Scrapper
His eyes fluttered open when the ship came out of hyperspace. The Royal Pathfinder, named so after one of the many nobility in the High Republic that financed the original expedition, came into the void of space. It was a risky jump to say the least. The route had not been calculated, explored or even tested. Luke hadn't been told until the briefing prior to the other crew and team's arrival of where the route was going. The job posting was simply that they were charting new routes-
But in reality, it was something much more ancient, and perhaps dangerous. A discovery on Wroona, an ancient Rakatan outpost was found several weeks ago by a coalition of archaeologists and finders, buried deep beneath rock and water. The discovery was groundbreaking on many levels. But what was hidden from the public was a Star Map hidden there, still active thousands upon thousands of years later. With several points into Wild Space, where Rakatans had previously only thought to have gone, or ventured only so far, with their limited Hyperdrive capability. It was theorized that they were less explorers and more attempts at colonization. The theory was that the Rakatans sent out to this location were more or less resolved to spend the rest of their lives in service to the Empire, forging a chain across the stars, if the translations were correct.
The expedition to follow in trace of the previously-unknown Rakatan Imperial outposts- not to mention unexplored worlds, star systems was inherently dangerous. Charting new hyperspace routes was dangerous for a multitude of reasons. A lack of resupply, objects in the way- one tiny asteroid in a hyperspace lane meant that something like a Star Destroyer could be destroyed. Charting forward was also profitable- new routes were always welcome. Ways to get around blockades, Empires, Alliances. From smugglers to soldiers, everyone wanted a new route but nobody wanted to risk the exploration of it.
But, with the Starmap they located, the route was hopeful. Brave souls volunteered, lured by either adventure or a lucrative payday. Luke was of the latter. He groggily stepped up out of his bunk, checking his gear stowed in the nearby locker. He took a shaky, nervous breath, then walked to one of the many viewports. Other crew and team members were already there, and the gunner- preselecting targets of debris. However, crossing further out of lightspeed brought a curious phenomena- light was coming and going outside the viewports. Luke blinked, standing behind the crew members.
"Did you see that?" Asked one of the science team members, her voice inflection indicating disbelief and wonder.
"Too hard not too." Said the gunner, with less wonder and more fear in his voice.
Luke didn't say anything for a moment, simply staring in awe. The light around the planet seemed to be... being pulled. A cavalcade of colors, streaks of light in every hue and shade, a prism of colors he hadn't yet dreamed of lay before him. Swallowed, almost. The light was being pulled away from the planet, as was all light. Towards what should've been a black hole- and if it was infact, a black hole, it would've instantly pulled them and crushed them to bits. But it wasn't.
The world below was being scanned, and the initial reports that it was habitable- Type 1, at least parts of it. Parts of it were uninhabitable. The Rakatan must've terraformed the planet, or whoever also came. The world looked unassuming from space. Hues of white, orange and brown. He assumed the brown was the terraformed part- oxidized soil. Blue was speckled throughout, but no large oceans. Perhaps in time. Or perhaps the white streaks were ice sheets, and were intended to be melted down. The Rakatans more than likely never got around to it. The gunner turned his head to the woman that spoke before, and then to the rest of the group. He could only point.
In the distance, far off, lay the wreckage of not one, but three ships, ancient, derelict, floating mindlessly. Not destroyed, not broken, just drifting. Ancient Republic ships with their unique hammerhead design. Luke's eyes widened.
What else would they find here?
They waited for the planet scan to be completed, and with the reveal of the Old Republic ships.... what else was there to be found on this ancient planet? And what was... bending the light?
OOC Note:
This will be a spooky cosmic horror thread. There'll be some strange things involved, ghosts, ancient things, old secrets, etc. Think Event Horizon and Dead Space and Interstellar. Your character can be anyone and anything, but keep it logical. A Sith Lord probably wouldn't get funded by Naboo royalty to come on the expedition. If you think your character might not fit, DM me and I'll let you know if so or not. All factions are welcome, IC-wise it's just funded by THR rich people. Or maybe your character funded it too, who knows. But this is mainly geared towards explorers, archaeologists, etc, soldiers and mercenaries for protection. All I ask is that you don't derail the story and don't make it hard to write with. Otherwise-
Enjoy the spoooooky!