《Throne of the Unbound》 Prologue Data Transmission 9479: Type ¨C Daily Log Source: Hub 1 Captain Seat Time: 20:32 This is Thomas Milton Vance, Acting Captain of the second awakened crew on ship EE3. It is approximately 8:30 PM, 14 October, in the cabin year 2380. We remain on course to T7-404, now estimated at approximately 50 light-years from target. Standard log procedures remain in place, and I confirm that all system checks have returned nominal results. Today, we received preliminary results from our long-range spectroscopic analysis of T7-404''s atmosphere. As expected, the planet exhibits strong biosignatures¡ªoxygen, nitrogen, and traces of methane indicative of a stable, habitable environment. However, several unexpected deviations have been flagged by our automated analysis models. Specifically, our analysis indicates that localized regions are emitting surges in carbon based emissions, coinciding with additional atmospheric disturbances and temperature variances that are inconsistent with any anticipated weather patterns or natural fluctuations within the parameters projected in any locatable pre-flight research and data points. My first instinct, and that of the majority of awakened crew members, is that these surges indicate either sentient life that was previously undetected, or an environmental disaster akin to a volcanic eruption has occurred on the planet since departure from earth. The latter being the more likely event, as no radar, radio, or artificial light signatures have been detected by any usable instruments thus far. While the crew is split as to the source, I find it unlikely that any sentient life without sufficient technological advancement could produce temperature and atmospheric variances of a detectable magnitude. Additional testing and detailed instrumental analysis will be available as we get closer. For now, we maintain standard course. End Log Transmission. Acting Captain Thomas Milton Vance, EE3. ----- Data Transmission 10324: Type ¨C Daily Log Source: Hub 1 Captain Seat Time: 21:15 This is Elena Vasquez, Acting Captain of the third awakened crew on ship EE3. It is approximately 9:15 PM, 7 February, in the cabin year 2434. We remain on course to T7-404, now estimated at 10 light-years from target. Standard log procedures remain in place, and I confirm that all system checks have returned nominal results. We continue our analysis of T7-404¡¯s atmospheric and surface composition, which I will summarize prior to asserting my conclusions. Ongoing examinations have revealed additional inconsistencies beyond those logged exhaustively in previous transmissions. Our updated scans have confirmed that all prior anomalous carbon signatures persist, now traceable to persistent patterns across multiple regions. The periodic nature of these emissions suggests an intentional source, rather than a random geological event. Thermal imaging has also identified structured temperature variability in multiple areas across the planet¡¯s night side. These signatures are irregular but localized, and while still faint, their distribution suggests more than mere natural variance. Current analysis rules out volcanic activity as the primary cause, given the absence of expected accompanying emissions such as sulfur dioxide or tectonic displacement indicators. The absence of radio or radar signals remains consistent with prior findings. However, localized electromagnetic fluctuations have now been recorded in areas corresponding with the strongest thermal anomalies. These fluctuations remain below the threshold for artificial signal classification but deviate from naturally occurring planetary magnetic activity. Crew discussions regarding the nature of these findings have grown increasingly divided. Some maintain that the anomalies merely suggest a low-technology civilization or sentient population, one that does not rely on electronic communication or detectable artificial light sources. Others insist that no civilization could create thermal or electromagnetic patterns at this scale without some form of detectable infrastructure, and instead there must exist a form of unknown atmospheric or energy-based phenomenon, possibly biological in nature. With only 10 light-years remaining until arrival, the time for speculation is ending. I have ordered the emergency awakening from stasis of research crews 8, 14 and 20 to assist in ongoing evaluation of these phenomena, with awakening to occur using standard protocols and procedures. All other crews and the civilian population will remain in stasis until intended awakening at 6 months pre-descent. For now, we maintain standard course. End Log Transmission. