John did not expect to get a message from the colonel, and he did not like its contents. Marlow already heard about the problem that occurred during a descent, but getting a request to go there with a group of mechanics was way too much. Though "request" was not a good word to describe McRae's message: "I need mechanics for a work on Zero. Damaged power cells. Get several mechanics and get back to me." It was more like an order.
- Why the gloomy face? - Marlow's reaction immediately caught Johnson's eye - Did anything happen?
- Do I have to answer?
- That bad?
- McRae's mission is not going as well as he wanted. Two transporters got hit quite hard. They had damaged cells.
Martin shook his head in disbelief.
- I knew this planet was bad news, but c'mon, they were just landing.
- How many times do you think Wasps were tested in conditions similar to that planet?
- A number equal to planet's name. Zero.
- Well, whatever. I need some people.
- Wait, wait, are you going there?
John did not want to elaborate on this topic, so he stood up, waving his hand and attempting to leave the canteen.
- Hey, don't you think I'll let you go that easily - Martin caught to him - If you need mechanics, you won't find a better one than me.
Marlow looked at him, surprised.
- I thought you too wanted to survive this expedition quietly and get back home. How did you reach such a stupid idea to follow me?
- Aren't we friends? Friends should help each other.
And here he goes with using this word to get his way. While John did not want to overuse this word, as he promised himself to not engage in interpersonal relations too much, others were not so reserved. Still, it was a fact that he grew closer with and got used to several people owing to time they have spent together on Future project, and the relation they had right now was definitely something Marlow considered a friendship in the past. Though reluctant about showing any kind of affection, he came up with ideal excuse Johnson's friendship allowed.
- That friendship is the reason why I didn't ask you in the first place. Your family would've neve forgiven me if anything happened, because I got you involved in my own business.
- Are you for real? I hope it's not that you think I won't manage. Mentioning that something may happen if I leave the ship hurts, you know...
Martin entered his talkative mode, and since John did not want to lose time on unnecessary arguments, he agreed to let Johnson participate, though with reluctance. Ultimately, it was a rational choice because it was hard to find people willing to join, even with all the additional money they would get. As a result, Marlow had to rely on his acquaintances - aside for Martin, Sveta and Julian volunteered immediately after hearing about the amount of offered money, and two more mechanics found by Glitter took two remaining spots.
Once they all have gathered by the small repair ship, which was supposed to take them to Cold Zero's surface, it seemed that two guys Sveta introduced were not her colleagues, but some kind of bodyguards, given they did not want to leave her side.
- Well, well, someone's pretty popular here - Julian threw this as a joke, but the look Glitter gave him caused chills going down his spine - We are still on Future, right? It's gotten cold here out of a sudden - here he said to Johnson, but the man knocked on his head in response.
- You better help with preparations instead of spouting some gibberish - Martin instructed the younger colleague.
They have loaded a supply of power cells, in a number that would have easily allowed to replace the full set of cells on each of five ships staying on Zero right now.
When asked by the colonel why they are taking so many, major explained that these are purely a backup in case additional failures happen on their way. Aside from the aforementioned, they have also taken a number of thermal insulators and additional equipment for low temperature works, including several automatonts.
- I'm counting on you - that was the last thing Ryan said to them before the departure.
- And I hope we'll see this nice bonus on our accounts after we are done - this was what Marlow replied, seeing McRae only slightly smiling in response.
Repair ship they got assigned for the mission to Zero differed from standard transporters a great deal. In case of units used for repairs, they were more of a flying workshop than a space vehicle. Owing to its key task being performing repairs in a wide range of conditions, it had numerous tools required in various scenarios, and was even equipped with four different drives as the ship needed to make other vehicles operational again could not get grounded easily. In space, its main drive was ionic or neutron one, while within the atmosphere it would work on either sound or gravity drive. With all of that, space for the crew inside was quite limited even though its size looked way too big for a team of six - because of that and the ship's shape, these were commonly called "blocks".
- It's quite comfy in here - Martin commented, while scrambling towards the spot in the fron part of the cockpit, next to John - I didn't knew you can pilot these, though.
He got a cold look as a reply.
- If we talk about piloting within the atmosphere, I have quite a bit of experience - explained John - Space is a different matter though. I hope you buckled up?
