Welcome to Gaia! ::

Nothing discovered: nothing learned.

"Have a nice trip!"

The AI's last words echo in the air as the leader's communicator crackles, then dies. The airbus overhead turns and zips away with a faintly lasting whirr, disappearing quickly over the mass of trees now that its cargo is deposited. The group is left standing at the base of a tall metal beacon; it stretches upward into the air, reaching over the trees to transmit data back to the central Labs. All around, alien trees twist and stretch toward the sky, their curling branches and frond-like leaves soaking in the planet's pure sunlight.

It is a small clearing, big enough to hold the crew and the beacon, but the wildlife is already encroaching upon it eagerly. Vines can be seen trying to creep over the pole's base, and the rough-hacked path leading back to the Labs is already overgrown. It is easy for the explorers to see why airlifting to these outward spots was a better idea than trying to hack through the woods.

The communicator crackles to life again, and CaTDOS's voice splits the air, his words stringing together in a sing-song manner.

"Alright, adventurers~ It's time to begin~ Everyone, remember to keep your data transmitters active at all time~ It will constantly analyze and stream information back to us, so make sure you don't lose it, no matter what~" A face flickers onto the communicator's screen, a very distinct, pixelated '+ w+' expression. "Take a moment to introduce yourselves, but then please begin~ You are to enter the jungle away from the previously cut path~ Your goal is to find anything of interest that you can, particularly new species~ Please remember, be very careful~ Who knows what's lurking out there~? CaTDOS out~!"

Full of color, hmm? Now that was something the tiny, conservatively dressed woman didn't hear every day. Jessica Jeanie Moreno's expression of serene benevolence relaxed slightly to smile at the sight of the group's rather enthusiastic leader. The juxtaposition of species-finding and tree-climbing made her pause for a baffled moment, but she shrugged it off. No doubt it would all become clearer in the fullness of time.

"Truly, there is a wide spectrum of colors and, no doubt, of personalities as well," the woman stated. "I am Jessica, and I look forward to searching for new species with all of you." Her words were slow and measured and calm, not betraying much of the excitement that she had expressed, but she seemed sincere enough.

Connie stepped quickly forward, turning down to their energetic green leader with a raised eyebrow. "I didn't think I was particularly colorful." His outfit was, though - all violet and red, strangely intricate and full of...belts? Perhaps they were belts, yes. "I haven't climbed trees in awhile, though, and honestly...well. I'm Connie Alvarado, by the way." Yeah, there was pretty much no way he was giving out his original given name.

He tucked grey hair behind his ears and glanced, calculatedly, at his fellow team members. Hmm. He could work with this.

Enna smiled a wide grin, happy to hear from his group. "Well, I didn't mean anyone in particular, I meant the group as a whole! Like Barton said, STRIKING," Enna launched himself into the air to show just how wonderful the whole group looked. "We're going climbing because that is my strong suit! I can climb fast as a spider, except I'm better than Cuider because all he thinks about is himself. Not that he isn't pretty, but come on, what's better than ACTION?!" Enna nearly launched himself into the air again, but then remembered some of the anxious faces in his group, and paused, a worried frown showing the full extent of his emotions"Oh, but if someone's not good with heights or anything you can just tell me and you can stay on the ground. I want this to be fun for everyone! Okay?" His hands clutched at each other worriedly as he scanned the faces of his companions anxiously.