Red Signal: The Hollow World

The holographic image dissolved into a cloud of static, leaving Captain Noah O'Connell alone in the dim cabin of the Apollo X2. For several seconds, he simply stared at the empty projector. No final smile. No promise to wait. Nothing. Only silence. Outside the observation window, the stars stretched endlessly across the black ocean of space while fragments of cosmic debris drifted past like forgotten memories. Somewhere far behind them, Earth had become nothing more than a tiny blue jewel suspended in darkness. And somewhere on that distant world, Clara had just walked out of his life. Noah swallowed hard. Five years. He had known from the moment WOSEA approved the mission that asking Clara to wait half a decade was selfish. But some foolish part of him had believed love could survive anything. Apparently, even love had limits. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. Immediately, the memories came. Hamsterville Park. Winter. Snow-covered trees bending beneath crystal ice like sculptures crafted by nature itself. Clara laughing, crying, and throwing her arms around him. "Yes!" Her voice had echoed through the frozen park as she jumped up and down, nearly knocking him over. "Yes, Noah! Yes!" He could still remember how tightly she'd held him afterward. Back then, the future had seemed so simple. Marriage. Children. Growing old together. Instead, he was now seventy million kilometers away from home, commanding one hundred and twenty-six souls on humanity's most ambitious mining expedition. And he was all alone. The realization hurt more than he cared to admit. His fingers instinctively reached beneath his uniform and wrapped around the silver chain hanging around his neck. Attached to it was the engagement ring Clara had placed on his finger three years earlier. He had removed it before launch. Not because he stopped loving her. Because he had been afraid. Afraid of losing it. Funny. In the end, he had lost something far more important. A knock interrupted his thoughts. The cabin door slid open. "Morning, Captain." Commander Ryan Frost his First Officer stood in the doorway. Tall and broad-shouldered, Ryan carried himself with the same calm professionalism that had earned Noah's trust years ago. Unlike most people, Ryan never smiled unnecessarily. Noah quickly wiped his eyes and turned away. “Commander Frost," he said, clearing his throat. "You know, most people knock before barging into a man's room." Ryan raised an eyebrow. "I did knock." "Oh." "You ignored me." Noah managed a weak chuckle. "Fair enough." Ryan studied him for a moment then continued. "Either way, sorry to barge in on you sir, but we've got something strange." "Strange?" "We've received a signal." Noah sighed. "Please tell me the Martians aren't trying to sell us extended spacecraft insurance." Ryan blinked. "The crew seems concerned." He said missing the joke "Ryan, there isn't anything to worry about,” he chuckles to himself, “maybe they're just saying hello." "Well that's comforting." Ryan responded with a bit of sarcasm. "Glad I could help." "The signal originated from Mars." Noah paused. Ryan continued. "Communications can't translate it. Science says it's artificial." Noah frowned. Artificial? That got his attention. "How long?" "Four-point-three seconds." "And you're telling me this because...?" "Because everyone else is trying very hard not to panic." Noah stood. "Wonderful. Nothing wakes a man up like existential dread." Ryan nodded. "I find coffee works too." Noah laughed despite himself. "See? That's why I keep you around." Ryan shrugged. "I'm cheap." Noah grabbed his cap. "Tell the crew I'll be there in five minutes." Ryan started toward the door. Then he paused. Without looking back, he spoke quietly. "For what it's worth, sir..." Noah waited. "Anyone who asks someone to wait five years is an idiot." "But..." Ryan glanced over his shoulder. "...anyone who leaves a man three days into the trip is a bigger idiot." For the first time since Clara's message ended, Noah genuinely smiled wondering he knew. “You sneaky little… you where there the whole time weren't you?” Ryan smiled and disappeared into the corridor. Alone once again, Noah looked at the silent holographic transmitter. He stared at it for a long time. Then he reached forward and shut it off. Not out of anger. Not out of resentment. But because some goodbyes deserved dignity. And some wounds needed time. Straightening his uniform, Captain Noah O'Connell stepped out of his cabin and headed for the flight deck. Unaware that within the next hour, everything he knew would change forever. *** A few minutes later, Noah walked onto the flight deck. He was warmly greeted by his crew members as he took a seat in the Captain's chair. “Good day, everyone. A little bird told me that you may have gotten a text from the Martians. Care to brief me on that?” The crew laughed at his subtle humor before the Communications Officer, Lieutenant Commander Thiago Santos, spoke up. “Captain, about ten minutes ago, we received a strange signal from Mars. It broadcasted for exactly 4.3 seconds before going dark. Even though it's not encrypted, I still can't translate it.” “Sir, analysis has confirmed that its source is artificial,” Science Officer Commander Jason Trent added. “Pattern: base-12 math sequence. Location: unknown, but perceived to be from Mars’ northern hemisphere. I recommend that we tread with caution, sir, and not take this too lightly.” Noah stared through the view screen at the randomly displaced stars and meteors, trying to suppress his emotions. Once again, he was pulled out of his thoughts, this time by the Helmsman, Lieutenant Aveiro D’Silva. “Sir, we are now approaching Mars. Would you like me to bring the ship to a stop until we figure out our next line of action?” “No, no need for that. We'll continue on to our destination,” Noah commanded. “Why are you all getting so worked up over a signal? Tell you what, Lieutenant Commander Hella Marner.” “Yes, Captain?” “As the ship's Mission Director, I want you to send this signal to Mission Control. Have them put their biggest brains on the job. Nothing is without it's interpretation.” Suddenly, the lights in the flight deck flashed blood-red. A loud alarm shattered the still air of the ApolloX2 as an automated voice yelled repeatedly: “Warning. Unidentified projectile detected. High-velocity approach, bearing 012 mark 05. Targeting solution: 99.8% accuracy. Time to impact: t-minus 11 seconds. Recommend evasive maneuvers." “Captain!” Aveiro cried out. “We have two fast-approaching projectiles currently locked onto our position. Impact is imminent!” Noah rose from his seat immediately. “Aveiro, activate emergency safety maneuvers now! Commander Norris, bring up the ship's shields immediately!”The automated voice droned again, “Time of impact: t-minus 8 seconds.” “Sir, the shield's integrity is at 30%!” Noah froze, staring at the strange, metallic spheres closing the distance. “Time of impact: t-minus 6 seconds.” “Sir, the shield won't come up in time!” Commander Norris Lake cried. Commotion broke out across the flight deck as the officers scrambled, trying everything they knew. “Impact in five... four...” “Aveiro!” Noah shouted. “There's nothing I can do, sir,” Aveiro responded, his head dropping in submission eyes closed as if accepting his fate. “Two... one…”