Kazimir entered the bridge, looking up when he heard a staticky noise. "Telo? What's that sound?" he questioned, trying to push aside his dislike for the other man long enough to figure out what was going on. He came closer to the Albanian, eyebrows pulling together slightly. Where was this coming from? This was not a sound he had heard before, not here on the ship.
“Receiving a transmission,” Telo answered without looking up from the desk. “From where, I have no clue, but it’s got to be close to the ship, because the ship isn’t taking long distance transmissions right now.” He considered telling Kazimir that whatever he was fiddling with earlier may have had an effect, but decided not to.
“Just sounds like a bunch of static…” He muttered.
Kaz nodded, coming closer and examining the controls. "There has to be a way to narrow down where it's coming from…" he trailed off, grabbing the manual and flipping through it, eyes flashing from sentence to sentence as he tried to narrow down the instructions for com signals.
Telo was not one to think about ‘other life,’ not with what had happened these past few weeks. But before? Sure. You could say he thought a lot about what it would look like. But now was not the time to start drifting off.
That signal could be important - or it could be useless. Whether it was, Telo wanted to find its source. He shifts away from the desk for a moment, his eyes returning to the windows again.
It would turn out narrowing down the signal is pretty easy - just flick a few switches, turn a few switches…the only problem in their situation would be power. Which Telo was also almost always constantly thinking about.
He set down the manual. "Even if we find out where the sound is coming from, what do we do about it?" He tried to put aside his dislike in order to figure this out. Maybe this could…change things. Maybe. Maybe they weren't totally doomed. They probably were. But he tried to look on the bright side, he really did. It just wasn't always easy, especially when he was here. Stuck with Telo. The last damn two alive on this fucking ship.
“Qij, I don’t know.“ Telo shook his head, walking to the side. He was sure there was some information on the system somewhere, so that if they did figure out it came from one of the planets in this system, he could investigate.
His idea was something along the lines of, ‘if it’s from a habitable planet, I’m out of here.’ He didn’t say that outloud just yet, not while the origin was unconfirmed.
He sighed, raking a hand over his head. "Fuck." He grumbled quietly, squinting at the system. "Hm." He hummed for a moment, then flicked a switch, trying to pinpoint the sound with the least amount of energy wasted. His eyes were narrowed, and he didn't look at Telo. He didn't think the other man would be very helpful with any of this.
One of the other displays by the radio flicked on, seemingly an overview of the solar system the ship was currently sitting in. Telo glanced at it, also seeing the labels on each of the planets and star - Ake, the sun. The computer seemed to be tracking the signal.
“Space signals, different from Earth. Could be just rocks clashing together somewhere in space, not always something sending out a signal on purpose.” Telo mused quietly, recalling information he’d learned a number of years ago.
But the display zoomed in on one large planet in particular - the gas giant, Natis. Telo was pretty sure things couldn’t survive on gas giants, they had no surface, so he assumed it may just be a natural occurrence.
Yet the display changed again, listing out the three moons of Natis; Thiter, Alao, and Yivis. And again, zooming on Alao. The display did not change after that - seemingly specifying that, Alao was where the signal originated from.
Alao. Telo didn’t know that much about the moons, but now that he had names, looking it up in a database would be a lot easier. He kept his focus on the display. It was within that moment the signal stopped, but the display kept on.
Kaz frowned a little. Alao…the name wasn't familiar, but…but still. This could be important. Probably was important. He took a deep breath, pulling up a second display and searching for "Alao" in the database. Any information they could get would be helpful. Any at all. If that signal meant anything…but what could it mean? Kaz almost laughed at himself. He was getting too wrapped up in his thoughts, diving too deep into conspiracy theories. There wasn't life on this moon…was there? No, of course not, there couldn't be. There couldn't be. Humanity had been alone in the universe for eons, this couldn't be changing now. It wouldn't be anything living. It had to be just a natural phenomenon, something to do with the planet and the moon or something like that.
Alao, never visited by humans before, is one of the three moons of Natis. It also happens to be the one with an environment most likely suitable for life, or at least the highest chance. Breathable oxygen except for lower altitudes, a terrain made of mountains, forests, hills and flat plains. It has an even temperature, comfortable for most humans, that doesn’t change much. Finally, it is also known to have liquid water. The report said nothing about life confirmed, though.
