>[ Low orbit of the star of a small system known to its inhabitants as "Sol" ]
>
> In the flaming recesses of a small backwater star as the flaming gases
>wandered they seemed to part for but a second... but a second was long
>enough. A small glittering starcraft burst forth from the opening glowing a
>fading blue as it darted forth from the star's corona.
> "Eve! Is he still on our tail!?" Betamu screamed in desperation at the
>small computer console. A glittering shadow danced across the viewport, the
>familiar visage of the Khaza's control computer "Eve".
> "I have not detected any solar distortions as of yet, however there are
>two Cedran battle cruiser's headed in our direction." The computer crackled.
> "Pretty determined to capture me aren't they? I must be worth an awful
>lot of money to send to battle cruisers."
> "Last I checked two days ago on the Intergalactic circuits there was a
>bounty of almost twelve billion on your head, and that's just the current
>highest bid."
> "They've already spotted us correct?"
> "I would presume so, they are headed in our direction. They at the least
>detected the Star Jump." Eve continued.
> "Well then engage the cloaking device." Betamu leaned back in the small
>uncomfortable command chair of her freighter. "And give me a report on the
>hull temperature."
> "Hull temperature is well within limits and the cloaking device is
>functioning."
> "Is this system inhabited?"
> "Yes, third planet, pre-warp technology roughly six billion population."
>A small display appeared in the corner of the screen with a vector outline
>and information blurb on the planet. "My records also indicate that this
>world has been scouted by several races including the Zentraedi and your own
>race."
> Betamu leaned forward, "We've been here?"
> "Yes circa 157650 by your calendar. I have lingual records from several
>scouting reports, they should contain fairly recent information, accurate
>within 50 years."
> "Earth? What kind of name is that... sounds like Shiyan."
> "I don't have any historical information regarding the planet, for all I
>know it is a Shiyan splinter colony." Eve paused for a moment, "Oh and you
>may find it of interest that the Cedran ships have broken off and returned to
>a parallel orbit relative to the planet and the sun."
> "How’s our damage level? Can we make a safe landing?"
> "Our damage is rather severe and the planet's atmosphere is unusually
>thick. We may not be able to make a safe landing."
> Betamu grinned. "But we can make a landing--"
> "I hate you" Eve interjected bringing a brief smile to Betamu's face.
> "As I was about to say, locate a landing in a major population area with
>a tolerable temperature for me."
> "I would prefer not to 'land', but if you are determined to do so this
>would be the best place, both environmentally and socially for you to land."
>The display zoomed in towards a small strip of land off the coast of a large
>continent highlighting several cities. "I recommend one of these three
>locations."
> Betamu leaned forward examining the display. "How about this one," she
>pinned her finger on one of the dots. Then she squinted to read the tiny
>text "Ne..... rima?"
> "I am plotting an entry trajectory, but I must point out that only one of
>the landing struts works--"
> "Who needs 'em" Betamu interjected.
> "How long might I ask are you planning on staying on this world, Betamu?"
> "Indefinitely. You really think the Khaza will be able to make it off
>that world, much less survive another Star Jump? Besides, we're out of food."
> "Then you plan on settling there?"
> Betamu chuckled, "I'm not stupid, Eve, I couldn't hide from them on a
>primitive world. If it is a Shiyan splinter colony, or a splinter colony of
>any kind, there may be some old starships on the surface somewhere."
> "That is massively unlikely."
> Betamu frowned, "Pessimist."
> "We are approaching the atmosphere now."
> "Begin entry..." Betamu paused, "Oh and replace my cerebral
>bio-computer's current lingual matrix with one to match this region's
>predominant languages." A sharp jolt rocked the ship slinging Betamu
>sideways out of her chair. As she staggered up the ship continued to rock
>violently. *Eve, was right, this world has a very thick atmosphere, * she
>thought to herself.
> A spiral of flame began to dance off the back of the ship as brilliant
>flames rolled from the nose backwards, chipping off small pieces of the
>Khaza's heat shield. The small glitter of light jetted down towards the
>surface, piercing the clouds the Khaza roared towards the ground. Another
>sharp jolt rocked the ship as the altimeter plummeted.
> "We've lost the left wing" Eve crackled non-chelantly, "Our course has
>been altered twenty-three degrees off. Our current course will place us in a
>small clearing of rock buildings. It appears to be some sort of
>transportation hub."
> Betamu sighed, "Oops."
>
> All across Nerima airport people were pointing their fingers at the ball
>of flame barreling towards them. Mass chaos had ensued. A resounding rumble
>tore across the entire airport on the Khaza's impact. In the center of the
>main runway lay, cocked to one side, a glowing red hot plane-like object
>surrounded by a barreling cloud of dust that wandered across the ground like
>a stray cloud. As the fire trucks approached the Khaza the hatch on the top
>flipped open, and out crawled the strangest creature any inhabitant of the
>planet had seen in a long time rolling off the top of the ship and plopping
>onto the ground limp and motionless. Nearly seven feet it stood with large
>black armored plates adorning its shoulder's, forearms, stomach, and shin.
>With shining gray hair pulled back into a bun and dusty gray skin. There lay
>outworlder Betamu... stark naked and near death.
> *Eve...* Betamu blared through the neural connection as she scanned the
>area in her semi-conscious state, *Couldn't you have found it in your heart
>to mention that these creatures wear clothes?*
> *Betamu...* Eve retorted, *I am a computer, I do not have a heart.*
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