Chapter 8 Part II

<< They have always been the pioneers of space so I think it is normal to want to visit them >> Andrea replied, looking up;

<<Actually you're right, I could go there on my honeymoon>> Sofia replied;

<< It wouldn't be a bad idea, furthermore our two agencies have been collaborating for many years so a courtesy visit wouldn't hurt >> concluded Andrea.

When Sofia was alone in her office she mulled over the meeting that had just ended and deep down she realized that she was sorry not to have become the new director of the fifth level as she had been directing the Pandora Lab for years with excellent results and therefore considered herself the natural heir of Martoprete also did not consider Lucrezia to be at his level.

She loved her very much as a friend but as scientists she and Andrea were superior to her and not by a little so she didn't understand why the Agency had chosen her as the new director.

<< Maybe I was too rash in refusing to take Martoprete's place, I respect Lucrezia but that promotion should have been mine >> she thought, looking out the window, feeling a hint of regret within herself.

She imagined herself fully dressed on stage as she explained to the world press what they had discovered at the fifth level she directed with her friends sitting in the front row listening to her amazed by her intelligence, the subsequent Nobel Prize and all the glory that came with it.

<<But what am I thinking?! Better get back to work>> she thought, taking her mind off that dangerous fantasy, meanwhile someone knocked on her office door, bringing her back down to Earth.

<< I apologize, miss, the additional module is reaching the space station, it is waiting in the meeting room. The other directors are already there >> told her a young man in his twenties recently hired by the Agency, tall with graying black hair, an aquiline nose, blue eyes surrounded by glasses with thick black frames and a slightly dreamy look.

Within the fifth level he had quickly made a name for himself due to the plaid waistcoats he wore along with a strange pocket watch of his own invention whose basic mechanism used quantum mechanics to measure time;

<< Thanks so much Jason, I'll go straight away >> Sofia replied.

He took his jacket heading to the meeting room and when Carla arrived he immediately ran to meet her.

<< We haven't seen each other in a long time, how are you my dear? >> he asked her, hugging her;

<<Everything is fine even if Martoprete's death has shaken me a lot>> she replied;

<< Poor man and to say that he was the most brilliant of all of us, I didn't like him but his intelligence was out of this world >> the woman replied.

<< Now that we are all here we can start, as you know the Agency has been working for a long time on this additional module and it is not only a question of adding three more seats for our astronauts but also of transporting a very precious load to the space station.

Inside there is a quantum computer which uses photons rather than qubits with which we hope to decipher some strange radio signals that we have recently picked up but at the moment they appear to be indecipherable >> explained Lucrezia, turning on the monitor on which the images of the module arrived ever closer to the space station;

<< The docking will be completely automatic, Pandora will do the job but I wanted you all present because we have to be ready if there were any emergencies to deal with >> added the director.

It was her first mission of maximum importance as the new leader of the fifth level therefore she couldn't start off on the wrong foot, until then she had limited herself to managing those already in place and she had done it quite well however now she was seriously getting involved.

<< For now all is quiet, the module is traveling as expected >> Carla began, looking at the screen in front of her;

<<Pandora works normally, nothing abnormal to report>> Sofia retorted with a touch of pride being the head of the Pandora Lab.

At a certain point, while the module was starting docking operations with the space station, a strange object hit it, throwing it off the pre-established trajectory, damaging the docking port.

<<What the hell was that?>> asked Sofia, taken aback by those events.

The ground control center immediately set to work to understand the extent of the damage but at the time was unable to establish what had happened.

<< Control center, return the module to its place >> ordered Lucrezia;

<< We are trying but it doesn't seem to respond, perhaps it was damaged in such a way as to not allow it to dock again >> she was answered;

<< What does Pandora say? >> Lucrezia asked again;

<<At the moment he is re-establishing module's trajectory by calculating damage, however if it were seriously damaged we would have to decide whether try docking again or not, another error could serious consequences on rest of station>> Sofia replied;

<<We can't give up, we need that module and it also carries a fundamental load, let's not forget>> Carla added, turning to Lucrezia who had the final decision;

<< Okay, let's proceed with the damage assessment and if we can, we'll try a second docking but without endangering the rest of the station, there are three of us in there >> ordered the director of the fifth level.

Sofia couldn't believe what she was seeing, however it seemed strange to her that Pandora hadn't seen that object coming by not activating the module's defenses against the impacts of bodies coming from outer space.

