Chapter 3: The Summons

The hangar doors slid open with a hiss, revealing the dimly lit expanse beyond. The scent of engine oil and charged plasma filled the air, mingling with the distant hum of ships docked in their berths. Rows of vessels lined the metallic floor, some sleek and streamlined for reconnaissance, others heavily armored for war. Their ship, the Solstice, waited for them at the far end of the bay—its hull patched from years of modifications, a testament to the life they had lived between peace and preparation.

Lyra dismounted her hoverbike, her boots clicking against the reinforced flooring as she pulled off her helmet. Kaelen was already ahead, running a final check on the ship's exterior. Rhea's form shimmered as she stepped beside them, her silver hue darkening slightly—a sign of unease. The atmosphere inside the hangar felt charged, heavier than usual, like the air before a storm.

Before Lyra could respond, heavy metallic footsteps announced Eron's arrival. His cybernetic limbs glowed faintly as he strode toward them, the mechanical hum of his body a stark contrast to the organic stillness of the night. "The council is summoning us," he said, his voice deep and firm. "They received a distress signal from one of the outer colonies."

Lyra exchanged a glance with Kaelen, a silent conversation passing between them. Trouble. The peace they had fought to maintain was fracturing faster than any of them had hoped. She turned back to Eron. "What kind of distress signal?"

"Encrypted," he replied. "But from the initial translation, it's bad. Reports of missing civilians, energy fluctuations, and—" his expression darkened, "—an unknown presence."

Rhea shifted uneasily, the bioluminescent trails along her form flickering erratically. "We need to leave now."

Kaelen nodded sharply. "Agreed. If the council is calling us directly, it means they don't trust anyone else to handle this."

Lyra took a deep breath, her pulse steady despite the weight pressing against her chest. This was it. The moment they had been waiting for, the inevitable descent into the unknown. "Then let's not waste any more time."

The Solstice rumbled to life as they stepped aboard, the soft vibration of the engines settling into a familiar rhythm beneath their feet. The hangar lights reflected against its dark hull as the ramp retracted, sealing them inside. As Lyra took her place in the cockpit, fingers hovering over the controls, she knew one thing for certain—the story of their generation was no longer just about peace. It was about what they were willing to do to protect it.

As the ship ascended, the artificial gravity adjusted smoothly, pressing them lightly into their seats. Kaelen took his place beside Lyra, scanning the nav systems as Rhea settled into her usual post near the Mindstream interface, her form flickering subtly as she attuned herself to the ship's systems. Eron stood near the holo-comm, his mechanical limbs whirring softly as he initiated the encrypted channel to the Council.

Moments later, the holographic projection flared to life—a circular chamber lined with figures draped in ceremonial robes, their faces partially obscured by the soft glow of the projection. The Unified Council of the Accord was a diverse body, composed of representatives from both human and SlimeKin civilizations, their very existence a delicate balance of diplomacy and history.

"Lyra Eidenlithe, Kaelen Voss, Eron Drex, Rhea of the Mindstream," an elder human councilor greeted, his voice measured. "You have been summoned to investigate a matter of utmost urgency."

Lyra straightened. "We received word of a distress signal from one of the outer colonies. What exactly are we dealing with?"

A SlimeKin representative, her translucent form pulsing with shades of deep indigo, spoke next. "The colony of Veyra-3 has gone dark. No outgoing transmissions, no cargo shipments, and our last patrol vessel sent to investigate has not returned. What little data we managed to extract before the blackout indicates significant energy anomalies."

Kaelen narrowed his eyes. "Anomalies? Of what kind?"

The councilor hesitated. "Unidentified signatures. We are uncertain whether this is a natural phenomenon or the work of outside forces."

Rhea's glow dimmed slightly. "And you fear an external threat."

Another councilor, a woman with sharp features and piercing eyes, leaned forward. "We fear many things, Rhea. This silence is unnatural. We cannot afford another war, nor can we allow rogue elements to threaten what we've built."

