Mars Colony - Control Centre
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Light =&gt; Light: Human Small Groups =&gt; Topic started by: Chrystal on 12-08-2012, 22:18:37</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chrystal</strong> on <strong>12-08-2012, 22:18:37</strong>
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				<div align="center"><span style="font-family: impact;" class="bbc_font"><span style="font-size: 36pt;" class="bbc_size">MARS COLONY</span></span></div><br><div align="center">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/f7/MissionControlCenter_540x359.jpg)</div><br><strong>Control Centre</strong><br><br>The command centre consists of three levels.<br><ul class="bbc_list" style="list-style-type: decimal;"><li>Level one contains the emergency air lock, the communications centre, the reactor monitoring and control centre, the commander's and deputy commander's offices, The meteorology centre and the Emergency Control centre.</li><li>Level two contains the security office, two conference rooms, the commander's, deputy Commander's and security Chief's rooms, as well as access to all other sections.</li><li> Level three contains the utilities and janitorial supplies, but also has three security cells.</li></ul><br>The three suites on level two are identical in every way to the suites in the dormitory blocks.<br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp; <br>&nbsp; &nbsp;
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				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chrystal</strong> on <strong>12-08-2012, 22:42:52</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/fa/Mars_test.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Wing Commander Louise Cotter</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Mission Commander's Office</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Alone for a moment</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td>Settling in.</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br>I made it to my office, having left most of the crowd behind when I left the Maintenance Block (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=148833.msg6750122#msg6750122). The corridors were cold and empty. Soon enough they would reach their nominal temperature of 18°c, but for now, they were just above freezing as the life support systems strained to get things up to speed.<br><br>I sat behind my desk and breathed a sigh of relief. I opened one of the thigh pockets of my suit and pulled out my most treasured possession. A framed holoprint showing two dark haired young women standing triumphantly in front of a Boing 809 Sky-lifter, one waving an Australian flag, the other a Canadian. The sheer joy and excitement on both faces was sobered by the black band around the top and bottom of the hologram.<br><br>I set the picture on my desk. In my head, I pulled up a song by Brian Adams - (Everything I do) I do it for you. It matched my mood perfectly. Even the line "I would die for you".&nbsp; I located the desk computer and powered it up, then logged in with the username and password I had been given, changed the password, and watched while the system ran it's diagnostics and started.<br><br>No sooner had it done so than it beeped. I had an automated message? Okay.... I pulled it up and Acting Base Commander Gunter Hulf's face filled the screen. I paused the message, turned off the music and called Laura and Stefan.<br><br>"Please could you both step into my office? There's something here I think you should both see."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Prince Truhan</strong> on <strong>12-08-2012, 23:39:56</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/be/Stefan_Versatile.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Deputy Mission Commander Stefan Versatile</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Control Center</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Wing Commander Louise Cotter</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Heading to Louise's office</td></tr></tbody></table><br>Stefan passed through the maintenance sector quickly, the only delay there was when he removed his suit once the clear order was given, necessary as it was he didn't feel the bulky thing suited him properly.<br><br>After that he finally got into the Control Center and knew that he wasn't the only one there, he headed to what he figured was the bigger office to see Louise, halfway there he got her message, so he showed mere seconds after it was sent. He walked in and smiled at her.<br><br>"I was thinking of a excuse to come visit you, thanks for providing that" As he approached her he took a look around.<br><br>"I like your office" he said and took a seat before she got the chance to offer "How do you like your second visit so far?" he asked as if he needed too considering all the displays of happiness she had shown, while he didn't care for those expressions he did care as to what was going through her head.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dashenka</strong> on <strong>12-08-2012, 23:53:40</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/64/Lena_Kristin_Holtzmann.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Lena Holtzmann</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Reactor Monitoring Office</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Alone </td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Monitoring the reactor </td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br><em>Gott in Himmel* </em> It was possibly even colder here then in the rest of the place. I had taken off my suit and left in the maintenance block. Before I came here I had put my stuff in my locker and had gone straight here. The reactor was still quite vulnerable now. It was being used again after thirty years and any leaks, cracks or other problems would show up now. So far though, Knut was running like a charm. It wasn't on full power yet as the monitor showed. It was currently running on 30% of it's total capacity. Because of the thirty year pause, I had suggested to build in a limit and when everybody agreed we decided to run the plant on half of the maximum capacity for at least 24 hours before removing the lock and turning it up to full. In order to do that, I had to go to the reactor again. <br><br>As I sat there, looking at the monitors I realized there were no windows at the office. Not the views would be all that good but still, better than tons of monitors and walls. Part of the total operations control room, the reactor control were tugged away in a corner of the room with the computers creating a sort of wall to separate 'my office' from the others. When my computer had started I logged in and walked through all procedures. All my files were on a portable memory drive in my bag in the locker but I would upload them to the computer later. My research was on there, as were all other experiments I had to for others. Yes I would be spending quite some time in the reactor building running tests and trials for people on a different planet. <br><br>I sighed and looked at the clock. Despite all travelling and different planets and all, humanity somehow hung on to the 24 hour rhythm like parasites would stick to their host. I guess it's part of what makes us human. It was afternoon and although I had no idea what else I could do, I decided that I wouldn't start working just yet. Tomorrow would be a fine start. Maybe I should pay a visit to Madison with the excuse that the walls were coming at me and how terrified I was to being here. As I needed an excuse to see her. I leaned back and kept watching the monitors until the reactor was at it's 50% peak. I send commander Cotter a message about the reactor being at full half strength and left the control center looking for my bag and my suite. I desperately needed something homely. <br><br><br>*God in heaven
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blinkin</strong> on <strong>13-08-2012, 01:02:06</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/6b/Lt_Laura_Alicia_Hicks.jpg)</div><br><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Lt. Commander Laura Allecia Hicks</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>(Security Chief's Office, in route to Lousie Cotter's Office</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Wing Commander Louise Cotter &amp; Mission Execitive Officer Stefan Versatile </td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Settling into Office, meeting with Louise and Stefan</td></tr></tbody></table><br>Moving from: Maintenance Block (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=148833.0)<br><br><hr><br>Laura had discarded the environment suit as soon as it had been possible to do so. The cold didn't bother her... much... she had trained in the middle of Norfork harbor in January, so some near freezing air was a small concern for the tough minded woman.<br><br>She took a deep breath as she settled into the chair and chuckled as she saw her breath mist in the air. Although the seat was chilly against her rear, even through the BDU's that she wore as part of the security team's uniform... navy BDU's with a web belt that contained her weapon, taser, latex gloves and handcuffs. She had worn the same general outfit for more than 13 years now and it felt as comfortable as her lovers arms.<br><br>She looked around the bare office, with it's wall displays with it's capabilities of viewing any of the numerous camera's scattered through the complex, schemetics and even, if she needed it, a tactical display of 50KM around the settlement. It was really the only thing that disrupted the walls... for now...<br><br>She warmed up the computer display and entered the security codes, changed them and set the upload that would contain the records of the population and the MMC (Mars Military Code) that would act as laws until the council established their own set... the MMC had been a think tank's idea of what the colony would need to maintain safety and order in the early days... overall, it was crap but Laura kept that to herself.<br><br>She had just finished the upload when she recieved the summons and keyed in, "On my way Boss."<br><br>She rose and making sure that the system was secure... she would have to make sure that her second and third watch man had access to most of it, but that was a "later" job. She left and climbed the stairs up to the 1st level; never pass up the chance for exercise in a gravity that would allow her to nearly jump from floor to floor! <br><br>She waved at the girl in the reactor control room as she passed and strolled up door. She knocked and waited for the invitation; she had spent too long in the military to even think of simply walking into a superior's office.<br><br>She heard the signal and slipped inside. She saw the suit... she got a creepy feeling from Stefan, so he was a suit... and nodded before coming to Attention, "Commander Hicks reporting Ma'am." She couldn't help but wink at Lou though.
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chrystal</strong> on <strong>13-08-2012, 01:41:56</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/fa/Mars_test.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Wing Commander Louise Cotter</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Mission Commander's Office</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Laura Hicks, Stefan Versatile</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td>Overrreacting? Possibly, or possibly not!</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br>I smiled coolly up at Mr. MarsCorp. I still had my pressure suit on, and I was about to mention him not wearing his, when my comp chimed with an incoming message, saying the reactor was up to the agreed 50% capacity lock. Good. Having half power would mean the vehicles would charge more slowly and some lights might be dimmer, also things like hairdriers might not work so well, but it was only for a day.<br><br>I sent a reply thanking Lena and shrugged. "It's been emotional, Mr Versatile." I glanced around the bare, windowless office. "It's no different to yours, from what I remember. I think the big difference is I have more buttons on my desk...."<br><br>I paused as Laura came in, also suitless... "GODDAMNIT DOESN'T ANYONE ON THIS BASE KNOW HOW TO FOLLOW ORDERS?" I roared! "Both of you put your fucking pressure suits back on NOW!" <br><br>I flipped the switch that gave me access to the Public address. "Attention all personnell, this is the base commander. As you are all aware, on the previous mission there were six people killed. One of them happened to be very dear to me. The reason for the accident is not important right now. The reason they died is. THEY WERE NOT WEARING THEIR ENVIRONMENT SUITS! The base is NOT secure. If there is a leak in a section and someone opens a hatch to that section, the entire base could decompress.<br><br>"You will ALL put your environment suits back on NOW! Anyone found NOT wearing an environment suit in ten minutes time will be arrested and put on a charge!<br><br>"That is all".<br><br>I glared at the two miscreants. "Well?"
