Time Struggle – Part 2
T minus five hours…
"How're you holding up Tucker?" Kendra yelled over the com.
It was harder than she imagined. They just kept coming. She had been fighting for over two hours straight but they were still not giving up and constantly switched tactics. She didn't just thought anymore but responded lightning fast to every new threat using her instinct. She was a Commander now, in control of everything including her own mind. She had to stay focused at all times or she would eventually make a mistake which would be fatal in this stage.
"Fine, but I would appreciate a break."
"Commander under attack. Warning, damage to right leg. Auto-repair system active."
"Crap!"
That little distraction nearly got her killed. Those assault bots nicknamed Ilshavoh were fast and elusive and tried to surround her position. Her left flank was weakened by their constant attacks. She had to rebuild her defenses. Sending a couple of engineers to rebuild the destroyed defensive towers she continued to fight back.
"Maybe if you ask nicely. But I don't think they're in the mood for it. Keep it up."
"Kendra, when are we gonna take out their base?"
"We? There's no we. You're gonna stay here. We'll handle it. We're gonna need a huge force if we even wanna dent their defense. Their base is heavily fortified and protected by a series of mountain ridges. Commander Starke will lead the assault. I've got-"
It was silent on her side for a moment. Obviously something was wrong. But Akima was too busy staying alive to find out for herself.
"Kendra, what's wrong?"
"Darn it. We've got experimentals incoming. Three Ythotha's to your left. Rookies, send everything you have at those assault bots. If you allow them to get too close you're done for. Faulkner, get them in position."
"Yes ma'am." Faulkner appeared on screen. A thin film of sweat covered his forehead and he was having trouble enough as it was. "Listen up. We've gotta take out those assault bots. They're tough, very though and there're three of them. Group your forces together and send them all at once. You've heard Commander Natal. We can't let 'em get close." Doing as instructed, Akima gathered her ground assault units and brought them all together as a single group. She had tanks, assault bots, a couple of artillery units and a large squadron of gunships and bombers for support. Hoping her defenses would hold on their own in the mean time she brought them into formation to attack on Faulkner's signal. In the meantime something massive walked by and when she fixed her view on the object, the massive body of a Galactic Colossus filled her screen. And she thought the ACU's were large! The ground shook with every step of the giant machine which was almost three times the height of her ACU. On her tacmap it was marked as one of Kendra's units. This thing could take on an Ythotha one to one. "Support the Colossus!" Faulkner yelled over the com. The battle started, in the middle of the squashed forest. The entire area was cut down by the enemy forces. Not a tree was left standing and most of it was burned to a crisp. It took away the enemy's earlier advantage of the cover and it revealed several groups of ground units protecting the assault bots. The anti-air on the enemy experimental wasn't fast enough to track the bombers as they passed over and dropped their load. But they were protected by mobile anti-air which filled the sky with flak. The storm of explosions ripped the gunships apart and took out more bombers each time they passed over for another drop but the enemy wasn't without losses either. They had fighters and gunships of their own and they went down pretty quick when the combined Coalition ground assault group hit them. Tanks were reduced to rubble, bots collapsed and exploded and the enemy experimentals opened fire with their devastating array of weapons, sweeping across the ground with Gatling Plasma Cannons and Phason Beams. The destruction was enormous. It was like the ground itself was on fire. One of the Ythotha's however had taken severe damage and was staggering on its feet. "Watch it! A few more shots will take it down. It deploys a secondary weapon when destroyed so keep your units away when it goes down."
The Colossus opened fire with its own Phason Laser and added to the chaos.
"There it goes," Akima said to herself. The enemy experimental went down. From its burning husk something she could only describe as lightning appeared. She had never seen anything like it. Like a concentrated ball of energy. It moved over the battlefield, lashing out with its tentacles of crackling energy. What kind of energy source were the Seraphim using to power those things? She felt strange when she looked at it. Could it be? That thing somehow looked like it was alive. "What the hell is that?"
She was so caught up by it that she hadn't even noticed that the Seraphim had stopped attacking her position, which was a good thing since she was distracted. That thing was attacking the Seraphim units as well. Apparently it was out of control, destroying everything in its path. When it eventually disappeared Faulkner answered.
