Prologue

“Rinse & Repeat”

The cockpit of the recon truck seats one, but that doesn’t stop the crew packing into the conduit to join their supervisor. It had become their little ritual, having their morning coffee before the shift begins.

Sitting in the driver seat, Bob radios the company for permission to commence. His finger already hovering over the toggle green switch in the center console.

“Proceed with day 428 expedition, truck 18”, came over the com.

"Acknowledged.”, he responded, “Terminal has been engaged and we are now billable hours.”

Com disconnects.

“This is a hard planet to love.”, he mumbles after under his breath. Bob steps on the accelerator and the truck disembarks from the middle of nowhere to the next stop in the middle of nowhere.