Mars, July 14, 2027. 1900 Hours.
The outpost’s control room buzzed, red/gold dragon motifs flickering on the walls. The Sumerer artifact pulsed on its stand, runes casting jagged shadows. John Mitchell’s boots thudded, his past failures a ghost in his gut. “Zheng, talk to me,” he was saying.
Xiaotong Zheng’s tablet flared. “It’s broadcasting, Commander. Low-frequency, from below the outpost.” Her voice was steel, eyes locked on the screen.
“Below?” Elias Moretti’s brows shot up, soil samples forgotten. “Like, an ecosystem? Sumerers?”
Yuri Leonov snorted, leaning against a console. “Underground fairytales now, Moretti? Stick to dirt.”
“Stow it, Leonov,” Mitchell snapped. “Sato, trace it.”
Kenji Sato’s fingers danced over comms. “Got it. Coded signal, looping. Not random—directed.”
Anika Sharma, linguist, traced the runes. “It’s Sumerian-derived, but… evolved. Like a message.”
Rachel Voigt’s screen flashed red. “Grid’s spiking again, sir. Artifact’s draining us.”
Li Wei adjusted the AI controls, sweat beading. “Dragon systems are fighting it. We’re stable—for now.”
Dr. Sarah Carter checked vitals. “Crew’s stressed, John. Heart rates climbing.”
Mikael Heikkinen lounged by the exit, smirking. “Ready to bolt, Commander? Ship’s warm.”
Mitchell’s jaw tightened. He’d lost a crew once—never again. “Zheng, can we reply?”
Xiaotong shook her head. “It’s one-way. But it’s amplifying.” Her tablet beeped, louder. The floor vibrated, a low hum rising.
Elias dropped his stylus. “That’s no quake.”
Yuri straightened, eyes narrowing. “What’s it waking up, Zheng?”
Anika’s voice was a whisper. “It’s a beacon.”
Mitchell’s scanner pinged, showing a signal spike kilometers deep. “Voigt, prep a drill rig. Leonov, suit up for EVA. We’re finding the source.”
“Drilling Mars?” Yuri grinned, grabbing his helmet. “Now that’s my kind of crazy.”
Xiaotong met Mitchell’s gaze, fierce. “If this is Sumerer, it’s older than humanity. We need answers.”
The hum grew, lights dimming. The artifact’s runes blazed, etching shadows like comic panels. Mitchell’s voice cut through. “Move, people. Time’s not ours.”