"Captain, we've safely reached the Magellanic Stream." An operator called out. "Sector charts have been downloaded from the CTA database."
Captain Bastian Schneizer continued to watch the familiar space of the infamous Magellanic Stream... though on this occasion, it seemed to be much darker.
"Have you pinpointed the location of the Lugovalian Empire?" He asked.
"We're not too sure sir." The man replied. "Radar confirms a host of inflation readings in the Kashtano sector, but interference from the Stream, and the giant Vasta, is making it difficult to calculate –"
Interrupting the conversation, the proximity alarm sounded, alerting the command crew to incoming enemy ships.
"Captain Schneizer! Radar confirms several enemy ships ahead." Another operator called out immediately. "Identity confirmed as Lugovalian Imperial ships. Our count numbers their fleet at twenty-three."
He scoffed.
Yuri and Nia wouldn't have called them just to take out this many ships. Even with the technological difference, they wouldn't have posed much of a threat.
"A scouting patrol hmm?" He wondered aloud. "Remove them from our path, tell the rear guard block the starlane off behind us!"
"Yes sir! Relaying the attack signal to Alpha fleet!" He announced, proceeding to transmit the orders. "Opening volley commencing! Fifteen seconds till fire!"
He nodded, pleased... though he knew not to place all his eggs in the one basket just yet.
The real battle hadn't even begun... and they hadn't even seen the enemy force.
The approaching fleet was quickly dealt with, and he allowed the Regeinlandic forces to continue forward as planned.
"Have Captain Gasaar send out his scouting fleets, I wish to know the size of the Imperial force!" He said again, turning towards his console. "And inform me when Yuri and his fleet arrive, I wish to speak with them personally."
"Yes sir!"
It wasn't long until both forces met just beyond the Kashtano sector, and soon, found themselves trading volleys across the battlefield.
The CAMALUS rocked, and Borisova steadied herself, before an operator called out from below.
"Enemy Regeinlandic fleets flanking on the right side, at a range of 19,000 and closing!" One of the bridge's crew called out.
This put her in a spot, as Eremon had left her in charge until his return. She didn't want to fail...
She couldn't.
"Send out an Interception fleet, keep up tactical fire... adjust firing lines."
The red and blues of laserfire mixed together, and she could see just as many of the enemy were being destroyed as their own warships.
All they needed to do was hold the enemy off until Commander Eremon arrived, and then, he would take care of things...
He paced up and down the bridge, eyes locked onto the battle in front... studying their enemy.
"Sir! Calculations have been made. Enemy force consists of ships upwards of 80,000." The man announced.
He lifted a hand to his chin in thought, mind processing the battle that was taking place.
"Adjust weapon firing intervals. Increase bombardment of quadrants 9-23." Schneizer ordered his men. "Tell Zepelet fleet to begin flanking manoeuvres."
"Orders relayed sir! Enemy Interception fleet advancing on Zepelet."
He narrowed his eyes. "Relay this message to Captain Johnsson! Have his fleet reinforce our left flank!"
"Acknowledged!"
She took another swig of scotch, feeling the burning sensation as it went down smooth...
It felt good.
She hadn't even worried about using the shot glass, which lay abandoned on the table.
After leaving the Trader's Guild, she had managed to get away from Yuri and Celina, with either one or the other keeping an eye on her.
She grumbled. Introducing the two to each other meant they would either become good friends... or bitter rivals...
Both of which she dreaded.
"I know what you're about to do."
Celina's voice came from nowhere, and Nia grumbled in annoyance. "Speak of the devil, and she shall appear."
"What?"
"It means piss off! I don't need a minder!" She spat out angrily.
Celina sat there watching her... deadly serious. "Really? Cause it sure seems like it." She said, before lowering her voice. "Are you insane, doing this right now. It's going to get you killed. You should know better."
Nia levelled a deadly glare at the woman opposite, grabbing the bottle for another swig.
"You keep talking, and I'll slam this bottle over your head and leave you to bleed out on the floor." She said in a flat tone. "I don't need anyone telling me what I can and can't do! Not Semias! And especially not you, Celina!"
They sat there in silence, not able to look at each other, and as the silence continued, Nia found she couldn't take it anymore.
