#38 The outing

Posted on Sun Sep 27th, 2020 @ 10:38am by

Mission: Star Base Mercury
Location: Delta Flyer
Timeline: current

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Once the Delta Flyer had cleared the Amandora's shuttlebay Kahn angled around and over the starboard warp nacelle. "So, where to first?"

"I say we head that way," offered Bjorgo, motioning out the window ahead. "If we scan anything interesting we'll stop and check it out. Until then I say we head for that Class-M moon around the gas giant. At least, that way we can place our boots on some soil."

"Sounds agreeable," replied Liza, angling her flight path for the moon he had mentioned. "Course laid in and autopilot now steering. Time to put together a hiking pack." Getting up from her own seat Kahn made her way to the aft part of the shuttle to obtain items for her own framepack of supplies for the walkabout.

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Eight hours later they approached the habitable moon in orbit around the largest gas giant. It was reminiscent of approaching Jupiter and her multitude of moons, the gravity and sunlight heating and aiding in creating hot liquid cores that could some day provide the building blocks for more Class-M worlds. To see it like this, to be amongst it all, always humbled Tore. "So, now the question is do we start in the valleys or the mountains?" He gave a boyish grin.

"Caves and caverns would provide a geological record," said Kahn. There was no hiding her interest in spelunking, her tone clear on that. "But, I'm willing to discuss options, Doctor." She threw the tease at him with his accolade.

"Hey," said Bjorgo as he leaned back in his seat, hands up in a momentary show of contrition. "I backed you to get this gig. I'm along for the science and exploration but, I gave you what you wanted." The grin remained.

"Well," answered Kahn. "I appreciate that, Tore. Truly. Spelunking it is, in EVA suits, of course. They can replenish air supply while in atmo so our time could be unlimited."

Bjorgo laughed as he stood up. "I'm not spending our whole bloody time out here crawling around in some cave like a bat. I want sun, to see the thick jungles for myself, to smell the natural compost in the air which is so humid as to cause a light mist. Promise me that and I'll go the first leg your way."

"Done." Liza stood up and they moved to the aft section to don their respective EVA suits.

Once the suits were on and helmets brought forward, Liza sat in the pilot's seat and took control, veering towards a large spine of mountains. Even they were covered with jungle. Trill did not enjoy the heat so she would have to watch her dehydration when not breathing through the suit. She could only imagine how tough the colonists were, if any called this place home. They would know in time.

Scanning a huge cavern with room enough to park the shuttle inside Liza angled her craft and maneuvered within, spinning the ship around with nose facing outward. She and Bjorgo did the post-flight shut down.

"You weren't kidding," said Bjorgo. "Starting inside a cave to descend into caverns. I say two extra battery packs each, for suits and equipment."

"Sounds good." Liza donned her helmet, helping Tore with his as his hands aided her in getting hers sealed correctly. She shut the air off and turned on the filters. This way they were breathing the atmo while at the same time filtering out particulates. It would save on having to refill their oxygen tanks. Slapping the hatch release, the aft of the Delta Flyer folded down into a ramp they descended, each wearing a full equipment belt complete with phase pistol, Kahn ordered the computer to close the hatch. Each of them carried a phaser rifle attached to their suit webgear on their chest. They could use both hands to carry things but those hands could drop what they were carrying at a moment's notice, able to grab the rifle quickly and efficiently.

The two of them began to move into the darker cavern, their headlamps lighting the way as Kahn took scans of everything.

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