately asked the Vulpian next question, so Doctor Lichten didn’t have time to answer. Not that he would, answering before others would just be impolite!
http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/3470/doctorek.jpg

[Todd_McCloud]

“Me?” Elana asked, almost surprised the man had stopped talking. She had been watching the quirky doctor and his ‘antics’ with a quizzical look, but with a hesitated stance. She thought about picking up his pen, but knew from experience researchers didn’t really like to be bothered unless they initiated the bothering. Instead, she spent the time observing. New arrivals have come. She got an e-mail about it, but, of course, she was too engrossed in her work to really open it and read it.

“I’m Elana Navinsku, of Vekaiyu,” she said, standing straight at first, then remembering the common human greeting of shaking hands. She stuck out a hand at the odd doctor next to her, and waited for him to shake it. “I arrived recently when Vekaiyu added onto the conservatory. They needed divers to help with it, and since I was supposed to be down here anyway, well, I was,” she paused as she moved her hand away and nearly knocked over a collection of pens on his desk. She caught it before it did any damage though. “Sorry. I was left behind here to begin my research. I was at the old lab, but yeah… things have changed, and my nation told me to move here.”

She turned to view the remainder of the room’s contents. Alas, there appeared to be three new bodies, three new co-workers, perhaps. The first two scientists were male and female humans - still no more vulpine people, apparently. But they were different. Their eyes were unusually blue, more blue than what she had known from humans she met prior. Regardless, there was always something she didn’t understand about some human males - why did they try to shave all their hair? Perhaps it just wasn’t as important to them.

Nevertheless, she smiled at the woman who greeted them, then at the male companion next to her. “Hello, I am Elana Navinsku. Well, Dr. Navinsku, but I guess we’re all doctors here, right?” She smiled again, mustering maybe a chuckle. She wasn’t much for small talk, but she did want to ask about their eyes. “Another time,” she thought, not wanting to be rude and immediately ask.

Still, the third body was just as interesting as the previous two. “Another tall one,” she thought to herself again. Being just 5’1’', she was dwarfed by the other beings in the room, but she had gotten used to that with humans. They were just bigger, was all. He was sharply dressed, though appeared slightly shy. Maybe. With a slightly jerk, she stuck out her hand in front of the blonde-haired man. “Elana Navinsku. Pleased to meet you!”

[Kasu]

The East Pacific, somewhere under the ocean’s surface…
MRN Royal Depths 2 Apr 2010, 1:40 PM

A small submarine, clearly meant for transport more than military means, silently pulls up next to the New International Sealab. Its cargo hold connects with that of the sealab, and one valuable piece of cargo makes its way into the lobby.

The sub undocks, pausing a moment to watch the cargo walk through the glass-encompassed halls of the facility before making its way back to the island it called home.

New International Sealab, Main Lobby
2 Apr 2010, about 2:00 PM

Dr. Dimitri Warwick is by no means an unimposing man. He stands at about 6’4", with a square build about him. Broad shoulders, large chest, a jovial grin on his black-bearded face as he walks into the lobby, wheeling a large, black suitcase behind him. Even though he has his standard labcoat with a Meshef flag pin adorning the collar, he’s also wearing a black t-shirt with some Russian slogan printed on it, and sand-colored cargo pants with more pockets than necessary. He puts down his suitcase and grins underneath his stubble, his wild black hair threatening to cover his eyes until he brushes it away. “Hello, everyone! I hope I’m not late for the party!” His voice sounds like it was dipped in vodka, with just a tinge of an accent behind his English.

He then gets a good look at his fellow crew. His eyes stop momentarily over Elana’s form /Hm… a vulpine, eh? Don’t see many around back home/ before continuing, scanning over everybody. “My name is Dr. Dimitri Warwick, of Meshef. It’s a pleasure to meet you all!”

