The Survey 2

We rested at Our worksurface while reviewing the reports from the Sub-Surveyors and

Good Vessel Golden Sands of Gurteral's

Principal. The news was not good.

Good Vessel Golden Sands of Gurteral's

colony had been grounded on the alien planet for five synodic periods, its rotation an incredibly short 102.4 kilo-clicks, which slowed OUR survey due to its rapid light/dark cycle. Thus far WE had not encountered any native animals, dangerous or otherwise, other than an abundant variety of large exoskeletal creatures that scurried about with great vigor on six segmented legs. The creatures did not appear to be aggressive or hazardous, but until

Good Vessel Golden Sands of Gurteral's

Sub-Principals secured the survey area with OUR rampart, We was keeping the Sub-Surveyors inside

Good Vessel Golden Sands of Gurteral

during the dark periods.

The colony of

Good Vessel Golden Sands of Gurteral

had been on OUR survey mission for almost two giga-clicks, and as WE neared the end of OUR exploration, KWERELL had blessed US with good fortune beyond measure by showing US the small blue and green world with the amazingly large moon... the only planet HOME had yet discovered which had once hosted intelligent life approaching the level of WE.

Due to the planet's small size, the gravity was slight, and it was located at the extreme outer edge of the habitable zone of its small, bright yellow star. Even if the nitrogen rich atmosphere contained no pathogens, it was cold, thin, and toxic, requiring US to wear a breathing apparatus when WE ventured outside

Good Vessel Golden Sands of Gurteral

. Because this part of the planet was in its warm cycle, WE did not have to wear full environmental suits, though the cold was biting if WE remained outside long. Not only was the cold deadly during the dark periods, it was also dangerously frigid if the atmosphere was disturbed by weather patterns, or water vapor obscured the weak star.

During one light cycle, the vapor had condensed into liquid before falling from the atmosphere. The Sub-Surveyors surprised by the event had nearly perished from the cold before THEY could complete THEIR return to

Good Vessel Golden Sands of Gurteral

, and had spent several deca-clicks in the medical bay. Now, when the atmosphere became saturated with water vapor, the Sub-Surveyors returned to

Good Vessel Golden Sands of Gurteral

for safety before the vapor condensed into liquid.

WE were still testing the planet's vegetation for compatibility, but so far it ranged from indigestible to lethal if consumed. This was not an ideal planet for colonization, but it was incredibly abundant in liquid water, and as the natives had used highly refined metals lavishly, it must also be rich in metallic ores. OUR prize for finding such a metal rich planet would allow US to retire massively wealthy.

Of more interest to We was the planet's former population. It appeared they had disappeared long ago, but the evidence of their civilization remained. WE had landed in a large area with few structures in one of the planet's largest colonies, using

Good Vessel Golden Sands of Gurteral's

engines to burn away the amazingly tall vegetation to create a landing area. The inhabitants of this planet had used stone and metal extensively to create elaborate, above ground colonies, though all the colony structures were now crumbling with neglect.

We tried to imagine the expansive coloy as it had been, with its structures soaring to incomprehensible heights. Not only had the light gravity allowed the inhabitants to build amazingly tall, delicate structures, if the portals into the standing structures, and the massive size of the chambers and tools WE discovered were any indication, the colony's occupants must have been giants as well, towering many times OUR height.

During the initial survey of our landing area, WE had discovered several representations of what might have been the planet's dominant species, but the depictions were incomplete, so severely damaged by time and climate, or so confusingly designed, it was difficult to determine the creature's true appearance. There had been many lively debates during feeding concerning the inhabitants' appearance and societal structure.

With their enormous size, living in the deadly cold, breathing the toxic atmosphere, and consuming the poisonous plant life, the planet's inhabitants must have been incredibly hardy, and if they were aggressive, equally dangerous. It was too early in OUR survey to have a full understanding of their level of technology, but it was already clear they were well advanced, exceeding WE in some ways, such as metal refining and the creation of complex hydrocarbon chains. If they had spread from this single, tiny world, they could be extremely dangerous adversaries, and We fervently hoped they had all died here long ago.

