{“The purification drones,” Carlton asked the commodore pointedly, “When will they reach the surface?” He and his medical team were wearing standard radiation-proof armor, but it was only 15% effective against the overpoweringly deadly emanations from pure Kelvaron.
“Engineering doesn’t know,” Commodore Treadwell’s voice explained, sounding intermittent and faint, “Because ionic interference is scrambling the telemetry from the drones, and it may be affecting the guidance systems too. The drones were launched as soon as they were programmed and equipped to neutralize Kelvaron radiation–but that took some time, I’m afraid.”}
{“The interference is affecting our communications also, sir,” Ensign Lansford interjected, “We could lose contact at any time.”
“Damn!” Carlton stood up, his body shaking with barely-controlled frustration, and realized that a critical decision was imminent.
“We’re approaching the point to begin our planetary descent, sir,” announced Petty Officer Landon Bakken, the ship’s helmsman.