At first the recording is just some jumbled static, and then the screen goes pitch-black. However, two voices are clearly heard in the background.
- So, um, where should I look to? - The first one belongs to an adult male and is tinted with both confusion and agitation.
- The key. - The second voice is male as well, but is much smoother, calmer and more composed.
- What?
- You've hit the wrong key. That was for audio rec. Hit the middle one.
- ... Ow.
The image appears, and now you see a man
looking into the camera. He seems to be in his fifties, but most of his wrinkles are probably from smiling and laughing a lot rather than from age. His casual outfir somewhat contrasts with the background, which is a weird combination of a meeting hall, penthouse and a hi-tech command center.
???: Err, like that? Gotcha. Ahem. ~tries to seem composed and serious~ Greetings to... those who have responded to our call. Dinnae get to know your names yet, you know... Anyway. I am Laguna Loire, the president of Esthar, and first of all, I think, I've gotta thank you. I wish I'd be able to say that in person, but there are some... complications that stand in the way of us meeting soon. We've attached navigational coordinates for Hyne's Horizon, the planet where we're situated, to this letter, but don't approach it yet. All incoming ships of unidentified affiliation are monitored, and there might be questions. And I don't want any questions. ~sighs~ So your destination is the Lunar Base near the Moon orbiting Hyne's Horizon. There you'll be up for a transition to one of our ships so no suspicions arise. There are friends of mine waiting for you at the base already. Just don't - and I mean don't - steer too close to the Moon itself. Consequences - and sights - might be unpleasant there. Mail me again if something isn't clear. Good luck there. Hey, how am I supposed to stop the rec~
edited 7th Jan '17 1:23:21 PM by TheRiddleOfCards
The final preparations and the trip didn't take too long compared to the team's usual ventures. The planet is mostly ocean-blue and lined with patches of green, yellow and some white on poles - just your normal bead of life amidst space. The Moon, however, is different.
It seems to be tinted pale red and is almost pulsing, emanating light as some bleak sun would. Some of you might get visited by flashbacks of Nowhere and the local werewolf cult, but they will get interrupted by you noticing a bit of steel and brass
drifting near the celestial body. As Serenity approaches it, it becomes pretty much clear that this is the Lunar Base your auto-pilot was leading you to. Communications spring on, and barely friendly, though formally-sounding female voice resounds around the ship.
Operator: Unsealing the gateway, vessel "Serenity" is cleared for arrival. Welcome aboard the lunar base Adel-II, the research facility under Estharian jurisdiction.
The ship enters the base's hull, and as the gateway is sealed behind you and the bay is repressurized
, you see two people entering the bay from within the station. One of the visitors is a middle-aged man with straw-colored hair wearing a lab coat, another is a composed bespectacled woman
◊ in her mid-twenties clad in military-looking uniform. They stand aside, watching bay attendants preparing Serenity's exterior for long-term standby. Finally the hatch is open, and the ladder is down. You're free to leave the ship.
The interior is mostly metal-plated with an array of obsolete escape pods lining the walls and the gateway being massive and vaguely oval-shaped. Flats are painted with hues of cold blue and black, and a few doors lead towards the inner sectors of the base. Judging from the layout, the place is most likely symmetrical with second bay on the other side. The base is probably incapable of proper movement on its own.
The man and the woman approach the group and take their turns to introduce themselves.
Piet: Chief Researcher of Adel-II, Piet. It's a pleasure.
The woman adjusts her glasses and gives a slight smile. However, by her eyes it's obvious that she's glad to see you here and seems generally amicable. Her voice is the one that has greeted you on your way here.
Quistis: Quistis Trepe. Rank 23 SeeD Instructor and External Recruitment Manager. Hope that your trip went without issues. ~notices Roy and Turax staring~ Hm, enjoying the view? Understandable.
edited 7th Jan '17 3:57:52 PM by TheRiddleOfCards

-Welp Serenity is waiting in the hanger-