[Smigol]

Doctor Lichten immediately stopped leaning on the desk and straightened up. Vulpine girl stuck out her hand in his direction, so he shaked hand with her.
“The pleasure is all mine! I’m Doctor Ernst Lichten Byddrygen von Shleisvburg, though it’s a tad too long, isn’t it?” he said with Smigsachenweizian accent. Not strong accent, making it unable to understand what he said, but an accent just strong enough to say “Well, hello, as you can see, I’m from Smigsachenweiz”.
The reason he introduced himself with a full name is because, well, back in home everyone did. Of course, you did not use it. Friends you adressed with their name, boss with his surname, and co-workers with both name and surname, however you never used full name. That would be just stupid, and long. He realised that she can not know that, so added “You can just call me Dr. Ernst Lichten”, though he wasn’t sure if she heard him. New member of the team stepped into the room and yelled something about party, with a slight Russian accent. He introduced himself as Dr. Dimitri Warwick.
Always-be-polite Dr. Lichten replied to him “Good to have you on board, sir! I’m Doctor Ernst Lichten Byddrygen von Shleisvburg, but just call me Dr. Ernst Lichten” as he placed his hand in front of beard-man waiting for hand shake.

[Reziel]

New International Sealab
Numberless meters under the waves - Meanwhile

Lead by the cacophony of voices coming from the commons, Alain MacQuarrie chuckled to himself. Once again, the choice of a civilian instead than an uber-serious Archangel soldier was proving right. Obviously enough, the military had complained… security reasons. A trained soldier offered more warranties. The environment would have been too hostile for a civilian. The assignment was simply unfit for untrained personnel… bullshit. They simply wanted to be everywhere. That was unacceptable. Soldiers had to do soldiers’ jobs, without stealing the scientists’. Above all, this whole thing of the Iremians’ we-can-do-it-better attitude was annoying. And that was probably the main reason behind the decision coming from the Ministry for Science, Research and Development. Which, by the way, was indeed led by an Iremian. An illuminated one, probably.

Entering the commons, Alain smiled… wow. The room was indeed a good example of melting pot. There was even a vulpine. Interesting. Ignoring any etiquette, he jumped straight in the middle of the going conversations.

«Good day everyone… any idea about where the coffee machine is?» he chuckled, scratching his own thick blonde hair with the left hand, a sparkle of amusement in the deep green eyes.

[Fabricati_Diem]

Jericho had become silent as he typed furiously, entering the names of those who had spoken into the sealab’s database. With a few final keystrokes, he finished cataloguing the information and turned again to the new arrivals.
“Well,” he said brightly, offering his hand to Elana, “It looks like I’m playing host, doesn’t it? Welcome to the international sealab. I’m Jericho Zanth, representative of Fabricati Diem.”
His eyes glazed over for a moment. There was something else…
“Oh yes,” he said. “That was it. I’ve been told to tell you that you shouldn’t worry if you’ve never heard of Fabricati Diem. We just joined the East Pacific’s coalition a few weeks ago.”
He looked around at everyone, smiling broadly. “Nice to meet all of you. You have any questions about the lab, ask me - I’ve become pretty familiar with most of the systems.”

[Todd_McCloud]

Elana looked around. Everyone was taller than her, and while she was sort of used to this being in Vekaiyu with females from her kind, she was certainly not prepared for the size of stature. She hadn’t really worked with humans before, but the ones she worked with were understandably taller… and wider… than she was. But, it wasn’t that big of a concern. While she was smaller, perhaps that would come in handy. Plus, smaller creatures could always slip into caves and crevasses most humans couldn’t, right?

Still, more new faces showed up. A strong-looking male with unruly black hair and a thick inky-black beard introduced himself. He seemed even larger than the other human males, but it was hard to draw accurate comparisons with everyone in labcoats. Another person entered the room, but there was something different about him. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it… but he certainly looked different - probably from a different land altogether.

Still, her analysis remained complete. “Why do I treat everything like a literature survey?” she thought

Her attention hadn’t been swayed away from Dr. Lichten, however. “Oh, well, Ernst Lichten it is!”

She was quick to greet the two newest members. “Hello, I’m Elana Navinsku, of Vekaiyu. Who might you be?”

Elana extended a hand to the two, still getting used to the human greeting. Apparently it was forged from middle ages as a way to check for weapons. Why people felt the need to continue to do that was beyond her. A reassuring head nod was more than sufficient, but if it made them feel more personable, then why not? “I think there is a coffee vending machine in the hallway to the dinning hall,” she added.

Her attention was waylaid once more as she turned to look at Jericho. “No questions for me, thanks,” she said with a smile. “I was a part of the original sealab, so I shouldn’t have that hard of a time adjusting. I wonder, though…” she paused. It was always touchy to ask about one’s research. Some people flat out refused to speak about it, fearing it’ll be stolen before it can be published. Some only spoke very little about it, while others would talk about it like the person who was listening was an expert like they are. She didn’t quite know how to approach asking the question, but it would at least help her know who was working on what.