<<Pandora's defense protocol is active, right?>> Sofia asked looking at Andrea;

<< Yes as usual, why do you ask? >> her friend replied;

<< He should have seen that object. Don't you think it's strange that I didn't activate the module's defenses? >> Sofia told her with a worried look;

<<What would you like to imply? We haven't detected any critical issues in his work up Mars and this is a simple flight around the Earth, you're not thinking...>> said Andrea;

<< Maybe I'm wrong but look too, by now the module should have already returned to its starting position but instead it's still floating in orbit, what the hell is Pandora doing? Something isn't working >> Sofia stated worriedly;

<< As soon as we finish here we will take another look at the Pandora code, maybe it's nothing serious but until the algorithm finishes its work our hands are tied >> Andrea pointed out who was anxiously awaiting the results of his research .

Sofia didn't respond, just looked at the screen, but a simple mission around the Earth was proving to be an ordeal.

If the Agency couldn't complete such a simple task, how could they send astronauts beyond Jupiter? Something had broken and she had to figure out what it was as quickly as possible.

<< Control centre, where are we at? What are the conditions of the form? >> Lucrezia asked insistently;

<< The module does not appear to have suffered any structural damage, from our first assessment it seems that it can dock with the space station again as the docking sensors are active and fully functional >> they communicated to her;

<< Very good, let's proceed with a second docking attempt >> ordered Lucrezia.

Absolute silence fell in the meeting room, everyone understood the delicacy of the moment also because the latest generation quantum computer that the module carried would have been used to better analyze some data coming from outside the solar system, furthermore it had cost the Agency billions of digital euros.

The module resumed a regular trajectory after which it approached the space station again which opened the docking door for docking, at which point there was first contact and immediately after orbital stabilization.

These were the decisive moments and some in the room didn't have the courage to look while others, like Sofia and Andrea, remained anxiously waiting to understand if everything had gone right or if the mission had failed.

<< The module is safe and sound, the docking has been completed successfully >> they communicated from the control center making the meeting room explode with joy.

Sofia and Andrea hugged each other while Lucrezia breathed a sigh of relief, the first real mission as director of the fifth level had ended with a success and despite the setbacks she had done it in the end.

<< Congratulations to all of you, I really mean it. Thank you for your professionalism >> Lucrezia began, addressing the control room;

<< My God, so much tension! >> exclaimed Andrea leaving the meeting;

<< This was her first real mission as director of the fifth level so I think Lucrezia is the most shaken of all >> Sofia replied;

<< What were you saying about Pandora? >> Andrea asked her;

<< It seemed very strange to me that he didn't activate the module's defenses, that's all. Maybe I'm wrong but I want to check it out, would you like to do it together? >> replied Sofia;

<<Okay, I'd say let's get to work immediately>> replied the friend who, although without saying it, had had the same impression as her.

Although the unidentified object had suddenly revealed itself, Pandora should have known how to handle the situation but this was not the case.

To solve the problem they had to resort to manual connection with the ground control stations and this was not good.

Back in Sofia's office, the two girls opened the Pandora code but at first they didn't find anything strange, at least until Andrea noticed some very recent, small but significant self-updates carried out by the artificial intelligence during the mission.

<< Look here, Pandora was updating when the module was hit by the unidentified object, maybe this is the reason why it didn't see it coming >> said Andrea;

<<What code did you use? Tell me it hasn't changed what we're working on otherwise in trouble>> said Sofia;

<< Luckily it's the same but you can clearly see an increase in the frequency of updates, I think it's accelerating its learning process. I don't know whether to be amazed or terrified or both >> Andrea replied;

<< Do you think you can include them in the decoding process we are carrying out without having to start all over again? >> Sofia asked her;

<< I can do this because initially I had already foreseen this possibility therefore I left a "backdoor" with which I can insert further data without interrupting the analysis process >> explained Andrea;

<< You are doing an excellent job, I must admit that the credit for any future discoveries will be mainly yours so I intend to publicly acknowledge the paternity of anything that comes out >> Sofia told her;

<< Thank you so much, it means a lot to me >> Andrea retorted.

The two girls continued to work throughout the day and in the end, tired as hell, they returned to their respective apartments but not before communicating what they had discovered to Lucrezia.

<< We are informing you because you are the director so you have the right to know what happens in your level, it's the minimum >> Sofia told her once they entered Lucrezia's office;

<< Thank you for not keeping me in the dark about everything but now go and rest, you will start again tomorrow and then we have to wait for Andrea's algorithm to finish its work, only then will we have the complete picture of the situation >> replied the director, dismissing them .

Sofia left the Astronautical Headquarters heading to her apartment, at first she thought of calling Leonardo to spend the evening together but then she changed her mind and decided to stay alone with herself.

As per ritual, she opened a bottle of Barolo, pouring a little into a crystal glass, sitting in the armchair to mull over what was happening around her, realizing that after all, not everything was in pieces.

His relationship with Leonardo was going swimmingly, he was analyzing an important discovery made on Pandora and he had new friends and the attachment of the module to the Earth space station had been successful despite a few too many unforeseen events.