- John, tell me you are joking...
Julian did not hear a reply to his question, because they have abruptly accelerated at this very moment, causing his ears to clog.
- Hey, John, did you joke a moment before? - he repeated his question a moment later, seconds before they were supposed to enter the atmosphere.
- What are you going about? - John started focusing on setting up the ship to descent.
- That thing about not having experience of flying in space. Was that a joke?
Marlow turned around to look at him.
- I saw Earth from space for the first time back when we were on Orbital Ring. Don't you worry, I had a chance to train descent through the atmosphere many times, in simulator. Besides we'll get support from Future's systems.
"We'are fucked!" Julian thought to himself after hearing these words.
A moment later, the ship pierced the outer layer of planet's atmosphere. Everyone expected to experience shaking and twitching caused by friction, but no such thing happened. Ship entered at an ideal angle and John switched to sound drive.
- Major, stick to gravity drive, sound drives are not recommended in such situations.
- Lieutenant, I'm taking the full responsibility.
Drives making use of sound reflection had a long story. While first fully operational concepts appeared in twenty first century, many theories surfaced much earlier, following sci-fi ideas about ancient civilizations on Earth using sound waves for moving objects.
Usage of sound drives in upper parts of atmosphere was not recommended for these required air with high enough density to ensure optimal output, and top parts of atmosphere on majority of planets had air too thin to safely initiate such drive. John was well aware of that, but his technical expertise allowed him to turn this - as it seemed - problem into advantage - contradictory forces, based on parameters he analyzed, could be equilibrated. He approached the entry into atmosphere in a similar manner, that is why no one in the crew felt discomfortable side effects typical in such situations. Right now, they could continue the entry with only small shaking on trajectory corrections.
After about thirty seconds of descent, the thick, frozen clouds' number lowered, and it was much easier to maneuver, but - at the same time - temperature indicators started showing temperature gradually dropping. Marlow lowered the drive's output and stabilized the ship in a position just below the clouds' level. Everyone on board could now have a look on the planet's landscape.
- Blue and white everywhere - Sveta was looking at everything with her mouth wide open - Snow and ice. There are no trees, no animals too. So there's really no life on this planet?
- You should've paid attention on lectures - Julian obviously liked to tease Glitter - Zero was the first planet where our probes reached, but we still didn't get precise enough data.
- These frozen clouds completely obstruct the view from the orbit - one of the mechanics introduced by Sveta, a guy named Pavel jumped in - And because of the same clouds, probes which descended could not charge their cells.
- Good thing we have someone prepared in the squad - Martin laughed - I wonder how many attempts of investigating this place we made. There were not many details disclosed, and we only know the temperatures range and that there is no liquid water on planets surface. I can hardly imagine anything could stay alive here.
- Bacteries - John pointed out - These could. So we better watch out to not catch anything ugly.
He configured the interface to atmosphere mode, including optical and topographical recorders, and set the locator to track the units, which ended up on the surface. After swiping the displays for a longer while, Marlow said:
- There's a serious interference, I cannot seem to catch any signal. Turn on other interfaces and check if you manage to get something. I'll focus on the optics.
They had the approximate coordinates, where transporters supposed to be, but with the lack of precise data, dispersion could reach up to several hundred kilometers, and crews could not stay in one place due to the need to find deposits and the dangers they would be exposed to, making locating them much harder.
Whole landscape was white and blue, and even dim sunlight getting through thick clouds had a shade of blue. As they were flying, looking for traces of landers, Marlow's eyes noticed an unnatural shape, something similar to a gigantic pylon, a column which top was hidden somewhere up in the clouds. It had a steel-blue color, because of which event optics did not allow noticing it until the observer was close enough.
- What can it be?
His reaction made the others immediately drop their current tasks. This pylon had something attracting the eyes. For John, it was fascination and fear. He stopped the ship and had it hovering mid-air, about one kilometer from the column.
- Why aren't we flying farther? - asked Sveta - Something happened?
- It doesn't look like a natural structure, and I don't think we should get closer. We may be even too close already - Marlow started quickly typing on the interface - We don't have anything like this in the datanase. Stankovich, do you copy? - there was no answer - Let's do a quick analysis of the structure.
