Jack Francis

[Challenger]

Planet Manhattan, NY System
Polar Research Outpost Alpha: 85°N 130°W
1950 Hours Local Time
VOICE ONLY

- - > "It seems that the aurora borealis is unusually strong right now. Even if our transmitter had twice the power, I couldn't get a message out. What a hell of a time for an electrical storm."

- - > "It's clear that we aren't going to be able to radio HQ tonight, and judging from the severity of the storm, I-"

** The voice trails off. **

- - > "Oh my god. One moment."

** The recorder is put down hastily, with a sharp clattering. Rapidly receding footsteps can be heard. After a few minutes, they return. **

- - > "This is bad. This is really bad. The sample is now glowing fiercely without any sort of pulse structure. What's more is that it seems to be producing an incredible amount of spread-spectrum white noise. I thought it was the aurora, but the cells themselves are jamming our transmissions. Oh, god . . ."

- - > "I don't know what to do anymore. I won't be able to sleep tonight. We're unable to communicate with HQ. We're unable to radio for help. We've got enough provisions here for a year, and the cruiser could probably take us out of the interference zone. But that bulge in the ice is growing exponentially. That cell population is beginning to feed on the sunlight, and however weak it is, and that's going to be like steroids for their energy deprived bodies. They're going to replicate at an impossible rate. If we can't deal with this within a few days, I fear for our lives. I'm going to go get the others and hold a strategy meeting. This is no time to sleep."