The Ark drifted silently in neutral space, the stars outside shimmering against the dark void. The crew, battered and weary, had taken the rare opportunity to rest, though the scars of their battle remained fresh in their minds. Repairs were underway, but the tension was palpable. Everyone knew the destruction of the Reaver ship was a monumental victory, yet it was just a step in a much larger, more dangerous war.
Ethan sat in the captain's chair on the bridge, his posture relaxed but his mind anything but. He stared at the star charts projected before him, the blinking indicators marking known Reaver activity. The void was vast, but the growing number of black moons suggested that the Reavers' presence was spreading faster than they'd anticipated.
Nova swiveled her chair to face him, her blonde hair glinting under the dim bridge lights. "You've got that brooding look again, Captain. What's eating you?"
