"What is that thing? At the back of the human fleet? Some sort of decorative tow?" "It looks like an oceanfaring ship, sail-propelled, from their planetbound days." "But that's impossible." "And that's not under tow, look at the engine signatures, they're running from it!"

[Friday, November 3, 2487 - 14:22 PM] The Xaltheen scout cruiser's sensors flickered with confusion as the human evacuation fleet came into view. Commander Vex'lar's three eyes widened in disbelief. "What is that thing? At the back of the human fleet? Some sort of decorative tow?" Her tactical officer, Rinn, enhanced the visual feed, revealing an impossible sight—a wooden vessel with tattered canvas sails, barnacle-encrusted hull, and what appeared to be actual ocean water dripping from its keel into the vacuum of space. "It looks like an oceanfaring ship, sail-propelled, from their planetbound days," Rinn whispered. Vex'lar's scales rippled with nervous energy. "But that's impossible." Then the sensor data updated, and her blood ran cold. "And that's not under tow—look at the engine signatures, they're running from it!" Indeed, the massive human dreadnoughts and carrier vessels were arranged in a desperate formation, all facing the ancient ship, all engines burning hot as they slowly retreated. The wooden ghost ship advanced steadily through the void, its phantom sails billowing in nonexistent wind.