Blackman's Gambit

Blackman stood at the central console of The Pocket, his usual stoic demeanor etched with a rare, almost imperceptible tension. The holographic map of the galaxy, usually a serene tapestry of nebulae and star systems, was now a jagged, pulsing scar. Station Theta-X, once a beacon of scientific inquiry, was now a silent tomb.

“They’re gone,” Kareem confirmed, his voice flat, devoid of its usual youthful exuberance. He’d spent the last cycle sifting through every shred of data, every flicker of residual energy. “No life signs. No ship signatures. Just… nothing.”

Aqua, her normally fluid movements now sharp with anxiety, wrung her hands. “A signal from the void. Now this. It’s too much. Too fast.”