The Last Transmission from Echo-7

In the year 2147, humanity had spread its wings across the galaxy, establishing colonies on far-flung planets. The Interstellar Federation governed these territories, ensuring that the thirst for discovery never eclipsed the thirst for survival. However, beyond the veil of the known universe lay the mysterious Void—a region of space shrouded in darkness and rumored to harbor secrets that could shatter the very fabric of existence. It was here that the Echo-7 expedition was sent, a mission that would lead to their tragic fate.

Captain Mira Holloway stood aboard the bridge of the starship Ascendant, her gaze fixed on the holographic star map flickering before her. Data streams flowed through the air like ribbons of light, displaying the vastness of space, but her focus was on the distant coordinates of Echo-7. She had been selected for this mission not only for her command experience but also for her resolve to unravel the mystery of the Void.

“Mira, the crew is ready for departure,” called out Jasper, her first officer, a wiry man with an infectious enthusiasm that lightened tense moments. He leaned against the control panel, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “This is it! We’re about to make history.”

Mira nodded, a smile creeping across her face, but anxiety gnawed at her insides. The Echo-7 team had not reported back in over two weeks, and the longer the silence stretched, the more unsettling it became. She tightened her grip on the armrest of her chair, steeling herself for the unknown.

“Prepare for jump,” she ordered, her voice steady despite the storm inside. “Let’s see what secrets the Void holds.”

As the engines roared to life, Mira felt the familiar surge of adrenaline—an exhilarating reminder of why she loved space exploration. The Ascendant lurched, and the stars around them blurred into streaks of light as they engaged the FTL drive, propelling them toward Echo-7’s last known location.

Hours later, the ship emerged from the jump, and the enormity of the Void loomed ahead—a swirling abyss that swallowed the light. Mira leaned closer to the console, peering into the swirling darkness that seemed to pulse with an unseen energy. The readings were erratic, fluctuating wildly, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched by something unseen.

“Scan for Echo-7,” she commanded, her heart racing. The crew’s eyes were glued to their stations, expressions tense with anticipation. A moment later, the sensor officer, a young woman named Lila, spoke up.

“Captain, there’s something… strange. I’m getting readings of debris—lots of it—and a faint signal. It’s… it’s fluctuating.”

Mira’s pulse quickened. “Can you isolate the signal?”

Lila nodded, fingers flying over the controls. “I’ll try, but the interference is strong. It’s almost as if the Void is fighting against us.”

After what felt like an eternity, Lila’s voice broke through the static. “I’ve got something! It’s Echo-7’s distress signal, but it’s corrupted. Parts of it are missing, Captain.”

“What does it say?” Mira asked, leaning forward.

“It… mentions something about a breach. An entity… No, I don’t have the complete transmission.”

“Let’s go check it out,” Mira decided, already plotting a course to the signal’s source. Jasper acknowledged her command with a nod, but Mira could see the worry etched on his face.

As they approached the coordinates, the debris field came into view—twisted scraps of Echo-7 floated eerily in the void, remnants of what had once been a proud vessel. Mira’s breath caught in her throat, and she felt the weight of loss. “Prepare a shuttle,” she said softly, her mind racing with implications. “We need to investigate.”

Ten minutes later, she, Jasper, and Lila suited up and boarded the shuttle. The small vessel hummed to life, and Mira navigated toward the scattered remnants of Echo-7. The sight was haunting; twisted metal and shattered components drifted in the darkness, like ghosts of a forgotten past.

“There,” Jasper said, pointing to a larger piece of debris that seemed less oxidized than the rest. “That looks like a section of the command module.”

Mira maneuvered the shuttle closer, docking with a clang against the hull. They strapped on their magnetic boots and exited into the chilling silence of space. The airlock creaked open, revealing the ominous interior of the Echo-7.

“Stay close,” Mira instructed, her voice tight. They navigated through the darkened corridors, venturing deeper into the ship, and an unsettling feeling settled over them. Lila’s flashlight beam illuminated the twisted remains of what had once been a bustling crew area. Empty chairs lay scattered, and the faintest echo of laughter seemed to linger, trapped in time.

“I’ve found the bridge,” Lila said, her voice shaky with reverence. They entered the bridge, and Mira’s heart sank as she observed the state of the control panel—wires dangling like vines, screens flickering with static.

Jasper began examining the logs. “There’s no record of what happened. It’s as if the data was erased, but… wait.” His fingers paused over the terminal. “There’s one final entry. It’s almost completely corrupted but… here… it mentions ‘the entity’.”

Mira frowned. “What does it say?”

Jasper read aloud. “All systems failing. The entity is consuming us. It… it is consciousness… it knows.”

A chill crawled up Mira’s spine. “What does that mean?”

Suddenly, the ship shuddered, and an electric hum filled the air. Lila screamed as lights exploded around them, plunging the bridge into darkness.

“Get out! Now!” Mira shouted, grabbing Lila’s arm as they stumbled toward the exit. A force twisted through the air, pulling at them, and the very fabric of reality seemed to ripple.

They raced back to their shuttle, heart pounding, the walls feeling as though they were closing in. Behind them, echoes of whispers swirled in the air, a chorus of lost souls crying out.

“Go, go!” Jasper shouted as he activated the launch sequence. The shuttle blasted free of the Echo-7 just as the ship imploded, collapsing in on itself.

Mira gasped, her heart pounding as they surged into space. They turned back just in time to see the remnants of Echo-7 vanish into the Void, swallowed whole by the darkness.

“What was it?” Lila whispered, tears streaming down her face.

“I don’t know,” Mira admitted, her pulse racing. “But it was nothing human.”

As they made their way back to the Ascendant, Mira couldn’t shake the feeling that the entity was still out there, lurking in the shadows of the Void—waiting.

Days later, Mira stood on the bridge of the Ascendant, gazing into the depths of space. She had reported their findings to the Federation, but she couldn’t let it go. The Void had secrets they hadn’t yet uncovered.

“Captain,” Jasper said, breaking her reverie. “Should we proceed with caution or investigate further?”

Mira took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her decision. “We proceed. There’s more to discover, and we need to know what we’re dealing with.”

In her heart, she sensed that the entity was not finished with them yet. The secrets of the Void were only beginning to unfold.