Iappreciated Hobbs’ calm response. He wasn’t scared and he didn’tpanic. His voice, actually, was very calm without being inshock.
“Theground just opened up. A huge crevice. The ship plummeted down.Mostof our men were outside but… there were at least three in theship.”
“OK,get the men into the shuttles and get them off the ground!Ryvenbarkout.”
“Ourshuttles are for use on the planet. They can’t take us back to ourmother ship. They’re not built for that,” Altamontesaid.
“Yes,I’m aware of that.”
“Sowe brought Gaia a new food supply and we’re trapped.”
“Yes,I’m aware of that too,” I said.
AsI cussed the planet I viewed the landscape. Long stretches oforangeflatland, dark green trees in spots. Mountains in the distance.Whitecaps on the peaks.
“Anythingfrom the other three shuttles?”
“N