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.Acting Captain Elena Vasquez, EE3. --- Data Transmission 10976: Type ¨C Daily Log Source: Hub 1 Captain Seat Time: 22:04 This is Elena Vasquez, Acting Captain of the third awakened crew on ship EE3. It is approximately 10:04 PM, 29 August, in the cabin year 2445. We remain on course to T7-404, now estimated at 5 light-years from target. Standard log procedures remain in place, and I confirm that all system checks have returned nominal results. Today marks a significant turning point in our approach. For the first time, our telescopes have provided high-resolution images of T7-404''s surface, resolving features that unmistakably confirm the presence of an advanced, structured civilization. Settlements of various sizes, defined road networks, and cultivated agricultural regions are now visible. The architectural structures suggest an organized, large-scale society, with walled cities, fortified compounds, and intricate layouts that imply urban planning. What is most striking is that these civilizational markers are entirely pre-industrial, with no visible electrical infrastructure, no evidence of widespread industrial activity, and still no artificial light sources detectable. Instead, settlements appear illuminated by open flame and other primitive lighting methods. Roadways appear to be built for what seem to be animal-drawn carts, and there is no visible sign of vehicles or mechanical transport. The absence of technological infrastructure raises significant questions, particularly given the continued detection of energetic anomalies that have not only persisted but increased in variability and complexity across all scans. These anomalies, which correspond with several of the larger settlements, continue to exhibit localized electromagnetic fluctuations and sporadic thermal variances inconsistent with any known natural or technological sources. Their distribution patterns, frequency, and intensity suggest a deliberate phenomenon, yet we remain unable to classify them within any framework of known physics. More alarming, is that our long laser interferometry is now detecting fluctuations in the gravitational field, with no known or explicable basis for the readings given our visual observations. Crew discussions have shifted from debating the presence of sentient life¡ªnow undeniably confirmed¡ªto understanding the nature of this civilization. The prevailing theory remains that we are observing a low-technology society, but the energy anomalies present a direct contradiction. Without an obvious technological explanation, the possibility of unidentified natural phenomena or a currently unknown energy source of societal function is being considered. Theories range from localized geothermal activity, naturally occurring electromagnetic fields, or even some unknown form of biological interaction with the environment. I have authorized increased observational focus on these anomalies, prioritizing any correlation between their activity and movement within the settlements. Additionally, I have requested the research crews to refine their spectral analysis models to determine if any non-traditional energy sources can be isolated. With only 5 light-years remaining, we are quickly approaching the stage where direct observation will replace speculation. Until then, we continue to monitor, analyze, and prepare. We remain standard course. End Log Transmission. Acting Captain Elena Vasquez, EE3. --- Data Transmission 11742: Type ¨C Daily Log Source: Hub 1 Captain Seat Time: 06:45 This is Captain Jameson Tate, Captain of the fourth awakened and descent crews on ship EE3. It is approximately 6:45 AM, 14 May, in the cabin year 2450. We remain on course to T7-404, now estimated at 3 light-years from target. Standard log procedures remain in place, and I confirm that all system checks have returned nominal results. Following an extensive briefing on prior findings by third awakened crew, it is clear that we are dealing with an unidentified and unclassifiable planetary force beyond current scientific understanding. Despite numerous scans and analysis, no definitive explanation has emerged for the gravitational fluctuations, electromagnetic anomalies, or persistent energy signatures concentrated around settlements on T7-404. The time for speculation is over. Given these unresolved variables, I am authorizing the early awakening of all scientific and security forces aboard EE3. Diplomatic training and tactical preparation will commence immediately to ensure all personnel are mission-ready ahead of descent operations. All awakened crew are to adhere to revised protocols, with priority placed on situational readiness and adaptive response training. Until further notice, we maintain standard course. End Log Transmission. Captain Jameson Tate, EE3. --- Data Transmission 12410: Type ¨C Daily Log Source: Hub 1 Captain Seat Time: 23:30 This is Captain Jameson Tate, Acting Commander of ship EE3. It is approximately 11:30 AM, 12 September, in the cabin year 2450. We remain on course to T7-404, now estimated at 1.5 light-years from target. Standard log procedures remain in place, and I confirm that all system checks have returned nominal results. Following the latest observational data, I am initiating full crew awakening to begin immediately. Imaging and enhanced optical analysis have now confirmed visible movement on the planet¡¯s surface, including what appear to be organized settlements with active populations. While these findings were anticipated, the scale and behavior observed in these movements have raised significant concerns among the research and security teams. The persistent gravitational fluctuations and energy anomalies remain unexplained and now appear to correlate with certain regions of heightened activity. All crew will be brought out of stasis over the next 72 hours, with priority placed on mission leadership, planetary science, and diplomatic personnel. Descent protocols are being revised to account for the unknown variables