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Prince Truhan</strong> on <strong>13-08-2012, 01:52:21</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/be/Stefan_Versatile.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Deputy Mission Commander Stefan Versatile</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Control Center</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Wing Commander Louise Cotter and Lt. Commander Laura Allecia Hicks</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Rushing </td></tr></tbody></table><br>Stefan gave a quiet nod to the Lt. Commander, as she walked in, unaware of the suit situation. Once the deal with the suits started however he didn't answer the Wing Commander, he just stood up calmly and left her office, only once he was outside he hurried to get the suit, he wouldn't let people see him rush, or more like, he would do his best to avoid his screw up from being known.<br><br>He quietly thought that there was little chance of anything failing, however she was right, if anything should fail everything would go to hell, literally.<br><br>After a couple of minutes he returned to the Louise's office wearing the suit now.<br><br>"Thank you" he said referring to what had just went on, and later added "I read about the accident, I'm sorry about your loss"<br><br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blinkin</strong> on <strong>13-08-2012, 04:51:12</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/6b/Lt_Laura_Alicia_Hicks.jpg)</div><br><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Lt. Commander Laura Allecia Hicks</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>(Mission Commanders Office</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Wing Commander Louise Cotter &amp; Mission Executive Officer Stefan Versatile</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Redressing an error in judgement</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br>Laura blinked at the raised voice of her Commanding Officer "Aye Ma'am." she said simply and turned, leaving the office.<br><br>She took the corridor at a ground eating pace, but not a run... when you saw an officer running, you tended to cause a panic. None the less, she didn't waste any time as she took the steps nearly a full 360 arch at a time. Thank God for the low gravity practice she had added to her own list of skills to learn and used both her hands and feet to guide her down the spiral stairs.<br><br>Within a minute, she had passed through her office dor and grabbed up the suit. It wouldn't be comfortable, but she pulled it over her fatigues; it was made to be pulled on over clothing anyway, and she had practiced the procedure along with everyone else. It was designed to be put on in a hurry and within 2 minutes she was sealing up the seams... 20 seconds slower than her best time, but at the moment, it would have to do.<br><br>Breathing a little fast, she took the lift back up and once again knocked on the entry to the CO's office, helmet in hand.<br><br>She entered again. "I apologize or my lapse Ma'am. I will, of course, submit to whatever disciplinary measures you feel fit to order."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chrystal</strong> on <strong>13-08-2012, 14:14:09</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/fa/Mars_test.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Wing Commander Louise Cotter</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Mission Commander's Office</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Laura Hicks, Stefan Versatile</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td>Getting down to business</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br>Stefan was back first, of course, suited up and with his helmet and gloves clipped to his belt. I nodded. "Thank you. But it's not about her. Well, it is, but only so far as I want people to learn from what happened so her death has some meaning." There was a lump in my throat that I couldn't swallow. Tough military commander. Yeah right. "Stefan, may I call you that? Thanks. Stefan, I've lost people under my command before. It's expected. It's part of the job when your a fighter wing commander, even in peace time there are accidents, and the Oil Wars..." I shuddered. I had some bad memories of OW3. I had a cousin in Cairns. He was listed on the "Missing presumed dead" list after the city was nuked. His house was half a kilometre from ground zero and they never found his body.<br><br>But that wasn't relevant now. "The point is, I've never lost someone needlessly except to an accident that couldn't have been prevented. Those six deaths .... were needless, and could so easily have been prevented. I will not have that happening on my watch!"<br><br>At that moment Laura came back in, red faced and panting and looking so very very cute.... I couldn't stay mad at her.<br><br>"We'll let this one pass, Major, everyone is excited, it's all new, people are going to make mistakes. Let's just hope none are serious, huh? Or if they are that we catch them in time!"<br><br>Privately, though, I sent her a text: <tt class="bbc_tt">Disciplinary action, hmm? Kinky! I shall be spanking you later!</tt><br><br>I watched that cute heart-shaped face go even pinker as she read it.<br><br>"Anyway, the reason I asked both of you in here was to see this:" I transferred&nbsp; the frozen message window on my desk screen up to a screen on the wall. "It popped up the moment I opened my computer. That's Gunter Hulf, the 2-I-C on mission three. He took over when Colonel Redlow was killed and supervised the withdrawal. I figured this might be something we all need to hear".<br><br>I wave the other two to seats, and clicked play. Gunter's voice filled the office.<br><br><hr><br>"This is acting mission commander Hulf. I am making this recording in the hope that some day, men will return to Mars. It will be keyed to activate when the base commander's desk computer is next booted up. I hope that someone sees it.<br><br>"I'm sure you, the new mission commander, know what happened here". <em>More than you could have known when you made this, Mr Hulf</em>, I thought. "The tragic and needless deaths of six mission members including Mission Commander Colonel Terrance Redlow, has resulted in the mission being aborted. Col Redlow was a fine officer, but was not a strict disciplinarian".<br><br>"HAH!" I let out a bark of ironic laughter at that. <br><br>"He allowed safety discipline to slip. If he had survived, I would have been forced to relieve him of command," <em>Damn right!</em> "but as it is, his punishment fits the crime. My report will state as such, and that he should be given a hero's funeral."<br><br>So that explained that... I had always wondered why he was buried with full military honours instead of dumped in a landfill site like he deserved.<br><br>"The other five deceased are:<br><br>"Captain Leon Spark;<br>"Ms. Martha Grunholm;<br>"Sergeant Henrietta McNee;" That lump was back in my throat.<br>"Dr Roche Fleimens<br>"Mr Alberto Giovetti<br><br>"Flight Lieutenant Amber Louise Cotter, who was severely wounded in the incident, is recommended for promotion and an award for bravery. Her actions may well have saved the lives of the others in the vehicle, none of whom escaped injury. It is my sincere hope that Lt Cotter get to return to Mars at some time." I blushed. I had the medal somewhere, the George Cross, second highest award for Gallantry that the Australian Armed Forces could give. I didn't think I deserved it, but someone obviously thought I did.<br><br>"The marker outside the hanger airlock is the grave of Sgt McNee. Her mortal remains have been left on Mars at the request of her listed next of kin, who happens to be the same Lt Cotter. It is for this reason and this reason alone that her request is being acceded to." Bitch! I wiped angrily at my cheeks. I wished now i hadn't shared this.<br><br>"Because of the incident, this mission is being aborted. We have been recalled to Earth with barely anything accomplished. For this, Sir, I apologise. The base is being shut down and put into power-save even as I record this. You will find a full list of all the supplies we are leaving behind attached as an appendix to this message." Hulf moved slightly and it could be seen that he was in a white environment suit that had hastily painted orange stripes on it. I swallowed and glanced at the other two. If they had noticed my tears they were pretending not to at leats.<br><br>"I do not know how long it will be. Knowing the capricious nature of public opinion toward space travel, this incident could result in us never coming back here. I hope to see us return in my life time. But that aside, I hope you, Commander, find the base in good order. If it is not intact, you won't get this message, so obviously that is moot.<br><br>"Commander, I wish you every success with your mission, and I hope that some day we will have a permanent presence here."<br><br><hr><br><em>Shit!</em> I stood up after the recording ended. "Mr Versatile, Major Hicks, with your indulgence...?" I opened a chanel to the MCM-1 in orbit above us, and relayed it to the room's comm system. "This is Mike Charley six six to Mike Charley Mike one, come in?"<br><br>"<em>Mike Charley Mike one here, go ahead Wing Commander.</em>"<br><br>"Please relay a voice message to earth for me? Our comms are not yet operational."<br><br>"<em>Roger Mike Charley six six. We are recording. Proceed.</em>"<br><br>"Message to Mr Gunter Hulf, I'm not sure of the address, but you know who he is.<br><br>Mr Hulf, This is Wing Commander Amber Louise Cotter, Marse Colony Commander. I got your message, I just wanted to say, thank you. The base is in good condition, a few glitches but nothing our maintenance staff can't handle.<br><br>"Thank you for the medal. At the time it didn't mean much to me - I was in too much pain, but now, looking back, I see it as an honour. My team here will do you proud and name something after you!"<br><br>I saluted the pick-up. "Message ends. Thank you MCM-1, New Sydney out".<br><br>"I looked at the other two. "Well, that was unexpected..."
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Prince Truhan</strong> on <strong>13-08-2012, 15:56:39</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/be/Stefan_Versatile.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Deputy Mission Commander Stefan Versatile</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Control Center</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Wing Commander Louise Cotter and eventually Lt. Commander Laura Allecia Hicks</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Rushed back </td></tr></tbody></table><br>"I know it's not about her" he said kindly "I'm thanking you for your measure, I carelessly overstepped my liberties, and worse of all I wasn't the only one, yes you may call me Stefan, as long as you don't mind me calling you Louise when you aren't needing to impose your rank"<br><br>What he meant was that he understood situations were different, he was outside the military structure, but he knew she needed her authority, the project needed it, should she be reprimanding someone, or just giving orders, he wouldn't upset things by refering to her by her first name.<br><br>When the Lt. Commander showed blushing, and then showed a deeper shade, he silently took note of it, it told him something, he just wasn't sure what to make of it yet.<br><br>He then sat back to listen to the message. It wasn't something she wanted to share, he thought as they heard it, he noticed her tears and didn't mention them, that was private, and something he wouldn't get involved with unless it interfered with her duties, and it seemed that for something so emotional she was doing a good job.<br><br>"I'm glad you found a new apreciation for your medal" he said, wondering if she would find it cold or be thankful he didn't talk about the rest of the things that came up "What I would like to know is what you see happening now? you had a chance to watch the people start to get ready, do you think they will adjust to schedule or would there be any modifications needed?"