She growled. "Look. We both know that nether of us have gotten along too well. You haven't asked me for any favours, and neither have I." Celina found herself curious as to what Nia was getting to, and she leaned closer. "If I don't come back, look out for Yuri for me... 'kay?"
While the Merciless Night Queen didn't respond, they had both known each other well enough to know the reply.
Nia nodded, not needing to voice her thanks as she took another sip.
And in that moment, they sat their contemplating what was about to happen...
And wondering just how much the other had changed.
"I heard that most of the bazaar folk evacuated to the Large Magellanic Cloud." Marjeno said, walking into the tavern beside the Captain.
They had stumbled across each other as Yuri was looking for either Nia and Celina, both disappearing on him after finishing up their business with Pipra.
"So not even the Kashtano sector is going to resist huh?"
"I'm afraid the fighting potential of the Magellanic Stream is by no means a cohesive unit." The man explained. "And a lot of it's inhabitants are merchants and private citizens too. Our strength is no match for the Lugovalian Empire, I'm afraid."
Yuri nodded, and the tavern door hissed open to allow them entry.
"I'm sorry Yuri..." Marjeno added after a time.
Yuri smiled in reassurance. "It's fine. I just wish... I just wish more people were willing to stand up against the Empire... that's all."
Nodding, Paulo Marjeno left him to it and he found himself joining Mateo Beleko at a table near the door.
"Admiral Beleko, with things as they are, do you think there's any way we can stand up to the Lugovalian Empire?"
The man found himself thinking heavily, as Yuri sat there watching him expectantly.
"No, I'm afraid not." He answered after a time. "To be blunt, I think running is the only option here. There's just too much of a difference in our military capacity."
Running? No, he couldn't do that.
"But if we work with the Regeinlandic reinforcements..."
"Regeinland's priority will be to defend Regeinland. You can't put all your faith in any help they send to this galaxy." Beleko answered wisely. "A commander who plans a strategy around what he or she hopes will happen, is doomed to failure."
"But..."
"Admiral Beleko is right Yuri." Nia's voice chimed in, taking a seat next to the two. "I bet his advice is really gonna help you out one day. Ya better make sure you take it to heart."
Yuri's eyes narrowed, before relenting.
"Okay, I will."
As the three sat there talking for time, Nia and Yuri deciding that it had been long enough, and that it was time to regroup with Captain Schneizer and his fleet.
As they approached the bar to let Johano Sceptro know, they overheard a conversation taking place between Leo and Rhea... both of whom, were making a beeline for the door.
"Rhea, you look kind of pale. Are you all right."
Rhea wiped her eyes with a hand, gaze never straying from the mobile terminal in her hand.
"I'm fine. I just haven't been sleeping much. I've been trying to analyse the military strength of the enemy." She explained, before frowning at something, and turning to face her boyfriend. "But how unusual! You're actually concerned about me? That's unusually sweet of you!"
"Why wouldn't I be concerned about my future wife?"
Having realized what he'd just said, the two fell silent, before they heard Rhea's reply, before walking out of earshot.
"Was that supposed to be a proposal?"
Yuri smiled, and as they approached Sceptro at the bar of the deserted tavern, and could hear him grumbling to himself
"Tsk. Who the Grus do these Lugovalian guys think they are? They don't know who they're messing with here!" He said to himself. "I mean, we've been knocked around in the Magellanic Stream! We know a thing or two about guts and glory, don't we?!" He finished, not realizing who was behind him.
Nia laughed, throwing an elbow onto the counter. "I like your spirit Sceptro."
"They're gonna seriously regret it when they meet up with the likes of me!"
"Unfortunately, time's up on your tough tavern talk." She said, and with a wave of her hand, called for him to follow. "Let's go Sceptro."
The man groaned, rolling his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm coming."
Upon rejoining the fleet, Eremon made his way directly to the bridge, being accosted by a cacophony of noise as he stepped through the doorway.
Coming to a stop in the centre of the room, he folded his arms behind his back, studying the battle as Borisova walked him through the report.
