[ WP ] First people on Mars discover buried ruins of ancient Martian civilization .

The distance between Earth and Mars varies from fifty five million kilometers to three hundred and seventy eight million kilometers, this means that the delay for communication between the planets can be as low as three minutes and as long as twenty one minutes. 
 
 *** 
 
 Captain Alan Hastings was technically the highest ranked individual on Mars. Rank and formality had been left on Earth in favour of a rolling leadership and democracy. He was stood in Observation Dome Alpha, which had been dubbed FunBase One. He, or the other twelve people, could be found here reading, playing cards or watching a movie. It was a dome half above the dirt, half under it, with small wide windows around it's walls at eye level. 
 
 He was looking out at the brown martian dirt. Dirt and soil, by habit, was always called Earth when he spoke of it. We'll bury it in earth. I moved several wheel barrows of earth today. They excavated many tonnes of earth. But now? Should he call it mars here? 
 
 Dr Julia Anderson poker her head into the room and sung out musically `` Hey-ya Hunky!'' 
 
 Formalaties were left on Earth. 
 
 `` Hi Julia,'' He said `` What's up?'' 
 
 `` You and I have a date with the North Pole! Suit up ya hunk!'' 
 
 As quickly as she had come, she was gone, her footsteps echoed from the direction of the vehicle bay. 
 
 The ship that had brought them to Mars from Earth had been landed with care near the Martian northern ice cap. From there the ship had been dismantled and rebuilt into its secondardy configuration: a series of domes and subterranean rooms for the thirteen human inhabitants. 
 
 They would never set foot on Earth again. 
 
 The reason for proximity to the ice was simple. Water. Systems were in place to filter and recycle the water that they had but access to more would be beneficial. In addition to human life there were several other needs for the rare commodity. 
 
 The ship, now base, had a small farm that provided fruit, vegetables and even a little oxygen. This project was led by an Australian called Dr Henry'Dundee' Hart. Additionally, there was a project for the generation of oxygen involving algae - run by the Russian Dr Natalya - Nat - Biryukov. 
 
 * * * 
 
 Julia hit the gas and the buggy launched over a small hill and into the martian air before slamming back into the earth. The mars? 
 
 Alan was still unsure which it should be. He was leaning towards the mars. 
 
 Driving was a passion of Julia's and she had competed in some amateur rally competitions back on Earth. She was the best surgeon on the planet and was also the finest driver, much to the chagrin of the trained pilots. 
 
 `` Fuck yeah!'' Julia screamed. 
 
 `` All right, all right, cool it lead foot.'' Alan said. He was n't worried about crashing but he could do with out her moping when Earth chewed her out for reckless driving. 
 
 `` Fine, you big pussy!'' She slowed the buggy to regulation speed and started to steer around the bigger hills. `` So, did you hear about Dundee and Nat?'' 
 
 Alan shook his head, but he knew what she was going to say. 
 
 `` They've been huggin' and a kissin'!'' She turned and made kissing noises at him. He could see her whole face in the clear visor that made up the front half of the helmet. Gone were the bulky white suits that had once been synonymous with space. They were replaced in favor of sleek and figure hugging suits that allowed for almost natural movement. 
 
 She was still kissing at him. 
 
 `` Watch the road.'' He said with a smile. He already knew about Dundee and Nat. He knew probably before they did. Earth had determined that the pair were eighty-five percent likely to start a long term relationship - based upon psych evaluations and personality tests. Even that had been thoroughly thought out before the mission was launched. 
 
 He knew such information about everyone on the mission. And hated it. 
 
 A sudden thud back into the dirt snapped him back into reality. 
 
 `` Fuck yeah!'' 
 
 `` Damn it Julia!'' he said laughing. 
 
 `` By the way,'' Julia paused for a while then spoke, her eyes forward and her voice low. `` Dundee and Nat want us to go on a double date.'' 
 
 Julia and he had a seventy percent chance of starting a relationship. They had a less then ten percent chance of it lasting more than a year. 
 
 * * * 
 
 They crested another hill and could at last see the Ice Excavation Site - it was a single dome above ground with a few subterannean rooms that were, even now, being expanded by busy robots. Various drones zipped about, beeping and blinking at one another as they went about their work. 
 
 As the buggy drew closer a figure stepped out from the Ice Site Dome and waved. It was Dr Ian Sampson, the smartest man on Mars. He was the only one that was still called by title and was affectionately refered to as Doc. Every degree held by the other team members on Mars was also held by Doc, he even had a few additional degrees that no one else had. He was twenty seven and bald save a thin layer that wreathed his head. 
 