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chrystal</strong> on <strong>13-08-2012, 16:49:03</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/fa/Mars_test.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Wing Commander Louise Cotter</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Mission Commander's Office</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Laura Hicks, Stefan Versatile</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td>Getting down to business</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br>I managed a smile. "Stefan, what I saw today was good. I think people will adapt well to life here. It's the new frontier, a whole new world. There are no natives to fight, but then the whole damn planet is fighting us. Mars, god of war!" I chuckled. "Humanity works best when we are threatened, don't you agree, Stefan?"<br><br>I glanced at Laura. "So, what I think we should do is give it a couple of days. Let the kinks work themselves out, and then see if we need to make changes. Everyone has the Mars clock software in their implants, and it should automatically have started itself up. So the extra 37 minutes are a non-issue, and we still have the same 24 hour clock that everyone is used to." The Martian day was 37 minutes and 22 seconds longer than the Earth day, and the boffins at MarsCorp had come up with an ingenious fix. Make each second fractionally longer, and keep the same number of seconds in a day. It worked like a charm. People would ask the time and be told it by their implants in exactly the format they expected, and many of them would forget that the dat was half an hour longer, because it wasn't showing up anywhere.<br><br>Some bright spark had termed it "Creative temporal accounting" and likened it to taking all the fractions of pennies off transactions.<br><br>"There is one change I should like to implement with immediate effect though..." I told Stafan. "The military command structure is confusing. We have captains who are outranked by lieutenants, we have chiefs, sergeants, corporals, lance corporals, PFCs, and goodness knows what else! I want to rationalise. Use the US Army rank structure. So I'm a Lt Colonel, Hicks is a Major, and so on. We all have our NATO equivalent grade, I'm OF4, Hicks is now OF3 and so on. We simply use the equivalent US army rank from now on."<br><br>I smiled at them both. "Does that work for the two of you?"<br><br>I didn't see as they would either of them object. It made life simpler after all. And the US Military Command back on Earth wouldn't complain either.<br><br>"Okay, what else?"
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Prince Truhan</strong> on <strong>13-08-2012, 18:21:42</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/be/Stefan_Versatile.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Deputy Mission Commander Stefan Versatile</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Control Center</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Wing Commander Louise Cotter and Lt. Commander Laura Allecia Hicks</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Talking </td></tr></tbody></table><br>"Yes Louise, it does, and I figure a threat on their lives will be much more effective than a cut on their pay or even firing them"<br><br>"Alright they'll have their couple of days, after that if someone is showing issues we'll send them to the psychologist, she might figure is something is wrong, we all have devoted ourselves fiercely to be here, but someone might have issues they didn't know they had back on earth."<br><br>He nodded to the rank idea "Yes, bringing everyone to the same scale sounds perfect, much like the metric system, I do wonder what non us forces on earth will say if they hear, but that is their problem"<br><br>He turned to the Lt. Commander "May I refer to you by name? in rather informal situations" he asked politely "I'm curious as to if you saw anything worth mentioning"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blinkin</strong> on <strong>13-08-2012, 20:45:37</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				((Sorry, been a long morning and just getting to this. Long Post)<br><br><div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/6b/Lt_Laura_Alicia_Hicks.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Lt. Commander Laura Allecia Hicks</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>(Mission Commander's Office</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Lt. Col. Louise Cotter &amp; DMC (Deputy Mission Commander) Stefan Versatile</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Conducting Business.</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br>Laura felt her cheeks brightening but shot back to Lou, "be careful, I might like it. Falling over your lap is a lot easier up here." Spanking was perhaps the only thing that she could think of that she hadn't expected, nor tried. "You pervert" she finished with a subtle wink when Stfan's back was turned. Their relationship wasn't secret, but there was no point in imphasisizng it before the company rep.<br><br>She nodded and settled down to watch the recording, looking back to Lou as the mention of her friends loss was mentioned. She offered her friend and lover a sympathic smile, knowing how much she still cared for her lost love. Laura had also lost friends, companions and even a lover; but they had almost exclusively been in combat or a training accident. SEALS trained hard and injuries were far from unknown... and their missions always carried high risk labels. But, this was different and Laura could understand that. She would offer some words later when they were alone.<br><br>She nodded in agreement as Lou finished the transmission going back to Earth, "Perhaps we could name the new housing block after him... hell, we could name just about every structure on the planet after the lost mission members... a lasting memorial to their sacrifice." She thought for the moment, How about the Control Center?"<br><br>She listened to the proposals for ranks, "We're on Mars Colonel, we can pretty much do whatever we feel necessary for the good of the colony... We don't have a navy, won't have one for decades and all of the other forces all use the same rank system..." She smiled slightly, "You could say that our enlistments ran out halfway here; my official time ends next year, so I'll be fine as a major... even if I strove for Captain." She smiled a little wider, It does make sense."<br><br>She thought for a few moments again, "I do have one thing to bring up... our people have been working hard for months, and then sleeping for more months... they are going to want to get out onto the surface and if we try to stop it, we're going to just make them more determined to do it." She looked from Stefan to Louise and bit her lip, "I would suggest that we let them venture out, short distances, when they get off duty. They can take a look around and as time goes on, go a little further... I'm already working up SAR exercises for when someone gets lost, or there's an accident... I'll have that on your desk later today. I'm thinking that if we allow them short periods of freedom now, they won't be tripping the alarms of the emergency locks trying to sneak out and we know who's out and when... they've waited a long time to get here and they won't be kooped up much longer."<br><br>She let out a breath and nodded to Stefan, "If you like, Mr. Versatile... we'll have to work together for a long time and formality in private will only make it more difficult."<br><br>She gave Louise a mischievous grin and hit her with a pic she had been saving for months... a extremely provokative pose of herself with a sign over her chest, "Welcome to Mars!"<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chrystal</strong> on <strong>13-08-2012, 23:08:15</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/fa/Mars_test.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Wing Commander Louise Cotter</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Mission Commander's Office</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Laura Hicks, Stefan Versatile</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td>Getting down to business</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br>I had half expected that response from Laura regarding the threat of a spanking and read the reply without so much as a twitch.<br><br>When Stefan addressed my security chief and asked if she had anything to report, I turned to her too, interested. <br><br>When she finished talking I was about to speak when a pic that was almost pornographic slid past my firewall (purely because of the address of origin) and I almost choked. Bright red suddenly I grinned and, no longer caring that we had company, I stood, walked around my desk, grabbed the cute little minx by the hair pulling back gently. "For that, you get punished here and now!" I told her, and shoved my tongue into her mouth.<br><br>After a few seconds I straightened up again, still blushing, and looked to the MarsCorp rep. "Sorry about that, Stefan. I'm sure you know we have ... uh... yeah, well, this little bitch PMed me a very naughty pic of herself, which I am thinking about posting on the base bulletin board!" I winked at him so Laura couldn't see, then sat on the edge of my desk.<br><br>"SAR exercises are definitely a good idea. Recommendation approved. I don't think we need to put that past council as it's a purely military matter." I paused, thinking. "As for letting people wander about outside.... I agree in principal, but ..."<br><br>I was interrupted by a call on my desk intercom <em>"Commander? This is T-Rex... uh Sgt Bollam, in ECC. We are showing green lights across the board, recommendation is EmCon5"</em><br><br>"Thank fuck for that. Thank you, T-Rex. Set EmCon5 and stand down."<br><br>I grinned, and with a sigh of relief, popped the neck ring on my suit. "Where was I, Oh yes... I agree in principle, but only if they are properly supervised. I don't want anyone falling down holes or disappearing into dust filled crevasses.And I certainly don't want anyone going out without their suit done up properly.<br><br>"Excuse me a moment I need to make an announcement."<br><br>I flipped the PA on again and spoke. "Ladies and gentlemen, the base is secure. We are at Emergency Condition Five, Code All Clear. You may <em>NOW</em> take your suits off. Don't loose them, you'll need them for the little trips to the surface that Major Hicks is organising!<br><br>"Repeat, get out of those sweaty suits and get on wit the job. That is all!"<br><br>I grinned and said "Race you..." I was wriggling out of the suit even before the other two had figured what I meant.<br><br>Laura still beat me by half a second. <em>Getting slow,</em> I thought. <em>Getting old. But I'll die <span class="bbc_u">here!</span></em> I grinned as I sat back on the corder of my desk, wearing a pare of utilitarian RAAF-issue boxers and similar sleeveless tee. The scar on my leg stood out vivid and red with a horrid white stripe in the middle. Frostbite had saved my life that day, when the edge of the crushed cockpit had sliced through my suit and into my leg. The internal seal had slowed the escaping air to a dribble, but as I pulled the metal out of the wound, blood gushed out...<br><br>...And froze. My femoral artery had been severed. If it hadn't been for the temperature I would have bled out in minutes...<br><br>I shook the memory off and looked at my companions. "I suppose we ought to do an inspection tour. Care to get dressed first?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Prince Truhan</strong> on <strong>13-08-2012, 23:29:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/be/Stefan_Versatile.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Deputy Mission Commander Stefan Versatile</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Control Center</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Wing Commander Louise Cotter and Lt. Commander Laura Allecia Hicks</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Talking </td></tr></tbody></table><br>"Just Stefan please, I intend to call you Laura"<br><br>Then came the kiss, and Stefan tried hard not to stare "Yes, I'm aware of what you have, but Laura you should share with everyone or keep it out of the meeting" he winked back at Louise, their playfulness was allowed as they still were in the working out the kinks stage, and because people of their rank didn't exactly get time off, they could be called to duty at any moment.<br><br>She mentioned the trips, and he didn't disagree "If precautions are taken and is during the persons off time I don't mind. I agree with not needing the council, after all resources won't be rescued"<br><br>Stefan declined from participating in the race, by starting to remove his suit after them. It was something private that he didn't think he should butt in.<br><br>Stefan made a face after the proposition "We should, there is something to look into, just got a private message but not the kind you just exchanged, we have equipment missing according to the sciences lab inventory. So it seems that we have the first stop of our tour selected for us."<br><br><br><br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blinkin</strong> on <strong>14-08-2012, 00:16:05</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/6b/Lt_Laura_Alicia_Hicks.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Major Laura Hicks (MSF)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>(Mission Commander’s Office, Traveling</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Col. Louise Cotter, DMC Stefan Versatile</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Conducting Business</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br><br>Laura laughed softly into the kiss and waggled her eyebrows as Lou told Stefan about the naughty image. She didn't think that Lou was serious about posting it... she didn't think... "I would share with you Stefan, but it was a special gift for Lou and in retaliation for something she sent me."