The three men fanned out on the landscape, keeping constant radio contact.
"Readings seem normal," mumbled Lyles. "O2 levels acceptable, no pollutants, radiation minimal..."
"My god!" said Preston. "Look, in the distance there! It's huge!"
The men focused on the horizon where a four-legged creature made its way through the jungle. The distance and the angle of the two suns made it impossible to make out details, but by the shape of its head, it seemed to be an herbivore. Though the trees were far above the team's heads, the creature dwarfed them as it ambled through in a clumsy kind of march.
"Did you get video?" asked Norbert.
"Yes sir."
"Good. Now let's continue on."
"But sir, given the size of that thing, don't you think..."
"No Preston, I don't think. I act on orders, and so should you."
"Yes sir," said the young officer, but Norbert could see how pale he looked through his visor.
The team swept the rest of the area around the ship, about three clicks, then went back to launch and find a new area. Besides the gargantuan, they had seen no other animal life. Though they most likely were hiding from the unknown intruders, Norbert couldn't help the feeling of unease. It was like everything on the planet was waiting for something.
"All systems go, sir," said Preston.
"Liftoff and go about 100 clicks. We'll see if there's a spot to set down from there," said Norbert.
The thrusters fired and the team braced themselves for the fluttery feeling of being airborne, but were greeted instead with a violent shaking.
"What the hell?" said Norbert.
Preston was madly working the controls. "It's not working, sir! It feels like we're stuck on something."
"Then shut it down so we can see what it is, godammit!" Norbert's teeth clacked together with each shudder, causing his words to waver as they came out.
"Readings seem normal," mumbled Lyles. "O2 levels acceptable, no pollutants, radiation minimal..."
"My god!" said Preston. "Look, in the distance there! It's huge!"
The men focused on the horizon where a four-legged creature made its way through the jungle. The distance and the angle of the two suns made it impossible to make out details, but by the shape of its head, it seemed to be an herbivore. Though the trees were far above the team's heads, the creature dwarfed them as it ambled through in a clumsy kind of march.
"Did you get video?" asked Norbert.
"Yes sir."
"Good. Now let's continue on."
"But sir, given the size of that thing, don't you think..."
"No Preston, I don't think. I act on orders, and so should you."
"Yes sir," said the young officer, but Norbert could see how pale he looked through his visor.
The team swept the rest of the area around the ship, about three clicks, then went back to launch and find a new area. Besides the gargantuan, they had seen no other animal life. Though they most likely were hiding from the unknown intruders, Norbert couldn't help the feeling of unease. It was like everything on the planet was waiting for something.
"All systems go, sir," said Preston.
"Liftoff and go about 100 clicks. We'll see if there's a spot to set down from there," said Norbert.
The thrusters fired and the team braced themselves for the fluttery feeling of being airborne, but were greeted instead with a violent shaking.
"What the hell?" said Norbert.
Preston was madly working the controls. "It's not working, sir! It feels like we're stuck on something."
"Then shut it down so we can see what it is, godammit!" Norbert's teeth clacked together with each shudder, causing his words to waver as they came out.
