Survey

USS Conrad, USCM
High orbit around LV-453
22-05-2245, 11.45 a.m.

'Hey there, Luce,' said one of the marines, Paul "Mace" Mason, as he walked past. Unlike a few of the others he wasn't intimidating, either by intention or not. I looked up feebly, trying to stop my eyes and head from aching, and then let my head sink back into my hands. Concerned, he put down the tray of food and came over to me.

'Luce, are you alright?' he said, patting me on the shoulder. I looked up again, nodded, and tried to smile. I only managed a grimace and the marine nodded sympathetically.

'I know how you feel. It usually goes away after a while,' he said. 'Do you want some aspirin or something?'

'No thanks, Mace. I've already had one. I'm fine,' I said huskily. Mace nodded and picked up his tray before heading back over to where the other marines were sitting and laughing.

Trust me when I say this: hypersleep is the bane of my existence. It's just a royal pain in the ass to go through when on long-haul voyages, and that's without the annoying side-effects. Basically, you get shoved into a tiny tube, have to get freezing diodes latched onto your skin, and then you get drugged into a coma-like state for the rest of the trip. Because of the drugs, waking up can be a very difficult process.

Not pleasant, indeed.

That's why I was sitting there, at one of the smaller mess tables, trying to take my mind of the aching throb of my head and the stiffness of my eyes. I'd already taken two aspirin and they were taking an unusual amount of time to work. I had gotten a little bit of food, just some bread and a box of juice, but I'd barely touched it, preferring to poke at it like an old boot that a kid out fishing has just reeled in.

I guess that you'll want to know what is going on. My name is Lucille Cameron, although most of the people I know call me Luce. I'm a biologist that specializes in the study of xenofauna and flora; in other words, I examine alien plants and animals. I don't really know why but there's something exciting about getting to go to new, almost completely uncharted places and getting to study them. That could be the reason why I even bother going through the entire hypersleep process.

So far I've been involved in the study of about six worlds. Two of them are having their atmosphere processors and facilities set up, and a third is already at the colonisation stage. Though, it can be very dull to get to a planet and discover that it's only a bare rock, with no identifiable life forms past the microbe stage. I swear, on almost every expedition so far, both I and the others have ended up being spare wheels.

The world that's being colonised had a fair diversity of plants... but hardly any animals larger than a rat. My job is the classic example of a double-edged sword: at times exciting and rewarding, but at other times both dull and tedious in good measure. And there you have it. That's the last fifteen years of my life in a nutshell.

'Still got the headache?' said one of the other researchers, Chris Harriet, as she sat down next to me. I managed a nod and then tried to eat my food.

'Urgh... I hate this stuff,' said one of the marines, Kirby, with distaste. I looked over and saw that she'd eaten everything in her tray except for something that looked like a pile of dehydrated mushrooms.

'Oh, come on Kirby,' said Treadwell, sitting across the table from her. 'Half of this stuff isn't bad.'

'Oh yeah?' she retorted, 'Have a try at eating some of that and tell me that it tastes good. I dare you.'

Treadwell seemed to think for a moment and then shrugged, going back to picking through his meal. Kirby smirked and most of the other marines began to chuckle.

'They're more bored of the trip than we are,' said Cam Garland as he sat down across the table from me. I still didn't feel hungry and kept poking the slices of bread sitting on my tray.

'Tell me about it,' I said. I pushed the tray away and arched my back, cricking it.

'I wouldn't do that if I were you,' Garland said as he took a sip from his juice carton. 'Cracking your joints weakens them. They already proved that with your finger-'

'Wait, doesn't it give you arthritis?' said Perkins from the marine's table. Garland grinned and shook his head, his hair waving back and forth like a wet mop.

'Nup. You've got it wrong. No arthritis but a much weaker grip. I think that if you crack your knuckles twice a day for several years, you won't be able to twist the cap off a sauce bottle,' he said. Perkins gave a thoughtful nod and then stood up to put the food tray away.

