[Imperial log: unexpected incident] [Our Science Ship One discovered an entirely new space entity in the Issam system, but these red crystals displayed extreme hostility. Our science ship came under attack and had to attempt an emergency faster-than-light escape.] [Xi Yan's annotation: addendum-the attempt ultimately failed.]
"The result was that Science Ship One failed to escape safely. We were attacked by these strange crystals, and the hull suffered severe damage."
Near the asteroid belt in the Issam system.
The badly damaged science ship had crash-landed on a large asteroid.
Mardun's projection stood in space beside Xi Yan's. In a sorrowful voice, Mardun said, "Unfortunately, it was the hyperdrive that took the damage, so we couldn't escape. In the end, our ship crash-landed here."
He had been controlling a robot aboard the ship and therefore remained unharmed, but the scientists aboard had suffered heavy casualties.
"The science ship hadn't entered vacuum-flight mode at the time. The Crystalline Entity's attack punched a hole in the ship in an instant, killing three people on the spot."
Mardun reached out with his insubstantial hand and touched the badly damaged hull, his voice low.
"But most of the crew were gathered on the bridge at the time." Xi Yan finally spoke, grief showing on his face.
Xi Yan walked to the side of Science Ship One and looked at the hole, several meters wide. He let out a heavy breath. "So the sudden decompression stripped the air from the ship and sucked all the nearby scientists out through the hull, right?"
"That's exactly what happened." Mardun nodded heavily.
"Fuck!"
Xi Yan gritted his teeth, anger already seething inside him.
He looked up. A short distance away, several stiff bodies seemed to be floating in space.
They were all the bodies of scientists.
"Small