"We still don't know entirely. Our closest guess is that the Seraphim are using creatures made of quantum energy to power those machines. When it's destroyed they are released but since they can't be exposed to our realm for too long they disappear eventually." A second Ythotha went down and another creature appeared. It behaved similarly, destroying everything its tentacles of lightning happened to touch. Akima was horrified and fascinated at the same time. What kind of race would do such a thing? Using 'living' beings as an energy source for a war machine? "All right everyone. Rebuild your armies. They'll be back soon."
The Colossus was still standing when the last of the Ythotha's crashed to the earth. The enemy wouldn't rest. Maybe they wouldn't even need rest. They kept coming until they had what they wanted.
T minus three hours…
She was still fighting. Fighting the endless waves of enemies coming at her with astonishing speed. Their only goal was to destroy her, wipe her off the face of the planet. But she wouldn't let them. She was stronger. She had to hold them off just a little longer. They would begin the assault on the enemy base soon. Then it would be over. She could go back, to her quiet and peaceful quarters aboard the Spirit of the Way. A hot shower… A nice warm bed… No, we're not there yet. Shells were still raining down around her, bolts still collided with her shields, persistent to break through and destroy what's behind. She was getting tired. She didn't know how they did it. Keep fighting for so many hours straight. But she had to keep going.
"Keep up your strength Tucker. Take a few rations. There's plenty of 'em in your ACU." That was Kendra's advice so she did and was surprised it made her feel better. They didn't taste very well but at least it gave her the energy she needed to keep going. "All right listen up. We're starting the assault on their base. If we succeed it'll be over soon."
Akima noticed a large group of units moving away from the base. She estimated their numbers in the upper eight hundred range, maybe more. It was a mixed bag of units from all factions combined, maximizing the effectiveness of the group by combining technology. Most of them were Tech 2 and 3 but there were also a couple of experimentals among them, including the fearsome Cybran Monkeylord, a massive spiderlike bot with a sweeping laser beam as its primary weapon, the Illuminate Galactic Colossus and the submersible Atlantis class aircraft carrier of the UEF. This massive sea vessel was accompanied by several large battleships, cruisers and submarines to protect it as it carried a large amount of aircraft for rapid deployment near the enemy's location. Suddenly a transmission came through. It was targeted at everyone. Akima had never seen a Mantrin like this. He had a scaled bluish skin, a row of fins running over his head, bright colored eyes and gills in his neck. Maybe it was because of the translator but his voice almost sounded like singing. The strangest thing was, he was talking underwater and appeared to be aboard some sort of ship.
"Greetings, alien allies. We want to thank you for protecting us. Now it is time for us to fight alongside you. May Kirliya guide us in this battle."
Kendra who received the transmission as well, wanted to protest.
"Now wait a minute. You don't stand a chance. They're too powerful." But they broke the connection before she could stop them from doing something they would regret afterwards. "Darn it. They're toast. Their weapons are no way-"
Before she could finish her sentence something caught her attention. It was a ship of some kind, but underwater. Using her HUD to zoom in from above the computer identified the object as a gigantic submarine. When it surfaced she could see it clearly. It was massive, streamlined and the hull was transparent. There was water inside the vessel as well. Several smaller ships surfaced and together they formed a fleet with the big ship in the middle. Akima witnessed it as well, fascinated by the sight. It nearly made her lose focus on the battle she was still fighting.
The large group of units began to move, the army of land units led by Commander Starke heading for the enemy base, while the battle group at sea followed, staying close to the shore to provide support. It would take some time before they reached the enemy base and in the mean time the factories were already producing the first reinforcement. The Seraphim were dug in deep. They had to breach the outer defenses first before they could take out the main base and if they were lucky, the Seraphim Commander before he recalled to his main base. In the mean time they had to hold their position until it was done, which was difficult as the attacks intensified. The Seraphim Commander knew what they were up to. Akima's ACU stumbled back when she was hit in the chest. She cursed. Damn, those Siege Tanks were strong. They just wouldn't die.
"This is Tucker. The enemy's advancing on my position. I don't think I can hold 'em off any longer."
"Fall back to you secondary position Tucker," Faulkner yelled over the com.
