[center][h2]Story Note[/h2][/center]

After days spent flying through the empty black beyond the known ‘verse, China Doll arrives at Asteroid AN-3872.  So far removed is this great rock in space that the light from Burnham, the nearest star, offers at most a a dim twilight which casts lengthening shadows and pools of darkness throughout the harsh, craggy terrain.

The Firefly moves in slowly, careful to avoid the numerous meteors and smaller asteroids that hover in a massive orbital belt with their destination.  Belly lights wink on, the beams playing and dancing across the surface as they begin their search for any sign of the three hundred year old containers discarded by C/V Gossamer.  To aid in their search, the crew have duct taped two pairs of binoculars to the underslung truss framing.  The binocs’ optical pickups can be read by S.A.M.A.N.T.H.A. for a more detailed appraisal than what might meet the human eye.

During their second orbit, the AI spots a promising lead.  China Doll hovers over a small valley, caked with thick dust.  Objects protruding from the dust layer appear manmade, jagged edges revealing a crash landing at high impact.  Chances are they may have found the remnants of a shipping container.  Is payday finally at hand?