"So this is the power of the Regeinlandic forces, is it? Small Magellanic Cloud ships don't even compare." He said aloud. He cleared his throat, before turning to the operators. "All right. Send a message to our vessels. Continue artillery bombardment, but retreat. Leave the line of battle."
Desmond looked at him as if he'd just grown a second head. "But Commander! With our current fighting capacity, we can easily overcome an enemy of that calibre!"
Not even bothering to look at his Adjutant, Eremon answered.
"I have now seen firsthand what their capacity is. That is enough for now."
Desmond tried arguing. "But your Supremeness!"
Only to be ignored by the Commander, who turned to the purpled haired woman.
"Borisova, retreat 500 light years. Have the units we sent to Nova Nacio and the surrendered Elgavan forces come join us."
"Yes sir." She answered in affirmation, before turning to relay his orders.
"If you'll excuse me sir!" Desmond grunted in reply, before turning to storm out of the room.
Once clear of the others, he continued to slander the man. "Hmph. Peasant from a conquered planet! Right at the critical moment, he runs away with his tail between his legs!"
Back in the bridge, Borisova turned to Eremon. "Your Adjutant seems somewhat put out sir."
Eremon nodded, though didn't much care for what his Adjutant thought. "But you understand my strategy, don't you Borisova?"
His question was answered by the woman, who frowned before speaking.
"Well, correct me if I'm wrong sir, but I believe you aren't looking for just a marginal success. You want to be sure to gather enough fighting capacity for a decisive victory." She began. "That way, you can preserve your strength for your subsequent invasion of the Large Magellanic Cloud."
Eremon smiled. "Precisely, my dear Borisova. You understand me very well."
He turned to continue studying the Regeinlandic forces, completely missing the flushed look that passed over the woman at his side.
"Thank you sir."
Heading out towards the main starlane past Vasta, Yuri's fleet could already see the battle up ahead.
"Nia, what's going on up there?"
Nia's eyes narrowed, and she turned to look down at the operator's console.
"It looks like they managed to drive Lugovalos back for now. Wow, good for Regeinland!"
Yuri's eyes raised in surprise. "So does this mean we have a fighting chance against the enemy?!"
"Who knows?" She said with a shrug, "It'd sure be nice."
As the Imperial forces retreated, and the Regeinlandic forces spread to clear out the last of the enemy in the Kashtano Sector... Yuri's fleet made their way forward.
"Approaching fleet, halt immediately!" A voice called out on the overhead speakers. "State your name and business! Otherwise, please return to Kashtano for your own safety."
"Merita! Put me through, I wish to speak with them."
In a matter of seconds, Yuri was being put through to the Regeinlandic operator, and the two began to speak.
"Regeinlandic operator, this is Yuri, Captain of the FLAKRUNNER." He stated. "Please inform Captain Bastian Schneizer of our arrival, he is expecting us."
"Please hold!"
They waited for a few minutes, before they were being guided to Schneizer's flagship by several fighters.
As the FLAKRUNNER and the LYKOURGOS docked, the JUSTICE and REVENGE, drifted by, having no need to be at the meeting.
With the docking process completed, Yuri, Nia, Semias and Celina, were led towards Captain Schneizer, who stood reading reports in the ship's bridge.
Upon their entrance, he smiled, putting his mobile terminal away for the time being.
"Yuri, hello. It's been a while. And is that Nia Lochlain? You look so different from the last time we met!" He said, before shaking both of their hands, and being introduced to Celina and Semias.
"Yeah, sorry. This is more like the real me." She added with a shrug.
"Captain Schneizer, thank you for coming to back us up!"
"This is to protect the Large Magellanic Cloud as much as anything else. There's really no need to thank us." He explained, waving away the words of thanks. "But now that I've observed the enemy myself, I can see how formidable it truly is."
"Yeah, they brought the entire Interplanetary Union of Elgava under control really fast." Yuri replied with narrowed eyes.
"I can't say I'm surprised. We have to steel ourselves for a bitter battle ahead I'm afraid."
He wasn't one to mince words, and it seemed these two deserved to know the truth... even if it wasn't what they were hoping to hear.
"So it's gonna be tough with this number of ships you think?"
The man nodded in reply. "Extremely. In the last battle, we were very lucky that Lugovalos retreated. If they bring a full-out offensive, I don't know what the outcome might be."
