Ustalam
Five hours, eight hands, and a thousand nha'h of the soft muck this planet called soil. Despite the lloanna, it wasn't bad work.
The sun was down. Not enough power in the lamps for now and later. They'd worked hard enough, the recyclers had enough material to make a mountain of whatever they wanted. This time, not from their shikaen.
"Ayel, ihllu shad elet," Nero called as he hooked his boot into the conveyer and rode the chain link to the top of the hole. It was thrice his height, they'd have to use drills tomorrow. Kirk and Spock were not simple, they'd figured how to jump the conveyer within the first hour, didn't bother to ask him, though they'd murmured at Ayel. They might not kill themselves on drill bits.
Nero reached the surface and snagged Ayel's arm, pulled himself to his feet and off the conveyer with the Rihann as leverage. Ayel released him and knelt back down, the others would be behind him. This planet was nicer when it smelled like dirt and work. Nicer when it was dark and not quite so colorful.
"Get them up, checked, and stowed," Nero ordered smoothly, "Thlho kuhaos'ellaer irea."
The sun was down. Not enough power in the lamps for now and later. They'd worked hard enough, the recyclers had enough material to make a mountain of whatever they wanted. This time, not from their shikaen.
"Ayel, ihllu shad elet," Nero called as he hooked his boot into the conveyer and rode the chain link to the top of the hole. It was thrice his height, they'd have to use drills tomorrow. Kirk and Spock were not simple, they'd figured how to jump the conveyer within the first hour, didn't bother to ask him, though they'd murmured at Ayel. They might not kill themselves on drill bits.
Nero reached the surface and snagged Ayel's arm, pulled himself to his feet and off the conveyer with the Rihann as leverage. Ayel released him and knelt back down, the others would be behind him. This planet was nicer when it smelled like dirt and work. Nicer when it was dark and not quite so colorful.
"Get them up, checked, and stowed," Nero ordered smoothly, "Thlho kuhaos'ellaer irea."