Re: Within the Asteroid
In reply to Jedec Istec (msg # 904):
Lorain, the leader of at least the scientific portion of the expedition, provided some context of the inhabitants of the huge, ancient asteroid ship.
"We learned the Sky Raiders were originally a minor human race known by the Vilani as the "Loeskalth", originally from somewhere in Gushmege sector. They traded with and then eventually fought against the Ziru Sirka in the very earliest days of the First Imperium. They expanded rapidly and were capable of immense technical feats. In around -5000 The Ziru Sirka decided they were too dangerous and tried to assimilate them, lest they be conquered by the Loeskalth. It turned into a war of extermination. But the final phase saw the Loeskalth vanish from their home system. Now we know why. They converted this asteroid into a mother ship and took it across the Great Rift, heading in a Spinward direction. Sometimes using Jump, often travelling at sublight speeds using a Bussard ramjet. They eventually ended up here in Far Frontiers sector. Using this as a kind of massive mothership they raided many worlds through at least 3, maybe 4 subsectors of Far Frontiers. Many of the worlds here had been settled centuries earlier by the Vlazdhumecta, a minor human offshoot of the Zhodani that had and then lost the capability for interstellar travel. They were easy pickings for the Sky Raiders, as they became to be known. The crypt on Mirayn had started out as a communications vault or bunker before we believe the Sky Raiders abandoned the world.
"We are unsure why the Sky Raiders disappeared, but we believe that they split into two factions. One faction tried to settle the world of Qarant, but the colony failed. The massive "temple" pyramid had originally been the world's primary defence complex but it hadn't been used that way for centuries before being converted to ritual use. The small craft that was found there was at the bottom of what would have been a protected silo, although it too had eventually been used for some sort of ritual worship. The other faction may have survived here, on this ship. It seems likely, but these people will be the key."
She changed direction. "Still, I think you were going to have a look to see where the raiders came from? That's a good idea."