During the light cycle yesterday, WE explored a massive, largely intact stone structure. It appeared to have been some type of knowledge vault, but We could not be certain because the planet's inhabitants had preserved their knowledge on a thin, fibrous material that had all but disintegrated with time. Even the collections of the material that appeared to be intact disappeared into dust with the slightest touch. We had also discovered they used what appeared to be some form of computer, but even if WE were able to understand the workings of the incomprehensibly designed machines, the equipment was damaged beyond use by time. We had some of the

Good Vessel Golden Sands of Gurteral's

Sub-Principals disassembling the equipment to learn its secrets and to determine if any of it was salvageable.

Good Vessel Golden Sands of Gurteral

was not equipped for an intensive survey, especially one to decipher an alien intelligence.

Good Vessel Golden Sands of Gurteral's

mission was to perform a rapid survey of a planet to determine if it contained any useful resources, and then report the finding to HOME before moving on. HOME would then determine if WE wanted to dispatch another ship to survey the planet more fully. Despite the task before US being far outside our expertise, WE had been directed to remain on the planet and continue the survey to the best of OUR abilities while HOME hastily assembled a dedicated survey mission to replace US. HOME was making OUR relief a priority mission, but it would take time to assemble the needed Sub-Specialists, equip a ship, and reach this tiny blue world. THEY had informed We THEIR arrival would take one to two hundred mega-clicks.

We had not told the Sub-Principals or Sub-Surveyors of

Good Vessel Golden Sands of Gurteral

that our mission had been extended. While WE were all tired and ready to return to HOME, the Sub-Surveyors were excited to be digging through the remains of the crumbling civilization, and likely would not object to the extension of the mission.

The Sub-Principals of

Good Vessel Golden Sands of Gurteral,

however, were going to be devastated to learn OUR mission had been extended well beyond the normal two giga-clicks. Unlike the Sub-Surveyors, the Sub-Principals had nothing new to engage THEIR interest, other than discussing how THEY were going to spend THEIR newly obtained wealth when WE returned to HOME, and THEIR daily toils would continue unabated as THEY operated and maintained

Good Vessel Golden Sands of Gurteral.

Because WE were nearing the end of our mission, food and spare parts, both for

Good Vessel Golden Sands of Gurteral

and OUR survey equipment, were nearing depletion, increasing the difficulty for the Sub-Principals. Sub-Principals and Sub-Surveyors alike were beginning to grumble about the slowly decreasing variety of OUR diet as OUR food stocks dwindled, and it was only going to get worse unless WE could find something edible growing on this KWERELL-renounced planet.

The communication unit on my worksurface beeped. We touched it absently as We continued reviewing the reports. "Speak."

"Surveyor! We may have found something of great value!"

Our interest piqued, We closed the report on

Good Vessel Golden Sands of Gurteral's

food supply and the progress of locating local flora we could consume. "Location?"

"In the deep levels of the knowledge vault. It is a small metal container."

"We will be there quickly. Do not touch it until We arrive."

"Yes, Surveyor!"

We had started as a Sub-Principal on

Good Vessel Blowing Sands of Thruggas

more than fifteen tera-clicks ago, working Our way up to first Sub-Surveyor, and finally almost a tera-click ago, to full Surveyor. This was Our eighth, and doubtless last, mission as Surveyor, the demands and responsibilities of the missions becoming ever more difficult to endure. It was time for Us to step aside, enjoy Our old age and the fame this discovery would bring Us, and allow one of the Sub-Surveyors to take Our place.

With effort, We slowly rose from Our workstation, Our body no longer as flexible as it had once been. After making Our way to an exterior lock, We fitted a breather, opened the hatch, and stepped out of

Good Vessel Golden Sands of Gurteral's

into the bitter cold of the planet. If this was the planet's warm cycle, then its cool cycle would be even more deadly than the dark periods.

As We hurried through the frigid and toxic atmosphere, We once again prayed to KWERELL that all these monstrous creatures had perished long ago. For them to not only have survived, but to have thrived, in such harsh conditions, was terrifying to contemplate.