<br><br>She nodded in agreement to the restrictions to the surface excursions, "I would also like to make sure that there are no serious hazards for about a click out, but I know that I want to get out there and play in the red sand too."<br><br>She heard the all clear and as she wasn't above cheating, she already had her hand on the seal of her suit when Lou issued the challenge. Still, the older woman was fast and Laura was only too happy to be out of the sweaty thing again. "Very Nice Ma'am... I wish that I could offer as revealing unwrapping, but I didn't have time to get out of my uniform before putting this thing back on."<br><br>She adjusted the web belt that hung low on her hips the moment before her head snapped to the side and she looked at Stefan, "Missing? What in the hell does missing mean?" She ran a quick inventory through her head of what might be of&nbsp; value in the science's supplies. "Do you know what's missing?" She looked back at Lou, "Colonel, By and large, I lean heavily toward just some mistake with cargo handling back on Earth or Luna, but I'm paid for my training... there are also chemicals in those containers that are dangerous if misplaced or mixed ooutside of a controled environment... and that doesn't include narcotics or medications. If you mix some of those chemicals, you can cause a fair explosion, poisoning or worse."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chrystal</strong> on <strong>14-08-2012, 00:36:03</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/fa/Mars_test.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Wing Commander Louise Cotter</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Mission Commander's Office</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Laura Hicks, Stefan Versatile</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td>Getting down to business</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br>I was instantly alert too, the moment Stefan mentioned missing items. "You two go on ahead. I'll get decent and meet you there. This meeting is adjourned."<br><br>I stood. The missing inventory was far more important than anything else. Stefan gathered up his suit and left, I grabbed Allie's arm and pulled her back. "Thank you darling." The woman was young enough to be my daughter, she was the third in command of the base, she was my military executive officer, and there was no way in hell that we would be allowed a serious relationship on Earth. But here? We, the two of us, were the law. We could do what we liked. My arms went around her and I smiled. "I think Henny would have approved of you. In fact I think she would have enjoyed fucking you as much as I do" And I kissed her deep and hard, my hand slipping between her legs outside her uniform pants.<br><br>When I had her moaning and squirming I pulled away. "Punishment!" I told her, swatting her behind, then yanked a single hair from her head. "Go, Stefan is going to be imagining all sorts of things and if you stay any longer he'll be right!"<br><br>I slung my suit over my shoulder and headed for the lift, rode it down and thence to my room. Someone had found my bags and dumped them on my bed. I quickly pressed my thumb to the lock to register myself as a user, then held the end of Abbie's hair against the pad. Not ideal but it worked. The lock read her DNA and stored it, giving her free access to my room. I switched the lock out of Program mode and closed the door reaching for my clothing bag.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Prince Truhan</strong> on <strong>14-08-2012, 00:49:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/be/Stefan_Versatile.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Deputy Mission Commander Stefan Versatile</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Control Center</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Wing Commander Louise Cotter and Lt. Commander Laura Allecia Hicks</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Talking </td></tr></tbody></table><br>"Well you could always take another picture for me, one could share with both of us" he had answered quickly, before the message from the Professor made them focus on serious stuff.<br><br>"I'm not exactly sure what is missing, the head of department expect us, we'll learn more once we are there"<br><br>He nodded at the adjourned meeting, and waited outside the office for Laura, she would take slightly longer, he was sure of that, he restrained his imagination from going crazy as he had to focus on figuring out this missing stuff.<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blinkin</strong> on <strong>14-08-2012, 00:57:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/6b/Lt_Laura_Alicia_Hicks.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Major Laura Hicks (MSF)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>(Mission Commander’s Office, Traveling</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Col. Louise Cotter, DMC Stefan Versatile</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Conducting Business</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br><br>Laura nodded and rose to head toward the science block, but looked back at Lou as she grabbed her arm. She fell into the kiss with a soft moan and pulled her lover closer for the first time in what was months; although it only seemed like a few days between the departure and sleep pods and now... but it felt so good to be able to feel Lou's body against hers again.<br><br>Their situation back on Earth would never of been tolerated, but here on Mars... Maybe the relationship could be allowed to flurish and Allie wondered what it might be like to have a constant companion in her life.<br><br>The brunette gasped softly into the kiss as fingers pressed into her crotch through the material of her trousers and her knees went weak nearly as fast as she felt herself dampen. "Lou!" She hissed softly at the punishment comment, "You'll pay for that." she said with a grinned and a jump at the slap on her ass. "And I think of it as high praise that she would think well of me... you're special to me Honey."<br><br>She winced as some of her hair was pulled from her scalp, but she had felt worse in her life. "Come by my quarters later and I'll set you up for access." She stole a quick kiss and trotted out of the office to catch up with stefan... Lousie Cotter was old enough to be her mother, but Laura had come to terms with that months ago... and she knew that while they might have a close and intimate relationship, Allie also knew that neither of them was likely to have just one lover... but at the same time, it did feel right to share her time with the older woman and she could keep their professional needs seperate from their emotional/physical ones. "Wait up Mr. Versatile." she said as she caught up with him. "Colonel Cotter will catch up with us shortly."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Prince Truhan</strong> on <strong>14-08-2012, 01:09:55</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/be/Stefan_Versatile.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Deputy Mission Commander Stefan Versatile</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Control Center</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Major Laura Allecia Hicks</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Walking </td></tr></tbody></table><br>"Still Mr. Versatile" He said as Laura caught up with him "If I didn't know better I would think you want to keep your distance from me"<br><br>"We should get to the Science building, we can start dealing with this until she shows. I hope this is a mistake, otherwise whether here or back on earth someone is going to be missing their head soon"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blinkin</strong> on <strong>14-08-2012, 01:22:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/6b/Lt_Laura_Alicia_Hicks.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Major Laura Hicks (MSF)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>(Mission Control Center</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Stefan Versatile</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Walking to Science Block</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br>Laura laughed softly, "In public Stefan... If the proper respect isn't shown by me, then those under me may start showing laspes. I fear there may be enough difficulty between us stiff military types and the civilian colonist as it is without adding fuel to the fire by not giving you the proper honorifics."<br><br>She pulled a compact unit from her thigh pocket and checked it's contents before looking back up, "This is a bit old fashioned, but it's a little more reliable than some of the new stuff... it'll tell us who's accessed the containers between the sealing on Earth and the opening here... all of the containers required the right access to open them... We were concerned with pilfering during loading before we left Earth. Once we left orbit, spare parts would be hard to come by and a ot of this stuff has no value outside of the markets back on Earth."<br><br>She pressed the lift call button, "Here, it's value is limited as there's no way to profit from it and unless you can immediately use it, it's going to be hard to hide."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Prince Truhan</strong> on <strong>14-08-2012, 01:34:55</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/be/Stefan_Versatile.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Deputy Mission Commander Stefan Versatile</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Control Center</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Major Laura Allecia Hicks</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Walking </td></tr></tbody></table><br>"I agree with you, the value of the pieces is limited, as a market, but as we were talking during the meeting there is a bunch of ranks floating about, a few of you "stiff military types" got promotions upon arriving here, I wonder if someone might try to play a hero coming up with a brilliant idea to patch up what is missing, or finding what is necessary."<br><br>He looked at the elevator, knowing he better be done with the crazy theories, before they reach the building.<br><br>"I expect people were screened better than that, but I'm not here to expect the best in people"<br><br>As he finished the sentence they had arrived to the http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=148924.new;topicseen#new (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=148924.new;topicseen#new)
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dashenka</strong> on <strong>14-08-2012, 09:40:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/64/Lena_Kristin_Holtzmann.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Lena Holtzmann</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Reactor Command</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Alone</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Going 'home'</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br>I did hear the commander on the intercom telling us all to get our pressure suits back on but I decided to ignore it. She was way too busy with running the operation and to get it all set up to watch me. Why hadn't they build this place secure in the first place? If they had let us Germans build it it would have been secure. Anyway when I had linked the reactor's vital operations to my portable device and my implant, I locked my computer and left the Control Centre to the Maintenance Block (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=148833.msg6758100#msg6758100) where I had left my items before coming here straight after I had started the power. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chrystal</strong> on <strong>14-08-2012, 22:11:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/fa/Mars_test.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Wing Commander Louise Cotter</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Mission Commander's Quarters</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Alone</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td>Difficult, nay, life changing, decisions...</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br>"What to wear, what to wear, damnit!"<br><br>I pulled clothes out of my bags and shook my head. Emigrating to another country is one thing. You can pop back on a plane for anything you've left behind. But sixty four and a half million kilometres was a long way to go to pick up your clean laundry...<br><br>Not casual. I was on duty and quite likely to be pulling rank. So a uniform. Dress blues? Nope, too showy. I didn't even know why I'd brought them. BDU's? Meh... And then I pulled out the perfect suit. Martian camouflage.&nbsp; What possible use it could be as camouflage I had not got a clue, because it would stand out like a sore thumb in the base's corridors, and wearing it on the Martian surface was - well, totally idiotic. <br><br>But right here, right now, it was exactly what I needed to create the right impression. I slipped the pants on, pulled the jacket on, noting with a laugh that the insignia on the shoulder was that of a Lt Colonel. Then I pulled on the forage cap and looked at my self in the mirror. Perfect. The blotchy red, orange and pink pattern actually looked cool. I buckled on my side-arm, just for show, and headed to the science block (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=148924.msg6760382#msg6760382).
