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As co-pilot of an interstellar cargo ship, you are used to visiting far-flung corners of the galaxy. But you have never been as far from Earth as you are now -for your latest haul has taken you beyond the galaxy's rim, to the solitary star system of the planet Nebulos. While Harry, the pilot, guides the ship expertly towards the spaceport, you turn to look back at the galaxy. It appears as a great silver cloud filling half the night sky. It is so far away that none of the stars is visible as more than a tiny dot of light. The sight is so breathtaking that you barely notice the jolt as the ship touches down. Harry flicks the switches on the control panel in front of him, then pats you on the shoulder as he gets up. 'Daydreamin', youngster?' he says with a laugh. 'You had plenty of time for that before we landed. Now, I gotta get our flight papers filed with Traffic Control here. You get yourself back to the cargo bay and see to makin' a few deliveries, huh?' You make your way astern to check the ship's cargo. Opening the bay doors, you pause and look out across the spaceport. This mining town is the only settlement on the planet's equatorial continent, which is otherwise entirely covered in greenish-white desert sands. Harry has told you that the miners who live and work here have a nickname for the desert: 'Dust Bowl'. Feeling the hot dry air that stings your nose and eyes, you can see what they mean.
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