The air inside the massive Savage Greenhouse was stifling for most people, hot, humid, perfect for the wide variety of tropical plants within. This was not what many would expect to find within a greenhouse, for the plants weren't in hanging pots, displayed on tables. The dome was nearly a mile high and several in diameter, and was designed by the auburn woman that was humming within to be her own slice of jungle. The dome maintained the perfect humidity, temperature, and light control no matter what the outside world was experiencing. Leti sat upon a mossy rock next to her small river, notepad in hand, as she drew a flower that she had created through very specific, natural breeding practices. It was as large as a sunflower, with alternating colors of lavender and lime petals. She didn't actually know the diddy that she was humming, but she was fairly certain it was something from her childhood.
Having just finished drawing the plant that she had yet to name, she looked up in the distance, noticing some birds taking off in a hurry, in the direction of the dome's sole entrance. Someone else had arrived. She gathered up her gear, and moved silently, steps moving lightly over the spongy jungle floor. There were only a handful of people that had her authorization to enter here, and all but one were off-world as far as she knew. She decided to have a little fun.
Trish was always nervous when she entered any of Leti's greenhouses. Her boss always took her work so seriously, and Trish was clumsy on the best of days. But she'd been hired on as Leti's assistant, because while she may be a genius with plants and research, she didn't do well with other people nor trivial matters. Trish was clutching a tablet as she ducked around a large bush full of bright purple berries when a massive, feline roar came from above. Trish nearly fainted on the spot, before turning to run, tripping on her feet and falling onto a mossy patch. She was scrambling to get up when she heard laughter from the tree. Leti climbed down, holding her recorder, then pressing the button to roar. Trish flushed red, stood up, and thrust the tablet out. Leti smiled, and took it from the poor girl. Trish was the only person she got along well with that wasn't related to her.
"Oh! I've been accepted for the Gliese mission."[b]
She handed the rather long acceptance to her assistant, for it was full of preparation protocols and details. Trish knew her job would be to translate through the administrative jargon for the botanist. [b]"You leave in two years. You have been assigned as senior botanist and food production specialist. You will answer to... a Dr. Shuber, but only for administrative purposes. You will run all the research and projects. You are to travel to New Houston and begin making preparations for your work stations. You must set up a food production area, an isolation area and laboratory for studying the plants native to Gliese 581, setup protocols for all interactions with the planet's flora in its natural environment, and setup your own personal areas. You will be in stasis for the trip, so you must take that into account for all your preparations. They have a plane ready for you tomorrow morning."
Leti cocked her head as she thought it over, "Alright. Trish you are now in charge of all of my projects and divisions. You know how I'd work, so I want you to follow my protocols on all existing projects. If you wish to start your own projects, feel free, we have an unlimited budget after all. Oh, and get yourself an assistant, you're a boss now. Let's get all my things ready to be sent to New Houston. Oh, and thanks for your help, I couldn't have done it without you." Trish nodded, and immediately got to work.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Two Years Later~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leti looked out over her personal greenhouse upon the massive ship that would be her home for the near future. She'd setup the closest earth equivalent of a tropical rainforest. She'd planted the seeds, prepped the soil, prepared everything for a self sustaining system, all natural. She pressed a button that sealed the hatch. This jungle would go entirely untouched for the trip while the crew was in stasis. She walked to the much larger food production warehouse, staring out at the vast fields that she'd planted modified seeds for a wide variety of plants that would feed the massive population. The plants would grow so slowly, that when they all awoke from stasis, the first harvest would be ripe and ready. After that, the plants would resume normalcy, quickly and constantly producing all natural food. She sealed the hatch and moved on to the next and final greenhouse. This one had nothing growing in it, just crates and crates of supplies. This is where she would grow native plants, and she could only prepare so much until she was on the planet. She sealed the warehouse and moved to her laboratory.
There, she found Dr. Shuber, who turned to her, "You've done a fantastic job with all of this. Ready to finish up?" She nodded, they sealed the lab, and punched in the codes. All of the spaces were now locked unless, she, Dr. Shuber, or the Captain unlocked them. "Coming to the launch party?" Many of the crew and such would be out on the town for one last hurrah before going into stasis. Leti shook her head, she would spend her time exploring some of the ship she hadn't had time to check out yet. After all, she managed to complete nearly five years of work in two, so there hadn't been a lot of free time. Dr. Shuber left, and Leti began her exploration of the corridors, now wondering if she should've pushed for plants, both decorative and functional, should have been spread out about the ship. Maybe after they arrived. She began humming as she meandered her new home, still stuck on trying to remember what song it was that was stuck on her mind.