Gabriel and Madeline arrived at the ship an hour before the meeting as they were told. Station standard letters adorned the side and Madeline confirmed that they spelled out The Endeavour. He was happy with the name, despite several puns and other names floating around in his head. But he felt it better to be professional with the naming of this ship. Once he got his own he might reconsider. As they approached they spotted Sen’Chakar, Cani, and Deana standing outside, Deana wearing cuffs with two officers at her side.

“Hey guys!” Gabriel shouted on approach. He walked up to the two officers.

“Ambassador walker, please sign here to complete the hiring process,” A guard said and handed a tablet forwards. Gabriel signed and they removed the cuffs from Deana. “Thank you. Your contact in the Union has been given the details concerning this arrangement.”

“Thanks,” Gabriel said. The guards/cops bowed and left. “Alright, let’s give you the tour,” Gabriel said to the group. They began walking towards the forward ramp when Deana grabbed Gabriel’s arm.

“One second,” She said. The rest walked off a bit so Gabriel and she could talk in private. “I feel the need to thank you once again for this opportunity.” She paused, smiled, and shook her head. “But I’m kinda bad at this, I even practiced what I planned to say. But now that I’m going over it in my head it sounds… I don't know, stiff. Just… thank you,” Deana finished and looked down at the ground.

Gabriel grinned and put a hand on her shoulder, “No problem, go on a date with Cani and we’re even,” he said.

Deana huffed but smiled and nodded, “You know it’s not that easy. I am required by law to work for you as long as you allow it,” Deana said and looked over at Cani. “The date will have to be on the ship.”

“Let’s go,” Gabriel chuckled. They all boarded and Gabriel quickly went over the ship. Cani was a fan of the bridge and the crew area immediatly behind, but had problems with the rest of the ship.

“Too many open spaces, the upper galley is the size of a cargo hold, who designed this?” She said as they reached the gym.

“Several different people over several owners, or so I’m told,” Gabriel said.

Cani stood, looking out over the bar and the slanted windows in the ceiling, “That would explain it. I swear this bar could be used as another galley. I would rip the other one down on this floor and add something else.”

“Not a bad idea,” Gabriel said and shrugged. “Not that we can do much in two days though.”

“No, and there is no kitchen in here,” Cani agreed. “Well, apart from the awkward design, it looks like a good ship. Not that I’m much of an expert.”

“Do you know the model?” Gabriel asked as they went back towards the guest bedrooms.

“Yes, I’ve never flown one, but I’ve heard they are pleasant to fly if a bit slow to take off. Which room is mine?”

“Well the two on the right towards the front are spoken for, and I’ve not seen Alith or Morthri, one of them needs a room here as well,” Gabriel said.

“I’ve been offered a position as security and have a room available there,” Sen’Chakar said.

“Then you two have a lot of choices,” Gabriel said. “The one towards the bar on the right, and all four on the left. Assuming no doctors are occupying any.” Gabriel glanced at his pcu, “The meeting is in 20 minutes and will be held in the lower galley.” And with that statement done, Cani and Deana began looking at rooms, Sen’Chakar went off to find the rest of his new squad and Gabriel and Madeline walked over to their appointed room.

“Nice,” Madeline said, looking up at the curved ceiling and the windows above the bed.

“Agreed,” Gabriel said. The room had a large bed opposite the door, a small seating area with a screen on the wall towards the back, two desks towards the front on either side of the bathroom, and plenty of storage and two wardrobes set into the walls.

Madeline plopped down on the bed stretching and rolling around, “I can get used to this. Not that the bed in the hotel is bad but still.” She patted the bed next to her and Gabriel joined her.

He looked up at the clouds above, “We have certainly been crammed into smaller spaces.”

Madeline chirped, “That we have.” She looked around the room, then sighed and sat up. “Alright, we’re going to get lazy if we just lay in bed all day. It’s going to be bad enough on the trip.” She stood and looked around the room. “Is there anything productive we can do before the meeting?”

“Don’t know, I suppose we need to find work for Deana.”

“And get our stuff delivered here,” Madeline said and nodded. “You go talk with Deana and the Captain, I’ll see about getting our stuff, and our armors delivered.”

“Our? you have one as well?”

“Yeah, I haven't worn it but my dad insisted I have one if I was going to go around to black markets,” Madeline said and smiled. “Wouldn’t want any more accidents,” she grinned and waggled her fingers at him.

