Med Ship Man

A sleek med‑ship drifts toward the barren world of Maya, its sensors painting a vivid picture of ice caps, continents and restless seas. Commander Calhoun leads the routine health‑inspection, his recorded voice looping through the communicator while his curious alien companion, Murgatroyd the tormal, watches with beady eyes. The crew expects a bustling spaceport, friendly greetings and a quick landing grid to guide them home. Instead, the only reply is an empty silence that grows louder with each call.

When a distant cargo liner finally breaks the quiet, it reports twelve hours of unanswered hails and a puzzling lack of any scatter‑signals from the planet below. Calhoun must decide whether to press on with the inspection or retreat, while Murgatroyd’s simple “Chee!” adds an oddly comforting rhythm to the tension. The story unfolds as the med‑ship confronts a mystery that could turn a routine check‑up into a fight for survival, hinting at hidden dangers beneath Maya’s serene surface.