After a period of intense atmospheric acceleration, the dropship gradually stabilized in low orbit. Jason sat in his command chair, privately communicating with Lily aboard the Deep Space.
The feeling of finally returning home was always wonderful. The rest of the operators were also granted clearance to contact their families.
"I'm on my way... I'm finally coming home."
"It's a tragedy that the mission failed, though..."
During their first day on Planet Dige, bathed in sunshine under a blue-green sky, the environment felt so similar to Earth that it had filled Jason with nostalgia and excitement.
But that joy had quickly been crushed by overwhelming anxiety... first, the fear that the Gaia entity might turn hostile, followed by the terrifying realization of an impending alien armada.
This immense psychological pressure wasn't just felt by the enlisted soldiers and research staff; it weighed heavily on Jason as well.
