Away team 3- back out into the cold

Posted on Sun Feb 23rd, 2020 @ 3:39am by Lieutenant Commander Radak
Edited on on Sun Feb 23rd, 2020 @ 3:40am

1,683 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: The science of stars
Location: Planet 3- base camp
Timeline: 10th March 2395

ON:

With Gabe and Cameron heading down to explore the cave that was going to be their home for the next while, Touma looked across at Radak, "I'm ready to go whenever you are, Commander."

"Sounds good to me, Lieutenant." The Vulcan put his EVA helmet back on. "I am actually looking forward to doing some exploring. I do have a phaser on me as well, just in case we run into any trouble." He had also spent some time packing a smaller care package, including a medical kit and a canteen of water.

"Can you carry this one too?" Touma asked motioning to a small case. "Some sample containers and other science gear." He double checked his own phaser and survival gear then stood up hoisting another case over his shoulder.

"Of course." Radak shouldered the bag he was asked to carry as well. "Did you have somewhere in mind to start? Back to the other caves? Or away from the camp?"

"If the 'locals' marked that cave as being unsafe we probably shouldn't go there."

Radak nodded as they headed out of the camp cave. "I agree, but I do think we should go back to the paintings... or was that the same cave?"

"There are probably more paintings to be found around, but we should call the cave that had that creature in it, off limits. We don't know what it is, but it sounded dangerous," Touma replied.

Radak nodded. "I would prefer not to be an new menu item," he said casually. "Maybe we should go and have a look at the caves we didn't explore while looking for base. Do you think anyone could really survive these temperatures for the length of the time this planet stays cold?"

"On the surface, not for very long, probably why they had to use these caves as dwellings. Geothermal vents could keep the worst of the cold out," Touma replied as he secured the helmet of his eva suit back on.

"And apparently there are animals to hunt... or farm, so no real shortage of food supply." Radak led the way towards several caves that the team had not explored earlier. It almost seemed that the entire side of the mountain range was riddled with them. "Do you think it is possible that people still live here?" he questioned, concerned now that their science exploration could potentially be a first contact situation.

Touma had his tricorder out scanning around as they walked. "It's extremely unlikely, if the extreme cold didn't kill them the extreme heat would, analysis showed in the height of the hot period the surface temperature would be nearly 300 celsius, nothing humanoid could survive that."

Radak was surprised, but he managed not to show it, instead just raising one eyebrow which was hard to see anyway through the EVA suit. "That is extreme. Do you think they could survive underground? I know that the cold and heat will permeate the soil, but only so far. Is it possible for people to get far enough underground to avoid the temperatures?"

"It's possible, if they could get far enough and still be able to find a water source and a way to get enough food," Touma said as he climbed up a small mound to get a better look at the ground ahead, it was fairly flat, but very rocky. "But unless they're advanced enough to grow food without any light or grow enough in the brief habitable period to last them through it's unlikely they'd be able to support much life."

"True and I have seen no indication that there is a civilization that advanced here. Even far below the surface, our scans would have picked up life signs or functioning equipment and there hasn't been any of that. I wonder how these animals survive? Of course, there seem to be animals that survive in extremes on most worlds that experience them." Radak looked around them. The snow and ice as far as the eye could see was almost blinding, even though it was dark outside.

"Most animals are good at adapting to their environment, the question is how do they adapt to a environment that changes so drastically."

"Maybe we should try and trap one, so that we can test it?" Radak suggested. "I have heard that there are some species on Earth that can live through the freezing process... as well as droughts... perhaps these animals are like those..."

Touma nodded slightly, "There are some insects that can create a form of natural antifreeze that helps them survive while they hibernate. As for trapping one of the foxes it might be hard, they're pretty intelligent creatures, the Chief might have some experience with hunting and trapping animals."

"Do you think there might be plant life? I would assume that what foxes need to live on would include what that needs to live on as well." Radak was looking at his tricorder as he spoke. "There is a cave system off to our left, if you are interested in exploring it as well." He lifted his tricorder higher, trying to get better readings, pointing it at a cliff face. "Although, I am not certain how we gain entrance."

"Grasses have a tenacious ability to survive and grow in the hardest of climates, so it's likely there is grass and other plant life for herbivores," Touma said as he looked around for an entrance. "Caves are a hotbed for fungi and insects too, so when they're driven underground from the cold or heat they might be able to eat that."

Radak sort of followed him, his tricorder still out. "Insects could tell us a lot about the environment and what it takes to survive here. Because of their digestive systems a scientist should be able to tell what they eat and how they survive the cold and heat. It is not a mammal, but taking a mammal for a sample seems a little extreme." He meant it to be a joke, but said in his humorless, Vulcan sort of way left it sounding awkward.

"Shame we didn't think to pack a butterfly net," Touma said smirking a little, he moved to the top of another rise. "Hey, Commander, this could be a way in." He motioned over the rise to a large crack in the rocky ground.

Radak headed over the rise, his tricorder out and scanning. "There are some life signs inside the cave, but they seem to be small. Perhaps this will be a good place to gather specimens and samples." He waited for Touma to catch up and then headed for the cave.

"Lets go take a look, if we can get in. That entrance-way looks pretty small." Touma said as he crested the rise and saw the entrance.

The cave inside was narrow for several feet, actually making them squeeze a little to get through. Once inside it seemed just a tiny bit warmer, perhaps because they were completely sheltered from the weather by the cave. The cave was low after the narrow passage, but there was definitely plant life in the form of soft, frosty white ferns that seemed to grow right from the rock face. There were also several kinds of lichens and moss.

"jeez that was tight." Touma said as he finally got through the gap into the cave, he wiped at some marks on the helmet of his EVA suit and realised he'd scratched it up pretty bad.

"We should definitely collect one of everything in this cave, Lieutenant," Radak offered, rather uselessly, being as that was why they were on the planet in the first place.

"Let's hope we have enough sample containers." Touma switched on the torch on the suit's arm and ran it across the cave walls as he spoke.

For a very brief moment the wall receded from the light. Radak stared at the wall until it stopped moving and then looked at Touma. "So... there are a lot of things in here."

Touma paused for a few moments unsure if he'd actually seen what he thought he had with the wall then snapped back to reality. "Yes... yes, my tricorder is showing all sorts of life signs and heat signatures."

"I am fairly certain that the surface of that wall just ran away from us," Radak offered unhelpfully. "I will unpack containers." He knelt down and started to do just that. "We should, at some point, let the rest of the team know we are alright."

It took several hours to chase around mostly tiny critters and take plant samples. There were lots of insects to collect and even more plant species and a very strange type of lizard. Radak had just stood up from where he had been kneeling. "We should return to the team and come back with them in the morning. It is getting rather late and I cannot imagine it gets any warmer at nighttime." He looked over to where Touma was also collecting. "We could do this for days."

"I agree," Touma said, he knew the suits could take the cold but they had been on the go for quite a while already and his stomach was starting to make itself known.

"Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, we have time. Eating and resting is also important." He started to pack up the samples he'd collected. "We can return to the camp and repeat this tomorrow. There might be different creatures in the daylight." He shrugged.

"Took the words right out of my mouth Commander," Touma stood up from where he was collecting a soil sample and stretched his legs. "If we take a left at that fork over there it will lead us back to where we came in."

Radak stood again and looked back the way they had come. "Alright, Lieutenant." He shouldered the sample bag and then his supplies. "I believe that I am ready to return."


OFF:

Ltcmdr Radak
Executive Officer
USS Wolff

Ltjg Touma Kamijou [command npc]
Asst Chief Science Officer
USS Wolff

 

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