The bridge was quiet, everyone took in the sights of the simulated city and the implications of PesKal’s declaration. The views, provided by the Sliver’s powerful sensors, panned over and under the city, into the many rooms and passages across the Miriani world.

PesKal explained: “Their dwellings confirm your findings captain. They are indeed partially subterranean. The Underground chambers spread across the entirety of the city; their total volume is almost equal to the aboveground structures.”

Makoe added: “We have identified scattered remains of the Miriani bodies, they have been burned, nearly pulverised. If the southern-hemisphere matches the norther, we can extrapolate around 6.43 billion dead Miriani.”

Makoe moved the simulation to show a small stone building within a dense forest of bamboo-like plants. There was a short tunnel bellow it which led to subterranean chamber. The resolution of the simulation could not resolve much detail at this distance, but there was what looked to be furniture scattered across the chamber.

Makoe continued: “There is evidence of a slow societal collapse. The main extinction event happened over 40.8 hours, which is the exact length of a day on Prudence. This crippled the species, killing approximately 70% of the population.”

PesKal pointed to the small stone building. “There is evidence the remaining population held on for approximately 4 years. Until they too vanished.”

“What did this?” asked Damien. His eyes serious.

Makoe answered: “Concentrated thermal energy. The heating patterns match lasers. It originated from above the atmosphere.”

“When?” Matrioshka asked.

“Consistent with our findings on Jane’s World; 6238 years ago.” Makoe answered.

PesKal looked to his captain. “What do we do?”

“Unclear. The Sanctuary Act does not cover procedures when encountering extinct sentient species. This should be an issue for the Director of Expansion… maybe the Imperator itself.” Matrioshka replied.

Damien’s young age shone through his eyes. He said: “In the absence of proper procedures, one must act with accordance with Imperial values; curiosity, discipline, and respect for the universe. We must explore further.”

Matrioshka saw through Rhea’s interface; she was now turned towards Damien, irritation boiling to the surface. Rhea said:

“Have you forgotten our current situation? There are minds in this system who would have us killed. They are here because of you!”

Rhea walked up to Damien and was pointing at his chest. “You wish to explore? To bring Shkadov and his crew onto Prudence? Risk them tampering with a graveyard of a species? I…”

Rhea looked around the room and locked eyes with Matrioshka. Rhea was immediately embarrassed at her outburst. She shrunk back and said: “We cannot risk it. We don’t know how desperate Shkadov is…”

Damien cleared his throat and said: “I am… sorry I caused this, Officer Lavigne. I cannot even defend my actions, but whatever my reasons were, I’m sure they were valid.”

Damien and Rhea stared at each other. Neither blinking.

“We are still explorers.” Matrioshka told her crew and rose from her chair.

“Landing on Prudence will benefit us; Our communication systems, through which all our links to the Imperium are routed, and what the tracking code is certainly using to transmit out location, is obscured by large concentrations of matter.” Matrioshka said, and turned to Rhea;

“Just as we cannot Set-jump directly into an atmosphere, we cannot transmit near a planet. We will be protected from detection by Prudence itself, Officer Lavigne.”

Rhea considered her captain’s words. Matrioshka saw her access and read though data packs on Set technology. Rhea confirmed what Matrioshka had told her, and nodded begrudgingly.

Rhea went to a small simulation within her mind. Loaded it and was just about to boot it, but decided against it. Matrioshka wondered if she was the reason why. Whatever Rhea uses to calm herself, find strength in situations such as these, was evidently very private, not to be shown over an Enslavement bond. It ached Matrioshka to have to do this to her.

Matrioshka told herself the bond was necessary. If Rhea read, heard, or interpreted a command from Shkadov, even indirectly, she would have to obey it. She could easily bring the Sliver down.

It was necessary.

Rhea’s eyes were downcast. She nodded and said quietly: “Very well. As you say captain.”

Makoe was unsure what to say, she looked between Matrioshka, Damien and Rhea with a bewildered expression and said: “Guys, we should probably get going down to the surface. I confess; I am more concerned about the Miriani themselves than the Fifth Wonder.”

PesKal said enthusiastically: “I am too!”

