Chapter Summary: Exploring another Library Planet.
Chapter Word Count: 5,108
Not the most exciting chapter but it moves the plot along.
Andy looked at the north tower, circling it several times. "Definitely a tower," she said. "Should probably ask the Guardian about them. They might tell us what it's for."
"There's no door?" Ixchel said. "If there were I'd suspect a trap."
"We aren't all as paranoid as you," Andy said, "but 'trap' does seem to jump out at you while staring at it."
"It seems to be made from a material I can't slide past," Miranda said, staring up at the tower. "The Furlings must have run into others with my abilities, to have found a way to shield themselves."
"Even with everything we've found so far, we don't really know much about the Furlings," Andy said. "They are still overly mysterious."
"Yes," Miranda said. "The information in the libraries is really superficial. There is nothing that really gets to the heart of who or what they are. We don't even know if they are from this universe or just stumbled across it."
"I think they're from elsewhere," Ginny said. "They just don't ring completely true."
"They do seem artificial," Romana said. "As if someone made a list of what a superior being should be and modeled the Furlings after them."
"Speculation can be fun," Andy said, "but do we have any more reasons for being out here?"
"None," Miranda said, "unless Harriet and Ginny have other things to show us."
"Not yet," Harry said. "There's a lot of unexplored land to cover in the next couple days, before we have to go."
"We'll leave you to it," Andy said. "I can ask the Guardian about the towers."
Ginny and Harry watched the others head back to the library.
"Now what?" Ginny said. "We've covered most of the land around here. The only things remotely interesting are the towers, and we can't go in any of them. And there doesn't seem to be any other buildings."
"Possibly underground?" Harry said. "Not that I want to spend the next couple days cave diving."
"I don't think there are any," Ginny said. "They aren't a people designed to go underground."
"Neither are we," Harry said. "But someone does occasionally."
"It's that whole underworld thing in our mythology," Ginny said. "Got heroes? You need a stupendously dumb villain to chase and those like underground lairs."
"Maybe we can find something else? Something better?" Harry said. "Towers that you can't explore are boring."
"Out another ten clicks then?" Ginny said.
"Ten clicks," Harry said, agreeably. There was a brief moment of stillness and they both took off, as fast as their suits could handle in this terrain.
"Trees!" Ginny said through their comm. "Trees, and more trees."
"I've got a pond," Harry said. "Not very deep. The square edges are a bit suspicious looking though."
"Square edges? What's your position to the nearest tower?" Ginny said. "Because I've got a strange ditch. Doesn't look natural."
"Hmmm," Harry said. "Looks like I'm between two of them but further out."
"Same," Ginny said. "Another artificial feature?"
"I'm between the North and Western towers," Harry said. "Your suit signal is coming from... between the South and Western towers. So we need to check South and East, and North and East to see if there are any matching features."
"Same distance?" Ginny said.
"Yes," Harry said. "Assuming it's symmetrical, of course."
"Okay, I'm headed to the spot ten clicks out from the center, between the South and Eastern towers," Ginny said.
"And I'll check the North and East for something that doesn't fit," Harry said.
"Shout when you get there," Ginny said.
"There," Harry said, several minutes later. "More trees. And an artificial ditch."
"Ah," Ginny muttered. "A large meadow, with a depression in the middle. I don't think, whatever it is, has been used recently."
"Some kind of counterbalance for the towers?" Harry suggested. "There's probably something at the bottom."
"No plans to dig in the muck in this suit," Ginny said. "It's hard enough staying clean way out here."
"Maybe we can get the Guardian to activate the towers? That might clean things up a bit if it's an active defense."
"Or it might just be some kind of signaling device, on a large galaxy spanning scale. Do you really want to send a message out to the universe right now?" Ginny said.
"Depends," Harry said. "What would the message be?"
"We're out of goobers, bring more?" Ginny said.
"Yeah, no," Harry said. "I wonder if it was for the sharks?"
"What sharks?" Ginny said.
"The ones with lasers," Harry said, "of course."
"You've been watching too much early Terran parody," Ginny said. "Sharks with lasers on their heads never work. The salt water ruins the lasers."
"That you know that is scary," Harry said.
"You learn some strange things when you hang out with the JJs," Ginny said. "So, we head back to the Lucia or keep looking for strange landscape features?"