"Copy that. Retreating to secondary position."
"Strategic launch detected."
That was the computer, informing her about something Kendra warned her about. Using her tacmap to zoom out Akima couldn't see a thing. But she heard it clearly. The Seraphim had launched a missile. And suddenly she saw it, at the edge of their combined sensor range, approaching fast.
"This is Kendra to all: We've got a nuke inbound! Make sure anti-nuclear facilities are read to intercept!" The tiny little icon representing the nuke was on its way to the base. But Kendra and her team of Commanders had taken measures to prevent a nuclear attack from destroying all of their work and themselves. As Akima fell back to her secondary defensive position, which was still fully intact, the nuke was intercepted by anti-missiles before it could hit the target and wipe the base off the face of the planet. "Well, I bet there's more where that came from. Starke, you're clear to press the attack. Everyone else, keep your anti-nuclear facilities loaded. We can't let one of those things hit us."
"Aye Commander."
Starke moved forward with his army and the Aquatic Mantrin fleet supported the Coalition vessels. The massive sea vessel and its escort dove under the water surface and activated its powerful engines. In the mean time, Akima watched as her first layer of defense crumbled under the overwhelming assault. Rows of turrets fired their last shots before being destroyed by enemy tanks and bots. Her shields collapsed and her retreating units were being picked on by gunships. It was frustrating. For five hours she had managed to hold that little spot but they were too strong and with too many. Her secondary defensive line was stronger however and built on higher ground. She wasn't the only Commander who had been forced to fall back. They were hitting them relentlessly and they just kept coming.
"Strategic launch detected."
About half an hour, several deflected nukes and a few bruises later, Akima was still in the fight. So far their defense hadn't been breached. It was time for the attack.
"Commander Starke to all. I have the Seraphim base in my sights. I'm pressing forward."
"Copy that Josh," Kendra replied. "Try to hit their anti-nukes first. If they force you to fall back, we can hit 'em with a nuke of our own. In the mean time, let 'em have it!"
While fighting off wave after wave of enemies, repairing and strengthening her defenses, Akima followed the impending clash on the screen on her left. The Seraphim were defending with an army and fleet at sea of their own. The things she feared for the most were the lives of the Aquatic Mantrins. Except for Commander Starke himself, his army consisted of soulless machines only. But the Aquatic ships were filled with living breathing bodies. This could get ugly.
Starke moved in and attacked; land and sea units simultaneously. The battle was huge. The moment the two armies clashed, a storm of beams, bolts, missiles and shells rained down on either side. The sky darkened when a couple of hundred aircraft fought for domination of the sky. Their crashes were as dangerous as the bombs they carpeted the area with, creating a sea of fire and explosions between the battling tanks and bots. The massive Spiderbot and the Colossus opened fire, burning deep trenches into the ground with their sweeping beam weapons, taking out several enemies with a few swift strikes.
At sea, the situation was similar. The massive battleships were loaded with weapons. Massive cannons fired their ordinance while smaller weapons used for defense tried to block enemy attacks. The smaller cruisers and destroyers were equipped with several defensive weapons such as anti-air, anti-torpedoes and tactical missile defenses. Submarines, though small were some of the most dangerous weapons of every faction. Their torpedoes were powerful enough to destroy almost every ship with a few well-placed shots. Aircraft could make a big difference too. The Atlantis class carrier surfaced. When it opened its bay doors, it deployed its anti-air weapons to counter the enemy air attack and launched several squadrons of gunships and torpedo bombers. But surprisingly enough, one of the most powerful weapons they had were perhaps the ships of the Aquatics. Not only were they lightning fast, they were loaded with torpedo tubes. In addition to a good offensive, they had an excellent countermeasure system as well. Akima was amazed by the ferocious way they attacked the invaders of their underwater Empire. They created chaos by moving between the enemy fleet and firing in all directions. The larger vessel was an arsenal on its own, armed with several rows of torpedo launchers. The enemy fleet didn't stand a chance against this colossal submarine.
