Something ripples across the Nebula as Ochazuke and Ishtar guide the Coldlight in. False paths, deep illusions laid within the Nebula fell aside under their guidance, whirling asteroids avoided as the Coldlight sails gently through the birth and death place of stars. For two hours they are guided through the place, around dangers and traps and illusions, steadily heading closer.
Nail’s Artifact leads true, and with Ishtar’s taste for the oldest place there, they exit into a darker section of the Nebula. Scanners alert and throw up an image of hundreds of asteroids in an upside down U formation, with massive machine factories being tagged in the scanners, identified as unknown and ancient.
The middle section of the U is one asteroid in particular, more a small moon, the rest tethered to it through some means. It is on that larger asteroid that the biggest of these factories lay, and Nail’s Artifact points directly at it.
“We’re here.”
Alerts ring out as ancient ships of unknown design start moving away from the asteroids, heading towards them. Some are only half compete, some full, but all are silent as they move to intercept. Ancient weapons power up and stationary weapons platforms also start powering on behind on the asteroids.
“Evasive maneuvers, Held, let’s show them what we can do! Weapons station get ready and fire at those ships!” Jinzi says as the Coldlight lurches forward towards the enemy ships, a hound eager for the hunt.