A Discordant Summons

The chamber thrummed with chaotic energy. The dormant alien artifact pulsed erratically, its rhythmic signature replaced by a distorted, urgent melody. Panic surged through the crowd, a stark contrast to the hopeful anticipation that had filled the room moments ago.

Tara, her face etched with concern, raised her hand for silence. "This wasn't planned," she declared, her voice cutting through the cacophony. "The gateway activation... it's coming from them."

A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd. The implication hung heavy in the air – Echo One was reaching out, not in welcome, but in distress. Maya, her brow furrowed in concentration, listened intently to the dissonant melody.

"It's fragmented," she muttered, "a plea for help, but… twisted, corrupted by something."

Anya, her eyes glued to the instrument readings, confirmed Maya's suspicions. "The energy signature… it's unstable, volatile. Stepping through the gateway now could be disastrous."

The unexpected development fractured the already fragile political climate. The faction advocating for dominance saw an opportunity. "This changes everything!" their leader boomed, his voice laced with a dangerous urgency. "They need us! Now's our chance to establish ourselves as their saviors!"

Tara countered fiercely, her gaze sweeping over the divided crowd. "We don't know what we're facing! We need to understand the message, assess the risks, before we act!"

The debate raged on, fueled by fear and ambition. As tempers flared, a figure emerged from the back of the chamber – Kai, his face grave.

"There's something else," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "Something the melody reveals…"

He pointed to a holographic projection depicting the decoded activation sequence. Nestled within the complex pattern of notes was a fragment, a discordant echo of the melody used by Dr. Volkov to manipulate the colonists.

A cold realization dawned on Tara. This wasn't a genuine distress call; it was a trap. Someone, or something, was manipulating the gateway, using a twisted version of the melody to lure them in.

"We can't let them use us," Tara declared, her voice ringing with newfound determination. "We need to warn Echo One, somehow!"