THE WANDERING PLANET

THE WANDERING PLANET In the pilot’s seat of the Space Survey Vessel Rover 2 Second Officer Brian Griggs yawned for the third time in less than ninety seconds. The action drew a reaction from First Officer Gary Belmont in the command chair behind him. “I wish you’d stop doing that, Brian,” he growled. “You’ve got me at it now.” “I’m bored,” Griggs said with another prodigious yawn. “If you’re that easily bored why did you join the Survey Branch?” “I thought it would be exciting.” “If you wanted excitement why didn’t you opt for the Space Police instead?” asked Science Officer Barbara Letham, the only other person present on the bridge. Griggs snorted. “Not likely! Do you know what the mortality rate is in the Space Police. Over forty per cent! I like excitement, but I don’t want to die young.” “I don’t know what you’re complaining about,” Belmont broke in. “What’s more exciting than being the first humans to visit a new world? What’s more exciting than mapping such a world, discovering previously unknown vegetation, always in the hope of being the first to discover some kind of alien life form?” “Oh, that part of it’s all right,” Griggs admitted. “It’s these long hops between assignments. Months on end travelling through deep space with nothing to see and do except look out into a world of darkness. I didn’t bargain on twelve hour shifts, either.” “At least you joined when twelve hour shifts became the norm,” Belmont said sourly. “Spare a thought for the longer serving people like me who were in post when they reduced the size of the crews.” Belmont spoke with feeling. Ships in the Survey Branch had for over a hundred years carried a crew of twelve working eight hour tours of duty. Then, as happened so often in the course of history, finances became tight and budgets had to be slashed and crews were reduced to seven: captain, first officer, two second officers, one science officer and two engineers.