"Looks like your underwater friends are better than I expected," Kendra suddenly said over the com. "But I don't trust it. I expected far more resistance." Akima took a quick look at the situation. Starke's army was still standing and even the naval fleet was still quite strong after the last Seraphim ship was sent to the bottom of the ocean. They had suffered some losses but nothing major. Two Mantrin ships had been hit badly too. They were sinking and the crew had been forced to abandon ship. Lucky for them they were born underwater and Akima hoped they all made it out of their ships alive. "Something doesn't feel right. Starke are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I'm ready to attack their stronghold now."
"Strategic launch detected."
It all seemed to happen in the fraction of a second Kendra needed to figure out what they were up to. The moment Starke moved forward to attack the base, the enemy launched again.
"Starke, get outta there! You've got a missile inbound. I bet my own ass its target is set for you."
"I can make it! I'm evading."
Starke's army scattered. Every unit tried to get away from the target area as fast as possible but they were close to the enemy base. A launched missile would hit them fast and pretty accurately.
"Josh, listen to me! Break off you attack and recall! That's an order!"
"No, I can make it! I just need to go a little further."
"No! Recall dammit!" Akima saw it all happen. The missile had made its way to the target and was now approaching the ground at breathtaking speed. Commander Starke was still there, vainly trying to clear the area with his army. There was a blinding light when the nuke hit the ground. She had to look away from the panels for a few seconds. Closing her eyes to shield them from the inferno, she prayed to every god in the galaxy that Joshua Starke survived. She could feel her own ACU trembling, the earthshaking explosion pushing a shockwave forward that even reached her position. When she dared to look at her HUD again, she saw nothing but destruction. The entire area where Josh's army had walked so fiercely a few moments ago was one big black smoking crater. Nothing was left standing. A couple of burning husks around the edges of the crater were the only evidence. The general com channel flooded with chatter and cries of shock, mostly from the rookies. "Starke! Starke are you still there? Answer me!"
Kendra kept trying but there was no response. Akima was too shocked to say anything and it was a good thing the enemy had stopped attacking her for a moment. Someone called her privately. It was Lynn.
"My God, did you see that? They just destroyed everything."
It was a good thing they evacuated the entire area. But all the animals living in those forest were gone, erased from existence. It was an ugly scar on the surface of a beautiful world.
"It was kinda hard to miss. How could they do that? Do they have any sense of decency at all?"
She still couldn't believe it. Though the crater was huge in diameter, it wasn't very deep, about twenty meters deep at the center at most. The surface was simply wiped flat. The next wave of enemy units started moving, going straight through the crater.
"Starke! Starke you're alive."
That was Kendra and the transmission was being relayed to everyone. Though he was alive, he was in bad shape. His ACU was all but completely destroyed as was his cockpit. Bleeding wounds covered his face and he seemed to be missing part of his left ear. The transmission was distorted, interrupted by large amounts of static. Sparks were flying around his cockpit and he had to be careful not to get hit by them.
"I guess, I wasn't fast enough," he panted, groaning in pain. "My legs. I can't feel my legs. I can't get my systems back up."
"Hold on Josh, we're gonna get you outta there. I'm sending a transport to get you. You're gonna make it."
Starke shook his head. The pain was unbearable, rendering him almost unable to speak. Even breathing seemed to cause severe pain.
"The core's still intact. But I don't know how long the containment field will hold. It's losing power. Don't bring me in, it's too dangerous."
"No, Josh listen to me. Just hold on okay?"
A proximity alert blared through Starke's cockpit. The Seraphim units were on to him.
"It was an honor serving with you, Commander Natal of the Illuminate. Keep humanity together. Don't let anyone destroy-"
His transmission was lost when a series of explosions ripped his cockpit apart. A second large explosion followed when his ACU detonated under the fire of Seraphim units. Akima felt it too and she also felt something else, in her heart. A horrible feeling when she realized he was gone. But it was the Cybran Commander working with Kendra who put her thoughts into words.
"They killed him!" his angry voice bellowed over the com. "Those filthy animals!"
"The Way will provide," Kendra muttered under her breath. "You will not be forgotten, Joshua Starke of the United Earth Federation." She turned her attention to everyone on the com. "We're not giving up! We're gonna try it again and this time we'll be prepared. We will not let them take any more innocent lives."
