Lira turned to him, her eyes shining. “We’ve got enough Aetherium to pay the Consortium’s taxes and then some. And we’ve got a story nobody will believe.”
The Ironsong ’s grappling arms extended, and with a shudder the ship was pulled into the heart of the storm. Lightning cracked like a thousand whips, and the hull groaned under the pressure of charged particles. Through the veil of turbulence, a silhouette emerged: a massive, spider‑like construct, its limbs glittering with Aetherium veins that pulsed in rhythm with the storm. Dust floated toward the construct, his suit’s magnetic boots clinging to the hull. The drone’s surface was covered in a lattice of nanites that reconfigured with each surge of the storm. As he approached, a voice—soft, metallic, and oddly melodic—filled his helmet’s comms. “Identify.” Dust swallowed. “I’m Jax Marlowe, pilot of the Ironsong . We need your help. The storm’s getting worse, and we’re… we’re out of time.” gomk-69
Lira frowned at the readout. “The drone’s AI was designed to self‑destruct after a single mission. It’s probably a wreck.” Lira turned to him, her eyes shining
Dust chuckled, looking back at the star‑speckled horizon. “Let’s make sure the next crew knows the legend of GOMK‑69 isn’t just a myth. It’s a reminder that even in the fiercest storms, there’s a way to ride the currents—if you’re willing to trust the unknown.” Lightning cracked like a thousand whips, and the