The Survey ship landed on a plain of coarse grass. To the west, the plain became gently sloping forested hills.
To the east, about some 50 miles away, was a long golden beach.
One reason for this location, was so that they could safely observe tidal effects via their exploration drones.
There were no problems with initial landing and setting up.

The survey team set up recording equipment to analyse the moons orbits.
Small atmospheric drones commenced a search for anything of interest.

The drone surveys later confirmed that there were no large land animals.

Day 15
The recordings of the moons magnetic and tidal affects produced evidence that there may be two periods, during the planetary cycle, when the alignment of the moons may adversely affect the planet.
These alignments would next occur on Days 20 and 29.

The team had taken to relaxing in reclining seats, in front of the survey ship.
Refuse Disposal Engineer Gompf noticed that food refuse was disappearing from the refuse area near the ship.

It transpired that, when the staff were all inside the ship, little furry animals emerged from the ground and scuttled busily about seeking food.
Refuse Disposal Engineer Gompf eventually made contact with the small furry things which were found to be shy but friendly.
Despite the distance from the sea, the creatures had webbed feet and flaps, which might be, or might have been, gills.

On Day 19, however, the ship became overrun by the small, inquisitive, and very friendly, little animals.
Steps had to be taken to gently remove them all from the ship and, thereafter the survey ships doors were kept closed.

On Day 20, the team settled down to monitor the effects of the first alignment.
Refuse Disposal Engineer Gompf was relaxing outside in a recliner with some of the little furry animals curled up on his lap.

The magnetic affects were as predicted but there were some unexplained gamma radiation fluctuations on the planet surface.

Some weird noises were heard, from outside the survey ship, during the peak of the affects, but this was attributed to Refuse Disposal Engineer Gompf playing the guitar.
With eyes more towards the heavens, no one had thought to monitor the immediate area around the ship.
The team finished their tasks and started to migrate to the relaxation area, in front of the ship, for food and a beer.

When they went outside, Refuse Disposal Engineer Gompf was still sitting in the recliner.
Or rather his now very clean and white skeleton was.
Everything in the vicinity had been eaten or torn apart as if by some sort of ferocious beast.
There was no sign of the small animals.
Playback of the appropriate recordings told the story, however.
The small creatures had gone totally berserk at the precise moment of the maximum effect of the moons alignment.
They had attacked and / or eaten everything.
Very much like a certain 'B' grade horror movie about little furry things with big teeth.

A Defence Force Field was hurriedly erected around the camp but there was little they could do about wee beasties that emerged from the ground.
The creatures did not reappear, however.

On Day 28 the small animals were spotted.
For some reason, they appeared to have migrated to the tops of the tallest trees in the nearby forest.

On Day 29 they monitored both the second alignment of moons and immediate external environment.
Nothing much happened.

As they started to relax, a ground rumbling was heard, or rather felt.
Everyone jumped across to look at the monitors covering the immediate area.
Whilst there was nothing evident in the immediate vicinity, a rather large and ominous tidal wave was soon spotted approaching from the sea.

The crew rushed to reconfigure the Defence Force Field against the oncoming water.
The wave swept over the Defence Force Field and the daylight vanished to be replaced by the murky light of the now underwater environment.

Over the next few days the water gradually cleared revealing a myriad of strange life forms in the sea.
Underwater drones were launched and the team became very busy studying and cataloguing the returning information.

The sensor frequencies used by underwater drones were slightly different to normal atmospheric drones.
What was revealed was the presence of structures under the now submerged plain.
This caused great excitement.

The water level slowly dropped over the next ten days.
With the plain now clear of water, specialised equipment could be used to investigate the structure lying under the plain.
Fairly soon this showed that the civilisation that built the structures was highly developed.

More teams were brought in to excavate and study the structure.
That is, until the next alignment of the moons which they all observed from a much safer position that is, in orbit.

Considerable information was gleaned by the survey teams.
The civilisation had been old. Very old.
The structures had been much higher then. Above the level of the tidal wave.
Over time, with geological land movement, it had sunk down into the plain which had grown over it.

A few archaeological finds were made, but the discovery of what appeared to be written word, on metal like material, generated most interest.
These were sent back to the Forlorn Hope in a fast survey drone.
The resources on the ship enabled some translation of the texts.

The translation eventually revealed that the structure was controlled from a central computer.
Further work indicated, as the writting as somewhat corrupted with age, that the computer might contain both local star charts and information about the civilisations therein.

The excavation became a major project which engaged most of the survey teams.
The structure was massive but decomposed to a certain extent.
Nevertheless, the basic building material was still quite strong.

Removal of the overlaying soil was lengthy and boring.
At length, they penetrated to the large building in the centre of the complex.
It soon became apparent that all the many corridors led into the centre of the building.
To a massive, very thick walled structure with a door which could not be penetrated without blowing the whole building up.

Apprentice Technician Blogi sat on a piece of fallen masonry and watched proceedings with a distinct lack of interest. Senior Technicians and Officers were arguing about the best strategy to open the door. The door was very plain. Except for a simple insignia right in the centre. Blogi idly kicked bits of fallen masonry away from the large piece she was sitting on. One piece was much heavier than the others and she stubbed her toe.

The arguing in front of the door had ceased. All parties, as if in agreement, starting moving towards to the exit and thence to the mess tent.
No one noticed the inconsequential Apprentice Technician.

Blogi was swearing and aimed an angry kick at the offending debris with her good foot.
This hurt her other toe. In the gloom she hadn't noticed that the rock was long and stuck into other rocks.
She screamed and bent down intending to pick up the rock and hurl it in the nether regions of oblivion.
Only it wasn't a rock. It was a peculiar metal which much dust and debris clinging to it.
She stopped. Anger diminished and interest grew.
What was it?

She sat down again and started cleaning the muck off with a little trowel from the nearby excavation tools.
It started to look like a head, with two arms standing out, and one leg.
Suddenly a large lump fell away from the centre of the 'head'.
The shape was becoming much clearer now. A circle atop a cross.

For a very short time, she was puzzled. What possible use could something this shape have?
Suddenly the penny dropped with an almost audible clang.
It was the same shape as the insignia on the door.
In fact, it look the same size.

Thoughtfully she strolled over to the door and put the object up the the insignia. Yes, it was virtually the same size. She put the object right onto the insignia to confirm this.

Ding!
The sudden noise was totally unexpected.
She involuntarily tried to jump back but she was still holding the object which now appeared to have welded itself to the door.
At least for a very short period. Then it gave and she fell back onto a bruised posterior.
Anger returned, Two sore toes and now this. Talk about a bad day.
As she looked up at the door she froze. Except for her lower jaw. This slowly fell open.

Suddenly a great roar went up from the tent. Bodies flew out of the exits like the End was Nigh.
The bodies made beeline for the building and into the treasure trove now uncovered.
The tent was empty except for Blogi.
She sat in stunned silence clutching a, as yet untouched, drink.
Her brain was on holiday. It was still trying to decide if this was a good day or a bad day.

The computer no longer functioned. The data was stored on long crystals.
Much of the data was lost but, with the large number of crystals recovered, much data was reclaimed.
Enough to tell the story.