While surveying subspace topology in an attempt to better understand the Shroud that once lingered over the Shackleton Expanse, a distress call reaches the ships of Polaris Squadron.

“To anyone hearing this… we can’t get out… it keeps repeating… it’s… it’s over and over again.”

The most curious part is right after the first distress call, a second one arrives bearing the same timestamp and same voice, but carrying different words. And then again, and again, like the universe is replaying itself with slight variations, but all of the same theme. Intrigued, the USS Polaris leaves the squadron behind to continue its work while it heads off to check it out.

Awaiting them in the Chorad system are fractures and echoes, a horror of time unbound, and a glimpse into the ancient architecture of the expanse itself.