Get down the mobile base.
"We're cutting activities short for now. Until I get more messages, I'm worried about radio signals."
Get to the base.
The base lands at almost same spot it landed first time. Alex and Theron both walk briskly back to the base and stop under the airlock. Theron calls an elevator down.
Attempt to locate obvious physical discrepancy within the same species.
You sort through all data that is gathered up to now and indeed you find evidence of physical discrepancy. However, as far as you can tell all of it can be attributed to sexual dimorphism. The little that cannot is within normal range of variation between individuals, such as different color patterns. Of course there is sub-species that differ each other, but even then it is within predictable range. For example according records of Biology Unit 1 in far south, there are same bovines but with shorter fur, more bleached color and shorter horns.
This is odd, you could swear the probe report mentioned much greater variance within one species.
Groan, regroup, and check my messages
From: Bio 2 Communications officer
To: Bio 2 Expedition leader; Bio 2 Security
Message: CAUTION ADVICED!
Since the ship was commanded up we have been in much better position to triangulate origin of this radar signal. It turns out to be quite close to us and mobile! It closed on to our ship original landing spot and then moved to north near treeline and is currently not moving.
Subject: Discrepancy detected
From: Bio 2 Communications officer
To: Bio 2 Expedition leader
Message: Hi,
The short while we have been on this planet has proved part of the Initial Probe report wrong, the part where it states that no radio signals were detected from the planet. I have been listening radio signals and since we landed there have been constant steam of signals. All signals are very short series of pings which lead me to believe it is some sort radar. The signals are rather weak so it's no wonder the probe didn't detect them from orbit. As far as I can tell, signals originate from west. Distance is unknown but we are working on it.
I'll update you as soon as we have more data.You read the message and run back to the base, as that's where eveyone else is going at the moment.
Get down the mobile base.
"We're cutting activities short for now. Until I get more messages, I'm worried about radio signals."
"Radio signals?! Here? We have to send somebody out, find the source! We could make first contact!"
Get back to the base ASAP.
Return to base get on comns
"Guys this is security we have detected radio signals heading to the base. All personal finish what you are doing and return to base till the situation is sorted it won't take long to see if this is first contact or a unusual creature. This is not a drill.
You two start running back to the base and eventually find there rest of the team and heavily breathing Cromwell staring at frustratingly slowly descending elevator. Once it finally comes to rest on surface you all step in and start another waiting game as the elevator rises up. Who designed this thing to be so damn slow?! After hasty disinfection Mark heads straight to Communications room, still in his enviro-suit, and makes announcement.
"Guys this is security. We have detected radio signals heading to the base. All personel finish what you are doing and return to base till the situation is sorted. It won't take long to see if this is first contact or a unusual creature. This is not a drill."Land at the edge of the forest and secure the flyer. Venture a few meters into the forest in search of bugs. Keep my gun in hand.
(Going alone into dark forest? Me likes!)
You ignore the announcement for sake your personal excitement and research, landing flyer near the forest. There isn't much you can do to secure it. It rests firmly on its landing pads and it is very unlikely that wild animals could move it. An elephant could flip it over but so far you haven't seen creatures that big.
You enter the forest and stare the ground intently in hopes of finding bugs. The springy grass covering the ground gives away to moss as you walk deeper into forest. The first bug you find is a worm on legs, sneaky little thing, barely 2 centimeters long. It walks on six multi-jointed thin legs and has tiny degenerated wings on its back, probably remnant of earlier phase of life. It has no obvious head or even eyes, but a pair of mandibles and number of flexible feelers indicates where the front is. It has thin segmented exoskeleton.
The second bug you find is eating the first one and it resembles a grasshopper. Major differences is that it's exoskeleton has smooth texture like a skin and its head is odd; the mouth located between vertically arranged eyes. You almost missed it because of it's exactly same shade of green as moss underneath it.
It gives you hard time as you try to catch it leading you running and diving in circles. Once you finally catch it you find yourself a bit more than few meters into forest. You can still see your flyer between tree trunks but it is still good ten seconds sprint away. Sprinting sounds a great idea because you have suddenly new company staring at you. Two of them, actually. Half meter tall wolf-like creatures with long legs, wide pawns and completely black fur. One is a bit larger than other and has hint of silvery fur on its back. Both are staring at you and have their tall ears are pointed toward you. You have their full attention.
Let's see... Flyer is around 50 meters away, these black ones are only five meters from you, you posess a sidearm and enviro-suit which hardens under pressure. Protection against tearing was not mentioned in product description. Good luck.
1: Guni Debres
3: Guni's personal flyer
Other news, currently we have following samples on ship:
* Springy grass (Partly studied)
* Soil samples (Studied) - Awaiting reaction from Geo teams.
* Seven corpses of large four eyed birds (Not studied)
** Two almost intact
* Living aquatic creature in a water tank. (Not studied)
Weather boys, blissfully unaware of your troubles, report their first feather forecast, reliability of 86%. Cloud layer thickens as night falls possibly bringing rain along. During the night wind shifts to north and clears clouds away. Tomorrow should be bright day! They also located possible tornado valley, but luckily none of the teams are there.
As of now you have been almost one hour outside and about three hours left to nightfall.
Dylan Flores, expedition leader of Bio 1 and big boss guy of all units on the planet, is expecting a report from biologists before night. Though I can handwave the report writing part.
Edit: Fixed Guni's weapon.
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Topic: The Mind: Day 4 - Finale (Read 112672 times)