'You're such a know-it-all, Cam,' said Martin Brasco. Garland just shrugged and grinned a second time.

'I know I am. I get paid to be one, so I can't let it down for a second,' he said. I snorted and laughed softly, nearly squirting water through my nose. This made the others crack up at the same time. By that point the headache had slowed down considerably and was now just a faint throbbing that felt far off.

'Anyway,' I began, taking a small bite of the bread. 'Let's talk about the survey. Has anybody gone down to the planet before?'

Brasco shrugged. 'I think that there may have been a survey a few years back. I can't be sure, though. I know that an expedition was going over this system and studying the worlds, but then the main ship was hit by an asteroid and most of the crew died.'

'Shit...' muttered Harriet. She had a forkful of egg hovering in front of her face and stared at Brasco in shock. Brasco nodded and took another sip of water, wiping his mouth.

'I know. Apparently though, the rest of the crew managed to get back safely. Everything got sorted out within a few months and the families of the dead crew were compensated by the Company.' He shrugged. 'I might have looked over the file once or twice, but that was a while ago.'

'So... do they know anything about the planets because of the survey?' I asked. Brasco smiled and nodded.

'Yeah. The first one we're going to is a jungle world. Not many oceans but lots of rivers and lakes, as well as a hot temperature all year long.'

I nodded, grinning slightly. Garland sighed, put down his knife and fork, and stood up, cracking his back. Perkins glanced over at him and spoke before I could.

'Hey, watch it. You'll get a weaker back,' he said. Garland smirked.

'I was talking about cracking your knuckles, wasn't I?' he said, and Perkins gave him a smile and the finger. Garland grinned broadly and went off to the lockers.

'Hey. I call dibs on naming the first animal,' said Harriet. I opened my mouth to protest but she shook her head at me, wagging her finger. I turned to Brasco for support, but he just shook his head as well.

'Sorry, Luce. You got to name the dragonfly without wings last time,' he said. I pouted but he remained resolute.

'…damn,' I muttered. Harriet patted me on the back and I feigned a heart attack.

x-x-x

After about ten minutes, breakfast was over and everyone went to get changed into our uniforms.

On most missions, there are some differences between the uniforms that the scientists and the marines have to wear. The main difference is the camouflage design. Usually the scientists have an olive green and tan design, which isn't as detailed as the marines. The reason being for this is that the scientists are mostly observers, and they don't have to go tramping through the deserts, forests or swamplands with the others.

For this mission, things were different. Most of our work was going to be done through treks over the landscape and collecting samples of the local flora and fauna, and because of this we were wearing near identical uniforms to the marines.

The camouflage drab on out clothes was a dark grey, mottled with light brown and different shades of green. I noticed that the shirt was much lighter than the standard ones that we had to wear as I put it on. Most of the marines weren't putting on their jackets and shirts, preferring to stay in their tanks. Garland and I looked on at them incredulously as they headed off to the cargo bay for the debriefing.

'Don't they feel the cold?' I asked, puzzled.

'Pretty obvious answer there, Luce. They don't,' he said. I bit my lip and tried not to laugh, but he continued. 'These guys were probably found on an off-world survey, and they've been on the ship ever since. I guess you could sa-'

'Ah, shut up,' said Brasco as he fastened his watch and rolled up his sleeves. I heard Harriet giggling nearby and I rolled my eyes.

'You two are just like children, you know that?' I said. Garland shrugged and adjusted his glasses, running his fingers through his hair.

'Alright then, are you people ready for the debriefing?' said a firm voice from the end of the lockers. I looked up and saw the Major, Frank Pitt, standing there with his arms crossed. I stood up straight and nodded, and the others did the same. His lieutenant Peter Sutherland was standing behind him with his hands behind his back. Both were wearing their uniforms and had a level of authority about them.

'We're ready, sir,' said Garland. Pitt nodded and uncrossed his arms.

'Alright, then. Follow us out to the main bay,' he said. 'Just follow me to the front, but you don't have to stand up like you're in regimentation.'

