After his conversation with Von Fleischer, Luthor's optimism regarding the crew was not elevated. He was a good man and deserving of respect for his time in service but in the end he was just a soldier. Sure his official title was chief engineer but at his heart he was a soldier, a fool needlessly working for another obsessed with politicking and glory. Besides, his time in Tanzania had softened him. Luthor's new found sense of Nationalism while aboard the ship was troubling him, "for the betterment of All Mankind Novaks, remember that". It wasn't long before he found himself in front of the door of his labs. His domain. His Kingdom.
Bursting open the doors, Luthor took in the brief moment of fear and intimidation, savoring its rare bouquet like a french connoisseur before the inhabitants had returned to their petty vices. "This is even worse than I thought". Before him was an entire gamete of faces within the small crowd, each one a representing a nation or a scientific field. Looking at the sea of faces, of so called genuises, Luthor was less than impressed. These were not men who loved science as he did. No, these were men who had loved its trappings of fame and the old days of the Gentlemen's Club.
Slowly walking towards his own station, Luthor took in the sights. The neatly polished surfaces of the Lab were desecrated with games of Gin Rummy in the corner. The soothing sounds of chemicals bubbling away in their beakers and vases lost in conversations regarding the Yellow Captain. There were one or two faces at their own stations, working endlessly with their own pet projects. Luthor had recognized their faces. It was these men who he was going to trust in this voyage.
Finally reaching his own station, Luthor produced a small device from his pocket along with two pieces of rubber with a heavily condensed centre of horse hair. Placing the two plugs in his ears he pressed a small button on the device. Within secoonds everyone within the Lab, with the exception of Luthor and an old scientist fast asleep on a chair, was on the floor, their hands over their ear, writhing in agony. After a good minute, Luthor let his thumb from of the button on the screecher in his hands and removed his ear plugs as the men recovered. Taking the moment of silence the confusion had created Luthor spoke.
"Gentlemen, I am Luthor Emil Novaks. I have been selected as the chief scientist for this voyage. Dont bother to introduce yourselves I have already read the files and I have no intention of knowing any of you personally. I'm sure there are a few of you don't dont take kindly to working for someone younger than you, but believe me theres a damned good reason why I'm standing here talking before you, and for those who are smart enough to understand why then I want you to know this. This is not a pleasure cruise. We're here to work. I'll come back in 3 hours time from the Cheif Medical Officers office along with your new diet and excercise regiments. I'll not tolerate insubordination"...Luthor stopped for a moment before turning on a bunsen burner and walking over to the card game. Picking up the deck he proceeded to return to his desk and throw the deck through the flame.
"If I see any other means of distraction in MY lab again, I'll have you thrown off this vessel and your name removed from your precious science journals, Good day Gentlemen"
Leaving the room, Luthor couldn't help but think to himself "Went better than expected actually"
