by Torch Blackburn
Mission Report: A Journey Beyond Hope and Fear In the cold abyss of space, hope and dread dance dangerously close. When engineer and reluctant astronaut Ripley signs on for Thalios One, he has no idea that he’s stepping into a nightmare beyond comprehension. Alongside a crew of six, including the excitable duo Mark and Camden, seasoned captains Rayla and Stanley, and the enigmatic biologist Lune, Ripley embarks on a mission to explore Inruter A-2, a planet lingering just beyond the shadow of Pluto. Their goal? To uncover life in the dark corners of the universe. But as this courageous team launches into the unknown, the fragile thread of their communication is severed. With the ever-present threat of hydrazine lurking, tensions flare and secrets surface. Amidst the camaraderie, Ripley feels out of place, an engineer in a realm made for heroes. He never wanted to be here, and when a harrowing EVA mission goes wildly wrong, it becomes clear: survival is a game of chance. After inadvertently damaging their only lifeline to Earth, Ripley finds himself trapped in a hell of his own making, fighting to reclaim consciousness while the rest of the crew grapples with their own fears and the eerie obscurity of Inruter A-2. As the planet reveals its extraterrestrial secrets, only three of the original six crew emerge, changed and haunted, fleeing the horrors that lie beneath the surface of that thin ice of Inruter A-2 Mission Report is a tale of courage, fragility, and the profound connections forged in darkness. Journey with Ripley as he confronts his greatest fears, unearths the unknown, and discovers that life, whether alien or human, is often found in the most unexpected places. Will they return with a new understanding or become mere echoes in the void? Prepare for a heart-pounding exploration of survival, connection, and the bittersweet longing for home as you turn the pages into the vast, uncharted territory of emotion and discovery. Will they return home heroes or just become another thing drifting through the endless void of space?