The naval fleet including the Aquatics ships was still intact and retreating. They had to try this again one more time. The enemy was advancing again, new hordes of tanks and bots on their way to obliterate their base. They had to survive under their constant assaults until the next wave was ready. They had to succeed, for the sake of everyone on the planet.
T minus zero hours…
She was almost done. Eight hours of uninterrupted battle and her second defensive line was still standing strong. Akima was tired. The constant battles were taking their toll. The enemy was constantly shifting strategies but their main focus seemed to be to prevent a second major attack. They had been attacking the base more ferociously than ever. It was hard to build an army as they attacked the units too. But Kendra and her Cybran fellow Commander had been gradually shifting to offense as well. Several smaller attacks on the enemy base had succeeded and to a certain degree that they managed to take out their Yolona Oss Experimental Missile Launcher. That thing wouldn't be launching any more nukes. It was one of their most dangerous weapons. If even one of those missiles managed to hit the base, it would wipe everything out, including the ACU's. Akima wiped a trickle of sweat from her forehead. The clock had reached zero. She was done and when Kendra contacted her she prepared herself for a recall. But Kendra's expression was serious when her face appeared on screen. Akima could feel it. This wasn't the end yet.
"How're you doing Akima?" she asked with a wry smile.
"I'm just a little tired, that's all. What's up?"
"We had a situation a moment ago. Apparently another Seraphim Commander decided to wipe out a city so I needed someone to defend it. It was the Commander who was supposed to replace you." She sighed. "That means I'm one men short and as you've experienced for yourself, we already have our hands full. I'm gonna have to ask you to hold on just a little longer until we can get a replacement down here. Do you think you can manage that?"
Akima sighed. Squeezing her eyes firmly shut for a moment, a storm of thoughts blew through her mind. If she quit now, the Coalition forces lost a vital piece in their defense. I could cause them to lose the battle. Then all they had done today had been for nothing and then the Seraphim were also one extra step ahead of them. She couldn't take that risk.
"All right, I'll do it. But I'm not sure for how long I can keep this up."
"You've done even better than I could wish for. I've asked Patterson to assist you. You two can watch each other's backs. If you start to feel dizzy, take a stim. You'll feel much better."
"A-a stim?"
Was Kendra asking her to take drugs to keep her going?
"It can save your life. If you can't focus on what you're doing, you're dead."
"All right, I'll keep it in mind."
Damn it, this is going too far. Blasting another mech to bits with her Quantum Disruptor Cannon, she began to wonder what Cale was doing at the moment. Knowing him he probably joined the fight against the Seraphim on Earth. She fights, so he fights too. Shaking the thought out of her mind, she forced herself to focus. Anything was better than taking stims to stay awake.
T plus one hour…
Still fighting. She still hadn't been relieved. The final push would begin soon. Several enemy forward defensive stations had been taken out by their attacks. But they wouldn't let themselves be taken out so easily. About half an hour ago, a squadron of enemy transports had managed to drop several squads of units into the base. They hadn't seen that coming. Two factories and a couple of resource producing structures had been taken out. It was nothing serious but Kendra had immediately ordered to strengthen the anti-air defenses. They couldn't let them get through now.
T plus two hours…
"Lynn, you there?"
"I'm here, what's up?"
She was starting to feel kind of fuzzy. It was in the early evening and the sun was starting to go down. Her body felt like it had just been walked over by an ACU. This cockpit can never be comfortable enough. Her arms and legs felt heavy. She didn't know for how long she could keep operating the giant machine.
"Lynn, I'm gonna take that stim. If I start acting weird, ask Kendra to shut me down."
"Rest assured. I'll keep my eye on you."
Opening the small compartment she took a stim and removed the protective cap. It looked like a hypospray but she was still a little hesitant to inject it. What about side-effects? Unfortunately it was a risk she had to take. Tilting her head to the side she pressed the device against the bare skin of her neck and pressed the small button on top. The moment the chemicals were injected straight into her bloodstream she felt like something exploded inside of her. A burst of energy that raced through her entire body and gave it its strength back. Suddenly she felt very warm and she started to sweat but furthermore she felt fine, better than before. She saw things more clearly now, the fuzzy feeling disappearing in a second. She could think straight again.
