10
Jun
Boots crunched on the red soil as the ship was offloaded, and the crates of cargo piled up outside. Then the crew set about unpacking, putting together the first of the tools that would allow them to build a new home.
Days later, the first of the true heavy machinery whirred into life, and a pit was born near the ship. Into it the crew carried beams, roofing over the space as they sealed and supported the walls. From time to time they paused, looking skyward, for so far from home, the constellations looked different, and some they could not see at all.
Work continued apace, and soon the pit had become a home, complete with all the amenities needed. The best was when the crew could come in and take off their working gear and relax in the warmth and fresh air, for outside was a cold and dusty place.
They were required to keep a log of their activities for each day, and often the crew would wake to see that new orders had arrived, or new suggestions. It felt good to know that despite the distance, people at home cared.
Finally, after many months of labour, all the work required to set up was complete, and the last of the boxes was unpacked. The crew relaxed among her potted garden, and she smiled. She’d been told that the next ship had a man on it. Not a bad present after three years alone.
This story is based on the concept of a One Way, One Person trip to Mars.
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Michael Tate on 06.10.2011
This was interesting, as it took me right up until then end to get the image in my head just right. All the while I was actually picturing some people on earth building in some wilderness on a beach. Then Boom…Mars.
Nice!
The Four Part Land on 06.13.2011
Just one woman, this time. And I was deliberately cloaking where the building was taking place, although the title was a little bit of a giveaway.
I’m a bit of a space nut, so I follow all of the advances and state of the art technology and proposals.