Marscape "
By: James McIntyre , Doctor , [NPC]
Teilani Dane, Chief Medical Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58207.28 2220

Teilani stood on the holodeck, the wind blew through her red hair. As soon as the holodeck was available, Dane called McIntyre to meet him there. She turned as she heard the holodeck doors open.

“James,� she said. “Glad you could make it."

"I couldn't pass up the opportunity," he said with a smile, "I've never been to Mars before."

"Welcome to my home planet."

James McIntyre looked around. It was a little chillier than he thought it would be. Some how, he thought it would be a hot arid desert. The ground was evenly littered with jagged rocks and formations which seemed to float on a sea of red sand. It stretched in all directions to the vast horizon. There, sky's reddish pink hues coalesced as if to form a large celestial dome which sealed everyone and everything in.

“Are you ready for the tour?� Teilani said and she pointed around.

Almost to breathless to reply, McIntyre replied, "yea.."

“Mars obtained its name due to its deep, war-like red colour. The Romans named the planet after their god of war, Mars. Over there we have Olympus Mons,� she explained pointing to a large mountain-like structure in the west, the largest volcano in the solar system is named after Mount Olympus, the home of the Greek and Roman gods and goddesses. It is 24 kilometres high, and the top of it is 70 kilometres wide; the base is about 600 kilometres wide."

"Breathtaking," said McIntyre.

"This volcano is now dormant, but was active millions of years ago. Can you imagine the firework during an eruption?� she said passionately.

He turned to look. The holodeck had shifted the landscape slightly. Even from where they stood, the distant volcano was disproportionate to everything else in view, rising up so incredibly high, so incredibly symmetrical.

"It would probably blow lava straight into space," said McIntyre observantly.

Teilani nodded. “Mars has two moons, Phobos and Deimos, they are named after Fear and Panic, the two lackeys of Mars.�

He smiled and nodded, "of course."

The landscape shifted yet again.

“Follow me,� she said and started down a small slope, the red sand swirled around her feet. “Mars is about half the size of the planet, Earth. Unfortunately it's thin atmosphere is slowly being blown away by the sun's solar wind. However, its atmosphere forms clouds, and sometimes supports planet-wide dust storms. We managed to overcome this by creating underground structures and those you see over there.� Teilani pointed in the distance, where bright white sphere like bulbs could be seen.

"How is it we're able to breath? I thought the martian atmosphere was generally to thin?"

“True and the air is too chilly, we have over come that by terraforming and medical intervention which helps produce more red blood cells, so we are able to sustain that. On some days we do have to wear light breathing equipment, especially after a big storm."

"The Klingons would have loved it here," commented McIntyre, "..it could be called, 'planet bloodbath' or something," he mused.

Teilani grinned. “Well its reddish color is due to the iron oxide - commonly known as rust - that is in the soil.� She picked up a hand full of dust.

He watched as the wispy sand sifted through her fingers.

“What about the polar ice caps is a true that they have been used to help make the atmosphere?� Mcintyre asked.

“True, we do have polar ice caps. These huge caps of water and carbon dioxide ice expand and shrink due to seasonal changes.� She explained further, they were used to terraform the spheres.

"Aren't there huge canals and glaciers too?"

Before she could answer, the landscape changed again. Now, they were unmistakably near the lip of the giant vulcano.

“We have.� Teilani said. “you see those canals?� she said pointing.

McIntyre studied the deeply carved crevices far below.

These canals and "seas" cover the entire planet. According to our scientists the canals may have been waterways many millions or billions of years ago, but they are now dry, as are the seas. The seas were probably oceans that covered parts of Mars. Archaeologists have found prehistoric life dated back million of years.

Both James and Teilani halted as they came to a large canyon.

"Wow," said McIntyre as he peered into the chasm.

“Welcome to Valles Marineris, or Mariner Valley, “ Teilani said with a chuckle. This canyon is one of the longest canyons in the solar system. Its about 4000 kilometres wide. It ranges from 5 to 8 kilometres deep. Come to think of it, if this canyon was on earth it would stretch from New York to Los Angeles.�

"Hardly a valley then is it?"

