Mission 5:

Chapter 5: The Way Home

-Ninfrost Orbit July 1st 1515 hours-

Wyoming thought the hard part was over and that it would be a smooth ride home. He was wrong. In orbit of Ninfrost was a massive assault ship. It wasn't theirs, and it had locked on to them. Its bays opened wide and a fury of one man fighters poured out like there was no end.

They were fast. The Vulture was a massive ship. Its size, fire power and armor meant it didn't have a lot left for speed. The fighters danced around them. Firing off quick shots in their blind spots and retreating to a safe distance. Some fighters drifted to close and the Vultures cannons disintegrated them instantly. Wyoming knew how this was going to turn out. Even if the fighters didn't get them there was still the cruiser in front of them.

The Vulture ducked and weaved between squadrons of fighters, its cannons glowing red from repeated fire. The cruiser aligned it self with them. The Vulture let loose another salvo of missiles from its back. They struck several fighters as they swooped by. The resulting explosion filled the empty void called space with color for only a moment before winking out completely.

As if the tide was turning all of the fighters broke off their attack some hung back to fire one or two more times before joining the rest of their friends. The Vulture fired a few more times at the fighters before they got out of its range.

Wyoming was puzzled at the change of situation. The Vulture sparked and small spats of fire erupted inside the ship. Washington ran around with a fire extinguisher in hand trying to put out all of the fires before they got out of control. Inside the cockpit a red light flashed, their pressurization was low, some of the fighters had managed to penetrate the Vultures thick armor and now they were leaking oxygen. "Why would they just give up like that?" Wyoming asked. "They didn't. We need to get out of here. NOW!" The assault cruisers bow lit up. It flared a brilliant white.

The Vulture went into a dive straight down then jerked to the right. The cruiser fired a MAC round. The metal rod tore through the blackness of space glowing an angry red and white. Wyoming couldn't even see it as it flashed by them. It missed but the shock wave made them spin wildly out of control. York heaved on the controls to regain stability.

The cruiser turned to fire another round. Its bow starting to glow again. Wyoming knew this was the end of them. Another flash rod flew passed them and straight at the cruiser. It struck it in its MAC the glowing was replaced by a massive explosion as the round ripped through the ship rendering its main weapon useless. Wyoming spun around and looked out the rear view port. Another cruiser had shown up the the fight lights along its hull started to light up. Its black hull made it nearly invisible in space. Its name lit up. [DARK FOLLOWER]

"Try to contact that ship." Wyoming called up to York. He nodded and keyed in the transmission request. "This is SON OF DESTRUCTION do you read us?"

a moment passed as the second ship glided up beside them. "This is DARK FOLLOWER we read you. We would like to thank you for dragging this fucker out we've been hunting him for quite some time." a body less voice answered them. "I suggest you jump to slip space before that ship fires at you again my techs say your in bad condition." York held down the key. "Thank you DARK FOLLOWER we will, take care." There was some conversation on the other end Wyoming couldn't hear what was being said though. "Oh, one more thing. One of my crew mates says for the one in White armor to stay strong for them." York looked at Wyoming. "Will do. Thanks again."

York punched in the coordinates for the pick up and they were off. They wouldn't be doing anything for the next six hours. York spun around to look at Wyoming. "How did they know you were on this ship?" He questioned him in a slightly angry voice. "I don't know maybe one of them was on the planet when we sprinted through the streets."

"Okay, but they said for You to stay strong not all of us."

"I really don't know why okay. Can we just drop this."

"fine but it will show up in my report."

Wyoming made his way to the back of the Vulture and sat down in the crew hold Washington was seated across from him. "We did it. We made it out alive."

"Ya but we failed the mission we didn't retrieve the data." Wyoming laid down across three seats and closed his eyes. No one could tell but he was sleeping and dreaming along with it. He dreamed of being back on Tayros with Stephanie and the time they spent together. Then of the decision he had to make. Every time he would get to this point and he would choose the other option. To stay with her but then he would wake up and he would never know what would happen. This time was no different he awoke as York kicked his dangling leg. Come on we're back. Wyoming sat up and grabbed his weapons and walked off the Vulture.

Back in his quarters he stripped off his armor and sat on his bed holding his head in his hands. The mission reports came in the Oil Rig team was successful. They got the data they needed. Wyoming got up and walked over into his bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror. His reflection stared back at him and he shook his head. The com system in his room chimed. The director was calling them all in for another mission. Wyoming put his armor back on and slid his helmet on last. With a hiss it locked into place and he walked out of the room.

Maybe it was time to bury Reginald for good. He thought to himself.