By all rights, this should feel a victory, a triumph. He has brought down the enemy ship, pulled her from the star paths she has traveled so far to reach, but all Desslok, Leader of Gamilas, his people's best and last hope, feels is hollow.
His city has crumbled around him, his people fleeing for distant stars as the Earth-ship rained destruction down. Most of the ships are away, guarded by what little remains of the fleet he'd pulled from the battlefield.
His capital lies in ruins, his generals fled, all save Talan, who stands ever aside him in this, as in all things.
"The Yamato's shields have fallen, my Leader," Talan says, "What are your orders?"
Desslok doesn't answer, studying the high walls of the throne room.
"Open a comm channel to Iscandar," he says at last.
The room hums softly with energy, and the comm channel opens to Starsha's warm visage. They were not soul-bonded, not in the traditional sense, but Desslok can see how many have fallen for the beautiful Queen of Iscandar.
They are bonded by duty, a shared responsibility for their people.
"Desslok," Starsha says quietly, almost gravely, her pale hair falling about her shoulders, brown eyes soft.
"Starsha," he returns. Her name means Storm of the Cosmos, and it almost sings in their shared tongue. Desslok, on the other hand, has ever meant Fierce Protector.
"You should have let them go," she chides gently.
"The weak are to perish, only the strong are to survive," Desslok says, repeating the teachings of old, "They have only ever proven themselves to be the former. I...underestimated them."
It takes more courage to say that, than to face down any enemy on the battlefield. Beside him, Desslok can feel Talan's incredulous stare.
"Humanity is strong, Desslok," Starsha says. "Strong as we once were."
Desslok absorbs this. "Tell me, Starsha. Do you believe in destiny?"
The link crackles between them, blurring Starsha's image for a moment.
Static disruption, Desslok thinks, no doubt due to the Yamato's proximity.
"I think that destiny is what you make it, Desslok,"Starsha says as the link clears. "Destiny is not written in the stars that made us, nor in the threads of our souls that bind us together. One may go their whole lives without ever meeting their soul-bound."
"Have you?" Desslok asks.
Starsha smiles. "I have, though we had little time together. He has passed to the stars, and I remain."
"Mine is aboard that ship," Desslok says softly. "I can feel him."
"And you have not reached out to him."
"No," Desslok says.
"Desslok," Starsha says, reaching out to the comm with one pale hand. "It is not too late."
"My city lies in ruins, my people fled, many more are buried beneath the rubble of their homes, slain by humanity's wrath!" Desslok hisses.
"Sir," Talan says urgently at his side, laying a hand on his arm. "The southern sector just collapsed into the acid sea. The volcanic activity is increasing. We must leave."
Desslok looks out the viewport; the spires of the temples have almost vanished beneath the acid sea. Six sectors that were once residential are gone, two are badly damaged and sinking fast, one remains mostly untouched, only by virtue of being on slightly higher ground.
It won't last, Desslok knows. Gamilas has survived only this long by building up walls between them and the sea, and now, as the Yamato's cannons have breached those layers, the sea is roaring up to claim what is theirs.
Gamilas is dying now, its last flickers of life dancing amidst the cosmos once last time before it fades.
"We are dying, Starsha," Desslok says, "Iscandar will soon follow. We are twin planets, what will affect one of us, will affect the other."
"I know," Starsha replies. "The preparations have already been made. The Cosmo DNA will be placed into humanity's care and then Iscandar shall follow her sister into death."
She speaks so calmly, so resolute. It should make Desslok's blood boil, that she should accept death so easily but there is also a tiredness in his spirit, bone-deep, weary of fighting.
It is not his, he realizes after a moment. It's his soul mate's.
"Oh my gods, he's a pacifist," Desslok says aloud, astonished, "My soul-bonded is a pacifist."
"They do say opposites attract," Starsha says with a laugh. It almost sounds like it did so long ago, when their people were more friends than cold neighbors, and when the hope of a joined confederation of their planets was nearly a dream made reality.
He looks at her, a deep sorrow welling up inside him, alongside a burning desire for vengeance.
They've been through so much together, once as friends, as erstwhile lovers, and as rulers, standing against a universe that sought to snuff them out as a candle flame.
"Farewell, my friend," Starsha says, "May the gods grant us peace in our next lives." and there are tears in her eyes before the comm cuts out.
"Sir?" Talan asks as the sudden silence stretches out, broken only by the crashing of the acid sea against Desslok's doomed capital.
"Open a comm to the Yamato," Desslok snarls, staring up at the ship that has brought so much destruction. If we are to fall, we will at least look upon the face of our vanquishers before the end!