The two ships slowed gradually as they approached the asteroid, their engines dimming until both vessels came to a complete halt some distance away from the base. The vortex behind them collapsed soon after, leaving nothing but the quiet darkness of space stretching endlessly in every direction.
For a few seconds nothing happened.
Then the hull of the larger ship shifted.
A section of its outer plating slid open smoothly, forming a wide ramp that extended outward into the void. A faint shimmer of energy surrounded the opening.
Three figures stepped forward first.
The first was a middle-aged Naga male. His posture was straight, his presence composed and deliberate as he stepped forward and stopped at the edge of the ramp. His features were mostly humanoid, but several patches of dark scales ran across the side of his neck and along his jawline. His eyes carried the unmistakable vertical pupils of his race.
The second figure moved slightly behind him.
This one was clearly older.
