"Coming in for a landing." Salem told them as the ship lowered to the ground outside of the small colony town. They were on the Kitinol Line. In one of the Republic’s systems on the line. Psalm System to be specific and they had landed on one of the cleared moons. It was not known for anything aside from its lawlessness and the small town that was on the surface who were mining radioactive materials.
The ship jolted slightly as it landed and then she began switching off systems. "Okay... Ram, you are staying with the ship. Attilo and Marcus stay with him. Be ready for a fight just in case. This is a lawless part of space so we can’t account for help if we get in trouble." Salem declared as she gave out orders.
Once the majority of the ship systems were powered off she climbed out of the pilot’s seat and moved to the area of the ship where they stored their weapons. She pulled out and holstered her new revolver along with several extra bullets. Then she checked the rest of the gear she was bringing: a communication device, an earbud, a combat knife, and the last thing was a picture of the Xenoarcheologist they were following the trail of.
Drakon Lesden is not a well known Xenoarchaeologist. Mostly on account of the activity not being as popular in the Vexical Empire. Of the many things that could be done, Xenoarcheology was strictly a governnt based activity since it could result in a change of power. Salem knew of only three or four people in Vexical’s history who went around studying Xenoarcheology.
The first was the very first Vexical ruler who ca to power before even the Grand Hexarian Empire rose to power. He beca well known because of the several texts and secret vaults he pillaged to enhance his power. He was able to use this knowledge to create the first Praetorian soldiers, which was more difficult at the ti because there was not a nanosystem.
The second person was the first ruler of the Hexarian Empire, he discovered the first ancient chs. He adapted them and used them to help grow his empire’s territory. Eventually the concept of chs caught on and other countries were able to resist their influence. But that technological rediscovery caused an influx of change that eventually resulted in warp and faster than light cores.
The third person managed to completely change the field of war. It was the ruler of the Hexarian Empire that turned it into the Grand Hexarian Empire. He discovered and triggered a device that would result in the creation of Nanohumans. Who would in turn trigger a constant change of growth and change.
The fourth person was the current- or rather the forr Emperor of the Vexical Empire, who managed to find a slew of relics and references that were made public. Which solidified their place as a country in the wake of the Grand Hexarian Empire’s fall. He then went on to find many more in secret that were absconded and taken to the Echo System.
Most Xenoarcheologists, like this Drakon Lesden, would only ever find unknown artifacts that would be put up in museums. They would struggle to make nas for themselves since the various governnts would be keeping a close eye on them. Which was why he was partially involved in the criminal world. So he could hide from the governnt if need be and get information without the governnt catching on.
Salem walked down the ramp of the ship as it lowered. She walked through the ships that were parked just outside of the town. Her team took up her flank as she walked. "Dag, you stick with . Atlas and Yuti go around the periter of the town. Stay out of sight for now but stay in contact in case we need you." Salem ordered as she walked through the large wooden gate that had the town’s na in rusted tal letters, ’Vanityville’.
Once she was through the gate she looked around at the few people that were out in the sandy street or on the wooden or tal porches. This planet was not overgrown with trees and greenery. But he did see a lumber forest set up near the planet, except none of the trees had leaves as far as she could tell.
Salem imdiately noticed sothing strange as she walked. People saw her and moved into their houses or quickly walked away. Clearly avoiding her, maybe they were just cautious of outsiders.
Salem watched one mother quickly drag her child away. She decided to reach out and listen in the mother’s mind. [Please don’t see us. I do not want to die today.] Then the woman was out of range as Salem and Dag arrived outside sothing that looked similar to a bar. But there was a tal sign hanging out front that read ’Oracle’s Saloon and Inn’.
Salem exchanged a look with Dag, "be ready for anything. I can already tell that sothing is going on in this town." She inford him and the rest of her team through the communication channel.
She then stepped forward and easily pushed open the double doors. Right in front was a counter where a man was reading sothing. While to either side was a bar filled with grizzled and older people. Most of which was ard with sothing, whether it was an axe or ranged weapon. She even spotted a few mining lasers among the weapons.
When she stopped at the counter she rested her elbows on it as she quickly realized the bar area had gone deathly quiet. She looked around at them to see they were all looking right at her. Most of them were reaching for their weapons.
Click Click!
Before she could even try to read their minds to figure out what was going on he heard the cocking of a gun. Looking up she was staring down the barrel of a laser shotgun that was definitely modified. The man working the counter had pulled it out.
"What? Did you think that new look would fool us?" The man growled out with an accent. "We may be in a so-called ’backwater’ town. But we ain’t a bunch of uppity fools."
Salem blinked and was probably not making a very dignified face as she blinked in surprise. "What?"
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