Our journey was coming to an end, but we still had a bit more to go before we reach Mars Base Beta. The way there was characterised by fear.
An assassin attacking us sent a clear message: we're not safe on Mars.
Since I had a good view of the surface thanks to sitting at the front, I was on alert, expecting an enemy to emerge out of nowhere. Additionally, the agent's ability to hack into our rover meant that it wasn't as impenetrable as we had hoped. The Martians definitely have an IT expert in their ranks.
Sebastian was still talking to Dawn, hitting her with an onslaught of questions, hoping that she'll reveal some additional info.
- How did you break out of prison? - Sebastian wondered.
- I didn't do it myself, the Martians broke me out. Since I was offered freedom, there was no way for me to decline - Dawn shrugged.
- So you were a... tool to them? - Sebastian repsonded.
- How so? - Dawn didn't get it.
- They set you free because they needed your insider knowledge to attack us. After the information made it into the leader's hands, they abandoned you. Like a tool that was no longer needed - Sebastian explained.
- By the way, what is your leader's name? - Claudius joined in.
Dawn didn't reply. Sebastian's explanation did hit her like a truck. She was startled by it. She didn't understand the fact that she was a simple puppet in a bigger play until now. Moreover, she couldn't cope with it because of her ego.
- Our leader just called himself "Supreme". That's it. That's how we referred to him - Dawn sighed before going completely silent, endulging in her own dilemmas.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLYdmfFi1h
- Oh, it's a he? - Claudius noticed, but got no response.
Sebastian didn't bother Dawn with anymore questions.
Meanwhile, we got closer and closer to the outpost. Eventually, a smooth metallic shape caught my eye. Upon arriving, it turned out to be a gate embedded into the side of the canyon.
- We're here - Einstein informed us.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HJu6agT4j
Arika commenced a system shutdown, so that nobody hijacks our rover while we're out. She still kept the vertical farm up and running, but almost everything else was deactivated. With that done, we left our mobile base.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jfmwaXFqm
Einstein was the first to get close to the gate, accompanied by Anthony. There was a small panel to the left of the entrance. Einstein pressed a button and waited for a connection with someone on the inside.
- Who's this? - the footage of a young man appeared on the panel.
- Our rocket crashed nearby and we're stranded. We've tried sending signals, but to no avail. Can you let us in? - Einstein asked politely.
- Oh, so that's from where the garbled messages came - the man realised - I'll let you in.
A beep ensued, which was followed by the gate opening, leading us into an airlock. It was much larger than any other airlock that I've seen, because it was like a garage for spacesuits. There were a few empty hatches, which our spacesuits ended up occupying.
The inside was nothing like I expected.
We entered into a main hall of some kind, but the walls were green from vegetation. As it turned out, this main hall was a massive vertical farm. Additionally, the plant colours helped raise morale in the base. Many robots zoomed by, monitoring the crops, being supervised by nearby humans. A lot of people passed by us along the way. Everyone has their own tasks, assigned to them based off their abilities. Mars Base Beta is like an ant colony in a way, where everybody works for the good of all.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnb4gs2wyCJ
Work here has become so mandatory and important that it merged into the culture of the colonists. All people believe that work is their destiny which helps shape a better future. Interestingly, the colonists pretty much don't mind the duty, as it is simply a part of their daily routine. They know that should they ever stop, everything will come crashing down, as many systems our built on smaller underlying processes.
Additionally, work helps with self-esteem, as people know that they're important, that every person is like a brick and those bricks form a house. Every role in here is good, because it is simply relevant to the colony as a whole.
- Hey, over here! - we encountered the man who allowed us into the base.
He wore a black suit and had fitting black hair along with brown eyes. His overall appearence made me think of a government official of some kind.
- Oh, hello. Thank you for your hospitality... - Einstein started.
- Follow me, let's discuss a few things... - the man led us a small office.96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmuBTnL97j
- First, let me introduce myself. I'm Robert Rupert, but most people refer to me as Roby. I'm the representative of Mars Base Beta and the one who's responsible for communicating with Mars Base Alpha and the Earth. I'm the supreme authority in here - Roby started and we nodded.
- Good, since that's sorted out, how did you crash? We're you a part of the resupply mission? - Roby asked and quietly added - Please tell me no...
- No, we weren't. We were sent here by the Agency of Cosmic Espionage as means of protection from an evil organization... - Einstein showed his ID - Somebody sabotaged our flight.
- Oh... - Roby saddened for a bit.
- But we're willing to contribute while we're here - Anthony added.
- That sounds much better! - Roby grinned, ready to accept us as new workers - Let's get you registered... What are your competences? - Roby sounded like a robot. He was probably saying this so many times that he was talking like a machine at this point.
- IT expertise - Arika started.
- Mechanics and repairing broken things... - Claudius added.
- General knowledge of sciences related to space - I didn't really know what else to add.
- Combat and agility... - Amber said.
- I'm good at talking with people - Sebastian replied.
- Getting what I want...? - Dawn was a bit unsure, but eventually added - Planning things...
Everybody introduced themselves and Roby got us registered. I will work on researching uses for Martian regolith, mainly for 3D printing purposes, akin to what Mars Base Alpha achieved. Claudius will work in a nearby laboratory on rover and drone improvements.
Amber got the role of security guard because of her combat skills. Arika will help with repairing a "buggy", as Roby decribed it, communication network. Sebastian will monitor the crops in the main hall, much to his dismay, as he was hoping for something cooler. Dawn will help plan the digging operations in the northern part of the base. I don't know what Einstein and Anthony will do.
With all the formal things sorted out, we left the office and were supposed to split up, but we decided to talk for a bit before leaving.
- So, we sit here until a rescue mission arrives? - Dawn asked.
- I guess so... - Sebastian nodded.
- We need to be careful, because the Martians have their forces on the Red Planet. Don't let your guard down... - Einstein intructed us, but was suddenly interrupted by a celebrity-like figure, Big Donny.
Big Donny is known on Mars for being a strong and sociable man, specialising in tunnel digging for base expansion. He got famous because he was made into a role model for newcomers. I read about him in a space-themed newspaper last year.
- Oh, you're the new guys? Didn't expect to see someone new this soon, but welcome aboard! I'll give you a piece of good advice: get to work as soon as you can, because hard work equals respect! - Big Donny didn't even let us respond, because he left to "get to work". His unexpected appearence attracted the gazes of several colonists.
Big Donny was obviously large, just as large as one of our enemies, Rill Gomana. Donny has blonde hair and a beard on his relatively small head, at least small in comparison with the rest of his massive, muscular body. He was wearing a bright red shirt with the words "WORK, EAT, WORK HARDER, SLEEP, REPEAT!" written on it. He also wore black shorts and gray sports shoes. If I didn't know his identity, I would have assumed that he is a wrestler due to his overall profile.
- Wait - Arika realised something - What day is it today?
- August 12th - I recalled - What's the matter?96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKvzFlTYPb
- August 12th is Ice Cream Day.
96Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLo9EkyCPrD
and then Add to home screen.