We entered the knowledge vault with relief. Being out of the biting wind made the cold slightly easier to tolerate. We glanced around the enormous chamber, marveling at the ceiling, or what was left of it, so far above. This one structure, this one chamber, would exceed the tallest structures on HOME, and there were many structures surrounding it that were far,

far

, taller. We was about to call for the Sub-Surveyor when They appeared, hurrying toward Us, looking ridiculously small in the enormity of the chamber.

They glided to a stop in front of Us, inhaling and exhaling rapidly even with the breather supplying the proper atmosphere and pressure for Them to breathe easily in the planet's thin, poisonous atmosphere. "Their chambers are so big," They said, Their voice muffled by the breather, their lack of breath, and the thin atmosphere.

"What have you found?" We asked as We began moving in the direction They had come. They could gather Their breath as They led Us to the discovery, since Our age would prevent Us from moving as fast as They had when They had been hurrying to greet Us.

"We was in one of the sub-chambers, and We found another of the sealed metal objects with the mechanism attached, like those WE had found before, but much smaller."

"The ones they appeared to use to store food and liquids?"

"Yes, though much smaller. This one was only slightly taller than We."

"Interesting," We murmured. All the other cubes WE had found of the type They described were at a minimum three times OUR height.

"We opened it, and like all the others, it held containers of long rotted food and liquids, but only a small amount."

We paused as We glared at the Sub-Surveyor. "You called Us into the cold to show Us a smaller sealed cube?" We asked, Our tone communicating Our displeasure.

"No, Surveyor! It's what We found inside the cube! Inside the cube was a still smaller container, made of metal, and inside of that, was more rotted food contained by that peculiar hydrocarbon they seemed to value so highly. But there was something else as well. Inside with the food was more of the fibrous material the vault is full of, but this was inside what appeared to be the same hydrocarbon compound as the food. We removed it, intending to retain the metal container because it was in near perfect repair... and to Our shock, it didn't disintegrate under Our touch. The hydrocarbon is opaque, but in places We was able to make out an image!"

"What did you do with it?" We asked as We began to make our way down the stacked floor sections these creatures used to move up and down the levels in their structures.

It was hard work because the mini-floors were too tall and too narrow to easily navigate, requiring US to turn sideways before lowering or lifting US to the next one. OUR strength was not an issue in the low gravity, but moving up or down in the colony structures was not only awkward, but also slightly dangerous, because if WE were to fall, there was nothing to slow OUR tumble until WE reached the bottom. It was logical to assume the stacks of mini-floors were designed for comfortable use by the natives of the planet, and that was even more evidence the creatures must have been

huge.

Even more amazing was the creatures used this method to reach the tops of some of the other, far taller, structures. One of

Good Vessel Golden Sands of Gurteral's

Sub-Principals estimated it would take US, in excellent health, as many as five hundred kilo-clicks to reach the top of the tallest structures, even in the slight gravity, yet these creatures must have moved up and down within them with ease. Again the thought of meeting the creatures, with their enormous size and strength, made Us sincerely grateful they appeared to be long dead.

"We put it aside and contacted They. Unfortunately, the hydrocarbon surround is very fragile, and We damaged it slightly when We removed it from its container."

We considered as WE slowly worked OUR way down the mini-floors. "It must be of great value to be stored inside a separate metal container inside one of their sealed cubes," We said as We worked our way off the last of the mini-floors, glad to once again to be stable.

"That was Our estimation as well."

We followed the Sub-Surveyor through the towering labyrinth before They turned into another chamber. Unlike most chambers, the portal into this one was marked with another of the creatures' strange symbols, this one a five-pointed figure, with one spike pointing up, two horizontal, and two more at angles at the bottom, all contained inside a thick circle. Inside the circle, barely legible, was more of the creatures' strange symbols, similar to those WE had observed on the exterior of some of the structures. Though the chamber was gigantic by OUR standards, by the standards of these massive creatures, it was relatively small. We glanced around. Above Us, out of reach, was a ledge. We walked up the short rise They had erected to see what was interesting enough for They to have bothered with the rise. The counter contained many controls of unknown use, along with a series of long blank image projection devices. Several Sub-Principals of

Good Vessel Golden Sands of Gurteral

were still working out how the devices functioned, but theorized that careful control of electrically activated components caused them to emit light, allowing the creatures to use the device to produce images.

