Play@YSDC

Docking Bay - Styx Base, Pluto
0815 GMT - Tuesday, August 9, 2112

Major Natalia Orlova and Lt. Hu Xiang nervously watched the Mi-Go as they waited inside the docking bay.

In the curving corridor outside the bay, Private Sofia Torres and Private George Bond emerged from the airlock, where they met Lt. Edward Barrett. He was pushing a gravcart containing fire extinguishers, oxygen tanks and pumps, and a small aerosol spray can. "Ah, good, you're here," he said. "These four fire extinguishers and this aerosol can are filled with a fungicide spray I've developed. We're going to bring it into the docking bay along with this other stuff, pretending it's just more supplies for the evacuation. That way we'll have an edge in case the Mi-Go try anything."

Hu leans over to Major Orlova. "All this waiting gives me an uncomfortableness."

"Don't worry," Natalia replied. "Everything will be fine. Once General Pryce is restored to command, the evacuation can resume and we will soon be on our way back to Earth."

"What if they discover what we are bringing in there?" Bond asked, a wary gaze shifting to the fire extinguishers. "That could not end too well for us. We will have to be careful."

"Yeah, we'll be careful," said Edward. "Just don't act nervous, and they won't have any reason to suspect anything. And if they do open up on us, at least we have the means to defend ourselves. Are you ready?" He pushed the gravcart into the airlock leading to the docking bay proper.

Bond, grabbing his belly, took a deep breath. He was certain that he could handle himself. The engineer had already seen the creatures before, and while they utterly bizarre in appearance, they did not frighten him, but simply made him feel uncomfortable. "I am ready." he said, hands hanging loosely at his side.

"Attention all personnel," said the voice of Lt. Colleen Rose over the base's PA system. "Colonel Patel has been executed for treason and mutiny, and General Pryce has been reinstated to command. All personnel are ordered to report to the docking bay for evacuation. The bay will be depressurized again now."

"We'd better put our helmets on then," said Edward, doing so. He pushed the gravcart into the airlock. Once Sofia and George were inside with him, he sealed the outer door and began equalizing the pressure.

Goodness, it seemed as if the situation became rather hectic, and quite hastily at at. George, grabbing his helmet, put it over his head and followed behind Edward carefully, one hand on his belly and the other hanging loosely at his side. He hoped the situation would not become more chaotic. George did not like these creatures, looking upon them was rather unpleasant. He did not react as intensely as some others, but he was certain that if matters continue in this way, misfortune will strike in one way or another.

Edward and Sofia secured their own helmets and double checked the seals on their suits. The airlock soon reached equal pressure with the docking bay and the other door opened.

The docking bay was much as they had left it, save that the air was being pumped out. The five Mi-Go still stood there, watching and waiting. Major Natalia Orlova and Lt. Hu Xiang were also present, both still wearing their spacesuits.

"More supplies for the evacuation, ma'am," said Edward. "We should wait for the others to return and then bring them onto Charon's Ferry when we board."

"Good," she said.

"How much longer will it be?" said the Mi-Go that seemed to be the leader.

"Not much longer. You heard the announcement. The general is once again in command and the evacuation will resume. They should be here soon."

George stayed close to the gravcart, nervously glancing at the Mi-go. He breathed heavily in his helmet, growing increasingly uneasy with the situation. Of course the insect repellant was a rather cunning move, should it be required, but these creatures could apparently control men, alter their minds. What if they could glance into the minds? No, George thought to himself, that is a rather far stretch to take. Reading minds? That is ridiculous. With another deep breath, the engineer calmed himself, not saying a word.

"Good," buzzed the Mi-Go. "Zzzee that there are no further delayzzz."

A few minutes later, the dome covering the docking bay slid open, revealing the sky. The bay was now fully depressurized. It occurred to George, with his knowledge of engineering, that the aerosol weapons might not work in Pluto's thin atmosphere.

George bit his lower lip, fully aware of the implications of Pluto's atmosphere, and the chance that the spray may simply fail, and with that, the slightest worry arose in his senses as his legs began to shake softly. He was a trained man, but this entire situation seemed so surreal - what was all that training supposed to do against beasts he had never laid his eyes upon? He remained silent, a nervous gaze shifting to the left and right. The engineer could not notify anyone of his realization regarding the spray, as that would make the Mi-go rather suspicious.

"No. No further delays." he said weakly.

After a few more minutes, everyone in the docking bay heard the general's voice on their earpieces: "Major Orlova, the rest of us are just outside the docking bay. We will be entering shortly."

"The rest of the crew is just outside," Natalia reported to the Mi-Go. "General Pryce says that they will be entering soon."

"Exzzzellent," said the lead Mi-Go.

Regaining composure fully, George stood fully erect, hand dropping to his side so that his weapons can be grasped with ease should it come to violence – that would be a quite unfortunate turn of events, but he best be prepared rather than continuing to drown in his own worry. The engineer would investigate into the nature of these creatures later. George, after all, was an engineer, a scientist, and the discover of the unknown is his duty.

Perhaps foolshly so, he spoke out to the Mi-go. ”It seems as if the matter is resolved. You can leave now and we will be done with this. So let us not tarry any longer.”

Hu's body kept tensing up, as if stuck in the middle of a fight or flight reaction. None of this made sense. He kept trying to keep his hand away from his hip, trying to not unconsciously reach for his blaster.

"It izzz you who muzzzt leave," said the Mi-Go. "We need all of the humanzzz accounted for, and then all humanzzz muzzzt board their vezzzelzzz and depart."

The airlock leading back into the base began to cycle.

"Forgive me for being a bit worried." George said, wary gaze upon the creatures. "But we have had reports of...some comrades behaving rather oddly after contact with you. What is to say you will not do the same to us when we are all accounted for?"

George's gaze shifted to the airlock. He was at a complete and utter loss at what to do. He did not trust these creatures, but he did not want to start an engagement as that would surely end badly for him. Rather, he believed it to be best if he attempts to discover as much of their motivations as possible by questioning them.

"If humanzzz react oddly when they zzzee uzzz, that izzz their rezzzponzzzibility, not ourzzz," buzzed the Mi-Go in reply. "We cannot help that your brainzzz are ineffizzziently conzzztructed."

OOC,Everyone is moving to the thread linked below.

Diplomacy