The brilliant stars were like beacon after beacon in the universe, and like islands scattered across the Sea of Stars. Every civilization that set out upon the stellar voyage needed them, whether for star maps or for docking and resupply.
Yet no matter how brilliantly the stars shone, they could not illuminate the darkness of the universe.
Interstellar darkness was forever the theme of the cosmos. Against the vast and boundless expanse of space, the stars were still far too small.
Once one left the bounds of a Star System and looked around, all one could see were stars that resembled tiny fireflies.
Such was the environment of the universe: empty and lonely, tranquil yet strangely eerie. Countless civilizations raced through such surroundings, yet found it difficult to discover one another. Sometimes, even when they passed right by each other, they still failed to see one another.
Not long after the Star Alliance Fleet departed, a Probe Spaceship Squad appeared in this star region beneath the stars. Just as they had done before, the Probe Spaceship Squad immediately selected a star and went to investigate it. Then, they discovered something unusual within the Star System.
"Ship 16, take Ships 7 and 8 back to the 52nd Communication Node. Inform the 316th Probe Division that an anomaly has been discovered at coordinates XXXX, stellar designation ***. It is suspected to be the mining remnants of some civilization. Preliminary assessment suggests a Level 4 Civilization or above. The other party is very likely still in this star region. We need support."
"Understood!"
Messages began flowing through the Probe Team's communications channel. Soon after, three Probe Spaceships left the Probe Team, while the remaining dozens of Probe Spaceships continued their cautious exploration of the Star System.
Not long afterward, the Probe Team left