During the two days after the first visit to the ship, Madeline had finally gotten her fingers fixed. It was a very casual procedure that ended with a dose of nanomachines and some instructions for exercises. If not for the color change Gabriel could have easily forgotten that it even took place.

“You’re right, I think it’s best to keep as much of you in one piece as possible,” Gabriel said and walked over to her.

Madeline chirped softly and hugged him, “I still think the prosthetics were cool, but I agree. And do try to stay in one piece as well, your parts might be harder to replicate.”

“I will try,” Gabriel said and kissed her.

“Good, now off you go, I need to make a few calls.”

Gabriel headed off to find both Deana and Captain Densiri. As he headed towards the bridge first, he found the latter talking with Zura, the FTL officer, and the head pilot. He waited until they were done and walked over.

“Captain, can I have some of your time?”

“Of course Ambassador, until the meeting at least,” Densiri said.

“You know about Deana?” Gabriel asked.

Densiri nodded, “Yes, what about her?”

“I need to put her to work, but I’m not quite sure what kind, and I don’t want to go over your head assigning her to something you don’t approve of.”

“I appreciate that, hmm, I will talk with her after the meeting.” Densiri paused for a moment. “We will find something, likely not the most glamourous work but better than the alternative.”

“Thanks,” Gabriel said. “Have you seen Doctor Alith or Morthri?”

“I believe both are in the medbay,” Densiri said.

Gabriel thanked her and headed off to find the doctors. Both were busy setting up the medbay with some new equipment. Or rather supervising the workers doing the job. They both looked up as the door opened.

“Ah, Gabriel, good to see you,” Alith said.

“You as well, same to you Morthri,” Gabriel said back.

“And to you Gabriel.”

“I was told one of you needed to get a room on the upper floor,” Gabriel said. “Was wondering if you had selected one, I need to know which are free.”

“We have not, nor have we decided who will take the larger room,” Alith said.

“Flip a coin?” Gabriel suggested.

“Coin? as currency? The Union has not used coins for many centuries,” Morthri said and cocked his head to the side. “But, we can probably find a substitute.”

In the end, they flipped some kind of plastic tongue depressor. Alith won and would get the larger room while Morthri would take the room meant for the ship medic. Neither seemed upset about the arrangement.

“I would like a room close to the stairs down to this level if possible,” Alith said.

“I’ll arrange it,” Gabriel said, feeling like he was running errands. But after doing little for several days, it was nice just to have work, even if it entailed arranging bedrooms. And so, he headed upstairs to find Cani and Deana. At least with all this running around, he would get to know the ship. Deana and Cani were sitting at the bar talking. Gabriel did his best not to listen to it and walked over.

“Hey Gabe, is it time for the meeting?” Deana asked him.

“Not yet Dee,” Gabriel said smiling innocently while Deana huffed at the nickname. “Doctor Alith would like the room closest to the stairs down. I assume he meant the first one left and towards the front.”

“That’s fine, we’ll take another one then,” Deana said.

“We?” Gabriel thought but decided not to say anything. “Good, and the meeting should start in a few minutes so we might as well get going. Just got to find Madeline,” Gabriel said.

Madeline was done making calls. Gabriel and Madeline’s armors would be shipped over later the same day, while the clothes Madeline had ordered would arrive the next. Together they made their way down to the lower galley as the crew trickled in. Most were Yavichians and Phigos, Alith being the only Quizeateran. After everyone had taken a seat on the newly installed benches Captain Densiri spoke up.

“Greetings all, I will start by explaining this meeting. It will be a very informal affair, we just have the standard safety brief that has to be done, no matter how many times you have heard it.” Densiri began and read from a tablet. Then she started going over what would happen in case of fire, or power loss, or loss of pressure. Almost all situations meant the various doors scattered about would slam shut. Or in case of power loss, not close at all.

“That’s that, most of you have worked together before and many of you have worked with me. I will be sending a list of all crew and passengers to everyone's pcu. We will all have lunch together, please introduce yourselves to the ones you don’t know.”

Gabriel had a brief flash of panic when she mentioned the introduction. He was reminded of standing up and telling the class his hobbies or whatever nonsense the teacher decided was appropriate. But now, all he had to do was mingle and he could manage that.

Lunch was still several minutes off so Gabriel and Madeline walked around talking to people. Or rather asking names and stations as that was about what they had time for.

