The return trip had been longer than Crew 6 had expected with the sudden appearance of a colossal dust storm forcing them to halt and latch the shuttle to the nearest and largest rock. It had taken almost four days for the storm to pass, heading eastwards and hopefully bypassing the transporter that was needed to take them from the surface to Sky Base Theta.
As soon as their signal returned, protocol advised that they contact their main base and report any casualties or vehicular damage, just in case either were made worse by use of the standard transporter. Theta gave them the all-clear to take the shuttle up, no further questions asked. It was an unusual thing for them to do, what with their reputation for being sticklers for the corporation's multitude of rules. Crew 6 were too tired at that point to care much, thankful that they would soon be bathed and ready to rest in a proper bed.
Another unusual occurrence began once the transporter was on its clunky way up to the Sky Base, communications didn't cease. It was well known that there was the slight risk of short-circuiting the radio board if the shuttle wasn't stationary while sending or receiving messages, something to do with the system trying too hard to engage with the main base without a fixed location.
They would be well aware of this but they insisted on keeping the lines open and beginning the debrief before they could even assess the state of Crew 6, both physically and mentally. Dust storms were draining in all ways with the continuous threat of a local creature that was fond of using these storms as hunting ground mistaking the dull grey ship for the carapace of their preferred insectoid prey. Native fauna aside, there was also the life support to worry about and the filters potentially becoming clogged with debris hurled around at speeds of 500 km/h on average.
The debrief seemed to focus on the strange rock formations they'd been sent to investigate with the hopes that they would turn out to be a more developed sentient life form, one willing to trade at least. Crew 6 confirmed that they'd gone as far inside the rock formations as they'd been able to, both in the shuttle and on foot until they hit dead ends. It seemed like whatever had lived there left a long time before humans had set foot on the planet.
Sky Base Theta was dissatisfied with these results, insisting that the crew return as soon as possible and ready to excavate around the area in case the inhabitants had burrowed beneath their homes. The Comms. team wasn't supposed to advise on future missions, they were barely allowed any say in determining medical care or post-mission shuttle repairs yet it sounded like they were on speaker to the entire Comms. department who all had an opinion regarding their mission and next steps they should take.
Crew 6 muted them briefly and after a brief discussion they ended the call, switching their communications system off for the remainder of the lift. They agreed to claim it off as storm damage frying the already strained circuits and head out for their allotted post-mission absence. It had seemed like such a good idea at the time, though it was mostly to stop them worrying at the oddness of call.
Even when they docked the shuttle (having to do so manually as their communications system was "down from storm damage") there was something not right about the docking bay. There was nobody there, not even the core crew of androids who ran the bay during shift changes. In fact, as Crew 6 wandered the base in a protective huddle they didn't spot a single living life-form, organic or otherwise.
They did notice unusual heat readings coming from the Comms. department, specifically the broadcasting room. The decision was made to turn one of their suit's communicators back online. Immediately they were bombarded with the sounds of well over a dozen voices asking them to confirm their location and report the crew's status. With a tense nod from the crew leader they nervously read out the closest sector number, hallway junction and room.
Then they waited for what felt like half an hour, twelve minutes in actuality, not noticing as the temperature around them began to rise until they all began to sweat in their suits. Comms. was frantically asking them to repeat their location, saying they sent a medic team down and the given location was empty. The crew advised they would head to the main medical bay, now feeling the drop in temperature as the medic team chimed in to advise they would meet the crew there.
Now knowing they were definitely not alone, though accompanied by life claiming to be crew, they made a new plan and headed for the broadcasting room. They theorised that if they weren't expected then maybe they would be able to see what was calling itself the staff of Sky Base Theta.
As soon as their signal returned, protocol advised that they contact their main base and report any casualties or vehicular damage, just in case either were made worse by use of the standard transporter. Theta gave them the all-clear to take the shuttle up, no further questions asked. It was an unusual thing for them to do, what with their reputation for being sticklers for the corporation's multitude of rules. Crew 6 were too tired at that point to care much, thankful that they would soon be bathed and ready to rest in a proper bed.
Another unusual occurrence began once the transporter was on its clunky way up to the Sky Base, communications didn't cease. It was well known that there was the slight risk of short-circuiting the radio board if the shuttle wasn't stationary while sending or receiving messages, something to do with the system trying too hard to engage with the main base without a fixed location.
They would be well aware of this but they insisted on keeping the lines open and beginning the debrief before they could even assess the state of Crew 6, both physically and mentally. Dust storms were draining in all ways with the continuous threat of a local creature that was fond of using these storms as hunting ground mistaking the dull grey ship for the carapace of their preferred insectoid prey. Native fauna aside, there was also the life support to worry about and the filters potentially becoming clogged with debris hurled around at speeds of 500 km/h on average.
The debrief seemed to focus on the strange rock formations they'd been sent to investigate with the hopes that they would turn out to be a more developed sentient life form, one willing to trade at least. Crew 6 confirmed that they'd gone as far inside the rock formations as they'd been able to, both in the shuttle and on foot until they hit dead ends. It seemed like whatever had lived there left a long time before humans had set foot on the planet.
Sky Base Theta was dissatisfied with these results, insisting that the crew return as soon as possible and ready to excavate around the area in case the inhabitants had burrowed beneath their homes. The Comms. team wasn't supposed to advise on future missions, they were barely allowed any say in determining medical care or post-mission shuttle repairs yet it sounded like they were on speaker to the entire Comms. department who all had an opinion regarding their mission and next steps they should take.
Crew 6 muted them briefly and after a brief discussion they ended the call, switching their communications system off for the remainder of the lift. They agreed to claim it off as storm damage frying the already strained circuits and head out for their allotted post-mission absence. It had seemed like such a good idea at the time, though it was mostly to stop them worrying at the oddness of call.
Even when they docked the shuttle (having to do so manually as their communications system was "down from storm damage") there was something not right about the docking bay. There was nobody there, not even the core crew of androids who ran the bay during shift changes. In fact, as Crew 6 wandered the base in a protective huddle they didn't spot a single living life-form, organic or otherwise.
They did notice unusual heat readings coming from the Comms. department, specifically the broadcasting room. The decision was made to turn one of their suit's communicators back online. Immediately they were bombarded with the sounds of well over a dozen voices asking them to confirm their location and report the crew's status. With a tense nod from the crew leader they nervously read out the closest sector number, hallway junction and room.
Then they waited for what felt like half an hour, twelve minutes in actuality, not noticing as the temperature around them began to rise until they all began to sweat in their suits. Comms. was frantically asking them to repeat their location, saying they sent a medic team down and the given location was empty. The crew advised they would head to the main medical bay, now feeling the drop in temperature as the medic team chimed in to advise they would meet the crew there.
Now knowing they were definitely not alone, though accompanied by life claiming to be crew, they made a new plan and headed for the broadcasting room. They theorised that if they weren't expected then maybe they would be able to see what was calling itself the staff of Sky Base Theta.
No comments:
Post a Comment