Sa Jeen Cluster
Signos [Nu Vo] System
Erdas [Or Yam]
11:42:16
The shimmering emptiness of warp space flashed and shattered into a sea of darkness, the glimmering lights fading into tiny specks against the backdrop of space. The Make My Day would have appeared to materialize abruptly from nothingness as it reentered normal space, thrusters flaring blue-white as they resumed their control over the vessel's flight. On the bridge, Cassidy stared through the forward window - not made of glass, but an engineered transparent titanium alloy. Ahead, dominating the view, was Erdas itself. Vast muddy clouds choked the planet's skies, obscuring the dusty landmasses and oily oceans underneath a veil of toxins and contaminants. There were no starports orbiting, no civilian habitats or military outposts strung up in the gravity well. Aside from the handful of frighteningly basic duct-tape-and-scrap-metal constructs they passed off as gunships, they lacked even a true fleet for protection. Suspended above the planet, however, was a gift from the Federation: a guardian belt. An enormous artificial ring, like a crown of emerald steel. These tremendous installations were the yvores' primary form of planetary defense. A complement of twelve had been constructed around their own homeworld. Formidable as they were, not even a dozen had been able to save Or Rum during the Adjutant's Passing.
Minutes into their approach a deep, grumbling voice came over the comm. "Vessel," they enunciated in an awkward growl, "Identify and state your intent." A few of the gunships broke off and veered their way, each brandishing a single large axially-mounted automatic gun.
Cassidy waved to Anthony and took the comm. "This is the Co-" She snapped her mouth shut, exasperatedly rolling her eyes. She was having difficulty shaking that habit of introduction. "This is the transport ship Make My Day. We're here on business. Requesting permission to dock."
A moment of silence, and then, "Requesting vessel registration documents. Please send them immediately."
Cassidy's hand had already been waiting at the console, and she reflexively dispatched the information.
Another moment went by as they ran a check, followed up with, "Approved. Sending instructions, now. Do not disregard." After which the comm finally went quiet.
Surprisingly, there had been no remark about them being a human vessel. Most lone worlds these days made it very clear there was to be no handouts to the dying. Cassidy brushed it off. It was something of a relief. She hated the notion of asking for charity, or even being suspected of wanting it. Turning to a nearby auxiliary station, she entered the planet's network and posted a listing for wanted crew, namely security and engineering personnel. Soon as that was finished, she hit the comm and barked, "If you plan on going for a walk, gear up now. This is your first warning. Grab goggles and breathers, if you're.. human. The conditions should be considered hazardous." She was not sure if Wes would require such equipment, thus the brief pause.
Entering Erdas' atmosphere was like being plunged into a dark sea. It was so phenomenally choked with fumes and dust that visibility plummeted to only twenty metres. They had to rely on directions from the surface to safely navigate. She kept waiting for the proximity sensors to start shrieking, but it looked like traffic control was good at their job. They never came too close to any departing ships. When they finally broke atmosphere, and punched through the cloud layer, they were greeted with a spectacular view of the grungy urban environments that spread across the planet's continents like a cancerous growth. The lights were dimmed to a nearly invisible glow from smog, the buildings rusted and decaying. Massive environment scrubbers struggled in an uphill battle to clean the air so it was technically safe to breathe.
Two within sight of their port were currently being repaired.
A gunship patrol zoomed by, belching black smoke from their engines, as the Day came in to land. The spaceport was an eclectic sprawl of platforms and towers surrounded on all sides by a milling sea of denizens and a huge market complex. A business sector, thriving like bacteria in a gaping wound. In stark contrast to the planet itself, the starships berthed on the platforms were all in fairly good condition. For the most part. The occasional junker could be seen hiding amidst the healthy hulls and well tended ships of other species. With as many starships that came through Erdas, it was hardly that the native race - the embl - lacked the knowledge to build spacefaring vessels. What they did not have was the capacity to make very good ones.
As they landed to the blaring of klaxons and flashing yellow warning lights, Cassidy watched through the window as a small host of dock workers assembled at a safe distance to meet with them once they had set down. She hit the comm one last time, "All ashore who's going ashore. Meet me down in cargo. This is your second warning. Shiloh, you're ordered to accompany."
She could almost hear a furious cry of, "Are you kidding me?!"
Cassidy had gathered a filtration mask with an integrated comm link and HUD from her quarters before they broke warp. It was currently hung from her neck, waiting until it was needed. She had also grabbed a heavy-duty work jacket, made from a dense weave of Kevlar fibres and carbon nanotubes. Very resistant against physical abrasions, which suited it perfectly for Erdas' environment. Her Richter was strapped to her hip, the grip just within reach of her fingers. Erdas' gun laws were very lax, both in response to and as the result of a heavy crime rate. Fully kitted for the outing, Cassidy headed to the cargo bay. The planet's clock was roughly seven hours longer than Earth's, and it was still morning. They had a short while before the day really started heating up. With luck, they would be off world again before conditions worsened.