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blinkin</strong> on <strong>26-08-2012, 20:58:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/6b/Lt_Laura_Alicia_Hicks.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Major Laura Hicks (MSF)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Command Center Block</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Alone</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Finishing up business, settling in</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br>Laura strolled down the corridore from Main Dome (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=149004.0) and into the Command Center block; her eyes automatically scanning the area ahead of her through long years of training more than anything else. She paused at the poster on the wall and grinned to herself at the Marvin The Martian poster with the caption, “We want YOU for the Martian Marines!” Someone had enjoyed themselves, she thought and continued on into the block and climbed the stairs to the security Office.<br><br>The brunette entered the front office with it’s metal desk and wall of monitors and functional chairs; the monitors, she noted were already running and showing a variety of locations both inside and outside of the colony; one monitor never flickered though as it showed an airlock with red and yellow warning paint surrounding it and an elaborate security system… the arms area.<br><br>Laura continued through and into the back corridor and the series of smaller rooms that cut off of it. She knew one was an interrogation room, another was a small conference room and the third was her own office… and off by itself at the end of the corridor near her office door was the red and yellow stripped airlock.<br><br>She had reset the security system when she had gotten there earlier (and had to take off her glove to do that), and now the system was set up so only 3 people could access the contents within. Herself, Louise Cotter and Laura’s own second in command. The only time these weapons would be released would be in the event of an emergency and only two people, in her mind, were capable of stating that condition.<br><br>She pressed her thumb to the DNA scanner, then leaned in for the retina scan. She blinked twice to remove the spots from her eyes.<br><br>She knew that she only had a few seconds to enter the code, and quickly tapped the 6 digit number into the touch screen pad and heard the beep and the click of the locks releasing.<br><br>Laura pulled the airlock door open and stepped inside. The lock closed automatically behind her and she moved deeper into the dimly lit chamber. She noted the orange banded cargo containers that had been brought down and unpacked… all but 1. The subguns and spare pistols were in their appropriate racks and secured with another thumbscanner; the pre-loaded magazines and powerpacks stored separately in their own protected cabinet. Satisfied that the weapons were secured, she absently stripped the orange tape from the containers and balled it up to slip into a pocket. The containers would be broken down and returned to storage tomorrow.<br><br>Then, she knelt and pressed her thumb against the last container’s lock and heard the click and hiss of escaping gas. Good, it had not been breached. “Ok, my little lovelies.” She said softly and opened the crate to examine the explosive ordinants that she had been authorized to bring along. They were not high yield explosives, but as a mass, they could certainly be destructive.<br><br>Working quietly and efficiently in the still room, she pulled open a reinforced locker and moved the shaped charges and blocks of C-33 into the locker; the detonators would be stored separately both for safety and security.<br><br>The C-33 was specifically designed for airless environments… or environments that couldn’t supply it’s own supportive gases for the detonations. It would be perfect for the surface of Mars.<br><br>With everything settled into it’s appropriate place, she closed and secured the locker… Only herself and Louise could access this locker and it would take more time to force it than anyone should have time for… not to mention that it was as likely to blow up as to open.<br><br>She picked up thee container of detonators, little more than a tiny battery pack with two hardwired leads in them, and left the weapons locker. She made sure to resecure the door and went back into her office.<br><br>She knelt beside the safe behind her desk and used both the thumb scan and keypad to open the door and slipped the detonators into the space before closing it again. “Done.”<br><br>She let ut a breath and rose to retrieve her duffle and single box of personal items that the supercargo had allowed her and left the security office.<br><br>She climbed up to the next level and passed through the control center to the three rooms beyond. She could see on the display beside each door which one was Louise’s and chose the room across from hers. Stefan could have the one at the end of the corridor, she thought to herself.<br><br>She pressed her thumb to the lock and stepped inside. She looked around her new home and thought that it was better than her quarters back on earth. With a soft laugh, she dropped the duffle and box on the floor and grinning a little to herself, she pulleda napkin from her pocket and stepped back outside. She had snitched it out from under Louise’s tray after watching her lover use it to wipe er mouth and thought that it would do the job. She pressed the napkin to the thumb scanner and waited to see if it would pick up enough DNA to log the person. It blinked acceptance and she locked the system. “Not that I’ll spend a lot of time here.” She thought to herself, but she began to unpack and put things away. She was done in a few minutes and took a quick sower. She remembered the water conversation issues, so she kept it to just a few minutes… but it felt good to be clean after months of sleep.<br><br>She reentered the main room again, unconcerned about her nudity and adjusted the room’s thermostat up to 20 C.. about 68F… and with a yawn, slipped onto the bed and rolled up in the comforter, willing herself to sleep.<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chrystal</strong> on <strong>24-09-2012, 11:21:00</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/fa/Mars_test.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Lt Colonel Louise Cotter</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Her Office</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td>Alone</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td>Maths!</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br>I arrived back in my office from the main dome (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=149004.msg6967794#msg6967794), and settled behind the desk. There was a lot to get through and a short time to get through it. I was the only person on the base so far with access to the security protocols of the mainframe AI. I quickly changed that so Laura did too, and Stephan. I set about structuring the access levels the way I wanted them, making sure that everyone had the access they needed but didn't have access to things they didn't need. A simple email or text to Laura's office would be enough to request additional accesses.<br><br>That done, I had a look at the work rosters for tomorrow. They looked good so I approved them and sent them back to Stephan with a note to be flexible over the coming few weeks as we still didn't know exactly how things would shape up.<br><br>And last of all, I pulled up my "Martian Calendar" project.<br><br>The Martian year is 668 Martian days long and as mentioned elsewhere, each day is a little over half an hour longer than on earth. We fixed that by making each second ever so slightly longer. Anyone not using the Mars Time Clock program in their implant would be persistently early for everything!<br><br>But of course, the fact remained that Martian days and Earth days were out of sync and so we couldn't use their calendar. For some reason no-one ion Earth had taken this issue seriously. I suppose naming the days just wasn't a high priority.<br><br>Months were going to be a problem. Phobos apparently went backwards, rising in the West and setting in the East due to it's low orbit - in fact it did orbit the same way as everything else, but as it was so low in the sky it was going faster than the planet's rotation and so unusually it's true direction of travel was apparent.<br><br>Deimos was more like a real moon, rising in the East and setting in the West every couple of days, but could I find any data on the phases of Deimos? Nope. <br><br>So I discarded the idea of a Deimian month. The idea was terrifying anyway... har har. Instead I had twenty four "months", the first of twenty seven days, then next five were twenty eight days, then twenty seven again, five at twenty eight, and so on. An amazingly simple pattern. Every other year was a leap year with the first month having twenty eight days. Every ten years, we would need a double leap year, and every thousand we would need to take a day off but I wasn't going to worry about that!<br><br>It was the names that were bugging me most. I wanted to name a month for <em>her</em>, but felt that was being selfish. The first man on Mars deserved a month, as did each of the famous unmanned probes.<br><br>I sighed and closed the program.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blinkin</strong> on <strong>24-09-2012, 16:43:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/6b/Lt_Laura_Alicia_Hicks.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Major Laura Hicks (MSF)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>(Laura's Quarters, Security Office</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> No one</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Scheming</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br><br>Laura Hicks rose from the bed and sighed, there was no way that she was going to doze off after the months of "sleep" she had been through in route. The thought was nice after the climax that Lou had given her in the observasion dome, but she was usually a high energy woman and that hadn't changed just because she was on a different planet.<br><br>She rose and dressed in the new issue BTU's of the Mar's military forces... the red, orange and pink splotchy pattern that was almost universal across Earth... in different colors.<br><br>She paused to pull her weapons belt on and push a brush through her dark hair before leaning over the desk in the room and pressing the announcement button... something that few quarters had.<br><br>The intercom system sounded the three tone whistle that announced a base wide broadcast. <br><br>"Will Mr. Painter report to the Security Office."<br><br>Turning the system off again, she passed through the door of her quarters and thought about checking in on Lou, but she wasn't sure where she was. Something to do later, she supposed.<br><br><hr><br>Laura rode the lift down to the next level and entered the Security Office again, this time,&nbsp; one of the team was sitting behind the desk watching the camera displays and cleaning a sidearm. She nodded as she passed through, "When Mr. Painter arrives, send him to my office."<br><br>"Aye Ma'am." he said and nodded in acknowledgement.<br><br>Laura moved through and down the hall to her small office and settled in, activating the computer and started working up the specifics for the SAR exercise.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chrystal</strong> on <strong>01-10-2012, 10:03:00</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/60/Lieutenant_Devlin_Painter.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Devlin Painter</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Control Centre, Main security office, then Security Cheif's private office.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> NPC security person and then Laura Hicks</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td>Reporting for duty!</td></tr></tbody></table><br>Lt Painter arrived at the double in the security office. He had not run all the way from habitat block 1 (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=149009.msg7002778#msg7002778), as to do so would be unseemly and might cause panic among the civs, plus he didn't want to be out of breath. Not that there was much chance of that in this gravity. But he did want to appear keen and so he ran the last twenty metres or so. Sergeant Bollam was on duty there and he stood as Painter entered. "As you were, Sergeant. The chief wants me?"<br><br>T-Rex nodded. The two men had a lot of respect for each other and understood each other well. Neither of them was totally convinced of the Major's ability to do the job, but she was the one the brass had picked, so she was the one they took orders from. "She's in her office. You're to go right in, sir".<br><br>Painter nodded, returned the man's salute and headed the few yards up the coridor, tapped politely on the door and entered. "Lieutenant Painter, reporting as ordered, Ma'am?"<br><br>Painter couldn't prevent a smile. The martian camo gear looked good on the petite Major, but all Devlin wanted to do was put her over his knee... He blinked a few times to clear the impossibly erotic image away. She and the colonel had something going, anyway, and it would be bad form to get mixed up in that!