"Is that the sealed cube," We asked as We returned to the floor.

The Sub-Surveyor gestured to the cube the color of the Sands of Cratelic positioned beneath the ledge. As They had said, it was the smallest sealed cube WE had found yet, and We wondered if the smaller size was significant. We pulled on the handle and the door swung open. The cube was empty.

"They said there was a metal container inside?" We asked.

"Here, Surveyor," the Sub-Surveyor said as They led Us to Their worksurface.

On the worksurface was a container, as dark as space itself, with another type of hydrocarbon so widely used by the creatures affixed to the domed top. Approximately halfway up the container there was a seam where the device could bifurcate, with two large, shiny metal clasps opposite the hinge holding the two parts together. We carefully picked the object up and slowly turned it as We examined it carefully. The object, though light, was too large to easily handle, and after Our quick inspection, We carefully returned it to the worksurface before We accidentally damaged it.

After placing the container back on the worksurface, We examined the latches. The method of operation was simple enough, and We gently folded the fasteners down to release the top of the object. Being especially careful, We lifted the top, allowing it to pivot on the hinge. The inside was also empty.

"They said this contained the hydrocarbon containers with food?"

"Yes, Surveyor."

"Where are they now?"

"We discarded them as they were no different than the other food containers WE had already found and cataloged."

"And the other item? Is that it?" We asked as We gestured at the curved, hazy item also laying on the worksurface.

"Yes, Surveyor."

We carefully closed the metal container. Unlike everything else WE had found, this item was in near perfect condition, with only a few small scuffs and dents, likely created during its normal use. It would make a fantastic display, allowing the denizens of HOME to marvel at a society with such a careless disregard for the value of metal. After placing the artifact aside, We carefully picked up the other item. As the Sub-Surveyor had said, the hydrocarbon covering was opaque, and extremely fragile. Even as gently as We was handling the item, the protective wrapping was rapidly crumbling.

Realizing We was not going to be able to save the protective covering, We carefully removed the item inside. We stared at it in wonder. It was more of the fibrous material like that WE had found throughout the knowledge vault, but this item was in perfect condition. We noticed the Sub-Surveyor looking at Us with apprehension.

"Should WE get that to

Good Vessel Golden Sands of Gurteral

to preserve it?" the Sub-Surveyor asked, Their anxiety clear in Their tone.

"Fear not, Sub-Surveyor. The material is designed to withstand this environment. A few clicks of exposure won't harm it. Additionally, We don't know the effects of OUR atmosphere on the material. Better to retrieve the preserver and conserve it here... before WE take it aboard

Good Vessel Golden Sands of Gurteral.

"

"Yes, Surveyor."

We gently flattened the item on the worksurface. The material was bound together on one edge so the layers could be moved from one side to the other without the material becoming scattered. An ingenious, if simple, solution to keeping the fibrous material together and in proper order.

"Do you suppose that is what the creatures looked like," the Sub-Surveyor asked as They crowded in close, Their curiosity overcoming Their former objection to We handling the item.

We closed Our panoramic eyes and engaged Our detail eye for maximum image clarity. The first image was of a grotesque creature, misshapen and lumpy. Projecting from the creature's central core were four long and gangly extensions arranged in pairs. A fifth, shorter extension was topped by a bulbous dome with a mass of some dark and highly flexible material covering a portion of the round bulb.

"We think We must assume so." We looked at it. "Ugly, is it not?"

"Enough to give We darkterrors."

We carefully moved the first layer of the thin, flexible material to the other side, the bound edge causing the material to display the opposite face as it came to rest. Inside, the material was covered in dark scratches arranged in neat rows on a stark, white background. "That must be their writing. We recognize a few of the shapes from what is embossed into the stone of the structure and the symbol on the chamber door."

"The shapes on the structure? So they are not decorations?"

We slowly turned another layer of the material over. "Possibly, but it makes little sense for these marks to be decorative in this case. No... We think this must be their notation system... and We assume this vault must have contained the sum knowledge of their civilization, all recorded on this material for preservation."