The Ark drifted through the quiet of deep space, its crew enjoying a rare moment of peace after the recent battles. The stars outside shimmered against the black canvas of the void, and everything seemed calm, until a strange signal cut through the static of space.
Nova was the first to notice it, her sharp eyes narrowing as the faint, distorted transmission came across the ship's sensors. "Hey, Captain, you might want to take a look at this," she called out, adjusting the comms controls.
Ethan, who had been going over reports in the command center, stepped over to Nova's station, glancing at the display. The signal was weak, barely readable, but its origin was unmistakable, deep space, from a sector long abandoned.
"What is it?" Ethan asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.
