Astral Bastion.
Completed on 25th August 2025.
My interpretation: In a retro-futuristic version of the US, the technology and capability to explore the galaxy has grown exponentially since the 70s. Where, in the present day of 2189, an expedition of the United States Space Command has sent a survey team to investigate a distant binary star system. In that star system, they find several habitable worlds, but while in orbit of one, they pick up an unusual signal coming from its moon. They enter the lunar orbit and capture an obvious anomaly disrupting the moons' surface. They send down a lander to set up a forward operating base and investigate the anomaly. A small team of USSC scientists, engineers, technicians, and other specialists head out to take a closer look at what is clearly some kind of alien structure erupting out of the moon's surface.
The scene is shot from the perspective of the 1st rank space-man, photojournalist, videographer, IT expert. Capturing his team:
2nd rank space-man, engineer, mech pilot, geologist
Staff sergeant, pioneer, security, anthropologist
2nd rank space-man, comms specialist, intelligence, astrophysicist
3rd rank space-man, mechanic, backup drone pilot, biologist
USSC remote piloted Ox cargo drone
Captain, medic, team commander, historian
The captain especially is stopped in her tracks by the strange otherworldly majesty of this alien monument.
