The command center was filled with its usual noises and ideal chatter as those in it worked to ensure the [i]Vitae[/i] ran to its best even during the current lull period. Holograms illuminated the center, while screens around the large room were lit up with all kinds of different displays. Admiral Locke had his hands folded behind the small of his back as he glanced through the various holograms that hovered in front of him in the center of the room. Several of them were star systems which the crew on the bridge was hard at work researching as all figured out their next step to finding a new home for humanity.

It was momentarily quiet, then a single voice spoke out louder than the others, filled with surprise and confusion.

"Admiral, we've received a distress signal. I'm, um, pinpointing the exact location but it is not far." A clean cut man seated at a console to the right of Locke spoke. His words slow as he stated what the ship had indeed stumbled upon in the middle of nowhere.

"A distress signal? Are you sure? It can't be a glitch can it? Put it up on the main console, ensign." Locke ordered as he stared briefly at the man, as surprised as the ensign that had just relayed him the information. 

A few seconds later the display on the central console shifted, now only displayed was a single orb with a pulsing red dot on the upper part of it as it the world slowly rotated. Scientific data appeared on the screen below, including a name, P1B-726. It was a mountainous desert world, other than the distress signal it was of zero interest to the crew of the [i]Vitae.[/i] The Admiral, and just about everyone else in the room gazed at the holograph, all of them wondering what exactly was going on.

"Yes, sir. It is a stationary signal, apparently beamed to any vessel that comes within its range. I cannot understand what it says, other than that it comes onto the channel as a signal of distress." The ensign replied.

"It has to be of alien origin. God knows how long that has been transmitting." Locke wondered out loud as his mind swirled with questions. Could it have been a trap? It couldn't have been another one of the Arks, that was impossible. They needed to investigate it, too many questions to answer and they had nothing to lose, he would just need to be more careful with this. Locke did not want to bring home more body bags. 

"Attempt to radio it, ensign. Get me more data on that planet, I want everything we know about it. Set a course to orbit the world, then once we're within that distance I want recon ships launched to know what exactly we're getting into. I am going to be drawing a team to go planetside and investigate it. " Locke said, giving out orders one after another. 

People moved more quickly around the command center while the Admiral readied himself for another mission. No lives would be thrown away this time.