Really Big Discovery

[OOC: Hope you don't mind snagging you...]
Who: Ashley, Zack, Cubie
Where: Drive Room
When: Soon after their arrival...
Cubie grabbed Zack by the collar and they dropped into a jump-tube.
Seconds later, they tumbled out into the promenade of the Blue Dwarf.
"Zack, we've got to find out what's going on. Come on!"
The couple scurried off to find someone with a clue.
They scurried off successfully enough, right into the Drive Room, but as for
finding someone with a clue, well ...
"Something smells like Japan!" Sensor Operator Ashley announced to no one in
particular. She was aware of her solitude, but still felt it important to
announce things, just like in the old days. "Sensors are locking on..."
She wheeled about in her chair, saw two people who looked familiar, probably
because they had been on the ship before, and said, "It's you! You smell
like Japan! And..." she began tap-tap-tapping on the keyboard, really just
one button (The "What Else?" button), then read the results, "and air hockey.
Hmm."
"What's going on?" asked one of the two people behind her. Hard to tell
which one, since Ashley missed their mouths moving.
"Shore leave!" She spun about in her chair, decided that was a bit too
dizzying, and then stopped. "I mean, well, for mostly everyone. I don't
know who. The General said it, said the Cap'n was fired, I think, people
began leaving."
"No! On Earth! The giant robot spiders attacking Japan?!" This time,
Ashley pinpointed the speaker. It was the one on the left.
"Earth, eh... Spiders... Oh, yes! Here, look..." She booted up the Really
Important News Network. Images of stainless steel carnage, messy insides
reenacted on the screen, narrated by the suave, toupee-wearing Really
Important Newsdroid.
"Yep, you're right. There ARE giant robot spiders attacking Japan. Most of
Earth, it seems!! Pity to have happened on shore leave..."