The elevator began to descend; there were fourteen levels before they would reach their destination. They stood there for hours, passing with each level farther below the surface of the planet.
It was dark, the sky looked like it was being beaten into submission, with every foot they lost more light. They were eventually left with nothing but the dull glow of the lift controls. They were old, the controls. Everything in this place was old. The lift, the corridors, the blast doors sealing every level, everything in the facility was easily a century in age, but still operating perfectly.
They reached the fourteenth level, the platform made a loud thud as it anchored itself. He couldnt help but stare at the size of it. Before the party stood an immense, and old containment seal. They followed their guide; he took them ever deeper, until they finally arrived.
L14 Sub-section: D, Containment Vault: 3
Their guide finally spoke.
<Here.>
In the far corner of the containment module sat an archaic stasis chamber, clearly of early Libertonian design. As they approached the constant click of their footsteps seemed to grow more apparent with ever moment, until finally every step was a pain.
It was dark, the streets were deserted. It was strange to see a street on Manhattan deserted. It just doesnt happen, except for tonight.
The men moved like shadows, never stopping, and never being seen. There was a grace to their actions, a dedication that could be felt more than seen. It sent shivers to his very depths as he watched them.
He watched them for hours, dragging the men and women to their ship, their bodies limp and listless. There would be no screams tonight, just silence. As he stood there, watching, waiting; finishing his cigarette, he walked to the hatch of the ship. Fifteen years had passed, and in fifteen days it would all start again.
He stood with his head to the door, the glass cold to the touch. He stood there, his breathing labored. He stood for so long he began to wonder if he had become one of the subjects kept beyond. Row after row dotted the corridor, each 'volunteer' kept in suspended animation for the duration of the journey.
It wasn’t a long trip by any means; they would be making planet-fall within forty minutes. But still, all precautions were to be taken, and no risks allowed manifestation. Too much had been wagered on this endeavour to have it all lost now.
-------------------
Backing away the officer began to drift down the corridor, letting the low gravity environment wash over his being and consume him. Feeling every particle as it brushed against his skin, drifting slowly, quietly; always quietly. It was his form of meditation, his only escape from the tenuous world he was forced to live in, the reality of his life and its stresses.
He opened his eyes to a loud noise. They were preparing to dock with the Jump-Gate. His moment of respite now over, he entered the bridge.
Not stepping, but seemingly gliding he entered the bridge. He was taken aback by the smell at first, pungent and aggressive; the smell of comradery. There likely hadn’t been a personnel rotation since before the operation had begun. All that came to mind was ‘good’. He had the opportunity to observe them in much more raw form, much more of who they were. To see them rather than seeing their uniforms.
Speaking, barely raising his voice above the audible hum of the instruments the words escaped his mouth.
<Report?>
The acting XO looked up, fatigued and clearly having been caught off guard began to speak.
<All systems are nominal.>
<Inbound towards the planet at maximum speed. Arrival is estimated at seventeen minutes, sir.>
He stopped to think, taking every moment to breathe, and letting every second add to the awkward silence growing between the two men.
<Sub-light engines to half, silent approach vector.>
It was magnificent to behold the change. They acted so quickly, perfect harmony between both the machines and their living operators.
-------------------
The lights gave way to a soft, organic glow emanating from the consoles, the life of everything in the room bleeding through into the atmosphere.
He walked away slowly, making sure to touch every bulkhead as he went.
![[Image: Denver.png]](http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/Adelphus/Denver.png)
![[Image: LibreIISuper_Small.png]](http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/Adelphus/LibreIISuper_Small.png)