IC - 19 - Surface of Titan - Everyone except Kiara

[Mephistophilis]

Nicole activates the planetary radio but all she hears is static. Isabella sees her struggling and tries to activate the radio from her control panel. 'Radio's down, still seems to be broadcasting but I can't get Kiara and Li, maybe the tremor took down the relay at Barnard's Rest?'

[Mr. Handy]

"That's possible," says Sam. "Hopefully she'll fly out to meet us at the scheduled time if she doesn't hear from us."

[Mephistophilis]

'Transmission incoming' says Isabella. She plays it over the suit intercoms. 'Shuttle COD-Lambda-RD4A-8265 from Barnard's Rest is breaking Titan quarantine. There may be infected individuals on board. Intercept and isolate.'

Looking back in the direction of the colony, in the far distance and just visible through the thick orange mist, the orange-red plumes of a shuttle first stage launch rocket can be seen. The tiny shape of a shuttle lurches into the sky and streaks up towards the edge of the atmosphere leaving behind a trail of white smoke.



Just as the shuttle approaches the edge of space, where the atmosphere thins, something small flashes into view, coming from beyond the atmosphere, and seems to impact the shuttle. Instantaneously there is a massive orange-red explosion and it shatters into a million pieces.

[Mr. Handy]

"I guess we're not leaving Titan," says Sam.

[Starspawn338]

"That does not bode well." Jojo says to the others.

[aine]

“Merde, the bastards!” Nicole exclaims uncharacteristicly. Aghast, she watches the fallout from the explosion.
“Two questions: who was in that shuttle, actually three questions, why were they trying to leave and... who blew them up? I mean, I know it sounded like Richter Dynamics but was it?”
She realises she’s beginning to sound paranoid.

[Mephistophilis]

Isabella's hands dance across the control panel. 'Well what I can tell you is that shuttle COD-Lambda-RD4A-whatnot is the one we arrived in. I don't know who was on it or where they were going but that transmission originated from Barnard's Rest and the personal identifier attached is one Science Officer Kiara Khan.'

Waiting until she has finished, Moses then says 'I'm also picking up a transponder nearby, I can't get a fix but it looks like one the colony copters.'

[Mr. Handy]

"Could Kiara have sent the transmission from the chopper?" asks Sam, trying to trace its origin. "I'm hoping that's her on the way to join us."

[aine]

“I hope she’s okay. If it is her, she’ll catch us up. Let’s keep going.” Nicole worries about the circumstances necessitating blowing a shuttle up but there’s nothing they can do about it now.

[Mr. Handy]

"Yeah, that copter may not have enough fuel to keep hovering," says Sam. "If it's going to Waystation, it'll get there well ahead of us,"

[Starspawn338]

"That would be unfortunate as that is not how we planned it." Jojo retorts. "But then again, nothing has gone according to plan."

[aine]

“Maybe Kiara decided she couldn’t stay any longer; I can’t imagine Bernard’s Rest is particularly present at the moment.” Nicole replies.

[Mr. Handy]

"I guess not," says Sam. "Let's try to radio the copter and find out what happened."

[Mephistophilis]

Isabella activates the control panel, 'I'm transmitting on the shortwave radio, if the relay at Barnard's Rest isn't working we might be able to talk to them on this if they're within a few kilometres. I'll route it through the rover comms so you can all access the channel through your suits.'

Everyone hears Isabella broadcasting over the channel, 'Hello, hello, this is Surface Rover BR-163, come in Copter BR-054, Kiara is that you?'

[Mephistophilis]

'Yes it’s me.'

Crackle

'We had to leave early before the mob got to us; the prospect of impending doom seems to have driven everyone crazy.'

'I guess they tried to escape in the shuttle - infection or no infection.'

Silence

'I couldn’t let that infection spread. I thought if I transmitted a quarantine request, they’d at least stand a chance…'

'The bastards blew them out of the sky!'

[Mr. Handy]

"It could have been us," says Sam. "Richter probably won't let any of us off Titan, even if we're able to deal with the problem."

[aine]

“They’ve got a lot of money invested in this moon; if we can solve the problem hopefully Richter Dynamics will reopen the colony.
Pity Steinmann’s dead, he would have found a bureaucratic argument out of here.”
She brightens,
“We could always blame the whole problem on him.”

[Mephistophilis]

'Not if they’re listening in on our comms. Regardless, it looks like we’re gonna get to Waystation earlier than planned. Anything you want us to do while we await your arrival?'

[Mr. Handy]

"You could survey the area from above before you land, if you have the fuel to spare," suggests Sam. "Then you could let us know what to expect."

[Starspawn338]

"Try to stay away from any contamination while you're waiting for us." Jojo advises. "This alien life seems to prey on individuals or people separated and it affects your mind before you know you're infected. Nonetheless, try to be safe."