POLUS

I - The Start of it All

Harvey
Chapter One
Ship 1

"COULD ALL MEMBERS OF GROUP POL04 PLEASE APPROACH ASSIGNED SHIP TO PREPARE FOR DEPARTURE."

The loud announcement rings throughout my ears. God, it's so loud. No matter how many times I've been here and heard it, it always finds a way to scare the living hell out of me. When realising POL04 is my group, I stand up and begin making my way toward the ship.

This is my fourth year working for Mira, but I expect it to be much different from the last four. Every other year my trip has just been to one of Mira's many ships. But this time, they recruited me to a higher position! I didn't know how to feel about it at first, but after going through training and orientation it doesn't sound as daunting, I guess. The thought of going to a whole new undiscovered area had turned from scary to exciting! Kind of.

Once I verify my ID outside the ship, I go and stand quietly near the official boarding entrance. One of my managers, Alison, walks up to me. I smile at the sight of her. She's definitely my favourite.

"Harves! You ready for the mission?" She asks, elbowing me slightly in the arm. I chuckle. "The way you say mission makes it sound like I'm some kind of spy. I mean- I'm not, am I? Or have I been fooled this whole time?!" I reply dramatically. She chuckles back. She taps a bit on her Mira Tablet before looking back up at me. "You've been grouped with some good ones this year. I'd feel lucky if I were you." I look at her. "Oh?" She smiles before showing me the Tablet, which had a few people's ID pictures shown on it. "A lot of them have experience with this. But you're not the only one who's going on this trip for the first time, too." Thank god. I was so so worried I would be the only new one. I am absolutely in no way experienced with this, and I really don't want to be the only one.

Alison was about to say something else when another one of the managers calls and gestures to her. She turns back to me. "Well, looks like you're boarding now! Stay safe!" She gives me a quick side hug, which isn't really allowed but Alison doesn't seem to care. She's been my manager since I started, so quite frankly I don't either. 

I'm just about to board the ship when an announcement calls out for my group to retreat. The manager taking me in the ship looks over to the speaker before tapping me on the shoulder and leading me somewhere else. What's happening? Eh, probably just another airship check, the team does a lot of those before anyone boards.

Ten minutes passed before I was called over by a manager to finally board.
But it was a different ship.
I looked to the manager. "This isn't the ship I was originally boarding?" The manager looked at his device and back at me. "Harvey Wilson, POL04?" I nod. "Well, it says here that this is the ship you're supposed to be on." I think for a second before shrugging and following behind him again. I mean, he's a manager, surely he knows what he's doing, right? Huh.

Boarding took a solid half an hour, but that's the average time it takes, so I dismiss it. A lot of chattering about things I couldn't make out was happening around me. Again, I dismissed it.

I'm finally directed onto the main room of the ship. I look around at my crew mates. At first everything seems fine... Until I realised these people weren't who Alison showed me. But... the manager said this was my ship? I turn to the manager that walked me in. "Are you completely sure this is my group? I was told I was with other people." He looks to me, barely noticing my nervous and concerned tone of voice, before walking away to another group of managers and talking to them. I expected him to come back, but ended up waiting for a bit. When I looked over the manager seemed to be distracted with... I'm assuming more important matters.

And there I was, standing in the room, surrounded by managers, feeling incredibly... out of place.

Did Alison get the wrong member list? Am I in the wrong ship altogether?
After a few minutes of worrying to myself, I notice that the head manager  for our group had already started speaking to us. I listen in.

"Group POL04 will be..."

Okay, so I am in the right group? And the right ship apparently. That's more reassuring.

My nerves calmed down quite a bit eventually. Well, more or less I just ignored them. I think Alison just had the wrong list. Right? I was more unsure than excited. Again, my mind took up all of my attention and I didn't realise the managers had left.

We were about to depart.

A/N
Sorry reading over this I realised how boring this first chapter is 😭 it might be like this for a bit until it gets to the interesting stuff, I'm sorry !!!!