Yuri, it seemed, didn't like where this line of thinking was going, and told them as much. "But if you, me, and everybody we know all pull together and give it all that we've got –"
"Yuri, in war, we have to be realistic at all times. Desire and spirit alone aren't going to get us very far." He told the teen, who stayed silent throughout. "But I have my own pride as well, and I want to successfully carry out my orders. All I know is this: We have to stop their advance somehow."
"Do you think there's a way?" Nia asked seriously.
Bastian cocked his head, before speaking, giving Nia a long, pointed look. "I do. But we need time. And if we have to fight them head-on, we won't get that kind of time I'm afraid."
"We'll just have to think of a way to buy more time then." Celina added, chin resting in her hand.
"Hm?" Bastian murmured, raising a questioning eyebrow in her direction.
Suddenly, she turned to the man at her side. "Semias."
"Yes?"
"You said there was a hidden starlane that starts at Subpremi, didn't you? Can you tell me where it goes?" She asked.
"It goes to the sector that the Lugovalian fleet is currently moored in." He answered.
The Merciless Night Queen smiled then, a look of animal cunning crossing her face. "Perfect. We can really use that to our advantage."
Bastian, who had been watching curiously, smiled in recognition. "Ah, I see. A surprise attack from the flank eh? Yes, a coordinated effort between our main force at the front and a detached force at the flank might be highly effective indeed."
"I'll volunteer for the detached unit detail, then! I want to help in any way I can." Yuri volunteered immediately... not a moment's hesitation in his answer.
"All right. But remember, your only goal is to buy us some time. Once you've thrown them into sufficient confusion, I want you to pull out immediately. Do you understand?" He told the young Captain, who nodded.
"Yeah, I got it!"
With the conversation over, and as the other three filed out of the room, Nia stayed, and as they disappeared from view, she turned her frowning face in Bastian's direction. "Okay, so now tell me the real scoop."
Bastian smiled internally, glad she had understood the look he had been trying to convey.
"Yes, that's why I had you stay behind. I wanted to be honest with you. Now that I've seen the difference between their strength and ours, I'm afraid there's really little hope of recapturing the SMC." He told her truthfully. "But we won't let Lugovalos advance into the Large Magellanic Cloud."
"So you're just giving up on the SMC, is that it?"
He sighed. "I'm afraid we have no choice. Otherwise, the LMC would be trampled in the same way."
They both stayed silent before Nia nodded slowly.
"Okay, I see your point. Believe me, I know how formidable Lugovalos really is. But how are you gonna stop 'em from advancing? Don't tell me you're thinking about taking out the Void Gate in the LMC?"
Her question didn't garner any surprise from him, though she wasn't far off the mark.
"Attacking a Void Gate would be a serious violation of navigational law. Besides, I don't think any weapons currently exist that could even accomplish such a thing."
"Yeah, I know. That's why I asked."
"But our mega-gunboat, the Krebs, is equipped with an exalaser cannon."
"What's that?" She asked, sufficiently intrigued.
"It's a top-secret, ultra-high-powered laser developed by our military. If we were to fire it at a fixed star, we could actually cause a stellar explosion. A supernova, if you will." He explained, watching the reaction on her face.
Ah... there it is.
"You gotta be kiddin' me!" She exclaimed in complete shock. "You mean, fire it at the red supergiant Vasta?!"
Bastian nodded sombrely. "Exactly. Vasta is perfect for our purposes. And once the supernova occurs, its remnant, the resulting shell of gas and dust, will expand and –"
"And swallow up everything around it, including the Void Gate to the LMC, right?" She finished. "You can't destroy it, but at least ya can make it impossible to get to, is that it?"
"Precisely."
Nia was silent for a moment, before giving a chuckle in surprise. "Ha... ha ha... Wow. I'm floored. I dunno how ya came up with an idea like that."
"Before coming here, I never imagined we would ever actually use it." He told her, not seeing any point in hiding anything.
"Okay, so why are ya tellin' me all this?" She asked after a moment of silence.
