Phobos

After the commander’s departure, Captain Thorn gathered the team in the barracks of their Martian outpost, the dim lights casting shadows across their faces.

Thorn: "Team, we leave at 1 AM Martian time. Get some rest. We've got a long trip and mission ahead."

The unanimous response echoed through the room, "Yes, Captain." However, before heading to their bunks, the team, minus Tatsuki and Tanaka, decided to hit the showers.

***

The Showers

The unisex showers were a series of individual stalls, each divided by thin semi-transparent walls. The ambient hum of water echoed in the space, creating an atmosphere of shared solitude. The steam in the air added an ethereal touch to the scene.

As the water traveled their skin, the team engaged in hushed conversation about the impending mission. The captain, standing under the showerhead, detailed the intricacies of their journey to Phobos—their destination among the moons of Mars. 

Thorn: “Headquarters had detected some life signal anomalies, potentially signaling the presence of the sun particle.”

Simmons, her silhouette obscured by the cascading water, voiced concerns about the mission's extreme nature.

Simmons: “Now that you mention the particle. How does the headquarters think we will be able to capture that thing? I mean, did you see what that thing did to the facility in Mercury? This seems like either an impossible mission or a suicide mission, Captain."

Kuznetsov: “I’ve been wondering the same thing all this time. But maybe Tanaka or Tatsuki has something to do with the capturing part of the mission.”

Thorn: "You are a hundred percent correct Kuz, Tanaka has a device crucial for that part of the mission. It can sustain the energy we'll encounter from the particle."

Meanwhile, Captain Thorn, having concluded his shower, stepped out into the misty room to dry himself with a towel while the team continued their discussion behind the semi-transparent partitions. Through a space between the curtain and the semi transparent wall on Marlow's shower, the captain saw Marlow's body naked from behind. Marlow's silhouette moved with grace and purpose. The ambient light gently outlined the curves of her delicate figure as the cascading water traced rivulets down her skin.

Her shoulders bore the weight of both the ambient light and the burdens of their mission, the subtle play of muscles evident with every twist and turn. Beads of water glistened on her back, each droplet catching a fragment of the ambient glow.

The soft arch of her neck, crowned by wet, messy hair, seemed to invite the play of water as it drizzled down. The curtain of water accentuated the contours of her anatomy. The gentle rise and fall of her chest, the fine definition of her abdomen, and the elegant curve of her hips spoke of strength and resilience.

In the midst of this intimate act, Marlow's hand, guided by a bar of soap, traced circles along her body. As the water glided over her, washing away the remnants of the soap, it revealed the natural beauty beneath—a delicate being caught in the earthly act of cleansing.

Turning her face to ensure every part of her was thoroughly cleaned, her gaze met the captain's, their eyes locking through the veil of mist and walls, she smiled and continued. Marlow's form is subtly outlined by the play of light and water while the captain, perplexed by her beauty,  blinks, as if trying to dispel a dream. Seconds after Thorn composes himself, presses on with the mission details. 

After drying off, the captain bid the team goodnight and left the shower room, the conversation lingering in the steam-filled air. As the door closed behind him, he couldn't shake the captivating image from his mind. The cosmic journey awaiting them on Phobos seemed distant compared to the glimpsed within the confines of the showers. With a sigh, he headed to his bunk, contemplating the thin veil between the personal and the cosmic that defined their journey on Mars.

***

Sar’ka’s Barracks Outpost

In the cold stillness of Martian night, the team gathered outside the outpost, ready to embark on their journey to Phobos. The vehicle idled, its metallic frame reflecting the dim glow of the outpost's exterior lights. Laughter and banter filled the air as the team tossed jokes about Tanaka's eccentricities.

Amidst the camaraderie, Captain Thorn, lost in his own thoughts, remembered the scenes from the showers—the contours of Anya's body, the play of water, and her playful yet flirty smile. As the team bantered, the captain's gaze fixated on the horizon, lost in the cosmic dance of memories.

Simmons, emerging from the outpost, caught the captain's attention. With a nod from Captain Thorn, she joined the others already seated in the vehicle. Tatsuki remained stoic, Tanaka exchanged annoyed glances with Kuznetsov, who was still in fits of laughter while checking his backpack. In the midst of this lively prelude to their mission, the captain's contemplation continued. 