 Julia said it was because his head ran so hot with brain power that the rest had burned off. 
 
 `` Hey Doc!'' Said Julia `` How's the beehive?'' 
 
 `` Greetings Dr Anderson, Captain Cummings'' said Doc giving them each a salute. Formalities were habit for Doc. 
 
 Al's mind brought up Dr Sampson's profile: `` his intelligence often isolates him from people and, due to personality issues, he will not engage in a relationship beyond a platonic level.'' 
 
 Hence, the odd number of team members. 
 
 `` Dr nothing! You call me Julia!'' she said like she had countless times before `` And he's just Al or Hunky.'' 
 
 `` Just Al is fine, Doc.'' 
 
 * * * 
 
 After the usual back and forth they got to work in the dome. They cleaned drones, changed treads, greased belts, and meticulously noted what they did and what the status of each drones individual parts was. 
 
 They loved it. Sometimes it's the monotony in which we can find happiness and meaning. 
 
 With Doc not being prone to conversation the job was done quickly, efficiently and ahead of schedule. Doc offered to take them on a tour of the site. They'd seen it many times before but jumped at the chance. An opportunity to see something other than brown rocks was welcomed. 
 
 Doc's buggy, Buggy Number One, moved at exactly regulation speed around the ice. Julia sat in the back and fidgeted. Blue, green and white Ice surrounded them. It was beautiful. 
 
 They passed a large robot that was cutting a cube out of the scenery and they felt oddly sad. Nature was once again being dismantled for humanities needs. 
 
 Shortly after, they returned to the main Ice Site. 
 
 `` See you at Home, Doc'' Al said with a wave. 
 
 `` See you then, Captain'' he replied. 
 
 Julia looked sad and hugged Doc. `` Whelp, old friend, it's been a pleasure as always!'' said Julia, her hand's on Doc's shoulders `` Be sure to visit us at our plantation soon, the summer is lovely there!'' 
 
 Doc smiled and said `` I'll be heading back this afternoon with the ice haulers.'' 
 
 `` Bye-b-Oh hell no!'' Julia crossed her arms and sent daggers from her eyes. Al was in the driver seat of the buggy. 
 
 `` Get in or I'm leaving you here.'' 
 
 * * * 
 
 They were gliding smoothly across the martian surface. Al was in no rush. They were quietly enjoying the ride back. Julia's gloved hand was on his thigh, tapping out a tune as she looked out at the rocks and dirt. 
 
 Al could n't help but think of the less than ten percent chance their relationship had. 
 
 A distantly familiar tone filled their helmets. It rolled high, then low, high then low. It was an alarm that was soon replaced with a low unpanicked computerized voice. 
 
 `` Warning. Warning. Warning. Dr Sampson is unconscious. Suit integrated is stable. Warning. Warning. Warning.'' 
 
 There eyes met and Al hit the brakes. `` What the fuck!'' 
 
 * * * 
 
 Each team member tried to radio Doc but got no reply, the drones seemed no operative as well. 
 
 `` Doctor Sampson, do you read?'' Al said into his helmet `` Doc? Are you there?'' 
 
 Julia had pulled a tablet-like device from the buggy's console and was looking through the data that Doc's suit was outputting. 
 
 `` Patient is unconscious, but stable.'' Julia spoke almost robotically, she took medicine very seriously `` No signs of leakages.'' 
 
 `` Home, this is Buggy Two, any luck reaching Doc.'' 
 
 A voice in their helmet's said `` No. What the hell is going on?'' 
 
 The buggy crested the hill but this time there was no dome. No drones. Just a wide open hole whre it had all once been. 
 
 `` Jesus.'' 
 
 * * * 
 
 Al radioed in his theory: that the excavation for the underground rooms found a cavern and caused a collapse. He looked at Julia when she gasped. She was still holding the tablet and looking at it, fear in her eyes. 
 
 `` He's down there, Al.'' 
 
 * * * 
 
 Al and Julia were setting up an emergency lift. The Buggy had a tow cable to which a basket could be attached and hung over ledges via an extendable arm. They were going down there. 
 
 Home was still trying to get in contact with Doc. Repeating messages filled every helmet. `` Doc, please respond.'' 
 
 Earth would only just be hearing the emergency warnings from Doc's suit. 
 
 `` How far down is he?'' 
 
 `` Over ninety meters.'' 
 
 The hole was dark and seemed endless. 
 
 Doc's voice crackled over the radio. `` I am o-ay. No inj-ies sust-ed'' 
 
 Everyone else on Mars cheered. Then doc continued, his transmissions now clear. 
 
 `` You are not going to *believe* what I have found.'' 
 
 **Continued Below**
