Back in the familiar, albeit worn, safety of the Stellar Wanderer's cockpit, Kael removed his helmet and took a deep breath of his own ship's recycled air. The contrast with the sepulchral silence and thin atmosphere of the alien vessel was stark. The Wanderer might be old and stubborn, but it was alive, pulsing with the constant hum of its systems.
He sat down in the pilot's chair, still feeling the adrenaline of the discovery and the uncertainty of the decision he had made. He looked at the view panel, where the image of the alien ship still hovered, a dark, enigmatic silhouette against the starfield. It was a dangerous secret, an uncertain promise.
"Computer, initiate scan of stellar databases. Search for any reference to the 'Nebula of Whispers'," Kael ordered, his voice firm but with a trace of excitement.
"Processing..." the synthetic voice replied. "Nebula of Whispers located. Region of unmapped space in the Lost Sector, on the border of the Outer Rim with the Unknown Void. Limited data. Classified as Hazard Zone Level 5. Multiple unconfirmed reports of ship disappearances, inexplicable system failures, and anomalous sensory phenomena. No established trade routes cross the region."
Kael drummed his fingers on the console. Lost Sector. Unknown Void. Hazard Level 5. Everything confirmed the legends and the remote nature of the destination. Getting there wouldn't be a walk in the park. The Stellar Wanderer, in its current state, probably wouldn't withstand the extreme conditions of the Nebula, let alone the unknown dangers the Guardian had mentioned.
"Ship readiness assessment for long-haul voyage in hazardous sector," Kael requested.
The computer took a few seconds, analyzing internal diagnostics. "Recommendation: Complete overhaul and replacement of navigational shields. Optimization of long-range sensors. Increase fuel and supply storage capacity. Stock critical spare parts, especially for the warp drive and life support. Probability of success with current configuration: 37.4%."
Less than forty percent. Kael sighed. It was what he expected. The old ship needed serious work. And that meant parts, supplies, and credits. Credits he didn't have in abundance, especially after the last poorly paid delivery.
His mind raced through the options. There were Federation outposts, but they were expensive and full of bureaucracy. Corporate markets were even worse. That left the underworld, the independent ports and black market stations where questions were few and deals, though risky, could be advantageous.
"Plot a course to the nearest space station with a reputation for... commercial flexibility," Kael said, choosing his words carefully.
"Calculating route to Port Shadow. Independent station in the Krell system. Known for its active black market and access to unofficial information. Estimated travel time: three standard cycles."
Port Shadow. Kael grimaced. The name was fitting. A shady, dangerous, but efficient place. He had been there before, years ago, and didn't have fond memories. But it was his best bet to get what he needed without attracting unwanted attention from the Federation or anyone else who might be interested in a newly discovered alien ship.Before leaving, however, there was the matter of the alien ship.
Leaving it adrift was risky. Someone else could find it. He needed to hide it, but in a way he could locate it again if he needed to return.
"Computer, prepare a long-range, low-emission micro-beacon, coded frequency. We're towing our find to the nearest asteroid belt."
Using the Stellar Wanderer's tractor beams, Kael carefully maneuvered the immense alien ship towards a dense cluster of space rocks a few thousand kilometers away. It was a slow, tense process, like guiding a sleeping giant. He found a particularly large, irregular asteroid with a deep crater on one side.
With precision, he nudged the alien ship into the crater, where it would be shielded from most passing sensors and obscured by the asteroid's mass. He activated the micro-beacon and discreetly attached it to the hidden ship's hull. Only he would have the code to track it.
"Beacon active and hidden. Position logged," the computer confirmed.
Kael watched the scene on the view panel for a moment. The ancient ship, witness to forgotten events, now rested in a cradle of rock and shadow, awaiting his return or the unfolding of the destiny his discovery had set in motion.
"Okay, Wanderer," Kael said, patting the console. "Let's go get some new parts. Course set for Port Shadow."
The old freighter's engines groaned in response, and the ship slowly turned, moving away from the asteroid belt and pointing its prow towards the distant glow of the Krell system. The first stage of the journey had begun, not yet to the Nebula, but to the dangerous den that would give him the means to get there. Kael felt a mixture of apprehension and determination. The boredom had vanished, replaced by the tension of uncertainty and the undeniable call of adventure.