Even though she had every reason to be happy with her situation, she felt that something was wrong, thinking about Pandora she felt a strong anxiety rising inside her and even though she couldn't quite understand where it came from, she felt it growing in her soul and yet nothing gave any indication of its arrival. of disastrous events.

A week after the end of the winter survival training, Prescotti once again called the remaining cadets and told them to be ready the following morning at Palermo airport where some eVTOLs would transport them to the location of the next exam.

At dawn the next day all the boys met at the airport and when the officer arrived, seeing them already arranged in a semi-circle, he wasted no time immediately starting to explain what the test consisted of.

<< Good morning and welcome back, I'm happy to see that none of you have given up but don't relax because it's not over, in fact the best part is coming now.

The next survival test will take place in the jungle but you will not train here in Italy but in Brazil with which the Agency has shared knowledge and technologies for many years therefore the Brazilian colleagues were happy to host you.

You will spend two weeks in the heart of the Amazon rainforest but there will be no competition between teams as each will be left at a different point A and will have to reach a different point B so it will be impossible for you to collaborate.

This exam will test your ability to adapt to an environment that is very different from the one you have lived in so far and will also allow you to get to know each other better. In fact, to carry out a mission in deep space it is essential that each of you knows what your strengths and of weakness of other team members.

You will leave immediately from this airport by boarding the Agency's KP 9000 hypersonic jet which will take you directly to Brazil. Once you have landed, some of our on-site collaborators will give you all the useful information.

Let me tell you something very important: you will not be able to complete the assigned path before or after the two-week deadline, so to be promoted you will have to use exactly the time assigned to you, no more, no less.

Now I don't want to keep you any longer so go and have a good trip >> he explained to them, greeting them with a wave of his hand.

<< From the snows of Etna to the Amazon forest, this is truly beautiful >> Orlando said, touching his injured leg.

That week of rest had been a real blessing and although he still felt some pain he was easily able to carry out the exercise.

<< Let's look on the bright side, at least it's summer there >> Alice replied;

<< There will be crazy humidity and that's not good >> said Leonardo as he got on the plane.

<< We shouldn't be pessimistic, we'll definitely be fine. We got here because we have what it takes to do this job, it wasn't luck and we will prove it once again >> added an aggressive Lucia who much preferred to train in the heat than in the cold.

The KP 9000 was the first hypersonic jet in history capable of transporting passengers to any part of the Earth in about 2 hours, its secret consisted of the "sodramjet" engine capable of generating a speed of up to Mach 16 or sixteen times the speed of the sound.

"Sodramjet" stood for "standing oblique detonation ramjet engine" and consisted of a completely new approach to hypersonic flight in which the sonic boom was used to add combustine and not to extinguish it, in in other words, it transformed the shock wave from an enemy to an ally.

The plane had a white arrow-shaped livery with the tricolor flag clearly visible on the tail, it could carry a maximum of 20 passengers or a payload of 500 tons, allowing the Agency to also use it to launch satellites into low Earth orbit.

Internally, each seat was covered in comfortable red velvet and there were every type of comfort such as a personal bar, connection to the metaverse with 10G and a kitchen that was always open if one of the guests was hungry.

The Agency had worked on it for over two decades with the ultimate goal of being able to produce an aircraft capable of traveling both in the atmosphere and in space, an "aerospaceplane" as Carla jokingly called it.

<< Why does the Agency make this little gem available to us? >> Orlando asked himself as he sat down on a small armchair;

<<In fact they could have made us travel on a normal airliner even if it would taken much longer>> Lucia added;

<<In any case, let's enjoy this couple of hours tranquility, when we land in Brazil will have to immediately set off for the forest>> said Alice.

Unlike a normal plane, the KP 9000 took off vertically and then landed horizontally but it needed a braking distance equal to 16 football fields to be able to glide correctly therefore, upon learning of their arrival, the Brazilian authorities closed the airport until the aircraft left for Palermo in order to avoid any collisions with passing airliners.

The KP 9000 started its engines and took off quickly, arriving at altitude after about forty minutes, so when the boys looked out the windows they could admire the curvature of the Earth in all its splendor.

<< Come and see >> said Orlando, left speechless by that marvelous spectacle;

<<Every time I see something like this remember why decided to become an astronaut and am increasingly convinced that have made the best choice of my life>> Alice replied.

<< It's not bad at all >> said Leonardo looking outside while in the distance they could already see the "Eduardo Gomes" international airport of Manaus.

The boys returned to their seats, fastening their seat belts, but there was no need as Pandora made the plane glide gently to the ground without the passengers noticing, so much so that they were amazed when they were told to unfasten their seat belts and get off. .

