Sorry about that, small thing came up, but we're back now!
>>5730839“Hmm… maybe we should regroup on one of those moons, if we can get somewhere with a breathable atmosphere…” you comment.
“Not a bad call. Lot of unknowns on that planet still.” Videl says with a nod.
“Yeah. And… maybe we can contact someone, or wait for them to contact us, on a slightly less chaotic bit of scenery.” You look over at the main planet itself. “…Assuming there’s anyone out there, still.”
“I recommend the larger moon, then.” Irico speaks up. “It’s close enough to the planet that it’d be detectable for friendly first contact, but give us some warning if any hostile forces from the planet show up.”
“Kikono, you get all that?” Maple asks.
“Indeed. We’ve even been able to pick a solid landing location.” he informs, coordinates showing up on the viewscreen.
“Acknowledged. Setting down on this plaza area here.”
Both ships make their way there, and along the way, you ask, “Mr. Kikono, sir, you mentioned you think something escaped or erupted from that planet. But… are there any records of such a creature?”
“Not so much ‘records’ as ‘theories’ and circumstantial evidence. As well as mythological references to destroyer gods and the like.” he replies. “The leading theory is a long-lived planetary parasite once existed in ages past that caused untold devastation, though it likely died out thousands of cycles ago.”
“‘Planetary parasite’ are not words that inspire much confidence.” Videl remarks grimly. She then glances at you and asks, “...Does any of that ‘circumstantial evidence’ pertain to a certain planet called ‘Eros’ by any chance?”
There’s a pause, followed by a surprised, “Well… one of them, at least…”
Everyone but Irico look around at one another nervously. “…You think something similar happened here?” Maple asks.
“It’s at least a possibility.” she says.
“Don’t know if the timeline matches up, but…” Pantea shakes her head. “Too many hypotheticals at the moment, we need more information.”
(cont.)
