Arrival (15 page)

Jack rigged a couple of solar collectors on top of the capsule, attaching them to the pod’s batteries, providing them with light and a little heat at night. The inside of the capsule still smelled like burnt circuitry, but it was better than sleeping out on the hard ground.

They had enjoyed a lunch of protein bars, bland dehydrated synthetic beef, and dehydrated fruit, along with copious amounts of water. Jack was surprised at how much water they were drinking. He couldn’t remember the last time he had been so thirsty.

After assembling the campsite, Will ventured out a little to collect some rock samples, curious to get a look at the planet’s geology. While he was gone, Jack decided to review the survival encyclopedia on the video-player. He was unusually tired, and decided that he would wait until tomorrow to continue work on the camp. Before he knew it, he had fallen asleep, lulled by the warmth of the afternoon sun.

CHAPTER FIVE

“Okay, everyone ready?” Lynn asked. They were standing at the bottom of the debarkation ramp, under the nose of the ship. Lynn checked her utility belt. She was carrying the standard water bottle and a pouch with two energy bars and a few pieces of dried fruit. Along with the usual comm-set pack and side arm, she was also carrying a large tool pack containing several specially designed hand tools.

Slung over her shoulder was her data pad, which she would use to locate the pods. Unfortunately, in the original crew’s rush to leave Luna station decades ago, no one had thought to include an identification signature in the cargo pod’s transponder signals. Instead, they would have to check each pod one at a time, starting with the closest pod, until they found the one with the all-terrain utility vehicle inside it.

Mac, who was standing to Lynn’s right, had insisted on carrying the standard field pack. Weighing about ten kilograms, the pack contained everything they could possibly need. From first-aid kits to emergency rations, portable radiation shelters to spare battery packs, the field pack had all the supplies essential for a long excursion. Lynn didn’t really think the packs were necessary, as she planned to keep each journey away from the LRV as short as possible. However, the packs were standard operating procedure, and as long as she didn’t have to carry them, she had no objections.

Frank and Tony were similarly outfitted. In addition, they each carried a standard rifle, also standard procedure when away from the LRV.

“We need the transportation pod first. We’ve got four signals, all west of us,” Lynn reminded both of them.

“Tony and I can take the one to the southwest,” Frank offered, looking at Lynn’s data pad display. “And if that isn’t the one we want, we’ll go to the next one due south.”

“Sounds good,” Lynn agreed. “Mac and I will take the other two. First one to find the transportation pod, call in, and we’ll join up on that pod so we can get the ATUV assembled as quick as possible.”

“The book says two people can assemble an ATUV in two hours,” Mac pointed out.

“Yeah, well, we’ve only got five hours of daylight left, and the closest pod is at least two clicks away. So I’d prefer not to take any chances and get everyone back here as soon as we can.”

“Where’s the sixth pod?” Tony asked.

“Don’t know,” Lynn answered. “It’s not broadcasting a transponder signal for some reason.”

“I hope that ain’t the one with the ATUV inside,” Frank commented.

“Okay, let’s head out,” Lynn ordered, ignoring his comment.

* * *

An hour later, Lynn and Mac spotted the first cargo pod.

“There it is,” Mac announced as he broke into a jog, his field pack bouncing up and down against his back.

“Frank,” Lynn called across the comm-set, “we’ve spotted the first pod.”

“
Copy that; let us know what you find inside.
”

Lynn wanted to run as well, but she was already tired. “Hey, Mac! Wait for me!” It was to no avail, as Mac was running toward the pod like a child chasing a ball. Reluctantly, Lynn also broke into a jog.

By the time she got to the pod, Mac already had his latch tool out and was twisting open the latch bolts around the hatch seams. After a few minutes, he had all the bolts removed from the left hatch.

“That should do it!” he announced as he grabbed the latch handle and pulled out and down. The hatch creaked slightly, but didn’t open. “I think it’s stuck!” Mac complained.

“Well, it’s been sealed for over six decades.”

Mac planted his right foot against the right hatch and pulled on the left hatch handle with all his strength. The hatch creaked and moaned as Mac grunted and pulled. After a few moments, there was a sudden hiss of escaping air, and the hatch stopped resisting and swung open. A strange, stale odor came out of the pod as Mac pushed the hatch aside.

“What’s that smell?” Mac complained as he struggled back up to his feet.

