On the ship's bridge various messages from across the system were listened to, with idle curiosity for the most part. In a point high above the system's ecliptic lasers were slamming into the shields of a Cobra MK III. A Caiman fighter had its front blown off by an opportunistic missile launch, and the Salamander that had been following it had to jerk aside as the remnants of the wreck flew past. Rapidly converging on this point were two sleek triangles, Viper Police ships, seeking to end this blatant piracy with their abrupt and complete form of justice.
A greyish-brown disc now lay in the path of the shuttle, the end of its journey. It was committed to its final approach, heading towards the solid rock at a still incredible speed, but lessening all the while.
Thrusters changed the course in subtle directions. The ship slowly turned about its main axis, until from its point of view it was heading for the top of the disc. Only the disc was now a large orb.
Streamers of plasma shot off the hull and shielding as it descended into noticeable atmosphere, creating a brilliant streamer as it passed into star's shadow. Not even all the high tech equipment it carried could prevent something from being communicated through the hull to those on board. At last there was an air of excitement, as if something was finally happening.
Now the craft was speeding high over the surface. Some people had switched on external monitors, and idly watching as lights from small surface outposts and the odd town came into view and gradually passed astern.
The smaller circle of the sun resulted in the dawn being sudden - almost visible as a line across the landscape to those who were watching. The light revealed arid harshness, a cold desert unbroken by plant or stream. Plains of boulders and mountains of stone, some with patches of early morning frost and mist arount their summits quickly dispersing in the light.
On the horizon was a more regular outline, which resolved itself into towers and domes. A few of them added colour to the desolate scene. Small flyers passed to and fro, and streets sealed with clear canopies lay between them.
The Transporter was now moving slowly, approaching an empty gap in one corner of the city. Soon it was hovering above, then lowering itself down, the jets blowing dust up from beneath it. With a slight movement it touched down. The dust began to drift slowly down, sometimes eddying into corners when it was caught by some wind in the thin atmosphere.
Robots scurried out from various crannies, manoeuvring into position an airtight tunnel so that the humans and aliens on board could leave the ship safely. There was bustling for some time as people gathered up their belongings and stretched stiff limbs. Then all was quiet for a while.
Some time later the ship had been cleaned and checked over, and fuel had been provided. Inside were different people, reading their books and drinking their drinks as it pulled itself off the desert to journey to the rain.