A Matter of Magnitude

A mile‑long warship that dwarfs entire planets drifts through the uncharted fringe of the galaxy, its crew proud to command the most powerful vessel ever built. Six‑star Admiral Heselton and his steady‑hand navigator Rogers revel in the peace their colossal ship, nicknamed “Big Joe,” has helped secure, while the bridge hums with the routine of a vessel designed to end every conflict.

That calm shatters when a strange, clacking transmission pierces the static and the ship’s instruments can’t locate the source. The crew scrambles to plot a phantom signal that seems to hover just out of reach, matching their own speed and defying every radar sweep. As tensions rise and the mystery deepens, the crew must confront the unknown lurking on the edge of their domain, questioning whether the peace they’ve fought for is as solid as the steel of their own battleship.