Echoes of a Lost Civilization

– Milky Way Digest [MWD} vol 5 pg. 23 –

As I gazed out the viewport of the shuttlecraft, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease. The city that stretched out before us was abandoned, its once bustling streets now empty and desolate. It was unknown what had happened to the civilization that once thrived here, but it was our job as members of the Inter-Planetary Alliance (IPA) to find out. Our spacecraft was orbiting the planet, surveying the terrain for any signs of life or clues as to what may have caused the city’s downfall. The crew consisted of myself, a veteran IPA investigator, and a team of scientists and engineers.

As we descended toward the customs center, it became clear that this world was once highly advanced. The technology that kept vehicles to a minimum was a testament to their engineering skills. But as we landed, it also became apparent that this city was no longer inhabited. We stepped out of the shuttlecraft, making our way toward the nearest building, weapons ready in case of any danger. As we entered the building, we found it was in a state of disrepair, with dust and debris covering the floor. The city was eerily silent. The only sound was our echoing footsteps.

We split up, each taking different areas of the city to search for signs of life or clues as to what may have caused the city’s downfall. After hours of searching, I stumbled upon a library. The shelves were lined with ancient texts, and as I began scanning them, I realized that this civilization was once a thriving hub of knowledge and innovation. But as I delved deeper into the library’s archives, I discovered something that sent shivers down my spine. A series of journal entries by the city’s leaders detailed a mysterious disease that swept through the population, causing widespread death and destruction. The journal entries ended abruptly, with the last entry reading, “It’s too late. The disease has spread too far.”

As I shared my findings with the rest of the crew, we realized this was not a typical mission. We had stumbled upon a civilization lost to the annals of history, and the clues we had found hinted at a much more significant threat. We quickly reported our findings to the IPA headquarters, and a team of specialists was dispatched to investigate the planet further. In the end, we found that the disease had been caused by a malfunction in the city’s terraforming technology, which had released toxic gases into the atmosphere. The IPA was able to contain the virus and prevent it from spreading to other planets. Still, the lost civilization of this world was a haunting reminder of the dangers of unchecked technological advancement.
As I sit here, writing this log entry, I can’t help but reflect on the echoes of a lost civilization. They may be gone, but their legacy lives on, serving as a warning to future generations. The Inter-Planetary Alliance will continue to explore the unknown reaches of the galaxy, constantly vigilant and always prepared to face the unknown.