This is a cross-disciplinary research expedition down to the ocean floor. Although previous attempts to investigate the deep ocean were stopped prematurely due to the extreme conditions of the deep sea, a series of comprehensive tests have shown that the RV Rock Bottom is able to take a full crew down to the ocean floor and back to the surface.

The Rock Bottom will be manned by a crew of four: Captain Titania Miere, naval engineer Ruthie Nira, marine biologist Devan Aderno, and alchemist Janius Chen

Alchemist JANIUS CHEN sits at his desk. His left arm is in a sling. Opposite is TITANIA MIERE, who has her brows furrowed as she speaks.

MIERE: Not one of your colleagues are willing to take your place on the expedition?
CHEN: None that I would endorse.
CHEN: There's quite a few that are all too eager to write their names on the world with whatever we find down there, and I fear that they intend to make this whole thing all about themselves.
CHEN: And the rest, well, don't have as much faith in the Rock Bottom as you or I do.
MIERE: I wouldn't blame them. It is the first of its kind.
MIERE: Still, we only have a few days before we need to finalize the crew.
MIERE: The worst case scenario is that we make the trip with just the remaining three of us. I can't imagine that you would be particularly fond of that, though.
CHEN: I am not. I would sooner make the journey in my current state than let this expedition run without the College of Alchemical Engineering having a representative on board.
MIERE: And you know well that I wouldn't allow you to do that.
CHEN: Much to my chagrin.
MIERE: Well, do you have any other ideas?
CHEN: Only one.
MIERE: I wish you luck, then, but I will only wait for so long.