Three of us project away from home and cross light years of distance to stand on a new world. In the fraction of a second, we have stepped between worlds and now stand on alien soil.

Ernap and Cretchal have accompanied me. The three of us being chosen as the best for this Translation.

I see Ernap looking confused. "What is this world called again?"

"Othallia," Cretchal replies, her wide angular face fixed in a mocking smile. "Do you ever listen during briefings?"

"Briefings are boring."

"Ok, let's start," I say, excitedly. "Remember the reason we are here."

"Catek is right," says Ernap. "We don't have that long. Shall I release the micro satellites?"

"Yes, we've got two days to get a comprehensive mapscan of the entire planet."

Ernap opens a pocket on his belt and takes out a small metallic cylinder. Unscrewing the one end, he depresses a small node on the controller on his his wrist. The microscopic devices emerge, appearing like a cloud of dust, rising quickly and spreading out across the sky continuing to ascend.

Ernap checks his monitor. "Deployment is optimal. We should have global coverage in three hours."

"That's excellent," I say, turning to Cretchal. "Let's set up the biologicals and atmospherics."

Gathering our equipment, we continue to walk away from our arrival point.

It becomes clear that we have emerged from Translation in the mouth of a small cave that opens out into a dense forest. For the experiments to function correctly, they must be set up in an open area to maximise dispersal of the micro samplers. Checking our environment suits, we set off through the undergrowth toward the prow of a nearby hill. The vines are tough to get through and don't cut very easily. Each slice of my knife releases a yellow liquid that pools thickly on the ground. Eventually, we cut our way through and stop in amazement.

Before us sits the most majestic valley that I have seen in a long time. Wild grasses ripple in the breeze, their vibrant burnished fronds changing colour as they sway, creating an almost liquid wave across the entire valley floor. Golden yellows and deep orangey reds seem to set the vista ablaze. Above, the sky is a cloudless azure, the systems twin stars blazing down. I realise that without our suits, we would not survive in the open for very long.

"The sun is larger than our home system," says Cretchal, peering at her scanner display. "Othallia is further away, which still puts it in the region that will sustain life."

"Remarkable," I say. "No matter how many times I do this, the provision for life in the galaxy is astounding. With a little engineering, we could soon balance the climate and make it more hospitable."

We move down the hill towards the sound of water.

"This would be a good place for the first biological implanting," says Ernap, as he crouches down next to a fast running stream. "Good dispersion is possible along the bank."

"This can be the first entry point," I say. "We'll use this location as the primary and work outward. We'll need to seperately Translate to as many locations across the globe as we can."

Ernap and Cretchal both turn to look at me. They are younger; less experienced and I can tell that they are not comfortable.

"I know that many of the new projectors prefer to survey in pairs," I say. "For understandable reasons. However, this world will be in solar eclipse in two days and won't re-emerge for two months. Staying together will slow things down and there is every chance, we won't complete the survey in time."

"You're right, of course Catek," says Cretchal. "You just surprised us."

"Listen, if you two want to partner up and I'll survey on my own, that should still get the work done."

"Is that alright?" Ernap visibly relaxes.

"Of course," I reply.

Dividing up provisions and survey materials, takes up the next two hours. As the sun reaches its highest point in the sky, we are ready.

"Let's get on with this," I say. "If you follow the western route and I'll go east. Contact me every two hours. We will meet back here in two days."

We all prepare ourselves, Ernap and Cretchal hold hands. I watch them vanish. I close my eyes and once again, see infinite possibilities appear. I mark my route and take a very small step across the world.

It's suddenly much hotter and within seconds, I'm sweating. I have appeared in a barren desert region that has the flattest dunes that I've ever seen. On the horizon, a ragged purple range of mountains stand sentry on the sandy borders.

"Like a giant sandbox," I muse and release the first batch of implants from my own equipment cylinder.

Turning around once to ensure that my suit camera records the whole vista, I project again.

The rest of the day goes smoothly, and a definite picture of this world is forming. Apart from the extremes of weather, this world has great potential. After fourteen hours and over a hundred projections later, I'm tired and decide to rest. Happily, my last projection takes me to much cooler region of the planet.

I put a small disc, the size of my hand onto the ground and watch my environment bubble inflate. Once it is fully deployed, I enter and seal the entrance. I watch my wrist monitor, as a sympathetic environment is established. A green light indicates that its safe for me to remove my suit.

Stepping out of my suit, I examine my cramped but adequate quarters. There is a small bed attached to the inner wall and a place to get clean. Taking off the rest of my clothes, I step into the tiny cubicle. Several jets spray sterilising gel all over my body. Once the jets switch off, I stand still for a moment to allow the gel to evaporate. Once dressed, I take out a small pack of food and eat a meal.

After reviewing the initial readings from the micro satellites, I settle onto the bed to sleep.

For some reason, sleep doesn't come and after trying to meditate, I decide to call Ernap and Cretchal.

Taking out a palm sized monitor, I route a signal through the satellites. "Ernap, this Catek, how are you progressing?"

Ernap's face appears, lit by bright sunlight, still inside his suit.

"Hello Catek, we are progressing well. We have covered over half of our survey area already." I can tell that somethings wrong.

Whether it's my lack of sleep or just my suspicious nature, my insides suddenly twist up. "Is everything alright?"

Ernaps face disappears to be replaced by Cretchal, who also is not acting like herself.

"Catek, we found something," she says, hesitantly. "Someone else is here."

"Someone?"

"Catek, I think it's the Skrahl."