The Vanguard-7 had reached the absolute edge of the explored galaxy. Ahead of them lay the Great Void, a vast, dark expanse that no fleet ship had ever crossed. It was their final mission of the deployment: to launch a long-range deep-space beacon that would act as a lighthouse for future generations of explorers.
The bridge was completely silent as the final countdown began. Leo’s fingers were steady on the primary launch control, while Jace stood behind him, his hand resting firmly on the