It was the start of a bad few days…

The converted transport Nordic Troll had set down on Whitefall, a moon of the planet Athens frequently attacked by Reavers. Normally the ship and her crew avoided places raided by Reavers, but when work was slow, as it had been lately, scavenging in hazardous places was sometimes necessary.

The small town they had set down next to had definitely been hit very recently. Several wooden buildings had been partially burnt. Others had windows knocked out and doors broken down. Mangled bodies littered the street, mostly human but some horses as well. The deathly silence and smell of blood throughout the town heightened the tension among the crew.

Jamie Reilly, thief and right hand to the captain, and Anna Howard, ship’s cook and steward, cautiously stepped through the broken door into what had been the town’s general store, guns drawn. Looking around, Reilly ordered “If you see anything moving that’s not us, don’t hesitate to shoot”.

Anna wrinkled her nose. “It stinks in here. I wouldn’t touch anything that’s not in a can”.

“Got it”. Reilly finished scanning the room and stated “We’re clear here. Let’s grab what we can and get back to the ship”.

“Not quite clear” Anna said in a hushed voice. Reilly looked at her and noticed the color had drained from her face. He followed her gaze to the counter where a body, ripped open at the chest and missing the legs and arms lay sprawled backward in a dried pool of blood. Reilly pulled Anna away. “Don’t look at it”. Turning her toward the shelves, he added “Just concentrate on what we’re here for”.

Across the street and two doors down, Nick Gerrin, ship’s captain, and Loomie Gavigan, stood by a work table with tools scattered across the top. Nervously holstering her gun, she picked one up and said “You think we can get Aldous in here? This place is a little creepy and I don’t know what’s useful”.

Gerrin looked at her. “I would