It was hard to move on the planet’s surface. Despite the lower gravitational pull that should have made walking easier, the weight of Charlie’s gear felt crushing.
The environmental protection suit was made from thick synthetic materials that covered every inch of her body, the gloves and boots magnetically sealing to the suit. Her standard-issue rifle was heavy as fuck, and the helmet and filtration unit added even more weight. The air was breathable on Turongal, but everyone was required to wear them as a safety precaution. Altogether, it made for one heavy fucking load. It wasn’t quite as bad as it had been during drills on board the colony ship, which had kept its artificial gravity set to Earth standard, only adjusting to Turongal gravity in the final weeks before landing, but it was still a bitch.
At least it was warm on the planet’s surface. She couldn’t feel the temperature of the air, but between the sunlight and her TRS, she was no longer freezing like she had been for the last three years on the lower deck. Instead, she felt uncomfortably hot, sweat gathering between her skin and suit, making it stick in places. She almost missed the wretched cold.
Squinting at the dome reflecting light in the distance, Charlie cursed. She swore it was no closer than it had been over an hour ago. The miles between the safe landing zone and the colony settlement seemed to stretch on forever. She didn’t know what sadist decided that all the non-gratas would walk to the colony, but she wanted to kill them.
The land vehicles had already disappeared into the distance carrying essential personnel, leaving them to catch up or fall over and die where they stood on the alien world. The sector head wouldn’t give a shit. He would merely cross them off his list. No doubt somewhere eyes were watching them to keep count of how many made it to the colony alive and who wasn’t walking fast enough to garner full rations when they finally arrived.
A drone flew by, and she groaned. And there it is. She resisted the urge to raise her middle finger at her superiors watching at the other end. She shouldn’t antagonize them, not when she was already going to get chewed out for what she was about to do.
Fuck it. She needed to rest for a moment. She wasn’t killing herself for anyone.
Ignoring the people passing by, Charlie leaned against a rocky outcropping, dropped her rifle to her side, and tilted her head back in disgust. A low groan worked its way out of her.
How much hotter was it going to get?
She was tempted to disobey direct orders and shuck the EPS off. Sure, there might be some toxin in the air that might kill her, but the first touch of air on her skin would almost be worth the poisoning. Come to think of it, she would happily peel herself out of the damn TRS and walk the rest of the way nude if they would let her. She examined the rocky ground. Ok, she would keep her fucking boots.
Doug grunted as he stopped at her side, shouldering his rifle. “Home sweet home,” he muttered, scanning the gray landscape. Everything was just miles of gray rock and blue-gray brush with scattered trees of similar hue that had the faintest green tinge to them.
Jace dropped beside her, pulling at the neck of his EPS, allowing his weapon to fall loose at his side from its strap. “Feels like I’m being suffocated. I can’t believe they’re making us walk all the way to the colony wearing this shit.”
“Probably think it’s good practice for when we’re out there working,” Ben replied. The strap of his weapon hung from one shoulder as he braced his hands on his hips and glared at the distant colony dome. “We’re going to be expected to be out here for hours every day laboring. Besides, they probably didn’t want to expend the gas sending the land rovers back and forth to transport us all.”
“Of course we would be worth less than the fucking gas.” Jace sighed. “Sadistic motherfuckers.”
Charlie leaned forward, allowing her upper body to sag over her knees. Turning her head to the side, she gave Jace a tired grin. “Look on the bright side. Apparently after we get our quarters and assignments, we’ll have the rest of the remaining daylight hours free.”
Jace snorted. “Do you suppose they have a tavern? If