"Enough for now, I think," Harry said. "Unless we trip over something on the way back. I think we'd need the Lucia's scanners to find anything useful. Towers and ditches aren't anything to write home about."
"Back already?" Andy asked Harry and Ginny when they appeared in the library.
"Found some exciting ditches," Harry said.
"They don't seem natural," Ginny added. "Maybe the Guardian has an idea what they are for?"
"It refused to discuss the towers," Andy said, "So, if these ditches mean anything, don't expect the Guardian to tell you."
"Just thought we'd ask," Ginny said. "Didn't feel like playing archeologist and digging them up."
"Ditches?" The Guardian squeaked, appearing in front of them. "Part of the Heart defenses?"
"Unless someone else dug some between the towers," Andy said. "What are they?"
"The tower defenses have never been needed," the Guardian said. "These ditches were equidistant between the towers?"
"Four of them, one between each pair of towers," Ginny said. "Looked suspicious."
"They are not part of the Heart," the Guardian said. A hologram appeared in front of them. It showed the towers, the library, and four glowing spots.
"They aren't those glowing spots? They look like them," Ginny said.
"They are heat sinks for the towers," the Guardian said. "When the towers are enabled, excess energy fills them."
"So, not a good place to hide when the towers turn on?" Ginny said.
"Correct," the Guardian said. "Very inimitable to sentient life."
"Definitely not a hiding place," Harry said. "We'll have to remember that."
"Did you find anything else?" Andy said.
"With the vegetation, it'd be easier to use the Lucia to scan the area," Harry said. "We just got lucky tripping over them."
"Finding those heat sinks," Ginny added. "You can't miss the towers."
"Any other maps?" Harry asked.
"In the map room," the Guardian said.
"There's a map room?" Andy said, sighing. "Where is it?"
"Next to the family records room," the Guardian said.
"Which is where?" Andy asked. "You haven't mentioned it before."
"It did not seem relevant," the Guardian said. "Please follow me." It turned and floated towards a corner of the lobby. Reaching the corner, the walls shimmered before disappearing to reveal a stairway going down.
"A secret passage!" Harry said excitedly.
"Secret?" The Guardian said, sounding puzzled.
"Hidden. One that no one knows about," Harry said. "Is this map room down there?"
"Of course," the Guardian said. "But you must remove your armor to proceed there. It has defenses that prevent any being wearing weapons from entering."
"Of course it does," Ginny said. "We'll be back." Grabbing Harry she headed out of the building.
"Is that true?" Andy said.
"Hmm?" The Guardian said.
"That the map room is protected from entry by armed beings?" Andy said skeptically.
"Not directly," it said. "But they were covered in dirt and organic matter. We would not have allowed them further."
"Got it," Andy said. "Dirt not welcome. Can I go down it like this?"
"You may proceed, Lady," The Guardian said.
"No, I'll wait here for them to come back. Wouldn't want to take the excitement away from them," Andy said.
"You are a kind and wise Mistress," the Guardian said.
"Mistress?" Andy said.
"It fits," Miranda said, suddenly joining them. "You are in charge, except when you do something that endangers the ship."
"Mistress?" Andy muttered, frowning. "That seems a bit... odd."
"Terminology can be strange when dealing with entities who've been waiting for a response for millennia," Miranda said in the covert manner Andy had become used to.
"A bunch of old farts," Ginny said, grumbling as they returned, dressed in their most comfortable lounge-ware. "Can't give a straight answer."
"Some day, you too will be an 'old fart'," Miranda said. "Expect no sympathy."
"I'll die first," Harry said, glaring.
"That isn't as dramatic as you think," Miranda said. "If we don't find a solution to the Kraal problem, we'll all die sooner than later. And no mamby-pamby behavior will stop it."
"Had to try," Harry said, shrugging. "You don't need any anime extras?"
"Did you want to see the map room?" Andy said, exasperated. "Or just stand here griping about things no one else thinks matter."
"Griping has an ages old tradition in the troopers," Ginny said. "It's even in our contracts."
"In your contracts? Who are you contracted with?" Andy said, puzzled.
"Not with the Fleet one," Ginny said. "Under the Trooper Fleet contract the Fleet has several mandatory things it must provide."
"Snacks in the Go rooms," Harry said, nodding. "Very important for team morale."
"Map room," Andy said, feeling just a twinge of impatience. "Do you still want to see it?"