<< Already done? That's all? >> Orlando said, thinking he was witnessing something livelier;

<<What did you expect? Now move>> Aurora filmed him from behind;

<< Hello to you too, apparently that on Etna was only a temporary truce >> Alice interjected, not looking forward to attacking her;

"Okay, let's hurry up. We are here for a reason, let's not forget it >> added Leonardo, interposing himself between the two girls who fortunately would not have had the opportunity to work together otherwise who knows what would have happened.

When they got off the plane to welcome them they found the director of the South American section of the Agency, a short, bald man in his sixties, sleepy brown eyes with ugly dark circles under his eyes that didn't suit him at all, a gray mustache above his mouth and a rather ambiguous look, he looked like he was about to fall asleep instantly.

Despite the great heat of the Brazilian summer, he wore black leather shoes over a gray suit made of trousers, vest and jacket under which he wore a white silk shirt and a red tie while on his left wrist he wore an expensive Swiss-made watch.

<< Welcome to Brazil, my name is Innocenzo Vettori and I will supervise your test but first please follow me to the regional headquarters of the Agency not far from here where I will give you every detail about it >> he told them.

Leonardo and Orlando looked at each other, realizing that they had had the same thought, that is, that the man had certainly never been an astronaut, rather he was a bureaucrat who had been assigned that position following a political agreement. , he certainly didn't deserve it on the pitch.

<< I would have preferred Prescotti, if nothing else he is a survival expert but this little man doesn't seem adequate to the situation >> Lucia whispered as she got into the golf cars that would take them to the Agency's headquarters in the center of Manaus;

<< I agree with you so we will have to make a virtue of necessity >> Alice replied rather worried knowing that someone with no skills would have had to help them or rescue them if they were not able to complete the exercise.

Mounted on autonomous golf cars they traveled several kilometers until arriving in the center of the city where there was a rectangular concrete building painted red with the words "Italian Space Agency - Central & South America Department" written in gold letters at the entrance.

On one of the walls a large mural had been painted depicting the solar system with all its bodies and the Agency's various space outposts.

The building was located in the "Cidade Nova" area in Rua Visconde of Santa Cruz, one of the most developed neighborhoods in the north of Manaus with large green spaces, splendid gardens, various condominiums, leisure areas, headquarters of large companies IT, communication and advertising agencies as well as the presence of numerous other companies.

Right in front of the Italian Space Agency building was the headquarters of the Brazilian space administration which used Pandora under license even if some features, such as self-updating, were not included in the sale.

Internally, the Agency headquarters was large and bright, spread over three floors at the top of which was Vettori's office where the boys were taken to receive instructions on how to begin survival training.

It was a very large room with the light coming in from two large windows placed behind Vettori's wooden desk in the center of the room, on the walls hung holograms portraying the faces of the President of the Italian Republic, the President of the Council of Ministers of 'Italy and the director of the Italian Space Agency while on the table there were some smaller holograms depicting the smiling faces of the bureaucrat's wife and two daughters.

Surrounding it were some plants coming directly from the Amazon forest donated to the Agency by the Brazilian government, one had yellow leaves and a green stem while another was much larger with a whole series of pointed purple leaves and tops a small purple flower.

<< To begin with I give you my personal welcome to Brazil and in particular to Manaus, the capital of the large state of Amazonas which stands on the banks of the Rio Negro in the North-West of Brazil, one of the main starting points to reach the nearby forest Amazonian.

To the east of the city, the dark waters of the Rio Negro meet the brown and muddy waters of the Rio Solimões, creating a chromatic effect called the "meeting of the waters".

Now let's move on to your test which will consist of starting from point A of the city, going up the Rio Negro and arriving at point B after exactly two weeks.

For each group there is a different path therefore I invite a representative of each team to come forward and choose one of the options present in front of me >> he told them placing some envelopes on his oak desk.

<< Who goes among us? >> Orlando asked;

<<I'll take care of it>> Chiara came forward, grabbing the first package on her left.

<< Very good, now you can go. Open the envelope and go immediately to the starting point, there you will be given everything you need to survive during the two weeks.

At this point I can only wish you good luck >> Vettori told them.

Leonardo's team returned to the entrance of the palace and opened the package from which a hologram emerged showing the itinerary to follow, it was a map of the surrounding area and a long red dash indicated the beginning and end of the test examination.

<< We have to start from Praia da Ponta Negra, go up the Rio Negro arriving at Santa Maria, from there continue on foot inland to the Puranga Conquista Sustainable Development Reserve and finally be found at the recovery point on the coasts of the Rio Cuieiras, to precision at the Rio Negro State Park Southern Section.

