Under Maren's control, the shipboard computer began rapidly decoding the dictionary data and electromagnetic signals.
The final video recording from the Probe was decoded at the same time and began playing on the Command Center's main screen.
The dark, cold, yet familiar universe appeared before all the Talodans.
The scene on the screen was so quiet and peaceful, without the slightest sign of an impending attack.
"This..."
Aldan frowned and reached out to pause the recording, murmuring in confusion, "Where's the enemy?"
"We don't know..."
Confusion was written all over the crew members' faces as well.
One crew member even worked at the computer in front of him, carefully reviewing the Probe's various readings from before the attack.
The result was predictable.
No matter how he retrieved the historical data, he could find no anomalous readings.
"Enough. Stop wasting your time." Aldan called a halt to the crew's futile attempts. "Let's keep watching."
As he spoke, deep unease flickered in his eyes.
Years of fleeing had taught him that the unknown was the most terrifying thing in war!
It often meant the enemy was far more powerful than they were.
Just as when the invaders had first attacked their stellar system, the Talodan Civilization, accustomed to a life of peace, had not even known what those various weapons did!
And now, the danger was far greater than it had been back then!
After all, they had not even found the enemy!
The Probe's final video recording resumed, and Aldan stared intently at the main screen ahead.
Suddenly!
Aldan saw a flicker before his eyes, and three silvery-white spherical craft abruptly appeared in the frame.
Arranged in a triangle, they surrounded the Probe, flying alongside it and remaining stationary relative to it.
Cries of surprise, high and low, rose around him.