presented by these findings. Until further notice, all personnel are advised to maintain heightened readiness. Final approach preparations begin now. End Log Transmission. Captain Jameson Tate, EE3. Chapter 1 Alar laid with his eyes closed as the morning alarm pulsed throughout his room. He squeezed them shut a bit harder, trying to extract a few more seconds of rest before he had to get up and face the day. He had been awake from stasis for almost 6 months now, but the doctors said it was not uncommon to have difficulty getting into and out of sleep for up to a year after. This made sense, as his body had technically been asleep for over 100 years, at least compared to time on earth. With the time dilation that occurred from the ship traveling at 0.9c for the majority of the trip, it had only felt like around 50 years within the ship itself, but since Alar had been in stasis the entire time, it made little difference. He groggily pulled himself up and began getting ready. Civilians on board the spaceship did not have uniforms per se, but they were required to wear standard flight suits, as extraneous clothing was not only a hazard but a waste of space when every ounce of weight throughout the entire ship mattered. They weren¡¯t bad. They were pants and a shirt of the same light grey color, which distinguished them from the crew, who all wore blue. They compressed lightly against his skin, and were outfitted with lots of different pockets and spaces for tools and gadgets that he would need when they got planet side. He pulled on his clothes and boots and wandered into the bathroom, washing his face and handling his other small morning tasks. He looked up from the towel in his hands at his own reflection, his green eyes a sharp contrast from his light brown hair and short beard, one that he should probably shave in the next few days before they made their descent. There were no requirements or restrictions on his appearance. However, through the countless briefings and training sessions since he had awoken, it had become apparent to Alar that no one truly knew what to expect once they landed on T7-404, the large planet they had been traveling toward for over 100 of Earth¡¯s years. Not having the opportunity to shave, wash, or perform other routine tasks for a long time after landing was a real possibility. When Alar had left earth, he had done so with more excitement and hope than most. It was admittedly hard to have a lot of hope when the planet you lived on was on the brink of complete destruction, but he had been excited nonetheless. The world he had left was not one he had particularly enjoyed, given the circumstances. He had naturally missed the small number of relatives and friends that had still been on earth when he left, and who had by now either died or left the planet themselves, but he was filled with more optimism about the opportunities and mystery in front of him than the world he had left behind. Earth as humanity knew it was gone. At first it was ¡°only¡± a few nuclear bombs launched between two countries, but others had gotten involved, and before anyone knew it, over 30 warheads and thousands of kinetic weapons had been fired. Almost a billion people had died before a cease fire had been reached, but that was only the beginning. The nuclear fallout affected large portions of the world, destroying food supplies over vast regions of the planet. Countries closed their borders, hoarded food, and conflict escalated. While nuclear weapons were off the table, biological ones were not, and modified viruses and insects progressively wiped out more and more of the already dwindling food supply. Crops were irreparably destroyed, infrastructure demolished, and before peace had been reached, Earth was no longer a viable place to live for the vast majority of humanity, and probably wouldn¡¯t be for thousands of years. Alar was barely a teenager when the wars had started, and while he did have some memories and experiences of a ¡°normal¡± world and life, his formative years were completely overshadowed by the wars. By the time he was an adult, the direct conflicts had ended, and he, like most of humanity had attempted to pick up the pieces and move forward as best as they could. He had attended school, procured a degree and attempted to make his way in the world, but normalcy was nearly impossible when society was on the brink of total collapse and worsening by the day. After a few tumultuous years, he decided to apply for one of the exploratory missions to ¡°potentially habitable¡± worlds. Almost all travel to the closer planets was done entirely by the military, military contractors, or scientists, and few, if any, civilians were accepted. However, the further out and riskier the trips became, the more civilians and lay persons were accepted. This was for the simple reason that the further away the planet was, the less tenable a return trip or trip to a different world was in the event that something went wrong or that the planet wasn¡¯t viable for habitation. There were still naturally qualifiers, as everyone on board was expected to contribute in some way to the building and development of the ¡±new world¡±, but it was easier, and Alar had finally been accepted after about a dozen applications. His degree and training was in construction supervision, and he had been tasked with the