Morgan flew the Cobra low over the rocky planet. In the star light, metals reflected back at him as his eyes searched out the base. At this speed and altitude he didn't expect much warning of its approach.
The comms crackled: "Approaching Cobra, this is Pianzola Platform. We do not accept visitors at this settlement, redirect your course immediately." The message repeated on a loop. They were still a couple of hundred kilometres out, the contact at this distance startled Morgan. Nevertheless, he maintained the heading.
It crackled again: "Approaching Cobra, you are entering a restricted zone. There is nothing for you here. Redirect your course immediately or we shall open fire."
"Pianzola Platform, this is the Mars and Minerva, we are in urgent need of repair, over."
"Cobra, there are adequate repair facilities on the Federation star ports. There is nothing for you here. Redirect your course immediately, do not approach within 50km."
As if to demonstrate their ill mood, red flares were launched from the ground to highlight the 50km mark. They were approaching very quickly.
"What do we do?" asked Tracy, not wanting to believe what she suspected to be true. A daring egress from a Coriolis was one thing, attempting to force entry to a surface port with only 4% hull integrity - sheer suicide.
"Pianzola Platform, this is Morgan de Nigh," he paused. It had been well over a decade, his name would mean nothing to the staff at such a remote facility. In a fit of wild abandon he decided to go all in. "Formerly part of the strategic planning team at AEDC, I urgently request emergency landing. Please inform your base commander of our approach."
There was no response, not even a crackle of static from the comms. Just silence.
Morgan continued on his course. The 50km mark arrived and Morgan didn't flinch. The M+M flew straight towards the base. There were no repercussions. There was still no reply.
At 10km the comms buzzed again, and a different male voice spoke.
"Mars and Minerva, you are cleared on pad two, say again, pad two. Helena Stone extends a warm Welcome to Pianzola, commander."
Tracy let out a long sigh in the seat next to him. It was as if she hadn't taken a breath for a few minutes. Morgan wasn't sure he had either.
Pad two lit up brightly in the darkness to guide them in.
The original voice returned to comms. "Errm Commander de Nigh, our repair facilities are on standby and the base commander invites you and your party to dine with him as his guests this evening."
Her confusion was heard over the airwaves. Morgan was sure this was her first experience of welcoming guests to Pianzola.