The airlock hissed open, and Commander Lyra Voss stepped into the void of space, her suit a sleek amalgamation of midnight blue and silver, the colors of her fleet. The helmet's visor reflected the infinite blackness dotted with distant stars, each one a silent witness to her mission. Her athletic frame moved with precision, each step calculated as she approached the derelict spacecraft that had been drifting just outside Neptune's orbit.
"Voss to Command, I’ve made visual contact with the vessel," she said, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. "It’s the *Elysium*. Confirming its identity. No signs of life."
Lyra’s boots magnetically locked onto the hull as she studied the ancient ship. Its once-pristine surface was now marred by centuries of cosmic weathering. She traced her gloved fingers over the faded insignia of the Sol Federation, a relic from a time when humanity was just beginning to stretch its reach into the stars. This ship was supposed to be lost—vanished without a trace over a thousand years ago. And yet, here it was, a ghost from the past.
"Proceed with caution, Commander," came the voice of Captain Arlen from Command. "We don’t know what’s in there. Scans are inconclusive."
Lyra activated the cutting torch on her wrist, the blue flame slicing through the frozen metal of the airlock door. As the seal broke, a rush of air escaped, carrying with it a swirl of frost and dust. She stepped inside, the gravity generators still functional after all this time. Her boots clanged against the metal floor, the sound echoing through the silent corridors.
The ship was a time capsule. Lyra’s helmet light illuminated the remnants of a civilization long gone. Faded murals of Earth’s great cities adorned the walls, their colors muted but still beautiful. She passed a cafeteria, the tables set as if the crew had just stepped away. Her hand brushed against a coffee cup, the liquid inside long since frozen solid.
Her heart raced as she reached the bridge. The control panels were dark, save for a single flickering screen. She approached it, her breath shallow. The screen displayed a single line of text:
*"Project Ascension: Complete. Humanity’s salvation awaits."*
Lyra’s mind raced. Project Ascension? She’d never heard of it. But the mention of salvation sent a chill down her spine. She activated her commlink. "Command, I’ve found something. A message. It mentions Project Ascension. Does that ring any bells?"
There was a pause before Arlen responded, his voice strained. "Negative, Lyra. No records of such a project. Can you retrieve any data?"
Lyra searched the console, her fingers flying over the controls. The screen flickered again, and a holographic map of the galaxy appeared. A single star system was highlighted, its coordinates flashing. It was a system she didn’t recognize—one that wasn’t on any modern star chart.
"I’ve got coordinates," she said. "But they don’t match any known systems. What do you want me to do?"
Before Arlen could respond, the ship shuddered violently. Lyra stumbled, catching herself on the console. The screen beside her lit up with a countdown: 10… 9… 8…
"Lyra, get out of there!" Arlen’s voice was frantic. "The ship’s core is destabilizing!"
She sprinted through the corridors, the countdown echoing in her ears. The *Elysium* was coming apart around her, metal groaning and sparks flying. She reached the airlock just as the countdown hit zero. The explosion threw her into the void, her suit’s thrusters automatically activating to stabilize her. She watched in stunned silence as the *Elysium* was consumed by a fiery nova, its secrets lost to the void once more.
Back aboard her ship, Lyra stared at the coordinates on her screen, her mind racing. The *Elysium* had been a warning—or perhaps an invitation. Whatever Project Ascension was, it wasn’t just ancient history. It was a puzzle that needed solving.
She turned to her navigator, a wiry man with a face full of scars. "Set a course for these coordinates. We’re going to find out what’s out there."
"Aye, Commander," he replied, his fingers flying over the controls.
As the ship’s engines roared to life, Lyra felt a strange mix of fear and excitement. The *Elysium* had been a ghost, but the coordinates it left behind were a beacon. And she would follow it, no matter where it led.
The galaxy was vast, its mysteries endless. But Lyra Voss was determined to uncover them—one star at a time.
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