Marooned on Giri Minor
"This is not good. This is not good," Oviedo-Nandez says.
"I don't know what those little things are or what they're trying to do," Dr. Munro says, "but I assume they're not here to welcome us to the neighborhood."
"About the only thing working in our favor so far is that they seem to be light sensitive," you say.
"Well I don't plan to put this handlight down," Munro says.
"I'm just going to offer this as a friendly suggestion, doc," Gunder says. "You might want to use that light sparingly, because I can't guarantee you'll get it fully charged by tomorrow night."
"We have solar chargers, right?" you ask.
"Yes," Chief Gunder says, "but with the amount of dust in this planet's atmosphere it takes twice as long to recharge anything. And we taxed the plasguns and FabBots quite a bit today drilling that well."
No one says anything. The only movement comes from Dr. Munro as she nervously adjusts the light in her hands.
"Yes sir, I will do that sir," Ibanz shouts again into the night. "But what did you say? Yes, tell your man I said it's OK to land the shuttle over there. We've got injured personnel who need to be evac'd right this minute!"
"I don't know who he's talking to," Munro says, "but it's nice to know he's thinking of us."
Oviedo-Nandez shakes his head. "He's a good man," he says. "This is not like him. It's almost like he's taunting us, daring us to come after him."
"Look though," you say. "Those little creatures have pretty much abandoned the campsite, and I don't think it's entirely because of the handlight. Ever since Ibanz started shouting at Commander Andrade they've been scurrying toward him."
"Ibanz!" the lieutenant shouts. "How are you doing out there?"
"Fine, sir! In a moment I'm about to board a shuttle for the Orion. You better get out here quick if you don't want to miss it!"
"He's delusional," Oviedo-Nandez concludes, his voice dejected as though his chief was already lost.
"Hey lieutenant!" Ibanz shouts. "The comman--"
His voice cuts out, and then there is only silence.
"I don't know what those little things are or what they're trying to do," Dr. Munro says, "but I assume they're not here to welcome us to the neighborhood."
"About the only thing working in our favor so far is that they seem to be light sensitive," you say.
"Well I don't plan to put this handlight down," Munro says.
"I'm just going to offer this as a friendly suggestion, doc," Gunder says. "You might want to use that light sparingly, because I can't guarantee you'll get it fully charged by tomorrow night."
"We have solar chargers, right?" you ask.
"Yes," Chief Gunder says, "but with the amount of dust in this planet's atmosphere it takes twice as long to recharge anything. And we taxed the plasguns and FabBots quite a bit today drilling that well."
No one says anything. The only movement comes from Dr. Munro as she nervously adjusts the light in her hands.
"Yes sir, I will do that sir," Ibanz shouts again into the night. "But what did you say? Yes, tell your man I said it's OK to land the shuttle over there. We've got injured personnel who need to be evac'd right this minute!"
"I don't know who he's talking to," Munro says, "but it's nice to know he's thinking of us."
Oviedo-Nandez shakes his head. "He's a good man," he says. "This is not like him. It's almost like he's taunting us, daring us to come after him."
"Look though," you say. "Those little creatures have pretty much abandoned the campsite, and I don't think it's entirely because of the handlight. Ever since Ibanz started shouting at Commander Andrade they've been scurrying toward him."
"Ibanz!" the lieutenant shouts. "How are you doing out there?"
"Fine, sir! In a moment I'm about to board a shuttle for the Orion. You better get out here quick if you don't want to miss it!"
"He's delusional," Oviedo-Nandez concludes, his voice dejected as though his chief was already lost.
"Hey lieutenant!" Ibanz shouts. "The comman--"
His voice cuts out, and then there is only silence.