The following morning, Nireem met with Nevetsin, the patrol leaders, and the two science guys, a biologist and a food chemist. The good news was the round fruit Nivekon brought back, the small berries on a vine, and the yellow seeds in the leaf-wrapped stalks were all edible.
Nevetsin said, “I would like one of the patrols to attempt to kill one of those hairy beasts. Our people know how to butcher animals and roast the meat. If we can do that, we will have a significant food source.“
The science guys were not meat eaters, but they knew the Amilikut hunted and enjoyed many forms of meat. They didn’t object.
“Try to get one Nevetsin. But meat will be a big adjustment for most of the group,” the Commander replied.
The food chemist added, “Get more plant samples. That plant with the big leaves looks very interesting. The tree nuts might also work with the right preparation. However, some nuts have compounds that upset our digestion.”
“And check for plants that have fleshy roots. I would also like to see a bunch of that tall grass if it has seeds on the top.,” the biologist said.
“That sets some goals for today. More plant samples, More of what you brought back yesterday, and maybe a hairy beast.” Saying ‘hairy beast’ made Nireem grin. He thought, What should we call them?
“One last thing. More of our people should learn about the area. Pick someone to replace one on each team. It's just a rotation. The guys doing security stood around most of yesterday and are fresh. So have some switch places.”
The Patrol leaders nodded and set off to get ready.
“Nevetsin. Can we finish unloading the lander today?” Nireem asked.
“I think so,” he answered.
The colonists were getting a morning meal in the central meeting center. Some were milling around looking for friends, while others were seated in small groups. Enaida had visited Gergin in the medical center. He had used his crutches and was feeling better. Gergin was anxious to get out and do something.
The Commander waved to Eteppon, Retepin, and Enaida to join him.
“The patrols are out looking for food. But, in the meantime, there is more to do here.”
Enaida then asked,” Eteppon. Are you sure there is no fix to the lander's electricity? We need to charge the batteries in our eye displays. Mine is dead.”
“Unfortunately, no. The New Dawn had multiple wireless charging units in the walls. So, if you were near one, they charged automatically. But, the half-domes don’t have compatible chargers,” Eteppon explained.
“So no eye displays?”
“Sorry. And the DAP units can’t be charged either. So they will also shut down.”
Nireem shook his head, thinking, Crocit! A valuable technology was lost because The Planners didn’t provide compatible chargers!
“Sir. When do you want to deal with the bodies still on the Lander?” Enaida asked.
“We should do that today. Let's mark off a burial place and have a small ceremony. They were part of this mission.” He answered solemnly.
The Commander wanted to memorialize those who died to start this new colony. He knew the challenges they faced would likely take more lives.
“I’ll get with Aterga to find an area for the burial ground,” Enaida offered.
Eteppon added, “I’ll get the bodies off the Lander. When do you want to do it?”
“This afternoon. Retepin find volunteers to dig individual graves and some way to mark each one. I’ll say a few words.”
“The identity chips will be …,” Retepin started to say. Then he realized the DAP units were the only way they had to read implanted chips.
“Will do. And I’ll find a way to mark the graves.”
“Nevetsin's guys will unload the remaining cargo on the lander today. Eteppon, is there a place here to store it?”
“Yes. There are storage compartments in the large half-dome. I’ll get it carried up and stored,” Eteppon replied.
“We need to be sure the weapons are secured. Remove the firing control modules from the range laser weapons and store them separately.”
“Will do, Commander.”
The Commander spoke briefly to everyone in the community meeting dome. He asked for help moving the cargo unloaded from the lander, announced the burial service, and requested a brief meeting with the representatives from the living quarters.
On Board the New Dawn Orbiting Above
Ecurben and Drachcirn met in the Command Center.
“Spotting the habitat half-domes with our telescope was a relief. We know they landed. I was starting to think their descent vehicle had a design flaw,” Drachcirn said.
“Something must have happened to their radio when they landed. We want to avoid coming down in a forest,” Ecurben added.
“That thought crossed my mind.”
“Should we practice boarding again?”
“Set it up for tomorrow. It keeps the passengers occupied. We can update them on the first landing,” Ecurben decided.
“We should have one more briefing with the Advance Team. We need to be ready for anything unexpected.”
“OK. I’ll set it up for later today.”
