As we stood before the vacant ship capstan, our expectations of encountering a living presence had gradually eroded. Despite the absence of human inhabitants, the ship's interior was far from barren. Boxes lined the space, harboring supplies and resources that held the promise of sustenance and utility for the future. Yet, the pervasive emptiness persisted, a reminder of the lives that had once animated this vessel.
With an air of cautious determination, we ventured to the ship's top floor, where the vantage offered us a perspective that stretched across the expanse of our surroundings. Amid the solitude, a distant sound reached our ears – a faint murmur that seemed to originate from the depths below. Our senses heightened, we exchanged a glance, our eyes communicating the urgency of our task as we descended to the lower levels.