Teilani turned to James, her eyes sparkling. “Now you see why I love my home world. Its rough, wild and some places still untameable.

"It is a pretty amazing place, but doesn't it all look the same after a while?"

“Oh no it doesn’t.� Teilani said with a smile. “After a storm the whole surface is re-landscaped. The dunes in the east have either shrunk or grown. The rays of the sun cast different shadows every day.

He raised his brow, "sounds wicked."

Teilani grinned. “Each day on Mars takes 1.03 Earth days, which is approx 24.6 hrs. A year on Mars takes 687 Earth days; it takes this long for Mars to orbit the sun once�

McIntire scratched his head, "that make me what? 12 years old here?" he said with a grin.

Teilani laughed, "funny isn't it," she said still gniffling. "Shall we go to the city?"

"Sure."

Teilani pointed at a big gate like entrance, "thats an airlock, once we are true there you will be amazed."

"Its too late, I already am," he said smiling at Dane.

A loud hiss sounded as the door mechanism spread apart. As both of them went through the airlock it closed again with a loud metallic clunk which reverberated down the corridor. The noises of people could be heard in the distance. A display of vibrant colours, like yellow, green, blue greeted their eyes.

"So you see James, its not all red here."

"Beautiful."

He looked around, "This is so different."

"I'm glad you like it."

McIntyre ran his fingers over an intricately set, almost gaudy mosaic that adorned the corridors. "I didn't say I liked it," he said with a cynical smirk.

Teilani rolled her eyes. “Men,� she thought. "You see James, because of the harsh environment, the struggle we have to go through in order to make a living here, made Mars and its people stand up against oppressors. As I told you Mars was named after a god of war and as long as I know we always have had a rebellious attitude to it all. Whether it was to the Federation occupation or to those who are helping us to liberate our selves, Marsian people are survivors, they refuse to give up."

"Like the infamous Terra Prime cell or today's underground," said James acknowledging what he knew of Martian culture.

"Exactly James, you do know your history." Teilani said.

"I know a thing or two," admitted McIntyre. Dane paused outside a small shop. A storekeeper greeted them from the open door way and offered Dane some samples of his wares.

"Here taste this." Teilani said giving James some candy, the shopkeeper had given her.

James regarded the morsal and put it in his mouth. "Mmmmfph!"

He smiled, "delicious, you gave me one of these a long time ago, you keep them in a little wooden box in your office cabinet." he said. "But what are they?"

"Well this is Marsian delight." Teilani answered smiling, she put a little piece of the candy in her mouth.

"No doubt manufactured here," he said licking the tips of his fingers as he studied the small store which appeared to be carved into the rock of the cavern and then fitted with high tech building materials.

"Thats right." Slowly they walked on, Teilani gave James enough time to take in the various shops and people. Their bickering about prices, laughter of the children etc.

"Over here we have the hydroponics gardens, not only are they beautiful but they also provide a lot of the oxygen you are breathing here. Are you ready to go underground?"

"Sure, lead the way," said McIntyre gesturing.

Coming to a small bunker like structure Teilani handed James a small lantern. "The first part is quit dark and your eyes need to adjust to the different light."

After walking several minutes McIntyre stopped to examine the walls, "What's this?" he asked.

"Well the fluorescent glow you see is a sort of fungi, it illuminates the walls and we recently discovered that it contains a good antibiotic."

"Of course," said McIntyre, "Luciferous Omphalia, I bet."

"There could be some popping in your ears, we are going down quit a fair bit."

"How far?"

"About 3 kilometers." Teilani said. As the lift halted a different earth, sand like smell reached their nostrils. "We take shelter here when the big storms hit. They can last up to one week." Teilani explained.

"How deep do these caverns go?"

"Nobody knows how far nor how deep the caves go, a lot of them have been excavated and explored but a lot of them are still uncovered and dangerous. Now you see why the Federation had a hard time getting a foothold on this planet."

