Total recall? "
By: Teilani Dane, Chief Medical Officer, [PC]

Stardate: 58208.15 1900

The wind was blowing and finally the heat had subsided. In the distance a man looked out over a small valley. His long coat and reddish brown hair blowing in the wind, his face partially covered by a breathing devise.

Nobody knew how long he had stood there but around his feet small heaps of red sand had formed.

"Do you still think they will come." He heard a voice saying behind him. He turned and watched an older man climbing up towards him.

"I don’t know Jacob." He said. Joshua Dane hadn't heard any news from his network of spies. Ever since the resistance knew the Zion would come he had been up this mountain look up to the sky, praying for a miracle.

"There is not much we can do Joshua," Jacob said. “We can only hope that they got our message and that your sister is willing to participate.”

Josh nodded and adjusted his breathing gear. "My main concern is the grid. Somehow they need to find a way to disable it, get the Zion through it, enable the grid again and all before the Feds detect it."

"Perhaps we can create a diversion, so that the Feds don't focus on the outpost. After all it is only manned by about 5 Fleeters.

"That would be an idea if we knew when they were coming but we don’t." Josh replied. "Besides we do not have the assurance that the Maquis will aid us. They did not agree to our last action remember?"

Jacob nodded. "Yes that was indeed unfortunate, and with the elimination of Xavier by the Feds, contact has indeed been strenuous."

Josh looked up at the sky and threatening clouds came rolling in. "We should go down below, there is a storm coming." He said and pulled his coat a little tighter.

Turning around both men walked slowly down the mountain slope. Climbing down an access hatch they ended up in a large underground cavern. The signs of mining tools were clearly visible and small beams of light showed them their way. Nothing was said between them as they walked along. Each was preoccupied with their own thoughts. In comparison with the surface the underground caverns were hot, heat generated by the mining operations was used wisely. Despite the terraforming Mars was still a harsh planet to live on.

Finally they reached a large chamber sparsely lit, shadows were playing in the far corners. The space was surprisingly intact, giving the geothermic shudders, only a few places show where rubble from above had fallen through.

It was also full of people. Most were adults, fairly young though. But there were also other humans and a number of small children. Then a noise rang out, like the snarl of a targ. Then a blur of reddish fur came rushing toward them. Joshua braced himself as a big retriever jumped up to him. His tail moving back and forth.

"Easy King, easy," Joshua said patting the dog on the head, which made it jump excitedly between the two man.

The dog calmed somewhat when Joshua continued to stroke him. Then a young girl came running to them. "I'm sorry Daddy." She said. "He got away from me."

"Make sure that next time he is on a leash Azi." Joshua said as he hugged his youngest daughter. She giggled as he messed up her hair and kissed her. "Daddy you are prickly!!! Come King…." She called to the dog and ran off.

"She is growing up fast Joshua." Jacob said.

"True Jacob," he responded. "And that's why we need to get help soon. I don't want to loose her."

He walked over to a young brown haired woman who was monitoring an old rag tagged communication devise. "Any news?" he asked.

She shook her head. "No… nothing…." She said look up at him a shattered and tired look in her eyes.

"Get some rest, Nalini can take over from you." Joshua said. "Go home."

The young woman nodded. "See you in the morning."