Singularity

Archive Log: 31

Despite of everything that Oram was saying, it just seemed a bit too casual, a bit too rehearsed and lacking in any real familiarity; like he was trying to keep a distance between himself and the real burning issue here. The fact that he had been thrusted into the lime light as Captain and needed to continue on where Jacob didn't even really manage to take off. The man had been casual too, yes, but he had all the familiarity and friendliness that Oram seemed to lack.
There was this coldness which just seemed to envelope the room and the people within. There was also something which was troubling one member of the crew. Dan Lope. As the man in charge of security, he knew full well what it was like, what it felt like to be responsible about a crew of people. What that responsibility felt like. It was heavy, decisions didn't just affect himself, but those on his team.
The officer had shifted in the background, rubbing his hands together before crossing his arms over his chest. A frown on his lined face appeared as his dark eyes narrowed a little. "Sir? Excuse me." His gruff sounding voice got everyone basically looking his way. He wasn't typically one for speaking up unless he desperately needed to. Right now, he felt like someone needed to because something was bothering him. And he had the feeling, it was the same something which was bothering everyone else here too.
"Yes?" Oram turned and looked a bit confused by the stocky, dark haired man to one side.
Hallett looked at his partner curiously too as to why he spoke up. He was as serious as his commanding senior, but right now he just looked curious like everyone else. Lope sent him a look before looking around at those gathered, they all looked distant and tired, anyway, this was only the start of the mission. "We've just lost forty-seven colonists and our Captain. We need to acknowledge that." Lope shifted his weight and glanced to those around him. They all in some part looked like they agreed. It seemed in part that they were also thinking the same thing. Those who had died could not be forgotten, whitewashed over as if they didn't even exist, as if they were never here. It wasn't right, it wasn't the right thing to do.
Although everyone's faces were neutral in agreement, Oram looked utterly miffed. Like he had completely forgot to even broach the subject of the dead. He had been so narrow-minded in getting this ship back up and running, he had forgotten that detail. But then, he had mentioned the dead briefly already, surely that was enough? Dwelling on the dead wasn't going to get them to Origae-6 any quicker. "Sergeant Lope, I completely understand, but if we don't make these repairs, we will lose all the colonists." It looked like the older male was about to speak up, but having Oram suddenly talking cut him short. He looked displeased by the answer which was given to him however.
"Yeah, we should do something for Captain Branson, at the least?" Tennessee could see the stare off between the new Captain and the Sergeant wasn't going to end. So he decided to end it by speaking up. He shifted in his seat and looked from Oram, to Lope and Hallett. The two security officers stood stern faced and seriously pissed off. Whether Oram truly took note of this or not, Tennessee didn't know. But it was practically obvious that Oram had already stepped wrongly with his first proper decisions for this crew.
"This is not a discussion, Tennessee." The tone was firm as Oram turned and looked at the pilot. He had a frown on his face as his eyes stared pointedly at him. Tennessee's eyes just widened in return, yet most now mirrored his shocked face too.
The door opening cut the atmosphere rather promptly as whatever else was going to be said, was cut short too. Daniels came walking in, hat over her short hair, her dark eyes looking over everyone as she pulled her jacket more around herself. "Hey," her voice was small and quiet as she could easily feel that she interrupted something. The tension in the air was obvious. "The terraforming modules are stable, but the cables connecting took some damage. Still need to check on the vehicles." She shuffled more into the room, making her way forwards and towards a seat. Seeing how Onora patted a spare seat near her, Daniels had a fractured smile on her face as she made her way to the biologist and sat down.
Walter looked at the pair of women in front of him, he shifted minutely. No one else was rushing to aid, so he tilted his head and looked at Daniels. "I can help, if you like?" Walter's low yet calm voice caused Daniels to look up, she had just been looking blankly at nothing, but now she sent a small, but broken smile his way. Walter just waited her answer, taking to having his arms back at his sides.
With the same smile still on her face, she gave the briefest of nods. "Thanks." She just continued to look at Walter, he just nodded in return. Glad to be able to help, or rather that in her grief Daniels didn't push him away.
Walter may not be able to fully comprehend emotions, and the feeling of them. But he understood human grief, and how it worked, and what happened. It was just part of his programming. But, in coming here to be with others, it seemed that Daniels was aware too, and refused to be pulled down by the pain which came with grief.
Blinking his eyes, Walter looked up hearing his name. Oram was speaking to him again. In front of him Onora gave a short sigh and crossed her arms. Honestly, Walter hadn't seen her show such blatant dislike to a person, apart from Ledward. But even Walter couldn't resist showing displeasure there. "How long do you predict it will be before we can make our next jump?" Oram asked, watching as Walter's eyes grew distant before focussing back on him. Oram didn't know he was lost in his own thoughts, and not musing over the question posed to him.
The fact that the new Captain so blatantly acted casual, border-line flippant over Daniels, was something the crew members present couldn't help but look slightly appalled over. Tilting his head slightly, Walter just stared at Oram. "Repairs should take approximately forty-eight hours." Walter paused, letting that sink in. It shouldn't take long if they cracked on and got everything done quickly. Walter paused, there was a but, a however that is. And he was about to drop it, as casual as ever. There was no way to avoid this really. "But, we should make an effort to vacate this sector in case of after-flares." He stated the obvious, just like that. If there was still a likelihood of these, the repairs they'd do could be wasted. It would all be for nothing, and to be honest, the ship could become more damaged.
