This is something different. I thought I would try something new for a change.
I hope you dear readers enjoy it.
It's a work of fiction and all characters are fictitious.
And of course, we're all adults here.
The cast of this tale:
Christine Logan-A spunky brunette xenobiologist, fresh out of the Academy and on her very first mission.
Rachel Byron-A cute blonde geologist, very buxom and tall, genius level intelligence.
Bree Drover-A dainty redheaded pilot, very fiery and very petite.
The cast of villians will be discovered as our lovely heroines embark on their mission.
Now enjoy, and let me know if it's a worthwhile read. Thank you.
*****
CHAPTER ONE
The vessel burst out of hyperspace with a blinding flash of light. Trailing steam, smoke, and showered in lightning. If space wasn't a vacuum, airless, and soundless, the boom would've been deafening. The only sound onboard was the groan of the hyperdrive core spooling down. Slowly returning to its idle state as the realspace engines came online.
The vessel, an explorer class starship, christened the S.S. Horizon. Small and sleek with a crew of only 400. Scientists and researchers mostly. Searching the galaxy for signs of alien life. Civilizations. Hoping to find habitable worlds for Mankind's expansion. Searching for alternative energy sources and alternative medicines among the vast galaxy's planets.
The vessel entered realspace in orbit around a large green world. The fourth planet from a giant red star. Simply named 34m34g. For the 34th mission of the 34th exploratory group. Imagination was scarce among the stars as logic and science ruled the day.
Christine Logan stepped from the shower and started to dry her body with a thin towel. Smiling to herself. Only 22 and already graduated from the Academy. With honors. Top of her class. She didn't apply for this mission. She was handpicked. Looking at her naked body in the mirror she smiled again. Slim, with just enough curves, her long brunette hair straight and full. She is ready to take on the universe. At least the plant side of it.
As Christine was getting dressed, Rachel Byron was packing her gear. Scanners, carbon readers, and the various tools and picks of her trade. All wrapped up and packed in her favorite carbon fiber case. Putting her long blonde hair up in a ponytail she ran through her checklist again. It wouldn't do to forget something. Even though she never did. It took a lot to dispel the theoretical logic that even in the 22nd century blondes were all still ditzy bimbos. Whatever. Just because she had the body of a bimbo didn't mean she had the brains of one.
In the ship's hangar, Bree Drover was performing the final checks on her shuttle's systems. Engines online. Comms up and clear. All visual, thermal, and barometric gauges clear and online. Her jumpsuit tight on her body as she ran the checks again. All of them. Her red hair in ringlets, her green eyes sharp. The eyes that didn't miss a thing. Checking the time, she was able to perform one last sweep of the outer hull, looking for cracks, dents, and anything that would cause problems on atmospheric entry. Smiling, she even liked the color.
"Third exploratory group, away team, landing party and pilot report to Captain Divan for briefing and mission parameters!" sounded the ship's intercom. Blaring from every onboard speaker. As the Horizon stabilized in low planetary orbit. Her attitudinal thrusters and retro boosters firing in short, controlled bursts. Keeping her stable and in a slow orbit. Scanners came on and swept the planet.
Feeling giddy with excitement over her first mission, Christine quickly dressed. Slipping on a skimpy and sheer pair of black panties, she decided against a bra. Zipping into a tight jumpsuit and looking for her boots she paused to look out of the porthole. Contemplating the green planet below. Biting her lip and smiling.
In her cabin, Rachel took another quick look at her gear. Just for her own peace of mind she checked it again. Obsessive to the point of being a bit, over obsessive. Already dressed she took one last look around her cabin and headed for the briefing room. Shaking her head slowly as Christine ran past. "Hurry hurry slowpoke, you'll get left onboard!" Christine yelled giggling from down the hall. Rachel shook her head again and kept her pace, walking to the briefing and thinking about every piece of gear in her kit.
Coming up from the hangars, Bree exited the elevator just in time to feel the breeze of Christine running by. "Hurry hurry or I'll fly the shuttle and leave you here with blondie," Christine yelled. Her giggles echoing down the hall. The briefing room at the end of the corridor. The doors slid open, then shut. Christine disappearing inside.