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blinkin</strong> on <strong>01-10-2012, 15:41:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/6b/Lt_Laura_Alicia_Hicks.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Major Laura Hicks (MSF)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Security Office</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Lt. Painter</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Discussion of SaR exercise</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br>Laura looked up from the monitor on her desk and met the eyes of her XO, "As you were Mr. Painter. Please have a seat." she said and motioned to the chair before her desk. "We've been given the go-ahead to organize a Search and rescue exercise. You up to the work-up?
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chrystal</strong> on <strong>01-10-2012, 16:28:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/60/Lieutenant_Devlin_Painter.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Lt. Devlin Painter</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Control Centre, Security Chief's office.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td>Laura Hicks</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td>SaR planning</td></tr></tbody></table><br>Devlin had been mildly worried that he was in for a bollocking, but the Major's words were music to his ears instead. "That's great news, Lieu... uh, Major." He blushed a little. "Sorry, Ma'am still getting used to the new structure and all. Absolutely."<br><br>He called up the security personnel roster along with the equipment available, to his implant. First of all, Ma'am, we need a target. I would suggest we don't use a real person, just in case the exercise is a failure. The last thing we want is it turning into the real thing!" Devlin was good at this sort of thing. It was why he was the base security executive officer. "we need someone to go out&nbsp; and plant the target - maybe a spare M-suit? It needs to be far enough away that it's a challenge, but not so far that it's impossible. I would suggest either yourself or the Colonel actually plant the target, Ma'am, that way I can co-ordinate the exercise, without influencing the outcome. I would also recommend planting the target as soon as we can, - as soon as it gets light, in fact, but waiting to run the exercise until we have more personal - give time for tracks to vanish for one thing, and also, when we have more people it will make the exercise that much more realistic."<br><br>He chuckled. "Unless of course, it's a security team that needs rescuing..."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blinkin</strong> on <strong>01-10-2012, 20:39:22</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/6b/Lt_Laura_Alicia_Hicks.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Major Laura Hicks (MSF)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Control Center, Security Chief's Office</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Lt. Devlin Painter</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Planning SaR exercises</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br>Laura leaned back in her chair and nodded as her XO began to list ideas, she had already gone through the same list of supplies available as well as the personell that they could use. This was as much a test of her team as a exercise. "I want a full profile exercise in a week or so, but for now, I agree that we should keep it somewhat limited. Real surface movement will not be possible for a few weeks yet, but we need to get into the habit of being able to do our jobs before we get to the point of having to do it."<br><br>She leaned forward again and tapped a few keys on the computer... the system needed to be upgraded, but the techies hadn't made it on the first shuttle. "I have something in mind, but as I'll ultimately be the one planning it, you'll have to organize and run the operation." <br><br>A holographic image appeared on the desk's surface of the local surface with the dome and underground structures highlighted in dark blue. "This first exercise will only extend about 2 klicks. We are ordered to keep surface visits close to home and no one goes out alone... that will probably be the standard for the next few months."<br><br>She gave him time to absorb the information before continuing, "Every E-suit is equipped with an emergency locator beacon and a strobe that will activate if the suit is compromised or the wearer activates it. Lets hope that these civilians aren't so thick headed that they won't use it if they need to." She grinned with mild amusement, "But we both know that one of them will be all the same."<br><br>She pointed out the communications array running off from the facility for nearly a kilometer, "Because of the delicate nature of the communications array, we'll avoid that area for now, but the rest of the operation zone will be up for grabs.... any comments? questions so far?
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chrystal</strong> on <strong>01-10-2012, 22:39:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<br><div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/60/Lieutenant_Devlin_Painter.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Lt. Devlin Painter MSF</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Control Centre, Security Chief's office.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td>Laura Hicks</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td>SaR planning</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br>Devlin nodded as he listened to the major's instructions, and chuckled softly when she pointed out that there was always one klutz who forgot to activate the locator. "Got <em>that</em> right, Ma'am", he growled. He remembered pulling a half frozen geologist from a crevasse down on Antarctica after a four hour SaR mission - the genuine article. The scientist had been lucky and his toes would regrow - frostbite was the easiest to regenerate from. He had been washed out of the programme, of course. On Mars, he would have been dead, and all because he forgot to push that little button that told the searchers where he was...<br><br>Of course, on most of Planet Earth, they could find you using your implant, using GPS and the cell-phone network. But Antarctica was divided into four cells and had no GPS coverage, the best the satellites could say was "Near the south pole somewhere". While Mars had a ring of GPS satellites, they were not as sophisticated as the ones around Earth and didn't have the capability to track cranial implants. And there was no cell-phone network.<br><br>"Hmmm.... Good idea to stay out of the comms towers. Also, staying two klicks out max will be good. Familiarise the team with the area in the near vicinity. Are we going to be using any of the civs? They're going to want to help."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blinkin</strong> on <strong>02-10-2012, 00:51:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/6b/Lt_Laura_Alicia_Hicks.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Major Laura Hicks (MSF)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Control Center, Security Chief's Office</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Lt. Devlin Painter</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> SaR planning</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br>Laura nodded, "One of the reasons why the units we have are automatic is because we have non-military personell here in an environment that is only slightly more friendly than the bottom of the marianis trench and they really don't appreciate that yet."<br><br>She looked back down at the landscape, "I'll ask Col Cotter to go out with me and drop a suit someplace in the search area. The emergency beacon will be activated just like it is suppose to do if the suit is breached or life support reaches critical status." She looked back up at Painter, "You are aware of the time frame involved, right?"<br><br>She didn't want to give out too many details of the operation, but he needed to know some of it to keep it from becoming a real SaR.<br><br>She leaned back and looked at Painter for a moment at the question, "We only have 8 official security personell, and at least 2 of them are on the next shuttle. I'm anticipating that during an actual search and rescue operation that we'll need the extra boties. Draw anyone that you think will be useful, but no less two to a team and one of those have military training. That includes using any air and ground assets; use them." The emergency beacon and strobe had a life of about 12 hours, but Laura knew that the odds of anyone surviving that long were remote. "Use your best judgement on who you draft... we do have some limited capacity. The problem is that the beacon isnt very powerful to begin with and we don't have the ability to do more than give a general area right now. The objective is to give our people a taste and some practical experience. As we go, more exercises will be more complicated and range further but 2 klicks is a good starting point."<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dashenka</strong> on <strong>04-10-2012, 13:33:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/64/Lena_Kristin_Holtzmann.jpg)</div><br><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Lena Holtzmann</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Reactor Control Centre</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Alone</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Running some diagnostics</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br>When I got in the office I realized I had forgotten to meet the commander. It wasn't that important that it couldn't wait until tomorrow. I just wanted to get the nuclear lab set up quickly and some privileges so I didn't have to ask the commander for permission and to come with me every time I wanted to do some research. I'm sure she had other things to do than hold my hand and drive me to the reactor, something I could do myself.<br><br>I sat down at the computer and ran a quick diagnostics test. All systems were working as they should and I opened a software programme that kept track of power usage of the different blocks and times. Today wasn't a very representative day as everything got started up thus seeing a peak in power usage early after we had arrived. During the day it slowly settled down. Even with the power surge at the start of the day, the reactor was providing the entire base with more than enough power. At the peak it was it 70% of the total capacity. In a few days, after I got some more representative results I would analyze them with the commander and see if we could lower the power output overall or at certain times of the day. This would safe the reactor and would mean less risks. It would also mean I had more power for the lab and my research.<br><br>Satisfied with the first day, I turned off the monitor and went to the apartment.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Prince Truhan</strong> on <strong>04-10-2012, 23:52:22</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/be/Stefan_Versatile.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Deputy Mission Commander Stefan Versatile</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>His Room</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Alone</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Setting up</td></tr></tbody></table><br>Stefan after been checking on things away from his room decided to finally take care of the security business, having kept everything open he had allowed anyone smart enough to figure the system to add their dna to his room, he was positive however nobody had, even if he didn't mind certain people having access to him all the time.<br><br>After imputing his data he started to mentally review what he had seen that day.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chrystal</strong> on <strong>07-10-2012, 13:06:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div align="center"><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="bbc_size"><strong>Mars Date: 01/01/0001, 05:30:00</strong></span></div><br><div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/fa/Mars_test.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Lt Colonel Louise Cotter</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Her bedroom</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td>That Hicks person</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td>Waking up</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br>I yawned and stretched and rolled over to gather the cute little security chief into my arms. "Hey, sweetie, wake up, it's a new day on a new world." My hands explored her naked body under the bedcovers, enjoying her smooth skin, examining the blemishes I had made on her breasts last night with my teeth. I've always been a rough lover, and Alicia seemed to like it that way. My own nipples were pleasantly sore too, and the well used strap-on lay on the floor by the bed where I had obviously dropped it.<br><br>I kissed Alicia softly. "Good morning, darling. That was the most amazing sex I've ever had on Mars." I giggled. And then, typically, was inturrupted by an urgent message that the AI decide3d was too important to wait and zapped it straight into my head.<br><br><tt class="bbc_tt">"Mike Charley Mike One to New Sydney, Do you copy, over?"</tt><br><br>"Ah, fuck! The ship's calling. I better take it, sorry Ali."<br><br><em>Base Commander Cotter receiving you, go ahead, Mother ship.