"Well, for my own personal reasons actually. I don't want that boy: Yuri, or you, for that matter, to have to die here." He answered. "If it turns out we can't defeat Lugovalos here, we'll use the exalaser cannon without hesitation. And I want you and Yuri to escape to the LMC before that happens."
"What about you?"
Bastian shrugged. "Well, I knew the risks when I signed up to be a soldier.
Blowing Vasta would be a suicide mission. There's no way a ship could outrun the resulting supernova." He told her.
"Ah. Got it. All right. Well, I appreciate the heads-up. I owe ya one." She replied, not really sure what to say in response.
"If I manage to survive this, I'll gladly let you buy me a drink sometime."
Nia smiled, shaking his hand, before returning to the FLAKRUNNER...
Another thing to think about.
Returning back the way they came, Yuri's fleet made their way into the Kashtano sector, where they noticed many ships leaving the spaceport.
"So many civilian ships leaving Kashtano..." Yuri commented.
"I guess they're startin' to evacuate. No one wants to get caught in the line of fire." Nia added with a shrug, watching Yuri go silent.
As they continued past Subpremi, Semias showed them the secret starlane, before telling them to just follow this through.
Surprisingly, he disappeared about halfway up, before the alarms overhead sounded.
"Huh?! There's a fleet up ahead."
"Pirates?" Yuri asked her.
"No. It's the Elgavan regular army!"
Up ahead, they could see many gold ships, indicating their position within the Elgavan Regional forces.
While there were too many for Yuri's fleet to fight alone, luckily, they had the backup of a detachment of the Regeinlandic forces.
The enemy fleet opened fire immediately, showing their hostility.
"Yikes!"
"Tsk. As soon as Elgava surrendered, Lugovalos must've sent 'em right back to the battlefield to fight." Nia said, turning to the Captain. "Yuri, launch a counterattack!"
"But they're Elgavans!" Yuri cried.
They're still trying to kill you. Nia thought.
"Do ya wanna die here or what?!" Nia asked in annoyance.
"No... damn it." Yuri said, cursing. "Target the closest fleet, tell the others to watch their flanks and begin bombarding the enemy quadrant."
As soon as the enemy were within range, Yuri's fleet wiped out both Derzky Loc-class destroyers in one volley. Celina had already wiped out an Orfey Loc, and soon enough, the rest were being scattered to the cosmic winds.
"Phew. We're still standin', somehow."
Around them, the Regeinlandic forces were finishing up with the rest, and Yuri, was standing on the captain's dais in a trance.
"All those Elgavan soldiers..."
"When a nation surrenders, their soldiers often get sent to the battlefield to serve as sacrificial pawns. Happens all the time." She told him with a shrug.
"But they're from the SMC, just like us! I can't fight a war like this!" He almost yelled at her, not seeing Semias and Merita leaving the room, the two of them now alone...
"Oh, grow up Yuri!" She shouted, stopping him dead in his tracks.
She was finally fed up with all of his emo Grus.
He had to learn. It best be now...
Before it was too late.
"Nia..." He asked her hesitantly, unsure.
In the ensuing silence, she took a few deep breaths to calm down, before looking him dead in the eyes...
There was a look of seriousness in her eyes that he'd never seen before, a fire burning in them that no one had ever seen, no one but him.
And he knew what that fire was burning for. He may not have understood what it meant in that moment... but something inside him definitely understood...
Even if he himself didn't.
"From here on out, it's gonna be a desperate, all-out battle for survival. The only thing you're gonna have the luxury of thinkin' about now is how you're gonna manage to stay alive. You got that?!" She asked, the edge of her lip curling upwards into the beginnings of a sneer.
"But, Nia..."
She didn't let him get a word in edgewise. She didn't have any time to mince words or beat around the bush.
She was talking. And he would listen to her...
One way or another.
"How are ya gonna help anybody if ya die? Yuri as dark matter won't help anyone! The only way you're gonna get a chance to fight back is if ya stay alive. And that's gonna be by any means possible, even if it means gettin' down and dirty, humiliating or not. And I don't care what happens, but I am not gonna let you die! You're gonna survive this battle. You got that?!"
She had been preparing herself for this moment ever since they'd met. She had known, somehow, that only one of them would make it out alive. Only one of them would live to see the Empire fall.
