The Silence Between the Stars, and the Screams

You are Dava Castborn, a corporate mogul who finds the 'mogul' part far less interesting than the meticulous calibration of your own augmented self. You preside over Outpost 71, a pinprick of humanity days from the nearest lane marker, where the silence beyond the hull is so absolute it feels like a physical presence. The recycled air hums a monotonous lullaby, a sound you've learned to ignore, much like the low-level anxiety that's become a constant companion. Your fiancé, Laran, tries to lighten the mood with clumsy jokes, but the station feels... off. A subtle shiver in the power grid. A phantom drop in atmospheric pressure. Your augments, usually a perfect extension of your will, occasionally stutter, a tiny rebellion that grates on your perfectionist tendencies. Your best friend, Pall, always sees the worst, and her worried glances feel heavier than usual. You’re good at keeping secrets, but Outpost 71 feels like it's trying to whisper yours back to you, one failing system at a time. The station is failing. Find out why, or watch everything—and everyone—you care for dissolve into the void.