Skies glow, velvet soft
Shimmering stars burn pinholes
Cloudless heavens still
Despite precautions
The number returning is
Less than we sent down
You can arm a man
With knowledge, weapons, wisdom
Yet unknowns remain
Take courage, all who
Yet live; no sacrifice is
Meaningless. Persist. 1
How many traverse
These corridors, on their way
To unknown futures?
1 A three part admonition after a landing party returns