"Makes sense too," he said turning to Dane, "and ergo, 'The Underground' I suppose."

"I suppose so," Teilani said lowering her voice a little. "Its better not to use the word underground too often, you never know who listens."

The comment struck McIntyre's curiosity. It was almost an odd, paranoid thing to say.

"Uhm, sure," he said in response.

"I know we are on the holodeck but even those can have ears."

McIntyre's curiosity was no even more intense. His brow furrowed slightly but he knew he probably shouldn't press for more info.

"So where are we now?" he asked.

Teilani looked around. "It has been awhile since I have been here, we are now in Montsegro. Its an underground facility, where we can take shelter. Over there are the recycling facility, basically its has the same layout as the city above, but then only underground."

Some men in dark coverall's passed them, nodding at them.

"Martians?" said McIntyre in jest.

Teilani giggled. "Those are miners, they check if the structure is still holding out. We do have tectonic shiftings every now and then."

"Quakes? That sounds very dangerous," he said inspecting the structure above him.

"Don't worry, its very safe here." she replied still gniffling. "Do you feel that....| she asked James. A soft breeze could be felt caressing their faces.

"Its a breeze," he said with an inquisitive look.

"Thats because we have giant wind traps all over the complex. Not only are they providing for some cooling but also provide us with water, which as you have seen is scarce here."

He nodded.

"Over there are the living quarters," Teilani pointed up, so you see in fact we have it all, Mars maybe a harsh and unfriendly planet but its home."

"So you grew up here?"

Teilani nodded. "Yes, as a matter of fact our home is just around the corner, but I haven't been there in a while...... she stopped and her gaze became distant.

"What's wrong?"

"We better go up again. It's getting chilly here."

"Are you sure you don't want to visit where you lived?" he asked.

Teilani looked up at James, "maybe a quick peek wouldn't do any harm.

He smiled.

Gingerly they strolled along the streets, taking in the sights. Then they turned a corner and Teilani stopped at a small house. She could feel a lump in her throat, she knew it was only a holodeck program but the sight of the house, the old fake tree it was so life like. She could picture her family running out of the house any second now.

"This must be the place." he said

She blinked a few times. A rush of memories came flowing back to her.

"Dane?"

Teilani took a deep breath. "Sorry James, too many memories....."

"Its okay Doctor, take your time."

As they were walking back Teilani looked back at the house. Would she ever see it again but then for real. Would there come a time that they would all be together again, Josh, Melissa, Eric... She coughed.

"Doctor?"

"I m fine. We can go this way to go back above ground."

"If you are ready," said McIntyre.

The trip to the surface was done in silence. And Teilani was glad that she could see the sun again. "You know if we are lucky we can see a dust storm."

"Aren't they terribly dangerous?"

"I don't think so, according to the scientists the general appearance of the Martian storm seems consistent with an intense low pressure vortex with rising air causing cloud formation, possibly with a small core that is cloud-free, like the eye of a hurricane.

"You seem to know a lot about the weather, you should have been a meteorologist," said McIntyre with jest in his voice.

Teilani giggled. "Well if you want to survive here, you have to know something about the weather."

"With all the dangerous activity I bet there is quite a demand for doctors," said McIntyre.

"Well you know its not that bad, even though Mars is dangerous, us Martians have learn to adapt, to be one with the planet. There are hardly any accidents, but I agree that if accidents occur they're usually fatal.

He nodded as he accepted her explanation.

"So what you think of it now?" Teilani asked. "Still skeptic?"

"It seems like a nice place to visit, but I'm not sure I'd want to live here."

Teilani turned around and watched the sun set behind the mountains.... She smiled. "Computer........... arch."

They both stepped out into the corridor. The bleak white lighting took a moment to get used to. McIntyre turned to Dane, "I suppose I can see how it would grow on you."

"Believe me its a great place." Teilani said with a chuckle. "I will see you tomorrow James."

"Okay," he said, "See you tomorrow. "