supervision and maintenance of a portion of the fleet of bots, drones and machines that would take part in the construction of the buildings and dwellings that would make up their new world. Alar finished his morning routine and placed his hand on the door of the dormitory he had been assigned after waking from stasis, the touch registering and the door sliding back smoothly into the wall, allowing him to exit into the hallway. He had yet another descent briefing in about 50 minutes, the first of several scheduled throughout the day, but that left him enough time for a quick breakfast. He passed by a few dozen people as he made his way down the hall and towards one of the ship¡¯s cafeterias, most of them moving quickly with intention, or busily focused on a screen in front of their eye or in their hand. A few recognized him and nodded or smiled distractedly, but most just passed him without paying him any attention. This didn¡¯t particularly bother Alar, with nearly 30,000 people currently residing on the ship, it was unsurprising that he would not recognize many that he passed, especially since most were segmented into their work sections for briefings and trainings, and therefore only interacted with the same hundred or so people on a daily basis. Alar was a bit different, as he was grouped not only with his work sector but also with his newly formed ¡°tertiary security unit¡± compromised of newly awakened non-military members that had some form of prior combat training. Alar had been shocked to learn upon awakening that the planet they were traveling to appeared to have its own sentient population, something that was entirely unknown before leaving, and as such it had not been planned for prior to departure from earth. Only minimal weaponry, defensive forces or security teams had been made part of the crew, with the majority of those that did exist only meant to act as a police or security force within their own society. Therefore, Alar had been conscripted into one of these backup ¡°security units¡± in the event that conflict arose with the native population. Their usefulness was questionable however, as Alar¡¯s ¡°combat experience¡± consisted of him wrestling on his town teams as a child and training kickboxing at a local gym during and after university to stay in shape. His only experience with a weapon was hunting once or twice a year with his family before the war, and the VR combat games most boys played online growing up. This nominal experience surprisingly made Alar one of the most experienced ¡°combatants¡± in his civilian squad, which in his opinion did not bode well for their chances if they were actually forced into any form of conflict with the local populace. Alar arrived at the cafeteria, which was filled with a few hundred people seated at long benches throughout the large room. He was served his food and coffee, which Alar was pleased to learn after waking from stasis was delicious, being military-grade rations, compared to the food he was accustomed to back on Earth. He spotted a few people he knew at the end of one of the benches and made his way over to them to sit and eat before beginning the day in earnest. Everyone at the table he approached wore the same grey outfits that he did, and most were from his work section, comprised mostly of other construction supervisors or related professions, such as repair technicians, materials coordinators, and power grid analysts. He sat down next to a woman with black hair and violet eyes, a sign of genetic modification before birth, who even seated was almost a head shorter than Alar. She had sharp features, including a slightly pointed chin and high cheekbones, giving her an angular, almost delicate appearance that contrasted with the sharp intelligence in her gaze. Her black hair was pulled back into a loose knot, though a few strands had fallen forward, framing her face as she sat, leaned forward and deep in conversation with the individual in front of her. Her name was Eira, a grid analyst from his section, and she turned her head toward Alar as he sat.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°Good morning sunshine¡±, she said, giving him a brief smile as he sat, but not giving him the opportunity to respond before returning her attention to the man in front of her and continuing. ¡°Do you agree that even if we land and are greeted by whatever is down there with open arms, that this entire situation is going to fundamentally change every logistical timeline we currently have in place?¡± ¡°I mean, I guess there could..¡± Alar began to say, before being cut off as she continued. ¡°Because Theo here seems to think that we are going to be pretty much walking in there and laying down power lines within, what did you say Theo, ¡°a few days tops¡± like we aren¡¯t literally dropping from the fucking sky onto a planet that probably doesn¡¯t even possess the technology to confirm their world is round.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say that!¡± Theo, a stocky man of around thirty, with dark skin and hair, responded with exasperation, ¡°I just meant that I don¡¯t think that we are going to have as many issues as people are saying. We are going to be seen as essentially gods to them, or like magical and supernatural powerhouses, and as soon as we throw out a few drones and show off a little bit, they are going to begging us to help out wherever we can.