Aurora 5: Camping
Landing the Tango wasn’t too difficult the atmosphere was similar to earth. Once in the atmosphere, I flew the Tango above the surface and we began to survey the planet surface. It was amazing that the planet looked so similar to the earth’s terrain. For the most part, the planet was made up of lots of forest and jungle. There were a few plains, swamps, mountains, and even one or two desserts. It was incredible how earth like it was.
“What are the sensors telling you back there Julia?” I asked curiously if the planet was as much like earth as it looked.
“From my primary survey, this planet has basic elements similar to earth. This is to be expected because most of the universe is made up of the same elements that make up the earth.” She said with her focus on the scanners.
“Fascinating,” I said “The the planet safe? Can we camp on this planet?”
“The atmosphere is breathable and the environment is habitable. I won’t know details until we get on the ground.” She said turning her attention from panel to me. “However, I can tell you that there is life on the planet.” She said with a bit more excitement on her face.
“Life?!?” Major shouted over his shoulder.
“Yes, Sir. The scan is not specific to what kind of like. My guess would be wild life. We have seen any structures or roads to suggest anything intelligent.” Julia responded.
“Have you seen an area that would be good for us to camp?” I asked.
“I would want to stay away from the jungle because of how dense, it would make setting up camp difficult,” Julia reported.
“Not to mention dangerous. It is a new planet I want to see potential threats coming.” Lt. White interjected.
“So something less crowded. Got it.” She said studying the screen in front of her. “ 20 kilometers west is a nice spot it is on the edge of a forest and there is a sturdy mountain that should provide nice cover.” She said as she sent the scans to the viewport that looked out onto the planet.
“Looks as good as a place as any.” said the Major "Take us there Blue.“
"Aye Sir. Coming about.” I responded as I turned the Tango west and headed to the coordinance that Julia gave me. The area looked cozy enough.
I set up down on the edge of a river that separated a meadow from the forest. Everything was so green and all the colors were so vibrant. Even the water in the river even seemed different from the water on earth. This place seems so fresh and peaceful. I think I am going to like it here. I stood from my chair, still looking out the viewport. I couldn’t help the excitement that rose inside of me. I turned around to see that the Major and the Lt. were already in the rear. Julia and Corbin were adjusting a few things on the Tango’s sensors before the headed into the rear with me close behind them. Lt. White was putting on his holster and body gear and Major D'ievoire was gathering other supplies from the cargo hold.
“Here Skyler, You will need this air screen. You can transfer the suttles controls to it.” She said with the air screen extended to me.
“Thanks,” I said as I walked over to the hatch and looked at the panel.
“Computer transfer control to me. Authorization Alpha Tango One .” I instructed
“Transfer complete.” It reported
I turned around to see if everyone was set to exit the Tango and explore the wonders beyond the shuttle door. Julia had a belt on with different equipment along with a cute personal phaser no bigger than her palm.
“How cute Julia. You have a baby gun.” I said with a giggle.
“It’s cute, isn’t it. Corbin has one too.” She said as she pointed to the little weapon on his belt.
“Everyone is getting a weapon.” The major stated. I turned and he walked up to me.“ That means you too.”
He slid his arm around my waist and then brought the belt around to the front of my hips. I instinctively raised my arms to give him access while still holding the air screen in one hand. He snapped the buckle in place and hit a button on its side to lock the belt in place. I smiled as a silent thank you. I looked down to see that I did not have a baby gun but a hand phaser. I looked back up with a smirk.
“I got a big gun,” I said thoroughly pleased.
“I don’t know if that’s a good thing.” Julia teased. Major D'ievoire smiled and shook his head as he took the air screen from my hand and placed in the holster on my belt.
“Your weapon is on IC which stands for..”
“Incapacitate. I know I was there….. in the early morning weapons training that we did……. together.” I said cutting him off.
“As your commanding officer, it is my duty to make sure you are prepared. A little refresher doesn’t hurt.” He said
“Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir.” I said as I opened the hatch to the outside. The rest of the team walked out onto the planet and as I step out to join them I heard the Major mumble.
“When I imagined you calling me Sir it sounded less annoying.”
I pretend that I didn’t hear anything to save the Major some pain. Instead, I took in the scene in front of me. The space was just beautiful with its green grass and peaceful river. There was a breeze that seemed to drift through the landscape like a silent wanderer enjoying a nature stroll. This place could easily be a vacation spot for those looking for rest and relaxation. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath in, filling my lungs with the fresh air. The air was almost identical to earth’s but there was something different. It was like I didn’t have to work as hard at filling my lungs like this planet was richer in the air itself. This place was not going to be a bad place to stay for a little while.
“Skyler and Julia Mark out where you want to set up the base. Corbin does some basic scans of the area and see if you can’t find anything interesting. Keep your Cons handing everyone check in every 10 minutes.” Major D'ievoire barked orders. “ Lt. Let’s make a sweep of the area.” And just like that, we all went to work.
“We are going to need the markers from the Tango,” Julia said as she surveyed the area trying to figure out where everything was going to go.
“I will be right back,” I said as I sprinted back to the ship and opened the hatch with my air screen. There was a backpack sitting on the floor by the opening. I unzipped the bag to find long black steel spikes with a red sphere on the top. Each spike had a different label on the side. I scooped the bag up and head back to where Julia was standing staring out across the meadow.
“I got them just tell me where you want them,” I said setting the bag on the ground. She didn’t respond she just kept looking out across the landscape of the planet.
“Ummm Ground control to Julia. Come in?”
“Oh sorry I was just taking it all in.” She responded turning her attention to me.