"Never thought you'd ask," Ginny said, slipping through their audience and down the stairs. "Coming?" She shouted, her voice echoing.
Nodding her head at Miranda, Andy followed Ginny down the stairs. Her voice could be heard echoing throughout the levels. Reaching the bottom, she found herself in a wide room, with a low ceiling.
"If this fits the other layouts, it's over there?" Andy waved towards a side of the room.
"Excellent," Ginny said. "Now how do we access the maps?" she asked.
"It's a map room," Andy said. "There must be something here resembling a light table or projector."
"A hologram that acts like one?" Ginny said, pointing at one of the many portraits they could see in the chamber.
"That's one way to do it," Andy said, approaching it. "Now we just need to figure out how to look at the maps."
"Like a projector?" Harry said, joining them. "Other than the data viewers, and the Guardian, we haven't seen much of their technology in action."
"And the Ring Gates," Ginny added. "But you're right. What do we know about using their technology? It is very different from ours."
"Yes it is," Andy said. She held up her arm, with the armband. "This is a controller of some sort but how it works, or why? No idea."
"I've seen you use that like a key," Harry said, curious. "What else can it do?"
"It seems to act like an identifying device, but mind controlled," Andy said. "So, if I touch the image, and think loudly about what I want to see, what happens?"
"And there's our map," Ginny said. Moving to the middle of the chamber, she walked around the holographic map. "There are the towers, and those four depressions. Can we zoom out?"
Andy frowned, and the area covered by the map increased. And then increased again. "How far is that?" She asked. "Is it enough?"
"Based on the size and distance between the towers? One hundred kilometers, more or less," Harry said. "But this isn't live, is it. No trees. Just lots of rocks and grass."
"So we should be able to see any important features that aren't buried under forest," Ginny said. "I'm not seeing anything we didn't already know about."
"It's possible this facility was isolated from everything else," Andy said. "Though, I'm not sure why. The first library we found was in the center of a city."
"Is there more here than the library?" Harry asked. "Something that needs to be kept safe or secret?"
"Or something too dangerous for a populated area," Ginny said. "Is there any way to tell the map to show other things?"
"Other things? Like what?" Andy said.
"Underground facilities, minerals, caves, creature habitats?" Ginny said. "Something that would classify this area as something to keep separate. Possibly dangerous things, like weapons or portals to dangerous places."
"Hmm," Andy concentrated for a minute. "Anything?"
"No change," Harry said.
"Maybe there isn't anything to show?" Ginny said. "It's possible they built it here for some reason that only made sense to them."
"Aliens doing something for alien reasons?" Harry said. "That would make too much sense. But maybe that just isn't the right question to ask it."
"But what would be the right question to ask?" Andy said. "I'm not exactly speaking to it in Clan speak. I'm just telling it to show me something."
"So, try the opposite? Tell it to show you everything, except something?" Ginny said.
"Reverse psychology on an alien device?" Andy raised an eyebrow. "I don't think it's alive."
"Just subtract things," Harry said. "For example, get rid of anything green. Tell it to show all the things not green."
"Or remove anything that is rock?" Ginny said. "Then it would only show the non-rock things. Which would be anything that is artificial. Or wood."
"I don't think that will work," Andy said. "But sure, we can try it."
Large parts of the map disappeared. What remained was a very incoherent image.
"Now that is actually worse," Harry said. "Lots of big holes in the map."
"Look at that," Ginny said, pointing at a grey line. "This shows something connecting the towers and depressions. Do we have a sense of perspective? Some way to show how big they are?"
A small stick figure appeared on the map in the area they were in. "It appears we are missing some critical piece of information," Andy said. "How do we find that and find a door into the towers."
"Look here," Ginny said. "It looks like one of those tunnels passes by here. Maybe there's an entrance to it here in the library."
"Guardian! We need your assistance," Andy said, loudly. There was the now familiar popping sound before the Guardian appeared.
"You have figured it out, yes?" The Guardian said, nodding at the map.
"Figured it out? You seem to be playing a different game than when we first visited," Andy said. "What should we have figured out?"
"I cannot answer that if you haven't," the Guardian said, backing away.
Andy sighed. "Can we access these tunnels from here?" She pointed at the lines on the map.
"The maintenance tunnels are closed currently," the Guardian said. "There has been ground subsidence since they were last opened."
"But they've been used in the past?" Andy asked.