Telo looks at the display that Kaz pulled up, reading what information he could see. Breathable air? Already seemed like a deal to him. Telo walks back from the desk, almost eager to get off of this ship.
Kaz frowned a little. What was the catch? There had to be a catch. He kept searching for more information, ignoring Telo. If this moon was so great, then…why had humanity never sent anything here, that he knew of. He shook his head a little, lower lip catching between his teeth a little in concentration. If this moon was safe, though…maybe they could get down to it. Maybe this was their chance to live. Maybe from the surface, they could send messages out to Earth, and more settlers would arrive. They could be the beginning of a new colony, a new world.
Telo decides to return to his quarters to prepare. Even if it’s not even confirmed that they can go to the moon to begin with, he’d rather not die up here, wasting away in space. As he was leaving the bridge, he tilts his head to the side, not quite looking backwards. “I don’t know about you,” his voice almost dripping into an accent, “but the chances of survival on this new moon look good to me. I’ll be in my room should you need me for anything.” Not that he would think that Kaz would come to him willingly, of course.
He adjusts the collar of his jacket before descending down the hallway. He had a few things he wanted to do first.
Telo Tzeka will not die in freezing space. At least, he tells himself that.
Kaz nodded a little in acknowledgement of Telo's words. If they could safely arrive on the moon…what then? What if there were things on that moon? What if it wasn't safe? He chewed on his lip anxiously, unsure what to do. There wasn't much information about it in the ship's logs. And they'd have to choose carefully what they were going to bring down to the surface. Seeds, for planting. Some sort of tent or something, for shelter. Clothing. Tech. Solar panels. Medical supplies. The list went on and on, but how much could they fit in an escape pod? Unless…they brought the whole ship down? Would that work?
His first order of things was to gather what he could from his room, then go around the ship seeing if there was anything else he could grab. Telo also wanted to record a final message on the ship - in the event that other humans ever did find the Midway, assuming it would still be up in orbit or at least remain intact.
Since he’d got onto the ship Telo had been recording messages, records of the days he’d spent on the ship. He’d stopped with the dates a while ago, having lost track of time. If that moon plan really worked, it would hopefully be easier to tell the time, but what would he know? There was a lot of ‘unknown’ in this situation.
Entering his room Telo searched for the small voice recorder that he’d been using, which wasn’t that hard to find. He’d always been organized, at the very least an organized mess.
Device in hand, Telo returned to his bed, sitting down on it. He lifted the device to his face, preparing to speak.
(question: do they use laser guns or bullet guns or what?)
Kaz sighed, and headed to his quarters. He packed a bag with everything he thought he would need, then headed down to the infirmary. From there, he grabbed some medicine and first aid supplies, then went to the armory and grabbed extra refills for the guns, along with some extra weaponry. He paused for a moment, tapping his foot in thought as he tried to figure out what else to grab, if anything.
((On the ship, primarily non lethal guns, which are ‘electric/laser guns’, though they can still be lethal; but most guns can switch between having bullets or electric shocks. True laser guns are less common and newer technology that we wouldn’t find on the ship))
“Day..whatever. The situation’s low, Kazimir and I are the only ones still left on this ship..same as before, not many changes.” He pauses, clicking his tongue. “We’ve come across a moon, hopefully habitable, and we’re making plans to go down there it looks like.”
His eyes look around the corners of the room. “It’s almost ironic, the sickness and all. Maybe if it came a bit later, on our way back, things would’ve been easier. But we’re just out here, drifting, alone in deep space. Off the radar. I don’t even know if anyone else will find this recording, be it 5 weeks or 5 years from now.“
He sighs, closing his eyes. “Sorry to my atdheu, for not completing the job. If it’s worth mentioning, I kept to the mission and collected what I could, but in the end it was useless considering I’m no longer able to deliver information. Unless I find a way to transmit on this moon..Alao.. It’s going no where but with me.” Telo stands up, walking over to a desk. “And sorry to you, Mother. Hira.” His voice lowers to a whisper. “Tzeka, signing off for presumably the final time.”
He sets the device down, standing motionless for a second, looking at the wall. After a few more seconds, Telo leaves, not before grabbing bags that he needs - the backpack, of course, and others as well. He has most of what he needs in the backpack, but makes sure to sweep around the room.