The test begins the moment the cadet opens the envelope and reads the instructions >> Chiara said aloud, looking at the others.

As soon as they realized that the test had begun, they rushed out of the building and headed at full speed to Praia da Ponta Negra, an urban beach in the city of Manaus located on the banks of the Rio Negro.

From where they were they had to take a taxi but there was no need in fact an Agency car was waiting for them outside the building to escort them to the beach. They crossed the whole of Manaus and the vehicle had to navigate the city traffic which was progressively increasing as midday arrived.

<< When you arrive at the beach there will be a boat waiting for you with which you will cross the river to Santa Maria, from there you will have to fend for yourself but be very careful.

Next to you there are backpacks, in each of them you will find water and canned food for two weeks, a machete, a position marker if you want to give up and end the test early, some fabric to build a hut and a small virtual atlas with connection to the metaverse with which you will be able to identify any threats >> the driver, a man with black hair and a Portuguese accent, fully dressed, explained to them;

<< How will we orient ourselves once we arrive in the jungle? >> Chiara asked;

<< I hope for your sake that you remember the instructions on the envelope because you won't be able to take it with you, you will have to leave it in the car >> replied the driver;

<< This doesn't answer my question: how will we orient ourselves in the jungle? >> Chiara asked again demanding an answer;

<< It will be your problem, in any case we have arrived. Stop protesting to me and get moving because time is ticking, two hours have already passed and in this test every second can be decisive >> the man warned them, having them hand over the envelope.

The boys got out of the car with their backpacks on their shoulders running towards the beach not knowing exactly what or who to look for to be transported along the river to Santa Maria.

"What do we do now? The driver said that a boat would escort us along the river >> Orlando said, not seeing anyone waiting for them;

<< He didn't say that someone would drive it so we will have to do it, in fact if you look to your right you will see a small boat with the Space Agency logo >> Leonardo pointed out, pointing his finger towards a small vessel with a white hull;

<< Do they want to make us cross the river with that wreck? But are they crazy? I bet it doesn't even float >> Lucia retorted, scrutinizing the battered boat and yet the Space Agency logo didn't leave much room for doubt.

<< There's only one way to know >> replied Leo Nardo, launching himself towards the boat, followed closely by all the others.

The boys reached the vessel and began to push it towards high water where it could float, it was a small boat with a twin-engine inboard, 8 meters long and 4 meters wide, it had a maximum displacement of 6 tons and a maximum capacity of 5 people with the tank that contained a maximum of 600 liters of petrol.

<< We're joking I hope?! It's not even electric, it still runs on petrol >> Alice complained as they took the boat into the river.

The vehicle in question had a planing hull with a deep V-shaped hull, internal spaces for 5 people below deck in two separate areas and a WC with shower while the upper cabin had a pilot's seat, a "dinette" that could be transformed into another bed space and kitchen area.

The cockpit was equipped with retractable benches with a hatch at the stern for access to the external platform equipped with a special compartment to house the inflatable boat, the cabin was equipped with a large window that allowed a great view for safe driving and The engine room was accessed by hydraulically lifting the floor.

<< Come on guys, push, time is passing >> Leonardo exhorted them so that the boat could detach itself from the sandbank in which it was stuck;

<< We're almost there, let's not give up >> Orlando retorted.

After a tremendous effort on everyone's part, the boat finally decided to enter the water, they pushed it a little more, after which they waited for a few minutes, making sure it didn't sink, and seeing it remain afloat, they climbed aboard.

<< Let's start the engine and leave >> ordered Chiara;

<< Yes but in which direction? >> asked Alice;

<< Problem solved, I found a map in the captain's cabin. Here is Santa Maria, our next destination >> said Leonardo, showing an old paper geographical map of the place;

<<Now we have the card, we're going from strength to>> said Alice.

Once the route was established, they set sail for Santa Maria, a small outpost made up of a series of houses located right on the banks of the Rio Negro.

<<How long will it take us to reach our destination?>> Orlando asked while opening some canned food;

<<If we don't encounter any obstacles, at this speed I'd say in a couple of hours, maybe something more>> Leonardo retorted;

<<Then we'd better make ourselves comfortable>> his friend replied;

<< I wouldn't be so sure, I'm looking at what we've been given for survival and I'm sorry to tell you but we're in trouble, there's practically nothing really useful >> Chiara noted.

<<We have canned food and water, it's already a start>> Leonardo replied;

<< It's not enough to survive two weeks in the middle of the jungle, furthermore we have to consider the fact that walking involves a considerable expenditure of energy and the body could leave us dry at the wrong moment if not adequately recharged >> Chiara continued with a worried tone while Lucia drove the boat across the river;

<<It means that we will get more food in the forest>> Orlando told her annoyed.

