CHAPTER 1: PRE-DEPARTURE

        We started the mission with 29 fighters. Men and women. These fighters had been chosen because of their deep country experience. When I completed physical assessments on them prior to embarking, I noted the preponderance of scars that were animal in origin. One man, a lieutenant, had been gored three times in one tour. Another, a female sharp-shooter, had been mauled by wild dogs when a canoe portage on the eastern rim went awry. Several of them had yellow hands syndrome, the permanent after-effect of being stung by the western drum beetle. It was a vivid reminder that for all the modern conveniences of my life in the city, my people were pushing outward, every day, every hour, into the wilderness that surrounded our emergent civilization.

        We had six engineers. At that time, engineers were in demand. It was not like it is today, where every bum on the shuttle pad is a licensed engineer. They had their pick of wages and assignments; as such, the coordinators had only been able to hire the runts of the most recent graduating classes. Their contracts were laden with bonuses and incentives, ensuring that they were the highest-paid members of the expedition. The plan was for the fighters to see us safely to the site. Upon arrival, they would build the colony under the supervision of the engineers.

        We had a unit of specialists. Five agriculturists (who were to double as the cooks), a tailor, and a blacksmith. Under my oversight, there was a medical unit: a paramedic and a registered nurse.

        The leadership module consisted of myself, third in command and the chief medical officer; Ann Ferrara, the vice captain and chief justice; and, at the top, Captain Hans Quasar.

        Our families accompanied us. This was customary at the time. 26 spouses and 35 children, most of them civilians, trailing after us as we marched toward the outer limits of the deep country. All things considered, it's astonishing we didn't suffer more losses.

        We knew there was risk. But accepting risk is not the same as being prepared. Preparation implies some foresight of what is to come, which was impossible; we faced an adversary as unknowable, as ancient, and as cruel as nature itself.

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