Falling Stars

Chapter-12 : The Lost Signal

Gabriel stood at the command center, staring intently at the holographic display of Earth's orbit. Amelia was beside him, her expression a mixture of concentration and disbelief. A long, eerie beep emanated from the central console, followed by a series of blinking lights on the screen. It was a signal - weak, intermittent, but unmistakably real.

The room buzzed with chatter as the team analyzed the data. Chief Branson walked in, his usually jovial demeanor replaced by a rare look of concern. He didn't waste any time on pleasantries.

"Alright, listen up," Branson barked, capturing everyone's attention. "We've intercepted a distress signal from a spacecraft that went missing 15 years ago. The signal is weak, but it's coming from the vicinity of Mars. Your task is to investigate, locate the ship, and find out what the hell happened out there."

Gabriel raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that the Hesperus? The one that vanished on its maiden voyage?"

"Precisely," Branson nodded, his expression grim. "The Hesperus was one of the most advanced exploration ships of its time. No one ever figured out what happened to it... until now."

Amelia glanced at Gabriel, her eyes filled with intrigue. "This sounds like a ghost ship story straight out of a sci-fi movie."

Gabriel smirked, trying to lighten the mood. "I hope we don't run into any space zombies."

Branson shot them a stern look. "This isn't a joke, people. Whatever happened to that ship, we need to find out. And more importantly, if there are any survivors-or remains-we need to bring them back."

Mark, who had been leaning casually against a console, chimed in. "So, a haunted spaceship mission? Sounds like a perfect Saturday."

Hank, their enthusiastic trainer turned mission coordinator, clapped his hands together. "Pack your bags, folks! We're going on a treasure hunt! Just don't get too cozy with the ghost crew, alright?"

Gabriel and Amelia exchanged a bemused look before heading out to prepare for the mission. The light-hearted banter was their way of coping with the gravity of their assignments. But as the team suited up and boarded the shuttle, the atmosphere shifted to one of focused determination. The Hesperus was not just a lost ship; it was a piece of history, a mystery that begged to be solved.

The shuttle vibrated as it broke free of Earth's atmosphere, the rumble of the engines steadying as they entered the void of space. Gabriel sat in the cockpit, running diagnostics and ensuring their course was set. Amelia sat beside him, her fingers deftly moving over the controls as she checked for any updates on the signal.

"So, what do we know about this ship?" Amelia asked, glancing over at Gabriel.

Gabriel sighed, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "The Hesperus was designed for deep space exploration. It had a crew of 20, including some of the brightest minds in space navigation and science. It disappeared on its first mission, and there's been nothing but conspiracy theories ever since."

Amelia raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"

Gabriel shrugged. "Some say it was sabotage, others think it was an onboard mutiny. And then there's the popular alien abduction theory."

Amelia rolled her eyes. "Let me guess - you believe in the aliens?"

Gabriel grinned. "Hey, in this line of work, anything's possible."

The shuttle's intercom crackled as Mark's voice came through. "Hey lovebirds, we're approaching the coordinates. Prepare to drop out of hyperspace in T-minus 30 seconds."

Gabriel and Amelia nodded at each other, both settling into their seats. Gabriel tapped the intercom. "Copy that, Mark. Let's find ourselves a ghost ship."