[center][i](Addressing the exploration team: [@Randomness][@Eviledd1984][@ShiningSector][@MST3K 4ever])[/i][/center]

Elm tried not to get lost in her thoughts as usual. This planet, however beautiful, was new, unexplored and possibly dangerous, so all of them had to be alert. So far they haven’t encountered any animals, aside from some tiny insects which could occasionally be seen crawling on the ground, none of which had shown any interest in the exploration party. 

As the team approached the ruins, signs of ancient settlements were beginning to appear around them. Remains of a stone pillar, almost entirely covered by vegetation, with unintelligible markings washed away by centuries. Part of a stone wall, only about two feet tall, exotic red flower growing right from between the blocks. They followed what was most likely once a paved road, now overtaken by vegetation. There were no signs of life or any recent visitors, the place looked abandoned for at least decades. Was it intentional that they made us land here? They must have known that we would go and explore this place. Or it was just a convenient spot far away from their cities, so we wouldn’t get a chance to spy on their actual technology and population? So many questions Elm had no answers to. She hoped that the negotiations were going well and they wouldn’t have to return to the ship to evacuate the planet in case something went wrong.

The team stopped at what must have been a village square ages ago. Several stone huts around looked mostly intact and doctor Izumo was eager to go in and explore. [color=82ca9d]“Okay people and people-like creatures,”[/color] Elm grinned, [color=82ca9d]“I suggest we make base here. Once the buildings are explored, we can pick one to move our equipment to, so it’s not out here in the open. Of course only if doctor Izumo determines that it is all right to use the building for such purpose, we don’t want to end up camping in some sort of a temple. We could split up to cover more ground - part should stay here to survey the ruins and the rest can go into the forest to study the flora and fauna.”[/color] Needles to say, Elm was planning to go to the woods to finally have a chance to properly look at the tall blue trees and other plants.

[color=82ca9d]“Just remember, nobody goes anywhere alone. Ever. Always be at least in pair with someone, ideally teams of three or four people, especially in the woods.”[/color]