(open) mission: hit the beach

[aithinkthereforeaiam]

Date & Time: July 18th-24th, Exsilium Time
Location: Sea Shore during the Late Cretaceous Period
Characters: All! Oh those pesky mandatory missions.
Summary: In lieu of the success of the space shuttle's test flight, all of the Transports have been sent back to the Cretaceous period to gather mineral supplies and volcanic rock, while doubling as a sort of 'vacation' and chance to get Transports out of the Initiative's hair. With well stocked supplies, camping gear, and more burlap sacks than anyone could possibly ever use, the Transports have been set under a protective dome and told to collect what they can... and to enjoy the sunshine.
Warnings: Shenanigans!

The overflow log can be found HERE!

It's almost surreal, the quality of color, of light, of oxygen saturation in the air once people arrive. It's so rich that the Initiative sent people back with respirators, to help ease the transition, and warned those who would listen about the effects of too much oxygen on a system.

What they don't warn for is the sheer alien familiarity of the landscape, the warmth, the roughness of the sand on the beaches. This is not the fine, sandy beaches out of vacation dreams, but a rougher, larger granule sort, with shells that might be recognizeable as ancestors to ones those from Earth would remember washing up on familiar beaches, millions of years later.

Most striking is the lack of abundant wildlife found among the fronds and leaves and foliage, or underneath the surface of the saltier, much warmer waters extending off the beach. While acting as a permeable membrane to oxygen and water, along with the sorts of phytoplankton that kept sea creatures alive, all the larger animals had been pushed out by the Initiative's installment of the safety dome. Along the transparent walls, curious creatures would come close, peer in, tap against the barrier and run off if frightened, but very few were found inside at any size larger than that of a house cat. It was for the better in the long run.

Too bad that the Initiative didn't have ultra-violet blocking technology in their shielding. For all the atmosphere is in much better shape millions of years in the past, the sun is as strong as ever, and the unwary will be burned through and through if they're not careful.

Comments

[redheadcarrier]

Asuka blinks at Utena as she tries to process the few physical changes. Then she remembers that Utena had been sent on a mission somewhere or another. She shifts to one side slightly to make room and tugs her hat back slightly so she can keep an eye on her.

"Hey, you made it back!" There's a note of glee in her voice - it's genuine pleasure at seeing someone. She arches a brow, her smile turning a bit smug, "Well, I intend to enjoy it as much as I can before I have to go back to that gloomy old apartment building - hey, you didn't strangle Kiryuu while you were gone, did you?"

There's a trace of hope in her voice. Honestly, she still can't believe the two are from the same place, let alone know each other.

[revolutionized]

"Mm! I was gone a long time, but it seems like no time has passed here at all. I'm never gonna get used to that...but it's good to see you again, Asuka-chan. Gee, I thought we were never gonna get back." She grins, but her smile turns the slightest bit strained at the mention of Nanami.

"Ah, nothing like that. ..Er, between you and me, I thought about it once or twice, but it wasn't so bad by the end." She stretches her arms in front of her. "How have you been?"

[redheadcarrier]

"She's insufferable-!' Asuka looks (and sounds) like she could go on and on about all of Nanami's failings, but Utena's question cuts her off. She lifts her shoulders in a shrug and leans back, tilting her head to peer up into the sky.

"I'm doing better now that I'm not getting bombed..." Asuka laughs. It wasn't that funny, but it was easier to try and play it off like it hadn't been a big deal. She gives Utena a little dig in the ribs with her elbow and grins, "You look like you're doing great. Where'd they send you guys, anyway?"