Pitt had a hard but warm face, if that makes any sense. He was about my height and had a thin goatee on his chin, which made him look a little younger than he actually was. Along with the short crew cut and the steely brown eyes, Pitt looked like the kind of military leader that could reduce the barracks bully to a whimpering puppy with no effort.

Peter Sutherland, on the other hand, was considerably younger than Pitt. He had a young, angular face that was clean shaven and was taller than Garland, who was about six foot. He always showed no sign of his emotions unless he was off duty, when he suddenly became cheerful, funny and engaging. I'd learned that if there was a thing to be done during an assignment, he seemed to focus all of his attention and strength on it until it was done. In that sense he was like a workaholic.

Pitt turned around and walked out of the locker room, both Sutherland and the rest of us following him. We went through the cryo-room, which now looked like the inside of an insects nest with the empty pods, and across the vacant mess hall. Pitt turned right and walked down a short corridor that led to the main bay of the ship.

Even though I'd seen the bay just before the start of the voyage, the sheer scale of it still amazed me. It was about four stories high and the length of two football fields, and it matched it in width. The sheer size was meant to accommodate the two dropships that were kept in the hanger, as well as four hydraulic power-loaders to move around the heaviest materials. At the back of the bay was a small garage for two armoured personnel carriers, as well as having all of the materials necessary to keep them in perfect running condition and for repairs.

The marines were crowded around near the corridor that we had just exited. A bunch of heavy industrial crates, as well as a few chrome benches, had been gathered there. The marines were just talking and messing around about things in general, but most of them were seated and waiting for the sergeant to arrive.

'Officer on deck!' yelled Sutherland as he walked in behind Pitt. The two marines that were standing – they looked like Mace and Treadwell mock-fighting – immediately saluted and sat back down on the crate-bench display as Pitt stood up in front of them. Short he may have been, but Pitt had a level of authority about him that everybody obeyed and respected. I and the others shuffled in and stood next to the marines. As I was standing there I saw Perkins look over and give me a thumbs-up before mouthing "don't sweat it".

That's what it looked like, at least.

'At ease, marines,' Pitt said. The marines loosened up and resumed their positions on the crates. Pitt looked out over them and smiled.

'Okay then, marines,' he began, 'As I am sure you all know this is just a standard survey mission. We are going to shuttle in to the planet's surface and study it, to see it as being fit to colonise. Our job is to be the bodyguards of the scientists that have joined us and to assist them in any way that we can.'

Three people laughed. I got what they were laughing at but it seemed childish, so I didn't join in. One of the marines raised their hand.

'I have a question, Major,' he said. Pitt nodded.

'Okay. Seeing as we're going to be escorting the scientists around the planet, do we know about any of the plants and wildlife down there? I mean, it could end up being like the LV-426 incident if we aren't prepared.'

I smiled a little at that. Everyone knows about the incident on LV-426. Basically, a squad of marines went out to investigate the colony there and accidentally triggered the atmosphere processor to overload. This was a few decades back and it's since become a nice bit of urban legend out in space. But what very few people know that the marines had actually encountered an indigenous creature on the planet. There was an ensuing firefight inside the processor, in which the cooling systems were ruptured and eventually the entire colony was destroyed.

Pitt nodded. 'Yes, there was a previous survey expedition in '42. They managed to take some readings of the planet's surface, but the mission was cut short when the main ship was struck by a meteor shower. One of the dropships crashed and the people inside it were killed.'

Pitt paused. 'I wouldn't worry about the life on the surface, though. Most of the animals down there are just aggressive herbivores, and nothing more. There aren't any lethal plants either.'

'Another question, sir,' said the marine. 'Do you mind defining the words "aggressive herbivore"?'

'Well, in this case it means "dinosaur-like creature that acts like a mad bull",' Pitt chuckled in reply. The marines laughed at this, but I immediately perked up with interest. Dinosaur creature? There hadn't been anything like that in the reports! Pitt cleared his throat and continued on.

