Posted Nov. 13, 2022, 12:06 p.m. by Vice Admiral CockRoach (GM) (Robert Archer)
[snip]
“Bikey we are good to go. I’m securing the hatch and we are going to launch.”
Helena osed and secured the hatch. There was a hiss of air as the hatch sealed and the internal air started pumping. Slipping into her seat she buckled in. “Welcome to shuttle pod 2. Please make sure your gear and tray table are stowed and locked in place. Please make sure your harness is securely buckled a d fits snuggly.”
Helena hit the ship’s comm. “Sojourner this is shuttle pod 2. We are ready to launch. Please clear the bay.”
Warning klaxons sounded in the bay and everyone cleared the space into the corridor and then the doors locked. The bay doors began to open. “Cleared for launch, Laursen. Fly safe.”
“Always do.” The shuttle slipped out into the depths of space and made a smooth turn toward the planet and their landing point.
Lt Laursen, pilot
As Pod 2 left the bay, Heather nodded towards Bikey. “Let’s see what this planet has to offer Ensign.”
Cmdr. Grace XO/CSO
Lt. Black was in pod 1 waiting for them to land
As Pod 1 was launched their approach took them to the far western edge of the main continent near the first survey marker site. They would be roughly 2,872 miles away from the other pod’s landing and survey site. There site as they got back into the upper atmosphere soon was in view by a high altitude view.
The spot marked was along a long flat valley nestled between two smaller mountain ranges. The valley was roughly 80 miles long by 40 miles wide. Two small rivers spanned between the valley in spots going from a west to east direction. Their landing site would be almost smack dab between the middle of the valley and a wide open plain of flat land between both rivers about 10 or so miles wide from end to end. All in all a fairly good landing site and a future colony site. The plains area around in the valley showed fairly viable farming land, as well as a lush wealth of local edible fauna and animal life. Tree and brush were sparse but plentiful enough to be useful in some form or another. River life in the two rivers showed average water life possibly edible. They would also have an easy time of putting down the claim and survey markers as the site was where they would be landing too.
Land and air based life was sparse, most being small or tiny rodents for plain or mountain range species. The air life was a bit larger then one might expect, flocks of large feathered avian with purple and blue wings spanning almost 18ft from tip to tip were probably able to lift smaller prey easily. It was probably good they did not bring their new ship mascot dog as it would likely be easily grabbed by one such bird. Thankfully the birds gave the pod a wide berth, squawking territorially a bit before flying off from the strange thing invading their air space. Land based predators seemed mostly limited to 4ft high 10 ft long cat like creatures that moved from cave system to cave system spread along the mountain sides hunting likely within their tunnels or using them as homes and only coming down to the lower valley if food was scarce.
A quick general scan showed likely deposits of minerals could be in the area too but they would need to get out on food to fully be sure to look for samples. As the pod came to a soft landing in the open area all signs of anything dangerous was gone, they had the area to themselves. Atmosphere outside was breathable, with the current temperature around 58F with a light warm breeze coming from the north west, making it closer feeling to 50F when present. Overhead it as fairly cloudy skies with a 15% chance of possible rain on its way. The gravity as noted was just slightly heavier then on Earth but nothing to be concerned for unless they had to do a lot of heavy lifting or running.
GM CockRoach
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