Space Walk

Novgorod Station > Shuttle Bay

With all equipment previously verified and securely stowed, and each crew member fitted with their respective EVA suits, the team embarked on the shuttle journey bound for the CSCSS Nomad.

Sestero, Captain Yoshida, and even his dog Ghost, were each already equipped with personalized EVA suits. SA-Miii, adorned her own suit to shield against harmful radiation, a threat even to androids.

The shuttle, resembling a flat, lengthy, and streamlined industrial bus with the capacity to accommodate up to 20 passengers, typically catered to crews and workmen, conducting multiple daily trips. Featuring two egress points—a dorsal hatch and a gull-wing cargo hatch-back—the vessel served the practical needs of its occupants.

Awaiting the crew's readiness, the Novgorod shuttle pilot signaled for the donning of helmets, ensuring a secure lock-in place before initiating the depressurization process.

Operating under vacuum pressure for extended periods allowed the shuttle to facilitate swift drop-offs and extractions, necessitating occasional pilot changes and air canister replacements. Notably, the shuttle had no need for interior air scrubbers, as they were deemed unnecessary for its specific and frequent operational requirements.

As the shuttle departed Novgorod's grav-field, gravity ceased to exert its force on the passengers and they felt themselves become weightless.

With helmets securely fastened, they would prepare to traverse the vacuum of space, and exit the rear hatch for a sort of spacewalk into the vehicle bay’s ventral ramp located on the underside of the Nomad.

Captain Yoshida’s voice erupted over the internal comms of the crew’s EVA suits. There was a hint of excitement in his voice,tzzt When’s the last time any of you had to space walk? tzzt

Povel Vieregg paused off to the side as he neared the exit hatch of the shuttle. It was obvious he intentionally pulled himself out of order to allow those behind him to pass. His heart rate was increasing again not at the task of a space walk, but the leaping from the open back door of the shuttle into an expanse. He was perspiring lightly and he felt cold in his remaining extremities. He was seeing flashbacks to a horrible plane crash, one in which he was hurled out the back and experienced the falling debris crush down on top of him.

He took deep breaths and began whispering something under his breath. These were techniques which he learned in therapy that had a proven track record of helping when his PTSD was triggered. He could feel himself calming back down, returning to the present.

Povel noticed he had better get a move on or he would be lagging behind the others. He shook off the butterflies in his stomach and exited into a space walk with the hesitancy of someone testing a cold pool before getting in. Once he built up some momentum in the right direction he seemed fine.

Dr. Adama smiled as he followed a few members past Povel Vieregg who paused to the side. As he was waiting his turn he remembered one of his many ex lovers and got an old song in his head that he was humming to and lip-synching along with. He had a small groove and sway in his movements. He muted his coms so only he could hear his voice, but let it open to hear the others in case of an emergency.

🎶🎵… I can take myself dancing…🎵🎶

After a while it was obvious Dr. Adama was in a groove as he was wiggling in his EVA suit while moving forward.

Dr. Adama was in a good mood as he was fantasying a big payday on this job. He loved finding as big score and most of his jobs seemed to work out for him. Even the crappy jobs had something he could find useful to at least break even with. he was not to sure about his fellow crewmen but he knew he could count on himself in the end.

Rita’s EV suits fit perfectly thanks to SA-Miii, donning it was easy thanks to Blaire, and as soon as the helmet was put on her head, Rita was gone into her own little world.

It’s amazing how many people will dissociate in different ways when faced with the stress of a situation. Music, like Adama was doing, is one of the more popular ways. Songs often listened to in the comforting setting of childhood transport, the listener back there, or songs that mean something after events in adulthood excite them enough to face the odds that they were going to meet.

Rita had neither of those. No, her way of handling anxiety was reciting earth botany mentally, and when she realized that there was a space walk involved, the thrill hit her with a giggle.

And then a wiggle caught her eye. Rita turned to Dr. Adama and her head tilted at the sound of the song, the wiggling doctor that was heading across the expanse actually paused her entire stress to watch before she looked at Blaire and made a motion like, ‘You see this right?’

Making her way a bit closer to the edge Rita released a big sigh and over the comms offered a simple, “Come on Peaches…” Yeah that is right she addressed Maddox, of all people, as she stepped up to the edge, Race you across…” and with that she broke into the best of what can be called a run and leaped out the back...

Yoshida gently guided Ghost through a zero-G doggy paddle as they disembarked from the shuttle. Ahead, the well-lit steel vehicle bay of the Nomad gleamed, while the surrounding space enveloped them in a vast, dotted expanse. Novgorod's spires stood like lone sentinels behind, towering majestically in the wide emptiness.

Meanwhile, SA-Miii provided assistance to Vieregg, Dr Blaire, and Elisabeth Maciel, making their traversal from the shuttle to the ramp easier. Calvin Sestero efficiently collected the baggage, securing it with a bungee cord for ease of transportation. Their orchestrated movements unfolded in the weightlessness of space, creating a ballet as the crew transitioned to the Nomad's vehicle bay.

Maddox easily got his EV suit on. His battle hardened body was built to last. Whether that be in a war or protecting scientists as they explore what lay beyond their own world, resting in the galaxy for the eggheads here to discover. His job was to keep them alive. The wiggling of Dr. Adama, that’s just… well the man’s got a groove.

Maddox chuckled, hearing the nickname over the comms in their suits, he replied. “You’re on, cream.” Everyone needs a little fun in their lives, his is racing an attractive yet possibly nuts botanist wherever they were going. Quickly catching up to Rita.

Povel welcomed the assistance, it was necessary to keep up with the others. All the shenanigans were useful in distracting the encroaching temptation to drift into fear and anxiety. He felt a sense of shame. Here he was, a battle hardened veteran, made to feel and act like a newbie all thanks to a similarity between a past trauma and the proximal surroundings. At least he could find a small victory that he was moving. In the past it would have crippled him into freezing up entirely.

Watching the others, Garrett smiled. He said nothing and was the last one out. This relaxed him; this simple ability to float. Only being able to hear your own body other than the joking on the comms by the others. Garrett moved with precision as always. Every movement was efficient and precise, giving Garrett the momentum he needed to move. He did keep his extra line at the ready just in case things went wrong with the others.

All the years of training flashed through his memory as he floated across the ramp to the ship hatch. They were getting ready for a new adventure. With a new crew, new ship, and a Dog. This was a day Garrett thought would never come again.

The last two maintenance workers gave a thumbs up, officially handing off the ship to its crew and boarding the shuttle. Once the shuttle slipped free of the ramp clearance, Captain Yoshida raised it, sealing the vehicle bay off.

Sestero gathered the crew’s belongings into the freight elevator, positioning them close to the floor before heading over to a terminal. ~tzzt~ Welcome home, folks! Hang onto somethin’! Gonna pressurize the hold and get artificial gravity online. ~tzzt~

Due to its size, it took a few minutes for the system to regulate the vehicle bay to the correct pressure and gravity. The crew felt the artificial Gs kicking in and the sounds of external klaxons slowly faded into their ears as air returned to the chamber.

~tzzt~ Keep your helmets on people! Til those lights and alarms turn off! ~tzzt~

It didn’t take long. Before they knew it, the Nomad crew were standing steady and ready to explore the ship.