[Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr]

2056
P-0967
Base Exterior

They had found the main area after releasing they had come through the back door of the planet. How was it possible for a planet to have two of those spinning things called Stargate?  He wondered as he stepped away from the door and was greeted b the most alluring view of the sky. Something he noticed they didn't have back home. Even if they did, the light dimmed it away. Sad.

Humans were, weird. Leaning on the rail, it stuck him just how much he was feeling home sick. It had been a while since he had done Tour of Duty. All he had to do was suck it up and run with what he had. After all he had a team to lead and CO keep alive. Anything happened to Matt, his uncle was going to rip him apart. He could forget about getting dangled over Grand Canyon; personally he would prefer the latter over the ripping. After all his uncle was old. As was Bobby.

Sighing he drank the view. As his XO's words came back to him. Once you had to dose of what the gate offered, normal living wasn't going to be the same. Somehow it was going to be true. With a view like the one he had, who would want to go back to Earth.

Bewitched by the beauty before him, Bobby fell into it's spell.

Space was laid before him open. Only the fools would turn away the offer. And Robert Jason Oxford Jr was not a fool by any means. Snarky, sure, yet never the fool.

<<Tag: James Calmara >>

[James Calmara]

2056
P-0967
Base Exterior

Padding across the corridor, his path making straight for one of the side doors that lead to the outside. A handy set of exterior walkways had been among the first things discovered about this place, to bad it was only an outpost and not the Suras main base. If this was anything to go by it would be some structure, with his background Calmara appreciated the way things were built and put together, his eyes constantly roaming the hallways as he walked, picking out the odd detail that intreagued him.

Calmara shifted the six pack of not so cold ones he was carrying. As he swiped at the holo-lock before steping out, his CO was around here somewhere that much he knew, the rest he intended finding out. Beer should do the trick, he thought, and then all thoughts left him as he paced the walkway, awed by the sight of the what would be his home for a short while.

Round the next turn he caught sight of his CO, leaning on a rail, taking in the sights and sounds around him. Calmara approached quietly, setting the pack of beers down with a soft clink, before turning and leaning on the rail himself facing the jungle. Different, sir?" He asked simply without ajusting his sights.

Tag Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr

[Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr]

2056
P-0967
Base Exterior

The spell he had been under had been broken by sound of footsteps then a voice, coming back to the present, he titled his head to see his XO leaning on the rail like he was. From what he knew of the man, he was reliable, but the inking that he had heard the name before won't go away. He could put it down to deja vu. But that still won't explain it.

Admiring the beauty before him for another second, he noticed the pack of beer, yet no whiskey, "Very," he said it, "its easy to forget the time here."

Shifting to his height, he placed a leg on the lower rail, "Nothing like this is ever seen at home." Northern lights were the closet thing. Looking at James again as if was object of study, "Does Delta.." he stopped, and tried again, "It is Delta, right? Had/has anything like this?"

Tag: James Calmara

[James Calmara]

2056
P-0967
Base Exterior

Letting out a small chuckle at Bobbys remarks, as he split the packaging on the beer bottles. He was still going though the ajustment phase, that much was certain. He thought for a moment as he considered the question. Yes sir, it was Delta. The base was more on a plain with a forest area in the distance. That was until it was blown up then it was just a rocky crater for miles around. He lent back on the rail still holding two bottles, before a quick glance down. Here sir, I figured it would help with the 'wrap your head around this' stage. Went to one or two jungle areas, nothing in them though. The place that springs to mind was a little planet called Babilla, they had floating mountains, proper, wacking, great big hunks of rock just hanging there. Jamming the bottle to off with the aid of the rail he took a pull and sighed. Now that was a sight to see. He added.

TAG

[Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr]

2056
P-0967
Base Exterior

Interesting he mused at what James said about Delta. Flat plains would have done better then what they had. Jungle and humidity. At least there won't have been any cats, "No talking cats, right?" he asked warily, finding talking animals wasn't his thing. He wasn't Doctor Dolittle, didn't want to be one. He would really leave that Eddie Murphy to play.

"Wait ...the base blew up?" When the words registered, yet it made little sense to have the only home known into rubble. "That has to suck. It wasn't the egg-heads at fault, was it?" He gave a quick looked at the way he come, hoping that the Admiral wasn't within the hearing range.

Noting the hanging bottle of beer. Was it the only thing around? Making a face he took it and twisted the top open, drank quarter of it in a go. Matt found him in such state, he was sure even beer was going to be banned. With bing drinking landing him hospital years ago with poisoning; all four watched his alcohol intake like hawks over the years. "Not bad," he tipped the top towards the man, "no telling the admiral about this. Whiskey on ice can't be beaten."

