The avians are tagged and released, with most of them surviving until they are put back on their home planet. A month of observation shows them using the tools, after a brief period of avoiding them out of what seems to be fear. The tagged birds also show that the species has a high reproduction rate, with several new birds born to the tagged ones during the month.
The orbital lens is used to continue the terraforming efforts. Although the captain refuses to allow it to come to close to the outpost, it is used to begin thawing the ice of the planetary sea that is growing from comets that are impacting once per week. With the lens focused on it, the sea has a small part of its surface that is always liquid, and much of the interior is liquid as well.
Instead of going through the trouble of collecting plankton from Aquarius, the scientist points out that the ship has a store of plankton on-board to use. This plankton is inserted into the liquid part of the ocean, and seems to thrive, despite the comet impacts.
On Aquarius, the news is not so good. The virus that was containing the infestation seems to be losing effectiveness, and another isn't able to be designed until the end of the month. The infestation grows back to 6% of the surface.
The outpost is worked on, and 50 more humans are put down, as the construction robots ran into some difficulties this month. Some of the humans are beginning to complain about the cramped living conditions, however, and the terraformer suggests that some more open spaces be built.
All vegetable waste products are collected from the outpost, and placed in the surrounding hills, but the scale simply isn't large enough to make much of an impact.
The ship notices a small band of UV light, shining in the direction of Aries, that is blinking on and off. It is originating from the orbit of Gas Giant A, near one of the larger moons. It is not harming anything, but the general is put at unease by it. "Don't know what that is, but I don't like it."
Time lapsed in system: 11 Months- In orbit of planet D
- Militarized Shipyard
- 2 Nano Factories
- 2,350 hibernating men
- 2,350 hibernating women
- 150 men on Aries
- 150 women on Aries
- Bank of animal and plants
Note: if no location is given, resource is
on ship- 2,000 space suits
- Small defensive fleet
- Mass drivers (orbital)
- Sensor Probes
- Construction and miner bots
- Planet A: abundant minerals, inhospitable
- Planet B: ash, acidic atmosphere, radioactive
- Planet C "Class.2224" "Aquarius": aquatic world, savage aquatic life, pack-like nomaic intelligent avians, virulent bacteria, plankton and algae infestation: 6% of surface
- Planet D "Class.1111" "Aries": some minerals, Mars-like, small mining operation, 300 person outpost, small industrial base
- Planet E: abundant minerals, inhospitable
- Abundant Asteroids
- Gas Giant A: mysterious interference, detected radio
- Gas Giant B: mysterious interference, detected radio
- Pack dwelling
- Near-human intelligence
- Nomadic
- Capable of tool use
- Quick breeding rate