"Asteroid RX-87, coordinates confirmed” Vee Korr announced, her fingers flying across the Obsolete's navigation console. The ship shuddered slightly as it jumped through hyperspace, emerging near a desolate, grey rock hurtling through the void. "Looks… uninhabiting. Unless you count rocks as inhabitants."
"Cheerful as ever, Vee” Flint Maddox replied, checking his blaster. "Though I prefer 'remote and suspiciously convenient' to 'uninhabiting'." He glanced at the data Drake Valor had unwittingly provided. "This asteroid's supposed to house a Zenith Corporation research facility. Top secret, naturally."
Captain Zero, still nursing a slight hangover from his Luxoria escapades, adjusted his toupee. "Top secret, eh? Sounds like fun. Though, perhaps less… explosive than our last encounter?" He eyed Griz, who was currently attempting to teach Zee how to play space-squid poker using a deck of cards and a rubber squid toy.
Luna Silva, ever practical, was already prepping her hacking tools. "The data suggests a heavily fortified facility. Expect advanced security systems. This is right up my alley." A glint of excitement shone in her eyes; the prospect of a technological challenge clearly invigorated her.
Mira Sol, ever the voice of cautious reason, pointed to a section of the data. "The security logs mention a strong electromagnetic field surrounding the facility. It might interfere with our comms."
"Comms are overrated” Griz grumbled, still engrossed in his game of space-squid poker. "Explosions, however, are always in fashion."
Their approach to the asteroid was uneventful; the facility was camouflaged, a dull grey structure almost indistinguishable from the asteroid itself. After a brief, surprisingly successful stealth maneuver (mostly thanks to Mira's uncanny ability to blend into the background – a talent she attributed to "advanced mimicry techniques"), they were inside.
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The facility was a maze of sterile corridors, humming with the low thrum of powerful machinery. The air felt strangely cold, despite the powerful heating systems. It was eerily silent, save for the occasional whirring of unseen mechanisms.
"This place gives me the creeps” Zee whispered, adjusting his omni-tool. "It smells faintly of… ozone and desperation."
"Probably a lot of overtime” Flint muttered, ever the pragmatist. He led the way, his trusty blaster held ready.
They eventually reached a vast central chamber, where a colossal device dominated the space. It pulsed with a soft, blue light, a network of intricate wires and glowing crystals forming a stunning, yet ominous, spectacle. This was the space-time manipulator.
Luna, her fingers dancing across a portable console, began to hack into the facility's mainframe. "Impressive” she murmured, her concentration unwavering. "The security protocols are… creative, I'll give them that. But not impenetrable." Within minutes, she had bypassed the firewalls, gaining access to the device's internal workings.
The data streamed onto a holographic display, revealing the device's true purpose – it wasn't just about moving planets, it was about stripping them of their resources. The device could literally 'milk' a planet dry, transferring its minerals and valuable materials to a designated location, leaving behind a barren husk.
"They aren't just conquering planets” Captain Zero realized, his initial amusement replaced by a cold dread. "They're looting them."
"And their target is… Luxoria” Mira gasped, pointing to a highlighted entry in the data stream.
"So, the whole 'pleasure paradise' thing was a ruse?" Vee asked, her brow furrowed.
"A cleverly disguised cover” Flint concluded. "Zenith’s using the casino to launder the profits from their planetary heists. That explains Drake’s… enthusiasm."
Their increased understanding of Zenith’s motives deepened their sense of urgency. The implications were staggering – planets stripped bare, civilizations left to ruin. This wasn't just about power; it was about ruthless resource acquisition on a galactic scale. They had stumbled upon a conspiracy of unimaginable scale, a cosmic crime against the very fabric of galactic society.
The discovery of the device’s true purpose hardened their resolve. This wasn't just another heist; it was a fight to save countless worlds. They were facing not just a powerful corporation, but a galactic-scale threat that needed stopping, and fast. The escape, however, was about to become a new and unexpected challenge. A siren blared, red lights flashing across the facility, indicating an imminent lockdown. Their infiltration had been discovered.
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