"Yes, Lady," the Guardian said.
"Is there any other way that we can access the tower interiors," Andy asked.
"There is nothing to see in the towers," the Guardian said firmly.
"What's in them?" Harry asked. "Secret treasure?"
"No," the Guardian said. "I am unable to reveal the contents of those towers."
"Those towers?" Andy said. "Are there other towers on this planet?"
"Just the ones with the Ring Gate at the Northern pole," the Guardian said.
"There's a gate at the Northern pole?" Ginny said. "How do we access it? Can we take the local gate to there?"
"That might not be a good idea," Andy said. "Isn't there something about gates being too close together that makes them unstable?"
"Samantha said there shouldn't be two gates with the same coordinates," Harry said. "Something about the coordinate system not allowing such close proximity."
"But that may be an artifact of the age of the Rings being used in their dimension," Harry said. "Those are sledgehammers. Ours are closer to fine instruments and should have no problems with close coordinates."
"Is the access code for the pole Gate available?" Andy asked the Guardian.
"I must consult," the Guardian said, disappearing silently.
"Consult who?" Harry said. "And about what if anyone is there?"
"When it comes back it will have completely forgotten what we asked," Andy said, shaking her head. "Other Guardians have claimed to be consulting with the other Guardians, but they come back and seem to have forgotten what they were doing."
"Old age?" Ginny asked. "How old will they get?"
"The entire chain of Guardian centric Hearts suffer from old age," Andy said. "It's hard to tell when something is worn out or if it is just a communication problem. The data banks appear fine," she said. "It's everything connected to them where problems can be defined as family centric."
"So, no visiting the other towers, this trip," Harry said. "Another thing off the bucket list."
"Not likely," Andy said. "It may have to wait until we can return."
"Maybe then we can look at the inside of these towers," Harry said. "It really seems like there is some clue in them that would help us if they would just let us poke around."
"They see no reason to let us poke around," Andy said. "Have you noticed how anything they show us rarely seems that important."
"How do we know what is important or not?" Ginny asked. "There's just so much to dig through."
"What is important to us is obviously not important to the Guardians," Andy said. "They are concerned with the survival of their archives. We aren't. We just want to use them."
"I think we should definitely check out the Pole gate before we leave," Ginny said. "Even if there isn't anything there to see."
"There are documents about the towers in the collection here," Memo said, having entered the map room while they were talking. "There really is no secret about what is in them."
"Which is?" Harry said.
"They are tombs in addition to being part of the defenses," Memo said. "Each tower contains a hero of the people."
"Why didn't the Guardian just say that?" Ginny asked. "We don't want to disturb their tombs."
"Talking about them is likely taboo," Memo said. "It is surprising you were able to get them to admit to their existence."
"Well, that explains why they keep changing the information they will allow us to see. How did they end up with pirate genetics?" Harry said.
"There is no information in the library that will help you find out," Miranda said. "They have removed all evidence of interaction."
"That seems a bit too specific," Andy said. "What are they afraid of?"
"Unknown," Memo said. "Any creature in a position like that will inevitably find themselves facing the people in charge for some unexpected or unplanned excursion.
"It is not worth the energy spent on it," Miranda said. "And I believe you have an appointment with a certain young person."
"Oh, right," Andy said. "How did they get on my itinerary? We're halfway across the galaxy."
"The Press moves in mysterious ways," Ginny said. "But there really isn't anything they can be told, is there?"
"That won't stop them from digging," Miranda said. "Be prepared for uncomfortable questions."
"Just like at home," Andy said. "They seem to think their job is to embarrass everyone who really doesn't fit their narrative."
"The Furling did not have Press in the same way," Miranda said. "To predict how their civilization would react to the challenges we face is pointless. Keep your answers simple."
"I do still have things to find out," Andy said. "Make sure you don't frighten them off."
"They will be treated with the respect they have earned," Miranda said.
"You must have some very interesting contacts in high places," Andy said, looking at the reporter on the comm. She wouldn't call them a journalist at this point. "We are on an important mission and do not have much time for interruptions."
"Lady Andrea, my credentials are in order," Jasper Hime said. "I was given permission to contact you by the Clan High Council."
"Be that as it may, I am not sure what value there is in us having this conversation," Andy said.
"There have been rumors flying around that you are seeking the Winter People, in order to secure their help with our ancient Clan enemy," Jasper said.