¡± Alar, by now sipping his coffee, continued listening to a conversation he had felt like he had heard a few hundred times already, but enjoying the back and forth nonetheless. ¡°Did you see yesterdays report? Two billion Theo, with a ¡°B¡± is the current estimate. No long range communication, unless they have messenger birds or something, and you think its going to be a couple of days before we have enough of a presence to not only gain possession of land but be able to do something with it? No way. No possible way. We are going to be sitting on the ship for weeks while our diplomatic teams try to figure out how to even communicate with them.¡± Eira exclaimed before pulling her own coffee towards her and settling back, her point seemingly made. ¡°We have the most advanced AI reasoning models that exist that are going to be planet side with us¡± he said back, ¡°as long as they are speaking words, we will have a language translated and imported to us within a day.¡± ¡°That still doesn¡¯t mean we will be able to talk to the right people, assuming they even are people¡± Alar finally chimed in, gaining a nod of approval from Eira, ¡°we think we are landing near one the capital cities, but everything is assuming they have a societal structure that in any way mimics our own understanding. What if their leaders are on a completely different part of the continent? What if they don¡¯t even have political leaders as we understand them?¡± From their briefings, Alar and everyone else had learned pretty much everything that was known, or assumed, about this planet, after the ships scientific crews had observed it for over a decade before any of those at the table had even been awakened. The sentient population was humanoid, did not have any electricity or advanced technology, and had cities, buildings, roads, transportation and infrastructure that could best be described as medieval. They seemed to be human, or near human, in appearance, but apparently different portions of the planet had societies with extremely different genetic makeups, with some continents having structures and systems built for beings that grew to be barely larger than the average child on earth, and others with beings significantly larger than the average adult human. They were landing where the scientists believed the most populous and stable population existed that possessed the most similarities to earth. This, they theorized, would lead to the highest likelihood of interacting peacefully with the local inhabitants. ¡°Okay, okay, sheesh¡± Theo raised his hands and responded in mock defeat, ¡°maybe it will be a bit longer than a couple of days, I will remember to never again express optimism around the likes of you two.¡± ¡°Good¡± Eira shot back, smiling as she did. ¡°Don¡¯t you have to be going soon? Your sector is meeting at the docks this morning.¡± ¡°Oh! I forgot, yes, thanks!¡± he said, hurriedly grabbing his tray and standing up from the table. ¡°I will see you all at final briefing tonight!¡± and with that brief farewell he was off, half walking, half jogging out of the room. Eira had an uncanny attention to detail and knew almost everyone in their section¡¯s schedule, roles, and assignments¡ªoften better than they knew their own. She never seemed to forget anything, never had to double-check her work, and never had to be told something twice, like someone who had long ago learned that mistakes had consequences. Alar hadn¡¯t known her before he had awoken, but they had bonded quickly after being assigned to the same section. There had been no dramatic introduction, no defining moment that sparked their friendship. It had just¡­ happened. A quiet sort of understanding that neither of them had any interest in being anywhere but where they were right now. She didn¡¯t talk much about her life before the mission. Not like some of the others, who still clung to old stories, reminiscing about places and people that no longer existed. When Eira spoke of Earth, it was always in broad, impersonal strokes. She never mentioned family. Never talked about what she had left behind, and he had never asked. Alar watched Theo leave, smirking as he did, before turning back towards Eira. ¡°He is right to a certain extent though.¡± ¡°Hm? How so?¡± she responded, sipping her own coffee as she did. ¡°A pre-industrial society like this is going to have no real explanation for us except for magic or the supernatural.¡± Alar continued, tapping his fingers idly against the table. ¡°Even if they don¡¯t see us as gods, they¡¯ll definitely see us as something beyond their understanding.¡± Eira sighed, stirring what was left of her coffee. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s necessarily a good thing. People don¡¯t usually react well to things they don¡¯t understand.¡± Alar frowned. ¡°You think they¡¯ll be hostile?¡± ¡°I just think we have no idea,¡± she replied. ¡°Everything we¡¯ve assumed about them so far is built on surface-level observations. We don¡¯t know how they think, what they believe, what they fear. Even if they aren¡¯t aggressive, their way of life might be so different from ours that we don¡¯t even realize when we¡¯re pissing them off.¡± Alar exhaled through his nose. She wasn¡¯t wrong. They were walking into this blind. ¡°What do you think about the anomalies?