As the giant reddish-teal planet started to dominate the outside view of the shuttle as it entered the atmosphere, Sienna thought at first that she was having a hard time getting comfortable in her seat due to the buffetting and shaking of atmospheric entry. As the shuttle penetrated further towards the surface of the massive world, however, she found it increasingly difficult to find a way to shift her weight that she could stand to remain in for long. She felt herself pushed more and more firmly against her harness as the shuttle decelerated steadily, like it was trying to push through sludge rather than air.
By the time they came within sight of their landing zone, Sienna felt like she was wearing a shirt made of lead. She was pressed hard into her seat as if she'd gained half again her body weight, which she surmised that in a sense, she actually had. The gravity on this planet was uncomfortably strong. She couldn't do something as simple as lifting her arm without gritting her teeth a little from the unusual amount of effort it took, and she was even vividly aware of things like her heartbeat and breathing, as each breath she took made her chest feel like a small person was sitting on it.
She watched as Natsumi and Takeyu, through interactions with a spread of volumetric displays and interfaces before them, guided the shuttle down to the surface. If she was concerned before, she was almost regretting coming along now. Not only was she the only one whose movements would not be mechancially assisted by power armor in this oppressive gravity, she had spent four years on a relatively low gravity world and was even less accustomed to this extra weight than the Star Army soldiers. She truly hoped she was being paranoid, but if Hanako had wanted to dispose of her, this would as perfect an opportunity as there was, with a more than satisfactory excuse to maintain her image and a minimal chance of collateral damage. She was very much regretting not having paid attention to what she was getting into over breakfast.
Still, nothing to do about it now but ride it out. It was still a thrilling opportunity for her, but she would have to work to balance her curiosity about this derelict and her caution. She drew another breath, grimacing a little, trying to adjust to the extra effort it took to do anything.
As the shuttle touched down, she felt a tickle in her core, and her eyes went wide as she felt the ship slip unevenly beneath them. She gripped the arms of her seat, watching the two Yamataians in alarm. Surely they felt that?
The ship slipped again, and there was a loud bang as it was stopped by something solid. What had they landed on?