<strong><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;">SHUTTLE MCM-1B, <em>Tyr</em></span></strong><br/><br/>The ride down was bumpy, that was the best way to describe it. Tyr was designed for the Martian atmosphere, and was light with retractable wing surfaces, but the developing low pressure still caused the ship to drop like a stone before the pilot managed to correct it. The ship was way below the glide path as it came in, and barely avoided the edge of the massive crater that was the Hellas Planitia with an unscheduled burn, using precious fuel that would need to be replaced before the ship took off again.<br/><br/>The undercarriage locked down and the pilot radioed New Syndeny tower that they were on final. The calm female voice from the Mars base Comms centre (not, in fact, a tower), reassured him that all was well and that he was back on the glide path. The passengers in the back didn't know how close to disaster they'd come - the shuttle had missed the mountain range by barely five hundred metres. In a jet fighter that would be fine, but in a ship that was basically a heavy glider, that was far too close.<br/><br/>They lined up on the runway. "Touchdown in sixty... fifty... forty... thirty... twenty... ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one", his last word was drowned out by the bump and squeal of tyres on the marscrete surface of the runway. "Ladies and Gents, Welcome to Mars..."<br/><br/>The pilot couldn't resist it.... "Thank you for flying with MarsCorp space lines. On behalf of the crew, I hope you had a pleasant journey, and wish you a pleasant life in your new home. Please remain seated until the space craft has come to a complete standstill. Before exiting the space craft please make sure you have all your personal belongings with you, your pressure suit is correctly fitted and your helmet is securely fastened. Thank you again for flying with us today!"