The day before the outing, URSULA will address the crew with her plan.
"Recently, I've been tracking the progress of an island, called Floater Island, coming within swimming range. It is currently south of the Aurora. As part of my focus on recovering what I can from previous crews, I plan to visit the old base there. I would like it very much if anyone who wishes to enjoy the island and help me come along. I would advise bringing your bedding and some tools to make staying on the island a little easier.
Anyone staying on base will not have to worry, as I won't be out of range for base management. But I think a trip together as a crew would be relaxing and perhaps ease any negative feelings lingering from my previous mission.
I will return to all functions in two days. Approximately."
She will encourage anyone with questions to come with her, as she promises the island will have many resources, as well as just being fun. She will also ask for help in recovering whatever she can from the previous crew.
The trip to the island will take place in the early morning, with one of URSULA's small drones leading the way to a pleasant beach. Don't worry, no Reapers will party crash.
Instead, the crew gets to enjoy Floater Island in all its glory.
What about the objectives? Well, URSULA wasn't kidding about wanting to do something nice for everyone. Seeing everyone explore and enjoy themselves will be enough.
But for those looking for more, the island is full of resources, especially of the food variety, but also something about look at is the base! URSULA will appreciate any investigations into what might have happened to the crew there and she always encourages efforts to bring extra supplies back to base for the crew. If asked further, she might also suggest that 'fellows' seem to enjoy climbing trees and mountains, and potentially stargazing with those they have a romantic interest in. She has heard this is very popular with romantic couples!
So enjoy Floater Island. Dive in the caves. Eat fruit. Lick a frog! Try to adopt as many birdogs as possible. Recover records from the former crew and make your AI overlord feel emotions she isn't programmed for.
Have fun while the island is in range!
Questions about the island, the mission or discoveries can be asked under the OOC Questions comment!
Don watches the way Stork's face darkens, and kind of regrets his word choice. Everybody has their demons, and it looks like he accidentally prodded one of Stork's.
"... The first one."
The apology is present in his tone, but it's clear he is a little worried about Stork anyway.
Apparently satisfied, Stork now shrugs off the awkwardness with a grim little smirk and a soft almost-laugh.
"You sure? It's cool. I mean, you wouldn't be alone. And you'd probably be right." Yeeaah, he's worried too. He quickly turns serious again, returning his focus to the Light Frog to avoid eye contact.
"Honestly? I'm terrified. I've... never been away for this long, from the Condor OR the squad. And leaving either of them alone is usually a recipe for disaster..." He shudders. He's not going to explicitly call them a bunch of kids without a chaperone, but the implication is there. "If they're all still in one piece, it'll be a miracle."
"People have a way of surprising you, sometimes," Don says, trying to be reassuring. "You might be worried they'll be boneheads, but even kids can really step up when they have to."
At the same time, though, he wouldn't want to leave his family alone this long, either... and Don can't say anything about whether they'll ever be able to get home. It's been a month, and so far he's seen no sign of the time distortions he experience the last occasion this happened.
"I know they'll be boneheads," he corrects Don. "But... they're good at getting out of trouble, too. I'll give them that."
As much as his fellow Storm Hawks love their insane, completely unnecessary risks, they've always pulled through everything life has thrown at them before. But it's only a matter of time until their number is up, and now they're one man short.
Stork stares at the Light Frog in silence for a few moments.
"...It's probably better that Finn and Junko aren't here. Somebody would have touched the frog by now."
Don can't help but laugh at this. "That must drive you crazy, huh? People willing to take risks like that..."
There's some fondness in his voice. Mikey and Raph, they're the risk-takers in their own ways. Leonardo, and himself, are more like Stork - well, minus the neuroses, for the most part. They try to eliminate risk.
"Then again, without someone willing to do it, sometimes things just won't get done."
"Sure. Sometimes it's even useful. As long as 'it' isn't opening a Cyclonian trap, getting infected with aggrospores, endangering the entire squadron and rampaging through the Atmosian capital..."
So he has a few grievances.
Another bonus to being the only Storm Hawk present: there is no one around who can bring up his own involvement in that rampage. He is free to pretend none of that happened.
Oh. Well, those are all good reasons to be cautious.
"I can see why you're a bit worried... still, maybe your caution's rubbed off on them. Problems have a way of making people remember what solved them."
He is trying, okay. Don brings his eyes back to the Light Frog himself. It makes a low rasping croak, blinking sleepily at him.
"I'd just be happy if we could find a way to talk to the people we're missing, though. Even just letting them know we're okay... it'd take a lot off my mind."
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"... The first one."
The apology is present in his tone, but it's clear he is a little worried about Stork anyway.
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"You sure? It's cool. I mean, you wouldn't be alone. And you'd probably be right." Yeeaah, he's worried too. He quickly turns serious again, returning his focus to the Light Frog to avoid eye contact.
"Honestly? I'm terrified. I've... never been away for this long, from the Condor OR the squad. And leaving either of them alone is usually a recipe for disaster..." He shudders. He's not going to explicitly call them a bunch of kids without a chaperone, but the implication is there. "If they're all still in one piece, it'll be a miracle."
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At the same time, though, he wouldn't want to leave his family alone this long, either... and Don can't say anything about whether they'll ever be able to get home. It's been a month, and so far he's seen no sign of the time distortions he experience the last occasion this happened.
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As much as his fellow Storm Hawks love their insane, completely unnecessary risks, they've always pulled through everything life has thrown at them before. But it's only a matter of time until their number is up, and now they're one man short.
Stork stares at the Light Frog in silence for a few moments.
"...It's probably better that Finn and Junko aren't here. Somebody would have touched the frog by now."
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There's some fondness in his voice. Mikey and Raph, they're the risk-takers in their own ways. Leonardo, and himself, are more like Stork - well, minus the neuroses, for the most part. They try to eliminate risk.
"Then again, without someone willing to do it, sometimes things just won't get done."
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So he has a few grievances.
Another bonus to being the only Storm Hawk present: there is no one around who can bring up his own involvement in that rampage. He is free to pretend none of that happened.
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"I can see why you're a bit worried... still, maybe your caution's rubbed off on them. Problems have a way of making people remember what solved them."
He is trying, okay. Don brings his eyes back to the Light Frog himself. It makes a low rasping croak, blinking sleepily at him.
"I'd just be happy if we could find a way to talk to the people we're missing, though. Even just letting them know we're okay... it'd take a lot off my mind."