"On behalf of TaggeCo, welcome to Pallaxides: the galaxies most exclusive resort and the jewel of the Outer Rim."
The message had started to play even before the Star Breeze entered orbit. The words were ones that the Mashtin family had heard before, but no one made any attempt to silence the voice of Gallus Tagge as it filled the small confines of the ship. There had been a giggle of excitement when the transmission had started, followed by calls for quiet and patience. The sleek bulk of an IPV-1 System Patrol Craft loomed large at starboard, the angle of its hull - painted with the gold and black emblem of House Tagge - guiding the Star Breeze towards the radiant surface of Pallaxides.
With a touch of the dashboard console, secure landing codes were transmitted to the patrol vessels. The codes verified that the Mashtin family had received a prized invite to Pallaxides. The invite hadn't come cheap, of course. Joth Mashtin had put away every spare credit he could to buy passage for himself and his son Brent. The timing of the trip couldn't have been more perfect, with Brent's time at the Imperial Academy about to begin.
"This is where hard work gets you, son," Joth had said, smiling across at the co-pilots seat where Brent sat. Though he'd tried to hide his excitement, the boy couldn't keep the smile from wriggling onto his lips. As the surface of Pallaxides grew larger before them. The ships autopilot had locked onto a planet-side signal, which brought the Star Breeze on a slow, scenic descent. The world was vast and almost entirely unspoiled by industry, covered in more green than either of them had ever seen.
"Your mother would have loved this," Joth said, unable to pull his eyes away from the beautiful view. The two of them would be among a mere few hundred other visitors to the planet, and would experience the kind of freedom and solitude that was almost entirely unknown throughout the rest of civilised Imperial space.
"Where will you go first?" the voice of Gallus Tagge went on. "Hunting in our lush rain-forests? Hiking through our magnificent canyons? The world is yours to explore - or simply to enjoy from the comfort and tranquility of our luxury resort where you can find true peace in relaxation."
Something tickled at Brent's senses, distracting, a strange sour smell.
"Peace," said another voice, closer and colder, "is a lie."
The cockpit flashed with lurid blue light. Screams were silenced in the seconds that they formed on lips. Heads hit the cockpit decking and rolled underneath the dashboard console as the Star Breeze made its final approach, gliding with automated ease into the star-port. His armor creaking as he hunched over the ships controls, Vega Van-Derveld did not near the continued prattling of Gallus Tagge. He did not see the beauty of Pallaxides - but he did see it's potential.
There was barely a shudder as the ship landed. Vega turned from the cockpit without a second thought for the still smoking bodies of Joth and Brent Mashtin. He stalked through the small ship and with his one remaining arm, he shoved the exit portal open and emerged into the sterile silence of a private docking bay.
Before him, projected large on the far wall of the bay, the faces of House Tagge's leaders smiled down at him. Gallus and Sanya Tagge spoke in unison.
"However you decide to spend your time on Pallaxides, we're sure it will be a trip to remember."
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