Eric Searches for Dmitri (Mid-Res) (Patreon)

The Kuroi Akuma Maru streaks through upper atmosphere of Gleann Nimhe.  Eric shifts uncomfortably in the pilot's chair that is usually occupied by Dmitri. His comrade's ability to link directly to the ship's sensors  with his remarkable cybernetic eyes made him the better pilot by far.

Eric waited six days (as agreed before Dmitri set off on his solo mission) for his partner to turn up at their planned rendezvous point before leaving to search for him. That was two weeks ago. Now, Eric has tracked Dmitri's lost courier ship to this sparsely inhabited moon orbiting the gas giant planet Balor.

"Aha, found you!" Eric exclaims as the Akuma's sensor sweep picks up the hyperspatial transponder signal from Dmitri's ship and marks the location on the ship's holographic tracking display.

"Ship looks to be wrecked," Eric comments with concern.

"I'll just have to go look at the wreckage and see where his trail leads from here," he nods to himself.

"Dmitri will have left clues on the ship as to what happened," Eric's brows furrow and his face darkens, "and who is responsible."