Hearing about floating rock and the like, Bobby looked at the bottle in his hand, thinking it might do him some good to drink it slow. But the d@mn thing tasted like flavoured water. He was suspecting that thing whole what's out there would turn him in to a sober idiot.

Crap.

"I bet it was. Also a blast to find floating rocks." If someone told him about it years ago he just might have believed it.

<<tag: James Calmara>>

[James Calmara]

2057
P-0967
Base Exterior

Chuckling a little at the 'cats' comment, if Calmara had to guess he would say that his co was not overly keen on their new additions to the expedition. He feigned a look and tome of hurt when Oxford commented on the first Delta sights destruction.   Hey easy on the insults, I probably fall into the egg-head catagory, just. He downed more of the bottles contents before giving a brief explanation.

No, we managed to capture one of members of the group who were our mai n aggressors. We ran every check we could before puting her into holding, she had an explosive device we missed and we're unable to stop its detonation. On the up side it helped in our location of our second Delta site, an ancient outpost, so good things can come from bad, sometimes. The engineer cast his mind back to that period, he was with a back up team and was stuck off world for several days if he recalled correctly. He downed the a little more beer, swerling the small amont that remained in the bottom of the bottle. We learnt from our mistakes, try not to make them again sometimes a thing easier said than done. Looking square at his new team CO for a short while. I think those two examples tell everything there is to tell about stargate travel. Sure it has its risks which have to be taken seriously, but there are the wonders as well.

Tag Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr

[Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr]

2057
P-0967
Base Exterior

Swinging his beer, Bobby hide the flash of amusement from his face, but it showed in his eyes. Egg-head was most easiest of all terms used on anyone with the ability to do what few people couldn't. "Touche," he commented lightly, without a hint of offense on anything as he took another swing to polish of the drink from the bottle. "It pi$$es off my twin when I call him an egg-head of Math." Technically Simon wasn't his twin in a traditional sense of the word. Simply due to be born hours apart instead.

He was still trying to get rid of the image of floating rocks, when James spoke up, "Great a deadly female, just what we need," his tone was slightly dry. While they had barely started here, it seemed that Delta had more fun in their run, "with intent to kill."

"An outpost? Nice." It was still hardly believable that the human race at some point in the past were so advanced to create stargates, rip space and time to use wormholes for travel, populate galaxies among other things that he lost count of. It plainly boggle the mind.

On that note, he pulled about another beer, much to his lack of joy, and looked at James, and sipped. "That floating rock are the next norm? Or classifying a deadly female with the ability to destroy a planet as....." he didn't even have a right word for that.

<<tag: James Calmara>>

[James Calmara]

2058
P-0967
base exterior


Draining the dregs of one beer, the engineer moved onto his second. Calmara moved back to leaning against the rail and looking out over there rainforest home. He seemed to alternate between bouts of talking and bouts of silence, he knew full well the Guards Captain would need as much time to wrap his head around things, so gave him the time and space.

Still he would interject when point of interest or need to know points were raised. "Yeah it was about a third of the size of Atlantis, which the experdition of the same name operates out of. Still it had all the bells and whistles, control-interface chair, heavy shielding, sizable drone weapon stockpile, as well as a slightly more advanced long range sensor capabilities, along side dozens of science labs."

He was sluging back half the bottle as he contemplated Bobbys question about if encountering the floating rocks or encountering the cruel murderous enemy agent was normal. Normal. Such a simple word but its meaning rarely was, nirmal for one was abnormal for another it was all about perspective. "Neither were the norm. But both happened. I guess my point was and is we need to be ready for anything. Which brings me to a question." He downed almost all the rest, again leaving just a small amount sloshing aorund the bottom of the bottle. He held the pause and turned fixing his attention on Bobby and waiting for him to return the stare. The bottle hanging by his side between his fore and index finger. "Why are you here? Proper cadrs on the table, no BS, no pretence. Why are you on this experdition? That was always going to be the difficult question to ask. He fully expected a tounge lashing, sarcasm, abuse maybe. Officers of the Guards Captains rank aren't usualy if at all asked to explain themselves, especially to an enlisted, but Calmara had his reasons.