¡± he asked. ¡°We still don¡¯t have an explanation for those. If they¡¯re just a regular medieval civilization, what the hell is causing those energy readings? The gravitational shifts?¡± Eira shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. And that¡¯s what bothers me the most. The scientists don¡¯t have an answer. The reasoning models don¡¯t have an answer. Hell, for all we know, the people down there don¡¯t even notice it. Maybe it¡¯s normal to them.¡± Alar rubbed the back of his neck. ¡°That doesn¡¯t make it less weird.¡± ¡°No,¡± she admitted. ¡°It really doesn¡¯t.¡± They sat in silence for a moment, both slowly starting to gather their trays as they continued. ¡°Well,¡± Alar finally said, stretching his arms behind his head, ¡°let¡¯s just hope whatever¡¯s causing it doesn¡¯t take issue with us setting up shop on their planet.¡± Eira smirked, but there was little humor in it. ¡°Not like we are giving them much choice¡­¡± They both stood, trays in hand, as the cafeteria around them began thin out. ¡°You heading to your sector?¡± she asked. ¡°Yeah. Got another briefing in a few minutes¡± Alar said, rolling his shoulders. ¡°More ¡®contingency planning¡¯ and ¡®unexpected social dynamics¡¯ lectures.¡± Eira smirked. ¡°Sounds riveting.¡± Alar grinned back. ¡°I live for it.¡± She set down her tray at the cleaning bot and turned to him. ¡°Well, don¡¯t fall asleep in there. See you at the final briefing tonight.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, following her toward the exit. ¡°See you then.¡± They parted ways in the corridor, the steady hum of the ship¡¯s systems filling the silence as the reality of what was soon to come slowly dawning on them. By the time the day was over, they would be one step closer to setting foot on an entirely new world. One they still didn¡¯t understand. Chapter 2 A synthetic female voice spoke instructions over the intercom, as Alar pulled his helmet over his head and fit the visor into position. He was still questioning how he had gotten into this position even as he pulled a small pistol from the wall and placed it into the holster that was at his side. Yesterday felt like it had happened months ago, and his conversation with Eira while sipping his coffee seemed like it occurred in a distant time, despite it being barely a day prior. After their discussion, he had gone to his normal briefings with his work section, and later with his security squad. It was during the latter that he learned that leadership had decided that additional security would be joining the diplomats for their initial descent to the planet. His unit was selected as part of this additional security. Not because they were a specialized or highly trained unit, but instead because they had not been assigned to any other groups yet, and were meant to act as an additional ¡°show of force¡±, that was for some reason deemed necessary. So, Alar had gone from being a member of a small construction crew that would have only landed on the planet after everything had been organized and settled, to being one of the first humans to set foot on this new world within the span of about 12 hours. After this sudden reassignment, Alar and his unit had spent the remainder of the day frantically getting up to speed with everything that was going on, despite them not playing any role in the actual diplomacy, and had been briefed on everything from tent assignments to ambassadorial gift giving. Alar remembered almost nothing from any of these meetings, and before he knew it he had been briefed, gotten a fitful night¡¯s rest, and was being equipped and outfitted for descent. Departure in 1 hour, 46 minutes. The female voice on the intercom stated calmly, shaking Alar free from his thoughts and focusing him back on his current task. He found gloves that fit comfortably, and went to the desk where the bot attendant scanned his credentials before providing him a two handed coilgun that emerged from the wall. He placed a few additional energy cells and magazines into his belt and pockets, double checking everything before concluding that he was as prepared as he was going to be, and exiting the room. He emerged from the equipment room into a large open area with rows of seats in the center and monitors spread throughout. The room had multiple hallways spreading out from it that Alar knew led to different docking bays containing the atmospheric entry pods they would use to descend to the surface. The main ship would remain in orbit indefinitely, as it had no means of landing given its size, and all persons and supplies would be dropped down in these types of pods or, eventually, larger barges that would carry the equipment they would use to build their new world. Alar was not the first to enter the room, and about 80 other people were already present. Some were seated, and others were standing throughout the room, observing data scrolling across the different screens or fidgeting with their equipment. He sat in the seats near the back of the room and waited for their final briefing to begin. The people within the room consisted mostly of crew members in their dark blue uniforms, with the majority of that group appearing to consist of diplomatic and scientific members of the crew, given their lack of weaponry and equipment. Near the front, standing next to the largest grouping of screens and a small