An Unexpected Find
Posted on Thu Jun 4th, 2020 @ 2:38am by Major Samuel King
Mission:
Mission 3 - 100
Location: Planet Surface, A Few Clicks from Shuttle
1427 words - 2.9 OF Standard Post Measure
"I was going to say Doc that I don't plan on hurting myself but an extra pair of eyes is always welcome. Just stay behind me, I'm hoping its a fairly amiable animal," he added as he waved her on.
His gun entered the bush first, moving the long reeds of grass out of the way. The noise continued, several small snapping noises as if something stepping on sticks and a faint crunching slobbering noise as they approached. Sam wasn't surprised by the terrain as from orbit they hadn't detected any signs of life that would be able to keep such an area free of unkept bushes. Sam had his stare on, he didn't blink a lot due to the focus he needed to ensure that nothing crept up on them, but they soon came to a small clearing. The grass began to fade but as they came to the edge Sam threw his hand up to stop the Doctor from moving any further forward.
She looked at him questionably and he nodded down to the ground to show a lifeless animal beside them. Some of its body was torn, other parts missing.
Sam gestured for her to retreat slowly. There was no telling if it was alone, if there were others lying in wait or simply just unaware of their presence nearby. They had to make a slow and steady retreat and alert the others to the danger nearby. "Watch your footing." he whispered, last thing they needed was a twig snapping that would mean he'd need to discharge his weapon.
Min had just enough time to look over at the creature before she took a small handful of steps backwards. She looked about for signs of any other creatures, uncertain of what she would find peeking through the reeds of grass. Then she turned toward the direction they came from, in case something decided to be an ambush predator about the situation. "... Maybe it's just hungry?" she suggested quietly.
"Probably." Sam answered. "But as it is eating another animal we can see that it is no herbivore. I don't fancy being next on the menu." he continued. He was confident if it came their way then he could subdue it with his rifle but he was unaware of how it would affect the physiology of the creature. He always kept an old hand pistol in a holster on his waist so it all else failed he had that, as well as his melee weapon which was a pair of modified knuckle dusters, and a hunting knife.
It was the size of a Great Dane, as wide as a hippopotamus with a spiked back and clawed feet. It looked like a predator for sure but it's skin was one of fur, making it still look like a dog somewhat with a snout full of sharp looking teeth. Thankfully at this moment it was face deep in its latest meal.
Min didn't seem phased as she observed the creature in front of them. She tilted her head to one side, curious but not reckless enough to move forward. Who knew this far out that there were quadrapeds that were similar to those on Earth? She leaned in to Sam. "... Maybe there's another creature like the one it's feasting on that we can take back with us? For a food source._
"Certainly is a big bugger, isn't it?" he asked rhetorically as she mentioned the idea of using the smaller creature as a source of food. "Definitely worth looking into." he added. "They must have somewhere they sleep or breed, and I don't fancy eating algae for most of the trip home."
"Algae is not ideal. Not enough protein to burn for energy." Min stated. "I wonder if there is one nearby for us to examine and see if there is anything that would prevent us from potential food. It would be a shame to find out they were full of toxins or simply not full of any nutritional value."
"If we set off a charge on the opposite side to the creatures they will either run from it, or run towards it. Does that give you enough time to sufficiently investigate the creature?" King asked.
Min paused. She thought they would certainly be running from the creature, as that would be the most sane option. But she was delighted when King suggested an alternative. "... That should. If it's spooked enough, it should give me plenty of time."
"Sorted then. Give me 5 minutes to set it up and we will remotely detonate it when we are at a safe distance." King said placing his hand on her back before disappearing into the background. True to his word 5 minutes passed and he had set up the device. They were fairly simple to set up and he came back to the good Doctors side. "Ready? It's going to make a little noise." he said with a smile.
"Just a little?" Min joked. "I'm honestly surprised that this creature hasn't smelled me out yet. I wonder how it tracks down prey if not by smell. Or maybe I smell like another predator that it's... just not afraid of?" She shrugged off the hopeful-sounding jest. "... Yes, I'm ready."
"Smell good to me." Sam said with a little playful nudge on her shoulder. "Right, here we go." He pressed his handheld device and there was a rather large explosion from their opposite location that forced the creature to lift its head sharply. It's ears perked up and from its appearance you could see that it looked as if it was blind. "Maybe it hunts through sound, or vibrations in the ground?" He thought out loud as it ran off in the direction of the noise, as did the others from the underbrush they had not seen.
"If ever there was a time Doctor, now would be it." Sam said waving his hand at the now vacant body.
Min was quick, but quiet, as she padded through the brush and toward the body to do her quick scans. Her eyes darted to where they had seen the other, living creature dash off to, but it was only momentary, as her tricorder made a soft, affirmative beep. It was safe, as far as she could tell. She reached down to her pack, ready to rustle around for a vial and tweezers to pull a sample. Hopefully she would be as quick as she needed to be, but she couldn't quite remember which compartment she stuck anything in.
Sam had moved into a defensive position beside the good Doctor as she rummaged around her medkit. He would keep watch in case the animals decided to come back and finish off their meal. "Not to rush you Doc, but the quicker the better here." he said scanning the horizon. The bushes rustling a little but nothing too concerning at the moment. It would be when the rustling intensified that would cause alarm.
The sample was plucked from the creature's hide quickly, and as she was corking the vial, it was only then she realized that the slight rustle was only growing louder as she had been distracted by the scientific inspection of the odd creature. "... Oh." And with that, she started to move herself back toward the Major.
The creature had emerged slowly from the bush before them. As before it could not see them so Sam threw up a shoosh signal and guided the Doctor behind him. Using hand gestured he instructed her to walk slowly towards the shuttle and he would ensure she made it there. Sam began to walk backwards, his eyes trained on the animal in front of him. It began to smell the air, its ears twitching as if it was actively listening to the world around it.
The Doctor was making good speed at her escape but then he heard a snap of something behind him and he spun around to see the Doctor stop suddenly.
"Get to the shuttle. Now!" Sam shouted as the Doctor began to run at full speed. He quickly followed, making sure that the beast would not catch them he threw down some portable proximity mines. Not looking back he heard the explosion and the smell of burnt flesh. Whether the creature was dead or not matter little. The chase had either slowed or stopped. In any case the shuttle was in sight and they made it.
Major Samuel King
MACO Commanding Officer
USS Atlantis
Lieutenant Min Seong
Chief Medical Officer
USS Atlantis
