The silence that reigned on the bridge of the 'Astra' ship was almost palpable. Through the porthole one could see the glowing red star Proxima Centauri and the black space that, although so empty, seemed full of possibilities. Natalia, the eldest of the three, sat just inside the control panel, her fingers trembling slightly with excitement. The first mission out of the Solar System - can you dream of anything more extraordinary? Behind her stood Bartek, pressing his notes to his chest - always ready to record every observation. On the other side of the bridge, Kira, whose hair was the colour of night, was playing nervously with a metal bracelet. After weeks of travel, the 'Astra' was already within range of the research station ECHO-4, suspended in orbit of Proxima Centauri B. The purpose of the expedition was to assist scientists in cataloguing unknown radio signals and to check the life support systems on the outpost. Although they were all young, they had undergone months of training and knew what to expect. At least they thought they did. As the ship approached docking, Viki's AI voice rang out through the speakers - cool, measured: "I am sending a request for permission to dock. A response should arrive within 30 seconds." They waited, looking at each other anxiously. A minute elapsed. Two. No response. Suddenly, without warning, a shrill distorted sound came from the console that was unlike anything they had heard before. It was like fragments of voices mixed with a metallic rasp, fragments of a language they did not understand. Bartek looked at Natalia - his eyes were wide open. "It's not any known signal or disturbance. It's something ... completely different. Someone, or something, is trying to contact us." Kira looked at the pulsating light on the receiving panel. "The message is repeating. But this is no procedure from Earth. Should we go into the station or...?" At that moment, the entire station was illuminated by a blinding blue glow. The control panel began to flash red, and a shape appeared in the space beyond the porthole that neither of them could immediately identify. The light pulsed and the signal grew louder and louder. Natalia raised her hand, feeling a growing attraction to both the light and the unexplained sound. "We have to decide. We go into the station - or we go back. But whatever is out there, we didn't come here by accident..." The ship shuddered, the signal grew stronger, and a new, completely unfamiliar perspective opened up before them. Whatever was happening aboard ECHO-4 - it was about to be resolved.