Communications Officer Allen sat hunched over the console, the dim glow of the screens casting long shadows across the empty room. The hum of the ship’s engines was a constant reminder of their isolation, but tonight, something was different. A faint signal crackled through the static, distant yet unmistakable, cutting through the silence like a warning.

The Lieutenant moved closer, eyes narrowing as Allen tried to decode the transmission, the words slipping just beyond reach. A sudden hiss burst from the speakers, followed by a low growl that sent a chill down their spines—something was out there, and it was closer than they realized...