Tag Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr

[Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr]

2058
P-0967
base exterior

Taking a large sip, Bobby wondered just how big was Atlantis was, as his brain was slowly getting processing all this. Taking few steps back leaned on the wall he gazed at the sky which was sparklingly with stars like they were diamonds. He knew this was once in a lifetime opportunity to see or work outside the Milky Way that not many had the chance to do so. Somewhere from the distance, he heard an owl like creature hooting. It wasn't loud but catchable if one paid heed to its call.

As for the view, nothing he said would do it justice. Robert Oxford wasn't a man who was loss for words quietly easily. There was always something that was sitting on the tip of his ready to fire at anyone. Unless you were one if his nieces or nephews. "The city ship right?" He asked, hoping he had his information correct, "how big is it?" It was gobsmacking that the ancient worlds widest known myths was real, not a legend either. Yet there was more out here to be found, to be discovered. And that told him they barely had explored then a fraction of the universe that was vast. Humans were little behind. Not just a little, but way behind.

Bringing the bottle to his lips, he listened to James, "Not for us, they aren't," he drank then continued, "but for them who lived or grew up surrounding such things for them could be normal. Our world and our ways could be not the normal for them. It's the all perspective." He fanned out his hand as he spoke, he understood that much; thank you.

While he could face challenges, he wasn't getting in a staring contest with the Serge. But he considered the question wisely. Partly amused, he threw himself back on his feet, as he drank a bit more, "Lesson one: You don't get BS out of the Oxfords and you better learn that fast. Lesson two: we don't hoodwink." Some of them worked along line of: what you saw, you got.

Letting the man digest that, "how the heck an I suppose to know. I'm still trying to answer that to myself. Why I'm here. I really don't have anything it in to offer in terms of military. Guards are no longer part of Navy. When I have the answer, you will be the first to know. As to why I'm on this expedition....that can be answered by this 'Wizard' guy. If you know who he is."

<<Tag: You>>

((Okay no more beer for him  But he protests! ))

[James Calmara]

2059
P-0967
Outpost Exterior

"About three clicks at it widest point, the cental or control tower is two hundered fifty meters high, there are a number of other towers between fifty and one hundred fifty meters high as well. A small city." Calmara realed off the figures with ease and took a moment to actually think about them. "I put money on the main base on this world being just as amazing. Cant wait to see what secrets and knowledge that place holds."

He nodded in agreement as Bobby seemed to grasp the fact that they were dealing with different cultures and peoples and that they would have to be adaptable in there approach at times. Good insight from the stargate rookie, maybe there was hope for him.  

As for Bobbys answers to Calmaras rather direct questions. The first was all Oxford, the 'cut the cr4p' answer.  Although there was definite notes of more of a temper than he was used to with Travis. "Well if you don't know, we ain't got a hope in h3ll and thats your last, sir." He pointed to the almost empty bottle and twisted a foot around the pack of beers on the floor and shoved them behind him. "My beer, my rules. He stated with a slight grin "'The Wizard' wouldn't have selected you if you didn't bring somthing to the table. My advice stop focusing on why you were selected, focus on our objectives, play to your strengths and how best they can be used to complete our objectives, trust your team to do the same. The rest slots in to place soon enough. Calmara advised the Guards officer, in his usual honest, plain spoken style.

Tag Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr

[Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr]

2059
P-0967
Outpost Exterior

That was Bobby decided quite big for a city ship but measuring out this Atlantis size was quite mind crunching. The ancient city was way bigger then he imagined or thought it would be. "That is still reasonably big," he noted. Compare to battle cruiser that was going to arrive, the ship was still small. But if was packed with firepower, then he wasn't complaining.

Frowning, he looked at James, "What part of I'm trying to figure it out, did you miss?" There was hint of retort and he wasn't drunk, and noted James moving the beer away,"Flavored water that what it is." He was still cradling his half full bottle. "Oh there's always hope. You lose that you are done." Adding a 'fssh' sound to indicate finish.

Annoyed at the comment, "I don't know this guy or gal," he stated, it was baffling. It appeared that the 'Wizard' knew them, then looked at James, "You asked me why I was selected. I gave you, my answer." If his XO didn't like, tough luck.

Taking a small sip, "I didn't say I wasn't going to focus on the Expedition's objective. That's important to achive." Or else Davis was going to have all their hides for stuffing it up.

Tag: James Calmara

[James Calmara]

2100
Base Exterior
P-0967

The engineer grimaced a little at the responses he receved. What he assumed was his usual approach was coming over ti strong, puting Bobby on the back foot, and as a result the man had come out fighting. At least he knew how his team leader reacted to pressure, he met force with force and held his ground, a good trait for anyone stepping through the gate.  