Their ship had a structural sonar equipped, which made it possible to scan objects and asses their composition. They barely managed to send several pulses before the displays blinked and drive's output dropped.
- What the hell is that? - Martin immediately jumped towards diagnostic interface - It's nearly as if we got hit by some kind of energy beam. Was it a magnetic beam? From this column?
- It looks like there are some waves originating from the core in all directions - informed Ivan, second of the two mechanics recruited by Sveta - I wouldn't try to get closer.
John's intuition warned him already before to not fly closer, what he heard later on forced him to verify their further plans.
- I saw a flash - said Glimmer, pointing at the display - A mountain, east from the colum. Here, again.
- Put it on the main display - ordered Marlow and started watching. Once and twice, flashes kept happening in stable intervals - It's definitely a signal, they are calling for help. It looks like we found one of our targets, but why so close to this thing...
Others were also not happy. Of course, it was their mission, but now they had no other choice but to stay nearby this unusual structure, at least for now. John lowered their altitude to fly in the shadow of the mountains.
With technologies currently used by the humanity, such a flying style was not giving them any serious cover, so if they were up against some alien device, it was even less likely to avoid getting attacked. Nevertheless, major hoped he will be able to avoid a direct hit at least.
- Do you think someone is controlling this thing? - Pavel asked, visibly anxious.
Seeing this large man trembling at the thought of green aliens waiting for him, John would have laughed in other situation, but lack of knowledge about this place made it hard for him to keep his cool too.
Getting to the location Glitter spotted took them just a short moment, but what they came to find did not raise their spirits. As it turned out, not only cells in the drive got damaged, but the ones in base system power supply got done too. In other words, everything relying on energy died - crew of the ship managed to survive only thanks to F-suits, same as the ones John's group was using.
Field Suits belonged to the same group of equipment as Mobile Tactical Suits, though their size and appearance were polar opposites. Contrary to MTS, F-suits were adjusted to match human body shape, to which they were clinging tightly. Made of special mix of metals and synthetic addition, it was elastic and easily adjusted to various enironmental conditions.
Taking into account the purpose these suits had, they could come with a variety of functions. By default, each included acclimatization module allowing to support life functions even in the most lethal circumstances. Of course, as in case of every device, its capabilities were limited, so walking on the sun's surface was not possible, but very low temperatures on planets' surfaces, and even short walk in space, in vacuum, were not a problem. It largely relied on how much the built-in power cells could endure and if there was a way to obtain oxygen from surroundings, because base container allowed functioning for up to twelve hours, including oxygen recycling system.
It was the very air container that allowed this transporter's crew to survive without the power supply. The ship itself was in much worse state as cold air got inside, causing some of the systems to freeze.
Usually, these vehicles had no issues with low temperatures - after all, transporters were used for flights between space and atmosphere, but in this very situation the outer layers of the coating, which got through numerous abrupt changes in temperature, and went through icy shower from frozen clouds, cracked during touchdown in several spots.
- It will take us much more time - Martin estimated after a short inspection - Coating repairs come before the cells. It will be easier to heat up the ship that way, and we won't risk new cells breaking.
John was not so sure about it. It has already been several hours since they left Future and getting delayed even more would have been bad. Johnson quickly read the face of his companion.
- I see this solution doesn't work for you? What about we try to go section by section, replacing the cells and repairing the coating at the same time? - he asked.
They looked at each other for a moment.
- Are you a psychic or something? You came up with a solution I've been looking for.
- To begin with, we didn't have many options, and this is a middleground.
Others were waiting and listening to their talking, but Sveta started getting impatient.
- I get you are making this decision, while being our we may fatally damage the cells if we don't synchronize our work properly? I think what Martin initially said is the proper course of action.
- That's why I hoped John will make such a decision - Martin commented.
- We'll go with synchronizing the work. We don't have a comfort to take a longer route.
Marlow cut the conversation and distributed work, including not only his crew but also people from the transporter. All hands mattered if they were to complete all the works within the short time window they had. Weather conditions on the planet could change any time, making it harder to navigate, and there was also this strange column they encountered before, about which they knew absolutely nothing.
Working with cells required precision and thoroughness, especially in case of the old ones being damaged, therefore John decided to take care of this matter personally, choosing Martin to be his right hand.
After removing the security lock, it turned out that main core's cover was cracked, what definitely caused a contamination.
