The Dead Zone
Unnamed System DZ199,181
Aboard ISS Belfast Windfall
ISS Belfast Windfall made a rendezvous with the Elowan freighter Bfeijl near the golden gas giant. "No kidding, Ux," said Biggs. He was speaking into the comm box. "You were right. There is something orbiting this planet. Come on up. You ought to see this." Arella Newark brought the information up onto the viewer. When Ux walked in she explained.
"If you'll look at the rings, they are composed of a mix of reflective metallic dust which explains their sparkling appearance," she began. "The dispersed particle nature of the rings provides a considerable defense against scanning equipment. Even a decent look mightn't reveal anything. Again," she brought up a new picture, "the rings. The planet 'rolls' along its orbit and the rings actually face the star, so sunlight perpetually bathes them." Arella continued to explain. Mack was sitting at his communications console with a grin on his face. He rolled his eyes and pretended to yawn.
The Dead Zone
Unnamed System DZ199,181
Elowan Freighter Bfeijl
Boz Grabow had watched as the Arth Elowan navigator docked the Bfeijl with the Eshbllr Colony. It was in the shape of a disk, perhaps ten kilometers in circumference and two hundred meters thick. It's paint scheme rendered it nearly invisible among the silver rings. The Bfeijl had spent most of its compressed air reserves just to pressurize a few sections of the colony. The former occupants had depressurized the station when they left. It was in near perfect condition. After a quick security sweep, the nurses and crewmembers began unloading the young Elowan and moving them to the nurseries. Boz stood alone in a corridor on the Eshbllr Colony. He felt a tremendous weight lifted from his shoulder, a sweet taste of relief. He looked out the window at the ISS Belfast Windfall's sleek lines. She was a classic. Biggs and his crew would be over shortly. It had been a while.
Elan
Teshbulr City
A Public Garden
Grx'bzzgah had scared the crew of the Veloxi trawler Hixgrim'sv. He had scared them rather badly. So the Hixgrim'sv had stayed at the exact same location in space waiting for further transmissions from ISS Belfast Windfall. One particular message had come from "Grabow ISS." They sent it through anyway. Halura held the message in his hand. At last the mission was accomplished. Safe behind a wall of Humans, yet alone and undisturbed, the head fruit would thrive in utter peace among the rings of the Eshbllr Colony. Secluded with only their nurses to tend to them, the young Elowan carried the seeds of a small new hope. Halura glanced down at a message that had been found on the Eshbllr Colony. It was from the evacuating Elowan Commander:
"We leave here aboard the Murl Chumara, bound for Van Diemen's belt at 241,167. It is secluded enough that the Uhlek might not find us and if they do, the asteroids may afford us enough protection to launch the Noah expedition anyway. It is my desperate desire that we return some day to this paradise among the stars. Eshbllr has been a haven for centuries, it's peace unparalleled. To whomever may find this log, may wisdom guide you, and may the light of civilization not flicker and die. -Mltrsh Out."
The sun was setting over the placid world of Elan and a peace was in the air. The ground was wet with fresh rain. Halura could think of only one word, and the wise Elowan whispered it into a floating breeze. "Ollsrl."
----------
Finally: "Afterward"
A Beginning? A Beginning? If that isn't the most overused, spent way to finish up a story, I don't know what is. But hey, at least I didn't put "The Beginning" instead of "The End," right? Just nod and smile, sports fans.
"Hilsfar & Company: Because We Can Nuke The Entire Site From Orbit"