"Lynn, I'm fine. That stuff really helps."
"Good to hear. Keep at it. Kendra's starting the final assault soon."
T plus three hours…
It will be over soon. How often had she heard that phrase today? She was starting to think it would never end. But they had to win this battle. The lives of so many depended on it. The attack force was ready and on the move. It was time for the final push.
"Everyone keep an eye on your radar. I don't want any surprises," Kendra grumbled. She was in a bad mood just like pretty much everyone else. It was time to put an end to this. The Cybran Commander had led his forces to the enemy base and started the attack, meeting little resistance at this point and again Kendra didn't trust it as she let the others know. "Be on guard. They might have a few tricks left."
Fighting off the last of the attackers on the base, Akima kept a constant eye on her tacmap. At every point in time something could happen that could seriously alter the course of the battle.
"I've got something," someone said over the com. "It's definitely large. Check you radar!"
Kendra cursed. It was a word Akima didn't know but it was more than justified. In the distance, a few clicks from their position, something massive flew through the sky. Its hull shimmered in the late afternoon sun and it was approaching them at astonishing speed. Using her HUD to zoom in, Akima noticed there were actually two of them. Are those things aircraft or space ships? Whatever it was, they were huge and the computer identified them as Ahwassa Experimental Bombers.
"We've got two Ahwassa's coming in! Get your anti-air ready and make sure your shields are at full strength!" Several squadrons of aircraft were unleashed upon the approaching enemy bombers. But they were tough and armed with powerful AA Cannons themselves. The two massive aircraft changed course and suddenly, in the moment Akima's hearts skipped a few beats, she knew what they were up to. She realized it at the same moment her superior noticed. "They're starting an attack run on the city! Brace for impact."
They could do little but watch it happen. During their run over the city the two bombers each dropped a massive ball of crackling energy that curved toward the barrier of shields protecting the city. The anti-air defenses around the perimeter fired a continuous stream of missiles at their flying targets but didn't succeed in taking them down on their first run. When the two bombs made contact with the transparent bubbles, a massive blinding flash accompanied by a double explosion that shook the planet to its core followed. Trees were pulled from the earth and disintegrated and the buildings of the city close to the impact area on the shields were ripped apart by the destructive force. Akima looked away from her HUD for a moment as it happened right in front of her.
"Shields are starting to buckle! They can't take another hit like that!"
The bombers turned around for a second run. A squadron of interceptors and air-superiority fighters was on its way but it was too late. The first bomb hit the shields and broke through while the second one hit the center. One of the bombers was shot out of the sky and now rapidly made its way to the ground. In its way was Akima, in her ACU, watching the crashing machine come closer and closer at breathtaking speed. The bombs detonated. The intensity of the light blinded her. She heard people yelling over the com, telling her to get away. Trying to shield her eyes from the blast and the impending impact she cried out in panic. It had happened to her once before in training. This time however it was real.
It was in the middle of the Sogowan night when Kendra finally returned to the Spirit of the Way. Having adapted their timetable to the planet's local time, most of the crew were asleep except for those with nightshifts.
"What a day," she muttered under her breath as she walked the corridor to the training hall.
She was exhausted. Her battle suit stuck to her body with sweat and her whole body felt stiff from sitting in the same position for a whole day. She didn't expect anyone training at the moment but she just couldn't resist checking the computer to see how the Mantrin rookies performed today. It was one of many things on her mind. Fortunately Akima made it out of that crash alive. She had followed her advice and made the necessary modifications to her ACU to increase its sturdiness. The machine was heavily damaged by the crash of the bomber but the cockpit was still intact. Akima had been knocked out by the blow but she lived through it and was recovering in the infirmary. She would be back on her feet soon. The mission however was a different story. The city was all but completely destroyed by that miserable attack but at least the Mantrins had their revenge. Her fellow Cybran Commander was furious and utterly vanquished the enemy base. Unfortunately its Commander, Quan-Thanamow, escaped his blazing fury and recalled at the last moment. The Coalition base on the surface however was now permanent and served as their primary staging area. It was one step in driving the enemy off planet. But they turned out to be stronger than she expected and she hoped, for the sake of the inhabitants, that this wouldn't be one of those long struggles. It wouldn't be the first time a whole planet was destroyed or rendered uninhabitable by the Seraphim.
