Emerald

Koshi

Since her discovery a day ago, Mil is restless and finds it hard to concentrate on her work. She tries to catalogue her data, test different working hypothesis and build models. At the same time, she desperately hopes to find an explanation for the advancing forest edge. If this problem doesn't occupy her thoughts, the improbable lack of biodiversity does. She still thinks there might be a connection to the cycle of cold periods. But how exactly? As a third complex of unsolved problems, the unusual set up of the pith in the tree cores keeps her busy.

One thing she is no longer ready to believe is Koshi's theory about an intelligent life form hiding on planet. She spent already so much time searching for aliens, she is sure she would have seen something, a tiny sign or indication of their presence. But there is not even evidence of animal life. Any type of alien with just a little bit of curiosity would certainly have tried making contact by now.

A soft buzzing causes her to look up. It's already time for the next status report. She saves her work to talk with Koshi's and Dray for a few minutes. The pair reached the northern tundra belt yesterday in the late afternoon. As Mil predicted, only shrubs and stunted trees grow in this zone. Instead, the water courses seem to be considerably broader. But this might be an illusion, as further south, the sweeping tree tops cover much of them.

Koshi left the shuttle to collect samples for Mil. She hopes to finally find some new plant species amongst them. Later, the captain asked Dray to push towards the pole with the remaining daylight. The transition between tundra and the ice covered polar region is almost seamless. Before turning towards home, Koshi and Dray spent the night in this cold place. Mil is glad they will be back by evening. She checked the forest's edge in the morning: it moved towards the ship again.

After the chat with the shuttle team, she tries to take up her interrupted studies. But concentration won't come. Frustrated, she saves her work and turns to examine the still untouched bag plant from the pond. In spite of cold storage, the pale baggy part of the specimen burst open sometime during the night and thousands of spores lie as blueish-grey dust in the container. Mil slips on her protection suit and starts working in the contamination cell of the lab. She has no intention of getting alien spores into her lungs. Carefully, she samples the spores as well as the skin of the bag to examine them under the microscope.

A shudder runs through the ship and let's her drop the sample she was holding. Andrej stands in the lab door, grinning broadly.

"We're running some tests with the modified engine. Just carry on with your studies!"

Mil spares herself the bother to answer. Andrej left anyway, in a hurry to get back down to the engine. At least the men seem to make progress. Frowning, Mil turns back to her sample. But Koshi's voice interrupts her before she is able to pick it up.

"Mil, there is sort of a clearing in the forest ahead. We're going to check this out."

A clearing is definitely something new. Mil removes her disposable gloves and hood to watch the transmission on the big screen in ops. Koshi was right, she immediately recognises an almost circular patch where there is none or only minimal vegetation, grass maybe? She follows in anticipation as Dray slows drown to land in the open area.

Giant tress around the clearing throw deep shadows. The opening in the canopy is small, too small to be used as a landing site for the ship. But the shuttle should be fine. Dray keeps it in suspension and turns it around its axis, so they are able to take in the whole scenery with the main sensor.

Koshi's order to land is disrupted by an ear-splitting screech. Mil presses her hands to her ears while the transmitted image tips sideways. She witnesses as the ground approaches fast before the screen turns blank. The sound of tearing metal and a cry of pain ebb away. Then, the speaker transmits only the sound of laboured breathing. It takes Mil a while to get over her initial shock.

"Koshi? Dray? What happened? ... Can you hear me? ... Dray? Koshi?"

After an endless while, she hears a low moan. Dray's voice sounds hoarser than ever.

"Koshi? Where did this cursed tree come from? Koshi, where are you? ... Mil, can you hear me?"

"Copy, Dray. What happened out there? Are you alright? What about Koshi?"

"There was a tree, all of a sudden. I swear, it wasn't there a moment ago. Koshi, where are you? There's not much light in here, Mil. We crashed. Koshi? No!"

Mil never heard her colleague in panic before. Then there are faint sobs.

"Dray? Talk to me, Dray! What's going on?"

"Mil, sh... Mil, I think Koshi is dead."