Lieutenant Marlow approached him with a furrowed brow, a concern etched on her face as she emerged from the outpost. In the hushed exchange, she asked, 

Marlow: “Have you seen the test tube I had yesterday? It’s gone.” 

The captain, drawn from his memories, responded with a sense of uncertainty.

Thorn: "No, I haven't seen it. I don't know anything about it."

Marlow: “I remembered I had it on my science coat yesterday. I left it there when we hit the showers.” Anya said, lifting a finger to her mouth, while thinking of yesterday's events.

Thorn: “Maybe a maintenance soldier took it while we were resting?”

Marlow: "If that were the case, Commander Mori would've had our heads by now." countered Marlow, her expression skeptical. 

Thorn: “Well that's true.” said the Captain while shrinking his shoulders as if he had no more ideas about the situation afterwards he advised, “What if we focus on today’s mission and once we get this over with, I’ll help you find that vial?” 

With a nod, Marlow accepted the captain's suggestion.

Thorn: “Ok, then. get in the vehicle, this trip is gonna be a long one.” 

As they board the vehicle, the engine hum breaks the night's silence as they begin their journey to the space station Kar'veh—a step closer to Phobos and the mysteries that awaited them.

***

Kar’ve Space Center

The team's arrival at the Kar've Space Center was met with a vision of technological marvel standing against the Martian landscape. The center, a nexus of human ingenuity, with structures that had sleek metallic surfaces catching the feeble light of Mars. Solar panels adorned its exterior, embracing sustainability as they harnessed the planet's energy.

Upon arrival, the team stepped into the entrance hall of the space center, a fusion of futuristic architecture and earthly functionality. Holographic displays illuminated the walls with data, showcasing the capabilities of the facility and the wonders it aimed to explore. Technicians in advanced lycra spacesuits moved with purpose, a symphony of activity echoing the aspirations of earthly beings reaching for the cosmos.

As they entered the facility, the team was greeted by Commander Mori, and the space center general—an individual of Asian descent, radiating command and expertise. 

Mori: “Welcome Captain Thorn, allow me to introduce you to the space center general Hiro Nakamura.”

Thorn: “Is a pleasure.” said extending his hand for a handshake.

Nakamura: “The pleasure is mine.” responded the High Ranking Officer also extending his hand for the handshake before adding, “I hope the roads were safe. Long trip?”

Thorn: “Yes they were, and yes, pretty long.” ended the captain with a smile. 

Commander Mori, accompanied by General Nakamura, led Captain Thorn and his team to a secluded briefing room, bathed in ambient blue light, offering a sense of serenity as holographic displays flickered to life.

  Commander Mori, reflecting the weight of their mission, initiated a conversation with Captain Thorn, outlining the complexity of their venture.

Mori: “Captain Thorn, we stand on the precipice of a dangerous mission, and your team's role is vital. Are you ready?”

Thorn: “Commander, we're ready. Give us the details.”

Mori: “Our mission extends beyond the Martian horizon. We've detected anomalous life signals emanating from Phobos, Mars' largest moon. These signals might be the missing solar particle from the research facility you investigated.”

Thorn: “Anomalous life signals. What are we dealing with?”

Mori: “That's precisely what we need to figure out. The Space Center has developed advanced compacted spaceships for your journey. General Nakamura, would you provide some insights?”

Nakamura: “Captain Thorn, the compacted spaceships we've designed are equipped with cutting-edge technology. Stealth capabilities, advanced scanners, and adaptive shielding—everything you need for whatever mission you have hundred percent guaranteed.

Thorn: (nodding) “Impressive. What about the life-support systems?”

Nakamura: “State-of-the-art, Captain. The suits you will wear are part of a new generation. They'll sustain you in the vacuum of space and on Phobos.”

Mori: “Your objective is to investigate Phobos, retrieve any relevant data, intercept the signal, make sure it is our particle, and capture it. We believe this signal is connected to the solar particle and, potentially, a larger cosmic phenomenon. But I guess you and your team had come up with an idea of how to execute such plans by now. 

Thorn: (firmly) “Yes, Tanaka had developed a device capable of sustaining and compressing solar energy. This time I hope we manage to capture the particle, (if it is the particle) or bring back answers.”

Mori: “I hope so.”

