"I understand Admiral."
"You have your orders Captain."
"Yes sir."
"Godspeed."
She grits her teeth. She holds her breath. Closing her eyes she gives a silent prayer to a God she's never believed in. She hopes that this God is merciful, she prays that her death will be swift.
Moments after receiving her orders she is on the bridge.
She nods to her XO, who gives her a hopeful nod back.
Taking a long sighed breath, she addresses her crew:
"SSV Jakarta, this is your Captain.
This battle wont be like any other. Yes our enemy is strong, but we cannot fail.
This enemy will destroy everything we are and everything we have strived for.
Unless we stand in the way.
They will push forwards until nothing else remains. We must prevent any such advancement.
While each of us still draws breath we will have a line to hold. We will protect Earth at any cost.
We fight for our families and our friends. Our hopes and dreams.
For our home. For our future.
Stand together. Stand strong.
It has been an honour."
Cutting the com the Captain looks over the bridge to a sea of brave faces and resolute salutes. She orders them back to work just in time for her to see the Third and Fifth Fleets begin their retreat.
Grimly she falls into line with the rest of the Second Fleet. They are alone. Now the Second Fleet is the only thing standing between Arcturus Station and the incoming Reapers.
The SSV Madrid is the first to be attacked. One of the best dreadnoughts of the Second Fleet and yet the Reaper mounts it and breaches the shields like nothing.
Soon after the SSV Vienna flies into attack while the colossus of a machine is busy cutting the Madrid to pieces.
The Reaper's movements are slow but deadly. Soon the Vienna is nothing but scrap drifting through space alongside the Madrid.
Masterful dreadnoughts cut down by one Reaper like they were nothing. So many more follow this pattern. Reaper's cutting down the mightiest ships.
The SSV Jakarta holds the line along with the remaining ships forming the second wave. The Captain can see the rest of the Reapers approaching, crawling through space closer and closer.
She hears the Second Fleet Admiral on the com. They fire all at once, calculated and swift. They attack the incoming Reapers with everything they have.
But it still isn't enough.
The Reapers shrug off the attacks. Maybe one or two stays they're movements, but soon enough another closes the line. They have numbers, and they have strength.
Then the Reaper's are closing in. They crash, burn and decimate the first line of the fleet.
Following orders the SSV Jakarta swings to the left, propelling itself around an incoming Reaper and striking it from above. She is a swift little frigate, but even she is no match for the machines.
First the shields fall. Then the hull is breached. Flames are everywhere. With a thud a Reaper mounts the frigate and cuts it's way across her like nothing.
Sparks, flames and smoke fill the room. Everyone is dead or dying.
Think of home. The way the trees sprinkle leaves over the lawn. Earth in spring.
Think of him. His strong, protective arms. That wry grin, those endless eyes.
Remember that warm smile. How beautiful her daughter is.
She holds each memory close, before the inevitable closes in.
She feels the tears fall.
Then comes the burning, the screaming.
Then the freezing. The silence.
At least her prayer was answered and she has a swift death.