Paradise Found

The chances of finding the Nuclear Freighter seemed slim, but Wotan persevered as he probed the depths of the alien sea around him. The fluid was not water or even a hydrogen based medium, but a mix of liquid methane and other trace elements. Consequently, it was a lot less dense and in places crystal clear. However, due to Io's unstable nature, huge plumes of sulphurous material were ejected into the seas from vents and cracks in the surface. In places, the rocks had become clustered with massive crystalline structures formed of rare metals and minerals and as the Task Force ship drifted deeper, the chances of a hull rupture on some of the sharp overhangs became more and more of a problem. Finding a narrow sloping shelf which had so far avoided crystal colonisation, Wotan set the ship down and checked the scanners. So far there were no traces of life apparent and nothing coming through on the comms link. The surface was in constant movement though, with tremors stirring the sandy bed below him. Wotan considered the best course of action and decided to deploy a remote device to search in the caves below. The Task Force ship carried two ROVs and each was equipped for all terrain and atmospheric conditions, so as the hatch behind the main cockpit closed, Wotan saw the little vehicle drift silently overhead into the crevasse below.  Cameras and lidar scanners mounted on the craft flickered into life and the screens lit the cockpit, relaying detailed info about the surrounding topography. Wotan settled back to relax slightly now that the harrowing journey along the bed of the strange ocean was being taken care of safely. The crystal formations were truly alien and had developed into all kinds of nightmare shapes in the reduced gravity, but almost all were paper thin and razor sharp. Wotan didn't have any doubt that any chance of safe recovery of the downed vessel in these conditions would be slim. The telltales on the consoles flashed patiently on and off as the ROV picked its careful way among the crystals and fibres, heading towards the largest of the avenues between the rocks...