And it sure as Grus wouldn't be her.
She wasn't important enough in the overall scheme of things to be a true threat. But Yuri, he was different.
She could already see him, standing tall and proud as he cut a swathe through the Imperial forces, leaving a trail of fear a chaos in his wake...
Allies and friends alike cheering his name.
She couldn't bake her cake, and eat it too..
"I got it Nia." He said with a slow nod.
He didn't, that much was clear, but he would.
Just give it time.
"Good." She said with a firm nod. Leaning down, she got as close to him as she dared, almost nose to nose, looking him in the eye, before lowering her voice to something barely above a whisper. "You're gonna be a fine man one day."
And then, she kissed him. He was completely caught off guard, that he barely had time to savour it, before it was over.
For Nia however, it felt like an eternity.
She'd known for a while now that she was fond of the kid. But something in the last few months had changed in him, something that had changed her opinion of him.
Not negatively, but something much more positive, that she hadn't realized it until it was too late.
Even if she had realized before, it wasn't like it was something she could've acted on, not that she'd wanted to.
Her mind had been taken up by one thing, and that one thing had led her to this very moment...
Revenge!
She had known that Yuri was equally as fond of her as she was of him. Maybe not in the same way, not yet.
Though if they had been given more time together, then maybe, just maybe.
In that moment, in those few seconds before she had initiated the kiss, she had come to the decision that it was not just for her benefit, but for his too.
A sort of goodbye/make you a man/acting on my feelings and its alright because I'm not coming back, kiss.
Her mind drifted back into focus, and she kept both arms cupped around his neck, trying desperately to let it drag on for as long as possible, but not too long to make it awkward...
"Mnh?!"
She heard the noise, and knew that it was about time to break it off...
And they separated.
He stood there for a time, eyes still wide open in shock, before his hand twitched, and he shuffled his feet. "Uh... erm..."
Out of all the teasing she had done, this was the one that seemed to have broken him the most.
She cleared her throat, before waving a hand. "C'mon Yuri. It sounds like the party's getting started."
She returned to her console, sending a note to Semias and Merita that they were getting underway again...
Both of whom, were surprisingly absent...
Thank Grus!
"O-Okay!"
After coming to the end of Semias's secret starlane, Yuri had made the decision to stop off at the abandoned planet, just beyond the RG Sector.
After repairing the ships, and using the still available spaceport facilities to double check that the fleet was ready... they were off again.
Passing through the RG Sector, they came across a startling sight, two giants, two titans, going head-to-head in an amazing battle.
The laserfire being traded almost short-circuited his brain, but he managed to keep himself focused, watching the battle rage around them.
"There it is! The Lugovalian fleet!" Nia breathed out, gaze locked onto the enemy.
Unfortunately for them, they weren't so stealthy in their approach, and on-board the CAMALUS, Desmond was peering over the shoulder of one operator. Soon, he was calling out behind him.
"Commander! Detached force spotted, port-side, N577!"
Eremon barely batted an eye at this information. "Just a minor annoyance. Have the Elgavan forces on the port flank deal with it. Our priority right now is the Regeinlandic fleet in front of us."
Meanwhile, on-board the Regeinlandic flagship...
"Captain Schneizer! The enemy's left flank is breaking formation!"
Bastian smiled. "It looks like Yuri has arrived. What's the word from the Krebs?"
His question was relayed directly to the Krebs Commanding Officer, who replied almost immediately.
"This is the Krebs sir. Energy charging at 65 percent."
Bastian grunted. "We can't hold them very long! Prepare the exalaser cannon as fast as you can!"
"Roger sir!"
On the FLAKRUNNER, Nia called out to Yuri. "Yuri, the Elgavan fleet at the flank is heading this way!"
He nodded, knowing what he had to do.
"Roger! All hands, prepare for anti-ship combat!"
The fleet that they were engaged with was the same that they had faced back in the secret starlane, meaning, they didn't have any problems dealing with them.
"We did it! Now let's go for that flagship!"
This surprised the command crew, and Nia voiced her opinion. "No Yuri! We did what we came here to do! Now it's time to break away!"