Lyra exchanged glances with her team. The political landscape was already fragile—trade disputes, ideological rifts between human expansionists and SlimeKin isolationists, and whispers of growing unrest on the Accord's fringes. If a major colony had fallen to an unknown force, it could tip the balance toward chaos.

Eron folded his arms. "If this is an attack, who do you suspect?"

The elder councilor's expression was grave. "There have been... rumors. Dissidents. Those who never accepted the Accord. We do not have proof, but certain factions may be moving in the shadows."

Kaelen exhaled sharply. "If someone wanted to undermine peace, striking at an outer colony would be the perfect way to start."

Lyra's fingers curled into a fist. "We'll find out what happened."

The councilor nodded. "Your mission is twofold—investigate the disturbance and recover any survivors. If a threat exists, neutralize it before it spreads."

The hologram flickered as another representative spoke, their voice laced with finality. "We are entrusting this to you because we believe you understand what's at stake. You are to depart immediately."

The transmission cut out, leaving only the low hum of the ship's systems.

Rhea exhaled, her form shifting in a slow ripple. "Well, that was ominous."

Kaelen rolled his shoulders. "We should expect the worst."

Eron turned toward Lyra. "Set the course. Veyra-3 awaits."

Lyra nodded, focusing on the controls as she plotted the coordinates. Outside the viewport, the stars stretched before them, an endless expanse of light and shadow. Whatever awaited them in the darkness, they were about to find out.

And as the Solstice made its jump into the unknown, the weight of their mission settled upon them all.

The moment the ship exited real-space, the vast emptiness of the Veyra-3 system stretched before them. The colony should have been teeming with activity—trade vessels docking, station lights blinking in the distance—but instead, only silence greeted them. No beacons, no comm chatter, just an eerie quiet that sent a chill through Lyra's spine.

Kaelen adjusted the sensors. "I don't like this. Even in emergencies, automated systems should be transmitting distress signals. This place is dead silent."

Lyra's fingers hovered over the controls as she exchanged a glance with Rhea. "Anything on the Mindstream?"

Rhea closed her luminous eyes, her form pulsing faintly as she extended her consciousness outward, searching for traces of life. Moments later, she shuddered. "There's something… fragmented. Like echoes of thought, scattered and incomplete. But there are minds here. Faint. Distant."

Eron frowned. "Survivors?"

Rhea hesitated. "I can't tell. It's… distorted. Whatever happened here, it's left something behind."

Lyra took a deep breath and activated the ship's external scanners. The results flickered on-screen—faint energy readings, fluctuating in irregular patterns. Some were centered around the colony's core settlement, others drifting near the wreckage of what looked like patrol ships. The missing vessel from the Council's earlier report.

Kaelen leaned forward. "Something tore through those ships. Look at the hull damage—no energy burns, no ballistic impact. It's like the metal itself was pulled apart."

Rhea's glow flickered. "That shouldn't be possible."

Lyra tightened her grip on the controls. "We need answers."

She piloted the Solstice toward the colony's main hub, weaving through the wreckage with careful precision. The station loomed ahead—dark, lifeless, its docking platforms covered in a fine layer of cosmic dust, as if it had been abandoned for years rather than weeks. Lyra engaged the landing protocols, setting the ship down with a gentle hiss of depressurization.

The airlock released, and the ramp extended. The team moved in unison, stepping into the desolate colony, their weapons holstered but ready. The corridors were eerily intact, as though the people had simply vanished mid-step. Flickering holo-screens displayed outdated broadcasts, abandoned meals sat untouched on tables, and tools were scattered across workstations as if their owners had been called away suddenly—and never returned.

Eron knelt beside a console, fingers tracing over a data panel. His cybernetic limbs glowed faintly as he connected to the system. "Logs are corrupted, but I might be able to recover something."

Kaelen's voice was tense. "Hurry. We don't know how long we have."

Rhea stood motionless, her body shimmering with unease. "Something is watching us."

Lyra turned sharply. "Where?"

Rhea's form darkened slightly as she pointed toward the shadows beyond the corridor. "Everywhere."