8. Mars

[Renekin Skywalker]

"It should be another hour." Said the guide. "THen we can be on our way. Well, folks. We have another hour to wait. So, how about we get out. It seems the cave is mostly igneous with sedement on top, so it should be safe to walk, but don't go far."

[Dome]

"Should be safe? This is an unexplored cave? And you want us to get out and walk around an unexplored cave on an alien planet? This doesn't sound dangerous to anyone else," Flip asks out loud.

[Renekin Skywalker]

"The cave structure is quite safe, and was surveyed 2 years ago for minerals. Just not mapped. The rocks are safe, and evil Martians only exist in the movies, Mr. Foreman." The Guide answered, to chuckles from the local imigrants. "But, you do have a point. Everyone, remember to stay tethered to the bus, and to not stray out of eyesight. If there is a network of tunnels, we don't want to get lost in them."

[kurff]

"What kind of minerals did they find if any?" asked Mengsk.He was more concerned about the potential of Mars as resource. Like most Corporate minded the notion of mining and it industrial base was foremost.

[Renekin Skywalker]

"Mostly silicates and iron, and a fewer heavier metals, all in igneous shield rock." The Guide answered. "My understanding was that the cave was left alone because the region showed nothing of value."

As she was speaking, most of the others suited up, curious about a cave formation on Mars.

"Yep." Said one of the singles. "My company has a stake on the land, but hasn't found anything worth mining. And with the new independence, heavy metals aren't be exported, right now."

[Mierin]

Jessica nods as she listens to the tour guide, looking around the cave curiously.

[dakota]

" Don't worry Flip, I'll protect you from any martian boogeymen." McKenna grinned as she listened to the others. "hope this storm doesn't hit the spaceport. Last thing we need is weather delaying the captain."

[Renekin Skywalker]

Yes... what is the captain up to?

No matter. I'm sure, even if the storm hit, he'ld be able to get the Galaxy up and running by the time they got back.

Eventually, the bus emptied (except for the crew members that opted not to get off.

Generally, it was a quiet first 20 minutes, as people worked their way up and down the cave, looking at the igneious rocks, and posturing what lay further in.

"I'm a trained spelunker." Offered on of the other tourists. "I could at least head about in segments, let you all know what's there." Most of the tourists were reluctant, as was the guide.

[Dome]

Flip climbed off the bus and looked around with the others. He remains quiet as he looks at the cave walls. "Well its a cave. A whole lot of rock. Remind me to thank the Captain for this great reward," he says as he kicks a rock towards the back of the cave.

[Mierin]

Jessica just shakes her head at Flip's constant complaining. While she understood that this isn't what he would have picked, he could have at least tried to appreciate it instead of whining like a child the whole time.

Looking at the tourist, Jess says "While that sounds interesting, it may not be safe for us to so so."

[dakota]

"What better do we have to do?" McKenna countered. " We might as well play along to pass the time, and maybe get someone out of their snit."

[Dome]

Flip turns away from the group and heads toward the cave opening. He stands and stairs out at the wall of sand ahead of him. Being in a cave underground is so far from who he is, from what he knows. He longed to be out there even in the storm. Leaning against the vehicle staring out the cave entrance he begins to think, 'I bet it would be hell to fly in all that, yet, what a thrill. I should have worked harder back when I was enlisted, I would be a fighter pilot now, no one in my ship but me. Then I wouldn't feel like shit for almost killing everyone else. Now on top of that, my mood is killing any chance the rest of them have at enjoying this. I need to just keep my mouth shut and hope this trip finishes soon.'

[Renekin Skywalker]

NO such lock for poor foreman.

The sand-drift was getting deeper, and starting to get towards the bus.

"I'm going to make a call." THe driver said. "Or we'll never get out. Why anyone lets one of these things go with a storm on the horizon, I'll never know." And he grumbled into the truck.

"There's a breeze." Said the spelunker. "We're in a network, and there's another exit." And he headed off, using the clip at the end of his rope to sound out the cave.

Eventually, he moved around a corner and out of site. "Wait..." He said on the radio's general channel. "Something's in here... I just saw a - " And the radio cut out.

"Everyone! Back on the bus!" The Guide yelled, suddenly unsure of things.

Within minutes everyone was into a discussion about:
a)Should they find the spelunker,
b)Should they do so, risking whatever might be there,
c)Hope it's just a communication problem, or
d)Wait for the bus to get rescued (popular among a few of the tourists).

[dakota]

" I'm starting to get a bad feeling about this" McKenna said lowly, looking at the others to decide what to do.

[Dome]

Flip looks the way the spelunker went, and then looks back towards the bus. He says to the tour guide, "do you have a lantern, or flash light? I'm going to look for him."