Mars, July 15, 2027. 0600 Hours.
The drill rig roared, chewing red rock under Mars’ dawn. John Mitchell stood at the edge, wind whipping his suit. The artifact’s signal screamed from below, a pulse in his bones. He’d failed before—lives lost, dreams buried. Not today.
Xiaotong Zheng monitored the rig’s console. “Two kilometers down. Signal’s stronger.” Her breath fogged her visor. “It’s… calling.”
Yuri Leonov hefted a plasma torch, smirking. “Calling? Hope it’s got vodka.”
“Focus, Leonov,” Rachel Voigt growled, checking cables. “Rig’s at max. We’re close.”
Elias Moretti clutched a scanner, eyes wide. “Geological layers don’t match. This isn’t natural.”
Anika Sharma’s voice crackled via comms. “Runes suggest a structure. Sumerer ruins, maybe.”
Mitchell’s gut twisted. “Sato, any reply from the signal?”
Kenji’s comms hissed. “Negative, sir. It’s broadcasting, not listening.”
The rig shuddered, grinding to a halt. Xiaotong’s scanner lit up. “We’ve hit a chamber. Metallic walls, non-human.”
Yuri whistled. “Alien penthouse, eh?”
“Cut the quips,” Mitchell ordered. “Zheng, Voigt, with me. We’re going in.”
The hatch opened, revealing a tunnel of sleek, rune-carved metal. The artifact’s pulse echoed, louder. Elias stammered, “This… predates us.”
Xiaotong’s flashlight caught a glyph. “It’s a map. Leads deeper.”
Rachel’s voice was tense. “Power spikes again. Something’s active.”
Mitchell led the descent, boots clanging. Shadows danced like ink strokes. A vast chamber loomed, filled with dormant machines, runes glowing faintly. Xiaotong whispered, “A city.”
Yuri’s torch flared. “Empty city. Where’s the welcome party?”
The ground shook, machines humming to life. Mitchell’s scanner screamed. “Fall back!”