- Damn, complications all the time - Johnson started preparing the container with visible dissatisfaction on his face, and moved the damaged cell to container - Between us, in most of situations it would be best to abandon this ship. Even the smallest leakage can be lethal.
Marlow shook his head.
- I get what you mean, but we don't have such a comfort - he said - Fortunately, we are still under the bar - he added, showing the reading to his companion.
Martin took the device into his own hand - indeed, the result was acceptable, but was barely in the range.
Working with the radioactive substances used in systems relying on superconductors had to follow strict rules. Should they go out of scale, potential complication could be tragical.
Luckily, they have managed to complete all the repairs within several hours, bringing up the functionality of the scanner, making it possible to learn mineral composition of the ground.
Murat, the one operating this equipment, was sitting by the display for about thirty minutes before showing the map of the area in a form of holographical projection.
- As you can see in this graph, rocks in this area are full of various elements, but the highest density of these we need can be found within the ring around this column-like structure.
According to calculations, elements they needed the most were niobium, lead, vanadium and copper. Aside from the aforementioned, they were requested to provide certaint amounts of silicon, boron, aluminium and quartz. On the map prepared by Murat, rich deposits of the former four could be found on the opposite side of the column, in the area on which it cast a shadow.
- Too bad we don't know what's that thing - Abou was the one to point that out - Is working around it a good idea? Why in the hell did we come here...
- And who was the one to say they need money? - Sah was scowling - You are the one who got us into this situation, dear little brother.
- It's my fault!? Didn't you go for money too?
- C'mon, give it up - Murat stood between them to stop them should they start fighting - We've got a delay already, we need to make use of every opportunity we are given. We're leaving there.
Brothers kept eyeing each other for a longer while, but they walked towards the transporter and started preparing for a takeoff.
- What do you guys plan next? - Murat asked the mechanics - We still cannot get in touch with others. We don't know how far from here they landed. If it is close to original landing points, locating them should be easy, but there is at least one crew such as ours who surely went off course, right? Looking for them in these conditions won't be easy.
John's crew did not need him to tell them what is the current situation. The sole fact they managed to find this very transporter was a sheer luck.
- We'll try to follow the original coordinates. If ship's life support systems are functional, and there are no issues with their F-suits, we have two days to find them. Should we not find them within this time limit, we will have to leave. I have no intention of putting my crew at risk.
Murat shook his hand as a goodbye, telling him "good luck" at it, then he boarded their ship. John's crew also returned to their ship.
- I'll try calling other teams again - Sveta suggested - Maybe this time we get through.
She tried for fifteen minutes before giving up. During that time, Martin managed to take several photos and register the results of the scan on mysterious column. Results were weird to say it lightly.
- We cannot check its structure - he said, showing the data to John - No matter what I try, our devices are unable to check what's inside, all waves seem to bump out of it. I don't know how deep it reaches.
Marlow went through everything: no matter the angle, on every scan this pillar looked like a big, black line, blank and mysterious at the same time.
- I'd also like to know what we are up against. But one thing I'm sure about, someone had to build it, nature is not capable of something like this.
- Do you think aliens are there, watching us? - Sveta asked - Maybe they are intentionally blocking the waves? You know, for us to not see what's happening inside. A kind of jamming.
John shrugged, and started to fly away from this unusual object.
- There's nothing we can be sure about in case of this pillar, tower or whatever it is, but I know one thing - we should remain cautious if anything. It's true that these connection issues are weird. Then again, it's basically the reason why we shouldn't get too involved. We've made photos and scans, which will go to research team. Let them figure it out.
That is what Marlow said, but in fact, he felt uneasy thinking about this column. Its metallic blue walls were colder than the planet's atmosphere. Still it was not the scariest part - to be perfectly honest, when they stood on the planet's surface for the first time, a single glance up, where the pillar's top part reached the clouds, made major feel as if some strange force was about to pull him in. Any thought about this moment gave him shivers.
However, despite it was not his role right now, John was still a scientist. He did not tell this to the rest of the crew, but he actually wanted to be involved in the data analysis. While this supposedly hollow structure aroused fear, it made people fascinated at the same time. If this structure had anything in common with alien city they were supposed to investigate on the New Gaia, it was in their best interest to learn about it as much as possible before reaching their goal.
