Free Constellations by Marco Palmieri

creeping up the sides. In fact, he concluded, it looked fairly utilitarian. Taking point, he started for the doorway but paused to watch as Manprasad approached the exterior and ran a slender hand across the surface. Opening a compartment of the tricorder, she took some scrapings and stored them in one of the sample discs. She actually sniffed the wall, and Sulu was afraid she was going to taste it next, but realized she was just doing her job, using all her tactile senses.
    â€œNo energy signatures at all,” Sulu confirmed for the others. “What do you make of this?”
    â€œI estimate it is at least five centuries old,” Manprasad said. “It’s all metallic, with paint, or what’s left of the paint. Can’t say yet when it was abandoned.”
    â€œThat’s fine, we have all day,” Sulu said cheerfully. “Set your tricorders for passive scans so we don’t miss a thing.” He actually liked being on the surface, with a different feel to the ground beneath his boots, and a mystery to explore. As first-time landing parties go, this one was very promising. “Lindstrom, ready to go inside?”
    Christopher Lindstrom, with his short blond hair and broad face, nodded once, also obviously pleased to be part of the team. Manprasad was already in motion without replying, her enthusiasm matching Sulu’s own.
    â€œI appreciate being a part of this,” Manprasad added as they walked toward the entrance. “When I heard we were orbiting, I was certain D’Amato would go as section chief.”
    â€œYeah, lucky they decided to send the junior guy so no one more senior should go to intimidate me,” Sulu said happily. “Besides, he’s done this a dozen times. How often have you done this?”
    â€œThis makes three,” she replied. “After all, I’m pretty junior, too.”
    â€œYou two are making me feel old,” Lindstrom quipped. “I’ve done eight planetary surveys since Kirk took command.”
    â€œEnjoy the fieldwork?” Manprasad asked.
    â€œYou bet,” he said. “Seeing a society up close is the only way to do it right. And the more I see for myself, the better my analysis gets.”
    â€œAny guesses?” Sulu asked.
    â€œYou’re getting way ahead of yourself. Ask me that again in the morning. Let’s get inside.”
    Sulu nodded in agreement. As they reached the threshold, he paused for a moment, using his own senses to make certain there were no signs, no visible booby traps, things too low-tech for the tricorders or ship sensors to detect. They had noted that the entranceway had no doors, just an open aperture to admit them. Dirt trailed inside, and weeds of varying sizes and shades of green and gray were growing haphazardly within. Seeing nothing more threatening than a vine, he took a big step through the entrance and walked inside the structure.
    The others followed, pausing behind him and forming a triangular pattern as they made certain nothing had been triggered. All they heard was a breeze behind them, outside. With a gesture, Sulu indicated their equipment and personal belongings be left near the entrance. All three dropped their backpacks and stepped forward. Slowly and deliberately, he let his eyes pan the room.
    The setting seemed familiar enough to draw a few preliminary conclusions: It was a control room of some sort. A high ring of elaborate consoles and viewscreens dominated the chamber’s central space, the surfaces dull and thick with dust, loose dirt, dead leaves, and other detritus that had undoubtedly been blown in from outside over the course of centuries. It was clear that the place had been abandoned for some time. Tricorder scans revealed a series of smaller rooms beyond this chamber, accessible by corridors at left and right.
    Lindstrom scanned the room. “I have one guess already,” he told Sulu.
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œThey were larger