“What is your research?” she asked. Elana paused as she moved to a collection of chairs and sofas and leaned against one of the chairs. A quick flick of her hand moved her glasses up and back on the bridge of her muzzle. “In other words, what brings you to the deep?”

[Fabricati_Diem]

Jericho returned the handshake energetically, grinning broadly.
“What’s my research?” he said. “Uh… Marine ecology, I think. It’s hard to keep track.”
He smiled, released his grip, and sat back again. “I kind of do a lot around here,” he said happily. “Maintenance, botany, logistics… mainly ecology, though. Right now I’m breeding various species of fish. To see what environments suit them best, you know.”
To illustrate, he hit a few keys on the keyboard and brought up the records of his breeding programs, along with accompanying diagrams of fish anatomy. The thought of his research being stolen never crossed his mind, and wouldn’t concerned him if it had. Rather, the idea of sharing his research excited him. After all, they were all men - and women - and vulpines - of science together, and what good was knowledge unless it was shared?
After a moment, he turned back to the group. “What about you guys? What are you here for?”

[Allegheny]

Fisher and Decker slipped away as the eccentric Jericho dominated the conversation.

“Thank God we got out of there,” said Decker in an annoyed gruff voice, “that Jericho idiot was getting on my nerves.”

Fisher sighed and continued toward the living quarters with Decker, "look T, we don’t need to have any problems going on down here, considering the nature of our “work.”

The two scientists picked two rooms near the far end of the hallway were they wouldn’t be bothered.

“Don’t worry your pretty little head Laura, I was given a plan B in case something goes wrong.” Decker pulled out a .44 magnum revolver, standard issue for military personnel.

Fisher’s eyebrow perked up, "Jesus Christ, Decker, who gave you that? If that is found it’s going to make us look pretty suspicious to the other scientists. Do not carry that around with you, hide it somewhere in your quarters.

Fisher turned towards the door of Decker’s quarters. “I’m going to send a message to the brass and tell them we have arrived and will be starting the search some time this week.”

Fisher walked over to the quarters opposite of Decker’s. Decker had already placed all of her luggage and equipment in a neat pile in the middle of the room.

“Well he is certainly a good mule thats for sure.” Fisher said to herself.

Walking over to the pile she picked out her computer and linked into a personal encryption device that accompanied the computer. While it was booting up she went and locked her door and took out a device that looked like a tuning fork, she swept it along the furniture and walls of the room and after a few minutes it determined that there wasn’t any listening devices in the room.

The computer was voice activated and biometric, after she scanned her eye with what looked like a web cam the computer logged her in.

“Logging into CENTCOM.” The computerized voice chimed.

A man’s face showed up on the screen, he was older looking with gray hair and mustache and a black beret with three stars adorned upon his head.

“Ah, Dr. Fisher how nice to see you again, I guess those fat government checks were too enticing for you to stay in the private sector.” The man said with a slight chuckle.

“General Shepard, I see you haven’t died a horrible cancerous death yet.” she replied with a smirk. “Anyways, we have arrived safely and will be looking for the device soon enough.”

Shepard’s smirk quickly faded, “Don’t fuck this up Fisher, if that device lands in anybody else hands then the whole operation will be screwed so hard you’ll be looking at a firing squad when you return.”

Before Fisher could respond the screen went black as the other end cut off communications.

[Kasu]

Dimitri smiled, looking upon the blonde doctor. “Dr. Ernst Lichten of Smigsachenweiz, it is a pleasure to meet you.” He let go, then turned to the man behind the desk with a slight motion, his hand touching his forehead before pointing to Jericho, in a sort of casual salute. “Jericho Zanth of Fabricati Diem, a pleasure.” He turned to the smaller vulpine woman, looking down upon her and shaking vigorously. “Elana Navinsku of Vekaiyu, a pleasure. As I said, I am Dimitri Warwick of Meshef. Apologies if I don’t know any Unonian, myself.” He turned around, apparently expecting to greet the two Alleghenians, but frowned when he realized that they had been replaced by somebody wondering where the coffee was.

He sighed, stepping back and spinning around once again to face the main group. When the question of research and motive was brought up, he answered “Well, I’m mainly here for marine biology, as well as for… oh, how did they put it?” He screwed his eyes up, looking at the ceiling before continuing. “‘Foreign Relations and National Recognization’. Or something like that, I don’t know.” He shrugged, moving to a seat and making himself comfortable.

