[snip]

“It’s good that we will have Doctor Hunter with us going down into the tunnels,” Captain Glen told the team, ” because he has rock climbing and spelunking experience. If only we’d had him in the XXX XXXX XX XXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXX when we were XXXXXXX XXX XXXXXXX XXX XXX XXXXXXX XXX XXXXXX and we were stuck in that Upside Down Cave!” [REDACTED}

“Troy,” Glen continued, “I believe that you wish to demonstrate the most common method used to descend and ascend on the same single rope, know as the Single-rope technique ?”

Hunter ignored the taunting ‘’Captain, when Lt M’Mera who has the maps decide which is the best route to go down I’ll explain, though I’m quite sure I’m not the only one who is capable of demonstrating.’‘

“I have been comparring the newerr mapss to the olderr oness. Forrtunately, it looks like the minerrss kept them up to date with wherre they werre mining. I wissh to go wherre they werre mining lasst. When I comparre that arrea with olderr mapss, it appearrss that therre may be a way into ssome of the olderr tunnelss.”

Hunter then had this this evil- intention image of kicking Glen down the cave who’ll go down fast and furious.

The Captain, who certainly hadn’t meant his comment in any negative way, and certainly not to be scornful, insulting or mocking, was simply aware of Hunter’s record and hobbies from his personnel file. He doubted that there was anyone else on the Merri who was as capable, and with the exception of M’Mera, there was no one with the same kind of feline grace, and he didn’t want anyone to fall.

“As far as I’m aware,” Glen replied, “No! I don’t believe anyone has the same skill set. As I said, it would have come in useful when we were stuck inside that Upside Down cave a few years back, so I would know.”

Hunter placed himself where the crew could see and hear him ‘’Listen up guys ,each and everyone of you has a back pack with everything you need ,put the harness on and buckle it up ,don’t forget to wear the gloves. We are going to use a single rope attaching a carabiners for safe descent and ascent’‘ he stood for a moment thinking ‘’I have no idea what’s down there, its important not to touch anything like fungus,mushrooms and let me remind you that there could be bacteria and viruses , if there is humidity and the right environment so be careful .Were possible use sign language the less noise the better ‘’ .

The doctor gave the Captain and COS an Inertial Navigation Systems (INS)each since they were going to lead the two teams ‘’ These systems use accelerometers and gyroscopes to calculate position changes relative to a known starting point, enabling navigation in GPS-deprived environments, the rest of you have a compass for navigation and if for some reason anyone finds he or she got separated from the group forget the no noise concept use the whistle I guarantee it would blow your ear drums that’s about it …any questions?’‘ he asked hoping no one had anything.

Before strapping into the harness, Eros spoke up. “Do we really NEED all this equipment? I mean, these tunnels have probably been well used by the miners. Traversing back and forth, getting ores in and out. There’s got to be well used routes going back and forth, right? With safety protocols already in place, as well as battery powered lighting sources?”

“And the benefit of a working elevator too!” Glen replied. “Remember, the power is still off. And we should be careful of uneven floors in poor light conditions. Eros is correct, the miners will know the tunnels like the back of their hands, but we don’t!”

Hunter buckled up while listening to the Captain ‘’ We may not go where the miners were working, thus Lt M’Mera brought some older maps to check the unknown .It could be pitch black in the tunnels but we have ample light ,you brought a point about uneven ground ‘’ the doctor replied ‘’ Unfortunately our boots are not the type we should have for such an expedition, so its imperative to thread carefully and with caution ‘’.

M’Mera easily wiggled into her harness and buckled it up then put her pack on. “I sshould alsso be able to ssmell which tunnelss arre besst to go down.”

Hunter just stood ready waiting for M’Mera to show them the way .

M’Mera had the better olfactory and auditory senses, the better night vision, and she was holding all the maps, so Glen was genuinely ‘in the dark’ here. Therefore, he also waited for M’Mera to show them the way. When it was his turn Glen put on his own pack. Glen was thinking that he had only worn climbing gear once before. It was the time he had gone with Antonia to visit the hanging gardens of Ekkaia, stopping by the Museum of Izurite Antiquity, and climbing in the Crystal Mountains. She had wanted him to propose to her, and both the holiday and the relationship had gone South after that. It really wasn’t one of his best memories.

As they were walking Hunter felt a feeling of dread,it was one thing exploring the caves on Earth with his friends for he knew what they would come cross but here ? They always took great care especially when the caves were full of bats knowing the critters might carry the Ebola virus or being bitten by one and end getting rabies ,the team always made sure they would be up to date with the vaccines .

His mind went back to when he and three other friends decided to explore an under water cave with scuba diving gear but he came up with the flu and was too sick to go. His friends had entered a cave which unbeknown to them was full of sediment ,with their movements the water became too murky and they never made it out.

‘’Lt M’Mera have you any idea where we’ll stop to get inside one of the caves and search the tunnels? ‘’ he asked.
Hunter Dr.

“Maybe we shouldn’t disturb her right now, and just let her get on with her sniffing, Troy!” Glen told the doctor. Glen knew that underground, and in comparison to her night vision, her sense of smell would be far more efficacious.

• Glen, CO