Project Relocation preview

Project Relocation

"Catezian explorer 26 to Exploration 68 Commander. Come in."

"Ex68 Commander to Cat26. What do you have to report?"

"I've landed on the foreign planet 611. So far no sign of life. Over."

"What is the terrain?"

"I'm currently on a barren waste. Temperatures approaching hostile to life. No water in sight. I'll take a look around."

"Be careful, Cat26. Report immediately if there appear to be any life forms. Don't hesitate to call in reinforcements."

"Roger that. Will do, Commander. Over and out."

Jara quickly analyzed the sensors on his dashboard. Oppressive heat. No nearby water. No nearby life forms. Breathable air.

The last one made him pause, startled. He hadn't expected there to be oxygen on this strange planet. Bringing up the air analysis with a quick swipe of his paw, he was shocked to find that the air here was ideal for supporting life. Now if they could only find water, perhaps this could be the perfect location for their relocation mission.

Flipping up the lid of his small spacecraft, Jara cautiously peered out. His whiskers twitched as he glanced to and fro, searching for any sign of a possible threat. He stepped out onto the sand. The heat of the ground scorched his paws. He removed the mouthpiece of his oxygen tank, and took an experimental gulp of air. It felt good to breathe freely again. Leaving the tank of oxygen behind him, he slung his emergency pack across his back, slipped on protective boots, and headed out into the desert. He stalked purposefully through the sand, keeping the sun always at his back. He periodically checked his pawheld device, hoping to see some signs of water or life forms nearby, but every time he came up with nothing. Finally, the sun set behind him, and the blazing heat was gone, replaced with a growing chill as the last remnants of the sun's heat radiated off the sands.

Jara continued on, relishing the comfortable cool and friendly darkness. He could see nearly as well in the dark, and he was grateful for relief from the sun's glare. His radio buzzed in his pack.

"Ex68 Commander to Cat26. Come in, Jara."

"Cat26 to Ex68 Commander. Not much to report. Still no sign of inhabitation or water. The air here is breathable. I repeat, the air is breathable."

"Great news, Cat26. Keep up the search. This may be the planet we have been looking for."

"Roger that. Over and out."

Lowering his pack, Jara was preparing to set up camp for the night in the shadow of a sand dune when his eye landed on his tracking device. The screen was lit. He hurriedly reached through his pack to get it. He fumbled in his haste, and his paws shook with ill-contained excitement. There had been so many false alarms in the past that he desperately hoped this time they would be successful.

He carefully unlocked the screen on his device, and read the analysis.

Water:
Within 100 miles
Quantity: Vast

Inhabited:
Affirmative

His heart was hammering in his chest as he reached for his radio.

"Commander? Report of life forms and water. I'm going in."

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Thank you!

-L