ty. Its sleek, obsidian hull reflected the lights of the bustling control center. Engineers in white

week preparing for this mission, diving into simulations, studying alien linguistics, and enduring

e going in

tain Liam Cross, his easy confidence as palpa

ng. "I'm more comfortable with a

The Erebus is state-of-the-art.

, unsure if his reassurance

-

he command room for a final briefin

ist with a sharp tongue an

us engineer with a

tactical officer, whose stoic dem

the signal on Aurion-7, gather as much data as we can, and return home. But make no mistake-this is

expressions a mix of de

-

La

her into her seat, her breath catching in her chest. As the ship broke through Earth's atmosphere, she caught h

d over the intercom, his ton

spite her fears, there was something un

-

Jo

a hydroponic garden, and living quarters designed for long-term missions. El

st a warning-it was layered with mathematical equat

ch us how to understand them," s

ay, watching her work. "Any

it's almost... compassionate.

ebrow. "Compassio

tly the pinnacle of kindness, but we've manag

ond, but his exp

-

ons R

f isolation. Darius and Aria clashed over equipment failures, whil

ng tension with his dry humor. Despite their differences, they

t at the stars from the obse

ice barely above a whisper. "Mechanical failure durin

ised by his vulnerability.

this mission. I need to prove

red to admit. "We all have ghosts," she said

-

n-7 i

. The planet was a breathtaking sight-its surface shimmered with biolum

nsified, filling the ship with its haunting m

iam said, his voice tense,

rame cutting through the swirling clouds. As they touched down

-

, their footsteps echoing in the eerie silence. The obelisk loo