Rise and Shine, Montes.
"Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst."
Radiation. Freezing cold. Suffocation. Starvation. Thirst. Disease.
Mars, the Roman God of War, is a ruthless enemy to face. In a world where everything is trying to kill you, being prepared is no longer an option. It’s necessary.
As my Crew, Montes, begins their journey in the Red Planet, each of us takes an unprecedented role towards our survival. Starting the mission just two days before his birthday, we have the privilege of being led by Jesus, our own personal Messiah. From this experience and leadership, we’ve been able to know what to do, where to go, and how to exercise our functions. We conducted our first Extravehicular Activity( EVA) under Messiah’s detailed set of instructions, where we drove the Opportunity, Spirit and Perseverance to Marble Ritual. If anything can be said about the opportunity of going as on EVA, it is that it’s no walk in the park – it can take a toll on your spirit if you want to persevere.
In the field, every step can be our last. On our side, though, the Crew Geologist, Elizabeth, is no short of a genius. Genie knows every spot, every route, and – you guessed it – every rock. Personally, I wouldn’t want to be out on Martian soil with a different person… except, maybe, a person who could save my life is an emergency, watching over me as I explore the new world.
Lucky for us, in our EVA, the Health & Safety Officer, Ryan, had our back. In fact, during our entire mission, he’ll be watching over all of us. Some would say that he is our own personal Spy, tracking our vitals at all times through our watches. And what’s more – he cooks delicious burgers that are very much essential to our survival.
A tasty meal in the end of a long, tiresome day can also really make a difference in our morale, which is why fresh produce is another key piece to surviving Mars. Our Green Hab Officer, Adriana, makes sure all our plants survive, but one food in particular fascinates her: mushrooms. Ironically enough, even though her research is tracking their growth, she does not enjoy their taste… at all. Not all of us are this lucky, right, Murph?
Well, of course thriving on Mars also requires tracking all of our life support systems, which is the job of our Crew Engineer, Keegan. Beyond that, he has the skills and training to repair broken pieces, inspect tunnels, and put together sensors, making him the ultimate Mr. Fix It. One machine in particular that he will definitely check, use and give his life to repair is also fundamental to our survival: the coffee maker.
As for me? I’m just a humble Crew Journalist, working in the background on documenting the efforts of our Crew’s survival so maybe when you come after us, you’ll be prepared. Hopefully, my drone will be able to scout the best landing sites for your mission, which I’ve been diligently working in the shadows to accomplish. I’m Rod, but my crew knows me as Hermit.
To you, who is coming after us, prepare yourself the best you can. Mars can be dangerous, but I promise you a humble sunrise here is worth the journey.
And to us, from crew Montes: Rise and shine. Our stay on Mars has only just begun. After all, we’ll need more Sols if we’re going to climb the tallest mountains. Word has it that they have the best views.
Hermit out.