Adonis prepares the ship for atmospheric entry. All openings are closed and he programs an approach vector that avoids flying over the hostage site while also limiting the thermal load on the ship.
I see you are approaching us. I'll give you the coordinates of our landing pad. Be careful the planet is very windy Dr. Petra Salmberg remarks over the comms.
As you all approach the planet you notice that while most life-bearing planets are coloured in green and blue tones, this one is dominated by shades of purple and brown. Even the oceans have a purple tint.
You are transitioning from space to atmospheric flight.
Please take a seat and use the seat belts to fixate yourself. Predicted maximum deceleration: 4.42 g.
This warning is repeatedly said by a computer voice and displayed on all screens onboard the ship.
Soon you can sense how the atmosphere pushes back on the ship while it falls towards the landing zone. The ship rumbles a lot and Adonis banks the ship left and right in order to follow the navigation markers on the screen.
We've lost an armor plate from the patched up part of the hull Dani suddenly calls through the intercom.
Does that mean that we'll die? Raven calls out in a panicked voice.
Probabilty of integrity loss is at 7%. That's what the computer says. We should make it. I've been in situations that were worse Dani answers
Adonis changes the flight angle in order to avoid airflow over the damaged part and soon the research camp comes into sight.
It more looks like a small town than a research camp. Two large, white and blue coloured buildings with about 10 floors form the center. Around those buildings a lot of container-shaped houses are sprawled out.
At the ouskirts of the camp you can see a large satellite dish and what appears to be the planetary defense gun.
The ship engages the thrusters and Adonis steers it toward the landing pad.
Looks like we made it. We survived the reentry. The approach to the landing pad shouldn't put a lot of stress on the ship's structure Dani says through the intercom.
The whole ship shudders as the landing thrusters increase their power to 100% and you can feel how the forward motion of the ship stops as soon as it reaches the landing pad.
Finally the Sycorax II extends its landing legs and lands at the designated spot.
Dani undoes her seatbelt, comes to the front and says.
Skipper, I'll stay here with the robot. We'll have a look at the damaged hull. We have to repair this before we take off again. Otherwise Eddie will need a rescue mission for the rescue mission.
The rest of you exit the ship.
The air is warm and humid. You recognize a sour smell that remembers you of lemon juice and it is quite windy.
You are welcomed at the landing pad by the woman with the red curly hairs
you know from the video you watched at the spacefarer's bar.
She is accompanied by two men and some alien being that looks like a ball made out of plant material and that balances itself on four vine-like tentacles while it raises another four of those into the air, holding something resembling a tablet PC.
Welcome at DS-Beta-3641 One Alpha, or how we call it "Purple Town"
My name is Dr. Petra Salmberg and these are Jeff our mechanic, Dr. Scott Prix our scientific allrounder and ChiHiRu our security advisor.
She approaches you all and shakes your hands