Landscape continued to be monotonous, with all the colors remaining all the same, even though light from the suns was thinner in current area than before. As far as they could see, blue and white everywhere - well, maybe with a bit of gray mixed in. Only mountains, dunes, glaciers or...
- Wait, did you see that thing? - Ivan moved his head closer to the window in order to see better - Down there, it looked like the tip of the pyramid!
Just a second later, Sveta was already next to him, asking "Where?"
- Pyramids? C'mon, where are we? In Egypt or Mexico? - Martin treated this as a joke and laughed out loud, but then he had a look and - Oh, shit! John, it really looks like it.
- You no say? I can see it too.
- It's really a pyramid, there are pyramids here. Fucking pyramids!
- Ok, that's great, but we already saw some vague photos from the New Gaia, so this shape is nothing new. Better look for our transporters, okay? We'll stay away from any weird building. We're supposed to return safe and sound, and that's my goal.
Obviously, he could not say he was actually interested. Curiosity was natural for humans. Of course, the unknown causes fear, but also pulls you in, makes you want to understand. We feel insecure if we do not understand something. Only understanding things puts us at ease. It was just a human nature, and even more the case for someone who was doing science-related work throughout his whole life.
Nevertheless, Marlow did not want to satiate his curiosity at all cost. Even now, after all these years, he could easily recall the saying he first heard from his mother: "Curiosity is the first step to hell." He preferred not to tempt fate.
They have arrived into the second landing zone, but yet again the data did not help them in finding the lost ship. Hoping that someone notices them and sends some kind of signal, they have turned on all the lights their' "block" ship had equipped. Despite that, and several hours of scanning the area, they did not manage to find any traces, and no one contacted them.
- It's like for grain in the desert - Pavel sounded frustrated - So many hours of flying around and luck. I'm tired and hungry.
- Effectively we still have a day at least before they won't be able to rely on life support systems, so stop grumbling - Sveta commented - No wonder you can't find yourself a girlfriend.
John and Martin looked at each other, smirking at the same time. Glitter never hesitated to strike where it hurts.
While Marlow was happy Svetlana trusted his assessment, it was indeed a fact that such a flight and staying alerted all the time was tiresome. As a pilot here, he felt it really well, and they had to remain effective.
- I'll find a safe place with a good cover to land - he informed the crew - We could all use a short break. We'll also turn on all scanners and locators. Maybe something will come up on standby.
- Didn't you say before that we don't have time to waste? - Sveta asked.
- Yes, time is prescious, but we also need rest. A moment of respite should make us all feel better. We need to be well-rested to remain vigilant.
He found a small area of ground suitable to land and got the "block" there, setting it to standby mode. It meant that, while saving energy, it stayed powered on all the time to continuously heat up the drives and interior - in low temperature, this setting was the best choice to avoid damage caused by cold, and also allowed to initiate a takeoff much faster in case of danger.
- Since we'll have it on standby, how about we spread the unit? - Martin suggested - I know it's another several minutes, but much more space.
Their block-like ship might have appeared ugly to anyone who looked at it, but it did not change the fact it was a specialized repair unit in a form of a lander and - as every lander - it could easily spread, expanding its area. To some extent, it could have been compared to a camper van with an ability to slide out specific parts to add space on the site. The core of passenger compartment was made of multi-layered brick, while the other parts had two layers of that type at least. These layers made it possible for walls to be moved.
In order to expand the space, everyone had to remain seated, because in this operation, many element had to be moved. The whole sequence took less than five minutes in total before everything was ready.
- We'll stay here no longer than six hours. You can eat something and rest. I'm going to take a nap.
He went to a small room in the back. It was not very spacious, about four square meters, another cube-shaped compartment equipped with a single bed, sleep-supporting system and a container with nootropics.
Nootropics were known since twentieth century, and in simple terms were drugs enhancing the human body, specifically brain. In John's times, these market expanded a great deal, offering single pills providing a wide range of the most useful substances. Definition of narcotics also changed in comparison to back then, meaning it was much easier to get a hold of strong stimulants.
Taking into account how stressful of an event is such a long expedition, going way farther than any human mission before, presence of advanced nootropics was understandable.
The most popular substances were stimulants, allowing people to improve porductivity and engagement, and these granting better sleep.
