A New Horizon

Extraction Specialist Zain Lothar trudged through the thin layer of powder beneath his boots. The envirosuit’s heaters could barely keep up with the intense cold beyond the rubber seals. Indeed, it was not standard operating guidance to walk the surface.

But what had been standard about the last rotation?

The Europa operation had shown such promise. The initial shaft excavation had been unexpectedly smooth. It was only after the submersibles had been deployed to start probing the depths for rare mineral deposits that the troubles began.

The submersibles deployed their sonars, waiting for echoes that would point to deposits. Nobody had expected them to be pinged back.

Minutes later, everyone on the excavation command deck had collapsed, screaming as they covered bleeding ears from speakers unseen.

All except Zain. At first, he had tried to resist the screams in his head like the rest. But eventually he had stopped fighting their desperate pleas.

He had listened.

The Europans were dying, trapped beneath thousands of meters of ice while their resources dwindled. At last, their silent cries into the void had been answered. They now had a way to a new home, waters far warmer and rich with nutrients. No frozen shelf to restrain them.

Zain took the first step as he spun the emergency release valve that opened the shaft to the surface.

He took the second step as he keyed his comm.

“Command, dispatch evacuation shuttle.”

Zain smiled in anticipation. They were going home.

They were going to Earth.