Stories / The Sphere

It’s been 6 months since The Sphere first arrived in the system. It set off every alarm in fleet headquarters. A giant energy reading, appearing out of nowhere, deep inside the system's sensor net. The first squadron was sent out immediately, the 3rd, 4th, and 9th squadrons soon followed. Eventually three quarters of the home fleet would gather to meet it.

What we found was a giant sphere made of thousands of small starfish shaped craft. Each ship was emitting an energy pulse from its centre which contributed to a massive energy shield surrounding The Sphere. The fleet spent weeks analysing it. Scanning it with every known kind of sensor. Trying to communicate with it using every known language, frequency, and transmission method. Imaging showed that there was some kind of structure at The Sphere's core, but we had no way of getting a clear reading. We even tried shooting at it, launching missiles at it, and even detonating nukes near it. Nothing could penetrate the shield

Eventually HQ decided this was some kind of ancient derelict and that there was no threat. They ordered the fleet back to base which proved to be exactly what the The Sphere was waiting for. Just as the ships began transferring power from defences to engines in preparation to move off, the starfish craft started to close their arms. The energy they were putting into the shield was focused into powerful beams that tore through the now unprotected ships. Smaller ships were vaporised while the larger ships were cut to pieces.

I was on a shuttle run at the time, carrying supplies to one of the ships that was going to stay behind. Luckily, I missed the first attack, but my destination and my mothership were both destroyed. With no where to go I powered down the engines and waited. After all the big ships were disabled, The Sphere opened up and a swarm of small black craft poured out. These ships chased down the remaining smaller vessels and started grabbing the chunks of the larger vessels and hauling them into the centre of The Sphere. Soon a gang of the black ships came for my shuttle. I tried to get away, but they overpowered the engines and started dragging me in as well.

At the centre of The Sphere is a giant station with what look like docking bays dotted around it. I’m being dragged into what looks like a blast furnace at the centre of the station along with all the other pieces of the fleet. The hull temperature warnings have started to go off. If anyone hears this message, I believe there is a chance to damage The Sphere, but you have to wait for …

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