Excerpts from the exploration log of PST11 for planet Cordovero 4
(16-21/8/2346)



Preliminary:

Landing on planet surface without notable incident. 200 K south of polar ice cap edge.



Zone 1



Excursion by Low Altitude Gliders.



Approaching polar ice cap, sudden extreme decrease in temperature. Edges of polar Ice cap apprx 500 m high glacial cliffs rising from alpine scrub terrain. Climbing to height of ice cap.


Intense winds. Strange sounds. Cannot preclude organic in origin. Or perhaps just wind. Glacial surface cut into sharp maze like patterns 20 m deep. Recurrent patterns of geometric shapes with sharp edges.


200 k north. High monument shaped ice projections. Wind and sounds very intense. Still proceeding northward.


Down below, patches of intense color shining up through ice. Descend to investigate.


Find deep round pits in the ice descending into ice caves. Park and lock down gliders, descend with climbing modules. Brilliant colors shining the deeper down we go. Placing homing beacons every 100 m to avoid getting lost in the labyrinth.


Exit on to shore of immense sub-glacial lake. Est. 20 k wide, 50 K long. Light and color generated by bio-luminescence of creatures under the water. What appear like immense worms, trilobites move about in the crystal clear water. Vast fields of anemones wave too and fro. Water temperature suggests presence of volcanic fissures in the deeper areas of the lake. No vertebrates noted. The narrow shore is barren except for a few fungi.


The shifting colors generated by the creatures as they move underwater are incredible beyond description!