The Shipmaster was a short stocky Yavichian with almost black fur and good humor as he joked around and clasped hands by the name of Isatch. Gabriel immediately liked him. The pilot was a Kirini man named Ares, the first one Gabriel had seen. He was similar to Zura in height but slimmer. His skin was also paler, almost yellow. Whether that was because he was male or something else Gabriel could only guess as he was moved to the next in line.

Communications and FTL were two Yavichian women, one pale pink, matching the Shipmaster in height named Ariren. The other one was a little taller with even paler fur, almost white called Sandara.

Both engineers were Phigos and they looked almost identical. Same height and build. There were some slight differences in jaw shape and the mandibles attached to it but otherwise, Gabriel couldn’t see any difference. They were named Chati and Zedri.

The two working in Environmental were an Azik man and an Arkron woman. The Azik was named Banzi and the Arkron A’Calthi.

Just when Gabriel was beginning to blank on faces and names the two mess officers arrived with the food so the guards and junior positions would have to wait. The two mess officers were a Phigos woman and an Arkron man. The Phigos were called Ghansa and the Arkron T’Genpi.

“I’m going to wake up tomorrow and forget my own name at this point,” Gabriel said to Madeline as they ate lunch. “And it’s not even that many.”

Madeline chirped and tapped his pocket. “At least you get a list.”

“And I’m going to need it,” Gabriel said and looked up as Rik’Tensel took the seat opposite. “And here is the Achavist that will document my journey, how are you settling in?” Gabriel asked, noting that he wore the green colors of the Archive.

“Very well, thank you Ambassador,” Rik’Tensel said in a practiced tone. “But the crew knows who I work for. Same with Zura, though she still needs to stick to her temporary duty.”

“So you will not chronicle me blundering around Roniean II?”

“I am tasked with sending back reports to Krihana so try and keep the blundering to a minimum.”

“I’ll try, but no promises. It appears to be somewhat of a specialty of mine,” Gabriel said. Madeline snorted into her drink.

“That’s putting it lightly,” she chirped. “But you do have a habit of getting out of it.”

“I’ll keep it to a minimum. Besides, if we are just going to visit this Turan fellow I will probably not cause any diplomatic incidents.”

“Let’s hope,” Rik’Tensel said.

After lunch, all that was left was for Gabriel to be introduced to the remaining handful of crewmembers. The guard Captain was a Roniean woman and while Gabriel was awful at telling age he guessed she was about middle-aged. She introduced herself as Serani. The four remaining guards consisted of two Igris men called Ein'Vanni and Ein’Krinil and two buff Yavichians both called Andrath confusingly enough.

If Gabriel remembered half of the names he would be happy. It was like joining a new class all over again. The co-pilot was a Phigos woman called Konea, second shift FTL officer was a Yavichian male named Anthrik, brother to one of the Andrath guards. Considering one guard had the same navy blue fur he could guess who.

And with that, introductions were over and everyone went back to their posts. Gabriel and Madeline left to start packing, leaving the rest to get settled.

“Last day here then,” Madeline said as she closed her bag, only leaving out a change of clothes.

Gabriel nodded, they were leaving the day after the next but very early in the morning so they decided to spend the night on the ship. Most if not all of the crew would do the same.

“Yeah. I’m going to miss this city a bit. Not the rain though,” Gabriel said and closed his own bag.

“Agreed, I always feel wet outside, like my fur is sucking in moisture, or maybe I’m just used to the dry air on spaceships.”

“Speaking of weather, do you know what Roniean II is like?”

“It’s a forest planet, with large stretches of ice on the north and south pole. I know it has two large deserts but not much more,” Madeline said.

Gabriel paused, “I swear I have heard that before… Oh right, Deana talked about it back in the arena. At least I think that was the one.”

Madeline hummed in thought. Then she walked over to the tv and flipped through movies. “I think I have a movie made on Roniean II somewhere. I know I--aha!” Madeline said triumphantly and pressed play. “We have time for a movie before dinner right?”

“Sure,” Gabriel said and louched on the bed, quickly joined by Madeline. ‘

“Where do you want to eat by the way?”

“Waystop?” Gabriel asked hopefully.

Madeline chirped and shook her head. “We might have to add a visit to the Cecaiampals home planet to the list.”

“That would be great,” Gabriel said and put an arm around her.