Meru

Chapter 1

Vice Captain Mohini Sharma was less focussed on the technological marvel unfolding in front of her eyes, and more concerned for her husband. She watched the control room camera feed of him and his colleagues operating Earth Borer 248 - the large mining platform, which travelled on 8 giant robotic legs. It was fondly known as just 248.

The year was 4030. Mohini was standing at ease, looking out of the windows of a planetary drop ship. The giant mining robot was traversing the surface of the planet the Indian National Space Organisation or INSO had named Grah 91 Taxxon. Earlier, her spacecraft, which served as expedition headquarters, had detached from its larger mother ship in orbit - the INSO's most advanced mining craft, the Dwaraka.

While there seemed to be no life on this barren planet, there was something calming about its black glassy surface. It shimmered like a river. It reminded Mohini of all the times she and her husband had made love under the starry night sky on earth.

Vice Captain Mohini and her husband were part of a ten member team comprising flight officers, mining experts, scientists and medical specialists. The Dwaraka's mission was to map the distant corners of our galaxy and survey for minerals. Depending on the value of the minerals discovered, it was also in their remit to extract the minerals. They were also directed to bring back any valuable artefacts belonging to alien civilisations or evidence of extraterrestrial life.

The expedition was in its 5th year. While they had harvested items for the museums on earth, they had failed to procure anything of significance for the INSO's commercial wing. Specifically, minerals the nationalised mining companies owned by the Indian Government could sell. Minerals that could fuel the undying need for energy on earth.

When Grah 91 Taxxon first appeared on their scans they had dismissed it as another wasteful expedition. Another empty planet with rocks and inhospitable atmosphere, gravity comparable to earth and no life. But the orbital scans revealed a glassy black surface, like the eye of a raven. And several layers beneath its cold exterior - the presence of an element that could fuel the atmospheric processors on earth for millions of years.

That was two days ago.

Captain Rohan Fernandez, Mohini's boss had placed the INSO Dwaraka on an orbit around the planet. He had tasked her with prepping the crew and leading the expedition. It delighted her that Captain Fernandez was confident in her abilities to lead the mission on her own.

"It is the right time for you to head these trips, after all, you will take over from me soon," he had said with pride.

Mohini was like a daughter to the Captain. He was a hard taskmaster, but a great mentor. He wanted to see her succeed.

Mohini, a team of miners and the science officer made the journey to the surface of the planet on the drop ship. It detached from the main spaceship, carrying with it tons of mining equipment, including 248.

Once they reached the surface, it had a taken them 4 hours to manoeuvre 248 to the spot with the most reserves of the yet unnamed mineral.

Presently, the giant mining robot locked on the dig site and drilled its footholds into the surface of the planet.

Mohini was analysing the readouts on her screen when the door to the cockpit opened.

"About those earthquakes," Ruchi Saxena the chief science officer said, as she approached Vice Captain Mohini with a data pad, "they seem to occur at regular intervals."

"And intensity?" Mohini questioned.

"Similar in intensity to each other."

"So you are uncertain?" Mohini said, raising an eyebrow.