The Ocean Bubble

[Joe Manning 0]

The modified probe dove through the atmosphere of Zoalus IV, its velocity checked to avoid an excess of atmospheric burn that would prematurely alert the planet's sensors. During the probe's descent toward the ocean, two others danced near the closest continents providing as much of a distraction as they could. The continents' sensor beams followed the two dummy probes while the laser towers remained primed to fire on anything that strayed too close. The ocean probe continued its dive.

 

Halfway between penetrating the atmosphere's upper layers and the ocean's surface, the probe finally alerted the sensor grid. Sensor beams emerged from both continents to lock on the probe and track its progress, but the majority of the sensors remained fixed on the two probes flying erratically near the continents. The ocean probe was apparently not close enough to cause alarm, and the sensors would no doubt affirm that it was not a planet-busting weapon to be intercepted immediately.

 

As the probe neared the surface, a particle blast from orbit struck the ocean, displacing massive amounts of water in the form of tidal waves that thrust outward from the impact point. Dozens of sensor beams swerved around to scan the event and the (suddenly more intriguing) probe. The blast created a literal dent in the ocean's surface, an envelop of air into which the probe slipped. A short time later the envelop closed, the dent smoothed, as water rushed around the probe. The device had slowed enough to avoid any significant damage; it continued relaying data back to and receiving commands from the same orbital position that had produced the blast.

 

At that position, the crew of Qob had monitored the probe's descent and its success in granting access to the planet's surface. Captain Manning nodded at the display on the Bridge sensor station. The sensor beams had swept over the ocean's surface a few times before returning their attention to the two dummy probes; apparently, nothing could be scanned under the ocean's surface. "Whoever suggested touching down on the ocean and approaching land from there gets Bourbon Points. We may just have managed to overcome obstacle #1."

 

Tapping at his ODRI, he opened a comm link to the engine room. "Shane, Verbistul's got a couple of craft in their shuttle bay. I want both of them modified for marine excursion. Let me know if it's possible and how long it will take."