Nuevo Amanecer

[Warriors of Light]

When Alonso received Chenzo's invitation, he smiled. Chenzo had been enigmatic, as usual, sending him general location area rather than the exact coordinates, with the addendum “you will have guidance upon arrival”. Which he will surely need, Alonso thought, given the amount of charged particles and radiation in that area, rendering conventional scanners largerly inefficient.

Shortly afterwards, Alonso undocked his Sabre from Albion and glided away from it smoothly until he reached a safe distance. He angled his ship off the ecliptic plane and activated cruise engines. Quickly vanished from scanners, plowing through space and pushing radioactive dust away as he reached Outcast restricted space, his ship approached the destination. A planet which, as much as he knew, had been proven inhospitable for human habitation, was rapidly swelling beyond his cockpit canopy.

Suddenly, Alonso felt being watched. He deactivated cruise engines, signaling his peaceful intentions, and energized main engines, should problems arise. And so they did, immediately. His ship rocked and started tumbling slightly. “A micro meteoroid? An attack?” thoughts were flashing through his mind as Alonso jerked the control yoke, changing his ship trajectory, fighting with tumbling at the same time. With no obvious source of attack, his ship bucked again, and then Alonso understood. Instead of turning again, he simply killed his main engines, allowing the tractor beam to engulf his Sabre and draw it towards his destination.

It didn’t take long till Alonso was watching a station growing before him, a vaguely recognizable shape with glittering spherical and vaulted elements shimmering as beautiful as they were alien. The installation was obviously thoroughly defended, indicators of several high grade weapon platforms were showing on the tactical screen. Without any usual, human or robotic, docking control, his ship was smoothly drawn inside the station through one of its airlocks and eased on the docking zone. Quick examination found the atmosphere suitable for breathing. Alonso smiled, took his helmet off and put a breathing mask on.

He exited the ship and looked around. The environment was obviosly human made, standard layout was combined with ominously looking extentions, some of them emiting a strange looking pulsating radiance. Most strikingly, there were not a single living soul in the vicinity, neither was there a usual hum of the station equipment. Alonso found himself liking to think it was this uneasiness, originated by the absense of activity around, that created his sudden urge to leave the docking area.

As Alonso started along the passage way, he was releived to hear distant voices, seemingly in a conversation. When Alonso drew nearer, the conversation stopped, and Chenzo emerged from the end of the hallway.

"Ah, welcome my friend, your timing couldn't have been any more perfect"

Alonso smiled warmly. “Hola amigo! You certainly know how to make an impression!”

Chenzo gestured Alonso to join him in the room at the end of the hallway from which he appeared, and soon Alonso found himself in a bar, with only one other man there.

Chenzo began to speak again. "This is Jarek Nomak, he's a... mercenary friend of mine. He leads a group known as the Samarran Raiders, and more than likely will end up staying here" he said, motioning Alonso to take a seat.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again, senor Nomak” Alonso nods and occupied a chair at their table.

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