The Star Kingdom Atlas was the key, and the treasure vault was its lock.
The scientists inserted the complete Star Kingdom Atlas chip into the megastructure's main hatch.
The Starmap activated, tracing a single beam of light within it that pointed to every star visited on the Star Kingdom Atlas's journey.
The ancient machinery creaked, and the doors swung open. The scientists and Space Marines quickly entered.
Unbelievable treasures from a thousand worlds lay piled across the floors and against the walls. Exquisite statues stood beside offensive weapons forged from precious metals; beautiful jewels hung from the tips of ancient fossils, and intricate devices lay heaped together without any semblance of order.
Metallic footsteps sounded from the central aisle.
The Space Marines ushered the Science Officer behind them and aimed their Boltguns at the approaching figure.
A humanoid robot with a translucent shell filled with liquid raised both arms in surrender and walked toward us.
Its voice circuits crackled to life:
"So... you finally found my Starmap. Clever of you."
Without warning, the scanning drone accompanying the Science Officer activated its projector, and Xi Yan's image appeared on the spot.
"Marshal."
"Your Majesty, Supreme King!"
Xi Yan nodded to his subjects, then looked at the pale blue Synth before him.
"You're Captain Nais?"
Although his mechanical form limited his ability to express himself, the machine known as Captain Nais regarded Xi Yan with a smug look.
His metal body showed no signs of wear, as though it had only recently been assembled. His tone was both patient and condescending, as though he were speaking to someone beneath him.
"I suppose I should introduce myself, although you may already have guessed who I am."
Captain Nais said, "My name is Sanda Nais, or at least it used to be. Once the