Dragonsdawn: Landing Episode 1

Soil samples coming up. And heres vegetable mash for you, Ted. Get your teeth in that.

(Chuckling)Itd cushion the landing.

(Excitedly)Theres really only one, Admiral, from my point of view!

Captain Tillek, I havent bounced a landing since my first solo.

Therere some civilians dont think Desi and me can make the deadline, Paul.

(Impishly)So, tell us, Paul, wherere we landing?

I cant walk! Im lopsided.

Thanks from me, too. Its really silly not knowing up from down, and side from side.

(Shrilly)How are we supposed to exercise in here?

And you have seen with your own bright and pretty eyes this marvelous planet?

Isnt fifteen yearsholiday long enough for anyone?

Tarvi Andiyar.

The landing site is immaterial. The gigs equipped to do the job, believe me.

Or they eat each other.

Ah, look! The scuttlebug got a reptiloid. Rather a large specimen, ten centimeters thick and seven meters long. Theres your wherry eater, Kwan.

We wont spoil this planet. I personally wont let anyone spoil it.

Thanks, Drake, but Kenjo has me down for simulator practice in...five minutes. Getcha another time.

The next few weeks are going to be rough.

(Wryly)Let us discuss the matter without prejudice. The three sites recommended by the EEC team have now all been probed. If you will refer to the chart, the sites are at thirty south by thirteen point thirty, forty-five south by eleven, and forty-seven south by four point seven five.

Oh, I dont know. Its one more procedure which gets us nearer to the surface. (Dryly)Of course, were sort of stuck with whatevers reported, but I expect we can cope.

The initial EEC report does seem to have been less than complete now that we can compare it to our new home. But the most crucial, salient points were covered for us. We know what we needed to know, and the FSP was quite happy to turn the planet over to us because it certainly doesnt have anything to interest them. And its not a planet that the syndicates would fight over. Which is why we were allowed to have it. I think we have to be grateful to that team, not critical.

Atmospheric content as expected. Southern continent temperatures appear to be normal for this late winter season. Northern continent enjoying considerable precipitation due to low-pressure air masses. Analyses and temperatures consistent with EEC report.

Ah. Because they resemble airborne bargessquat, fat and full.

(Encouragingly)The only new factor in these reports, is the density of vegetation. We may have to clear more than we thought in the forty-five south eleven site. See here...Where the EEC pic showed sparse ground cover, we now have heavy vegetation, some of it of respectable size.

Yeah, but I dont see mention of any other predators.

There are reef systems. And yes, a balanced if fragile marine ecology along the ring islands. Im much encouraged. Possibly those polka dots they saw are from a meteorite storm.

And reliance on the alfalfa trays for fodder is not going to adjust their digestions to a new environment. We must begin as we mean to go on, and let Pern supply our needs.

(Murmuring)I will be very glad if the reports confirm those insectoids, winged and subterranean, reported by the EEC team. If they should prove sufficient to do the work of dung beetles and flies on our Terran-style detritus, agronomy will be off to a good start. Weve got to get nutrients back into the soil and introduce the rumen bacteria, protozoans, and yeasts for our cows, sheep, goats, and horses so theyll thrive.

(Huge snort)Luminous organisms are usually found in deep caves, Nietro, as they use their light to attract their victims, generally insects. The mycelium reported by that team was in a cave system on that large island south of the northern continent. This planet seems to have a considerable number of cave systems. (Aggrieved tone)Why werent any scuttles scheduled for subterranean investigations?

Shove the EEC reports. They didnt tell us the half of what we really need to know! Survey, they called it. Quick dip at the trot. No depth to it at all. The most superficial survey Ive ever read.

(Amiably)That thirty south is nearer sea for me. Good harbor about fifty klicks away. Rivers navigable, too.

All ahead go, Paul, now I know Ill land this bucket in her parking space on time, and where to send my shuttle.

(Solemnly)Admiral. I beg to report that we have maintained our programmed course to the minute. Estimated arrival to parking orbit is now forty-six hours, thirty-three minutes, and twenty seconds. No deviations anticipated at this point in time.

Good heights for observatory and met stations all right, though weve no real criterion from those reports about climatology. Dont fancy settling that close to volcanoes myself.

This is where!

Dont care about him! Ive just won an acre off Hempenstall!

How much did Lili win on that one?

Our quarters are only a few steps along.

They kept telling us wed be better off walking. Trying to walk, that is.