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Rayner Evaristus propped his hands on his hips and turned to let the wind stream through his hair. He tapped his foot impatiently, leaning all the way over one of the rails to look closer at the gaping metal hulk. It had been quarantined off earlier by a dispatch, the same who had so graciously provided him with a sketch.

The foreign vessel from the skies waited patiently for his exploration students to do the learning and poking about. The Professor was not patient, not at all. He glanced at the gathering crowd, waited a beat, and then kicked down the gangplank.

Steam hydraulics hissed as the staircase unfolded from the side of the Bronze Bolt. The mechanics had barely disengaged when the Professor started down them.