After putting on my spacesuit, I left the moon base, as LunAI told us to get to work. My job was to operate the machinery outside, so I had to go there. I didn't know what machines I would work with or how to work with them, so I was going into the unknown.
I bravely stepped outside and looked around. I saw a solar panel field on my left and train tracks on my right. Suddenly, I heard the synthetic voice of LunAI through my radio.
- George, please proceed to the refinery. To get there, cross the train tracks and continue forward until you see an H-class rover ahead of you - It said. It took me a moment to remember my fake name and realise that I was, in fact, meant to receive this message.
The Lunar Express was far away, so I crossed the tracks without hesitation. I found the refinery. It was a white, rectangular building with a roof of solar panels on the ceiling. The white walls were covered in moon dust, but the same cannot be said for the airlock, which was clean. Peeking through the window, I saw Sebastian trying to activate a strange device. Upon getting a closer look, I realised that the device was some kind of microscope, with some moon dust about to be examined. Sebastian noticed me and called me through the walkie-talkie that I luckily had with me.
- Do you know how any of this stuff works? I really need to get this going - Sebastian said in a stressed voice.
- Sorry, but I have no idea how that thing works, but I'm guessing that there should be an activation button somewhere on this behemoth - I replied, but Sebastian clearly didn't hear me.
- Are you there, Sebastian? - I asked with no response.
- George, you are deviating from your path. Please proceed to the rover - LunAI interrupted us. With no other choice, I entered the rover. Fortunately, it was labelled as an H class one, so I didn't have many problems with finding it. As I entered the vehicle, Sebastian called me through the radio (somehow).
- That AI intercepted us, which is not cool in any way. Luckily, I got this thing working, so thanks for the help, I guess... - He said. I was afraid that LunAI would disconnect us by force again, but I replied anyway.
- By the way, do you know how the others are doing? - I asked out of curiosity.
- Uhh... I don't... - He replied. I caught him off guard.
- No worries, I heard what you were talking about, and I can provide some information - said Dawn, intercepting us.
- Wait, how can you hear us? - I asked in shock.
- I'm in the same room as Sebastian, duh - She replied.
- Yeah, we're working on the same thing, as that's how LunAI decided - Sebastian explained the situation to me.
- Anyhow, from what I heard, Amber... I mean, Emilia Mendoza is growing plants in the garden with a woman and is clearly not amused by it. Cameron is trying to fix a wire, but LunAI keeps telling him that he's doing it incorrectly, and I'm here with Carter - said Dawn - I asked LunAI about them, claiming that I'm their friend and want to see them.
- Aaaaaaaand she didn't meet any of our people, because LunAI forced her into work under the name Maya Edwards - Sebastian finished the story.
- Okay, I must get to work too. Bye! - I ended the call whilst processing the stuff that I heard.
- George, please drive the rover to the mines. The controls are extremely simple, as they were designed to be as intuitive as possible - LunAI instructed me. The rover was pretty spacious, or as spacious as a bright grey box on wheels could be. There were only two seats; I sat in the driver's seat. It was pretty simple to drive; the main difficulty was operating the claw. Trying to fold it, I almost smashed it into the wall of the refinery.
I learned from LunAI that I was supposed to come to the mines to help with ice extraction. I reached the place, trying not to destroy anything along the way. I found out how the ice extraction process works: first, heated drills crack the hard lunar ice into small chunks that are then loaded by H-class rovers onto the Lunar Express to deliver them to various buildings. By the way, the "H" stands for Heavy.
- For convenience, a radio connection will be established between you and the operator of the heated drill - LunAI told me. Soon enough, I heard Jeff's voice on the radio.
- Hello, this is Max - He introduced himself with his fake name - Can anyone hear me?
- Yes, this is George, the operator of the H-class rover - I got used to my fake name.
- No way they placed you in that one. Now we're working together. Have you seen anything suspicious? - Jeff/Max asked me.
- Not really, except for LunAI intercepting our calls - I replied, hoping that the AI didn't hear me.
- You think that the mole is an AI? - He asked, intrigued.
- I honestly don't know. Let's get to work before that machine intercepts us again - I unfolded the claw of my rover, trying not to hit the drilling vehicle. The drill activated with a mechanical roar. The metal was red from the heat when it pierced the ice. I watched it crumble as many smaller fragments chipped off and flew away in low gravity. The vehicle backed up, which meant that it was my time to shine.
I slowly manoeuvred the claw and grabbed a large chunk of ice, making sure not to drop it. I carried it into an empty wagon of the Lunar Express and let go. To my surprise, nothing was destroyed in the process. I repeated this procedure a few times and quickly filled the wagon. As the Lunar Express set off towards an unknown building, we moved our vehicles to the next ice deposit. Before we started mining, Amber called me on the radio.
- Hello, Chr... George, am I audible? - She asked in a quiet tone.
- Yes, what's the matter? - I asked her.
- I interrogated the biologist, Dr Elisa Brown, and she seems to be innocent. However, whilst planting potatoes and trying not to fall asleep, I saw a guy snooping around the area and tampering with one of the mining rigs near the base. He is suspicious, in my opinion - She explained.
- Do you remember what he looked like? - I continued asking.
- Not really, but there was a large scratch on his left arm. That should make him recognisable - She replied.
- Okay, we'll keep track of him - Jeff interrupted us.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZBMWAWLXP
- Thanks, guys! I must come back to the garden, as Dr Elisa is looking for me. Bye! - With that, she ended the call.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zmuSpX7lq
On our way to the next ice deposit, we were observing the environment. Between the various machines, many people were moving back and forth. Right as we were about to begin the excavation, we noticed the guy with a scratch on his left arm. He was moving between the rovers and getting closer to a mining rig.
- I see the suspect - I notified Jeff.
- Ok, should we tell Emilia? - He used Amber's fake name.
- I don't think we should, as she's busy. I think we should tell Carter, he has the connection with the others and should know about the suspicious dude - I proposed, and Jeff agreed, so I called Sebastian through the radio.
- Hello, this is Carter - He started.
- Okay, Carter, this is George Williams. Max and I have spotted the suspect. He's near the mining rig west of the refinery - I explained the situation.
- What suspect? - Sebastian asked in confusion. That was unexpected.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzip2dHIu4
- I thought Emila told you - Jeff was also surprised.
- Oh, right, that suspect! Sorry, I have a lot of work and it's hard to keep track of everything that's going on - He replied.
- I can go there, as I finished my work. The mining rig is nearby - Dawn/Maya took the initiative.
- Okay, Maya, go there, but first notify the others. We must keep an eye on this man - Sebastian spoke with confidence, again.
- I'll do that - Dawn replied. After that, she left, and Sebastian ended the call.
We got closer to the man in our vehicles. He reached the mining rig and did something with the control panel, but from such a distance it was hard to tell what he was up to. We saw Dawn in a spacesuit leaving the refinery. Unfortunately, the suspect finished his work and left. He quickly disappeared behind a grey hill. Luckily, we had an advantage, as our vehicles were faster than his. Dawn was also getting closer.
We crossed the hill and saw the Russian Moon Base up ahead.
ns216.73.216.13da2
and then Add to home screen.