The room fell into a contemplative silence, the holographic displays projecting images of Phobos against the star-studded backdrop. The weight of the mission settled on the shoulders of Captain Thorn and his team as they prepared to embark on the dangerous mission.

***

Kar’ve Space Center Dressing Rooms

Arriving at a dressing room, the team was instructed to change into specialized suits provided by the space center. The uniforms, sleek and equipped with advanced life-support systems, symbolized the fusion of human technology and extraterrestrial aspiration. Tatsuki, already garbed in a unique spacesuit and helmet, stood apart from the team.

Commander Mori, satisfied with their preparations, instructed,

Mori: “Once ready, meet me at the launch room. I give you guys some time to relax before launch.” said Mori before leaving the room.

Kuznetsov “Thanks!” said the blond Sergeant sarcastically, since she was already gone.

Tanaka: “Why does she act like that Captain?” asked the tech while opening a bottle of water.

Thorn: “To be honest with you… I don’t even know.” responded the captain, “I just do what I’m told and try to deliver on my missions. Today she is my commander, tomorrow it could be someone else, so I don’t care. Just ignore her attitude, ok?”

Tanaka: “I guess…” responded after taking a gulp of water.

Thorn: “Team, get everything you need. We don't know when we will be back, the place might be small but our mission is not. There's another big facility in Phobos. Abandoned for the lack of purpose, but it has plenty of information regarding old research done when humanity first landed on Mars. Phobos worked as a science station, gathering information about Mars’ Geography, but due to the orbital movement of the moon they abandoned the station.”

Marlow: “Interesting…” jokes the lieutenant while putting on her boots.

Thorn: “Yes, I’m sorry, I thought some insight might interest you, but never mind.”

Simmons: “I get it, but after the long trip and that commander, we just want to relax and keep our minds out of this for a little.”

Thorn: “Ok team, we got thirty minutes before departing.” 

***

Kar’ve Space Center Launch Room

The launch room at the Kar've Space Center was a technological marvel, bathed in a blue glow. A central platform, surrounded by transparent walls, offered an unobstructed view of the Martian landscape and the cosmic expanse. Above, a holographic canopy of constellations adorned the ceiling, dynamically shifting to create a mesmerizing cosmic ambiance.

At one end, a technological hub buzzed with activity as engineers monitored consoles. The sleek, insignia-adorned compacted spaceships stood on individual launch pads. The room hummed with anticipation, and panoramic views showcased the Martian sky and distant horizons.

As the team gathers, Commander Mori and General Nakamura join the team on the central platform. The launch room embodied the fusion of earthly ambition and cosmic aspirations as the team prepared to board the spaceship.

Mori: “Ok Captain, communication won’t cut off while launching or while you are in Phobos. I was instructed to stay here at the Space Center until you and your team come back, so I would like to get reports every two hours, every minimal detail is important, ok?”

Thorn: “Yes Ma’am.” said Thorn as he saluted, while his team was boarding the spaceship.

Mori: “Now, stay safe out there.” ended the commander and retreated herself to the facility.

Everyone now aboard the spaceship, proceed to buckle themselves up as the Captain starts the engines of the compacted spacecraft. After a couple minutes, team H.E.A.T was navigating the skies of Mars with Phobos as their destination.

***

Mars’ Space Orbit

The team took advantage of the flight to rest a little more before the mission. The spacecraft now on autopilot navigates the space by itself. Captain Thorn, still awake, wanders around the spacecraft analyzing the mission given and thinking about the discoveries the team had made regarding the particle. 

Thorn: “Someone has to be behind all this.” whispered the Captain to himself, “The fake mission at the facility is the proof. Then the creature in the video Tanaka discovered.” while diving in his own thoughts he realized something.. “Tanaka was right!” 

At that exact moment, Tanaka’s Scanner starts making a loud noise. Loud enough to wake everyone up. 

Kuznetsov: “Turn off that damn thing!” Exclame Kuznetsov waking up from his nap.

Tanaka: “This is not good!” said the tech worried as he ran to a window.

Thorn: “What’s going on?!” asked the Captain out of breath once he reached the room.

Tanaka: “METEO–” 

Tanaka got interrupted as the spacecraft got hit by a space rock hard enough to send everyone flying to the opposite side of the ship.

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