In first place, Marlow decided to take SBS, or Sleep Boost, which - as the name suggests - was improving the sleep. To be more precise, SBS made person fall asleep in a matter of minutes and sped up their regeneration during rest, resulting in regaining energy in much shorter time. According to producer, two hours of sleep after taking SBS was equal to seven hours of sleep without it. Of course, it could not be used too often because overdosing was known to cause serious side effects, including chronic insomnia directly connected to the body building tolerance towards the drug.
John did not plan to sleep longer than two hours as, in his opinion, it should be enough to get strength for complete their current mission and return to Future. He took in the SBS and closed the bed's lid, falling asleep immediately after.
While major was sleeping, the rest of the crew was sitting by the table, eating. Through the small windows, they kept seeing the same, white and slightly darker blue landscape than before - still, it was really monotonous.
- It's a really gloomy world - Sveta sighed - Do you think anything lives here now?
- This planet is the farthest one from the suns in this system - Martin said - No wonder the temperature is this low and everything covered in ice. If not for F-suits, our bodies would freeze in a matter of seconds.
- And still, there are buildings on this planet - Ivan pointed out - This pillar is one thing, but these pyramids. What kind of living being could live in such conditions?
- That's why I asked - Sveta got livelier - It's either those beings were able to live in hard conditions, or this planet had a different atmosphere, and the climate in the past.
None of them was a specialist in a planetary science. In their line of work, it was important to know physics and math. When it came to planets, each of them knew the basics plus everything they were provided with during lectures prepared for the mission. The only person among them, who had anything to do with science and research was John Marlow, but then again he worked on different fields.
- From what I recall - Pavel started talking - Zero could not be proberly investigated because of the harsh climate, which managed to destroy all probes which tried to descent below the cloud level, and observation from the orbit was not providing useful information due to clouds density.
- In other words, we had nothing before actually getting to the surface - Martin summed up - So we are the first one to see what's on this planet. To be honest, this pillar is pretty interesting. Did you notice it's placed precisely in the central part of the globe?
Others looked at each other. Their ship, in order to enable easier navigation and find other landers, was gathering data and generating the maps of terrain. During search, it could be really noticed in which area the pillar was located.
- You aren't wrong - Ivan confirmed, quickly calculating the coordinates on one of the terminals - But what's so extraordinary about it?
- Position itself tells us nothing yet - Martin agreed - but based on the size, how far do you think it reaches?
- It's hard to asses based on the clouds' density, but its height is over ten kilometers for sure - Sveta assessed.
- Not up, I mean how deep it reaches.
Another series of looks.
- With such a size it clearly needs a stable base - Pavel said that, while scratching his head - but I'm not an engineer to calculate...
- And you don't have to.
John, who just returned from his nap, said these words. Just after waking up, he took a so-called All Rounder, a nootropic containing a mixture of supportive substances. Owing to it, his brain was acquiring information easier, and he was better at drawing conclusions. In a matter of seconds, he got what Martin meant.
- First of all, how deep it goes is one thing, but width of the base is also important. Besides, there are other variables, and we see only a part of it sticking out - he explained to Pavel - but I get a feeling Martin meant a different thing. You think it reaches up to the planet's core? - he asked Johnson this question.
His colleague replied with a smile.
- I see you've learned how to read thoughts.
- Wait, you really think someone led a gigantic rod through the planet's core? - Sveta looked both shocked and excited - It would have been an amazing technology if someone pulled it off.
- Indeed, it would - John sighed - If possible. Pulling off something like this could grant an amazing amount of energy, an immense power source. After all, planet's core is like a humongous nuclear reactor. It doesn't sound like a bad concept, but it's definitely not in humanity's reach right now. Besides, we have no idea what would happen to a planet on which such system was applied.
- Maybe turning the whole globe into a fridge?
No one replied immediately. Now, that Glitter asked this question, they have realized this could actually be a possible scenario, a reason behind the whole planet slowly dying - maybe Cold Zero was actually a planet, which heart was torn apart? Obviously, what they brought up was just a theory with no support.
- Well, it's not our biggest worry right now, though this is a really interesting concept - said Marlow, finally breaking through the silence - I'm all rested up, gonna grab something to eat and we can go.