“It's definitely refined metal, probably steel, probably a spaceship,” reported the computer. “There are no EM emissions, and it's dead cold, so it has to be abandoned.”
“I.e., salvage,” said the captain.
“…i.e., salvage,” confirmed the computer. “But…”
“‘But’?” asked the captain, as she carefully brought the ship down from cruising velocity.
“But, it appears to be intermingled with an asteroid. And, it's much too small. Too dense.”
“Well, we'll know for sure in a minute. That should be it right there. …Okay, that's an odd design…” The ‘ship’ was long and thin, and appeared to go straight through the roughly−round asteroid like a pen through an orange, except that pens aren't flat, with hilts. “It looks like a sword, doesn't it?”
“Further scanning shows the blade is solid metal. Except for being hundreds of meters long, it is a sword.”
“Ornate, too. Is that some sort of engraving, near the hilt? I don't recognize the language.”
“I think I can translate: ‘Whosoever pulls this sword from this stone, is rightful Pendragon and Emperor of the Galaxy.’”
“Please tell me you're kidding… please?”