Look Out Below

[Sergio Giovanni 0]

"Look Out Below"

Log entry 20: 10 January, 2155

 

Slowly but surely, Sergio scaled down the 15 metre deep shaft and reached the bottom. Using a rope from the first aid kit, Lt. Grey had tied the rope to a support on the shaft ledge for them to go down safely. Waiting for Lt. Grey to arrive, he made his way over to Commander Moore and Ensign Walker who had already come down on their own.

 

Because of the rather harsh "Whiteout" conditions of the blizzard above, Sergio could hardly make out his hand inf ront of him, much less see that shaft there or anyone climb down. Sadly, the same could be said for Commander Moore, who literally came down the shaft the hard way falling the length of the shaft when he accidentally stepped through the fragile wooden boards sealing off the shaft and falling in.

 

The Commander looked bloodied and bruised, but otherwise looked fine. After he was treated for his injuries, he followed his group, now consisting of himself, Lt(jg). Grey, Lt. Gamble and Ensign Walker through the underground aze they now findthemselves in. It doesn't take them long to ascertain that it's an Andorian dilithium mine.

 

According to his scanner, the dilithium in this part of the mne was harvested just a few days ago. But he can still detect lots of dilithium nearby. At least now, Sergio knows why twenty-six Andorian vessels intercepted the Challenger's shuttlepod from entering the planet. But, somewhere nearby has to be the place where all the dilithium is mined, and that's probably where they're all headed now.

 

But logically that place would be rather well guarded by highly trained, highly armed Andorians. Despite being away from the blizzard above, Sergio continues to shiver under his thermal jacket that provides little protection against this cold a climate. Unfortunately, the type of jacket Sergio is wearing is only designed to keep the user warm for tempuratures up to -10 degrees Centigrate.

 

Outside tempuratures were hovering at about -40, and in here, it was about -25. They stayed close together not only to prevent anyone from getting lost, but to keep warm via body heat circulation. Sergio tried to drink a bit of water from his canteen, but the water inside had frozen solid. Sighing, a thirsty and shivering Sergio struggled to keep warm and keep up with the others.