Singularity

Archive Log: 22

"The deeper we are into our journey, the longer it takes for transmissions to make it back to base. As long as communications aren't disrupted, distorted, or not received; something that is sent now, should get back to Earth, and or back to the nearest space station within a year. From there it can be forwarded on to whoever it may concern." Walter explained, though the group around him looked fit to collapsing. None of them looked too fit and healthy this morning. Most still looked half asleep, and those which weren't leaning on their hands to keep their heads up, then they looked pale and withdrawn completely.

It didn't help, of course, that Mother had been programmed previously with this meeting. Meaning, even though everyone clearly got a bit too drunk, stayed up late, and presumably didn't get any sleep till late, she was still going to put out an alarm to wake everyone up regardless. Even if the evenings celebrations didn't happen, they'd still get woken.

The slightly high pitched alarm was a nightmare to listen to, for everyone. Drunk, semi-sober and drowsy alike. Onora's reaction was to hide her head in a pillow, wrapping it around her head as she buried her face against Walter's chest. So, he dreaded to think what everyone else's reactions were.

Either way, he managed to pry the pillow away slightly and look at her tightly shut eyed expression. She clearly felt the motion and looked at him, rather simply he had stated: "Rise and shine," which, in all honesty, Onora didn't know if he was trying to be ironically, annoyingly, funny...but he was regardless.

After a smile being sent his way, and her coming out of the pillow cocoon, she kissed his cheek and sprung up to go get ready. Walter knew for sure others would not be as lively as her this morning to get to this meeting. The alarm continued on for a few more moments, but by then Walter was already in the bridge, standing at one end of the large holotable, waiting for the rest of the crew to appear.

He shouldn't have been surprised really that Onora was the first one to appear. Somewhere along in her journey she had got a drink, a steaming mug in her hand as she shuffled on in. She looked around confused, "I don't mean to look eager here," she had said while holding a hand up, Walter just looked at her simply as she shuffled over and sat down in the chair beside him. "You might as well sit, Walter, you could be waiting a while."

And she was right. It took a further forty minutes, to maybe an hour for everyone else to slowly crawl - not literally, though the pace was slow - into the bridge. Walter looked alert, whereas everyone sort of grumbled and shot looks his way. As if the alarm thing was his fault, and his idea. Actually, no. It was customary, it was a must for crew members to know simple protocols in case something went wrong.

Sure, they were told specific things back in the base. But some things were better off taught and told about when actually onboard, in the ship...just like now. Though, how much of what Walter was saying was actually going in and being remembered, he didn't know. Onora looked about one of few who were with it enough to register the seriousness of some of his words.

Like this transmission thing. If something went wrong, no help would come. They'd be on their own, and they'd be expected to sort whatever the problem was, on their own. The problem would be logged, it could be reported back, but if it took years to receive, it'd be way too late.

"Is that all, Walter? Because if I remember rightly...I do remember a promise of breakfast." Jacob asked quietly, voice sounding rough as he kept his head propped up by his fist against his cheek. He looked towards the synthetic, though 'look' could be an interesting choice of words seems his eyes were barely open. Two dark slits just sort of blankly looking in Walter's general direction.

Onora laughed quietly under her breath, "I suppose it is only fair that you continue after everyone has eaten, Walter." She pushed herself back with a smile sent his way. Productivity would surely be better? Or rather, attention spans would be better for sure. She stood up, grabbed her mug and started to walk away.