As they stood in the silent chamber, contemplating the implications of the dimensional power they had witnessed, a new alert flashed on the tracker.
"Another energy signature," Ethan said, his voice sharp with renewed urgency. "Similar to the one we detected here, but… stronger. And it's close."
Kiaz studied the display, his luminous eyes narrowed. "It's coming from a nearby planet in this system. A small, rocky world, tidally locked with its star."
Ziak's expression hardened. "The Cellucas must have established another outpost there. Perhaps they have found a way to stabilize the dimensional gateway, or even to create a new one."
The thought sent a chill down Ethan's spine. If the Cellucas could control dimensional energy, even on a small scale, it could give them an overwhelming advantage. They had to act quickly.
"We need to investigate," Ethan said, his hand instinctively reaching for his energy pistol. "If they're experimenting with dimensional power, we can't let them succeed."
The Nebulan spacecraft, still bearing the scars of their previous battles, powered up once more. They left the silent, ancient structure behind, their course set for the nearby planet. As they approached the rocky world, they detected a faint energy field surrounding it, similar to the one they had encountered on the desolate moon.
"They're trying to hide something," Kiaz observed, his fingers manipulating the ship's sensors. "The energy field is masking a large underground complex. That's where the signature is strongest."
They landed their ship on the dark side of the tidally locked planet, the surface bathed in an eternal twilight. The air was thin and cold, and the only sounds were the hiss of the wind and the faint hum emanating from the ground.
"The entrance to the complex is located in that canyon," Ethan said, pointing to a deep, jagged fissure that cut across the landscape. "Let's proceed with caution. We don't know what kind of defenses they might have in place."
As they approached the canyon, they could feel the energy in the air, a subtle vibration that seemed to resonate with the tracker on Ethan's wrist. The Cellucas were close, and they were delving into forces beyond human comprehension.