After a long moment Riden turned around to face the people lined up behind him. "At ease, and welcome to the crew of The Kestral." He looked across them, partially musing about heights and ranks for a moment before continuing, nodding to every one as a smirk plays across his features for the briefest of moments before going back a neutral look. "Its mission is to locate and relay the positions of Halycon planets and Bases, something we have yet to do successfully so far. We are the group meant to be taken to the ground, scout out the enemy, and cause as much mayhem as we can if they are there."
Riden moved to the table, pushing past his underlings if need be before putting the tablet on the table so they could all see, a picture of the planet and some basic information next to it displayed. "As soon as we set off we will be heading for Vorku, a failed colony that is now overrun with Jungles. Recent reports indicate that recently there have been higher-than-normal levels of carbon monoxide reported in the atmosphere and the jungles are getting sickly and dying more rapidly than they should. According to statistics, this cannot be a natural occurrence. We assume it's the Halycon's doing." Sliding the image, he brought up a map on the tablet. "This is one of the areas where the Carbon Monoxide seems to be higher density, and our AO. There are numerous airborne toxins, as well as the Monoxide, so we will have to all carry and wear Oxygen as well as hazard shields to prevent being intoxicated, so plan accordingly with what you think you need to bring. Combot, you will carry extra Oxygen for us as well as scientific equipment."
"While we're down there we will be using standard Psionic Rifles in case there are, in fact, Halycon down there. We are to keep our weapons on their secondary firing mode to conserve power for the weapons as we'll likely be outnumbered, but keep in mind the gun only propels the metal fast enough to pierce Halycon armor at short range, so you have to get close in order to use it. If a firefight breaks out, keep your heads down and try to get out of sight. They utilize rapid-fire ballistic weapons that can kill you in seconds if you don't move." Moving to the next screen, he Tablet showed an image of a large, black armored suit with no visible markings or distinctions. It gave no clue of the manner of creature inside, other than it was likely humanoid. Except the visor on the helmet, which was too dark to see through. "Hand to hand combat is useless against these things unless you can break the visor, which will cause the suit to automatically destroy itself. Crude, but an effective way of preventing us from recovering any technology."
"While we're down there, you are to follow my orders to the letter unless it puts you directly in harms way. In which case I need you to radio back to me and tell me what's up. Try to avoid an all-out fight if possible as well, since they most likely have more troops than we have shots we can take. If there in an event in which we need to get out as quickly as possible, and a choice must be made between the data we've collected and our lives, including the Combot, then we are to leave the data behind. Understood?" Riden would stand up straight at this point, stopping leaning over the tablet, looking at the people he'd be working with. "You all have the first bunks on the left on Deck seven of the ship. Your belongings are already there, and you have forty minutes to get there, do whatever you need to do, and get to the armory to suit up for the mission." He nodded to each of them again, before collecting the tablet he had been using and turning to the robot. "Combot, since you do not have any personal belongings you are to immediately report to the Armory of the Kestral. Now all of you, get moving." Their commanding officer looked at them one last time before heading out, and heading somewhere else in the station first.
The interior of the Kestral would be similar to the one of the station it was docked with, but not quite as polished and bright. There would be progressively less and less people bustling about as the ship approached launch from the shipyard, and everthing that was to be done last minute was finally getting done. The bunks that Riden had told them was theirs would have a total of eight bunks, and their stuff was lain out in front of the four directly in front of the door, the other two sets to the immediat left and right. To one side of each bunk were lockers for storing valuables or clothes during their stay on the ship. At this point, they would have free reign, but the deadline for being in the armory, four decks below, would remain present should they choose to wader.
