[ IP ] A teraformer sits on the coast of a Martian sea and enjoys a sunset

The wind swept over the cabin as he quietly sipped a beer from the safety of his construction bot, enjoying the sunset over a newly-formed freshwater sea. His sea. 
 
 The terraformer smiled as he set the bottle down and the liquid within vibrated, echoing the quiet hum of the gargantuan machine he piloted. The arms and legs adjusted themselves slightly as they probed the air and ground, feeding back data onto the screen for him to peruse. He shut it off. Best to leave work for working hours. 
 
 Realizing the sun was quickly approaching the horizon, he donned his hazard suit helmet and popped open the cabin with a satisfying *click*, exposing himself to the surface of Mars. He stretched his legs and slithered out of the cramped compartment, enjoying the freedom of being out in the open. The wasted surface of Mars greeted him without acknowledgement. 
 
 He felt like a god. He was a god. 
 
 Mere weeks ago, the reservoir that lay before him was an empty basin, no better than a mirage would be to a dehydrated man in a desert. He and his crew had tamed it, worked it with their relentless will and powerful machines, so it would reflect their desire, their pleasure. Now, a lake with Earth fish pleasantly filled his vision. He liked the red tint the planet gave it, a unique character. 
 
 The sun continued to dip toward the horizon as he sat down on one of the giant rocks next to his machine. He contemplated removing his helmet, feeling the Martian wind sweep over his scalp. Then he remembered that the air was still too toxic for prolonged human exposure. He gambled. 
 
 The helmet let out a depressing *hiss* as he removed it, sucking in a breath of cool Martian air. He began to feel light-headed, a result of his lack of adjustment to the thinner atmosphere. He closed his eyes, felt the wind pass over his face, then *clicked* the helmet back into place. The oxygen felt stale compared to the cool air. 
 
 That's what he would work on next, he decided. Huffing as he stood up and walked back toward his bot, he resolved to find the musty transfer form he'd left in his dormitory and fill it out. He wanted to be on the first crew to terraform the air on this planet. He wanted to be the first one to feel it on his face. 
 
 The sun dipped beneath the horizon, and he slithered back into the cramped cabin of his bot. He tapped the dash, the lights flashing as the machine rumbled back into ignition and began moving. He slipped the beer back into his secret storage compartment. The boss was calling.