"I am not sure how much you know of the current situation that the Clan faces..." Andy said.
"I have been briefed," Jasper said. "Lady Hands was a bit intense but very informative." She visibly shivered.
"Yes, she can come across that way," Andy said. "But I wouldn't want anyone else in charge of our ground troops. She's a very brilliant tactician."
"The Serpent Clan Council is certainly very solid," Jasper said. "How does your mission fit into that?"
"To be clear, we don't expect to discover some silver bullet or magical weapon that will easily defeat the Kraal," Andy said. "But any insight into how the Kraal think will be welcome. Frankly, the information provided by the Pan-Galactic Confederation has proven multiple times to have glaring holes in its understanding of the Kraal."
"Why the Winter Folk, though?" Jasper asked. "Didn't they disappear long before the Kraal started making a nuisance of themselves."
"A nuisance?" Andy frowned. "I suppose they could be called that, by the Confederation civilizations that they don't directly impact. It may have escaped your notice but the Clans have been placed directly along their past path through the Confederation."
"Are you saying the Confederation intentionally set up the Clans to encounter the Kraal?" Jasper said. "To what purpose?"
"I can't speak to the Confederation's ultimate purposes with regard to the Clans," Andy said. "But they do appear to be making efficient use of them when possible. Beyond their stated aims."
"And the Winter Folk? What is the connection there?" Jasper asked.
"The Clans are said to originate with the Winter Folk, though how or why has never been determined," Andy said. "All of the Clans have legends referring to the Winter Folk in some way dragging us into the sky and out into the Black."
"But that brings me back to my original question," Jasper said. "How are the Winter Folk expected to help? They were gone long before the Kraal appeared."
"There have been sightings of the Winter Folk over the years," Andy said. "We do not believe they are completely gone."
"Does your mission have any awareness of the Ice Clan's claims to have discovered an ancient Winter Folk moon base?" Jasper asked.
"They claim to have discovered it?" Andy said. "That's interesting. I believe others have a prior claim to it, though the Winter Folk didn't leave anything valuable behind when they left it."
"So you dispute their ownership of the moon base?" Jasper said, raising an eyebrow.
"It's in their sector," Andy said, shrugging. "It doesn't matter who claims ownership, they have possession. Hopefully they'll allow the other Clans to participate in any exploration and research. Beyond that, I have nothing to say, and cannot speak for the Serpent Clan Council about the issue."
"When do you expect to find the Winter Folk, or declare this mission done?" Jasper said, after a long moment of silence.
"We cannot say," Andy said. "As soon as possible, hopefully. The Kraal are on the edge of the Serpent Clan sector and if we don't stop them they will go right through the center of our sector, resulting in incalculable damage. We can't dawdle in our search."
"I see," Jasper said. "We're speaking through deep space comm. Do you have room for one more?"
"Unless you can convince our sponsors, the Serpent Clan Council, to give us a larger ship for our mission, there really is no room for another passenger," Andy said.
"And if I brought my own ship?" Jasper said.
"We may encounter situations where anything less than a Serpent Clan cruiser is not safe," Andy said. "I wouldn't recommend tagging along."
"Your Council has been very cagey about your current location," Jasper said. "We have no idea where you are at the moment."
"Deep space," Andy said. "Headed to the next possible sighting of the Winter Folk."
"Of course," Jasper said. "Will you be available for future discussions so we can keep our viewers updated on your progress in finding the Winter Folk?"
"Unless we're in the middle of a battle? Most likely," Andy said, shrugging. "I'm sure arrangements can be made."
"Thank you for your time, Lady Andrea," Jasper said.
"You are welcome," Andy said, before reaching over and disconnecting the comm session. "What do you think?" She said, turning to look at Miranda.
"Uninformative, but truthful," Miranda said. "I wouldn't be surprised if they try to find us and follow."
"Hopefully we're moving too fast for them to catch up," Andy said. "I'd like to know whose idea it was that we talk with them."
"Someone in the Confederation is likely putting pressure on the Council, once they saw the moon base and realized that we may come across other potentially valuable Winter Folk artifacts," Miranda said.
"Greed can be a great motivator," Andy said. "But the likelihood that anyone has found the moon base Guardian and their Ring Gate is slim."
"They won't be unaware of the Space Gate we used to leave through," Miranda said.