The engineer took a lighter tone as he went forward. "Touchy, it was just a couple of questions. Okay maybe I went at it a little hard, sorry." He admitted with raised hands but still grinning. "Chances are, as well as your specific skills, you and the Admiral were brought in for a fresh perspective. Everyone has a slightly different take on a situation, yours might give us the edge. Your last posting with the coastguard, search and rescue or stop and search?"   Calmara glanced back at the beer, and picked up Bobbys earlier comment about it being flavored water. "A far as the refreshment choice goes, I tend to save the better stuff for a bad day, drown sorrows type thing. When it comes to it, got to be whiskey. Your poision?" Calmara had gone back to leaning on the rail.  

Tag Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr

[Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr]

2100
Base Exterior
P-0967

He hide his amusement at the face James pulled at his words. He wasn't the one to mess with unless one wanted to get into a brawl with him. He was nothing like anyone inn is family, which perhaps explained as to why he was the black sheep who was always the odd one. Slowly drinking the view from the horizon, he brought the bottle to his lips, as his mouth curled, and threw a short laugh, "At least you have backbone to brick heads," he said after sipping, moved to sit on the rail, "and aren't 'fraid to use the wisea$$ mouth. I certainly don't want my XO to be a sissy for a lack of better term."

"Skills?" He was sure someone had that wrong. He did beg to differ, "I'm a search and rescue pilot, I don't know 'fresh'. Matt, sure, he would reel the whole expedition in line with a stare." He had to wonder what James was smoking. Him, an egde? Now why did that seem laughable to him?

"I was always search and rescue. Lead few stop and search during my time; mostly it's the first than the latter." Took a moment of pause, "your CO's are full of praises for you. Must have made a h3llva impression. List is long as my arm. Never seen such in during my active years."

At the mention of drinks he grinned boyishly, as James mentioned his poison, "Nothing beats whiskey and that my poison. I'm always drowning my sorrows, Calmara." And again took a swing, "Gin, vodka are reasonable replacements. If no whiskey is available." And chuckled, then looked again to see if Matt would show up, "I got two bottles in my bag." He knew it was a risk as he spoke in a low tone.

Tag James Calmara

[James Calmara]

2100
Base Exterior
P-0967

It seemed they were getting somewhere. A mutual respect was a definite possibility. Respect for his rank was a given, any more took time. He chuckled about the bricking heads comment. "We necessary my heads as hard as they come. Most of the time Im quite resonable, even been know to be diplomatic on occasion.  unless my own are threatened or worse then.....well you know."  

He looked away and out into the jungle when his track record was brought up. It probably did make for impressive reading, and a good report and/or a award or ribbon were always a source of pride. But the enagaments behind such rhings were hard, the memories they evoked were sometines painful but at least most had a positive outcome. "I did what I had to." He reponded simply a first, an understatement if there ever was one. "Stargate travel put me in some unique positions and situations, the type that its almost imposable to walk away from. I just saw things though, made sure we mostly got back in one peice." Calmara elaborated a litttle more, but keen to keep the focus off himself, and seeing an opportunity to make a point grabbed it. "More than likely you will end up in the same situations, such as makeing a choice to help people or not. Given your background I suspect thats why you were on the list for a command."  

The engineer grinned as Bobby mentioned whiskey and his stash. He suspected his new team leader prefered the harder stuff. "I got a bottle of Tennessee finest with me. We'll crack that at some point, got to get to know you first, gotta hold on to the good stuff." He added a preempt to a why the weak beer question  

Tag Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr

[Robert "Bobby" Oxford Jr]

2100
Base Exterior
P-0967

Bobby chuckled at that, "Bet you do. Hard heads are necessary in many aspects of life. Seeing things out here, it just might be needed." He nodded at the latter words on being diplomatic and getting threats "I know how that does. Once you band together, you become a family. I'm not reasonable as say Matt or Travis -my other cousin- when pushed. I'll give as good as it gets."

Taking a swing of his beer, "I'm not here to question you past actions. Inside or outside orders. We do things depending on the situation and act based on that, regardless of the orders given." He knew better since he had bene in that boat.

He said nothing on the comment on why he was choose. There had been moments where he wasn't able to help due to circumstances beyond his control, "I'm here and I'll do what needs to get done. That much you can be sure of. I don't have to be happy about it."

He wasn't even suppose to be doing the harder stuff, but nothing came close to having that burning sensation, cocking his head, "George Dickle, Wild Turkey or Jack Daniel's?" he asked. There was a fanboy inside him for the latter.

Tag: James Calmara