Invex watched as the planet came into view. A red planet full of canyons, ice, and dust, not home of the creatures like himself.
“The Disc stated they needed to go to the third planet from this star,” he said to the Director of the vessel. Invex had memorized the Disc from this other world, learning its strange symbols and even stranger language. It wasn’t until a few years ago when they received radio transmissions from this side of the galaxy that he was able to understand and translate, and even speak, the language.
The third planet from this star was a blue star in the distance as they crested over the red planet to see the rising of the yellow star. “There are some machines in orbit,” said the Director, deftly avoiding them.
The men in the control tower consisted of the Director, the Seer, and Invex, the Key. The ship was large enough to take them across the galaxy without refit or refuel, and small enough to hide behind an asteroid. The control tower was the highest part of the ship, located in the front of the vessel, presenting itself before anything else. The bulk of the ship was below and to the rear, a cargo bay which would hold artifacts from this planet and possibly some creatures from it as well.
The Director was saying, “Approaching – what is this place called?”
“Earth, Director,” said Invex, watching the stars flash by. In moments they were behind the moon of the blue planet. Other vessels had been there, as they could see the remnants of their landing. “Should we land, Seer?”
The man in the red uniform nodded slowly. The Director pointed the vessel down, and they landed with a soft thump on the dusty surface. “Clear,” said the Director, unbuckling from the control chair. “I need sustenance.”
“With you,” said the Seer, leaving Invex to stay behind, monitoring the new data stream coming directly from the planet below.
He was deep into translating a transmission when the ship suddenly rocked, as if hit by something in it underbelly. Seconds later, the hull breach alarms went off.
Invex had moments to get to the evacuation pods off the main control area. One was meant for the Director only, but the other was for up to four personnel. He thought for a moment about the other two men and decided that the Seer, if he was still alive, could go with the Director or to a different pod off the side. He didn’t care. The Seer was there only because he was enthroned with the Director.
Invex jumped into the pod, sealing it shut. Cool air with 30% oxygen pumped in, enough to keep him alive for one solar week of necessary. He settled into the control seat, as he wracked his brain to remember from training how to use the controls.
He got the pod to detach and fell a few armlengths before the fuel caught and fired, lifting him from the ship. He surged upward, and hovered for some time to await other escape pods. He looked down to see a jagged rock that had not been there before, jutting out of the center of the vessel.
No other evacuation pods came. He maneuvered the pod, up and over the moon, heading toward the blue planet.
