The escape pod began its unwavering trajectory towards Icarus I, the space-craft a small insignificant speck in the vast and eternal darkness of space. Eagerly looking forward to their journey, Syv felt two thirds excited, one third fearful. [i]How bad could it be?[/i] he wondered, invoking what to the paranoid and sensible types was well known as the phenomenon of “tempting fate.”
 
The experience of breaking into the atmosphere certainly was one of its kind; the spin was almost non-existent at the beginning, but soon the heat was visible as their pod caught aflame – thankfully it was resistant enough so the temperature rise inside was minimal. Soon after that, however, the flames were extinguished and the pod literally began falling apart as it spiralled out of control, the AI auto-pilot doing its best to keep them on track first and foremost. [i]Oh, Spirits,[/i] Syv was genuinely distressed – this was worse than the worst of any racing tracks – lethal or not – combined with accidents! As the space vehicle spun and shook he felt the tremors practically in his bones and was definitively thankful to be buckled so securely to the seat as he would otherwise surely be smashed around.

The landing was harsh and with only a vague sense of nausea, Syv was glad for his strong stomach. A shelter in the form of a mining colony was close, but the more much more alarming sight that greeted them was an immense sand storm. [i]Magnificent.[/i] Syv was deeply struck with admiration, but before his wonder and fascination could truly endanger him, their leader called for everyone to run. Turning his back on the beautiful but dangerous sight, he raced the storm towards safety together with others.
 
Their leader and the Halion were in front of him, the latter holding a sword out. Involuntarily, Syv felt marginally safer, even though he doubted protecting them all was honestly the woman’s intention. Moments before the sandstorm eagerly on their tail could devour the unlikely grouped beings, they made it to the mining colony. The sight of other survivors shocked him, but before trying to make sense of their presence, he took a minute to catch his breath and wait for the adrenaline caused by the imminent danger to dissipate. Whoever these other people were, it would be in all their interest to cooperate. Maybe they even had some information.