"But this is our chance to defeat their flagship." He said confidently. "We're going in!"
They watched the massive green hull of Niall Eremon's Belenus-class battleship grow closer and closer.
"Begin a bracket attack on the enemy vessel." He ordered, not in the least bit daunted.
"Bracket attack, roger. Gun data elevation reads 0, 1, 1. Fire!" Nia called out, eyes fixed firmly on the monitor.
The enemy seemed to shrug of the next few attacks, and even a couple of barrage attacks did absolutely nothing in terms of damage.
"Damn. We're not even making a dent." Yuri cursed.
"Yuri, turn around! You're just bangin' your head against a wall!" Nia tried reasoning with him.
In the next moment, Celina's voice was carried through the speakers.*"Oh, we're in trouble! Enemy reinforcements just showed up!"*
Yuri gritted his teeth as a fleet of two dozen Elgavan ships arrived on the battlefield...
"Captain! Enemy fleet is closing fast, what are your orders."
"Yuri, we're getting completely penned in here!" She heard Semias chime in.
With her mind seeming to make itself up on the spot, she heard Yuri swear...
"Damn it."
And then, she added. "I'll keep them at bay! You look for a way out!"
"Celina, wait!"
She heard Yuri's plea as the channel was cut, before turning to her First Mate.
"Nikitas! Bring her around! Try and keep them on our port side!" She barked.
"Yes Captain." He replied.
And as the LYKOURGOS blasted away from Yuri's fleet, her mind turned to Nia.
Don't screw this up!
Back aboard the FLAKRUNNER, the urgency of their situation finally setting in, Yuri turned desperately to the Chief Navigator.
"Semias, can you find us an escape route?"
"I'm looking, but I'm afraid the enemy is all around us." He replied.
"Damn it! Now what?!"
As if listening in on the conversation, a very familiar voice chimed in...
Giving them a small sense of hope...
"What the Grus are you doing, kid?! You trying to get yourself killed? Har har har!" Valantin laughed.
Over the comm, he could hear Yuri's confused voice.
"Huh?!"
He smiled, nodding at his First Mate, as she shouted orders at the crew.
The Corsair threw itself headlong into the enemy fleet, annihilating waves of ships without even breaking a sweat...
Green laserfire flying everywhere.
"It's the Corsair!" Yuri said in amazement, voice still coming in through the speakers.
"We cleared a path Captain!" One of his crew shouted.
Valantin smiled again. "All right my men! Time to give 'em a little treat! Prepare a high-stream blast!"
Aloiza danced around happily as she ordered the command crew to begin the preparation sequence, and the hull around the nose of the ship was pulled back automatically, exposing the long gun barrel beneath.
Soon, that barrel began to crackle and pop, as it charged itself up, before spewing forth a blast so big and bright...
It almost blinded those watching.
The red blast incinerated all in its path, catching many Lugovalian ships in the process, and throwing the Imperial formations into disarray, for a time.
Aboard the CAMALUS, Desmond yelled as the ship rocked around them. "Aaaaagh!'
"What is it?"
The operator shook his head in confusion, not having an answer.
"I don't know sir! It's some kind of attack from an unidentified enemy ship! About fifteen percent of our allies are down! Our ship has sustained major damage too sir!"
Eremon clicked his tongue in annoyance, before turning to reassure his men.
"Tsk! Don't allow yourselves to be daunted! We still have an overwhelming advantage over them!"
While he knew that it may have been a bit of a stretch, he knew that there really wasn't any way for the Regeinlandic forces to beat them conventionally...
So what could they really do?
"Yuri! Valantin made huge headway for us!" Semias announced in surprise, turning to throw a look at the Captain.
"Yeah! And the flagship is badly damaged too! Let's push it hard and open up a path of retreat!" He shouted, a grim expression on his face.
With the battle starting, they managed to dodge a barrage straight out of the gate, keeping away from the streaks of laserfire.
Soon, Yuri was ordering a barrage attack of his own.
"Prepare a full barrage, increase dispersion zone density!"
"Roger! Disabling first and second gun limiters. GCS directions pattern 0, 0, 0, 6." Nia began, consulting with the Fire Control crew. "All guns dispersion pattern A, alpha... maximum burst zone 36."
