[ The video opens on total darkness, empty and black. A garbled voice, a low spit of static, cutting out. Cutting in, sounds gaining coherence, voices frantic and rushed. ]

-ri, hurry, how long does it take to patch a hardline console--

Got it.

[ Two faces appear, leaning in close out of the dark, features wide in fear. ]

Hello?

This is Juri Boshi with the DUPRR. Our attempts to move forward to the next stage of contact have been successful.

But we need help. There are... creatures. Monsters. Three of our people are dead already, we can't--

[ There's a sudden clamor somewhere further behind them, the shouting of several voices. Both turn to look, expressions more strained as they turn back. ]

We can't get out. Please. We're in the secondary shuttle bay.

We've barricaded ourselves inside, but we can't hold them out forever.

[ The loud thud of something slamming against metal punctuates her point. Her eyes flicker up to follow the sound as Eszter visibly flinches. ]

Please, help us.

This is Raven Reyes, CEO. [ her words are quick, a little businesslike but mostly just concerned and ready to get shit done. ] I'm down in Engineering and I'm sticking around, so if you need help anywhere lit, odds are I'm the quickest rescue you've got.

Text, call, doesn't matter, just get in touch and tell me everything you can about where you are and what the hell's after you. The sooner, the better. I'm working with strategy, not firepower. If you wait too long, there's not much I can do.

[ end transmission. now she's just going to monitor like crazy and wait for the scared and the reckless to blow up her phone. ]

[The feed opens on Tyke in the SEC offices, expression the usual set lines that indicate another security broadcast, another load of fucked up going down on the TQ.]

This is Tyke, head of Security. You all saw that. We need to go in, find them, and get them to safety.

[Certain and hard on the last. This won't be a repeat of the Scylla. She's determined not to play into Ward and Resnik's hands again, but she's fully aware it won't be possible to hold anyone back from getting involved.]

Don't underestimate the hallways. You're heading out, come down to SEC, floor 001, pick up supply packs and weapons. Get in a team if you don't have one.

[There are rows of ship-standard black duffel bags sat on the long board table behind her, packed up, ready to go. She hasn't waited around. She's been preparing since Gunnery's announcement. But there have been some changes on any single plans of recon and recovery, because now their people are under threat, and she knows her priorities.]

Anyone not heading out, get to medbay. We're gonna secure and fortify it, get it stocked. You need an escort getting over there, call us.

[A beat, frowning at the camera.]

Watch out for each other.