April 14, 830 A.S.
SLRC Wanderwell - "Voyager-class Deep Space Explorer Vessel"
Omicron Nu System
Location [CLASSIFIED]
There were moments in human history where curiosity drove explorers to face the darkness, the unknown, and the unclaimed with the light of their zeal and the thirst of knowledge laying the path forward. Those moments usually ended in tragedy or were forgotten and more eclipsed by achievements more tangible; like the age old invention of electricity. In the case of one Doctor Genda and another Doctor Aspen, there might not have been any higher reason other than sheer curiosity, for what use were explorers if not to explore and find out the unknown through not thirst or zeal but mere fanciful musings.
The interior of the Wanderwell was well-kept, clean, and austere for a ship of it's size. The gentle hum of equipment, subtle energy conduits, and the seldom beeping of mechanical parts confirming that they did indeed still function the way they were supposed to. Thick bulkheads served to seal off the vacuum of space from the rest of the pressurized interior, seperating the occupants from the death of atmosphere loss through ten inches of reinforced titanium-steel alloy. The good doctor seemed to enjoy the simple things yet dotted in-between the practical were statuses of luxury one would presume belonged to the background of a well-rounded individual. The ship was fully furnished where it needed to be. The seats that were located in the combination kitchenette mess were cushioned, padded, and provided immense relief from the hardened leather a genuine spacer would have been accustomed to. The pantry was stocked with real fruit, wines, alcohol, teas, meats, vegetables, and spices. Everything was secured in some way or form for the rigors of space travel; either tied down or folded into the ship itself for conformity.
The bedroom was spartan but comfortable, a singularly large queen-sized bed with neatly folded blankets and pillows tucked within. A small bookcase in the corner, followed by a medium-sized wardrobe coupled with the addition of an internally mounted viewscreen providing entertainment or news through the Voyager's long-range antennae assembly. There was even a bathroom, sized well enough for a good amount of movement and manuevering should the need come. The cargo bay had been retrofitted into a laboratory fit for the needs of a roving explorer scientist; the latest in avionics, sensors, drone, and recon modules slotted neatly into picture perfect fashion. Safety suits, a chemical sanitation area, and rebreathers lining the veiled exterior leading into it showed that even though one was far from the standards of a sterile environment didn't mean one had to sacrifice it for expedience sake.
For the moment Genda fiddled within her quarters, scans of the Libertonian capital ship flittering about as she sorted through the holographic displays and placed them where they needed to be; see-through scans that had been taken upon first contact with the derelict rotating slowly before sliding to a motionless still. Gently glowing images glinted off the glasses she wore, mimicking each slide that Lillian decided to either keep, edit, or reformat into something more stream-lined and concise. Information and side by side comparisons. Deck plans. Armaments. Crew size. Lifeboat capacity. Former commanders. Captains. Everything that could possibly be taken she had stored away to ensure that their exploration into the relic wouldn't result in their immediate deaths.
Since having come aboard at Rarotonga Dock, Doctor Aspen Harlow had seemed continually impressed with the comforts of their colleague's Voyager freighter. The manner in which the interior was all arrayed just-so, thought given to comfort and function in equal measure wherever possible, contrasted sharply with the slapdash nature of their own explorer craft.
Believing themselves to be a decent judge of character, they figured it was no surprise that the space reflected what they had surmised of the good doctor's spirit: straight-laced and formal, with an eye for practicality and creative solutions. Though, if that were the whole story, she wouldn't about to be boarding a derelict Liberty warship on a whim.
The thought elicits a grin from Aspen, enjoying a pear while delighting in the "luxury" seating of Genda's kitchenette.
How often must she find the opportunity to indulge in such a hands-on excursion?
One had to wonder.
Their own newly-acquired spacesuit from Ikarus Station having been stowed for when the moment comes to cross into the ancient vessel, Aspen remains clothed in a set of their usual unassuming blue coveralls and black boots as they rise to roam the vessel with trusty pear in hand for mobile snacking, looking for their cohort.
Their focus drifted to consider concrete objectives for the boarding: Determining cause of the apparent scuttle? Finding records or messages left by the crew? Maybe it'd be enough just to snatch the bragging rights of standing on the bridge of a Liberty battleship?
The pondering is cut short as they round into Genda's quarters, laying eyes on her, curiously regarding her meticulous study of the data for their mission.
"Love what you've done with the place, doctor. Gettin' a plan in mind?"