Vanguard: Awakening

Saint Amelìon: Chapter Nine

Author's Note: From here on out, I want to focus more on environmental storytelling and more descriptive details. If this format is too much to follow, just let me know in the comments so that I can remedy it!

The descent to the surface of the planet was filled with eye candy. White, fluffy clouds graced the nose of the shuttle as they shifted down, the shuttle once again groaning in response to the abnormal weight. Large landing and acceleration engines were mounted on its front, capable of being rotated three-hundred and sixty degrees to assist its thrust vector in any direction. Currently, the engines were pointed down and to the front - bleeding the velocity sourced from atmospheric entry. Engines mounted to the rear were capable of a similar function. Smaller, static thrusters in all other directions designed to assist movement within newtonian environments were also present, with the side objective of aiding the rest of the craft with braking in all directions.

Cedric gazed out of the pilot's window, his new seat of choice protesting his body in the front of the craft - with Faring in the seat adjacent to his row. Precipitation glazed the window, courtesy of the clouds they now descended through. A simple laser-powered wiper system ensured to vaporize whatever liquid decided to pool on the windshield, ensuring ideal visibility for the pilot. The city he saw below them seemed so small, its visage growing ever steadily as the distance between them and the surface came to a close. He wasn't sure what to expect out of the first real exposure to Korellei architecture. From what he could tell, their concrete jungles were symmetric and modern, aside from a few choice buildings such as skyscrapers with a more intricate design. Faring garnered his attention, pointing to one of the buildings down below - quickly increasing in size.

"That's where the deal is going down. Saint Amelìon is one of the largest hubs of the Empire, but it's more like a vacation spot. If you travel some, there's some beaches and stuff that are real nice to go to. I like beaches but I don't spend too much time in the water, I hate cleaning all the salt out of my fur afterwards."

"I see."

Far out, Cedric could make out the blues of an ocean. It was too far for him to extrapolate any additional detail, unlike the city that was below them.

"Salt in your fur? So it's salt water oceans. Are those common?"

"I wish they were. There's records of the Ancients using incredible magic to change the entire surface of planets. Saint Amelìon is one of them, and why it's such a popular tourist spot."

"Tourist spot? Seems odd to be conducting such a massive business deal on a vacation planet, of all places."

"It was the closest location that had everything needed to make it fancy I guess. Leased trade towers, considerable police, we should be safe here."

"I hope you're right."

It didn't require much time after the conversation for the pilot to land at what Cedric assumed was his assigned landing pad, if the comms unit he heard was anything to go by. It was blocked by the pilot's body, so Cedric wasn't able to give it a good look in detail. The shuttle landed with a creak, the main thrusters slowly powering down as the pilot switched a few small levers mounted above him. Another flick, and the boarding door opened behind them - a ramp deploying following its stead, allowing easy locomotion on and off the shuttle.

He unbuckled himself and slowly stood up. He took a quick glance at its condition, hoping that another seat survived his onslaught. Thankfully, it seemed that it had.

He was nervous, and could tell that despite her demeanor, Faring was just as worried. Her fur seemed to stand on end, just a bit. A natural response to stressful stimuli. They could not remain hidden forever, and now it was time for the planet to bear their first witness to his existence. Faring stepped ahead of him.