The Curse of Europa by Brian Kayser Read Free Book Online Page A

just the ice plates moving a little.”
“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking too,” Turk responds back, “Do you think it is anything to worry about?”
“No, I don’t think so. Once we get all the seismic monitoring equipment set up, we can keep a closer eye on it. Have you fired up the probe yet?” Hicks asks, more concerned about that, than of any typical seismic activity.
“Nope, in about 15 minutes though.” Turk responds, hoping he can keep that promise. He senses Hicks will be annoyed with an answer reporting anything longer.
“Okay, we’ve had ours going for about 30 minutes now, has already gone a few meters. We are just about ready to head back to Eagle-2.” Hicks responds back smugly.
“Acknowledged. We’ll see you back there in about an hour. Turkovitch out. So Juliana, does that surface probe of yours detect any seismic activity?”
“Well, not right now, but I just got it configured and turned on. I’ll check the readings back at Eagle-2, after it has had some time to baseline,” she replies.
     
They take about 10 more minutes to finish constructing the support rig, then they set up the probe and engage the power. They monitor it for about 45 minutes, to make sure it is working properly, and then head back to Eagle-2. It will take over 40 hours for the probe to drill and melt its way through the nearly 3,350 meters of ice at this location. This is over 3 kilometers of ice, but is much thinner than most of the rest of the surface, which is estimated to be over 24 kilometers thick. They will return the next morning.
     
The drive back to Eagle-2 is pretty silent, as they both just take in the sights. Any conversation that does occur is centered mostly on the scenery. Without the torpedo probe in tow, Turk is taking a slightly different route back to the ship, which is a little more challenging; much to his delight. Juliana desperately wants to talk about their interrupted discussion the night before, but knows they can’t on the com unit. However, once they finally get to smoother terrain, where Turk isn’t constantly turning the wheels back and forth to avoid ruts and ravines, he reaches over and grabs her hand. She smiles.
     
     

Chapter 8: Place Your Bets
B ack at Eagle-2, Turk and Juliana have taken off their bio-suits, cleaned themselves up, and are now eating a late lunch with Hicks, Fedoseev, and Glover.
“So… I hear that the boys back home have placed some bets on whose probe is going to break through the ice first,” Glover informs the two EVA teams. “I hear that even General Navox pledged some credits to the pot,” he says with a slight laugh.
“Well I hope that Navox and any smart ones put their money on EVA Team 1,” Hicks announces proudly with a boom in his voice as usual. “We do have about an hour jump on you guys,” he continues, looking at Turk and Doctor Evans with a confident smirk.
“Yeah… well, you may have gotten a little jump putting in, but we took our time to find the prime location! We found a spot that is probably 750 to 1000 meters thinner, than where you guys put in, so I think that more than negates your little head start,” counters Turk with a smile.
“It seems, that you should place your credits vhere your mouth is,” Doctor Fedoseev says with his Russian accent. He is always up for a little gambling.
“Oh?? What are you thinking, comrade ?” Turk asks, knowing exactly what he was thinking.
“Vell, I vould advise fifty credits should make due – Yes?” Fedoseev says, while twirling the end of his mustache.
“Jeez - Fifty? Did you say fifty credits?” confirms Evans, a little shocked as that is about a week’s pay.
“Da... er, I mean yes, fifty all,” Fedoseev acknowledges.
Turk responds, “Okay, so fifty credits each, for whichever probe reaches liquid water first. That doesn’t really seem fair though… for you two that-is, but if you want to give away your credits, that is fine with me!” Fedoseev and Hicks nod in agreement,