PROLOGUE III

Captain Steins emerged from his tent, blinking away the remnants of sleep. The Antarctic dawn cast an ethereal glow over the icy landscape.

"Morning, Captain," Lieutenant Thompson said, already packing up his gear.

Steins nodded, his voice rough from the cold. "Let's move out. We've got a research station to find."

Sergeant Patel handed Steins a steaming cup of coffee. "Ready when you are, sir."

Private First Class Rodriguez approached, his eyes bloodshot from the night watch.

"Anything unusual during your watch, Rodriguez?" Steins asked.

Rodriguez shook his head. "Just the wind, sir. And... I thought I saw something moving in the distance, but it was probably just my imagination."

Steins' gaze narrowed. "Keep your eyes sharp today. We don't know what we're walking into."

The team set off across the frozen wasteland, their footsteps crunching through the snow.

As they trudged through the snow, Steins' radio crackled to life.

"Captain, I'm reading an energy pulse ahead," Thompson said, consulting his scanner.

Steins' heart quickened. "What kind of pulse?"

"Unknown, sir. But it's intense. Maybe some kind of transmission?"

Steins' eyes locked onto the horizon. "Let's move in. Keep your weapons ready."

The team crested a ridge, and the research station came into view. A massive structure of steel and glass, surrounded by a network of antennae and dishes.

And then, a blinding flash.

"Energy pulse increasing!" Thompson shouted.

The team shielded their eyes as the pulse intensified, illuminating the Antarctic landscape.

"What is this?" Patel yelled above the din.

Steins' face set in determination. "We're about to find out."

As the pulse faded, the team approached the research station, their guns at the research station.

As the team trudged through the Antarctic snow, the research station emerged from the horizon. Captain Steins' eyes narrowed, his gaze scanning the facility.

New Horizon Research Station sprawled across 500 acres, a vast complex of interconnected modules and domes. The central hub, a towering cylinder, rose 10 stories high, its exterior sheathed in a latticework of steel and glass.

A satellite dish, 30 feet in diameter, dominated the rooftop, its parabolic surface glinting in the pale sunlight. A constellation of smaller dishes and antennae clustered around it, forming a communications array. It Enables communication with the outside world, transmitting and receiving data via satellite.

It has a very strong reliable connectivity, at a global coverage. And with well equipped material that makes it not vulnerable to solar flares, signal interference. It also Supports multiple communication protocols, including radio, microwave, and optical links. With a Redundant systems ensure continuous communication, adaptable to various frequencies.

The 30-foot satellite dish dominated the rooftop, its parabolic surface glinting in the pale sunlight. A constellation of smaller dishes and antennae clustered around the satellite dish.

To the east, Is where the helipad and Hangar is. It Supports helicopter operations for transportation and logistics. With a Rapid deployment, versatile cargo capacity.

Two heavy-lift helicopters, their rotors folded against the wind, stood ready on the helipad.

A parking area held a fleet of vehicles: snowcats, ATVs, which Provides ground transportation for personnel and equipment. It is agile, adaptable to rugged terrain with a limited range.

A fleet of snowcats and ATVs was parked nearby, ready for deployment.

It is also equipped with an airlock and Life Support door which helps to maintain a stable internal environment, regulating temperature, humidity, and air pressure. It also has a safeguard personnel, protects sensitive equipment.

The airlock-style door, designed to withstand extreme pressure changes, was sealed – but the exterior windows were darkened.

They could also see big Solar Panels and Wind Turbines that Supplements power generation, reducing reliance on fossil fuels with a renewable energy, and reduced carbon footprint.

A solar panel array and wind turbines were positioned to maximize energy harvesting.

But something was off.

As Captain Steins gazed out at the research station, his mind began to churn with unease.

"Where is everyone?" he muttered to himself.

He had expected to see scientists swarming outside, clad in lab coats and goggles, eager to conduct their research in the harsh Antarctic environment.

But the silence was deafening.

"No signs of life," Steins thought, his brow furrowed in concern. "No technicians tinkering with equipment, no researchers collecting samples... nothing."

He pictured the station's corridors teeming with activity: scientists rushing to meetings, technicians calibrating instruments, and support staff ensuring the facility's smooth operation.

But now, the only sound was the wind whipping across the snow.

"Intel said there were over 50 personnel stationed here," Steins reminded himself. "Where are they?"

Had they been evacuated due to some unforeseen emergency? Or was something more sinister at play?

Steins' eyes scanned the facility, searching for any signs of disturbance. But the buildings seemed intact, the equipment untouched.

"No signs of struggle, no indication of panic," Steins thought, his mind racing. "Just... nothing."

"Where is everyone?" Steins muttered, his brow furrowed.

Thompson followed his gaze. "You'd think we'd see some scientists outside, sir."

Steins' concern deepened. "Intel said there were over 50 personnel stationed here. Not a single soul in sight."

Patel's voice was laced with unease. "Maybe they're all inside, sir."

Steins' eyes swept the perimeter. "No signs of disturbance. No indication of evacuation."

Rodriguez spoke up, "Could they be in a lockdown, sir?"

Steins' expression turned grim. "Possible. But we need to verify."

As they approached the main entrance, Steins noticed something odd. The airlock-style door, designed to withstand extreme pressure changes, was sealed – but the exterior windows were darkened.

"Thompson, can you hack their comms system?" Steins asked.

Thompson consulted his scanner. "Already on it, sir. But their encryption is tight."

Steins' gaze locked onto the station. "We need eyes inside. Prepare the drone."

Patel unslung a compact drone from his backpack, its rotors whisper-quiet.

"Rodriguez, take point. Keep watch for any signs of movement."

As Rodriguez moved forward, Steins' radio crackled. "Captain, I've got something," Thompson said.

Steins' heart quickened. "What is it?"

"Incoming transmission... garbled... sounds like a distress call."

Steins' eyes locked onto the research station. "Let's move in. We need to know what's happening inside."

The team advanced, their footsteps echoing across the frozen landscape.

As they reached the entrance, Steins' hand grasped the door wheel, his heart pounding in anticipation.

Captain Steins grasped the airlock door's wheel, expecting the familiar hiss of decompression. But instead, he met resistance.

"Damn it," Steins muttered, straining against the wheel. "It's sealed tight."

He examined the door's seals, searching for any signs of damage or tampering. But everything appeared intact.

"Thompson, we've got a problem," Steins called out.

Thompson approached, eyes scanning the door. "Looks like someone didn't want anyone getting in – or out."

Steins' mind raced. "We need another way in."

Just then, Patel's voice crackled over the comms. "Captain, the drone's found an alternate entrance."

Steins' gaze shifted to the drone's feed on his wrist-mounted display. "Show me."

The drone's camera revealed a maintenance access hatch on the station's eastern side.

"Looks like our best bet," Steins said, already moving toward the hatch.

As they approached the hatch, Rodriguez scanned the area. "Captain, I've got something."

Steins turned. "What is it?"

Rodriguez's voice was low. " There are claw marks at this place sir....bigger than normal size"

Steins' eyes narrowed. "Gear up. We're going in."

The team readied their weapons, Steins leading the way.

_Maintenance Access Hatch_

Steins carefully opened the hatch, revealing a cramped, dimly lit tunnel.

"Thompson, take point," Steins whispered.

Thompson nodded, edging into the tunnel.

As they descended into the station's bowels, Steins' unease grew.

"What are we walking into?" he wondered.