Arlan – "Realigning telescope to list item number 3. No wobble detected."
Bensin - "Noted. List item number 3 is designated 'Rawlica'. Proceed."
A – "'Rawlica'. Someone likes card-games. List item number 3 'Rawlica' in view. Star emissions detected. [pause] Red dwarf star."
B – "Noted. Matches the preliminary data."
A – "Obstructions detected in line with asteroid belt. Four planetoids detected [pause] and one pseudo-planetoid."
B – "The registrar on your ass for calling them 'Plutos' again?"
A – "From furthest out from the star, planetoid number 1, 'Rawlica I', showing no signs of atmosphere. 2 moons detected."
B – "Noted."
A – "Planetoid number 2, 'Rawlica II', showing no signs of atmosphere. 1 moon detec-
[pause]
B – "Arlan? [pause] Senior Surveyor Arlan!"
A – "Yeah? Oh, sorry. The lens must be smudged."
B – "'it must be smudged', he says. Error 40, I say."
A – "Rawlica II has a moon, but it's stationary."
B – "So a geostationary orbit."
A – "I suppose but that does not seem like the correct term. Heck, I'm not even sure 'moon' is the correct term either."
B – "What in the blazes do you mean?"
A – "Look, see for yourself. If it's just me slowly acquiring cataracts, I'll buy you lunch."
[shuffling of chairs]
A – "Planetoid number 2. See the moon above it's top?"
[pause]
B – "Huh. [pause] Let's reset the telescope. Something must be wrong."
[Telescope IG-PS-4 Reset requested at this time. See IG-PS service log 402-2 for details.]
B – "Right, recording recommenced. Arlan, in your own time."
A – "You are not going to like what I am about to say."
B – "Go ahead."
A – "Rawlica II's 'moon' is in the exact same position as before. And I rescind calling it a 'moon'.
B – "What would you call it then?"
A – "It's a moon-sized object above Rawlica II's north pole, supported by some structure that extends from the surface. An orbital elevator maybe? But it would be hundreds of miles across, not to speak of its height."
B – "Could it be a mountain? A Marie Celeste 2: Electric Boogaloo?"
A – "It would be a very narrow mountain with an extremely flared top. By my estimation, if it was on Earth, it would break atmosphere."
B – "I think it's best if we, uh, note it for a specific survey and continue with the rest of our list. Rawlica II is clearly abnormal."
A – "Noted. Planetoid number 3, 'Rawlica III'. Showing signs of atmosphere. Probable gas giant. No moons detected.