Matrioshka smiled: “Ignoring a problem doesn’t make it go away. The sooner we get on this the sooner we can explore in peace. Grand tasks before the small.”

Damien snorted and said: “Damn, you sounded just like my mother for a moment there.”

Matrioshka rolled her eyes and said: “It is decided. We will land on Prudence, and I am Damien’s mother.”

Makoe laughed loudly.

Matrioshka began the Set-jump, full calculations this time. She will bring the Sliver 1200 kilometres above one of the cities on the banks of a large river. As agreed by PesKal and Makoe, it was one of the larger ones and should hold sufficient amounts of preserved Miriani technology for study.

The meeting had gone as well as could have been expected, they found who Shkadov was after - they were just missing the why. Right now, they would focus on the Miriani. A puzzle to solve and report back to the Imperium. Matrioshka hoped the Imperium would be able to save the Miriani, as Prudence was filled with their DNA. The Imperium could, in theory, clone millions of Miriani, implant them with memories and knowledge, and have them rebuild their civilization.

With the calculations complete, and the entire crew soft encrypted, the Sliver jumped towards Prudence.

They appeared out of the Set 38.8 milliseconds later, and began thrusting to reduce their relative velocity to the planet. The crew watched from the bridge as the planet, already huge bellow them, began to grow ever larger. The Sliver hummed and strained under an acceleration of 245 m/s2 and veered towards the Miriani city.

“I will bring the Sliver there.” Matrioshka said and highlighted a large open structure on the northern edge of the city. It resembled an ancient colosseum, though much more square than circular. It used to be taller, but its top had weathered and eroded.

It was overgrown with small bushes and grasses. But the bamboo-like plants which covered large parts of the planet, and filled the same ecological niche as trees on Terra, did not grow within the colosseum itself.

Now within the atmosphere, Matrioshka reduced the Sliver’s thrusters to a tenth of their previous strength. She wished to disturb the planet as little as possible. The Sliver, black as the space it came from, flew over the city. The Cloak Frame was no longer on, there was little point in its use when they were being tracked.

The ship cleared the wall of the colosseum, and gently landed in its centre. The grass bellow was soft and emitted small clouds of green mist as it came in contact with the Sliver’s landing legs.

Rhea’s eyes brightened suddenly. She said: “Look! Those grasses are carnivorous.”

Rhea displayed the grass in VR, and played back the simulation. Showing how it broke open on contact and emitted the mist. She then removed the topmost layer of grass from the simulation. It revealed thousands of scattered bones.

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“The bones belong to this local avian species; Most likely fruit and seed eaters.” Rhea said as she showed a small winged creature. It was blue and fat, almost comically so. As the crew watched, the creature pecked at a drying fruit on the wall of the colosseum. The fruit got kicked over the wall and onto the grass.

The creature considered the fallen fruit.

“Come on little guy. There is fruit elsewhere.” said PesKal to the avian.

Makoe had her hand over her mouth. “Poor thing. I hope it’s smart enough.”

The creature turned its head and flew away.

Makoe and PesKal looked massively relieved. Damien was indifferent and Rhea was being Rhea - scanning the local eco system. A small predatory creature caught her eye. And it was fascinating to watch her work. Through her eyes, Matrioshka saw Rhea go over each unique strand of DNA within the vicinity. Rhea catalogued, tagged, and examined it all.

Matrioshka said: “This is our first location of interest. We will exit the Sliver and inspect the surrounding area. We will stay within 1.6 kilometres of the ship.”

Nods from the crew. “Yes captain. Of course.” Rhea said and walked through a simulated portal onto the ground outside the ship.

Matrioshka sighed, and logged Rhea as the first imperial mind to ever set foot on Prudence.

Damien whispered next to Matrioshka: “Dibs on the next planet.”

Matrioshka smirked. As members of the Subdirectory of Reconnaissance, they had the privilege to be recorded as the first to walk on a new celestial body. They could join the ranks of all those legendary explorers that came before.

Matrioshka was the first on at least a hundred worlds. The sheer number of planets and moons within the galaxy did bring the excitement down a bit. Nonetheless, it was an honour to be the first. To be on the same list as the greats such as Neil Armstrong and Nicolette Swan.

Minds were expected to live for thousands of millennia, and through all that time, nobody could take away being the first.

