Earth Star(119)

‘This is Dig Site Command. Turn a little to your left, Major.’

A couple of minutes later, Fian and I came out of the trees, waved at the Dig Site Command sled, and went over to the Military survey plane. Once inside, I started running pre-flights, and struggled into a hover tunic.

‘Any idea what we’re looking for?’ asked Fian.

‘Absolutely none.’ Pre-flights finished and I spoke on broadcast channel. ‘This is Zulu Survey, requesting link to mosaic feed and launch clearance.’

‘This is Dig Site Command. Zulu Survey, your link to mosaic data feed is now open and you are clear to launch.’

The plane took off like a dream, responding much faster than anything I’d ever flown. It had no weapons, but was obviously built to take evasive action if necessary. I was tempted to play around with some aerobatics, but I had a job to do, so I contented myself with banking and heading for my survey start point.

‘This is Zulu Survey. We’re approaching start point and opening image transmission.’

‘This is Dig Site Command. Mosaic system is receiving your image transmissions.’

I turned to Fian and pointed at the co-pilot controls.

‘You’re joking!’ he said.

I shook my head, and spoke on broadcast channel. ‘This is Zulu Survey pilot, Major Tell Morrath, handing control to co-pilot. Captain Eklund, you have control.’

Fian groaned, unlocked his controls and took over. ‘This is Zulu Survey co-pilot, Captain Eklund. I have control.’

We both turned off broadcast channel, and Fian started flying the first survey leg.

‘I can’t believe you’re making me do this,’ he said.

I giggled. ‘I need you to do the flying, because I want to watch the mosaic building and try to make sense of things. We’ve got some peace up here, and a chance to think, but when we land …’

‘Sorry,’ said Fian. ‘I’ll fly. You do your thinking.’

I used my lookup to project the new site mosaic image in front of me. It was fascinating to watch a new strip slowly appear on one side, as our survey transmissions were integrated into the mosaic. I changed the image to remove the trees and get a better look at the basic terrain. There were few details of what was underground, only a rough indication of what was mostly soil or rocks. I brooded over the images as two further strips were added. I already knew from my exploration on foot that this area sloped downhill, but now I could see the slope got a lot steeper before levelling out. It looked like there’d been a landslide at the steepest point.

I stared at it for a few more minutes, then opened broadcast channel. ‘This is Major Tell Morrath. There’s a steep downhill slope in this direction. It’s possible our target point was exactly right, but the artefact is far deeper underground than we thought. I’m thinking Chinese Tang Dynasty tombs.’

‘This is Playdon,’ said a familiar voice. ‘I’m deputizing for Pereth while he’s on rest break. You mean tunnels, Major? They didn’t dig down to bury the artefact, but dug a tunnel into the hillside?’

‘This is Major Tell Morrath,’ I said. ‘It’s a possibility. Captain Eklund and I will land now. Some special hand sensors should have arrived for us, so we’ll see if we can find a way down the slope on foot to make more checks. By the way, you’ll see on the updated site mosaic that you’ll need to curve the new access road to get around a landslide.’

I took over control from Fian and landed the survey plane. I felt a touch of regret as I took off my hover tunic and got out. Despite my worries, it had been zan flying a Military plane for the first time, and I didn’t know if I’d get the chance to do it again.

I didn’t have time to brood about that, because Playdon was coming towards us, using a hover belt to float above the tree stumps. He was carrying two small objects, which he handed to me and to Fian.

‘I thought you were deputizing for Pereth, sir.’ I looked down at the hand sensor, wondering how to use it.

‘No, Jarra!’ said Playdon. ‘Don’t call me sir around here.’

I giggled. ‘Sorry.’

‘Pereth is back in charge and busily planning our best route down the hill.’

‘In which case, perhaps you could come along with Fian and me,’ I said. ‘I don’t know how to use hand sensors.’

‘I’d love to help,’ said Playdon, ‘but what were you using to take readings earlier?’

Fian laughed. ‘We were counting flowers.’

‘We daren’t tell anyone, but at the moment we’re building an awful lot on the fact that this place is infested with Tuan creepers,’ I explained.