New ground

the boring stuff (Jaylyn)

You are pacing around impatiently because your lead engineer, Jamie McIntyre is late. It's odd that he is running late. He better have a good excuse.

"Hey Jaylyn don't worry I'm sure Jamie is fine," your chief medical officer Jack McCoy remarks to calm you down. It somehow works.

"Sorry I'm late guys," Jamie says as he enters the room. He is puffed.

"Finally I think we should get the briefing underway," you remark because you want to get ready for take-off as soon as possible.

"So what is going to happen captain?" one of the crewmen asks. A good question.

"When we arrive at Mars we will rendezvous with the Mars two rocket carrying stage one of the habitat which we will then have three days to set it up before supplies on Mars one will run out any questions?" you state the first part of the plan with a hand gesture.

"Let me guess after we have the first part set up we will then start collecting samples and stuff like that," your chief science officer Lilly Dornan asks

"That would be correct Lilly," you reply. You are happy that someone else is aware of the plan.

"Thought so," Lilly verbally confirms her suspicion. A day later you are waiting but this time you are waiting for clearance to board Mars one. You are nervous about the journey you are about to undertake

"Jaylyn we will be fine," Jamie remarks with absolute faith that everything will work. At least someone's enthusiastic.

"I can't help it, there are so many what-ifs floating around my head," you respond with a sigh

"Hey, captain do you know when control will let us board Mars one?" Jack asks. Another good question. You know the starship takes a while to get prepared.

"Not sure but something tells me it will be soon," You respond.

"Everyone may I have your attention please," a man asks as he enters the room. Everyone looks at him impatiently

"What is it, Jay?" Lilly asks.

"You all may board Mars one but we have some final adjustments to make to the sensor array. Hayden told me to tell you," Jay replies

"Ok thanks Jay," you thank him. At last. Two minutes later everyone has finished getting ready and you're relieved to finally be on your way. Another five minutes later everyone has boarded Mars one and you are sick to the stomach with nerves

"Control to captain Archer," the head of mission control Hayden Martinez remarks through the comms system. It sounds cliche but it works. You flick a switch

"this is captain Archer go ahead,"

"The sensor array has been aligned. your good to start the launch sequence," he replies.

"Thank you, Hayden," you respond as you flick the comms switch back to the position it was before. You turn your head towards Jamie

"Jamie please start the launch sequence checklist,"

"Yes Captain," Jamie confirms he understood your order as he gets a tablet out. He seems happy, which is not surprising.

"First we have to switch from the APU to the main engine,"

You input the command into the computer and you notice everything flicker for a second and then it goes back to normal.

"check, " you remark so that Jamie knows you have done what he has asked.

"Next we have to activate the feed tanks,"

"Check," you remark as you flick four switches.

Seven minutes later the checklist is finished