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she expected anything besides they had to ration water.
No news on Earth, no information on where they were at, why they were sitting
on the floor, no plan, nothing.

 
    Michelle could almost
feel the red sand clinging to her body, her hair, her uniform. She longed for a
shower desperately. Tired, frustrated, and dirty she finished the remaining
oatmeal and made her way to the bunks. She unlaced her black boots and placed
them at the edge of her bed. They were covered in red dust just like the rest
of her.

 
    Redex, she mused to herself. What else would you
name a planet covered in red dust that sticks to you? A

 
    Michelle closed her
eyes and relaxed her body against the thin mattress.

 
      She quietly whispered, “IS activate,” and
tapped the upper part of her ear.  

 
    Please work, please work, she silently begged.

 
    A wave of relief washed
over her as the system began to chime in her ear, “IS sync to satellite
initiated.”

 
    Michelle inhaled
sharply. She hoped it would sync.

 
    “Sync failed no
satellites available. Information available from last sync, continue?”

 
    “Yes,” she whispered
quietly despite being alone in the room.

 
    “IS stream to me topic
Redex,” she continued to whisper even softer now.

 
    “Streaming topic Redex,
please wait,” the computerized tone began.

 
    Redex, a planet discovered in the momentum solar
system. Planet is approximately one-tenth the size of Earth. Redex is
classified as a minor planet. Gravitational pull similar to Earth. Redex has
two known moons, both are small and irregular in nature.

 
    Planet has no known civilization beyond one Earth
Army base and one landing and fueling zone. The landing and fueling zone is
frequented by travelers going to neighboring planets such as Zimpth and Blar .

 
    Planet with similarity to some Earth climates found
in United States, Africa, and Middle East.

 
    Intelligent inhabitants are unknown. Fauna includes include
molcos hund, species unknown. Species classified as extremely dangerous by
exploration team 700. Redex species unknown are vicious and will attack upon
sight. Dislike acidic nature of humans for food but regard humans as a
predator.

 
    Species will feed on yowee melons, tree bark, and any prey. They feed on anything low in acidicity . Anything acidic in nature disrupts their
delicate bacterial balance.  

 
    Due to low intellect, species unknown regards all
others as prey. Species is not available for domestication.  

 
    Natural foods here include yowee melons which grow into a thick vegetation. Yowee melons should not be consumed by humans as they are
highly poisonous.

 
    Climate possible to grow genetically modified high
heat resistant foods such as solanum lycopersicum and capsicum cultivars.
    “Fuck, speak English to
me. I don’t know what all these scientific terms are,” Michelle hissed.

 
    Tired, confused, and
frustrated Michelle turned the IS off and shut her eyes. Shortly, after she
drifted to sleep.  

Chapter Six

 
    It was cold in the
morning before the green sun came up to radiate heat off of the sandy plains.
It felt much like a desert on Earth. Michelle remembered that the IS did say
Redex would have terrains like those of Earth.

 
    The Commander’s voice
bellowed breaking Michelle’s thoughts, “Today, we will run. We will run ten miles.
Those who do not make it will run again tomorrow, if they do not make it
tomorrow they will run again until they do.”

 
    He paused and wrote
something down on his clipboard.

 
    “You will run to the
vegetated area that will be three miles, and then back to base will be another three
making six,” he shouted. “Do you understand?”

 
    “Sir, yes, sir,” the
soldiers said in unison.

 
    Michelle began to jog
behind the others. She knew six miles was a trek, it wasn’t undoable but it was
best to start slow, especially in this heat. She felt the cooler pack on her
neck drop a few