There was a hush that fell over everyone watching the video feed. Which was just about everyone. Reporters stopped talking into their microphones. Technicians stopped relaying bits of data. Scientists went silent as well, though in their case it was less shock and more analysis with a side order of stage fright.
A city was clearly visible in the distance. It was obviously a city too. Roads surrounded tall structures that were mostly blue-white crystalline towers of some sort.
"Can we get closer?" asked a technician, breaking the momentary silence.
The silence returned (Hotaru yawned slightly as she wandered in so maybe that was two silences) as the unmanned drone was directed through the repeaters to switch to an approach.
"No movement," noted a technician as the Predator approached its target. "There are vehicles on the 'roads' and they aren't moving either."
"Plant growth intruding into the 'road' area, looks like some kind of vine," said another technician.
"We need full environmental closure around the anomaly," said one of the scientists. "If it was a plague of some kind..."
"Then it is likely already here," said Professor Natsume, glaring at the scientist. "Regardless - go ahead."
"Bringing up detail on one of those vehicles," said the first technician.
"Supposed 'vehicles'," corrected the second technician.
"It's got wheels," pointed out the first technician, a little testily.
"Shaddup."
"No, YOU shut up!"
"Military lapdog!"
"Ivory Tower Twit!"
"Don't make me come over there," said Professor Natsume.
April 8, 1991. 11:58am Toyohashi Crater Command Center
"Initial reports in. Air's nearly sterile as far as we can tell," said Iwasawa on a computer videolink. "No growth in any of the culture plates."
"That doesn't make any sense," said Professor Seiga. "There are plants showing. If they survived, surely bacteria and the like did."
"It lets out the possibility of plague at least," said one of the replacement technicians. "A plague wouldn't wipe out airborne bacteria."
"Did I hear some technician with some itty bitty education actually trying to play scientist?" asked Professor Seiga.
"But I-" said the technician, suddenly having the Professor leaning down over him.
"Don't think. Little two-year degree types should leave such to the professionals!" said Professor Seiga. "Now. It seems likely that if there was some sort of plague - it wouldn't have killed off other bacteria and virii in the biosphere. Therefore there is a significant chance that we can rule off plague."
The technician muttered something under his breath.
"What was that?" asked the Professor.
"Nothing," said the technician.
"What about atmospheric sampling by the rovers," asked Professor Seiga.
"Slightly higher oxygen content but not significant if you're on the surface for short periods," said Iwasawa. "If we put together a camp for that city exploration we'll need to filter the air anyway."
"Of course we shall put together a camp," said Professor Seiga. "Am I not Professor Isao Seiga, here on the request of the Japanese government?"
"Yes, Professor," said Iwasawa. "The very Professor that Professor Natsume has described in such... flattering terms."
"That crackpot? Who cares what he says," said Seiga, waving off even Natsume's name as if it were a bothersome fly. "I shall lead this endeavor myself."
"No you won't," said Iwasawa.
"Of course I will," said Seiga.
"Professor, you are a noted linguist, archaeologist, and climatologist," said Iwasawa. "Like history's Galileo - you are well known as a scientist. You are also a major pain in the butt to work with, like Galileo, and you often fail to provide corroborating data, like Galileo. If the Japanese government hadn't insisted on getting you in on this project, you wouldn't be allowed past the security cordon."
"Bother not a genius with such trifles," said Seiga. "Besides - that boy over there is clearly a guest."
"We've already determined that it is highly likely that this world is one that fell to exactly the same sort of menaces we've found attacking our world, and most likely the planetary life energy net was reduced to near-death."
"Hah! Prove this 'life energy' that you speak of," said Seiga.
"Yo!" said the boy, holding up a hand. FWAM!
"Errr," said Seiga.
"That's not your Gate is it?" asked Iwasawa, using a different camera to see what Ranma was doing.
"Nah," said Ranma, sweating heavily before he released the sphere. "Been working on my chi techniques. Seems to do good for control of the Gate powers, and I'm hoping to get something together for opponents resistant to Wind."
"I didn't see anything," said Seiga, recovering. "No, your 'life energy' hypothesis is interesting but without any evidence to back it up..."
"Question?" asked Ranma.
"No, Ranma, you may not chi attack Professor Seiga," said Iwasawa.
"No, my question was why is Ryoga wandering around that city?" asked Ranma, pointing at the monitor linked to a rover's camera.
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(Posted Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:53)
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