'Even though the first survey could only get a small amount of information about the wildlife on the planet, they did get a decent amount of info on the terrain and atmosphere,' Pitt said. 'The planet is covered with jungle and has no oceanic bodies of water, although there are many large lakes and rivers. There are large ice caps on the poles of the planet, but we aren't going to be venturing there on this mission.'

'Fantastic. I've always hated having to piss in the snow,' muttered George Dyson.

'That was you?' said Mace loudly. A couple of the marines laughed, and I noticed Sutherland smile quickly in the corner of my eye. I still didn't laugh at the jokes.

'I'd really appreciate that you two don't interrupt me in the middle of a briefing,' Pitt said firmly. 'Secure that shit right now.'

The marines immediately fell silent. Pitt waited for a few more seconds and then nodded at us. I nervously shuffled forward, not wanting to be in the spotlight. I don't like being in front of crowds.

'Anyway. For this mission,' Pitt continued, 'we will be split into three groups. One group will have to stay up here on the ship and keep a watch on the main monitoring equipment, while the other two will be assigned to assist the scientists.'

Pitt walked over to each of us in turn, starting with me. I could feel a nervous sweat trickle down my temple, and I hoped that it didn't show.

'Hung, Lloyd, Brennan, Mace and I will be teamed up with Lucille Cameron and Chris Harriet.'

The marines nodded. Harriet smiled broadly and stood up proudly, and I tried my hardest to copy her. I tried to manage a weak smile, but by that point Pitt had moved onto the next few.

'Kirby, Treadwell, Ross, Perkins and Jordan will be teaming up with Cam Garland and Martin Brasco. Both teams will be going over different stretches of the jungle, and we'll spend the first sweep gathering photographic data and monitoring the wildlife. After that first sweep we'll move in to start collecting samples.'

There was some murmuring amongst the marines. Pitt stood where he was and patiently waited until the marines had finished talking.

'Just before we start, I'd like to say that this operation has to go smoothly and by the numbers,' Pitt said. He looked at his watch. 'Okay then. I want the dropships prepped and ready to go by 11:30. Let's move it!'

Immediately the marines sprang up and began to talk amongst themselves while heading over to the dropships and the equipment stores. I shut my eyes and took a deep breath, glad that the attention was off me. I rubbed my eyelids and then I felt Harriet's hand fall on my shoulder.

'Are you okay? You're sweating badly,' she said. I quickly made a move to wipe the sweat away and found nothing. I scowled at her.

'You aren't funny, Chrissie,' I said. She glared back, mockingly.

'Oh come on. Lighten up, you dweeb,' she said as she walked off. I shrugged and went back inside to the locker room to get my things. As I did I checked my watch; it was 8:50.

Plenty of time to get ready, I thought to myself.

x-x-x

'Mace! Keep that fucking thing away from me!'

'Aw, come on Tom. It likes you!'

I smiled and shook my head sadly as I listened to Mace and Ross mess around. Mace was piloting one of the cargo loaders and had just finished loading one of the supply crates into the dropship. It seemed that he was treating the loader's hydraulic claw as a living creature and was trying to clamp Ross around the leg as he checked out what had been loaded up.

'Mace, you pull another piece like that and I'll report you to the sergeant. Understood?'

That was Sutherland. I heard Ross and two others chuckle, quickly followed by the loader clanking away down the bay.

I was sitting at one of the tables in the mess hall, going through some files on my laptop. I preferred the mess to other parts of the ship; it was almost cosy and the sound of the main bay wasn't as loud in my ears. Especially when the dropships were being loaded up for a mission.

'Hey, Luce.'

I looked up at Garland and Harriet. Both of them were taking their own laptops and equipment out and preparing them for the survey.

'Hello,' I said, waving. I sighed and closed my laptop before packing it into the shoulder bag and following them outside. One of the marines was loading up some crates into one of the dropship. They were about a metre wide and tall, and looked like animal cages.

'Hey, I thought that Pitt said we weren't going to be taking any specimens on this survey,' I said. The marine looked up and shrugged.

