A gamma-ray storm sweeps over the derelict starship wreckage beyond Pluto’s orbit, and the alloy panels on the bulkhead scream in a gut-wrenching, high-frequency screech as they are battered by the relentless impact🔊. K-7’s tactical helmet display flashes a Level 3 radiation alert, and he slides sideways into the jagged gap of the shattered command module, his heavy combat boots crunching over shattered optical components with a series of crisp, brittle pops. Suddenly, his fingertips brush against a chillingly cold texture; parting the layer of condensation, he finds a blue dagger🗡️ lying quietly in the pooled liquid, its openwork grip and sharp blade edges exuding a precision that starkly contrasts with the surrounding dilapidation. As an ace scout in the Federation’s Interstellar Special Operations Brigade, he knows every standard-issue weapon inside and out—but etched into the dagger’s triangular openwork pattern is a secret Star Cloud map cipher used only by the Special Operations Death Squad.

He wipes away the condensation with his tactical glove, and the dagger’s blade instantly glows with a soft, pale-blue fluorescence💫. At that moment, his helmet’s comms channel is abruptly hijacked by an encrypted audio transmission: “‘Ice Spire’ is the only key capable of activating the core defense system. Command has been compromised—do not return to base. Head for the reef outpost at Orion’s η star.” K-7’s heart clenches. He reaches up to press the encrypted comm button on his helmet, only to find it unresponsive; meanwhile, a covert surveillance camera mounted in the ceiling slowly pivots, its lens reflecting the faint glint of light off the dagger🕵️‍♂️. He grips the dagger tightly, the blade’s warmth seeping through his glove into his palm—yet he can’t tell whether this is a life-saving relic left behind by the Death Squad or a trap meticulously set by the enemy just for him. Just then, the mission chip issued by Command in his tactical pack begins sizzling and burning, the “Return” prompt on the screen dissolving into garbled code before finally settling on the triangular star symbol embossed on the dagger’s handle. K-7 stands up, clips the dagger onto the belt of his combat uniform, and looks out at the storm-torn, crimson-hued nebula beyond the hatch, wondering whether he’ll be met by his comrades—or whether he’s walking straight into a prearranged ambush🏹.