Hours later, the Hark blasts into high orbit over a distant world. The shuddering and creaking of the hull jolts every sleeping crewmember awake with a shock. Each of the aged mercs shout a unique profanity as they come to their senses. Rowe offers a valuable piece of information with much enthusiasm as the noise subsides.

ROWE: “We have arrived!”

Garren rubs his forehead and places his hat back on his head.

GARREN: “Yeah, I’d say you’re right on the money, Rowe. God dammit, Golt, you still haven’t gotten slingshot dampeners on this thing?”

GOLT: “You think I’m made of cash?”

GARREN: “They probably cost about the same as the chair you’re sitting in.”

GOLT: “Lumbar support is important, Garren.”

Vlex interrupts the incredibly important argument that was undoubtedly about to take place.

VLEX: “Right, so… where are we?”

GOLT: “That is a good question, kid…”

Golt fiddles with several levers responsible for the independent rotation of the crew bulb to point it towards the planet below. Although the world itself would likely only take up about the same area in their vision as a quarter held at arm’s length, plenty could still be deduced from its distant appearance alone. The atmosphere sung blue against the light of its nearby yellow dwarf star, a massive supercontinent of deep green sweeping across a swath of its surface. On the dark side, no lights were visible. A jewel in the astral deep. To see a sight like this is rare, and those present can’t help but marvel at its apparently untouched splendor. Vlex breaks the silence.

VLEX: “Odds are… one man lives on that planet right now. Other than that, this place is as pristine as it gets.”

GARREN: “I’ll be damned. Bastard was about as lucky as he could’ve been.”

GOLT: “A beaut’ for sure… tell us about it, Rowe.”

Rowe stares towards the beautiful blue and green dot. His eye blinks, shifts, and whirs as he makes every conceivable scan of its distant surface.