Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Exploring an Abandoned site
A couple hours later, Strand reached the abandoned mine. Brad was already waiting outside sitting on a foldable beach chair.
"Nice chair you got there Brad, how quaint." Strand parked his vehicle and walked towards Brad before speaking through the proximity transmission radio.
There are low-orbit satellites used for their DustNet enabling seamless communication, but Brad and Strand liked to use radios.
DustNet was the equivalent of the internet on Earth except adapted for the dust storms on Mars.
"Yo I got bean bags too!" Brad responded with a smile on his face.
The mine was one of the earliest excavation sites when humans first settled on Mars. Despite the capability of reclaiming the mine, city officials were too lazy to direct funds in derelict mines.
Early technology left behind certain dangers in the structure and power supply in the tunnels and caverns.
Waving his hand, Brad guestered at Strand to follow him.
The entire site was located on top of a relatively small mound inside of a huge crater.
The mine was actually separated into 4 parts. The outside was a large main compound which housed the control room, living quarters, kitchen etc.
There is also a tall signal receptor near the middle. The entrance to the mine was just outside of the main compound with a large platform that would descend and ascend when operated.
Surrounding the large compound were much smaller human-sized capsules that together would've generated a semi-permeable force field.
That was one of the first gen force fields, crudely large and outdated.
Domes were not an option at the start of the Mars settlement because they were extremely expensive to make or transport.
The 2nd part was the nuclear generator of the mine, the most outdated and dangerous part of the whole site.
Not long after descending into the mine, they passed through several corridors and rooms before setting up their tools.
Although the duo were in their space suits, they imagined the smell of mustiness in the air due to the empty quiet environment.
This was the 3rd part, a separate underground compound that connected the caverns and surface.
"Alright, everything looks so far so good. But I think we should still do a more thorough check on the rooms and foundation," Strand nodded his head as he spoke to Brad.
"Ok ok, sounds good! Then I'll check out the caverns and you can explore the rooms!" Brad responded as he jogs away.
Strand got to work. He opened a large heavy duty suitcase containing several important looking things.
He pulled a material composition reader then began scanning the entire subterranean compound.
In one room, he found boxes that looked like belongings forgotten to be taken away.
In another room, he found out that it was the botanic garden used for growing food and fauna. It seems that plants were not only to be eaten but to keep the moral up.
In a rather large room, he found out that it was the medbay or some kind of lab where some shelves still stocked some hemostatic shots and other medical supplies.
Taking a look, he knew those were obviously not as good as his newer gen shots.
Hemostatic shots were the equivalent of hot pockets that keep your hands warm. It's purpose is to catalyse the healing process by many folds depending on the grade of the serum.
It could be reused after it is recharged with saprolite type-H. It goes up to 3 levels of saprolite type-H purity. The highest being the best.
Basically the saprolite type-H a somewhat viscous liquid would be stored on the shot and when needed, passes through a grain which filters out the healing properties into the body.
The grain could only be used 3 times before it had to be recycled into scrap.
Strand thought to himself as he reveled in his dream, "If I can get enough money and make this my base, it'll be so amazing!"
Now Strand was excited by the prospect of making a hang-out or rather a base. The structures and utilities were sound and solid.
It was abandoned but definitely not broken.
Strand nodded in satisfaction. With a new goal in mind, he was ready to seriously invest in Brad's idea.
Ok so the only problem are oxygen filtration, temperature control and the safety level of the nuclear generator
The oxygen was perhaps the most important at this time as the colonies were facing a planet-wide dust storm.
Dust storms on Mars are far more dramatic than that of Earth's. They last for years and can encompass nearly the entire planet.
Right now, there were signs of the storm beginning to recede within the next few months.
With a to-do list in mind, Strand walked around trying to find the control room. Luckily in a few minutes, he found a holographic map, it was a general outline showing the important areas.
It was still on, meaning the nuclear generator should be working fine.
After he reached the control room, he began cleaning up the area preparing to stuff the miscellaneous items in a storage room.
As Strand was cleaning, he found an upright human-sized cryochamber like cylinder near the control deck of the room. He couldn't really see what or who was inside and kept it in mind. After a while, the room was finally cleaned up.
*CRRZ*
The sound of radio static reverberated faintly across the room.
"Brad can you hear me?" Strand sat down on an office chair as he tapped into the short-range radio.
"Yeap, loud and clear. What's up?" Brad replied before quickly adding, "Oh perfect timing! I just found something, you gotta check this out!"
"Alright, sure I actually called you to ask if you found the nuclear generator by chance?"
"Er nope, but I think I found something way cooler."
"Alright i'll be right there after checking out the oxygen and temperature system."
With that, Strand stopped the radio and began looking through an old manual. Before coming to the mine, he downloaded information about the schematics of early mines of Mars.
Turning on the control system, he waited for it to boot up.
Soon, the dark screens on the control deck awoke to life as the entire room lit up with various machines making all sorts of noises. There was an Earth Federation flag and what seemed like some unknown company's logo on the main screen of the control deck.
Then right after a screen asking for ID appeared.
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