INBOUND TRANSMISSION
CIR // OPEN RECEIVING NODE
PACKET INTEGRITY 71 %
A damaged civilian signal was mirrored to open receiving nodes. Beneath the automatic loop, a human trace remains.
SIGNAL STABLE
The image clears. A woman sits in the cockpit of the Aster. On a display beside her, the trace you just stabilized lights up.
She looks at it.
“There’s someone there. Can you hear me?”
RECEPTION CONFIRMED
“Good. Then at least I know I’m not just talking to the loop.”
DARA SENN — PILOT OF THE ASTER
- ASTER — 18 PEOPLE
- RECEPTION BY AVARA CONFIRMED
- DOCKING DENIED
- RETURN DESTINATION KALEN — UNINHABITABLE
“Avara will take us in. All eighteen.”
“If we shut down the damaged module, the Aster’s own supplies won’t last long enough to get everyone across safely. If we leave it running, we aren’t allowed to dock.”
“I know you’re there now. But if this trace breaks, I won’t find my way back to you. Open a confirmed return route and I can contact you again.”
The image begins to break apart.
“And I can’t just abandon the module. It isn’t only our emergency supply. It’s—”
PERSONAL TRACE LOST
OPEN RETURN ROUTE
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