Begin Automated Transcription
*
*
*
Capt. Coates: This is Captain Jonathan Coates, en route to KS-019, codename “New Haven”. The crew complement consists of myself, Chief Mechanical Engineer Richard Alvarez, Chief Operations Officer Alayna Arlotti, and Tactical Extraction Team Gamma-Seven, codename “Stardust Crusaders”. Commander, if you would introduce your team for the record.
C.O. Belloc: Aye, Captain. This is Commanding Officer Joseph Belloc. With me are Specialists Michael Rathcliffe, Raymond Holst, and Vincent Lovejoy.
SPC. Lovejoy: Call me Vinny.
Capt. Coates: I absolutely will not. Now, with the introductions out of the way, we will begin the mission briefing.
SPC. Holst: ‘Bout time. You know, I don’t see why we couldn’t do this before leaving Earth.
C.O. Belloc: Mind your tongue, Holst. I expect you to show the Captain as much respect as you show me.
SPC. Holst: Aye, Sir.
Capt. Coates: Thank you, Commander. However, to address Specialist Holst’s complaint, this is a high priority and, more importantly, low profile mission. The possibility of locating a new habitable planet within FTL travel distance is of immeasurable importance, not just to our department, but to the entire human race. The hospitality of such a world must be confirmed beyond a shadow of a doubt before any news can reach public attention.
SPC. Rathcliffe: So that’s why we weren’t briefed before departure, and why we have an unofficial commlink blackout: we’re all potential leaks.
Capt. Coates: Precisely. We are to maintain contact with department headquarters, but all unofficial channels are blocked. That means no calling home. C.OO. Arlotti, can you confirm the commlink blackout?
C.OO. Arlotti: Aye, Sir. I have blocked all unofficial channels. I will add that I am not susceptible to bribery, nor romantic persuasion, Vinny.
*wooing*
SPC. Lovejoy: Hate the game, Alayna.
Capt. Coates: Enough banter. This is an official briefing. Now, you have all had a chance to listen to the original mission briefing and research log. You will note that Captain Keynes had scheduled a follow-up log for three days later. That log was never transmitted, and all communication with the crew was lost. Long-range sensors detected an unusually intense solar flare on the Kappa-Sigma Prime Sun immediately prior to the communications blackout. Headquarters has hypothesized that the intensity of the solar flare was enough to rupture the hull of the Nimbus, causing a radiation breach. Our mission is to fulfill three important functions: First, C.ME. Alvarez: we will position the Rocinante between the Sun and the Nimbus, whereupon you are to assess the hull integrity of the Nimbus to ensure that there was no structural failure which could have resulted in a leak. Once you have verified hull integrity and confirmed that conditions aboard are nominal, you will transport aboard with C.OO. Arlotti and begin a diagnostic of the ship’s internal systems.
C.ME. Alvarez: Aye, sir.
Capt. Coates: Second, C.OO. Arlotti: once Alvarez has confirmed that there has been no damage to the ship’s hull and you and he have transported aboard, you are to examine the ship’s communications and computer functionality. You are to retrieve any additional logs that may have been recorded prior to the blackout before returning to the Rocinante. Should the ship be damaged or the computer system otherwise be inaccessible, you and Alvarez are to board the ship in exosuits and conduct a manual retrieval of the memory core.
C.OO. Arlotti: Understood, Sir.
Capt. Coates: Finally, Extraction Team Gamma-Seven is to transport to the surface and sweep the area. Your mission is to retrieve any potential survivors and, if there are none, try to assess what may have happened to them, once we have ruled out a failure of the Nimbus’ radiation shield. Commander Belloc will lead the extraction team while I monitor from here. Is that clear?
C.O. Belloc: Aye, Captain.
Capt. Coates: Are there any questions or additional comments?
C.O. Belloc: One, Sir. From the research log, I noted that the original team removed their exosuits once the radiation levels had reached human tolerance. This may have inadvertently led to their deaths, if they are indeed dead. We will not be making the same mistake. It is my official order that all members of Stardust Crusaders remain in their exosuits at all times, regardless of ostensible safety. Is that clear, men?
SPCs. Rathcliffe, Holst, Lovejoy: Yes, Sir!
Capt. Coates: Very well. I see no need to impose the same restriction on you, Chiefs, unless Alvarez detects elevated radiation levels within the Nimbus.
C.O. Belloc: Captain, with all due respect--
Capt. Coates: Your objection is noted, Commander. However, with the exception of a radiation leak, there is no foreseeable threat aboard the Nimbus. The work I need my chiefs to do is extremely delicate and precise. Exosuits would only hinder them.
C.O. Belloc: Aye, Captain.
Capt. Coates: However, it goes without saying that you will retain your sidearm at all times, per mission parameters. Is that understood, Chiefs?
Chiefs Alvarez, Arlotti: Aye, Sir.
Capt. Coates: Very well. That concludes the briefing. We will begin a continuous commlink transmission to headquarters once we reach orbit. You are dismissed until then.
*
*
*
EOF