podium, were three people deep in conversation, Alar knew these were high ranking members of the crew and military, given the regalia on their flight suits and overall demeanors. Two of them were men, both on the taller side, about the same height as Alar, and both had the typical short cropped military haircuts and lack of any facial hair. One was of darker complexion than the other, but they were otherwise relatively indistinguishable. Both gave off the air of being someone who had spent a great deal of time within the regimented world of the military, and both additionally appeared to be accustomed to being listened to without question. The third was a woman, also tall, but shorter than both men by about half a head. She had a tight slicked back ponytail of dark brown hair and even darker brown eyes that flicked between the two men with intense focus as she spoke. She had a small pistol holstered to her side, identical to Alar¡¯s, and was the only one of the three with a visible weapon. She appeared to be providing some sort of information to the pair that they did not seem to enjoy hearing, and Alar saw their expressions darken as she continued, becoming slightly more animated as she did. After Alar had observed them for a few more minutes, their conversation eventually ended and the first of the two men nodded briefly to the other two and approached the podium. The room had, since Alar had arrived, maintained a consistent buzz of chatter and small talk, but without the man having said anything, the chatter had quieted almost as soon as he had moved forward, and Alar even saw individuals who were previously standing or observing screens begin moving towards the seats in the center of the room. While Alar had been seated, about 20 more people had entered, bringing there number to just under 100. ¡°All descent personnel please be seated, so we can begin the briefing¡± the man said with a brisk tone. He turned back towards the man and woman, who had now positioned themselves immediately behind him, still standing, and asked a question of the darker skinned man. Nodding at his response, the man at the podium surveyed the room briefly before speaking again. ¡°Thank you. My name is Commander Micha Engle, and I am the commanding officer in charge of the descent crew. Behind me is Lieutenant Commander Devyn Harris, head of our diplomatic unit, and Lieutenant Ayla Forning, head of descent security and intelligence¡± the man and woman both nodded from behind the Commander before he continued. ¡°While the vast majority of you are intimately aware of who I am, and most of you have been apart of this unit since before we left earth, there are some new faces among us. Specifically, two new security units that have been determined by Captain Tate to be a necessary addition given the complexities that have unfolded over the last few days¡± the Commander stated before pausing as an audible whisper began emerging from multiple sections of those currently seated. ¡°Quiet down please¡± the Commander continued, ¡°Let me be clear, while I am happy to oblige the Captain, I do not believe that these additional personnel are necessary, and I have made that clear from the start. In fact, given my insistence, and unwillingness to affect the security protocols and procedures of any other units going forward, these additional units are, as you probably have already determined, civilian units that have been pulled from non-essential work sectors¡± as the Commander spoke, a few heads turned towards Alar and others in their grey flight suits briefly, before the Commander continued his monologue.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°This is not to belittle those present, as all have received adequate training and are, I am sure, competent to assist us in the execution of our mission. However, as I have said previously, I do not believe it will be necessary, as I remain confident in our ability to succeed despite these minor setbacks that have unfolded.¡± The Commander waved his hand in front of the podium and made a quick gesture that changed all the screens behind him to the same image, a large list of about 40 different drones, each with a different name and code representing it. This list was not strange in and of itself, as Alar had seen thousands of similar lists within his own profession, and drone or robot operation and status reports were extremely common in any briefing or report that one viewed on the ship on a daily basis. What was shocking, however, was the yellow text highlighted on about 75% of the drones listed, indicating some sort of malfunction or systemic error within the drones themselves. More shocking was that another 10% of the drones were highlighted in red text, indicating that the drones were completely destroyed or no longer operational. Of the five or so drones that were green, meaning that they were still functioning normally, all of them had either PENDING or PRE-DESCENT labeling them, indicating that they had not yet been deployed. The Commander allowed those present to view the list for a few seconds longer before speaking again. ¡°This is a list of the pre-descent intelligence gathering drones that have either been deployed or are awaiting deployment prior to our departure. The majority have been sent down within the last 48 hours to scout our planned landing area, record