Sparky's paws tapped against the cold console. The launch pad images glowed on his screen. He knew what he had to do—follow their path, find the truth, and bring them home. He needed a proper base for this search—something with power, shields, and enough room for all his equipment. The Rex Retriever Rocket sat waiting at the far dock, its hull gleaming under the station lights. The all-hound Ruff Ryder crew had built it strong, with thick armor and an energy shield that could take hits from asteroids. Sparky walked across the metal platform toward the spacecraft. His boots clanged with each step. This would be his headquarters now, his home until he found the missing team. Inside, the ship hummed with life. Control panels lined the walls, flickering with readouts and navigation data. Sparky set his helmet on the captain's chair and pulled up the expedition files on the main screen. The Rex Retriever had everything—fuel for months, scanning arrays, and communication links to every station in the sector. He could track signals, map routes, and stay in the field without coming back. The vanished team had gone silent somewhere past the ice fields. Now Sparky had the tools to follow them. He strapped into the seat and powered up the engines. The spacecraft lifted off the dock with a low rumble. Stars filled the viewport as he set course for the outer stations. He would find them. He would bring them home. Sparky needed more than fuel and shields. He needed information. The Shepherd Tracker Computer System loaded on his main screen, its database filled with reports from across the sector. The robotic shepherd dog AI appeared as a green outline, ready to search. Sparky entered the last known coordinates of the Rocket Sleigh team. The system pulled up flight logs, station records, and distress beacon data. A map formed on the screen, showing their route through the asteroid belt and beyond. Three red dots marked where contact was lost. Sparky leaned forward, studying each marker. The trail was there, waiting for him to follow. He saved the data and prepared to jump. The mystery of the vanished team started here, at these coordinates. Every clue would bring him closer to the answer. The first marker pointed to Launch Station Seven. Sparky opened the equipment bay and pulled out the Hopper-X drone. The sleek, frog-shaped device fit in his paws, its telescopic lens catching the cabin lights. He programmed it to scan the launch area where the expedition began their trip. The drone would map the terrain, check for damage, and send back images. Sparky released it through the airlock and watched it hop across the station platform on the viewport. Its cameras blinked as it recorded every detail. Within minutes, data streamed back to his computer. No signs of trouble at the launch site—the team had left cleanly. That meant the problem happened later, somewhere along their route. Sparky marked the station as clear and plotted his next jump. The search had begun, and he wouldn't stop until he found answers.