"Trajectory found," the computer declared, "ENGINES: ONLINE."

The ship lurched forward, nearly knocking us to the floor. Hex and 
Cranium looked at each other knowingly. Mr Swarm and I ran into the 
cockpit.

"It's left this black stuff all over the overhead" crackled Hex 
over the intercom, "across the datastores, and straight through the 
floor again - what's going on up there?"

"We're locked out of the controls, all I can tell is we're no 
longer disabled, traveling at full speed and on a collision course 
with the planet." I replied.

Thin strands pulsated rainbows of light to and from a large blobs 
on the ceilings and walls.

"I don't think it's going to hurt us, it's too focused on where 
it's going." Hex said, "it's taking us somewhere."

"There isn't much we can do now except see what it it wants, can 
we?" the Commander asked.

He was right. 10 minutes until landing, no time to waste.

Mr Swarm gingerly poked a blob with a screwdriver, his hand jerked 
back with a spark, leaving the screwdriver spinning towards the 
floor. 9 minutes.  "Suit up!" Commander Cranium commanded.

9 minutes, 30 seconds. I pulled on my gloves and heavy boots, 
checked the respirators connections and walked into the main 
corridor. Hex's athame reflected the dim rainbow lights of the 
alien satellite. 6 minutes, 30 seconds.

Mr Swarm came in wearing his carapace of armor, followed by the 
Commander who has to bend his head awkwardly to fit his helmet 
through the door.

"Remember the landing plan," Cranium instructed, "we have to be 
able to defend ourselves, but not appear to be hostile... The 
computer says we should be able to breath the atmosphere, but I 
don't think we should take any chances trusting it while that thing 
is in control of the ship. Like Hex said, this thing isn't killing 
us, but for how long?" 5 minutes, 30 seconds.