When she arrived in the training hall the computer automatically turned up the lights a few notches. As expected, no one was there, or was there? Raising a brow she walked toward one of the simulators on the right. Approaching the device, she was surprised to find it was indeed still active. Strange. Who would be training at this hour? But when she checked the computer, there was no simulation active and the last one ended a little over an hour ago. However there was still someone inside. Fallen asleep perhaps? First she thought about leaving and letting whoever it was finish his or her training. But then she became a little curious and decided against it. No one should be training in the middle of the night. Her Commanders needed their rest. Using her own override codes she unlocked the simulator. When the pod swung open, she was stunned. She was perhaps the last one she had expected. The screens in front of her were still active. Obviously she had won whatever fight she had been into and it had strained her to the limit. Inside the pod was Stith, fallen asleep after a tiresome battle, her chest slowly going up and down with the rhythm of her breathing. At the same time they had been fighting for the lives of her people, she had done everything to prove her superior wrong and show her what she was capable of. It struck Kendra in some way. This woman was prepared to do anything to save her people. Despite the heated discussions they had with each other, Kendra had to admit she was proud of her. She didn't know if she should wake her but eventually she did by gently shaking her muscular shoulder.
"Stith, it's me. Is everything all right?" The alien woman flicked an ear in her sleep but didn't react. She shook again and this time she seemed to realize someone was trying to wake her up. Carefully opening one copper-colored eye and then the other she stared at Kendra for a second, dizzy from sleep. Groaning softly she rubbed an eye with her fist. "Are you all right?"
Stith nodded and flashed her a faint grin.
"I did it. I won the battle," she said softly, too tired to speak.
"C'mon, let's get you to a more comfortable place to sleep." Slowly, Stith climbed out of the simulator, carefully trying her large triple-jointed legs, which didn't feel as stable as they used to feel. Firmly squeezing her eyes shut for a moment, she shook her head, her ears flapping. When she opened her eyes again Kendra smiled, something she hadn't seen from her yet. "I'm proud of you."
Stith chuckled softly and yawned loudly, her beak wide open.
"Did you get my message to Akima?"
"She's waiting for you to join her."
"How did she do today?"
Kendra started walking toward the exit. Stith followed her. It was time to get some well-earned rest.
"She fought with a determination that might even surpass yours. But-"
"But what?" Stith asked when Kendra didn't finish her sentence.
"Something happened. The enemy attacked us at the last moment. She's in sickbay."
"What?"
Stith was completely awake in an instant.
"She's fine really. The explosion knocked her out but it's nothing serious." When she turned around she saw anger flickering in Stith's eyes. Akima and Stith were best friends and though she could probably never be on such terms with an alien, she understood the Mantrin's anger. Kendra heaved a sigh and signaled her to follow. "Let's find you some quarters."
"No, no. Just return me to the surface. Knowing my mate he's worried sick about me. Besides, we'll probably both sleep better next to each other."
I understand" Kendra said, switching directions at the last moment to take her to the quantum teleporters.
It was the middle of the night when she stood before the bedroom doors. Had she felt tired just a moment ago, now she was wide awake, the main thing on her mind being Akima. She hoped her friend was all right. She fought with such determination and for her people. Blowing out her breath, she gently pushed open the door and stepped inside the dark bedroom. The bed was not empty and its single occupant was snoring softly. The sound made her smile. At least he could sleep, despite her absence. She wanted nothing more than crawl into the bed next to him and sleep but now she realized she was still wearing the battle suit and she could use a shower too. Trying to be quiet, which was especially difficult for her species, she made it to their private bathroom on her toes, careful not to wake her mate. Maybe I'll get myself a midnight snack too.
About an hour later, after freshing herself up, fixing herself something to eat and brushing her teeth afterwards she stepped into the bed next to her sleeping mate. She didn't even dare to look how close to morning it already was. Better get some sleep when I still can. Turning around, her face away from Kero, she closed her eyes.
"Just a few tiny hours" she thought as she drifted off to sleep.