Starbound Page 8

  An hour passed, then two. Jas and the units penetrated deep into the labyrinthine construction. She had to activate her suit’s pathfinder function to avoid getting lost. By the time she surfaced, she’d found nothing different from the empty room at the entrance.

  Jas had conducted LIVs on many planets. According to strict regulations, they had to vacate immediately at the first sign of intelligence. If there was no intelligent life, the planet’s resources were up for grabs to the first corporation that claimed them.

  In Jas’ experience the evidence of high-level, sentient species was usually clear. Whatever the form of intelligence, evolution always seemed to favor certain expressions of it: the use of tools, modifying the natural environment, storage of resources, training of offspring, and the systemization of food gathering or production and distribution. On K.67092d, the evidence was not clear. The regular, straight lines of the structure indicated artificial construction, but there seemed to be no other evidence of intelligence. If sentient life forms had built the place, where were they? Why had they left, leaving nothing behind?

  Leaving the structure, Jas scanned the surroundings again. It had stopped snowing. Nothing moved except the spiny, spindly, leafless branches of the low shrubs, bending slightly, creaking in the steady wind.

  “Preliminary report, Harrington?” Akabe Loba’s voice came over her radio.

  Jas stiffened. As always, the master of the Galathea was pushing her, his eye focused solely on his schedule and bonuses. “Initial LIV not complete, sir.”

  “But no sign of intelligence?”

  “It’s hard to tell, sir. The structure’s—”

  “I can see it through your relay, Harrington. Looks geological to me. And there are no artifacts.”

  Jas’ lips drew into a thin line. She knew what was coming. “Sir, it’s a little early to conclude—”

  “I’m not asking you to conclude anything, C.S.O. Harrington. Is the area secure?”

  When she didn’t answer immediately, Loba repeated his question, louder.

  “No hostile life forms encountered, yet,” Jas replied through her teeth. Damn the misborn. But what could she say? Prickles down her spine didn’t count as a reason to delay resource assessment.

  GENERATION

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