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“One last thing; there’s a survey coming up and I think you should apply to it.” Mensah said. She and Pin-Lee had just finished working on some upcoming contracts.
“Oh, uh…” Pin-Lee wasn’t often lost for words, but she didn’t really go on out-world surveys so this was unexpected.
“We will be dealing with the Corporation Rim and your expertise would be invaluable.” Mensah continued. “All I ask is that you think about it. I will also be asking Dr. Gurathin to come along. ”
“Yeah, I’ll think about it. See you later.” Pin-Lee said, gathering her things and leaving Mensah’s office.
“Have you heard about this upcoming survey?” Pin-Lee asked Ratthi as they were eating lunch together.
“No, what’s up?” Ratthi said around a bite of salad.
“Oh the council bought some options on a planet. It’s in the CR so Mensah said I should go, but…..” Pin-Lee trailed off.
“Do they need a biologist!?” Ratthi asked, nearly spitting his food on Pin-Lee.
“I don’t know. I’m still figuring out if I want to go.” She replied. “Why, do you?”
“Yes! I’d love to go on an adventure on another world! Think of all the cool bacteria I could find!” Ratthi could monologue about bacteria if you let him.
“Okay, okay” Pin-Lee said, cutting him off before he got too far. “I’ll ask.”
“I really hope I get to go on this survey.” Ratthi was chatting with Arada and Overse in their living room. The trio was supposed to be having a media night but Ratthi was too wound up to relax into the couch.
“You applied like two days ago right?” Arada asked. “When will you hear back?”
“I’m not sure. Applications are open for another month so probably not before then.” Ratthi replied, looking sullen.
“We should apply too.” Overse said, from her seat next to Arada. “You could help with the megafauna and I can do cool chemistry stuff.
“Oh you should also ask Dr. Bharadwaj to join!” Arada said excitedly, taking her wife’s hand. “She’s great at geochemistry!”
“That’s a great idea!” Ratthi exclaimed. “Though, did you hear about what happened with her and Pin-Lee?” He raised his eyebrows at the two women.
“No! Tell me you gossip!” Arada laughed as Overse threw a pillow at Ratthi.
“I’d like to give a toast,” Mensah said, holding up her glass. She was seated at a table with the rest of the survey team. In the morning, they'd all board a transport heading for PortFreeCommerce.
“Here, here!” Ratthi said.
“To us, the PresAux Survey Team. I have no doubt in our abilities and or our character. May we have a successful and uneventful survey.” Mensah smiled as her colleagues cheered. They were all excellent in their fields of study and more importantly, all got along as friends. As she looked around the table, she felt confident that this would be a successful survey. They would make Preservation proud.