Brent made sure first that the ship's fuel tanks were full and everything was prepared before they acted further.  He frowned at the debris field and the likely results of yet another destroyed system.  "We have no artificial signals.  Go ahead and ping the area around the planet for any more debris or anything of interest while we are still a good distance away Gareth.  I'll alter course to bring us closer to the high port debris field."

Over the next hour, Wanderer'sactive sensors map out the closest and largest portion of the debris field. Gareth's analysis shows that this debris field is consistent with a space station that suffered a catastrophic event many, many years ago.

Brent makes a quick burn and moves the ship in where they can get visual sightings on the larger debris.  "I doubt if there is much left Gareth."

Wanderer descends to a slightly lower and faster orbit to catch up with the main part of the debris field. The computer plots four distinct clouds of debris indicative of nearly megaton-range explosions within the station's structure. The hull sensors also report several impacts from small debris, but nothing significant.

"Gareth, see if you can find anything of interest.  I don't want to come any closer if we can help it."

Gareth will use the ship's sensors to look for anything of note. Missile launchers in particular.

The only thing Gareth is able to identify for sure is a chunk of the station's habitat area that still has an identifiable shape of rooms and doorways.

"There may still be a section of habitat partially intact. An investigation would require a spacewalk though."

Brent scans the wreckage again with the radar. "Let's see how close we think we can get.  I don't relish a spacewalk across a debris field if we can avoid it."

Wanderer closes to ten kilometers from the wreckage, when Gareth detects a substantial cloud of small debris surrounding the structure. The wreckage is rotating in two axes at what the sensors say is ten rotations per minute, and, as you watch, another small chunk separates from the main wreck and spins outward.

Brent shakes his head.  "We'd need a fully armored salvage ship and heavily reinforced suits to be able to get anywhere near the remains of the station.  I think we'd best turn our attention to the planet for now."

"I wouldn't want to try that," Joxe said, "not even with battledress. Not that we have any of that."

"Oh, I don't know," Veronica deadpanned. "I like being slung around like a toy."

"What are we looking for on the planet?" Naimh piped up. "From the planet's data set, it's perfectly habitable without any kind of special equipment."

Brent turned back to the instrument panel and quickly set the ship on a sun synchronous orbit that would quickly scan the entire surface at the noon attitude.  "There are no signs of tech.  We want to see if there is any life left even if pounded back to the stone age for starters."

The inclination change took an hour-long maneuver drive burn to accomplish, but finally the navigation system reported that Wanderer was in the specified orbit. After the first full orbit, Naimh reported in.

"I'm not detecting any sort of radio or other communications," she reported.

Gareth's sensors were more successful. The visual camera systems could read a datapad display from orbit, and he was able to find the spaceport on the first pass. The fecund vegetation at the planet's equator had taken over all but the ceramacrete landing pads. He had also spotted a herd of large herbivores 200km north of the starport.

"Let's land at the space port first and fan out from there. We can try some of the listed cities and towns next."

"Let us be off then. I'll never tire of almost dying in blasted ruins."

Brent nods and fires the thrusters to bring them down to the star port ruins.

The deorbit, approach and landing takes two hours to complete. As they approach the starport, they can barely make out the buildings in the visual display. Still, it's plainly evident that most of the infrastructure was wrecked, and then taken over by the local flora.

Gareth and Naimh still detect no sign of human activity. One of the landing pads appears to be free of debris, and the ceramacrete is far too tough to be broken up by vegetation.

Brent brings the ship over the clear landing pad and settles lightly on the ground.  Once they are settled his sets his controls into standby.  'There doesn't seem to be much here but this is probably the best place to start looking for habitation."

"The atmosphere is breathable," Malcolm reports. "Hot and humid, but breathable."

"I'll go preflight the air raft," Joxe says.

The external sensors find nothing but the occasional sound of avians - and lots and lots of trees, bushes, and other assorted greenery.

Brent locks down the controls but leave the engines active in case they had to escape quickly.  He went and donned armor and his weapons. "We'll need to go fairly far afield I think to find anything not covered in trees."

Gareth dons his suit and prepares to join the excursion.

"Perhaps we could use the ships weapons to create a clearing."

Brent nodded. "We'll use the weapons or the thruster exhaust to burn off what we can.  For now let's get the air raft launched and see if we can find anything useful near here and then to the closest settlement site."

Fifteen minutes later, everyone is aboard the air raft, with Brent in the pilot's seat.

OOG: I assume that everyone is wearing combat armor and carrying their rifles.

Brent lifted off toward the nearest pre-war population center of any size.  First though they would fly above the star port to see if anything was left that might prove interesting.