First Contact Ambush

The first mission to another world was a real affair, watched by Sērbaka worldwide, the population hanging on every word and image sent back from the orbiter; a final instrument check, verifying atmospheric, radiation and temperature readings were within tolerances, all the while the entirety of Maka held its collective breath awaiting the order to proceed with the landing.

With everything verified, last minute checks complete, and the go ahead given from mission control, two of the three Sērbaka crew, climbed into the lander and detached from the orbiter; two courageous individuals taking the very first steps their species had ever taken upon the soil of another world. Setting foot on an alien world was exhilarating for these explorers, their names recorded for posterity, there deeds and actions the thing of legends, that future generations would aspire too; a deep breath, followed by another, little did these two know it would be among their last.

The two went to task, doing the science required of them; samples gathered, soil, flora, fauna, insects, and more, relaying discovery after discovery to the orbiter, which in turn relayed it back to Maka and the Sērbaka people. The homeworld was alight with wonder and awe at the discoveries and over the anticipation that more would come. The two stowed samples safely in the lander, unbeknownst of the eyes watching their every action.

The initial engagement was swift and deadly, catching both Sērbaka completely unaware, their deaths quite sudden and violent, with little resistance offered. Deepening the mystery, the orbiter was not in communication with the lander during the attack; simple radio static met the orbiter when it came back into range.

Initial reports did not reveal much information regarding what had transpired; a few blurry, low resolution images from ground cameras intended to observe the landing crew as they went about collecting samples for the return trip to Maka, captured movement and motion of fast moving creatures on the ground. Moments later, that feed ceased. Images captured from orbit by the orbiter showed large scale activity on the ground around the lander and the lander site with no signs of the two Sērbaka on the ground; these images too proved to be too low resolution to effectively capture the events that transpired. On the orbiters next pass, the site was dismantled, only scorch marks marked the landing site.

A short time later, the orbiter received orders to return to mission control, under the very vocal protests of its pilot; he eventually complied.

In the aftermath, after much deliberation and review, only two conclusions could be reached, one, a hitherto unknown and unidentified sapient or semi-sapient species called the planet home, and two, more information was needed, another expedition had to be sent, one much better armed for the threats of Ǧara, to better assess the threat, recover the two Sērbaka captives, or their bodies, and if possible reach an understanding with this species. Barring that, they were to execute their own extraction with utmost prejudice, and report back any intelligence to high command.