The ship was massive, easily twenty times the size of Invicta, its surface covered in a dull, mottled texture that suggested centuries of exposure to the harsh vacuum of space.
Strange, alien markings were faintly visible along its hull, patterns that seemed to shimmer and shift as the light from the distant sun caught them at different angles.
"That's one ugly f*cker,"
Paul remarked, his voice tinged with awe.
"Definitely not one of ours."
"No, it's not,"
I agreed, studying the readings on my console.
"And if the power's still running through it after all this time, there's no telling what kind of tech or artifacts might be on board."
"Scans show no immediate signs of automated defenses,"
Airid reported, running a detailed scan of the ship.
"But that doesn't mean it's safe. There could be dormant systems waiting to wake up the moment we touch down."
"Let's not take any chances,"
I said, activating the secondary thrusters.
"We'll park next to it and keep our deflectors up until we know what we're dealing with."
Invicta slowed, maneuvering carefully as we approached the half-buried ship.
The asteroid's uneven surface provided a precarious landing zone, but I decided to park the ship next to the Identified by computer airlock.
"Docking complete,"
Darius confirmed.
"We're stable. Ready to go whenever you are."
"Alright, listen up,"
I said, turning to face my battlebrothers as we stood up and headed straight for the armory.
"This ship is old, alien, and likely filled with surprises. We go in slow, we go in smart. Keep your eyes peeled for anything that looks like a threat, and don't touch anything unless you're sure it won't bite back."
Paul and Julian were already suiting up, strapping on their prepared beforehand tactical gear with practiced efficiency.
Airid double-checked the med kits, ensuring we were prepared for any unexpected injuries or environmental hazards.
"Don't know about you guys"
Airid said, his helmet visor flickering as he ran a final check.
"But I wouldn't take off our helmets once were Inside the ship, could be some nasty surprises in there."
Darius and Robert loaded up on gear, securing weapons and tools for breaching and exploring the alien vessel.
"Alright lets get this party started"
I said, sealing my helmet and feeling the familiar hiss of pressurized air as my HUD came online.
"Whatever's in there, it's ours now. Iron Fenrirs, move out."
I added slinging on a light military backpack filled with extra ammo, ration and water onto my armored back.
"Uhhhhh"
Came the reply In a wolfish howl.
We stepped Into the airlock as we did the doors closed themselves, the air started getting sucked out, once the chamber got completely deprressurized the lightning changed from red to green as It did the doors hissed open, revealing the cold void of space outside.
I grabbed the harpoon launcher mounted on the airlock wall, its sturdy frame and the nanocomposite wire inside built for exactly these types of maneuvers.
I lined up the crosshairs on my HUD, adjusting for the microgravity and slight drift of the asteroid field.
The alien airlock was slightly ajar, its once pristine surface marred by centuries of drifting debris and impacts.
I took a deep breath, steadying my aim before pulling the trigger, the harpoon shot forward with a sharp hiss, trailing the thin, gleaming wire behind it.
It embedded itself securely into the alien hull just beside the slightly ajar airlock, the impact reverberating through the line back to Invicta.
I secured the other end to our airlock, feeling the reassuring tension as the wire locked into place.
"Safety lines on,"
I ordered, clipping my own safety line to the wire.
"We're going for a stroll, boys."
One by one, we latched our safety wires onto the line, I stepped out first, the lack of gravity an unfamiliar sensation but I adjusted quickly.
I pushed off gently with my hands, using the line as a guide, my body gliding smoothly toward the alien airlock.
The asteroid field around us was a chaotic backdrop, a dance of destruction and ancient silence.
Paul and Airid followed close behind, his movements precise, while Julian and Darius brought up the rear, their silhouettes stark against the star-speckled void.
The experience was spectacural to say the least, and thankfully I disabled my fear receptors otherwise Id definetly be wetting and s*itting my pants right about now.
It didnt take long before we reached the alien airlock, the ancient structure looming above us like the gaping maw of a long-dead beast.
Its design was unfamiliar, yet eerily inviting, as if it had been waiting all these years for someone to breach its threshold.
"Fritz help me out"
I ordered as I pressed my combat boots against the spaceships surface as I did the magnets In my boots automatically locked themselves on the metal surface.
"On It"
Darius replied as I grabbed the slightly open hatch, feeling the cold metal under my gloves, and with a combined effort, we pushed it open.
The door moved with a reluctant groan, its hinges protesting against the sudden motion after centuries of stillness.
As we floated inside, our feet touched the floor, and suddenly we were pulled down with a thud.
The artificial gravity was still active, albeit weaker than normal, causing us to stagger slightly as we adjusted.
Paul chuckled, straightening up.
"Well, that's a welcoming committee if I've ever seen one."
"Let's hope the gravity's the only thing still working,"
I muttered, scanning the small, enclosed chamber of the airlock.
A large, faded button stood out on the wall a universal symbol of any civilization, now cracked and worn.
I pressed the big red button, hoping the universal rule of 'push the big red button' still applied In the good way and not In the Initiate self destruct way or somenthing.
The airlock door behind us slid shut with a satisfying hiss, the cabin groaning as the atmospheric seals engaged.
A moment later, the faint sound of rushing air filled the chamber as it pressurized.
We stood still, weapons at the ready, the tension palpable as we waited to see if the ancient mechanisms would hold.
The lighting shifted from a deep, ominous red to a dull green, casting the small space in an unsettling glow.
"Looks like we're clear,"
Darius said, his voice a mix of relief and anticipation.
"Let's see what's behind door number two."
The inner doors creaked open, revealing a long, narrow corridor that stretched into the darkness.
We raised our rifles, lights flickering on as we stepped through, beams cutting through the dust-laden air.
The corridor was lined with alien bodies, some decomposed to mere skeletons, others disturbingly fresh, their deaths recent enough that their features were still discernible beneath layers of human made armor and garb.
"F*cking hell,"
Paul whispered, his voice tense.
"We're not the first."
The scene was a grim testament to the ship's violent history.
The walls were scarred with burns and gashes, remnants of ancient firefights that had long since claimed the lives of those now lying at our feet.
"Looks like they turned on each other,"
Julian observed, nudging a partially armored body with his boot.
The skeletal remains still clutched a strange, sleek weapon, its alien design a haunting echo of a forgotten conflict.
"We're dealing with more than just a crash site,"
I said, scanning the corridor.
"This place was a battleground."
Airid bent down, examining one of the fresher corpses.
"This one's recent,"
He noted, pointing to the dull blue of a uniform that seemed out of place among the alien remnants.
"Not alien. Human. Looks like he was trying to get out when something tore through him."
I took a closer look, my eyes narrowing as I scanned the body.