The Euripedes Enigma

You are Mike Erlin, captain of the Federation of Sentient Planets starship Excelsior.

You have been ordered to the planet Euripides in the Sagittarius region of space to investigate why the research station on the planet had suddenly ceased communication with FSP HQ on Earth.

On arriving in orbit around Euripides, attempts are made again to contact the research centre but all fail. Your sensors show that the centre appears to be non-operational and there is no sign of any life whatsoever.

You and a small squad of marines shuttle down to the planet and land near the research centre. You immediately see that the centre has been attacked and the main airlock door is open.

Can you discover who - or what - attacked the research centre and what has happened to the staff?