“Ancient Earth air, I imagine,” Lynn presumed as she stepped up to look inside the pod. It was packed as tightly as possible, wasting not even a single cubic centimeter of space. Everything was bundled in plain, white cloth, and was bound with special high-tensile, lightweight plastic cord. Lynn looked for some sort of markings, something that might identify what was wrapped up inside the cloths. But the only markings she could find were packing numbers. “How are we supposed to know what’s inside?”

“With this,” Mac told her, holding up a flat, clear plastic pouch containing a single sheet of paper.

“What’s that?”

“
Packing manifest,
” Mac read.

Lynn moved next to Mac for a closer look. “Is that paper?” she asked.

Mac pulled the paper out of the pouch and handed it to her. “Looks like it.”

“Wow, I’ve never seen paper before,” she remarked in awe, holding it gingerly in her fingertips. She examined the paper, rubbing her fingers along its surface. It was smooth and cool. Jet-black printed letters decorated a stark white background, listing out every item with descriptions, identification numbers, even reference manual numbers to tie into the instructional database carried in the LRV’s computer library. “I can’t believe they made this out of trees. It seems like such a waste.” She scanned the page, matching the I.D. number of the first item with the number stenciled on the outside of the cargo item just inside the hatch. “It looks like the list is in the order we should unpack it.” She continued searching, hoping to find the entries identifying the ATUV parts they were looking for. “No ATUV, I’m afraid.” She finished scanning down the page, turning it over to scan the back side. At the bottom, she found a signature, presumably by the man responsible for loading the pod. Below the signature were the handwritten words, ‘Good Luck’. Lynn smiled as she handed the list back to Mac, “Button her up, Mac. Let’s go find the other pod.”

* * *

“
Nothing but survey equipment,
” Lynn’s voice reported over their comm-sets. “
We’re heading for the next pod now
.”

“Copy, Lynn,” Frank replied. “We’ve spotted our first pod, about fifty meters uphill from us. We should be there in a few minutes.”

“Too bad,” Tony commented. “I’m sure Mac is dying to get his hands on an ATUV.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“That boy loves to put things together.”

“Lucky for us,” Frank commented drily as he continued trudging up the hill.

* * *

“You can get dressed now,” Maria informed her.

Sara hopped down off the exam table and walked across the cold, metal floor. “Thank God, it’s freezing in here!”

“Sorry about that,” Maria apologized. “I can’t seem to get any heat out of that thing,” she complained, pointing at the climate control system.

“I thought you checked the lab out this morning?”

“I did. It was working fine, then.”

“Would you like me to take a look at it for you?” she offered as she pulled her jumpsuit up over her shoulders and zipped up the front.

“What do you know about climate control systems?” Maria challenged, surprised at Sara’s offer.

“We used them in the ag-labs back on the Daedalus. Worthless hunks-of-junk used to break down twice a week. And you know how slow maintenance could be. We finally decided that fixing them ourselves was faster.”

“Be my guest,” Maria invited.

Sara pulled on her deck shoes and went over to the unit hanging in the corner of the compartment. “Got any tools?” she asked.

“Locker four,” Maria told her as she stepped over to the doorway. “Next!”

Laura, next in line to get her examination, entered the lab.

“Sorry for the chilly temperature in here,” Maria apologized immediately.

“What’s she doing?” Laura asked quietly, nodding her head toward Sara in the corner of the lab.

“Claims she can fix the climate control system,” Maria explained as she passed the scanner head over Laura’s body.

“Oh, really?” Laura turned her head to the right to see what Sara was doing. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” she asked Maria.

“What can it hurt? It’s already broken,” Maria laughed.

“I heard that!” Sara called out from the corner.

Suddenly there was a loud pop, and a blue spark shot out of the climate control unit. Sara screamed as she jumped backwards. Laura leapt off the table, using it as a barrier between herself and the sparks.

“Sara!” Maria called out as the room went dark.

“Oh my God!” Laura exclaimed.

“Sara! Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine!” she insisted.

“What happened to the lights?” Laura asked.

Suddenly, the door flew open, nearly hitting Laura from behind. The wardroom’s ambient light spilled into the lab.

“What happened to the power?” Adia asked from the open doorway.

“The power’s out?” Maria interrupted.

“Yeah, that would be my fault,” Sara admitted.

“Great, Sara!” Laura scolded. “Now what do we do?”

“Take it easy,” Maria cautioned her. “I’m sure it’s nothing serious. Probably just a loose wire or a tripped breaker, or something. Right Sara?”

“Yeah, right.”

