Utopia secure channel Alpha-Tango-4-7.
Location : Unknown.
Source of transmission : Unknown.
Identifier code : USS Odyssey.
Commander : Admiral Harry Ransome.
Message received : 02:47, Nov 7 2342
Message playback :
“To anyone in the Sol System, any humans that can hear me. This is Admiral Harry Ransome, on board the Earth vessel Odyssey. We were dispatched by our people almost a decade ago to search for a new home for our people and explore the galaxy. Two months into our journey, we encountered a species called the Darla. They were in a similar state to ourselves, seeking a new home. They told us about a phenomenon they’d become aware of called The Horizon. The Darla gave us a fantastical tale of how this energy nebula would transport you back in time to a place where you were at your happiest. Naturally, as a military man, I dismissed the notion as having no scientific grounding whatsoever. But my crew began to interact with the Darla, and the more they did so, the more they were convinced The Horizon existed. Fights began breaking out amongst senior officers, and in little to no time, we had our first death on board.
I don’t know what possessed me to seek out this place. The Darla appeared to have some kind of telepathic influence over us, and even though I knew it meant we would miss our check in with our monthly transmission to Earth, I ordered us to set course.
Do not come looking for us.
It is too late for us.
Those who left are gone. They entered the Expanse, and they never came back. I heard their screams over the communications channels as if they were inside my own head. Others took the escape pods and launched into the darkness.
There’s nothing here.
Space is nothing but a graveyard.
You can fool yourself into thinking it is a magical and wondrous place full of intrigue and exploration, but in reality it was nothing but death and emptiness surrounded in shadows and blood.
We were wrong. I was wrong.
I have only fifty-two crew left on board. I’m turning the Odyssey around and heading for the nearest space station. It’s not far from here. Seems to be a traders place of business. Maybe we can barter our way to a nearby home for those of us that are left.
Maybe one day, we will find our way back to you.”