Once he’s done, he departs, heading off to check more rooms to grab stuff he thinks of.
(Alright thanks)
Kaz grabbed some survival gear; tents, fire-starters, the like. Just in case. And then he headed to try and find Telo, grumbling faintly as he lugged the heavy gear with him. When he finally did find the other man, he mustered up a grim, half-sarcastic smile. "Ready to go? We'll have to take one of the escape pods; the ship itself couldn't make it down to the surface without breaking up, and then we'd be dead." he set the gear down with a grunt, stretching and sighing. He wished he was bigger, stronger. He was 5'8" and slim, so. Not very strong. Which he disliked, but there wasn't much he could do to change it at this moment. Or ever, really.
Telo had grabbed what came to mind, for himself; and also remembering he wasn’t alone on this - he made sure to take things that would contribute. Scanners, though they wouldn’t be useful for figuring out the names of things, they could serve a purpose for finding out toxicity levels in different areas and whatnot. Eye shields in case. What he could manage.
When Kaz came across him, Telo only gave a subtle nod. He was able to carry what he had with him relatively effortlessly- of course, he also wasn’t carrying as much.
“I didn’t think we would be going down in the ship anyways. But yes, I’m ready.” He confirmed.
He nodded a little, hauling the bag over his shoulders again with a grunt. He could have asked for Telo's help,.he supposed, but there was no fucking way he was going to give the other man the satisfaction. Kaz might have been smaller, but he was also stubborn as hell. "Let's go, then." He headed towards the escape pods, lugging the stuff he had grabbed along behind him.
“Okay.” Telo trailed behind him shortly after.
One escape pod would have a fair amount of room, and make for a decent temporary shelter just in case. They were designed to fit three people after all. Though limited, there were controls to the escape pod, so that one could slightly steer where they were going to land. The escape pods themselves were shaped like boxes.
Telo wasn’t nervous - well, maybe a little - but it was ironic, going into the escape pod. For him at least. A plan that would never happen now that the Midway was essentially dead would’ve led up to one of these pods, but here he was, departing from the ship alongside the only other crew member.
He didn’t really look forwards to the surface, as exciting as a new habitable world was. Teamwork was never his best suit - something that would be required for the next while, probably - and it was even worse when it was alongside someone he didn’t get along with very much. An underestimate of that dislike, though.
The doors to the pods are already opened.
Kaz headed inside it, plopping the supplies down in the storage area with a faint exhale. "Now. Who's going to try and pilot this fucker?" He said, already sitting down in the pilot's seat as if he expected Telo not to care. And maybe he did, but then again, even if Telo did care…so what? Kaz didn't really care.
Telo only stared at Kaz as he got into the seat. There was a brief delay in his response, has he stood, not really doing much of anything. Only a vague sigh escaped him after a moment. “Don’t care, you can do it - seeing as you’re sitting in the seat.” Telo sets his things down and takes his own spot, leaning back into the chair. He turns his head away.
He does know how to pilot the pods, but he’s not a fan of it. Not a fan of piloting in general, though. In a way, it’s almost better for him.
Kaz nodded, and flicked the switches. The doors slid shut, and he carefully started maneuvering the pod away from the ship. "Farewell." He breathed under his breath, not looking back as he piloted it down towards the moon's surface. He didn't look at Telo, not daring to move his gaze away from the moon and the controls.
While humanity had been to a variety of planets in the past, it was rather exciting to be one of the first to step on ground very far from your home planet. Though Telo had to describe what he was feeling as excitement, fear, and annoyance. Though he couldn’t help but glance backwards, towards the Midway again.
There would be a few clouds for the pod to pass through, but nothing too bad. From there, the ground was revealed, and at their current course, they’d end up landing by one of the forests. Which in itself was different - very large, tall, old trees marked the landscape.
Kaz caught his lip between his teeth as he continued coaxing the pod down towards the moon's surface. He wanted to land the thing, not crash headlong into a tree. At the worst, the pod could serve as a home base, since it would be far more impervious to weather than anything the two of them could possibly have been able to rig up. He ignored Telo, a few strands of brown hair falling, unnoticed, in front of his glass eye.