High atop the desert plateau, the lonely scout pauses to ponder her next steps ...

There was no water in sight in the barren wasteland where they wandered ...

Everywhere a surreal landscape of swirls and spirals confounded and amazed them.

Sometimes they feared they might be sucked down a sandstone whirlpool.

Exhausted, the intrepid scouts finally had to stop for nourishment..

Strange native lifeforms soon enough accosted them, forcing them to share their meager food supplies.

Diplomatic skills quickly led to bonds between the explorers and the alien creatures.

Every scout had to do her part in making contact with the creatures.

No matter how severe the weather, the diplomatic mission had to continue.

Left to their own devices, the aliens could be intrusive and destructive.