"But it's unusable without the controlling gate. And the Galactics have had no success using any of the Ring Gates, even after we proved they still work," Andy said.
"They will eventually," Miranda said.
"We'll see," Andy said. "They don't have you or Brittany."
"They do tend to underestimate the Clans, especially the Serpent Clan," Miranda said. "The Ice Clan may become a problem if they are not pacified."
"Let's leave that to Brittany," Andy said. "We sent her our analysis and warning. I'm sure that reporter is part of her plan to control the situation."
"We have another day before the Lucia is ready to continue," Miranda said. "Do you plan to let Ginny and Harry go to the North Pole and examine the Tower and Gate there?"
"As long as they don't start singing Christmas songs," Andy said. "I don't see the harm, though they'll have to use the Gate to get there, since the Lucia is not currently flightworthy."
"Who's idea was this?" Ginny said, looking around at the snow covered landscape. "Oh right, now I remember," she said. "If I freeze to death, I'm coming back and haunting you."
"It's lovely weather," Harry said. "Perfect for skiing or snowball fights."
"It's so cold my suit heater thinks I'm on Pluto," Ginny said. "And I hated Pluto."
"Those are some awesome jump fields on Pluto," Harry said. "Too bad we can't do that here."
"Climb to the top of that tower," Ginny said. "I can push you off!"
"Ladies," Andy said. "You dragged me out of a nice warm bed to see this. Let's not forget why we're here."
"The Tower is that way," Ginny said, pointing towards a distant object. "Hopefully it has a door in it."
"The Guardian provided the access codes," Andy said. "Let's not waste them."
"Of course, Lady A," Ginny said. "I'll take point." Saying that, she pushed out into the snow drifts surrounding the Gate.
"We need a new suit feature," Harry said. "Why can't we walk on top of the snow?"
"Because we're not elves," Ginny said. "Or magical. Our suits weigh too much for that."
It took them several minutes to make it through the think snow to reach the base of the tower.
"I wonder why they have a tower out here in the middle of nowhere?" Harry said.
"Secondary control system," Andy said. "Or so the documents Ixchel found say. If the library is inaccessible this one can be used to control the Space Gate."
"Do the other libraries have backup controls?" Harry said.
"Most likely," Andy said, "but the Guardians aren't talking about that with us."
"They need something to hold over us so we don't just kick them out for incompetence," Ginny said.
"Not incompetent," Andy said. "Just a little too inflexible."
"Do you think they were always like that?" Harry said, looking up at the looming tower.
"No," Andy said. "Maybe?"
"I'm not impressed with them so far," Ginny said. "They must have some awesome tech available that they could use to hide with but they wouldn't use it."
"If they did we'd never find them," Andy said. She pressed a gloved hand against the tower base.
"Okay, it's to our advantage right now, but overall it isn't a good idea," Ginny said. "They are depending on obscurity to protect themselves."
There was a subtle vibration under their feet. A section of the tower base reformed to look like the air lock they'd use to enter the asteroid library.
"That looks familiar," Harry said.
"Hopefully it's warmer inside," Ginny said, hurrying to follow Andy inside.
"At least it's out of the wind," Harry said, following them. The door closed behind them.
"So, a map?" Harry said. "Or do they just assume anyone who makes it this far knows where they are?"
"We shouldn't need maps," Andy said. "We just want an elevator or stairway. We'll start at the top and work our way down."
"Well, that was boring," Ginny said, as the stood outside the tower again. "Nothing except a few data crystals."
"Could be used as a lighthouse," Harry said. "Just need a couple more windows at the top."
"It's an interesting building," Andy said. "Looks like it was built for a long siege."
"What kind of enemy would attack a tower in a frozen landscape like this?" Ginny asked. "You'd freeze your butt off."
"It may have been used for training," Andy said. "Send a couple annoying people here and make them keep watch on all of the ice and snow, and the Gate."
"I'm ready to go back," Ginny said. "I can feel my joints freezing. I'm going to lodge a complaint with the suit designers who claimed these suits are all weather."
"All weather doesn't mean that," Harry said. "Remember the lecture they gave us? It just means we can survive sudden changes in the weather for a few minutes, not that we can living in it. Cold weather suits are different."
"So why aren't we wearing them?" Ginny asked.
"Limited space on the Lucia," Andy said. "A suit takes up a specific amount of space, even the newer nano ones like mine. And a weather specialist."