“One more thing, Drachcirn. Have the medical specialists spread the word that the first group landed safely. That will keep their anxiety down.”
The officers had planned to descend to the surface in two days. But losing radio contact with Retepin had changed that. Now, they were rethinking the landing zone. The site should be in the general area of the first group but not so close they would be competing for the same resources and where there were fewer trees.
At the First Landing Site
The day's work was progressing nicely. There were more volunteers and fewer stops for rest. Some hauled cargo bags to their dome village, while others cleared the burial area and drove posts to mark the site. In addition, several Amilikut women ventured into the surrounding woods to look for edible plants. Digging the graves was the most demanding work. The rocky soil became thick clay once they dug down a few feet.
It was mid-afternoon when the first patrol returned with backpacks stuffed with leaf-covered husks. The food chemist told several women to cut off the yellow seeds and boil them until they were tender.
Later, another patrol appeared, dragging a heavy load toward the firepit. The men were pulling a large, dark brown heap on a sled of tree limbs. They strained to advance the sled a few feet, stopped and rested, and then repeated the process.
Several women who knew the patrol leader hurried down to greet them. They quickly recognized the men were bringing an enormous animal and called friends for help. Their shouts attracted a group of curious onlookers.
Women with long knives started butchering the carcass. The men had field-dressed the animal, so the women only had to cut away the heavy hide and divide the meat into pieces suitable for cooking. Soon, the firepit had a roaring fire, and the Amilikut women had chunks of meat on long sticks sizzling above the flames.
Roasting meat was a new experience for most of the colony. The Mamlaka and Rabizut had never eaten recognizable meat. Unfortunately, the grilling got interrupted when a call announced the burial service. A few women agreed to stay while everyone else headed to the burial site.
The burial itself was a new experience. On Tridon, cremation was universal, and a memorial service was typical. But the remains were disposed of by government-appointed groups. They didn’t have graveside services.
Nireem waited for everyone to crowd around the small burial site. In sixteen open graves lay a body wrapped in tarps. He then spoke in a firm yet solemn voice.
“This afternoon, we remember those who came with us on this mission but perished before we arrived here. We are all in this together, and we should not forget them.
This burial is very different from what we knew on Tridon. But in this new world, we have to adapt to our circumstances.
If we successfully establish our colony, our descendants will look back and recognize us as the daring Tridonians who undertook an arduous journey to perpetuate our species.”
He then nodded to the crewmen who started filling the graves. The group stood in silence. Many were thinking about what lay ahead for them.
All the patrols had returned, and the science guys had piles of plant specimens to evaluate. The men returning were tired and full of stories. Several had pushed on further than they had on the first day.
Nairben was with the patrol that hunted the hairy beast. Several men volunteered to collect some of the round tree fruit they had seen the day before and returned with stuffed backpacks.
Down at the firepit, women were still roasting large pieces. They piled platters with small slices to enable everyone to have a bit. Then, they set up a simple rack hung with thin strips. The dried meat would last without refrigeration for days. The Amilikut men liked the dried strips for lunch or snacks.
When the men from the four patrols returned, they rested in the woods where the lander had crashed. Everyone was sharing stories of what they saw. The big story was how they had killed one of the enormous horned animals.
“We started using laser-stun guns,” one explained.
“But three bursts at close range barely phased that monster,” interrupted another.
“So we fired again, six bursts this time,” another said.
“By now, the animal was dazed but just stood there, so Nivekon pushed his rifle against the animal's chest and fired. The beast jumped and ran halfway across the field before he dropped,” the first exaggerated.
There were lots of questions. Most of the patrol had hunted back on Tridon, but nothing this large. Several wanted to know how the small patrol had gutted the beast and cut off its head.
We should call them T^Nesiwa. You know, hairy monsters,” one of Nvetsin's men shouted.
“Yeah. T^Nesiwa! We killed a T^Nesiwa,” laughed another.
At the evening meal, there were platters with small pieces of roasted meat, a pot filled with boiled yellow seeds, and thin slices from the round tree fruit. The Amilikut were eager to eat the chunks of roast and tried everything, while most of the others were very cautious.
But Nireem was pleased. Most had their first taste of local food. The Commander knew the colony's survival depended on living off the land, and he thought giving the meat a name made it seem less foreign.