[Smigol]

‘As you may know, Smigsachenweiz do not have any space program right now.’ started Doctor Lichten. ‘I have major in Biology and Physics, and because of that I was sent here to study different ways living organisms adapted to harsh ecosystem. We believe it would greatly help our case in terms of future space program and plans for building completely self-sufficient urban agglomeration, on the bottom of lake Miurin.’
That was true, Grand Duchy of Smigsachenweiz a few months prior to this day, announced plans for colonising nearby water body. He was in great favour of this project. To tell the truth he was in grat favour of every project that would help Fatherland arise on the international arena of politics. That’s why he also added:
‘After last decade of isolationism of my country, we decided it would be a great idea to finally start getting involved into global affairs. Me coming here is supposed to help us leave the state of isolationism.’
Doctor looked at the celling. For a second or two he stared at the fish swimming by.
‘I’ve got a question. Do you have a kettle here, to make tea?’

[Reziel]

«Oh well, if there is no coffee machine, I throw my full support behind Dr Lichten’s request about the tea kettle, Mr Pretty Familiar Jericho»

Smiling innocently at the man puzzled (and presumably irritated) glance, Alain couldn’t avoid thinking once again the place was a really interesting mess.

«Oh… Alain MacQuarrie from Solanthus. In the Grand Duchy of Reziel… if you happen to know the nation. If you don’t, I already love you all. The Rezielans are boring swaggerers. I’ve been sent here to test a couple of things about the functioning of mechanical apparatus in extreme conditions… you know, high pressure, difficult communications and so on. Oh… and we’re leading a test about how much taxpayers’ funds can be spent before someone starts investigating about them, too» he grinned.

[Fabricati_Diem]

“A kettle?” said Jericho vacantly. He was examining the back of his left hand with great enthusiasm. “Oh, yes, I think we have one of those. In the kitchen. I can show you if you would like.”
He dropped the hand. “I suppose I should show you around, shouldn’t I? Where your rooms are and all that.”

[Allegheny]

Laura sighed as a sinking feeling began to form in the pit of her stomach, Alleghenian science was so brutal, so immoral that even the notion of pretending to be a scientist who does nothing but catalog interesting animals was better than spending time on the surface developing new chemical and nuclear weapons.

She also had degrees in genetics and physics, she had went to school hoping to develop new medicines or work in a space program, instead she was drafted into the military and forced to work on projects that would be considered illegal in any proper civilized nation. After she persuaded her way out of the military, no medicinal company or private physics institute would take her because she had nothing she could put on her resume, all of her work was classified and putting military work on a piece of paper wasn’t enough for the those who practiced proper moral science. Instead she had found herself once again working for defense contractors looking to make the next big mass murdering weapon.

Everyday she tried to forget the horrors she helped invent, and everyday she reflected upon her life. Some more religious people say that the window to the human soul is through the eyes, her eyes were now nothing more than a reminder of her past.

Laura stepped back from the mirror, she wasn’t going to let this mission end up in a bloodbath or public embarrassment of her country, it would be done correctly and maybe along the way she could actually do some research on the sea itself.

After changing her clothes, she went back to Decker’s room, “I’m going to go back out there and get to know our fellow companions.”

“Whatever.” He sarcastically replied.

Laura walked back out into the area where everyone else had been talking amongst themselves, apparently the conversation had now become about tea.

“I certainly could use something warm to drink myself!” She said to no one in particular.

It seemed as though another person had arrived. “Ah another one joins us in the deep.” Laura extended her hand. "Laura Fisher, Alleghenian Union.

[Reziel]

— Begin quote from ____

He dropped the hand. “I suppose I should show you around, shouldn’t I? Where your rooms are and all that.”

— End quote

«It would be wonderful, but… hey, do not be mean, my friend. We’ve now understood you’re trying to keep all food reserves under strict control, but I’m sure you will not be so mean to deny her tea to such a beautiful lady, would you?» chuckled Alain, winking jokingly at the Alleghenian girl.

«And in the meanwhile… Alain MacQuarrie from Reziel. Really nice to meet you, Laura. I mean… first names are accpetable, aren’t they? We will not stick to ‘Doctor’ or something like that, down here, right?»