The UIS [i]Garrloch[/i] sat in her berth at the DOC-Z as the sun began to rise on the day of her voyage, copper rays lancing underneath the eternal stormclouds of the Ring to paint the cold sharp lines of the vessel with a golden hue. The vast majority of the preparations were already complete, and she was just awaiting the last of her crew and passengers before beginning her journey into the great unknown. Even bobbing sedately in the morning swell, there seemed to be an aura of movement about her, tugging at her mooring lines as though she was impatient to be off.

"Or maybe I'm just projecting" Armas muttered wryly to himself. He wrapped his hands around the hot mug of tea and took a sip to ward off the morning cold. He'd had a restless night's sleep due to the excitement, but he hadn't wanted to miss the sunrise on the day of the maiden voyage. Wrapped warmly in his oilskin he'd filled his mug with tea on his way through the mess and was now leaning against the railing near the aft deck, watching the sun make it's way over the horizon. It had been well over a year since he'd joined the UNIC and taken The Drop down to sea level and still watching the sun set and rise hadn't gotten old. Usually the first and last rays of the sun were hidden behind the eternal clouds of the Geralt Storms that surrounded the Isles, but at sea level you could see clear all the way to the horizon.

He'd moved aboard a few days ago in the midst of the final preparations, shifting his battered trunk from the worker's accommodation and stowing it beneath his bunk in the spartan cabin. The [i]Garrloch[/i] had a relatively small crew for her size, and it had been pretty hectic making sure everything was squared away and shipshape in time for the big day. He'd performed a final inspection dive just the other day, walking the full length of the mighty hull to check for any weak points or damage. The [i]Garrloch[/i] and her sister ships were in a class all of their own, nothing like the dumpy river barges or pleasure yachts he was used to working on. Armas finished the last dregs of his tea and patted the railing fondly, "Soon" he promised. He turned around and walked back inside the ship, heading towards the mess. There was still quite a bit to do today and he'd be better off with a hot breakfast before he got started.

[hr]

The sun was higher by the time Armas had finished his last few checks aboard the ship, and he walked down the gangplank to the dock. The last crates of supplies and parts were being delivered, and he helped the dockhands get them aboard and stowed with some good natured griping. He’d known some of them since he’d arrived at sea level, and he said a cheery goodbye to them as he went to reboard the ship. One of the passengers had apparently arrived early and was dozing at the end of the pier after taking a swim, and Armas chuckled. He couldn’t really blame her for the swim, but there were better places for a nap than a crowded jetty. He went to reboard the ship, stepping aside as the Captain came down the gangplank, face set in a hard line. Armas nodded respecftfully as he passed and continued back onboard the ship.

A little later he was was with the rest of the crew and passengers, minus a few stragglers as they gathered on the foredeck. He assumed the Captain wanted to make some kind of announcement regarding the voyage. It was good to just relax after the hectic activity of the last week. The lady who'd been napping had taken pride of place at the very of fore of the ship and was holding court, laughing and toasting with a highball glass she'd gotten somewhere. Armas was pretty sure there weren't any on the ship - glass drinking vessels were just too much hassle - she had to have brought it with her.

Armas shook his head. Taking short nap was one thing, but she was acting like this was some kind of pleasure cruise. A distant scream made him look up and he smiled at sight of The Drop plummeting before coming to a somewhat controlled stop at the bottom of The Lift. He still remembered taking it the first time he arrived - and a couple of times after that - it was a hell of way to reach the ground, expecially if you weren't expecting it. A few minutes later a brown haired man with a fuzzy beard came up onto the foredeck, gasping for breath. He introduced himself somewhat awkwardly as a reporter. He'd certainly find some ineteresting stories out beyond the Ring. He was just thinking of introducing himself when the woman swooped down on him and started talking animatedly. He'd heard rumours of some bigshot industrialist coming on the voyage, and it certainly seemed to fit her description. What was her name again - Holloway? That was it.

Holloway led the reporter around and dragged him to a short woman with messy black hair and introduced Sarnick again. Armas was too far away to make out indivudal words, but he caught the other woman's frosty tone over the murmur of the crowd. Smiling slightly he wondered when the last few stragglers would arrive so the Captain could get them underway. He pushed himself off from the railing and started to move through the crowd, looking to see if he recognized anyone.