"Yes, that is a problem, there's a limit to how much impact we can make if we're stuck here. And it'd be annoying to be separated from everyone else," agrees Riley.

Claire frowns, but doesn't comment.

"I think most of us are worried about losing our family and friends back home."

"Don't get me wrong, my parents are nice people, but we're not close. I hope we aren't stranded though, for all your sakes."

"Thanks," says Claire.

"Mhmm."

Biking.

It takes another fifteen minutes or so but they arrive at the satellite phone store. "We're here," Emily sing songs.

"Finally," says Claire. "I am not looking forwards to the trip back."

Alex gets off his bike and walks inside. This is one of the small stores, only about ten meters across. There are neatly stacked boxes of phones laid out along one wall. The rest of the store has accessories: headsets, longer cables, cases, screen covers, stands external keyboards and other somewhat more outlandish things like drones. Curiously missing are any chargers.

"Solar powered, or something more exotic do you think?"

Alex steps forwards and opens a box. The silver phone looks like a run of the mill smartphone, though it lacks the logo of any familiar brand. The only other thing in the box is a coiled cable with a hexagonal connector on each end. These match the port at the bottom of the phone. "The color seems to rule out solar power," Alex notes wryly. He pushes the power button and a stylized logo like the one on the library computers appears on the screen. It fades to show something that looks a bit like the OS on the library computers with apps for phone, texting, camera, and settings preinstalled. He tries the phone app first but an error message pops up on the screen. "No satellite connection. Please configure network," Alex reads aloud.

"The interface option on the library computers said something about connecting a device, maybe you can configure them from the computers."

"Yeah, maybe." He taps on settings but after a minute of tapping around he gives up. "I hope so, it doesn't look like there's a way to configure this from here."

"If we're going back how many phones should we take?" asks Riley. "I think it makes sense to take at least a couple spares in case we lose one or more people show up considering how long a trip it is out here."

"Take like 9 of them? We still need to get food so we don't want to stack the trailer with phones."

"Sounds good." Riley stacks up some boxes and deposits them in one of the trailers. "So, now we go back. Actually, maybe we should grab a couple of those drones. It might help with surface exploration. Cases too. I don't think there are repair shops around here so these phones need to last."

Alex nods. "Having the drones is probably wise. Same for the cases, you forgot about screen protectors though." Putting action to the words he picks up some of each and adds them to their collection.

"Oooh good idea. Those drones will be super useful. Do they come with cameras or do you have to get those separately?"

Alex picks back up one of the boxes and scrutinizes it carefully. "It says it has a pair of cameras."

"Super, I think that's everything here?"

"Yeah, I think so, there are other accessories but nothing I expect we'll need. If anyone prefers using a headset to holding your phone up to your face you should get one now." says Riley.

Alex and Emily each grab one for themselves.

Anna grabs one too. Linda doesn't bother.

Riley nods. "Alright, I think we're off then."

"Yeah, I think so."

Back on the bikes.

They have a long bike ride ahead of them, fourteen kilometers if they don't stop for breaks.

Yeah they will probably want to stop at some point, preferably at an interesting store.

There are lots of options to choose from. Food shops, Ice Cream Parlours, Hardware stores, Grocery stores other than the one Emily picked, hobbyist stores, places stocking knick-knacks, furniture stores, specialty clothing stores, electronics stores, and at least one camping store.

"Maybe we should poke around in that camping store, see what's there? Might have useful things for exploring the surface when we decide to do that and I think it's time for a break."

Claire nods, breathing heavily. "That, sounds fantastic."

The inside of the store is pretty normal, there's tents and sleeping bags featured prominently. There are freeze dried meals (just add water), camp furniture, and any number of trinkets intended to make your camping experience that much better, if you don't overstuff your bag with them.

On the more immediately useful side there are backpacks large and small.

"We should grab a few of those backpacks."

She grabs two small ones and a large one.

Riley walks around and ends up picking up a flashlight an electric lantern and an extra water bottle. "Everyone should probably grab a water bottle they like, if we're going to keep exploring it'll be important to stay hydrated."

Emily picks up a water bottle as recommended but also some rope, a couple emergency blankets and a towel. "Can't go wrong when you have your towel," she jokes.

Claire supplements her bottle with a nice pair of binoculars.

Alex just picks up a nice multitool and a bottle.