Russilinia

The intelligent species had also noticed my presence and hailed me. Imagine my surprise when I opened the channel and recieved what appeared to be an automated message. By what looked like a red-haired human woman.

"Welcome to the planet of Russilinia. I hope that your stay here will be long and pleasurable."

The transmission ended. Against my better judgement I decided to do just that. There was really no other way of determining where in the Galaxy I was, assuming I was still in the Milky Way Galaxy. Also, the name Russilinia seemed familiar to me somehow, so I had to check that out.

I was able to trace the source of the transmission and eventually landed at what I took to be this planet's version of a spaceport.

I exited the Astra via her forward loading ramp. I noticed a tall man walking towards me and I automatically placed a hand on my pistol holster.

The man was tall and rather gangly, with short brown hair and piercing brown eyes. He was also smiling, despite how hostile I probably seemed to him.

"Greetings!" The man said, still smiling. "There'll be no need for violence, Captain. As you can see, I am unarmed."

I looked him over. He was wearing a close fitting maroon jumpsuit, and indeed there was no way he could be concealing anything.

"See? I mean you no harm." The man extended his hand. "My name is Tam Ambryn. I'm the official welcoming committee."

I paused a second or two before shaking hands with him. "My name is Fred Donair. I like to refer to myself as an independent trader." I managed a small smile of my own.

Tam asked me if I would join him in a drink. I agreed, still looking for the first sign of trouble.

Not far from the port was a drinking establishment that Tam said was his favourite. He ordered us both a drink that tasted similiar to Scotch. It was over these drinks that I heard the most surprising story.

Four hundred years ago, the colony ship SS New Hope became the first ship to leave the Solar System, on a journey towards Alpha Centauri. It was never heard from again. And I found out why the planet's name seemed familiar to me. The captain of the New Hope had been Jorg Russilin! Apparently the ship encountered a vortex similiar to the one I'd gone through and appeared near this system. The ship had landed on this planet and been dismantled. Under the supervision of the captain, the first colony had been founded. Unfortunately Captain Russilin was killed in a rock fall. The colonists named the planet after him in tribute.

1. I thanked Tam for the mini history lesson. I then asked him if he knew any way I could return to familiar space.

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