“So, where’s the breaker panel?” Laura asked.

“I have no idea,” Sara said meekly.

“Jesus, Sara! What were you thinking?”

“Hey, I was trying to help,” she protested as she rose back to her feet.

“Some help!” Laura scoffed.

“That’s enough!” Maria commanded. “Let’s just deal with the problem, alright?” The compartment went quiet. “Okay, the panel can’t be too hard to find. So let’s start looking.”

“Maybe we can look it up in the ship’s manuals on the data terminal?” Sara suggested.

“Uh, excuse me
Miss
Fix It
, but didn’t you hear? The power is out all over the ship, thanks to you.”

“Oh, would you shut up!” Sara was done putting up with Laura’s insults.

“Both of you need to shut up!” Maria yelled, fed up with the bickering. “Laura, go get dressed. Sara and I will start looking for the breaker panel. Every compartment has a sub-panel. The one for this room is behind the door. Start there, while the others look for the main panel.”

* * *

“
Lynn! We found it!
” Frank called over the comm-set. “
We found the transportation pod!
”

Mac was already changing course and picking up his pace.

“Great, we’re on our way!” Lynn responded.

“
You sure you don’t want to continue on to the next pod? Tony and I can probably assemble this thing ourselves and come pick you up in a couple of hours.
”

“No fuckin’ way, Tony!” Mac hollered over the comm-set as he ran across the meadow. “Don’t you assemble that thing without me!”

“I guess we’re headed your way, Frank,” Lynn laughed. “Besides, I don’t think I could stop Mac now even if I wanted to.”

“Damn right!” Mac agreed, stopping to turn around to see if Lynn was coming. “Come on, Skipper! Let’s go build us an A-Tuff!” he yelled, waving his arms for her to follow.

“Slow down, Mac!” Lynn pleaded as she chased off after him. “It’s still over a kilometer away!” she reminded him as she began to pant. “You planning on running all the way there?”

A few moments later, Lynn heard Maria’s voice calling over the comms.

“Mac! Stop a minute!” Lynn ordered as she adjusted her headset. The transmission was garbled and full of static, but she was sure it was Maria’s voice. She looked at Mac, who had also stopped and was holding his cupped hand over his earpiece, trying to understand the broken transmission. Lynn reached to turn up the gain on the comm-set control pack on her utility belt, hoping to clear up the reception.

“
Ly……is Mari……copy m…?
”

“Maria,” she said over the comm-set, “is that you?”

“
…irmati……an you he…. You’re……ly read……!
”

“What’s wrong? Are you on the comm-set?”

“
Affir…ve!
”

“We’re too far away for comm-sets! Go to the flight deck and use the ship’s comm-system!”

“What the hell’s going on?” Mac asked as he approached Lynn. “I can barely read them.”

“
Ca……ip’s………ystem………power!
”

“What did she say about the power?” Lynn asked. Mac only shook his head.

“
……repea……o pow…!
”

“I think she said, ‘no power’,” Mac guessed.

“Well, that would explain why they’re not using the ship’s comm-system.”

“
Maria, this is Frank! Do you copy me?
”

Lynn struggled to hear Maria’s transmission, but it was even worse than before.

“
I’ve got her, Lynn,
” Frank called over the comm-sets.
“Standby one, go ahead Maria.
”

Lynn and Mac waited impatiently as Frank listened to Maria’s account of what had happened to their power.

“
Lynn,
” Frank called.
“The LRV has lost all internal power.
”

“You can copy her?” Lynn asked, stunned.

“
We’re on higher ground here, maybe twenty meters up.
”

“What happened? How did they lose power?”

“
Something about Sara trying to fix something in the med-lab, I’m not sure. But they’ve got nothing inside. No juice at all, if I’m understanding her correctly.
”

Mac laughed out loud.

“Is the reactor plant alright?” Lynn asked worriedly.

“
Yeah, it’s fine. It’s gotta be something simple, like maybe in the interior power distribution bus or something.
”

“The one on the starboard side, you think?”

“
Yeah, that’s the one I’m thinking. Access panel forty-two, right behind the turbine wash planes. I can have them up and running in ten minutes, if that’s the problem.
”

“Negative,” Lynn ordered. “Stay put! If it’s that easy, better that I go back and fix it. If I can’t, then we’re gonna need the generator on that ATUV to provide power for us. Better you stay there and get that thing running.” Lynn turned to Mac. “Get over there and build that thing.”