The planetary shield, maintained by a network of power-channeling satellites, deactivates in one section, allowing you space to pilot through. It seals behind you.
Inside the shield, there is actually one last stretch of space, a mile from the upper atmosphere. It is here that you see one of the Arnian battlecruisers that the Navy uses, a streamlined piece of work that could rip apart anything it wanted to...except for, of course, ships as small as the Black Dawn.
Still, that is what the fighter escort that accompanies you into the atmosphere is for.
The Black Dawn drifts into the upper atmosphere. Arnia is technically warmer than space, but even so the Black Dawn protests slightly as you descend towards the ice-bound surface of your homeworld.
The fighters are pieces of work, Dak. You don't remember Arnia ever having starfighters. They possess the same fine craftwork as the Black Dawn, though the starfighters are much newer and kept in much better condition. They resemble arrowheads with shiny hulls. Oooh...
They break off once you've entered deeper into the atmosphere, certain that you're not going to cause trouble.
Now alone, the Black Dawn roars over the frozen surface of Arnia. It is an endless tundra, devoid of civilization but for the primitive colonies of the Fuh'Rasea under the ice. The blue-white snow is a welcome sight, Dak.
"Rather bleak, isn't it?" Ker'Raos asks, unimpressed.
A slight grin spreads over Dak's face at seeing Arnia again. The vast ice fields... so welcoming and comfortable. And he might even dine on Arnian food tonight!
He sours at Ker'Raos' comment. "The fields may be bare, yes. But how many races can say they made this habitable, by sheer force of will? The might of the Arnians is apparent even in our planet. Desolate, yet flourishing."
Ker'Raos ignores the quip about Zeiton, though you think he flinched.
"If you say so, Master," Ker'Raos replies. He studies the landscape, then seems perturbed by something on the horizon. "Is that our destination? Meja'Tsid?"
The sensors indicate that you are approaching Meja'Tsid, but when you look up, you notice that black plumes of smoke drift up from the mining town. Meja'Tsid is partially aflame!
The fires are actually being extinguished. Whatever happened, it happened recently, but nothing is happening now. A lot of movement in the streets, landspeeders and speederbikes and Arnians flitting about from place to place, fighting the fires and picking up Arnians on the ground.
"There's been a battle here," Ker'Raos says. "Look!"
He gestures towards the starport, where you spot two heavily-armored and lightly armed transports sitting. They bear the emblem of the Royal Army, the clawed fist of an Arnian.
More landing site than bay. The starport consists of an ice field with bright guiding lights that mark the sites, so that pilots can see the starport even in a storm.
Must be said, Meja'Tsid has one of the few starports on the planet.
You've landed. Tempatures read... well below anything Wraith or Ker'Raos could survive.
Once the 'lesser beings' are bundled up and Dak has his gumf, the hatch of the Black Dawn hisses open. A gust of wind enters the ship, carrying with it a smattering of loose snow.
Wraith, it feels like hell just froze over and rushed past you. It's freezing! You'd better hope that the Arnians have heating...
Dak, though you have not been here in years, you are accustomed to this climate. It feels refreshing, this nightly temperature of -150ºC.
"Can we get to warmth, please?" Ker'Raos asks.