There really wasn’t much that they could do about a species that might or might not even exist anymore, so the crew of Terminus and the Hunters settled into Terraform and explore the planet, both virtually with drones and by sending down actual teams to explore places that looked interesting enough to save from alteration.
That brought Max to his first point of concern. Nico had designed a wonderful city for a hundred million people to be built floating above the surface. Only, she hadn’t really designed it. Max recognized it as a spot she had taken over in her past life.
Not that there was anything openly sinister about this city. It was absolutely stunning, and everyone who saw it loved it. Even the Shin adored the architecture, and they were hard to impress with anything that didn’t contain fresh soil.
They would, unfortunately, be one of the last species that were allowed onto the surface of the planet, as their roots were extremely sensitive to toxins. This planet was so heavily poisoned with industrial waste and poisonous chemicals that even bringing them to the city once it was completed would require an extra level of sanitation of the shuttles at first.
They were well aware of their limitations, though, and were in no hurry to head somewhere toxic, no matter how pretty it was.
The live streams of those explorations were a huge hit with the guests. This was a species that not even they knew, so they got to discover everything in real time and speculate on the nature of the species.
[Commander, we have an incoming shuttle. One of our own, hailing for the Academy using the Headmistress’ family code. I believe these are the elite teachers that the Professor managed to poach from other institutions, and the rest of the recruited staff should be here soon after them.] A communications officer informed Max as he relaxed in his seat and watched the exploration streams.
? Max sent the news to Headmistress Medusa, who agreed to meet him at the bay so that the new staff could meet both of their bosses the moment that they arrived, instead of having staff members meet and greet them, as would normally be done for new teachers.
Her name was synonymous with perfection in their social circle, and the fact that she had told off very respected educators in the past for failing to meet her exacting standards was no secret. It also made them both eager and nervous to be working under her.
“What are you thinking about?” The woman in question asked as Max listened to the teachers’ thoughts while the shuttle prepared to land.
𝓲nn𝑟𝚎𝙖𝘥. 𝐜𝚘𝐦
“I am honestly not as bad as I’m made out to be. The incident was blown all out of proportion because nobody could believe that someone stood up to such a wealthy man.” She shrugged.
The teachers filed out in an orderly single file line, based on their years of experience, and lined up to meet the new Headmistress with polite smiles on their faces. Well, on the faces of the species that had them. Their botany specialist was a Shin, and the Harpia didn’t have a face that was capable of showing emotions, being mostly beak, but their body language was very expressive.
“Welcome to Terminus, everyone. I am Commander Keres of the Terminus Trading Company, and this is Headmistress Medusa Medellin, your direct superior at the Academy. Thank you all for considering our job offer, and we look forward to having you all here at what we intend to make the most prestigious Academy in a hundred standard units.” Max greeted them, causing a round of laughter among the formerly nervous teachers.
Medusa took over at that point. “Soon, the rest of the staff will be coming to join your departments, and I will be expecting you to bring them all up to the sort of standard an elite academy requires. They are the finest we could find from around the Alliance, as well as some humans and a Hunter, so you should only need to form them into a proper team before the parents arrive to tour the grounds before enrolling the first class.
If you will follow me, I will return the Commander to his duties, and we can get started on exploring the grounds. Welcome to Reaver Academy.”