Mars, July 16, 2027. 0500 Hours.
Elias Moretti adjusted his scanner, anxious as the ship touched down on Europa. “Ice crust could be unstable… we’ll need to tread lightly.”
Xiaotong Zheng scanned the ice, her genius a brilliance, her presence magnetic. “The signal’s 500 meters west, Mitchell—NeoCorp’s base, buried under the ice.”
Rachel Voigt checked her gear, her tone focused. “If NeoCorp’s there, they’re armed. We need a plan.”
Yuri Leonov hefted his plasma torch, smirking at the challenge. “Thermal vent? Sounds toasty for an ice ball.”
John Mitchell led the team out, his leadership a steady force. “Zheng, signal status?”
Anika Sharma analyzed the shard’s data, her voice tense. “They’re after its energy—recklessly.”
Kenji Sato monitored comms, his expression grim. “I’m hearing chatter—they’re prepping to move.”
Sarah Carter scanned the team, her tone firm. “No injuries yet, John. Let’s keep it that way.”
Li Wei adjusted the ship’s shields, cautious. “We’ve got maybe an hour before they bolt.”
Mikael Heikkinen stayed at the helm, ready. “I’ll keep her warm. Holler if you need extraction.”