The Landing craft drifted low over Altea's rolling plains, scanning for a place to land. Through the cockpit windows, the world shimmered with impossible colors: jungles of emerald and gold, oceans like molten glass, mountains that pierced blue sky's.
"Find us a flat spot," Halley ordered, eyes locked on the scanner. "A hill, an empty field — anywhere stable. We need samples for Julia before dark."
"Alright," Harry muttered. "But… this place…"
"Stay calm," Halley said, her voice low and sharp. "Dinosaurs can smell fear. If you panic, we're all dead. Stay close to me, you two."
The landing craft hissed as it touched down on a wide plateau.
Harry stepped out first, staring at the landscape as if he'd stepped into a dream. "This place is beautiful…"
"Don't lower your guard," Halley snapped. "Everything colorful here is poisonous."
"What?!" Harry shouted surprised.
"You didn't learn that at school?" Vanessa snorted.
"Of course not, moron." Barked Harry.
"Lower your voice," Halley hissed. "We don't want to attract attention."
"Right. Sorry." Harry replied slowly.
A high-pitched buzz cut through the air. Harry flinched. "What was that?!"
Something blurred past his ear — wings the size of daggers, iridescent in the sunlight.
"They're dragonflies," Halley said tightly. "And we're in their den. Move."
"They're everywhere!" Vanessa gasped.
"Don't fire!" Halley barked. "You'll attract predators."
"But we're surrounded!" Replied Vanessa frightened.
Another wingbeat — louder this time. The sky darkened.
Then a shoot:
"Hands up! Drop your weapons!"
Harry froze. Shapes emerged from the treeline — armored figures with rifles. Humans.
"There are other people here!" Vanessa whispered.
"Seems so," Halley murmured. "Mercenaries maybe… not Imperial."
"Detain them," one of the strangers barked. "Before the big ones show up. Move!"
Rough hands yanked them forward.
"Where are you taking us?" Halley demanded.
"Shut up," a voice snarled. "You'll see soon enough."
Inside the Base on Altea
"Sergei," a guard said, dragging the captives into a dark room. "We found these three wandering outside. Imperial's?" Asked Sergei raising a brow.
"I don't think so," guard muttered. "Maybe thieves here for brions. Interrogate them." Said Sergei.
A man stepped forward, his eyes like cold stone. "Alright, young lady. Why are you here, and who are you?"
Halley's chin lifted. "Why should I answer to you?"
He looks at her and with a smirk he calmly replies to her.
"Maybe for your friends' sake." He gestured to a screen. Harry and Vanessa were shown behind glass — a sealed chamber slowly filling with gas. "Cooperate, or they die."
Halley's heart pounded. I can't tell them about the ship. We'd be sitting ducks.
In that moment she thought of something fast so that the interrogator would not suspect her of lying and with a calm voice she replied.
"We're here for research," she said carefully. "Sent by the Institute of Darma to study this planet's ecosystem."
The man's brow furrowed. "Institute of Darma? Never heard of it. Where is it?"
"Just outside the Leora region. Planet Morleto." Said Halley in a laughing tone.
"Mickey," interrogator barked. "Run a data search on Morleto. Check for this Institute." He turned back to Halley. "If you're lying, you'll regret it."
Halley swallowed. "Do I get to know the names of my kidnappers?"
A thin smile. "You're in the base of the Pascal rebel forces. That's all you need to know."
Aboard the Tartarusios
"Halley sure is taking her time, Captain," Bjorn said quietly. "When did she last make contact?" Asked Oscar.
"Eight hours ago," Bjorn replied. His voice was calm but hard. "They landed for samples. We haven't heard since."
"Could they have been attacked?" Oscar worryingly asked
"Her DTI is still pinging. Weak, though. Underground maybe." Replied Bjorn confused
"Who went with her?" Oscar asked.
"Harry and Vanessa. Their DTIs are offline." Replied Bjorn
Oscar turned, his eyes narrowing. "There's a problem. Bjorn, you have the bridge. Chris, Mario — gear up. You're with me."
A voice from behind. "Wait, Osi. I'm coming too."
Oscar spun. "Youri. You should be in bed."
"Don't worry. I'm fine. And I want to see this planet myself."
The ship's engines began to hum.
"Captain," the comm officer called. "Landing craft ready."
Oscar's hand tightened on the rail. "Let's go."