Story opens in the vastness of space, the last unexplored territory of mankind. A celestial body coined Bastor’s Comet is making its century long return to Earth’s Solar System. Moving with a gentle determination as it had done for ages before its discovery. A mining and survey expedition has been approved to examine Bastor’s mineral qualities. The vessel Walton is inbound when an unusual reading is detected coming from the comet.
Observer Post Officer
Sir, I am detecting a metallic object on the surface of the comet.
Expedition Leader
What? A metallic object, are you sure?
Observer Post Officer
Yes sir. Coordinates are being fed into the system now.
Expedition Leader
Well, we’ve come all this way. Might as well see what it is. Land us as close to the signal as we can get. We will send out a search party after our preliminary scan of the comet’s surface.
On the surface of the comet
After the Walton had landed two men departed the craft carrying flashlight like devices that bear little resemblance to any existing technology. They are fully covered in exosuits with a distinctly reptilian design. A mirrored faceplate adorns their masks to protect them from the elements. The soundless crunch of their boots meshes the soft surface of the darkly lite comet. They approach an opening that resembles a cave. As they wander inside the explorers’ flashlights illuminate the makeshift cave. Ice and ore light up with an understated yet appreciable radiance. They examine the cave for a short while before their lights fall upon a metal object. The two men approach cautiously.
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Explorer
Sir this is Rickard. We have found the object.
Expedition Leader
What does it look like? Can you describe its appearance?
Rickard
I don’t have to sir. It’s a Russian Alliance teleportation pod.
Expedition Leader
Russian Alliance? That’s impossible, David contact UASEPC. Tell them we found El Dorado!
Back On Earth
Sometime later two aircraft called sting rays for their resemblance to four-winged sting rays are on patrol along the Eastern Coalition / United Atlantic border. They are performing a routine aerial sweep to detect potential hostiles and report the locations of indigenous people to maintain population control.
Aircraft Pilot One
Air Control, this is Alpha. Routine sweep has been completed; border is clear request permission to return to Landsite.
Air Control
Negative Alpha, Sector 42 has requested emergency aid. Unidentified hostile has attacked Siterep Sigma, repeat Siterep Sigma is under attack.
Aircraft Pilot One
Copy that Air Control. Alpha inbound ETA flying time.
The Stingrays eventually make their way to the base designated Siterep Sigma. What awaited them was a state-of-the-art facility reduced to rubble; Combat Synth vehicles scatter the ground as smoke wafts from a sizable crater where a roof used to be on a cone shaped military research lab.
Aircraft Pilot One
Air Control we have reached Siterep Sigma. No signs of hostile.
Air Control
Alpha, are there any survivors?
Aircraft Pilot One
Unable to determine Air Control, too much smoke and debris to see survivors.
Air Control
Understood Alpha. Return to Landsite. Rescue crews are on their way.
Aircraft Pilot One
Acknowledged Air Control. Returning to Landsite.
Aircraft Pilot Two
(Thinks to himself): My God, what happened here!?