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Gravity returned partially today. Perry left us but Nelson says the ship is under
acceleration. He says we are heading back to the Ipsolstai colony. He also says
that we may be forced to transfer to a new ship. When he said this Daniel became
agitated and started to babble about the One and talk to himself but then he calmed
down. It was very odd. Nelson seems more disturbed by Daniel's odd behavior now
than he used to be. He just looks at Daniel and repeats a phrase about the will of the
Emperor, will of the Imperium.
I think I miss Mars.
Andrew reporting.
Something strange is going on. Naturally, it centers around Daniel. He is creating a
disturbance. He and Nelson are arguing.
What possible difference could it make to Daniel if we continue our voyage in the
Guardian-of-Younger-Nestbrothers or a different ship? One Ipsolstai ship is similar
to all the rest.
"Daniel, if you have some concrete reason for your behavior, I invite you to tell us
about it now."
See how I am trying to give him the benefit of the doubt, Koala? What restraint. I am exemplary.
"Elder Brother, is it the One that you are thinking about?"
Elder Brother said no. That was my fourth question. I thought that I got it, but nope.
I should find out the more general attributes about it than directly trying to name
it. Next question will be, is it alive. What do you think, is that a good question
for Twenty Questions?
We are still going down that slope. It’s going better now. When we descend too fast,
Mao and I also use our casings as an anchor. That builds up a wave of gravel, but our
speed is also slowing.
"Zachary, let's stop for a moment. I'm not quite sure about it, but I have the impression
that the temperature is increasing. Let's check. Maybe it's just me."
Mao and Zachary checked too. It's true. All our measurements show the same result.
The air temperature increased to -25° C. That's quite a lot. In the base camp it was
only about -80° C. We immediately commanded Sojourner to make further analyses
about the air composition and radiation.
Exactly as we expected. Also the amount of sulfur and methyl iodide increased and
radiation is now up at 0,1 microcuries.
Don't worry, it's not dramatic at all. It's more to meet our responsibility as explorer
probes to know how environmental parameters are changing. The radiation is still far too
low to harm us, and the concentration of that methyl iodide is below any significant
quantity.
So that was the problem! It was a big difference of opinion between Burn and Caleb about
us probes! We were the cause of it all. Burn was the leader of the original six
in the Ipsolstai scientific colony on Mars. Until they found the probes, there was
agreement and unity of thought for seven hundred years.
They didn't give poor Bette any chance to communicate, they just thought she was strange
and interesting and took her apart right away, so they didn't know she could think.
That was Caleb's faction. When they found Daniel, they were more interested in investigating
his independent actions and motivation. Then Zachary helped Burn get away from the J-probe when he was injured. So Burn was convinced that the probes were sentient individuals.
The other Ipsolstai were appalled by the lack of concensus between Burn and Caleb. More
tests were made. Burn led the team communicating visually with Enoch. Then Caleb used
a probe to test the Groove when they decided to contact the other colony on Saturn's
satellite.
How to resolve, for resolution there must be.
Amphibians infest, confusion in all.
Amphibians repulsed, one Brother not living.
Who where when why how? Now examining.
Eyewitness account following.
Then Commandant Fitzgerald turned to me and Theresa. I
took the translator box and
walked to the center of the room.
I'm back with Gen scouting ahead of the troops again. Looks like that we will soon be
at the bottom of the slope. I already can see the opposite wall when flashing my light in
that direction. My compliments to Enoch. He was quite alert to observe that change
in temperature. I really didn't notice it until he told me.
"Enoch. Stop! There is an abyss in front of us."
No problem. We can use the left flank of the slope that is leading around it. We only
have to be careful that the caterpillar doesn't start tilting and overturning, when
we change our direction to an angle instead of heading straight down.
So far so good. Everything roger. We ordered the caterpillar to wind its cables up, so
we all are close together now.
"Enoch, look down there. That's the bottom."
We are passing ...
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