Providence nodded. Anything still living on this planet had to have water. The raging over-bloated sun was quickly boiling away what little they had. As the ship neared the shore of the lake Providence could see a smattering of anthills with Toufik pouring out. The structures weren't nearly large enough to house the numbers exiting them.
"The dirt mounds must lead to underground shelter." Providence mused.
"We can't set down here. The surface is unstable, in fact maintain your altitude. This area appears to be an old sea bed and I'm detecting precarious caverns and pockets throughout. I'm concerned the gravity displaced by our ship will destabilize them." Madhava reported.
Providence cringed. They needed to set down nearby, but if they caused a cave-in they'd possibly bury alive the very people, they were here to rescue.
Stone made a gesture to the men.
"Shit yeah we really don't want to disturb any of those pockets." Dagaa grimaced.
"What?" Providence asked with increasing alarm.
"The pockets might contain deadly gas." Madhava stated looking grim as fuck.
"This is just getting better and better." Providence muttered.
Providence forced herself to ignore the fear and adrenalin hammering at her. Instead concentrating on the mission, running through options, and looking for viable solutions to overcome yet another obstacle.
Providence looked at how high they were. At this altitude they could see the gathering Toufik but it was still too high to send down ropes and harnesses. Even if they could repel down, the way the wind whipped about, the climber could easily be slammed into the side of the ship.
"Too bad this thing can't set down on the water, and the ropes are out." Providence said with a shake of her head.
"It'll take longer but we'll just have to use the cargo transports to move them. Where's our best option to land?" Dagaa asked.
"Unfortunately at the top of one of those small rises." Madhava pointed to a location several miles to the west. "The rocky plateau should be stable enough. It will however make us vulnerable to those smaller storms we witnessed."
They had no better option. Their hands were tied. They could cause a cave-in and possibly gas themselves or risk landing in the distant, vulnerable, yet stable location.
Providence wished they had one of the small cruisers like what they used to visit the Primal Forest, then immediately dismissed the idea. The tiny space ship, though fast couldn't carry the number of Toufik they needed to transport, even if they made a dozen trips, and it would've taken up too much room in the starship to bring along. Plus they didn't have one, so it was a waste of time to dwell on it.
What they did have, were the sensible cargo rota. The wagon-like transports couldn't fly, but they could hover and move swiftly over rugged terrain that would've been impassible by a normal car or bus back home. And they were light enough they shouldn't disturb the potentially deadly Swiss cheese landscape.
"I agree it's our only option." Providence nodded to the guys.
The ship touched down roughly ten miles from the colony adding to the swirling sandy debris as it landed on the rocky plateau. Thankfully the surface held. Unlike the surrounding landscape the ancient shrinking sea hadn't worn away the rocky edifice.
"I'm sending a message to the other ships and the Agurtzane letting them know we've landed. I don't know if the Agurtzane are going to be willing to even bring their ships into this atmosphere." Dagaa commented out loud as he stood and strapped on his communicator.
"You've got the ship Ashtoret. Monitor the weather and orbit and keep us apprised." Madhava instructed the secondary pilot as he entered the control room.
"May Kali be with you." Ashtoret wished them well.
Providence unhooked her harness then also attached her little computer to the holster on her forearm, before following Dagaa, Madhava and Stone back to the loading bay. Providence released one of the three cargo rota from the magnetic breaks, securing them to the hull floor. The thing instantly levitated, ready and waiting. The sight of it still amazed her.
"I will take this transport, Madhava that one, and Providence you will go with Stone. I want you to stay in the center of the caravan as we approach the colony."
Providence and Stone nodded. Again the guys were being protective, but this wasn't the time to comment, nor did Providence really begrudge their concern for her, given the current dire circumstances. This portion of the rescue was all about team work and watching each other's back till they got the job done.
Providence hopped into the rota and did a quick last minute check of the gear they'd already loaded, before strapping into the pilot seat. She tapped on the controls raising the bullet proof glass shield that would protect them from the elements once they exited the starship.