"Not in the dark ya ain't." Mercer quickly retorted. "Besides, She won't stop whining til you say hello...and we need time to get your accommodations set up. So don't chicken out now." He said the last bit with an even bigger smirk as he urged him on with the others.
As the group approached the base, it was easier to make out movement among the many huts, shacks and buildings either on the ground or build further up. People were moving between them, carrying equipment, chatting, and keeping watch. Children were playing closer to the ground, but were quickly being gathered up before nightfall. Higher up, a group of older men and woman were watching the groups approach, but they were too far up to judge their expressions.
The group was led to a primitive lift, though Mercer made sure to point out the various ladder alternatives for the more spirited and elevator fearing members. In any event....the lift had a max limit and it would take two trips minimum to get everyone up. (included the dragon girl, but mercer avoided making any comment about a diet for fear of the dragon decided diet food was a good idea....and diet witch was pretty much just everyone else.)
Those taking the elevator up were given a fantastic view of the surroundings, lights moving in the distance where the farms had been set up, people coming back to the base after a long day of work. Those that took the ladders would naturally get their exercise....as they snaked their way from level to level, requiring switches at various points and passing by suspended huts with curious onlookers.
Rather then going all the way to the deck, the elevator and ladders led to various access points along the side....and at this range the amount of work gone into repairing the wear and tear was considerable. At some points it even seemed as if new equipment had been installed, though the purpose remained unclear.
Finally inside, they were led single file through interior hallways that fared surprising better then the exterior....or had also seen some major repair work over the years. Still...most were narrow, and more then once Arx would resort to having to bend a certain way to get through. Soon stairs led them further up....and up....and up.....
Then they all came to a large sealed door, and with a twist Mercer undid the latch and pushed it open....motioning them inside.
The large room beyond was undoubtedly the bridge of the carrier.....but it look even more polished then the exterior. There were some signs of replacements and repair work, but done with a much better eye for detail. Several consoles sat around the chamber, inoperative but still essentially intact. A desk sat in the corner, covered in papers and plans....a picture of Mulveric and several others sitting together.
Yet beyond that....the bridge was empty. The windows allowed a nice view of the flight deck, with various piles of equipment and old scrap littering it, but that seemed to be it....
"Welcome Aboard!" A polite, mildly excited voice came around all around the room....quickly the source could be determined as the speaker system. "Its so good to see you all made it here safe....just a moment, let me warm up the emitters."
A soft glow emanated from multiple projectors, spilling a multicolored light that converged into the center of the bridge....first coalesing into a blob of shimmering rainbow light before growing and taking on a proper shape and color.
"En." Mulvric smiled.
"Welcome home papa." The holographic girl, barely half the size of Morgan, fluttered excitedly. ".....and the rest of you as well! I guess I can give you a much better introduction now."
The girl plants her hand on her hologram chest. "I am the onboard digital knowledge archive and navigational assistant for the USS Enterprise, CVF-12....My name is Enterprise, but people just call me En. You can call me that too, but I'm still taking suggestions on a nice code name."