data and information about the environment, and garner close-up video and images of the inhabitants below. As you can see, these drones and bots have run into some issues subsequent to their entry into the atmosphere¡± he paused, looking over the list once more himself before continuing. ¡°As you are all aware, our information on the planet has indicated thermal, gravitational and electromagnetic irregularities of unknown origin. Our most recent assumption is that these irregularities are a component or characteristic of the planet itself and its environment, but while unknown, are not anticipated to affect livability or our habitation of the planet. This assumption was corroborated by our drones upon atmospheric entry, and initial readings and levels show that oxygen, methane and carbon dioxide levels are anticipated to be equal to or safer levels than those of earth¡­¡± A more positive murmur spread through those seated, as Engle continued ¡°However, almost immediately upon entry of the drones into the lower portions of the planet¡¯s stratosphere, our communication with the drones was almost entirely cut-off, and all further readings and imagery were unintelligible or disabled entirely.¡± The positive murmurs ceased more quickly than they had started and agitated whispers immediately replaced them. ¡°Settle down, settle down¡± Engle said as he tried to calm the crowd. ¡°Our scientific and intelligence teams have assured me that the cause of this disturbance is almost certainly correlated to these unknown environmental factors, and is in no way indicative of any issues with the local inhabitants or the livability of the planet itself. And realistically¡­¡± ¡°ATTENTION AHEAD¡± a sharp female voice screamed out from behind the Commander. The group of around 100 hundred or so people had devolved as the Commander had been speaking into additional whispers and murmurs that had begun to intensify as he continued. All the voices immediately silenced however, as soon as Captain Forning had called them back into focus. ¡°Thank you, Lieutenant,¡± the Commander said. ¡°As I was saying, realistically, given the anticipated technological levels of the native inhabitants, it is almost impossible for the disturbances in our communication to be anything other than environmental, and despite the Captain¡¯s determination that additional security measures should be taken, I firmly believe that all prior logistical plans will occur seamlessly and without interruption. Now, given your apparent ability to focus effectively upon the Lieutenant, I will turn things over to her to discuss the logistical modifications that will occur¡­¡± Alar inadvertently zoned out the Lieutenant as she began discussing increased rations and tent placements. While he was not an expert on drones, and he also did not know the exact type of drones that were listed, he did have a general idea of what it would take to make them malfunction and cease communicating with the ship. All drones had at least three redundant layers of shielding, and at least 8 different mechanisms to transmit a signal and communicate with wherever they came from. Alar knew this to be true of construction drones, that could be visually monitored the vast majority of the time they were on a site, so he imagined that drones that were equipped to enter an atmosphere, travel from the ship down to the surface, and send critical data back, would be even more advanced and protected. As he thought about this, completely at a loss as to what could possibly create the level of disturbance necessary to affect all of these drones, he noticed a pulsing notification in the corner of his visor. The visor had been synced to his personal communication device that all on board the ship possessed, and while nowhere near as elaborate as the ones back on earth, these devices had basic text, voice and visual communication, amongst an assortment of other features. He visually commanded the notification to open and read the message. Eira: I will have a summary of all of the briefings you miss while you¡¯re down there. Make sure you are still in one piece when I land so you can read them. Alar smiled as he read the message. He had not been able to meet Eira or anyone else from his work sector after his security meeting the day before, and had not even been able to attend the final briefing that evening, instead being sent to a separate briefing specific to the descent teams that lasted until late in the evening. Everyone in his sector had been informed of the reason for his absence, and he had received a few other messages throughout the night and morning with well-wishes or questions, but he had been too nervous and too distracted to respond to most. Looking forward to it. He typed back, refocusing on the Officer speaking in front of him. She finished her presentation and switched the screens from the drone list to a breakdown of the pods they would be descending in. Alar was in the third of four pods, each carrying around 25 people and their necessary equipment. After she was done speaking, he and everyone else got up and began making their way down the hallways and towards their assigned areas. Departure in 23 minutes. The cool female voice continued her countdown over the loudspeaker. Alar took a deep breath and tried to push aside his concerns and nerves. The time had come.