TRAVELLERS TALES

THE JOVIAN MOON TOUR

Transcript of a Transmission Fragment From Europa
Vision Unavailable

(4) Beneath The Ice





"We are now inside the VA Control Centre, ladies and gentlemen, and I can see on the external moniters that the sub cradle has begun to decend into the ice shaft, down to the European ocean 100 metres below us. Alan has just pointed out that the observation cameras on the Medusa are operating on the screens to our left but as of yet all they are revealing are the ice walls of the shaft illuminated by the subs lights. There are three cameras, front, back and below the sub each with their own moniters and recording equipment here in the control room."

"I think we can see the first of the locks coming up below us now."

"Yes, I see, thanks Alan. How long will it take to traverse the locks?"

"Only about 30 minutes, you can see the first one opening now as the sub approaches it."

(crackle)
"OK, Folks, we're back again. It's been well over half an hour since my previous recording and the Medusa is just about to exit the last of the docks and will then be within the Eurpean ocean for the very first time. Alan what should we expect to see when the dock doors open?"

"Not very much at first, Chris. It may be possible that the Sea Mat we observed earlier will still be in the vicinity and will come over to take a look, they do show a remarkable amount of what could be seen as curiosity. But apart from that there will be a few ice phollops around the outer edge of the ice crater. It is far too cold and dark at this depth for most forms of Europan life."

"I see, thanks. Now we can see the dock doors opening and the Medusa is moving out into the open ocean. Ahead of us there is only blackness. Ah, now the camera's are turning to look at the ice ceiling above the sub. Yes, we can now see the tiny, waving tenticles of the phollops against the translucent ice. The quality of the light coming from the sub seems to have changed Alan."

"We have to be very careful that we don't damage the light sensitive patches that many of the life forms have so we use wave lengths not naturally occuring in the Europan ocean."

"Hello, things have gone black again, what's happening now, Alan?"

"The Medusa is beginning its decent so the lights and cameras are turning to look downwards, as there is nothing to reflect back the light it appears to be totally dark."

"I see and how long before we reach the floor of the ocean?"

(a small laugh)
"the short answer, Chris, is never. It's far too deep and the pressure far too high even for Medusa to withstand. We will be heading for a chain of underwater vulcanic mounts where we have reason to believe there are a number of black smokers where hopefully we can observe some activity."

mpthomas