"It's black!"
The voice of McFee, the young communications engineer, was the first sound to be heard in the cabin after the sound of the landing rockets died away. I have to admit, he's right, mused Captain Sorensen, as she looked out at the surface of the strangest world her interstellar explorations had yet revealed. Black as the pit, from pole to pole. She chuckled as the memory of the old science fiction story came back to her. But there was no time for reminiscences now, they had come here to work. A new planet to be explored, a new world to conquer. And, of course, a new report to write.
It was the satellite that had first attracted their attention. Double planets were rare enough, but the contrast between the two bodies could not have been greater. In fact, the albedo of the planet was so low that it had not at first been detected, whereas the satellite was by far the brightest object in the planetary system. Sorensen could clearly recall the amazement of Otaga, the team's planetologist, when she discovered the reason. Such a uniform layer of polished metal could hardly have arisen from natural causes, yet its function was still a mystery. But then an analysis of its convoluted orbit had demonstrated the existence of a much more massive dark companion, so it was here that they sought the next piece in the puzzle.
"Diane, Kevin, suit up. Let's have a look at this place from close up", ordered Sorensen. "Sergei, you and I can look after the ship."
"Yes, sir!" "OK, skipper!" came the voices over the intercom. Young McFee sounded too flippant, and Sorensen made a mental note to check his psycho-profile when he had a free moment. The young man had so far done well on his first mission, but discipline was becoming a problem. Nothing of the sort from Otaga, of course, a veteran like her of many such explorations, but they were a long way from home and a single mistake could be disastrous.
With a gentle whispering hiss, the airlock cycled, and McFee and Otaga stepped out on to the surface of the new world.