Rachel walked up alongside Bree, smiling. "She's a feisty one isn't she?" said Rachel. "Feisty and a handful of trouble, you ask me," Bree replied. "She keeps calling me ginger and I'll leave her planetside," grinned Bree.
"Well she's just a girl really, could've done with a few more years at the Academy I think," Rachel said. As the girls reached the doors to the briefing room , pausing, Bree said, "Wait Rach. Before we go in there, do we need to talk about what happened before we left the last supply station?"
Rachel smiled and held Bree's dainty white hand. "Only if it's to talk about when we can do it again," she said. Leaning down, holding Bree's chin up and kissing her lips softly. Kissing back, Bree grinned and said, "Maybe we can ditch the biologist and find some alone time down there, on the planet?" On tiptoes and leaning in to kiss Rachel again. Her petite body in her tight jumpsuit just barely coming up to Rachel's shoulder.
"Aye-firmative," whispered Rachel, kissing Bree. Holding her hand and gently biting Bree's lower lip. Then, smiling at each other, they composed themselves and entered the stark white briefing room.
CHAPTER TWO
As Rachel and Bree entered the briefing room Captain Diras nodded at them. Christine was already sitting at the long white table poring over some charts and graphs. The Captain sitting at the head of the table, his uniform starched white and very crisp.
"Have a seat ladies," he said. Beckoning them in and towards the chairs. The two girls joined Christine and sat, as the Captain's assistant handed them packets of information.
"As you know, we've entered this system to drop your team off for a geological and biological survey," he told Rachel. As the senior member of the team it fell to her to lead the mission. "In your packets you'll find the preliminary results of our long range scans."
Pressing a few buttons on a small pad built into the table a three dimensional hologram flickered into life in the center of the table. The image of the planet they were orbiting, slowly turning. Green and blue.
"There's an abundance of flora, and the oceans are teeming with fish and aquatic mammals, but we haven't found traces of habitation. As far as we know it would be perfect for colonization," he explained.
"However," he said. Rachel sighed, thinking how there's always a however. "If you'll look here," the Captain said, pausing the hologram. "There seems to be a clearing at the base of this large hill." He pointed to a large green protrusion, the ground seeming bare at the foot of it.
"It appears to be at the entrance to a cave system, but our scans fail to penetrate the rock. We believe it contains large deposits of iridium." Christine giggled slightly as he said the word penetrate, earning a glance from Rachel.
"Your mission Rachel," the Captain continued, undaunted, "is to enter the caves and see if the iridium is mineable for profit." He looked at her with a smile. "Christine will accompany you to survey the level of underground algae and bacteria, to see if subterranean hydroponics are a viable option."
Looking at the hologram, Bree asked, "Will there be enough ground to land the shuttle Captain?" The hologram showing large details but not vivid or precise ones.
"We believe so Bree," Captain Diras replied, running his fingers through his cropped grey hair. "However, if there's any doubt, Christine and Rachel will drop on cables and clear the necessary vegetation with plasma burners."
Christine and Rachel both grimaced at that. Not really liking the idea of hard physical work in a steamy jungle environment. "Also," the Captain continued, "the atmosphere and gravity are comparable to Earth, so environment suits and grav packs won't be necessary."
"Thank goodness for small favours," thought Rachel as she looked over her mission parameters and information package. Her mind picturing every piece of gear she packed, cataloging it and wondering if she should check it yet again.
"And finally," the Captain began, looking at the three girls. "As you know, we're en route to the Taurine System. With vital meds to counter an outbreak of viral encephalitis. As such, that mission takes priority, so," he said, drawing it out. "We will be leaving your team planetside, and will return in three weeks."
Rachel shook her head slowly, her eyes on him glaring. Bree rolled her eyes and made a exaggerated sigh. Christine beamed, excited at her first mission, planetside, and the prospect of three weeks of uninterrupted studies.
"Are there any questions?" the Captain asked. When none were forthcoming he stood, smiling. "I'm sure you will all fulfill your duties to the best of your considerable abilities. I'll leave you to make your final preparations. Mission begins in one hour. Dismissed."
