It has been a couple of days since the Artemis crew landed. You are supervising a geological survey from the rover. It is fun watching the team work on something that is worthwhile. You start tapping on the console. Your thoughts about an impending storm are interrupted. Thank goodness. 

"Armstrong base to Fifi rover," Kelsey's voice crackles to life in the rover. Why did the team have to agree on Fifi as the name of the rover? That is something you will have to ask Kelsey about. You wish you could have called it something like voyager from star trek.

"This is the Fifi rover. I read you loud and clear. What can I do for you?" You respond. You get the feeling that it may be about the dust storm that will be hitting in three hours.

"You have an hour left before you have to come back," He sounds like it is the end of the world.

"Roger that over and out," You respond as you get up. Two minutes later you have joined the science team. Cassidy joins you at your side. She knows something is up.

"So commander what's the deal?" Liesel asks. You know she is talking about the incoming storm.

"We should start loading the samples as soon as possible," You respond. You gesture for the team's attention. They all stop what they are doing.

"We should wrap up here and return," You order. To your surprise, they listen. Five minutes later You are on your way back. The others are looking out of the window. You can tell that they are worried that the storm will beat the rover to the base. If it does you will have to rely on the nav charts. The comms system crackles to life this time it is Roman and he is worried.

"Armstrong base to Fifi rover,"

"This is Fifi over," You respond. You decide to make it quick.

"I've double-checked the power generators. The engineering team and I have made sure that they can withstand the storm but I'm not sure if the water generators can. Kelsey has told us to see what we could do but we both thought we should check with you." He explains. At least you can trust Kelsey's judgement for now

"Do what you need to do. Over and out," you respond. Hopefully, it either isn't a long storm or they can fix it. You try to see if you can push the rover for more speed. It works. Thirty minutes later you have made it back to the base. You have thirty minutes to spare so you decide to see if you can help Roman's team.

"Is there anything I could help with?"

"Нет, but I think," He is cut off by a power surge. He throws himself back to avoid serious injury but it backfires. He has hit his head on a rock. His helmet has sustained damage.

"I need help," You call out to anyone who is listening. You try your best to make a seal with your hand. Liesel comes running. She quickly helps you lift Roman up. He is struggling to breathe but he has passed out from the wound on his head, not the lack of oxygen. A minute later you have made it back inside. You quickly get one of the emergency oxygen supplies. You take his helmet off and you get to work on administering the oxygen.

"I'll get Ivan and Connor," Liesel responds. You nod because you are making sure Roman is responsive. You hear a groan fall from his mouth. Ten seconds later Ivan and Connor have made it. They double-check Roman who is now fully conscious.

"Why are all of the serious accidents happening to me?" He mumbles. Clearly the pain in his temple is too much.

"I don't know but what would help is if you stopped putting yourself in these situations," Ivan retorts. Connor shots you an odd look as if to say there is something different about the way that Ivan cares for Roman. You know he wants to ask you something but has decided to withhold his question. An hour later the storm has hit and you are making sure that the base has enough power. Thanks to the engineers it does. Your thoughts are interrupted.

"Excuse me, Commander. I have something I need to ask," Connor remarks. You get the feeling he may be going to ask about Roman and Ivan.

"Is there something between Ivan and Roman?" He is trying his best to be diplomatic about his question.

"You'll have to talk about it with them," You respond. You know it's not for you to reveal anyway. At least he is taking your advice and talking to you. You feel a rumble from your belly.

"I'm going to get something to eat. You're welcome to join me," You offer.

"I'm good, thank you," Connor politely refuses. Two minutes later you've made it to the mess hall and you are looking through the ration packs. You feel a pair of hands wrap around your waist.

"You should try the salad, schatzi," Kelsey remarks.

"I was thinking of the butter chicken," You respond as you find the right pack. You wiggle free of Kelsey's embrace. You get to work on making sure it is cooked. Thirty seconds later you have finished and you are joined at your table by Kelsey. You have settled into a deep thought trance about the effects of the storm. You are slowly getting through your food.

"Hey schatzi," Kelsey fights for your attention.

"Yes Kels," you respond.

"It will be alright," He tries to reassure you. He is right. It will be fine because you have a good team. Two weeks have gone by since the storm hit and the base is a hive of activity since the storm has passed. You are relieved that it wasn't a long one. You are getting ready for another scientific outing with the team.

"Hey Commander I was thinking that we could try the area by the foothills," Cassidy suggests. You assume that she is telling you her plan because you will be the one at the controls.

"That's fine but I have to make sure the engineering team will be fine clearing the dirt first," You get the feeling that you should have joined the engineering team but you know the science is more fun.

"No worries Commander," Cassidy confirms. Five minutes later everyone but you have gotten into the rover. You are talking to Pierre. he is optimistic about the progress that his team and Roman's are making.

"Everything is looking good but Roman and I are having trouble getting some dust out of one of the power generators," Pierre gives you a mostly good report.

"Thank you. Now I'd better get back to Fifi because the science team is itching to depart to the foothills," You respond. A minute later you have made it to the rover and you have imputed the location in the nav charts.

"Thank you for doing this with us Commander," Dane speaks up.

"Don't worry about it. To be honest I was starting to feel a little cramped and I know Kelsey can handle things while I'm gone," You reply. Twenty minutes later the rover has made it to the selected location and the science team has descended on the hills. You lean back in the chair. You are glad that you now get some time to reflect on what brought you here. You are soon interrupted.

"Dane to Fifi do you receive me?" Dane's voice crackles through the comms system.

"Yes, Dane what can I do for you?" You can tell he is being a bit optimistic.

"We have found something that we want you to look at,"

"I'll be there in a minute," You respond. You quickly get ready. Thirty seconds later you have joined the scientists. They are bouncing with excitement. Scott shows you some odd-looking crystals.

"You know how we are looking for signs of water," Scott starts his explanation of what is in his hands.

"Yes and you are showing me what could be possible evidence," You read his mind. He gives you a quick nod. You are impressed at the speed that the science team is making progress but you know that something will go wrong. Hopefully, it will go wrong once the next wave comes. You can't believe that you have started it to think about something that is five years down the track. An hour later they have finished collecting the samples and You are making your way back. You hear a loud clunk as the rover comes to a stop. Well you know something has gone wrong.

"Commander, what is going on?" One of the science officers asks. You check the display which is flashing the same red as the starship in an emergency.

"I'll have to go look but I think that the axle has jammed because of the dust," You say as you make your way to the back of the rover to get some stuff. You leave the vehicle. You climb underneath it. You double-check the wheels and the axles. You are glad that you have the engineering expertise.

"Fifi to Lilly," Your comms come to life.

"I read you loud and clear," You respond as you start to clean the dust from the wheel bearings.

"Is it a simple fix?" Scott asks.

"Yup it is over and out," You decide it would be better for you to focus on the cleaning. Five minutes later you have done the best you can in the circumstances. You head back into the rover. The screes have turned back to the normal shade of blue. You input the home destination so that the science team can get to the lab to have a look at their samples. You hope that it is a sign of water. Fifteen minutes later you have made it back and so has the engineering team. You are all gathered for a communal lunch.

"So did you guys find anything?" Benji asks.

"We have something that may be evidence of water but we don't know," Cassidy responds.

"We are hopeful, however," Scott adds.

"So Kels two things I need someone to check the rover and how are the engineering teams going?" You decide to make one of the engineers aware of the rover's issues.

"I will get on it after lunch and we have finished all of the main tasks," Kelsey responds. You find his confidence contagious. You are glad that he has that ability.