*Warning, the following contains BDSM scenes. If you are not into this kind of thing, then chances are this story will not be for you. You have been warned so please don't leave feedback telling me you didn't enjoy the chapter for these aspects. Thank you.*
"Landing in thirty minutes. Prepare for atmospheric entry." The automated voice sounded through the corridors of the Goliath TC36. The bustle of the large crew as they made their way to their designated seats for landing. Today was the day. After eighteen months of space-travel after leaving Earth, today was the day Humans first reached CT-9, the first planet humanity had reached that had an atmosphere that could sustain life. The planet's surface was estimated to be roughly 60% water according to the various probes and unmanned vehicles that had been sent to explore the surface of CT-9. It wouldn't be long before the crew took their first breath of fresh air in well over a year, so everyone was excited.
"I wish we could just fast-forward this part until the bases were set up so I can begin my work. I can't wait to get analysing the plant life on our new home."
"I'm much more worried about microbes. Who knows how different they will be to the ones on Earth. We could all die the moment the doors open."
"Don't be so grim, the nanites in our bloodstream are programmed to eliminate any foreign bodies that register as being a potential risk. I trust they will work fine."
"Yeah, you remind me too much of that chaos theorist in that classic movie Jurassic Park, you've always managed to be a bit of a downer of this journey, Patil."
"And why is it that chaos theory is still around? Things can always go wrong! I'm a realist when it comes to these things."
The chatter carried on amongst the crew as the ship began to enter the atmosphere, causing what could be described as feeling something akin to turbulence of an aeroplane. Only about three times worse. Doctor Liam Conrad found himself beginning to become queasy as his stomach began to do back flips. He had a hard enough time flying, so he hadn't been looking forward to this.
"You alright doctor Conrad? You're looking a little pale." Nikolai asked, offering his hand to Liam who took hold of it and squeezed. Nikolai Yozhikov had been Liam's rock this past year and a half. Liam was considered brilliant within his field, but here on the ship he was far out of his element amongst the sterile metal of the Goliath TC36. Often suffering from bursts of anxiety and panic attacks, Nikolai had met him during the second week of their voyage and had quickly become friends. Nikolai was a survival specialist that had conquered every habitat on Earth and was signed up as an explorer for when the Goliath had landed and the first base was set up.
"I'll be fine." Liam replied, panting slightly as he stared into Nikolai's bright blue eyes. Liam had been attracted to Nikolai almost from the moment they had met, that only being slightly marred by a panic attack relating to a feeling a claustrophobia. Liam found himself falling head over heels for the six foot ten tank of a man with a soul so gentle Liam found it difficult to believe that he was trained in Tae-kwon-do, Muay Thai and Krav Maga. Liam loved Nikolai's company, and during their seventeen and a half months of friendship, they had been inseparable. Yet Liam had struggled to grapple with his anxiety to confess his feelings to Nikolai. What if he rejected him? What if he laughed in his face? What if he was so repulsed by the idea that Liam got an up-close demonstration of Krav Maga?
"It won't be much longer until we're on solid ground. You'll feel much better then." Nikolai reassured him as he smiled at Liam, causing his heart to melt at the queasy feeling in his stomach to become worse.
"I hope so." Liam mumbled. Nikolai was going to be gone for a long time once they had landed. The expeditionary forces had so much to do. Secure the landing site, find a source of fresh water, bring back some specimens of the flora and fauna. And it would surely be a long time before Liam would be going out into the vast new world. His role as an ecologist with extensive experience in animal behaviour, was necessary, but one most people viewed as commonsense. You don't need fancy qualifications and a tonne of experience to tell if something was friendly or not. In the preliminary expeditions, it was likely that any animals that were to be returned to camp would be brought back dead. Shoot first, ask questions later.
"Landing in fifteen minutes. Please make sure that you are safely secured in your seats. Engineers are to report to their designated seats. Heat shields are holding steady." The automated voice called out again. Liam felt himself begin to quiver under the stress of the situation. Anxiety and fear was causing him to run the worst case scenario over and over in his mind. It wasn't long before he began to hyperventilate.
"Liam, calm down, everything is going to be fine." Nikolai reassured him, squeezing his hand as he the shakes and shudders of the Goliath entering the foreign atmosphere intensified. Liam was close to having a panic attack, ready to bolt and hide himself away in a dark corner of the ship rocking backwards and forwards until he was incinerated by the ship's failure to breach the atmosphere, or until they were on solid ground for the first time in a year and a half where the gravity wasn't artificial.
"How can you know that?" Liam muttered as his nerves felt as though the stress was pulling them apart.
"I have faith in the pilot and that the engineers have done their job perfectly. Everyone up here are the best of the best in their field. That's why we're here, to start up a base. Just think, another hundred, two hundred years and man will be travelling the stars as normally as if it were the same as driving a car. We are the pioneers here Liam. Have faith." Nikolai said, his gentle rumbling voice both soothing yet powerful at making his point.