Viking Read Online Free Page A

soon enough. But whatever
the reason, they’re giving this project top priority. Let’s do our best to
succeed.”
    He nodded, allowing the group to break up and head for their personal cubbyholes and
the waiting vike equipment.
    Beneath his professionalism, a sense of apprehension filled Satler’s mind. It was
not normal to bump a mission so high on the priority list so suddenly. And it
definitely wasn’t kosher to keep him in the dark like this about mission
objectives.
    Something was up.
    He didn’t for a moment believe his own story about mineral deposits. Probably none
of the other scientists did either. If there was mining to be done in the far south,
why were they landing near the equator? Besides, if a planet was known to contain
valuable resources, usually the first exploratory mission was slowed down while
the company fussed about safety mechanisms and just the right scientific expertise.
    Hurrying the timetable of exploration meant even less training than normal for the
viking crews, less focused scientists back here on Earth, and poorly researched
conditions on the alien world.
    It was like a kamikaze mission for the vikings.
    Maybe it already had been a kamikaze mission.
    What was going on down there? And what could be so important or so unusual about
Erisa Beta II that the planet couldn’t wait an extra few months for human visitors?
    * * *
    Three hours later, Satler stifled a yawn, pushed back his chair, and rubbed his
eyes. They still were not online. Some of the scientists were beginning to make nasty
comments about upper management, and he didn’t blame them. If there was one thing
Satler hated, it was playing the hurry-up-and-wait game.
    He’d been called back from the golf course in Dallas out of the blue. “You’ve been
reassigned to Erisa Beta II. We need you to postpone your vacation and come back right
away,” they had said, as if his summons represented a dire emergency. So he’d hopped
the next shuttle and been at work inside the hour, his mind abuzz. Had one of their
other exobiologists quit? Had there been some momentous discovery? He was the senior
specialist in his field; maybe he was needed in an advisory capacity.
    But instead of an immediate assignment, an uplink, or even a much-needed briefing
from the powers above, he’d been stuck twiddling his thumbs and trying to placate the
rest of the scientists. Some reason to skip a vacation!
    By now he’d nearly worn out the carpet between his desk and the candy machine in
their break room, and was feeling like he could quote the meager documentation in the
mission profile. There wasn’t anything obviously unusual about Erisa Beta II. It was a
close match for Earth in most respects: lots of animal and plant life, plenty of ocean,
broad climatic variations, thick, oxygen-rich atmosphere.
    In fact, if it weren’t for the late hour and the abrupt reassignment, Satler would
have been fairly cheerful. This planet looked like a biological treasure trove, and his
love for exobiology ran deep. He had no family attachments, no serious responsibilities
other than his job, so he was content to live on junk food and catnaps, closeted away
in his office, while the mission played itself out.
    But he’d had little sleep the night before, and he’d been on track for the low 80’s
or maybe even high 70’s in the round of golf that was cut short. Already the schedule
for their shift was a mess; who knew how much longer they’d be waiting.
    At least his viking looked promising. Mike had spent man-months linked with
out-of-shape drug addicts and poorly-educated criminals—not the most pleasant of
experiences. They tired easily, often misunderstood his directions, and were difficult
to motivate. He’d even had to resort to a neural prod on occasion. He detested the
practice and avoided it more assiduously than many of his fellow scientists—but
sometimes it was the only thing that would convince a recalcitrant