Touch Down

'Prepare the air locks, doors opening in 5 seconds'

The two men stared at each other, fear was etched into their eyes but also a sense of excitement. In a matter of seconds, they would be the first people to see and touch the new planet. They would breath in air never breathed before and leave footprints on a surface that no humans had been on before.

'Good luck old man.' Sam whispered, 'This is what it's all about.'

Jack could only smile, his mind was far away on the planet he called home. He had seen the beautiful swirls of blue and green that formed Earth's surface become smaller and smaller as the craft hurtled through the darkness of space and now he felt lonelier than ever. He was here on the edge of the known galaxy, stepping into history while his family were millions of miles away awaiting news. He missed them. He missed them so much.

Noislessly, the door opened revealing an ice clad surface that seemed to go on for as far as the eye could see. The white blanket caused confusion as the men tried to identify the shape of the land. Hills and valleys, mountains and plains seemed to merge into one. Everything seemed so clean and fresh.

Sam felt the bite of the surface wind on his cheek. It felt good to be out of the stuffiness of the rocket. 4 months had been a long time and now he felt a surge of happiness. He took in deep breathes of the cold air, filling his lungs until they burnt. The air smelt sweet but after a few seconds Sam tasted a strange but bitter sensation burning his lips gently. The air was so much like Earth yet there was something not quite right.

Jack stepped from the craft expecting his heavy boots to sink into the deep snow.

But instead, it was more like concreate but very slippery as if the ground was made of pure water. The astonishment of the ground beneath them they both started walking taking samples of the ground trying to find the supply crate that was sent before them when from behind were the ship should have been was only a few wooden boxes and bed duvet as the ground had swallowed the ship as it was mostly made from metal. Fear and dread hit the two men as their only way home and shelter was that ship and now it was gone no way to contact home Jack dropped to his knees and his eyes started tearing as he was now stuck on this planet with limited food Sam on the other hand had already started to build a shelter for them to live in for the next 2 years and that's if the company were able to save them.