The crystal glowed in Dr. Lena Martinez's hand, pulsing with ancient knowledge. The First One stood beside her, its silver eyes watching.
"You have proven yourself," it said. "It is time you knew the truth."
Lena frowned. "What truth?"
The First One gestured to the holographic display. Images flashed—ships, battles, worlds burning.
"The Swarm, the Ancients, the void—they are all connected. They are weapons, created by a species from another dimension. They have been fighting for eons, and we are caught in the middle."
"How do we stop them?"
The First One handed her a new cry