On the morning of the 6th day, while I was sitting down trying to finish a hot plate of artificial biscuits smothered in artificial gravy, I heard Leopold walking over and stop just a step away from me as I groaned inwardly.

"Yes Leopold what's up?"

"Well Sir there's something you should see outside. It's nothing I've ever seen before."

As I stepped outside  I could see that about 4 miles away I was looking at a giant wall of ominous green clouds that seemed to stretch into infinity towards the horizon and down to the ground. It stood impressively high and moved forward at a steady slow pace. Unlike most cloud formations this one rumbled like a thousand trucks on a gravel road.

They weren't normal by any means so I made a call out  for Durante and Jezcoot as I took a picture of the sky trying to capture the sheer magnitude of it but without a measurable object to compare it to in scale , I knew it was not going to impress anyone. I liked the green color though, that at least would impress people back home.

I heard a tremendously loud clap of thunder followed by the ground reverberating in response. It was so unexpected I accidentally dropped my nearly full metal coffee mug.

I picked it up and saw it still held a fourth of a cup in the bottom. Sadly I poured it onto the ground and then wiped the dirt off.

Durante was the first to arrive. He had something wrapped in a tyvek bag slung over his shoulder. He nodded to me as we exchanged our "Good Mornings." to one another.

"Laundry Day?" I asked.

"No. Just something I wanted to show you, it pertains to the massive wall of clouds over yonder!"

"I see you discovered the coming storm. That's what I was calling you for."

"Questions?"

"What do you make of that? Is it dangerous?"

"Well Sir, I asked myself the same thing so earlier I decided to send a few weather balloons up and let it reach as high as possible.

Anyway 2 of the balloons ceased communicating after they got engulfed by the wall but the third managed to lose buoyancy and was thrown backward before crashing down. It was smoking and badly damaged."

"What exactly do you mean when you say smoking ?" I asked.

"Exactly what it sounds like. There was an acrid smell and wisps of burning rubber coming off of it. Those rain clouds carry some extremely acidic elements and we should try to find a shelter somewhere. Because this is what it can do." Durante said opening his bag.

Inside there was a tangled mess of half melted ropes, rubber and a small box whose paint job was streaked and almost completely gone.

"I was already coming to tell you when you called." he added.

Just as he closed up the bag Jezcoot arrived and seeing the cloud formation approaching he stopped halfway through the door and called out to us.

"Captain Ziko you MUST come inside. It is very dangerous outside. Please come inside!"

Durante went back in and I was right behind.

"Jezcoot what is that?" I asked pointing towards the green mass.

"That is the Wakkar! It is a new phenomenon that only started appearing 3 years after your Pods began landing on Kavitt. We suffered greatly at first but then we learned to find shelter in natural rock formations until they pass."

"My Chief Scientist says it's very dangerous. So where can we go to protect the vehicles and ride out the storm?"

Jezcoot held up his right hand and closed his eyes to think before answering.

"I know of a large cave to the Southeast. I believe it is big enough to drive your vehicles inside and we should be protected from the weather there."

"Good because  We need to get there fast. No telling how much damage those rains could do to our vehicles tires not to mention us."

"I'll take Jezcoot to the front where he can help navigate." Durante offered.

"Do that."

Turning the Comm on I made an announcement for all to hear.

"Folks looks like we need to get moving. There's a massive storm of some kind that some of you may have already seen through the port windows. So get everyone onboard NOW! We're leaving in 5 minutes and I don't want anyone left behind. The Train will be taking the lead."

Drake came in from a side door followed by Anna who was laughing at something he said. I tried to ignore it as I often did by doing a mental check of the days to-do list in my head.

Over the Comm I heard Portsby in the front engine compartment announce that Jezcoot had arrived.

"Lets get the train rolling, the clouds are getting closer."

I returned to my seat to find my plate of biscuits and gravy were now stone cold and the biscuits far less appetizing in their hardening state. As I tossed it in the trash I convinced myself it probably was for the best as I didn't need the extra calories anyway.

A loud thunderclap erupted and echoed against the walls around us and rain could be seen falling in the area less than 2 miles away. We started moving quickly and the train began weaving around stony obstacles, mud holes and trees.

In the rear I could see all manner of wildlife fleeing the oncoming rains. Birds took to the air, animals scrambling about in a panic. It would be a frightening sight to see what was left afterwards but that would have to wait.

35 minutes later we found ourselves driving into the biggest cave I had ever seen. The open mouth was as large as a giant plane hangar and tapered down the further you got in. We parked far enough from the entrance and killed the engines.

From somewhere deep within one of the tunnels of the cave I heard the sounds of animals yelping and growling threateningly and the cries of people yelling back in a strange tongue.

Now what?

It's sound amplified against the hollow area we had just parked our vehicles at and everyone could hear it.

I could see the concerned looks of my crew as several came down the aisle towards me bearing rifles and pistols.

"Sir we were hearing the sounds of people in danger and thought you might want someone to investigate?" Milo asked.

"Well how convenient since the five of you are all ready to go. I take it your all volunteering?"

"Yes Sir." Barkley replied.

Anna nodded in agreement from behind while Drake was snapping  up his armored vest.

"Company policy forbids us from getting entangled in armed conflicts unless we're threatened." I said.

"Sir I wouldn't consider it an 'armed' conflict and since it's my duty to protect the perimeter I just need to investigate the source of the ...screaming...Sir." Drake said.

"Hmm... Well I suppose that does cover it. OK bring extra clips and keep us informed if you need assistance."

"YES Sir!"

They were all about to leave when I added,
"But Anna needs to stay behind. Can't risk our only medic. Besides from the sound of things it looks like she'll be needed later."

"Andros!" she pleaded.

"The medic stays, the rest of you need to stick together. That's it! The rest of you listen to Drake."

They rushed off in a quick jog with rifles and lights in hand heading towards the sound of yelling.

I was left with Anna, her arms crossed staring at me in contempt. Tapping her right shoe as she waited for me to say something.

"Spit it out Andros why did you cut me out?"

Innocently I tried to put on as serious a face as I could. " Anna , your assuming things that aren't so."

"Assuming things? What do you think I'm assuming?"

I paused.

"Well?"

"OK you're assuming I did this to separate you from Drake."

"Wait, you think there's something going on between me and Drake? That's none of your business or did you forget you were the one who left ME after the mission at Epsilon 5? You lost the right to have any say when you did that!"

"No you're wrong .... WAIT! Hold on ....we're getting sidelined somehow...Let's just take a step back-this is a different topic. And yes it's none of my business who your seeing. Not now. But honestly I need YOU as our only medic in one piece and that's the truth. There's too much that potentially could happen in the next few weeks. I'm sorry you can't go on every mission but I have to put my Captains hat on once in a while. I can't lose you......cause ...your the only medic on the planet."

She lowered her arms and looked at me as if to read my mind. I could see the fire soften in her eyes.

"Alright Andros I'll accept that. But just remember I'm not some China doll that needs to be kept in a glass box. I'm capable of taking care of myself."

"Duly noted."

She turned away and stopped before leaving. She said,"By the way Drake is just a friend...But I appreciate that you care."

With that she left. Thankfully so because I didn't know how to reply to that.

Then I heard gunfire.......