The Venus’ Seashells

On Voidstar No. 1, the crew of the Broken Blades space pirates stumbled upon a struggling village nestled among the barren plains.

Wielding state-of-the-art weapons, the thirty-something pirates fanned out, forcing every villager to gather in the central fountain square. They moved with practiced precision, going door to door to ensure no one was left hiding.

"Our boss has one simple demand," the squad leader announced, his voice low and menacing as it carried through the crowd. "From now on, twenty percent of your harvest is ours. On top of that, you'll pay a monthly tax of 100,000 astrocredits. Play along, and we'll make sure nothing bad happens to you."

The square was filled mostly with the elderly, women, and children. The few men among them were gaunt and weak, their hollow eyes and tattered clothing reflecting the grinding poverty of the village.

They stood silent, unable to summon the strength or courage to resist.