Exploration Team

"Exploration Team" by Murray Leinster is a science fiction tale that plunges into the life of Huyghens, a colonist hiding on the harsh world of Loren Two. He's not alone, though; his companions are mutated Kodiak bears and a trained eagle, all part of a secret settlement he's desperately trying to protect from detection. The story kicks off with Huyghens battling the challenges of this alien environment and facing off against deadly local creatures known as sphexes. With a research station as his only sanctuary, Huyghens must decide whether the sudden appearance of a spaceship brings rescue or ruin, forcing him to confront not only the dangers of Loren Two but also the possible exposure of his illegal colony and the complex relationship between humans and robots.