“I get it. This place is…. something else. It looks really similar to earth but…. it feels different. I mean even the air.” I said taking a deep breath in.
“This planet has a more oxygen rich atmosphere than earth. That and there has been no pollution on this planet to damage it.” Julia responded with a warm soft smile.
“Put the command center spike here.” She said pointing to a spot on the ground.
“Can this oxygen rich atmosphere be harmful?” I asked
Julia shook her head. “It is true that too much oxygen can be harmful and can cause problems with organs. However, Corbin checked the levels and determined that the difference was not large enough to be harmful. It just feels a bit different.”
“Hmm, Interesting,” I said putting down another spike where she wanted it.
“You can ask him about it. I am sure he could give you more detail.” Julia said
We continued to put down spikes marking where each tent and station was to go. After a little while, it was time to check in with the rest of the team. As I looked around I could see Corbin not too far taking all kinds of scans. However, I did not see Lt. White or Major D'ievoire. I taped a small circular device on the left side of my chest and I was instantly put in touch with all of my team mates.
“Major D'ievoire, Skyler checking in. Julia and I are finished marking base camp.” I waited a few minutes for a response. I looked around to see if I could find where they were but all I saw was Corbin wading through the tall grass making his way back to us. I was just about to try again when the Major’s voice came over the com.
“Good work Lt. White and I are going to circle around one before making our way back. Start unpacking the cargo hold in the ship.” He said with complete authority. “Corbin status”
“I have made my way back to the girls. The area does not appear to have harmful plant life, insects, or animals. This area seems safe to put up camp.” Corbin reported as he came to a stop in front of us.
“Understood.” was his simple response before the com went silent. Corbin gave a pleasant smile and a flirty wink to Julia.
“Let’s unpack.” He said clapping his hands together. Julia rolled her eyes and walked past him without giving him any attention. She was getting better at handling his flirtiness. I chuckled at their playfulness and followed them to the Tango. The two of them started to pull things out of the nets on the walls. I pulled out the air screen and switched it on. The blue light came from the cylinder and a box floated before me with the Tango’s controls along with another box that held other information like supplies lists and so on. The air screen tracked my fingers and responded to them. I taped the Tango box and it became larger and the other box. I then clicked the cargo holds and the rest of the shuttle faded away and the cargo holds and its contents came into sight. All the supplies had been loaded onto anti gravity slates so the equipment and things could be easily moved. I taped the first anti gravity slate in cargo hold one and the slate came to alive. An orange glow came from underneath the rectangle steel slate and it lifted off the ground. Everything was secured on the slate with a black net so that nothing would fall as the slate moved.
I turned to look out at the camp markers that we had set up. In the bottom left corner of my screen was a button connected to the markers. With a swipe of my hand, I turned on the makers and red lights ignited across the camp showing where each building was and what was to go there. I looked at my air screen and found the manifest that Julia had put together. It showed what supplies were on each slate and where it needed to go. After figuring out where each state in the cargo hold went I sent them out to their appropriate sites.
“That wasn’t so bad I didn’t even break a sweat,” I said over my shoulder to Julia and Corbin who were continuing to remove equipment from various places in the main compartment outside the cargo holds.
“Wonderful. Now get over here and help us with this gear.” Julia said in amusement.
I walked over and started to help them unload. We had the last load on a spare anti gravity slate and were towing it off when Major D'ievoire and Lt. White came into view on the other side of the river. I handed the air screen to Corbin so he could finish up the last load. Corbin gave me a playful smile.
“looks like the major is back.” He said with a grin and Julia elbowed him in the stomach.
“What was that for?” He asked as he held his stomach.
“Do I need a reason?” Julia said with I smile the reached her eyes.
I chuckled and turned back for the tango leaving them to flirt with each other. Walked through the tall green grass letting my hand feel the tips of the grass. I took a deep breath in and closed my eyes for a moment as I walked. I could feel a slight breeze on my face and the warmth of the systems sun on my body keeping my warm. I could hear the steady flow of the nearby river and the splash of the water against the rocks on the side of the river. The environment was similar to that of a summer on earth. If I it wasn’t for the slight difference in air and color I would have thought that I was on earth. Amazing that we could find a planet so similar to our own so far away. I waited for the Major and Lt. at the tango while enjoying the alien view before me. I was enjoying the sounds of what I thought might be a lone bird chipping a strange tune in a distance. The sound was unusual in that it sounded almost insect like, almost.
“Blue!” The major shouted as he got closer to the shuttle. I jumped with the sudden disturbance to the peaceful scene I was enjoying.
“ Major,” I said as I smoothed my uniform out and regaining my composure.
“Sorry Blue. didn’t mean to startle you. Just wanted to see if you were ready to go.” The Major said with laughter on his face. Lt. White held amusement in his eyes as well. "We are going to go back to the conquest and begin the transport of personnel and equipment.“
"Yes, Sir. The tango I unloaded and Julia have started to set up tents with the help of Dr. Corbin” I reported.
“Good,” Major replied. “Lt. Stay with these two while Skyler and I over see the rest of the transports.”
Lt. White gave a nod in response and grabbed a rifle off the tango and then headed for Julia and Corbin who were playfully bickering back and forth as they set the camp up.
“GOOD LUCK!” I shouted after the Lt. as he headed towards the two.
I turned back to the Major with a mischievous grin on my face. He looked back at me with a smirk his eyes seeming to look at me with something to say.
“What?” I prompted. He simply shook his head and boarded the Tango. I followed a few moments later after taking one last look at the meadow and its beauty.