The boat proceeded along the river at a constant speed with the boys taking turns in guiding it and since none of them were expert in navigation they preferred to always keep the bank in sight because, if they had had problems with the hull, they would have promptly managed to save yourself.

<<What challenges await us in the jungle? Maybe Prescotti has set some traps to put difficulty>> Chiara asked;

<< I couldn't tell you but it scares me not having an adequate means of orientation, perhaps we can use the stars but in the forest the sky will be covered by trees so getting lost will be extremely simple >> Alice replied.

As navigation progressed, the human outposts disappeared, giving way to wild nature which reclaimed its territory.

<< We are abandoning civilization, now we're starting to get serious >> said Leonardo, watching the last houses disappear before his sight.

The sun began to set giving way to night and darkness, the strong heat combined with the cloud of humidity did not easily induce sleep, in fact none of them managed to fall asleep also because they feared they would suffer some sort of ambush planned by Prescotti and they didn't want to be caught off guard.

<< Are we sure we are on the right path? >> Orlando asked while eating canned food with plastic cutlery;

<< I think so but I can't guarantee it with certainty, the night is really dark, let's hope we haven't already passed Santa Maria >> replied Lucia;

<< Hey guys look over there, what is that? >> asked Leonardo pointing to the shore.

Alice took the light that illuminated the navigation of the boat and pointed it towards the mainland where there seemed to be a small fire or something similar, it was difficult to distinguish given the darkness.

<< I think there is someone but I don't speak Portuguese >> said Chiara, straining her eyes;

<< Let's try sending messages in Morse code using light and see if they respond, maybe it's another group that needs help >> proposed Leonardo;

<< Leave it to me >> replied Alice who knew well how to do it.

He took control of the lamp by sending the following message towards the shore: "We are sailing towards Santa Maria, can you tell us where it is?".

<<Now let's wait and see if I answer>> said the girl.

After a few minutes of waiting the answer came which read: "You have already passed Santa Maria, you have to go back".

<<They say we're off course>> Alice communicated to the rest of the group;

<<It's impossible! I'm sure I didn't go wrong and looking at the map it's not credible to say that we have already passed Santa Maria>> Chiara replied;

<< What if this was a trick by Prescotti to mislead us? Let's think about it for a moment, so far things have gone too smoothly and we know that we will have to face considerable difficulties to complete this mission. Furthermore, the phrase "In space nothing is as it seems, you must always be careful and trust first of all in your own faith" often appears in theory manuals. head" therefore I propose to move forward >> said Leonardo however some in the group were not very convinced by his explanation, in particular Orlando wanted to go ashore to see who had sent those signals;

<< What if it was Aurora's group? We have a moral duty to reciprocate what they did for us on Etna >> argued the boy;

<< The only way to decide is to put it to the vote and since there are five of us there will be a majority, in these cases it is the only solution to break the impasse. Raise your hand if you want to continue browsing >> said Chiara.

Everyone raised their arms except Orlando, decreeing his defeat.

"Very good, full speed ahead," said Alice.

The boy didn't take it well at all and it was up to Lucia to console him for that burning defeat which had highlighted the lack of prestige he enjoyed within the team.

While the cadets carried out the exam from above, with the help of satellites, Prescotti and his assistant followed the exploits of the various groups.

<< They avoided the first trap >> began the officer's assistant;

<< They were good at not falling into the trap but that's how it has to be done, you always have to rely on your own reason especially when you are in a hostile environment however another obstacle is about to arise on their path >> replied Prescotti;

<<What would it be?>> asked the assistant;

<< An even more difficult stumble, namely the division within the group, the vote by show of hands made it possible to break an impasse which risked slowing them down, however it highlighted the different authority that the group attributes to the various members and this it can lead to future quarrels but above all to rifts within the community.

If they want to be promoted they will all have to reach the goal together within the established times so I wonder if they will be able to remain united for the entire duration of the test >> explained Prescotti.

The officer fully hit the mark, in fact this discontent erupted with all its force when the sun rose again but there was still no trace of the Santa Maria outpost, at which point the moment of reckoning arrived.

<< Maybe we should have gone back, we should have already arrived by now >> said Chiara, starting to fear she had made a mistake;

<< I told you but nothing, never listen to that stupid Orlando >> protested the boy still burned by the disappointment of the previous evening;

<< As far as I'm concerned, I'm still convinced that I made the right choice >> replied Leonardo whose instinct suggested he was right;

<< Can you tell me why we should follow your advice? Nobody elected you leader of the group >> replied the enraged friend;

<< If you have something to say I advise you to do it immediately so we can clarify things before entering the forest >> Leonardo replied with a hard face.

They would have fought if it hadn't been for Lucia who, looking towards the shore, saw a sign illuminated by the first rays of the sun.

