The vast expanse of space stretched endlessly beyond the orbit of Titan, Saturn’s rgest moon. Humanity had conquered the stars—or so it thought. The Colonies on Mars, The Europa Research Stations, and the Deep-Space Mining Outposts were proof of progress, but something was still missing. There were unanswered questions, gaps in human understanding that no amount of technology could fill.

  For Commander Elias Vance, those questions were the only reason he was still in service. He had seen it all—combat, diplomacy, first contact protocols….yet, the mystery of the unknown still called to him.

  The Nebu-9, a cutting-edge exploratory vessel, floated silently above Titan’s methane-filled atmosphere, its sleek, angur design reflecting the golden hues of Saturn’s rings. Inside, Elias leaned over a holo-table in the ship’s dimly lit control room, staring at the transmission that had just come through.

  A signal. Unregistered. Unlike anything humanity had ever received before.

  He tapped the interface, watching as the waveform dispyed erratic, almost deliberate patterns.

  "What do you think, Nova?" Elias asked, directing his question to the ship’s onboard AI.

  "Processing," Nova responded, her voice calm yet inquisitive. "This signal does not match any known human, alien, or naturally occurring frequency. There is a 78% probability it is artificial."

  Elias exhaled. That was exactly what he was hoping for—and dreading.

  "Source?"

  "Unknown. But based on trajectory analysis, the signal originates from beyond the Kuiper Belt."

  Elias clenched his jaw. The Kuiper Belt was already a no-man’s nd, a pce few dared to venture beyond. Past that? It was uncharted space.

  Before he could process further, the doors to the command deck hissed open, and Lieutenant Aria Soce, his second-in-command, stepped in. Her dark hair was tied back, and her uniform was crisp as always, but her expression betrayed her concern.

  "Commander, is it true?" she asked. "We picked up an unknown transmission?"

  Elias nodded. "It's not just unknown. It’s... intentional. Someone—or something—is calling out to us."

  Aria folded her arms. "This could be another dead-end, like the Trappist Ghost Signals. Or worse, a trap."

  "Or" Elias countered, "it could be the greatest discovery in human history."

  Silence hung between them for a moment before Aria sighed. "You're going after it, aren't you?"

  Elias smirked. "Wouldn’t be much of an explorer if I didn’t."

  She shook her head but didn’t argue. That was why she had signed up for this mission—to push boundaries, to step into the unknown.

  Nova’s voice cut in again. "Commander, the transmission has changed. It’s now repeating a single phrase in an unknown nguage. Transting..."

  A moment passed. Then the words appeared on the holo-screen.

  "Follow the echoes."

  Elias exchanged a look with Aria. Whatever this was, it wasn’t random. It was a message. A summons.

  And he intended to answer it.

  CHAPTER’s NOTE:This is a strong opening!