Echoes from the Horizon

The Outpost 74 logs had been getting worse for months. They were dropping parts of the signal and losing data. It was like a leak in the communication system. Commander Vance was all alone there on the edge of the known world. The isolation was not about being far away from everyone. It was a feeling that made it hard to breathe.

Commander Vance adjusted his headset. The old leather was uncomfortable against his ears. Then a burst of static came through the channel. The main monitor. Cast a green glow over Commander Vance's face. He looked tired. His workbench was a mess. There were wires and tools all over the place.

Commander Vance was supposed to be picked up three weeks.. No supply ship had come. The long-range communication system was not working. All Commander Vance could hear was the sound of space.

Commander Vance. Opened the recording system. He wanted to leave a message in case someone found the outpost again. He cleared his throat. Started speaking. His voice sounded strange and unfamiliar.

"This is Commander Vance's log entry seventy-two," he said. "I do not know what day it is. The life support system is not working well. The air is bad. It tastes like metal. That is not why I am making this recording. If someone finds this message, do not send a rescue team. Do not come here. Mark this area as dangerous."

Commander Vance. Tightened a loose screw on his console. His hands were shaking. He was scared.

"Two nights ago, the sensors found something near the moons," Commander Vance said. "At first I thought it was a rock.. It was not falling. It was slowing down. It had a shape that blocked our radar."

Commander Vance got up. Walked to the window. He looked out into space. The stars were like eyes staring back at him.

"I tried to talk to it," he said. "I used the emergency frequencies.. There was no answer. Then the power system went crazy. All the consoles turned on. Started screaming.. Then we got a signal."

Commander Vance walked back to the console. Played the signal. It was a thumping sound like a big machine. There were voices in the background. They did not sound human. They were like clicks and math problems.

"It was not a message, " Commander Vance said. "It was a scan. The thing was reading our systems. Learning about us. It was downloading our data and mapping our DNA."

Commander Vance sat down. He felt helpless. He looked at the screens. Saw that the thing was closer now. It was outside the outpost. Blocking the stars.

"They know where we are, " Commander Vance said. "They know where everyone is. They did not come to destroy us. We are too small. They used my beacon to find their way."

The lights went out. The outpost was in darkness. The backup system kicked in. There was a faint amber light. The outpost started shaking. There was a loud hum. The air pressure was. The valves were hissing.

"The dock is opening," Commander Vance said. "I can hear the locks cycling. They are not blowing the doors. They are just taking control of the system."

Commander Vance put the recording drive in a capsule. It was an armored box that could be launched into space.

"If someone finds this message," he said. "Do not try to fight back. Do not build a fleet to come and find us. The things that are coming are not angry or mean. They are just clearing the way. To them, we are like weeds in the road."

The airlock door started opening. The bolts slid back. There was a blue light coming from the other side. Commander Vance launched the capsule. Stood up. He straightened his uniform. Turned to face the door. The blue light filled the room. Everything was silent and Peaceful.