</em><br><br><tt class="bbc_tt">Ah, Colonel, yes we got your message about the ranks, forwarded it to Earth. MarsCorp approves, not that there's much they could do about it if they didn't.... Anyway, that's not why I'm calling. We've detected a significant area of low pressure developing near the Tyrrhena/Hesperia region, to the East of you. At present we don't have sufficient data, but it's looking bad. It could go your way, or it could go North West, but either way, we're going to have a problem.</tt><br><br>I frowned. "The shuttle..." I said, aloud, without meaning to.<br><br><tt class="bbc_tt">Exactly. We can't send it down in a dust storm. We can postpone and hope the storm clears or we can do the drop early. Either way, the third drop is probably going to be delayed. Your choice, Colonel.</tt><br><br>I thought about it, and nodded. <em>Sent the shuttle early. I'll make sure we're ready.</em><br><br><tt class="bbc_tt">Roger that, New Sydney. Shuttle ETA is two hours fifty seven minutes Martian. Mother Ship Out.</tt><br><br>"Oh well, so much for a lie in. There's a storm brewing and the shuttle is coming early, to beat it. Up and at 'em". I quickly pinged an all-staff memo out on the data-net - base commander's privilege...<br><br><tt class="bbc_tt">"All colonists please note. The shuttle is arriving early. E.T.A. is zero eight thirty hours. Personnel wishing to welcome the second group, please be in the hangar by oh-eight hundred to suit up."</tt><br><br>Then a second message: <em>From: Base Commander, To: Mr Armstrong. Please report to the meteorological office as soon as you are up and decent. We have a situation developing. Thank you.</em><br><br>I hauled my bruised, sated, naked body out of bed and dragged Ali into the shower with me...<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blinkin</strong> on <strong>07-10-2012, 17:24:22</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/6b/Lt_Laura_Alicia_Hicks.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Major Laura Hicks (MSF)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>(In Louise Cotter's Quarters</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> That Cotter Woman</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Getting woken up from a heavenly sleep.</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br><br>Laura groaned and closed her eyes tighter at the prompting from behind her. She was sore in places that she hadn't een sore in months and while it was a most delightful soreness, it was still sore. "Lou, if you don't give me 5 minutes, I'm going to use that thing on you." It was an idle threat... mostly... but her lips curled at the comment about the best sex on Mars... it had been.<br><br>Laura was a very sexual being and she enjoyed it rough and Lou had been more than accomidating for most of the night... but tired was tired and she wasn't on call for... she checked her internal clock... 90 minutes.<br><br>She heard the word shuttle and her eyes popped open and she was awake in a way that only combat taught you. "What's up?" she muttered and winced as she stretched. "Thank God I won't need a bra here." she said as she sat up and the sheet puddled about her waist to show more than one bite mark on her breast and at least 2 hickies.<br><br>Then, she was being dragged out of the bed and into the bathroom and shower, "I'm up! I'm Up!" she said and yelped as the water hit her. "Louise Cotter, You're cruel." The water was just a couple of degrees above freezing for several seconds.<br><br>She sent out a all points to her security team, "I want everyone up and in position by 0700 and ready to move!"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Prince Truhan</strong> on <strong>07-10-2012, 17:43:28</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/be/Stefan_Versatile.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Deputy Mission Commander Stefan Versatile</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>His Room</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Regrettably Alone</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Waking up</td></tr></tbody></table><br>Stefan was used to sleeping on weird intervals, having to check on people in various places on earth at once had been part of his job for a long time, and he usually had to accomodate several incompatible schedules, so for him it was easy to wake up and fall asleep again when he had the chance, the latter of which came rather rarely.<br><br><strong>"All colonists please note. The shuttle is arriving early. E.T.A. is zero eight thirty hours. Personnel wishing to welcome the second group, please be in the hangar by oh-eight hundred to suit up."</strong><br><br>Was the message that stirred him up, a part of him wanted to go ask in person, almost positive Louise was&nbsp; in bed with Laura, before he gave himself to consider those things he was messaging the Base Commander back.<br><br>"Good morning, is there anything I should know Louise or did they just caught some nice tailwind? Give my best to Laura"<br><br>Knowing he wouldn't keep sleeping now, he made his way to the shower to get ready.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chrystal</strong> on <strong>07-10-2012, 18:10:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/fa/Mars_test.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Lt Colonel Louise Cotter</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Her bedroom</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td>A naked security chief</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td>shivering violently</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br>The shower was cold and short. "Navy shower!" I muttered. "I'm air force, damn it, we have decent showers on air bases..." But water was at a premium, and would be for ever, on this world, until we could figure a way to tap the ice aquifer.<br><br>It was at that moment that the message from the room next door arrived.<br><br><tt class="bbc_tt">"Good morning, is there anything I should know Louise or did they just caught some nice tailwind? Give my best to Laura"</tt><br><br>I shrugged and rapidly towelled Laura dry, while she did the same for me. <em>Good morning yourself, Stephan. We have a storm brewing to the North East. It might miss us or it might not, but mother ship doesn't want to risk the shuttle dropping into it. Rather than risk a postponement, I authorised them dropping early. They set the schedule, presumably to have enough time to get back up safely.</em><br><br>While I sent this, I kissed Ali passionately, then said "That was from Stephan. I think he fancies you". <em>Just did. She seemed to enjoy it.</em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Prince Truhan</strong> on <strong>07-10-2012, 19:16:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/be/Stefan_Versatile.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Deputy Mission Commander Stefan Versatile</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>His Room</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Learning of the shuttle</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Waking up</td></tr></tbody></table><br>Stefan was just coming out of the rather cold shower when the response arrived:<br><br><em>"Good morning yourself, Stephan. We have a storm brewing to the North East. It might miss us or it might not, but mother ship doesn't want to risk the shuttle dropping into it. Rather than risk a postponement, I authorised them dropping early. They set the schedule, presumably to have enough time to get back up safely."</em><br><br>"Good call if you don't mind me saying it, it's better that they drop early, people need to adjust to a new place, and when you add new people to the mix that time becomes longer"<br><br>He started to get dressed quickly to be ready to go out when needed and to stop being cold, that is when another message showed.<br><br><em>"Just did. She seemed to enjoy it"</em><br><br>"Glad to a part of a good morning for both of you" he messaged back.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blinkin</strong> on <strong>07-10-2012, 20:57:52</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/6b/Lt_Laura_Alicia_Hicks.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Major Laura Hicks (MSF)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Lt. Col. Cotter's Quarters</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> A shivering Louise Cotter</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Drying off and getting warm</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br><br>Laura grimaced and accepted the cold shower. "It could be worse." she said as she quickly soaped up her lover and playfully pinched a nipple, "Try swimming in the British channal in Winter, that's cold."<br><br>Laura had never been fond of cold showers, but she had been exposed to them often enough that it was more an inconvenience than anything else. "We have to get the engineers working on that underground aquaduct ASAP, I'm not fond of cold showers and a warm bath would be heaven."<br><br>She dried Lou off with more efficiency than playfulness; the room temperature was comfortable enough but a cold shower didn't make warm rooms warmer. When the kiss came, Laura automatically leaned into it and mmmed softly. "Tell him he's welcome to come by and do it himself if he can get past you." she said on an exhaled breath, "Once you get me preggers, he can do more." she grinned teasingly and stepped away to retrieve her discarded BTU's and underwear; pausing to swat Lou on her bare ass and contemplate for a moment. She grinned suddenly and spun her lover around. "Fair play." she said and dropped to her knees. She didn't waste the opportunity and firmly bit her superior on the asscheek. "There!"<br><br>With the deed done, she jumped up and got out of swinging range. "Got to get dressed now Love."<br><br>She sent a message to Steven, "Thoroughly kissed, and thank you for the good morning.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chrystal</strong> on <strong>08-10-2012, 13:51:41</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/f/fa/Mars_test.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Lt Colonel Louise Cotter</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Her bedroom, then heading to the surface, via the hanger</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td>A very naughty security chief</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td>Getting dressed before Ali can violate her further!</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br><em>Preggers? where did that come from?</em> That was a private thought, not transmitted to anyone. The slight surprise on her face faded to delight. "I will gladly knock you up, babe, and I'm thrilled you want me to be first. It's just a shame I can't carry your baby..." I grinned and giggled, then yelped. "Well, I definitely know a good mother, and one just bit me on the bottom!" I smirked, and made a mental note to go visit the doc, to see about having some of my DNA implanted into sperm.<br><br>I dressed quickly, managing to give one of Ali's nipples a pinch just before she covered them up and became Major Laura Hicks again. "Kiss me, sweetie, and lets get topside."<br><br>The kiss lasted a bit longer that it should and we headed for the elevator, carrying our pressure suits, heading for the Maintenance Block (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=148833.msg7038208#msg7038208) and the main hanger.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blinkin</strong> on <strong>08-10-2012, 15:26:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/6b/Lt_Laura_Alicia_Hicks.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Major Laura Hicks (MSF)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Lt. Col. Cotter's Quarters, then on to the Hanger</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Louise "Sex Goddess" Cotter</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Taking a bite out of... ummm.. Cotter and moving</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br><br>Laura smiled and laughed softly, "You asked me last night, I just thought I would make sure you heard my answer Lou."&nbsp; She winced at the pinch and finished buttoning her top. Ordinarily, reulations required a bra, but with the light gravity and the tenderness, she decided to forget regs for once. "Just remember that you have to change it half of the time at night." she said playfully. She returned the kiss, Lou was an excellent kisser, and followed her out. A quick stop in her quarters for her own E-suit and they were off for the hanger to meet the shuttle. Laura reached out and held Louise's hand in the lift.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dashenka</strong> on <strong>11-10-2012, 14:44:44</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/64/Lena_Kristin_Holtzmann.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Lena Holtzmann</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Reactor Control Centre</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Alone</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Starting up</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br>After what I like to believe was the best night of my life I woke up in Mallory's arms. Unlike her though, I had to be up early. Maybe later on I wouldn't but after a night of low power output, everything was starting up and I had to see how the reactor was doing. So with a mug of hot coffee I had taken from the cafetaria and tempted by the smell of fresh bread and breakfast, something I would endulge myself on later, I made my way to the Reactor Control. I had recieved a message from Nigel, my colleague for the reactor that he had something he had to show me and that I needed to see. Being pretty sure about the reactor not blowing up in the near future I had sent him the message that if he was ready, I'd be waiting for him at my desk in the control room. <br><br>With the monitor back on, I once again ran a systems check and put a note on the screen to call the Commander. Calling her new would be pointless with the shuttle just landed so I would do it later. With my hands wrapped around the mug, I waited for Nigel to come see me.