Cold lifeless rocks like Jane’s World were not special, so the Sliver’s crew did not mind Matrioshka being the first. But Prudence was another matter, she had hoped to discuss who would get the honour.

Rhea had beaten her to the punch.

But looking though Rhea’s eyes she found no greedy ambition. Like a child, Rhea was mesmerised, she was kneeling on the grass, poking at it with her finger. It always warmed Matrioshka to see ancient minds relax and be themselves, particularly Rhea.

“Alright. You have the next one. Makoe will go after you. Then PesKal. We repeat the cycle after.” Matrioshka told Damien.

He nodded and went through the portal.

Matrioshka followed him and stepped onto Prudence. The air was warm and humid, the grasses smelled of bitter burnt wood. Each step Matrioshka took disturbed the grass as it released its mist.

PesKal and Makoe came through the portal. PesKal was looking everywhere excitedly, his fins vibrating. Together, the crew of the Sliver began exploring the colosseum. They walked to the edge of the central open field, and stepped into one of the corridors which criss-crossed the structure.

The grass did not extend this far in, there was never any sunlight here. There was a small elongated creature walking across the concrete wall next to them, Rhea noticed it and lunged.

She grabbed the creature in her hands and stared at it. Within each of their nanite bodies was a small set of sensors, specifically designed for planetary exploration. They offered the same capabilities as the Sliver’s sensors, but with a much shorter range. Four of them made a set, as they swam in the soup of nanites within the crew’s bodies.

Matrioshka saw Rhea analysed the creature’s dark navy exoskeleton. Its three sets of legs and one large hexagonal eye.

Rhea smiled and let go of the tiny creature. It skittered to its exact previous location and stood there. Rhea found it even more amusing now, she laughed quietly.

Matrioshka’s eyes shone at the sound.

“This is exciting.” PesKal said, looking at a broken-down machine which seemed to once contain preserved foods.

Matrioshka doubted the food was still edible after six millennia.

“Exciting indeed. Look at this.” Makoe was saying as she was bent over near a heap of discarded plastic and rubber.

She pulled out a small rectangular object. It was flat and see-through, except in one corner, where delicate electronics reflected the ambient light.

Damien peered at the device in Makoe’s hands and said: “Personal communication device? Something akin to widespread tech of the early 21st century?”

Makoe replied: “I agree with your assessment Officer Viris. Data is inaccessible though. The device’s data storage uses rudimentary electronic circuits. It deteriorated by 20% per century. It is long past incomprehensible by now. Though I can tell the Miriani are using a base 12 numbering system.”

“Keep the device Officer Rue. You are assigned to artifact retrieval.” Matrioshka said.

A grin broke across Makoe’s face. “Oh, ho ho! I get to pick and choose the shinnies!”

“Look at this everyone.” PesKal was standing near a wooden display case.

Within it were trophies and medals of various designs, with etched writing. Presumably names and accomplishments of whoever received them. One singular medal was missing from the line-up, its pedestal empty.

Matrioshka was shaken by how much this hallway resembled human spaces. The doors, the glass display case, the trophies, the colosseum, the city itself. If it weren’t for the strange ecosystem and the two suns you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between this city, and a pre-Imperial human town.

Makoe took a trophy from the case, which promptly crumbled. She stood frozen with the dusty remnants in her hand.

“Not your fault. It would have crumbled within the decade. You just moved it along.” Damien told her. Makoe smiled and said:

“Thank you, honey. For trying to make me feel better.”

Damien’s eyes turned pensive. He responded: “Uh yeah. Of course.”

Makoe cringed visibly but decided to not dig herself further into a hole.

Matrioshka peered at an adjoining room as they walked past its crumbled door. Inside, she saw a Miriani skeleton.

“Stop. Biological remains within this room.” She said and walked inside.

The skeleton was dry and covered in millennia old dust. It was small and mixed with a pile of rotten fabric. The wood was a mass of dull grey, but its atomic makeup matched those of the bamboo.

“The Miriani died siting on a pillow. Look at the surroundings, at the arrangement of the rotted wood piles. This was a conference room of sorts.” Matrioshka told the others and indicated at the other piles in the room.