<< Stop and look over there, we've arrived! >> he shouted, pointing to a large wooden sign on which was painted black writing that read "Santa Maria" and beneath it was the Space Agency logo.

Chiara turned decisively towards the shore and when they got closer they immediately understood that they had done the right thing not to turn back.

<< I knew that was a trap by Prescotti, here we are in Santa Maria, from here we will have to continue on foot towards the interior of the forest >> Leonardo began, looking grimly at Orlando;

<<This time you were right but it doesn't mean are our leader>> Lucia intervened in defense of her boyfriend;

<< I never said I wanted to be one >> Leonardo defended himself;

<< Let's calm down and hurry up, we've wasted too much time navigating the river >> Alice intervened, trying to restore peace.

Neither Leonardo nor Lucia or Orlando replied, limiting themselves to following Chiara and Alice who, having understood the psychological trap into which their friends were falling, tried in every way to take over the leadership of the group so as to successfully conclude the exercise.

They began to walk towards the interior of the forest and as they advanced the vegetation became more and more dense, the trees were very tall and in various points covered the sky, the temperature was quite high in fact the boys tried to set their suits on "Amazon forest" mode to avoid wasting too many liquids but despite this they were still very thirsty and had to drink constantly.

<< At this rate we will run out of drinking water before arriving at the Puranga Conquista Sustainable Development Reserve which should represent the intermediate point of the test, furthermore this temperature is truly suffocating >> Chiara noted;

<< I can't do it anymore, I need a break >> Orlando added, dripping sweat;

<< There's something strange, we shouldn't feel so bad >> Alice said in a tired tone.

<< We are suffering from the heat because the "smart" functions of our suits have been deactivated, if you pay attention you can set the uniform to any mode but it doesn't work. Evidently we will have to get by with our own strength >> noted Leonardo.

In fact, when his companions tried to change the settings of the suit, it didn't work, or rather it didn't provide any benefits to the user, representing a big problem given that they were in the middle of the Amazon forest during the Brazilian summer.

<< The night is coming so I propose to camp here for the moment, one of us will take turns keeping watch while the others rest and tomorrow morning we will start the journey again >> Alice began, receiving the agreement of her companions;

<< Let's divide the tasks so it will be easier: Orlando and Leonardo will cut the branches with which we will build the base of our refuge while the girls will prepare dinner >> said Chiara, still finding everyone in agreement.

In reality it was a ploy to try to reconcile the two roosters after the argument they had on the boat but it wasn't simple at all, in fact it could be defined as a gamble because things could have degenerated quickly.

As the two men walked away from the spot where they had decided to set up base camp for the night, the girls started talking to each other.

<<Do you think they will be able to make peace?> asked Alice opening the canned food;

<< I sincerely hope so because we can't do it if we aren't all united, group harmony is essential to survive in a hostile environment like this and we also have another problem >> Chiara replied in a worried tone;

<<What would it be?>> asked Lucia;

<< I don't know if you've noticed but we don't have the slightest idea where we're going, are we sure that this is the right path for the Puranga Conquista Sustainable Development Reserve? We saw the route from above but here, in the middle of the forest, it's a completely different thing >> Chiara replied;

<<Are you saying we're probably lost in the Amazon rainforest?>> Alice asked, her eyes widening;

<< I'm afraid so, moreover, even if we want to orient ourselves by the stars, they are often covered by the trees and only in a few places are they visible without taking into account the fact that none of us is able to use the celestial vault as a compass >> Chiara specified ;

<<So what do we do? Do activate the position beacon and give up? The water is running out food will soon start to run too>> said Lucia;

<< For the moment our priority must be to make those two big heads reconcile, we'll think about the rest later >> Chiara cut short, tightening her arms around her knees.

Meanwhile Leonardo and Orlando, without realizing it, had entered the heart of the forest and soon began to no longer see the base camp.

<< Do you know where we are? >> asked Leonardo starting to worry;

<< Are you interested in my opinion now? I'm flattered >> Orlando replied piqued;

<<You know well that the other evening I didn't want to diminish your authority but was right>> the friend told him;

<<Okay sir, I know everything, since you are so good then why don't take us back to base camp, let's see what can do>> Orlando challenged him as he cut the branch of a tree with the machete;

<< Unlike you, I can admit that I was wrong, in fact I can tell you right now that I haven't the faintest idea of how to get back to the girls >> said Leonardo, collecting the tree branches cut by his friend;

<< But really? Well it's a great shame >> Orlando replied.

At that umpteenth response Leonardo lost his head, attacked him from behind, throwing him to the ground and punching him in the chin but Orlando didn't stand by and watched, he reversed the situation by taking him off him and giving him a powerful kick in the ribs after which he grabbed the machete and brandished it his defense.

