Surface

The morning sun over the horizon was a beautiful sight. Even outside the safe confines of the Cube, trudging our way across this deadly world, the bright orange sky was worth admiring. That was something Amber always tried teaching me. There is beauty in this world, you just have to look for it. If all you seek is darkness, that’s all you will find. Easier said than done, of course. The rare, beautiful scenery did nothing to change the situation we found ourselves in. Each and every day was already a fight to survive, and now, the situation was even more dire. To continue to live we had to get the Cube operational once again. This mission was truly life or death.

Thunk. I was met with resistance as I tried to drive the metal stake into the ground. The Earth’s surface was so rocky it was borderline impossible to find a soft spot to drive a stake.

I attempted to drive the stake a few more times before finding a suitable spot. Who knew setting up camp could be so tasking.

Our Cube was out of sight. The geolocation data via our HUDs indicated we had journeyed 10 miles across the surface. This was the furthest I had ever ventured from the Cube. With three other squads traveling 10 miles as well, we covered a 400 square mile area. If we couldn’t find any Dilithium or useful supplies in that much space, we were truly doomed.

“Is your first stake secure?” Garnet asked over the communication system.

“Yes sir. Moving to place the second one now.”

The equipment we were using to set up our camp was designed for quick and easy deployment. Designated for emergency use only, it was designed to sustain a small group of people for up to two weeks. A full team could construct the camp in a day. The two main components were the storage unit and the barracks. The storage unit was capable of storing excess air filters, thruster fuel, carriers, and weaponry for an entire squad. The barracks were a long, compact building that could house an entire squad, fully equipped with beds, restrooms, and a kitchen.

Unfortunately, the barracks lacked an internal air filtration system. As a result, all of us would be wearing our hazard suits for the entirety of the expedition. The mess hall, which could only hold five people at a time, was the only section of the barracks with a standalone filtration system. Thus, our squad was broken up into groups of five, both for eating and night watch purposes.

“Hey Ray, can you help me drive this stake?” Amber, part of my team of five, struggled to drive her stake into the ground.

I walked to her side and she handed me the stake. I poked around at the ground for a few moments before finding a suitable spot. With all my weight behind me, I drove the stake into the ground.

“Thanks!”

“Of course. We’ve all got to work together to get this camp set up.”

After a long, grueling day under the beating heat of the sun, the camp was built. There was something incredible in seeing the finished product. Being able to construct two secure, safe, structurally sound buildings in a day was incredible. They were built to stand against the environmental storms, but would they succeed in doing so?

“Everyone return to the barracks, there’s a storm coming.” Diamond instructed us all to return to base.

I stopped mining a small deposit of Dilithium and peered into the sky. A large mass of dark clouds loomed in the distance and rolled this way. Clouds that menacing were a telltale sign that an acid rain storm was coming.

All of Squad Delta gathered in the barracks for the night. Malachite’s group of five sat in the mess hall, eating the dinner prepared courtesy of Diamond. She really did manage to do everything.

The dark clouds which were once in the distance were now directly overhead. A few raindrops pattered the roof of the barracks. In just a few minutes, it was a total downpour.

Sitting in the middle of an acid rain storm filled me with nerves, even if we were inside a secure building. Garnet, who sat across the table, fidgeted in place while messing with his wrist controls. Even the usually stoic leader of our squad was feeling nervous in our current situation.

“Has anyone spotted any leaks around the barracks?” Diamond asked.

“I don’t see anything here.”

“Nothing by the kitchen either!” Amber chimed in.

It seemed as though the building was holding up well enough. Our first major hurdle was cleared. And thus, our two week mission could truly begin.