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shooter6806</strong> on <strong>15-10-2012, 22:15:53</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://filmsdefrance.com/img/Jeremy_Irons.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Nigel Woodridge</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Reactor Control</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Lena</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Troubleshooting</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br>Nigel stepped through the hatch and into the control center.&nbsp; He had removed his helmet, but still wore his environment suit.&nbsp; He nodded to the controllers on duty and walked directly to the small room dedicated to the reactor controls.&nbsp; Lena was there, monitoring the systems that meant life or death to the small colony.&nbsp; He&nbsp; tapped on the doorframe and stepped in.<br><br>“Good to see you, Lena,” he said with a smile.&nbsp; She was very attractive, and despite some initial strain between them during their Antarctic training he had learned to trust her abilities.&nbsp; They had found that the mix of his experience and her theoretical knowledge gave them the ability to confront most problems before they actually became problems.&nbsp; He hoped this would be one of those cases.<br><br>“Look at this,” he said without further preamble.&nbsp; He touched a spot on the display screen and the reactor coolant pressure display was highlighted.&nbsp; “As you can see, the reactor is running at normal coolant pressure for this power load, with variance of less than half a percent.&nbsp; Nothing to be concerned about.”&nbsp; He touched another control and the display divided into sixteen separate readings, each representing one of the sensor locations inside the reactor.&nbsp; “Notice 5, 7, and 13,” he said.&nbsp; Those sensors were varying much more wildly, the pressure dropping by as much as ten percent before returning to normal, then dropping again.<br><br>“We saw something very much like this at one of the outlying camps at Imbrium,” he told her.&nbsp; “The reactor was left dormant for six months and when we turned it back on, we saw this same pattern.&nbsp; It got worse over the course of the following weeks, and we sent a ‘bot to investigate.”&nbsp; He leaned against the wall.&nbsp; “Micro-cracks in the coolant lines.&nbsp; They’re designed to resist high temperatures, but the strain of going from sub-zero to operating temperatures cracked the lines enough to cause leaks.”<br><br>“It could be something else, but I’d bet you a drink or two that we’ll find microscopic cracks in the coolant lines.&nbsp; Just in case, I brought three spare assemblies down with me, so if that’s what the problem is, we can replace the lines easily.&nbsp; We can probably salvage the old ones, too.&nbsp; Fortunately we can shut down one sector at a time, so we won’t lose power to the colony while we check things out or do repairs.”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dashenka</strong> on <strong>17-10-2012, 13:48:10</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<br><div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/64/Lena_Kristin_Holtzmann.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Lena Holtzmann</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Reactor Control Centre</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Nigel</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Looking for troubles</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br>I wasn't good with people. Which is why Madison and me got along in the first place. We both were a bit socially retarded and found ourselves just a bit superior over basically everybody else. When I heard I was getting a partner on the mission at first I was anxious and nervous. I best work alone and I told mission command that but the reactor was just too important to leave in the care of just one person. What if something happened to me? It would take years before another specialist would arrive. Years the reactor couldn't go unmonitored. They had a point of course and when I learned more and more about Nigel I accepted him for his experience. I probably knew more about the theory of nuclear physics and all that, had more training in nuclear research and was assigned head of the reactor, Nigel had a million times more experience with the actual handling of reactors. We worked well together on earth and as far as I was capable of, became friends.<br><br>Now he was coming through the door in his orange suit, the same suit I had been wearing just a day before. <br><br>"Good to see you as well."<br><br>He knew me and went straight to business. No pointless chit chat as he probably knew by now I wasn't good at that. I listened to what he had to say. In my diagnostics I had seen the varying pressures but didn't think anything of it. Nigel's experience led him to believe there were bigger problems. <br><br>"Is there a way we can be sure? I mean the commander is rather reluctant to send us both out there to fix it, let alone shutting down parts of the base. She wants no more deaths on this mission. We have to be sure this is the problem and probably only one of us should go out there to fix it in case things go sour. We're the only ones in a square million miles that know anything about this stuff. If we get both blown to smithereens there will be issues."<br><br>I got up, sent the commander another text, this time more urgent, if she could meet us at the control room whenever she had time. <br><br>"And get your suit off, you look like a big orange bear from a cartoon from ancient history."<br><br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>shooter6806</strong> on <strong>28-10-2012, 06:18:03</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://filmsdefrance.com/img/Jeremy_Irons.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Nigel Woodridge</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Reactor Control</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Lena</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Troubleshooting</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br>Nigel smiled.&nbsp; She was the perfect person to work for.&nbsp; No nonsense, and she could see the essentials of a problem quickly.&nbsp; "I think we could send a 'bot out to do a check once the storm passes," he said.&nbsp; "If it's what I think, we can wait for slack periods in power demand and shut one section down, replace the lines, then power up again.&nbsp; If you want one of us to go out personally, that's your call.&nbsp; The RPV's should be able to do it under our control, but I defer to you.&nbsp; It's your reactor."<br><br>His smile widened when she told him to get out of his E-suit.&nbsp; "So you want to see me out of uniform?&nbsp; I'll remember that, ma'am."&nbsp; He leaned over and kissed the top of her head, then got out of slap range quickly and headed for the hangar to get his bags.&nbsp; This was going to be fun.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dashenka</strong> on <strong>28-10-2012, 10:52:01</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/64/Lena_Kristin_Holtzmann.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Lena Holtzmann</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Reactor Control Centre</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Nigel</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Monitoring</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br>When Nigel had left I stayed at the reactor, monitoring it for a bit more as the new shuttle unloaded. The problem wasn't urgent yet but it could become urgent if left unchecked. While Nigel trusted robots, I didn't. Never let a machine do what a human can do better. Besides once me or Nigel was in there, we could check for other flaws and little defects in the reactor where a robot could not. <br>He kissed me on the forehead and then quickly left. I was used to him and smiled as I wiped the kiss from my head. The commander had to know about the problem as it had to be solved soon so I accessed my transponder and sent her another message.<br><br><span style="font-family: courier;" class="bbc_font">Commander, we have a little situation with the reactor. When you have time, meet me at the control room.</span><br><br>I emptied the last of my coffee and quickly went to the restaurant to get another fresh one, trying to get a quick glimpse of the new arrivals. Some were really cute indeed. Mental note made.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Chrystal</strong> on <strong>29-01-2013, 13:11:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;" class="bbc_size">MARS DATE 07/01/0001, 09:45:16</span></strong></div><br>It had been a hectic week and Louise was not so much exhausted as feeling drained. Everything was finally up and running smoothly, the holographic images of trees were actually working, the bio-cultures in the farm were growing, and construction had started on the new habitat modules. The ones that should have been completed on her first visit to the red planet. And the ore processing plant was under way too. That would be completed sooner, because it was mostly a surface construction with only a few pressurised chambers below ground.<br><br>The missing articles had been found - back on earth, and heads had rolled at a middle management level in MarsCorp. Various research projects were under way, and so, amazingly, was the first native Martian! Louise giggled. Some people worked fast, and one couple had just plane gotten lucky with the timing. Her own DNA had been sampled and modified into a male vector and now Laura was fretting about timing, wanting desperately to get pregnant. At least, that was how it seemed to Louise....<br><br>That was a problem for another day, though. Right now there was something far more pressing to do. This was the day when the first major surface expedition since their arrival would take place.&nbsp; Louise checked the time repeater in her im plant and grinned. Time to get ready. She shut down her desk terminal and accessed the base AI. <em><tt class="bbc_tt">Command override: Give me base wide address...</tt></em><br><br><tt class="bbc_tt">Base wide address is online</tt>, came the response from the computer.<br><br>"<strong>Attention please</strong>", Louise grimaced slightly as she heard her voice echoing back down the bustling corridors. "<strong>This is the base commander. Would all personnel assigned to the Olympus expedition, please report at once to the suiting room. That is all.</strong>"<br><br>It had been tough deciding who should go and who shouldn't. There was limited space on the aircraft, and in the end, once the obviously essential personnel like the geological team, the astronomy team, the prospecting team, medical team and the security team had been assigned, it had come down to a lottery draw to see who else would get to go on the mission.<br><br>Louise herself was going along as a passenger, command of the expedition being in Laura's capable hands, but she was not going to miss this for all the tea in china!
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Prince Truhan</strong> on <strong>30-01-2013, 16:01:10</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/be/Stefan_Versatile.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Deputy Mission Commander Stefan Versatile</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>His Room</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> ...</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Getting ready</td></tr></tbody></table><br>Stefan had spent a long while deciding whether or not to go on the Olympus expedition. The first part of the decision was easy, he wouldn't muscle his way into the expedition claiming his presence was necessary... because it wasn't and he wasn't going to put his own curiosity over the company's money. <br><br>After that the question was whether to enter the random draw or not, that one took him a while as he could think of people that could be more useful than him, still everyone needed was already going, so his presence wouldn't harm the mission by causing the lack of someone else. He also considered briefly that people could think the results were tweaked in his favor, but since the AI took care of things and since everything was left to chance he finally decided to input his name.<br><br>He was rather surprised when he <em>won</em> considering the odds of being chosen, but someone had to fill those seats so it might as well be him. When Louise's voice was heard over the music he had on as he was reviewing some numbers he saved everything got up and headed to the suiting room.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Mars Colony - Control Centre</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Blinkin</strong> on <strong>30-01-2013, 16:51:08</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/6/6b/Lt_Laura_Alicia_Hicks.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Major Laura Hicks (MSF)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Maint. &amp; Eng.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td> Vlad the ... rock guy</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td> Prep workt</td></tr></tbody></table><br><hr><br>Laura tapped her mental messaging system and sent Louise a quick message, "Want me to prep your suit Sweets? swats and kisses."
			</dd>
		</dl>
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