The Brumarx were thrilled that they had finally reached the day of ascension. No longer would
their wings be limited to the air currents. No longer would their talons taste only the earth of their
planet, they would soar amongst the stars. They expected their astronauts to peer out from their
craft and behold the majesty of their world.
The entire planet was enraptured. Jaws gnashed; fire plumes ignited from their mouths in
celebrations as the population watched view screens. Cameras from inside the craft and outside
broadcast everything live. If those pioneers lost their lives in pursuit of this dream, then the
whole world would witness them and remember that moment too.
When the launch device raised itself up from the secretive underground base, the crowd 'ooh'd'
and 'aah'd'. When the electricity began to arch and crackle along it's length, it matched the
electricity of the crowd that watched near and far.
"I Dampeners online and green."
"Docking clamps unlocked."
"Craft primed."
"Fire when ready. Systems sound off for green."
"Magnetics: green."
"Flight control: green."
"Harbasy Protocol: green."
"Internal Cabin: green" Stated the pilot, offering a 'thumbs up' to the cameras which resulting in
a planet wide cheer.
The pilot, one Xax'ah'flight, was a wild card. They had never hidden the fact they were into the
myths and legends of old. So much so, their gimmick was the use of holding their uppermost
manipulator up and extending the thumb skywards.
In children's tales across the various continents, this symbol was one used by some of the
creatures of myth. Small imps that guided or caused mischief. It had endeared Xax'ah'flight to
the masses, especially amongst the youth or those of a similar interest. It had bolstered support
of the Star Project more than any other marketing scheme.
Not to mention the various scholarly universities seeing a massive uptick of those studying the
old tales.
===*===
Oscar was frowning at what he was seeing.
Granted it was a top down, bird's eye view of the planet below, but no matter which way he tilted
his head, he just couldn't work out what he was looking at. One of the very first humans to be
aboard a brand-new single crew science ships, he was eager to prove that humanity could be
trusted despite their rapid introduction into the wider galaxy.
The human didn't even remember Sol-3, he was far too young, so was certain part of the new
generation and had no strong desire to metaphorically chain oneself to a planet that wasn't even
classed as a 'planet' anymore. However, after being extremely lucky and finding a populated
planet that hadn't been documented yet, he was frustrated that he couldn't work out what they
had built.
He was still trying to compile what the population looked like, they seemed to be big, based on
the infrastructure. He'd rolled his eyes at that assumption, yet another race to 'look up to'. Aside
from that, he needed to ensure that they wouldn't be able to see the drones that he'd deploy to
get the initial information. They were compiling their stealth protocols when the scanner had
found something of 'interest'.
An iris had opened in the ground, it seemed to be the centre of attention as it had a huge
amount of attention on it. The computer believed it wasn't a weapon and no scans had been
detected, so they weren't aware of Oscar's presence. From his perspective, it was 4 square
towers. As he watched the live feed, he could see the towers crackle with energy.
A thought occurred that he might actually have a better idea of what these were if he *wasn't*
directly overhead. As his mind turned over that idea, he considered what it might be from the
side. He couldn't even tell how tall these rods were. There was *something* lodged at the centre
of these electrified towers. Oscar frowned as the beginning of a thought began. He leant further
into the view finder, hunched over the console.
"It's like... the barrel of a gu- oh *fuck*! Emergency man-"
===*===
Far below, the rail gun fired.
In almost an instant, the craft of the planet broke atmosphere, slowed thanks to the air
resistance against the energy shielding and punched straight through the science vessel.
It was about twenty minutes later that the brand-new space craft of the planet had maneuvered
into the newly developed debris field. The shielding protected the craft as it approached the
bisected alien vessel.
"Control, I can see some sort of energy field holding over exposed rooms of the craft. It has
internal energy and appears is maintaining an atmosphere. " said the pilot, skilfully coming to
rest outside what he assumed would be an access door or airlock.
Over the course of a few minutes, ground control had authorised him to render aid of the alien
craft. Xax'ah'flight was aware he was still being broadcast all over the world and thanked ground
control.
"After all, we need to exchange insurance details."
===*===
Oscar was panicking, he'd fucked up with a capital F. He had resorted to running from one side
of the craft to the other. The science bay was intact, but command was lost completely. When
he opened the door he felt his bowels loosen as he stared out into the void. Thankfully, the ship
had sealed the breaches immediately and thanks to the engines, was maintaining the ship. It
wasn't great, but the beacon would request immediate assistance before the craft would fail
completely.
Problem was that the projectile of the planet was approaching. At first Oscar assumed they
were attacking, but now it was lining itself up with an airlock that would open straight up to
where Oscar had to stay to avoid the whole; giant hole into space situation.
As the door opened, the bright orange vacuum suit of the alien filled the doorway. They were
big, definitely in line with the assumptions, but that was where Oscar's correct assumptions
ended. It was a centaur of a sort. Six legs working in unison propelled its horizontal portion of it's
body ending it watch seemed to be a thick tail. It's upper torso 'only' had two arms, who were
reaching up to undo the helmet that covered a single head atop it's shoulders. Oscar also noted
the rather large leather wings that were sluicing off water and ice that melted rapidly in the
heated, oxygenated hallway.
As it pulled off the elongated helmet, it revealed, a dragon.
"A dragon!" Oscar exclaimed unintentionally, pointing up at... the dragon.
===*===
"An imp!" Shouted Xax'ah'flight, pointing a clawed digit downwards, still encased in the vacuum
suit's gloves.
The entirety of ground control blinked in confusion. Imps were a myth. A story. They are small
bipedal, non-scaled, tricksters. Well, not always tricksters, they often offered guidance or
mysterious help to those who reacted well or positively to them. They weren't *real*, there was
zero proof they existed despite a common theme in tales across the many cultures of the planet.
It was just assumed that Brumarx were unimaginative as a species, only able to come up with
stories based off what was around them.
The whole planet watched through the camera on Xax'ah'flight's chest at the creature of legend.
A trickster or guide. And they had just blown up its craft.
Had it been watching them? Waiting for them? The launch was a success, undeniably.
Confused whispering washed across the surface of the planet below. Would Xax'ah'flight risk
offering their name? They stole those apparently…