'It's nothing. Just stocking them up for the second sweep,' he said. 'It's a lot easier to do things when you've planned them out in advance.'

I nodded, although it didn't really make any sense. I just shrugged it off and followed Garland and Harriet to the dropship at the far end of the bay. Pitt was standing there, watching as Perkins tested the small airlock set into the floor. He sealed the inner door – the one that was in front of us – and then closed the main control panel that sat next to it.

'Just don't let anything near it, okay?' Pitt said. Perkins nodded and took off his baseball cap, which had the Conrad emblem stitched onto it, before heading over to Mace. Mace was climbing out of the cargo loader I had seen him in earlier and had put the shirt of his uniform.

Garland came to a stop and put down his bag of equipment. I just tightened the straps of mine and Harriet didn't seem like she wanted to let the marines handle her things. Perkins came over and picked up Garland's bag, lifting one strap over his shoulder.

'Pretty heavy,' said Perkins. He clicked his fingers at Mace, who came jogging over. 'Do you want me to be careful with it?'

'Yes please,' said Garland. Perkins nodded and headed off to the dropship at the opposite end of the bay as Mace came up to us.

'Do you want me to take your bags inside?' he asked, smiling. I shook my head, and then grinned when I saw Harriet start to blush slightly.

'Of course. Thank you,' she said, handing her bag to Mace. He looked over at me and I shook my head. He nodded and then walked up the dropship's loading ramp, disappearing into the passenger section and putting the bags away. Pitt then came up to us, now wearing his body armour over his chest and holding his helmet in one hand.

'Excuse me,' he said. We turned to him. 'We're about to go on the sweep and I think that you should start getting ready for it.'

'Of course,' said Garland, nodding. Pitt then led us across the cargo bay and to the armoury.

x-x-x

'God, how do you people walk in this stuff?' I asked, trying to fit the heavy armour onto my torso. Kirby put her helmet on, then lifted her arm up and tapped her finger on one of the clips that stuck the backplate and breastplate together. I nodded, and fastened the clasps underneath my armpits together.

'Thanks,' I said, but Kirby was already taking her equipment bag with her and walking out with the others.

'Don't mind them,' said Brasco, fastening his helmet on. I grunted as I tried to fasten the bottom plate clasp, almost getting it on but not quite. Frustrated, I kicked the bench that sat in the middle of the armoury.

'Luce, you need to loosen the straps. Then you tighten it back up,' said Harriet, tightening her bootlaces. I frowned, and loosened the straps. They became long enough to firmly clasp them together, and then I tightened them back up. Rolling my eyes I picked up my helmet and put it on, having no trouble with securing the chin clasp.

'What's the matter, Luce?' Brasco said as Pitt and Brennan entered the room.

I shook my head. 'Nothing... the straps just aren't that tight usually,' I said. Pitt nodded at us and we went forward, following him out into the hanger. The first group had been loaded up inside the dropship, apart from Brasco, and he jogged over to it as we headed to the second.

'You nervous?' asked Harriet. I shrugged.

'Not really. I'm more excited than nervous,' I answered. 'Besides, the hangover's gone. I'll be fine.'

Harriet smiled and nodded, then turned back around. The marines that would be joining us were still outside the dropship, lined up in front of the loading ramp. Like us they were wearing the camouflage fatigues and body armour over the top. Now that they were in full combat uniform, the marines looked totally, completely disciplined, the exact opposite of what they had been at the mess hall and debriefing. Pitt walked along the line and observed each marine, before reaching the ramp and turning around.

'Alright then, marines, scientists,' Pitt said, nodding to us in turn. 'Let's get inside and strap ourselves in. Atmosphere readings indicate that there may be a storm brewing, so I want you to be secure. Let's go!'

With that, the marines, Harriet and I rushed up the ramp. It was as I went up the ramp and sat down in my seat, strapping myself in, that I began to feel the excitement and anticipation start to run through my system.

I smiled broadly as the ramp began to close, barely able to keep still.

x-x-x

A.N.: As usual, feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks