(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

[5055034455]

[Oh, so that's whose glasses Saul almost stepped on. Good to know.

Saul returns the nod with a pleasant little smile.]

Hey. Nice weather, huh?

[ninjamanager]

It certainly is. I'm going to guess they're not usually this accomodating with their location choices. [he'll just clean those off before putting them back on, and offer a hand] Charles Ofdensen.

[5055034455]

[He snorts.] You've got that right. Saul Goodman.

[Charles will find himself on the receiving end of a firm, amicable handshake.]

[ninjamanager]

Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Goodman. [he raises an eyebrow in the pleasantly inquisitive way that experts in schmoozing have. you know the one] You look like you came prepared. I may have to follow your example and do a little relaxing of my own while I have the opportunity.

[5055034455]

[Oh, does he ever know the one.]

Uh, yeah. I'd like to think of our objective here as secondhand to unwinding. They probably have enough sand already, anyway.

[ninjamanager]

Sand, rock, potentially repurposed rubble.... Honestly, I think they just want us away for a chance to calm down the locals. It's a pretty sound strategy, but they're probably going to need a lot more than that. Those people have a lot of damages and grievances they're going to want addressed, and a simple "they're out of your hair for a few days" does about as much good as a five dollar Hot Topic gift card: good for the small stuff, but not enough on this scale.

[5055034455]

It's possible.

[Saul shrugs, noncommittal.

Then: ALL THE SIDE-EYEING.]

When's the last time you set foot inside a Hot Topic?

[ninjamanager]

[a small, almost cruel chuckle] Oh, you couldn't pay me enough to actually walk in those poser-packed sardine cans. I'm, uh, a band manager.

[5055034455]

Yeah? What band?

[So nonchalant. So unimpressed.

also

did a grown-ass man just use the word "poser" in reference to teenagers who shop at Hot Topic]

[ninjamanager]

[Lesson One, Saul: every member of Dethklok has a devoted hatred of their fans. even their manager. he doesn't even skip a beat, all professionalism again]

Dethklok. I understand if you haven't heard of them, but in my world, they're, ah - well, they're quite relevant.

[ain't no thang, though, he knows it doesn't mean shit here]

[5055034455]

[Well, isn't this guy fancy.

Saul arches an eyebrow at the band name.]

Dethklok? Let me guess — metal?

[ninjamanager]

Of course. [the faintest of smiles, but otherwise, he's still pretty lineface about it] Our lead singer, Nathan - he's here, too. For some reason.

[5055034455]

[Continued over here!]