FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Proximity to planet: 30,000 kilometers Decent speed: 1,000 kph Approach vector: shallow Status: Systems show green

"Confirmed. Begin decent sequence on my mark."

"Affirmative. Awaiting command. Commencing decent on your mark."

"3...2...1... mark. Begin decent sequence. Initiate landing thrusters. Secure all hatches. Stow hyperdrive. Vent exhaust from external hatches. Is everything on schedule?"

"Affirmative."

"Good. Alert me at planet fall. I am going to take a nap."

"Negative. During planetfall, all crew must be at stations."

"Override. Authorization Alpha 1135."

"Confirmed. Authorization accepted. Notification set."

Alex returned to hir quarters from some much needed sleep. Shi had been at the helm for something like 16 hours straight. It was bordering on being painful to even move. Shi slowly made hir way back to hir quarters and the comfort of hir bed. Grabbing hir favorite teddy-bear, Alex lay down and quickly was asleep. As shi slept, the computer made the millions of calculations needed to bring the massive ship to a gentle landing on the planet's surface. As the massive Explorer descended, the AI received a warning from the environmental sensors. There was a problem with the atmosphere at the landing zone. The scanners could not make heads or tails of the readings and the AI was have no better luck. Under normal circumstances, the pilot would be notified. Since Alex had overridden the safety protocols, that warning was not sent. The AI attempted to analyze the readings while still maintaining the landing sequence.

"Unable to decode readings. Landing protocols in effect. All systems redirected to landing sequence. All data shunted to backup systems until further notice. Notify officer of the day when possible."

With that one brief statement, the AI ignored all further warnings from the environmental systems. A few minutes later, the Explorer had completed landing and was idling down to rest mode. Alex had been awoken a few moments ago and was making hir way to the bridge.

"Any problems during landing?"

"Negative. All landing protocols completed successfully. Further data unavailable."

"Understood. Secure all loose items and open the hatch."

"Affirmative. Hatch now opening.

Alex exited the ship and looked around taking in the wonder of a new, unexplored world. Shi took a deep breath and walked down the boarding ramp. What shi did not know was that there was a problem. The computer in its mad dash to take care of every detail of the landing had inadvertently failed to save the environmental report. The atmosphere of this planet seemed to have an unknown element in it. This element was found on no other planet in the galaxy. Those who had explored this planet before the Federation decided to colonize it often called it TFG, or transformation gas. It was responsible for more transformations than all the SRS surgeons put together. Most found the transformation to be rather disconcerting at first. Everyone eventually enjoyed it, though. Alex had walked about 10 meters from the ship when shi started to cough violently.

Rushing back to the ship, shi flung open the hatch to the medical bay. Panting, Alex searched for a breather in the medical cabinets. Finding none, shi went back out to the bridge to see if the computer had any information on their location.

"Alexander, do we have any breathers?"

"Negative. No breathers are currently in stock. However, you will find a supply of envirosuits in the cargo hold. Be warned that they are experimental. Caution should be exercised at all times while using the envirosuit."