Station “Winter”
— Station “Winter”, respond! Station “Winter”!
When the research outpost on the Outer Rim failed to submit its daily report, Communicant Randall, following protocol, filed a notice with Central—and began direct contact attempts: once per cycle, he called their frequency. But no reply came. Station “Winter” remained silent.
— If the “Winter” team still fails to respond, we’ll have no choice but to decide its fate. — We understood the risks when we opened it. Every staff member signed the agreements. Voluntarily. — And if a sample breach occurred—which is the only possible reason for “Winter’s” silence—then the entire crew, scientists included, are already dead. We all know why it was built.
Red emergency light flooded the empty corridors and abandoned laboratories. Meltwater squelched underfoot.
Piten surveyed the station, that had been his home for years.
“Winter” was never designed for surges of this magnitude. Thermostats malfunctioned and Station “Winter” began to resemble summer, not winter.
The specimens perished. The crew — too. The anatomy of both could not withstand positive temperatures.
And Piten was already late. He still had to report to Snegurochka.