Rhea walked up to the skeleton and grabbed its skull. It had an unnatural hole in its forehead. She said: “This Miriani was murdered. A projectile.”

“The initial attack, which killed approximately 90% of the population and destroyed most infrastructure, left the remnants in chaos and anarchy.” PesKal said sombrely.

They left the skull with the rest of the skeleton.

They found the exit of the colosseum and walked outside. The surroundings were abuzz with sounds. Small insect-like creatures called to each other, the fat birds flapped their wings, and a short creature groaned as it walked.

It was maybe 50 centimetres tall but much wider; shaped like a disk with a dark top. It walked slowly on 6 thick legs. Its body was green and fleshy, and it had a wide mouth and two black eyes. It let out a grumbling sound at the group, perhaps it wished to appear threatening.

“Adorable!” Rhea exclaimed and ran up to the creature. “It is a slow herbivore, perhaps a tortoise equivalent. Look at its back! The Emperor and Empress provide sufficient ultra-violet radiation that this species evolved to use the energy directly.”

The creature saw Rhea approach, its feet retracted into its body and it fell to the ground, spinning slightly like a coin.

“You scared it, Officer Lavigne.” Makoe said laughing.

“I wished to confirm its defence strategy. Strategy confirmed.” Rhea said proudly, her hands on her hips. The light of the Emperor and Empress reflected across Rhea’s rings. To Matrioshka, Rhea appeared to shine brighter than the suns.

The crew left the creature at peace and encircled the area around the colosseum until they were approached by a small furry creature. Spherical in shape, it had 4 legs and a beak, a long tail, and two curious black eyes.

It walked leisurely towards them and stopped when it came near. It lay down on its belly; legs spread out. Its tail was alternating between coiled and extended.

Rhea was vibrating gently. She wished to grab hold of the creature and inspect it, but she did not do so. Matrioshka saw through their connection how Rhea analysed the creature’s DNA, specifically its behavioural instinct.

Rhea whispered: “It wishes to bond with a creature of our shape. We must either abandon it immediately or care for it until it dies.”

Matrioshka responded, also quiet: “It is a pet? It evolved such strong instincts to be a pet?”

“I doubt it. Its DNA shows clear sign of modification. It was engineered this way.” Rhea replied.

Matrioshka knew what to do. They had to leave. She was not adept at taking care of an alien pet. Not to mention Subdirectory of Reconnaissance had strict rules for taking biologically native lifeforms off their planet.

“What is our mode of escape?” PesKal asked. They were all dead still in front of the creature, who let out a short scintillating noise. It was cute.

“Its top speed is 11.5 meters per second. Sight is its primary mode of orientation. We should run away, into the forest and then turn back into cover.” Rhea said and highlighted the plan in VR.

“Go.” Matrioshka said.

They ran. Perhaps a bit too fast.

Nanite bodies were instruments of force and precision. Imperial technology allowed them to reach Mach 1 in 12 seconds. While running.

As the group streaked through the forest, Matrioshka saw insects, birds and other small creatures turn tail and run. The violent motion spooked the fluffy creature as well, it ran off into the forest.

The group reached the building; the cover Rhea highlighted. They were all laughing.

“Okay maybe next time; we should modulate our velocity as well.” Damien said.

“Noted.” Rhea replied with a smile.

They were within a small sunken building; its roof lay scattered in pieces across the floor. It was once a tool shop of sorts; rusted metal lay scatter about. Matrioshka looked up at the alien sky. It was blue, the two moons of Prudence were visible, as well as the two suns.

It was beautiful.

Looking up, Matrioshka received a message. It was overwhelming, and it came from the sky.

From everywhere in the sky. Like a sledgehammer it crashed into the Sliver’s communication receiver, and as a message from an unknown sender, it was directed towards the captain.

The crew discussed their encounter with the creature, while Matrioshka decided to accept the message. It was crude - just simple vocals.

It said, in a deep scraping voice; a mix of Matrioshka’s, Rhea’s and Makoe’s:

“The creature was an Alwan. A pet, like you suspected. The species was very dear to the Miriani.”

Wide eyed, Matrioshka sent into the sky: “Who are you?”

“You call us the Emperor and Empress, invader. And you are on our planet.”