<< Come on in if you dare >> said Orlando, looking at his former friend with a frown;

<< Can we know what I did wrong to deserve your insults? Let's get things straight right away >> Leonardo replied, choosing the strongest branch at his disposal as a weapon;

<<You've always had everything in life, you're the prodigal son to whom Agency entrusts its future hopes and this has tired me>> Orlando revealed, putting himself under him;

<< You're crazy if you think I like it, do you think it was easy growing up without parents? It sucks when they constantly remind me what legacy I have to bear and yet I carry on >> Leonardo replied hitting the hand in which his rival was holding the machete with the branch, knocking him out a second time.

Orlando lost the battle, at which point Leonardo jumped on him and could have done anything to him but instead he threw the stick into a corner and held out his hand.

<< I'm sorry if we argued but I don't feel privileged, if we want to get out of this forest alive we have to work together. Are you with me as equals or against me? >> she asked looking him straight in the eyes.

Orlando looked at him and returned his gaze, realizing that he had misjudged him, they had always gotten along well and only then did he realize how naive he had been.

<<Together until the end>> she replied, grabbing his hand and standing up;

<<What we have to do now is find a way track down the girls>> said Leonardo, putting his hands on his hips;

<< It's not a problem, when I was little my father taught me to orient myself with the stars in the firmament and luckily this night there are plenty of them and we are at a point where the clearing opens up. Follow me and we will find them again very soon >> Orlando replied as he set off leaving Leonardo astonished who did not know his ability.

Orlando looked up at the sky and applying the lessons he had received in his youth he took them both back to base camp where the girls were starting to get worried, not seeing them return they feared they were lost in the forest.

<< How long did it take you but why does Orlando have a black eye? Did you get into a fight? >> Chiara asked them;

<< There was a clarification between us but now everything is fine >> Leonardo replied, holding his right side where he had received the kick;

<<How did you get back? Where is the wood?>> Alice pressed them;

<< Orlando knows how to orient himself by the stars therefore we have solved a problem, regarding wood I fear we will have to do without it >> said Leonardo sitting on a tree trunk.

<<Are you serious? Why are we only finding out about this now?>> Lucia asked looking at her boyfriend as he poured water on his swollen eye;

<< I wanted to surprise you but then came the argument on the boat and you know how it is, one thing leads to another, in short I forgot >> Orlando candidly admitted;

<<If things are like this then we have lifted a big weight off our shoulders so now all you to do is tell us if going in the right direction>> Chiara urged him, receiving a nod of assent from Orlando.

The girl had a feeling of liberation, she feared having led her friends off the track but instead she could rejoice as she hadn't made a mistake.

<<Now let's eat and rest, tomorrow a long journey awaits us>> said Alice;

<<For the guard shift I volunteer, after blow to ribs prefer stay awake also because don't think would be able sleep>> said Leonardo;

<<I'll keep you company, this black eye hurts too much to be able close it>> said Orlando, patting him on the shoulder, sitting next to him;

<< Men >> the three girls sighed in chorus watching them make up.

While they slept the two had a chat to kill time, discovering that they were much more similar than they thought, the only difference was that Orlando had been able to enjoy the affection of his family since he was little.

<< I'm sorry that your parents weren't there but I promise you that we will go into space together and if they are still alive we will bring them back >> Orlando began, looking him in the eyes;

<< Thank you but I have now accepted the idea that they are dead. I have to be realistic, it is impossible to survive for so many years in deep space so I will have to get over it >> Leonardo replied bowing his head;

<< Since you didn't have a father to teach you and since you couldn't go anywhere, if you want I can give you some tips on how to use the stars to orient yourself >> the friend proposed, squeezing his arm;

<<Why not? At least we'll pass the time>> Leonardo replied.

The two immersed themselves in a night orientation lesson in which Orlando revealed to him all the tricks, from how to recognize the constellations to how to identify which stars were useful for orientation and which were not as well as a bunch of names in Latin.

Without realizing it they spent the whole night like that and when the girls woke up in the morning they found them still awake talking, luckily for them peace had been made and the group was united again so much so that even Lucia apologized to Leonardo for having answered him bad.

<< Sorry about the other evening, I shouldn't have said those things to you, I was inappropriate >> she began;

<< Don't worry, it's all over >> he told her, reassuring her;

<< All's well that ends well >> added Chiara;

<< I'm happy that harmony has returned to the group, now we have a chance to emerge victorious from this challenge >> concluded Alice.

After having eaten something they set off again towards the Puranga Conquista Sustainable Development Reserve with renewed optimism, knowing that they had someone capable of orienting themselves in the midst of that thick bush had calmed their spirits.