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Tears from the Starbound Hope
Day 1: Entering the Unknown
Today we entered what our charts simply marked as unclaimed space. We are currently deep into the frontier, pushing past known systems into territory few have even mapped. The six warships assigned to escort us all manned by veterans from the Keo Terra Defense Force were in high spirits, confident that nothing out here could pose a significant threat. The convoy commander, Captain Rho, seemed particularly eager to get us to our destination.
Just as we began settling into a new course trajectory, we received an unexpected transmission. It was terse, efficient, and in a language that seemed vaguely recognizable. Our translators struggled, and then a direct warning came through: Leave immediately. This system is under the jurisdiction of the Omnium. The name was only a whisper in fleet circles, a vague rumor about advanced ships appearing outside of human controlled space. But here they were, and they wanted us out.
Captain Rho dismissed the transmission outright, confident that whatever was out there, our fleet could handle it. We pressed forward, and he ignored the second warning as well. I’ll admit, I felt a chill as we continued deeper into the system, wondering what awaited us.
Day 2: The Encounter
We caught sight of it, an Omnium warship, sleek, dark, and eerily silent. It was unlike anything I’d ever seen. The ship seemed to absorb the light around it, casting no reflection. Captain Rho decided that, instead of retreating, he would show them Keo Terra’s strength. Our six warships shifted into a tight formation, ready to engage.
I watched from the bridge as the escorts accelerated toward the Omnium vessel, weapons systems hot and fully prepared for a fight. It all happened so fast. Our sensors detected an energy spike from the Omnium ship, and then, one by one, each of our escorts was destroyed in a matter of seconds. The Omnium vessel moved with precision, dodging their fire effortlessly, its own weapons silent but deadly.
It was like watching a cat play with a mouse, only there was no escape for the mouse. Each of our ships burst into fireballs, their remains scattered across the cold void. Six warships, gone in the blink of an eye.
Day 3: Aftermath and the Message
Silence fell over the bridge of the Starbound Hope as we watched the last of the wreckage drift away. I had friends on those ships. People I’d served with for years. And now they were gone, erased by something we barely understood. The realization hit hard: we were in way over our heads.
As if to drive the point home, another transmission came through. The Omnium ship broadcast a message to all remaining vessels, the same calm, detached voice instructing us to turn back, to leave the system immediately. There was no malice in the tone, no sense of satisfaction. Just a simple, direct command.
Captain Rho was gone, our escorts destroyed, and there was nothing left to argue. I gave the order to turn us around. The colony ships adjusted course, our engines humming as we began the long journey back.
Day 4: Reflections
I can’t shake the image of those ships, some of which were our finest escorts, falling so quickly, so easily. It was like nothing I’ve ever seen. The Omnium vessel didn’t engage us as we left; they simply observed, watching as we withdrew. It’s clear now that this isn’t just unexplored space. It belongs to them, and they have no interest in compromise.
As we drift farther from the system, I think about what this means for Keo Terra. The pride we had, the confidence in our fleet was shattered in a single encounter. I know I’ll never forget it, and I doubt anyone else in the fleet will either.
As we exited the system, I contacted Mission control. The immediate response was to return to base, and to never speak of this incident as if it never happened. I placed the remaining ships of a communications black out and we began our journey home.
Journal of Captain Lin Mei Tan, 2102