Preparations complete, the Sparrow and Momotaro dock with the Lighthouse to hitch a ride to Hammer’s Star. The majority of both crews choose to spend the 5 days in drive space aboard the more spacious city-ship. Megan has been reassigned temporarily as the cultural attaché to the Insight ambassador. Lodging is secured and various amounts of currency are spent or gambled. Conrad purchases a guitar from Reggie at The Corner. Moments before starfall, Gus receives a coded message from Doc P.
En route, Anthony Darrokin, Professor of Justice Ethics, announces plans for Refuge, an enclosed city on Fides, one of Spes’ two airless moons. The voyage is otherwise uneventful and starrise occurs exactly on the stroke of midnight as May 3rd begins – the 10th anniversary of the destruction of Silver Bell and the devastation of Spes. The convoy picks up its third member, the light freighter Seishimi, captained by Marcus Corge. Some undisclosed cargo for Concord is loaded and all three vessels starfall.
The Lost Civilisation
The Sparrow is tasked with completing the Momotaro’s previously aborted survey of Spiderhole. This progresses smoothly until they encounter an unknown sentient species in the depths of the second planet. Yala’s abilities save the day, and the life of one of the creatures, opening the way for Concord to initiate a controlled first-contact.