"Make sure to switch your com over to your specific crew's frequency," Choi said as she moved to the rear of the lander. She punched a few buttons on a keypad built into the rear of the Lander. "Peterson and I are on Com 1, you three take Com 2. We don't want to hear everyone's conversations at the same time. If you have an emergency, switch to the emergency channel and everyone will hear you."

The rear hatch of the lander slowly opened. Two long tracks slid down to the ice. A large, thick wheeled ATV rolled gently down the tracks and stopped at the bottom. The small vehicle was sleek but sturdy—the SUV of moon rovers. A small, two-wheeled trailer was attached to the back of the ATV, designed to safely transport a wide variety of samples. It had freezers to keep ice frozen, dry tubs for soil samples, even sterile containment units for biological matter.

Connelly couldn't stand the anticipation anymore. She knew the answers they sought were still a long way away, but for the first time ever, she was going to see her creation, TES, in action. Even inside the temperature controlled PMS, she could feel her underarms beginning to perspire. She put her hand on Robert's shoulder. "Ready?"

"You kidding?" Robert said. Both of them turned and took a few steps toward TES, which could be seen as a black splotch on the white plains, one hundred yards away.

Choi took the driver's seat and Peterson climbed on behind her.

"Hey Kathy," Peterson said.

Connelly turned around as she bounced away. She could see Peterson's smiling face behind his PMS suit's mask. "Hope you find what you're looking for."

Connelly waived. "You too."

"I'm switching you off now. See you in two." Tires spun, launching the ATV forward. It cruised easily over the ice with its spiked tread.

Connelly did her best to hide her smile from Robert, who was looking at her with suspicious eyes. Using her right hand to work the control panel on her left wrist, Connelly switched from Com 1 to Com 2. "Can you hear me, Robert?"

"You two a thing now?" Robert asked, not amused.

"I'll take that as a yes." Connelly bounded forward in the low gravity, hoping to avoid the conversation. Luckily for her, Willard wasn't as interested as Robert.

Willard landed next to Connelly after taking a huge leap. "How come we don't get a speedy thingy?"

Robert chuckled. "Probably because you call it a speedy thingy."