"Yes. Absolutely," Oram nodded, completely agreeing with him. He sounded hopeful, that they wouldn't get caught up in more problems. That they would be able to do the repairs in the time window they had, and they'd be out of this area quickly. "Let's all get to work. Dismissed." Bowing his head, he gave the order and shifted from foot to foot while those gathered just looked varied in emotions. Confusion, annoyance, were just two. Another moment passed before they relented, everyone started to move to set out to do the jobs which had been set to them, those who didn't have a task returned to their rooms for the moment.
Daniels and Onora stood, Walter still stood behind them, and in between. "Shall we?" The synthetic asked, gesturing a hand. Onora placed a hand against Daniels arm and gave it a light squeeze, she in return hollowly smiled. Daniels just nodded in return to Walter's question and the pair exited the room.
Onora's brown eyes watched as even Oram exited the room. With a sigh, she turned and looked at the two pilots. Tennessee and Faris had both been vocal, along with her. So out of everyone still loitering, she was probably going to get agreements out of them. "We should do something."
Tennessee frowned, "Want to fix a sail?"
"She didn't mean that," Faris hit him on the arm and frowned. Tennessee sat with a sour look and rubbed his arm, frowning at his wife as she frowned back and looked at Onora. "Like what?"
Onora looked upwards. Shrugging she sighed and sat back down. Wheeling the chair towards the table in the room, she rested her arms against it. "It isn't right that we ignore those which passed away. Everyone deserves to be remembered."
"You know, we'll be going against an official order?" Tennessee questioned, readjusting his hat, he was trying to be serious. But the smirk on his face said otherwise, he found humour in this somewhere.
Faris let out a laugh, "Yeah, official order." Even she couldn't help but mock slightly. The awkward tone which Oram had used said anything but serious.
Onora sighed, she looked to the side when someone leaned next to her. Lope was still present, she hadn't even registered the two security officers were here. "You are right, both of you." As a soldier, he couldn't exactly go against the order given to him to do whatever task he had been given. But these three? Sure. Within rights. And he could aid, within rights.
Onora smiled, "Well, somewhere between preparing to repair sails, and the next jump...we could fit in something, right?" She asked uncertainly, having all sets of eyes on her was making her nervous. She felt a little awkward for speaking up. Yet she did so. She didn't think it was right to overlook the dead. Every life was precious, and every life did deserve respect and remembering. She felt that very strongly.
Faris nodded her head, she rubbed a hand to her chin in thought and stood. "Yeah. Yeah, we could. We'll need to make sure his, and everyone else's bodies are prepared."
"Need to transport him to an airlock," Tennessee continued on from his wife, giving her a quick glance before looking back to where Onora, Lope and Hallett was. Even though the latter hadn't spoken up, he listened, cross armed and nodding.
"We can say which one Jacob is." Hallett said, finally speaking. Seeing as how the security had also been the ones to deal with the dead, they would know which one of the bound corpses was their former Captain.
"So..." Onora prompted slowly, hesitantly even as she looked at the other four with equally hesitant looks.
"Let's get this show on the road." Tennessee said with a sigh and throwing his hands in the air, he grasped onto the chair arms and pulled himself up.
Faris stood and Onora jumped up and looked at the pilot with a small smile. "Come on, we'll scope out the best setting to say goodbye." Faris and Onora walked side by side out of the bridge. "And booze," Onora laughed gently and shook her head, "I know you don't partake, but ya know..." Faris smiled and nudged her shoulder against Onora's. "We'll get you a soft drink."
Onora just smiled and shook her head. "I don't need a drink to toast, to say farewell. It's really okay." She placed her hands in her pockets with a gentle sigh, Faris swung into a room and reappeared with a bottle in her hands and small cups stacked in the other.
Spotting Tennessee pushing a stretcher like object, both females looked sadly at the white clothed form on top. He nodded his head and directed it down the corridor, he was taking it upon himself to place the body in the airlock, whereas the two of them could find the others.
Daniels and Walter were easily found, coming back from checking equipment. Briefly explaining the plan, Daniels had looked tearily thankful before having an arm around her shoulders by Faris. The pilot led her down to where they were planning to stand and be near the controls to say goodbye to Jacob, whereas Onora fell into line with Walter.
"How is she?" She whispered up at him. Walter's expression turned serious as he looked down at her, he reached up and pulled the hood of his top down. Everything about his expression caused Onora's shoulders to slump. It was a stupid question, she knew it was, but it was something people asked wasn't it?
"She spoke of her ideals, when we reach our new home. What she hoped for, with Captain Branson." Walter explained as Onora nodded. "She's asked for my aid." That caused Onora to look at him curiously. "In building a home."
"That sounds charming, Walter. And kind," like Walter would decline. He was too kind for that, especially to those which were closest to him. He may not register it, but it's what friends did for each other.
"I hope I did not speak out of term, but I told her of what your plans were, for us. The want to have a place of peace and quiet, together."
"Our plans, Walter. You can contribute." Onora said, placing her hand against his arm as they spoke quietly.
"Then can we be her neighbours? Or, at least, close by?"
Onora smiled, her hand found his and she held on. Giving the hand in hers a squeeze she nodded. "Yes. Yes we can." She looked forwards, she couldn't help but smile when Faris handed her a bottle of what appeared to be some sort of fizzy drink. Faris just smiled before handing out the cups. They stood gathered, saying farewell to a man who should rightly be here with them now, but wasn't all thanks to a freak technological breakdown. They weren't aware to the fact that their activities were being spied by their new Captain, from the bridge. All they wanted to do was say bye to a husband and a friend, who would be greatly and sorely missed. Whatever tasks they had been assigned, would still get done, but this at the moment, was more important.