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Fitting In-01 — Description

The last phase of the trip was proceeding smoothly. Her body was designed to match the inhabitants from earlier missions, but also strong enough to withstand the deceleration before dropping through the atmosphere almost vertically. Now at the upper reaches of the atmosphere her pod had dropped to subsonic speeds.

The approach was automated giving her time to refine her plan. Earlier she had decided on applying for work as a waitress and blend in with the inhabitants. The language she’d be using first was known as American English. The local gravitational field felt good. Her body had been well-tuned.

Lights from a city were now visible as the craft searched for a suitable landing sport. They were arranged in somewhat geometric patterns.. their roadways. As the ground approached, buildings became visible. Many had interior lights. More lights on the roadways. Perhaps not all of the inhabitants sleep during their night. She’d have to adjust to the lengths of day and night along with their time measures of hours and years.

Now lower than some of the buildings, the pod announced it had located a transfer point. As it hovered she waited for the environmental results. If the pioneer probes had made a mistake she could still leave and make it to the transfer point before it vanished.

Finally the results were in. The environment was well within her metabolic requirements. She opened the hatch and look a deep breath of the air. An unexpected surge of exhilaration ran through her body. The sensory experience was much richer than the pod’s air!

She climbed out of the hovering pod and looked at the landing site. An open area lined by a few small structures. It was time for the mission to begin. She told the pod to begin its ascent and touched the commit button. The hatch closed and the engines hummed. She watched as it rose - slowly at first and suddenly it was gone. About thirty Earth seconds later she heard the faint sonic boom. In a few Earth days it would be meet the main craft and in about three more days they’d reach the transfer point. Another week and the transfer point would vanish for seven hundred and thirty seven point three eight earth years when it would return and she could make the journey home.

“Winifred” that sounded like a fine name for an Earth female.

She stood and admired the night sky for hours until a cloud bank rolled in. The stars weren’t visible - she could only make out a hundred or so. Their pattern was completely alien. Stretching her arms, she smiled. This was going to be a remarkable expedition!