The attack rocked the enemy flagship, and with Valantin's earlier attack, looked like theirs actually had an effect this time.
Soon though, Selenia announced her decision to launch their fighters, which were being catapulted onto the battlefield mere seconds later.
The next few moments were tense though; as Yuri's fleet dodged several incoming attacks, two of which, clipped Ogar and the JUSTICE.
Soon, Gadina and Sceptro were leading strafing runs across the enemy's hull, which they didn't seem worried about...
They would regret that later.
"Calculations completed for enemy course projections and range delta." Merita called out to Yuri.
"Get ready to bombard the target quadrant... and fire!" He yelled.
The fleet did so, and soon, the enemy ship was being hit by another attack, missing their own fighters, who dodged out of the way.
The next attack that came their way, was one that they were able to dodge, but the subsequent one, was a little different. Having just dodged out of a volley, the FLAKRUNNER found itself now directly in the path of another streak of laserfire...
One which they wouldn't be able to move away from in time.
They were barely given time to think, before Ogar's JUSTICE was blocking their view, stopping directly along the path of the incoming volley.
"OGAR NO!" Selenia shouted.
But it was too late.
When the attack connected, it blew apart the front nose of the ship, destroying the hull completely, the thrusters cut out, and the engine began overloading, and the group watched on in shock as the ship began to turn an ugly black colour.
"Selenia! Back up and pull out Ogar's crew!" Yuri yelled, shaking himself out of his shock.
"R-roger" She acknowledged.
Yuri pushed the FLAKRUNNER forward, eyes now blazing with fire at the prospective death of a friend.
"You hurt my friends Eremon, and you're gonna die!" He told him. "Increase weapon firing intervals. Discharge our engine core emissions and transfer every last scrap of power into the main guns."
"Roger! Engine room confirming discharge rate of thirty percent, power transfer initiating. Firing in twenty seconds."
And fire it did, sending the ship rocking so hard, he thought the fighters could feel it in the space around the hull.
But the CAMALUS still stood, even with the the Dividi fighters pouring all over it.
Yuri snarled. "Wipe out the enemy fleet. All guns, prepare to fire!"
"Enemy maintaining same distance and speed. Movement pattern projection completed." Merita announced, turning to transmit the data to Nia.
"Projected patterns adjusted to 0.05, burst maximum 36. All guns fire!"
They watched the laserfire cut through the battlefield, walking along the massive hull of the opposing ship.
"Yuri, Ogar's fine, though most of his crew is dead." Selenia cut in. "The ship is completely destroyed, but I'm finished here."
"We won't have any time to tow the JUSTICE anyway, even if it was in a good enough condition." He told the other Captain. "Hurry back, but be careful, we can't afford to lose anyone else.
"Roger."
The CAMALUS spewed forth another couple of attacks, some of which they dodged, though others, they took head on... barely surviving.
It was as Yuri called out for another attack, that he could feel his body tingling slightly...
Something felt different.
"Let's finish them off!"
"Roger! Disabling course projections and firing line. Releasing secondary GCS systems." Merita confirmed, turning to speak again. "Barrage interval 2, 3, 8. Fire all guns."
The guns did fire, and they all watched in shock as the guns tore through what was left of the ship's armour, tearing it to pieces...
They'd managed to disable to flagship.
The controls of the DAISY felt cool in her hands, and it felt good to have her back again.
Come on girl, how about one last ride eh. She thought.
Dropping into her seat, she found herself instantly flicking switches and turning knobs, the roar of the engines coming to life beneath her.
She turned on the fleet comm, switching to their regular channel, and listening to the crew shout, before Semias's words sparked something in her brain.
"We did it?!
"We're clear Yuri! Evacuate now!" He heard the older man say.
She smiled, glad that some things were going right for a change. Powering up the engines, she disconnected the docking clamps, and the DAISY fell away from the underside of the FLAKRUNNER.
Over the speakers, she heard Yuri's voice.
"Hold on! Hey, who just broke away from us?!"
She shut off the channel then, not wanting to listen to the kid's broken voice once he'd realized what she had done...
Not that anything could be done about it.
It was too late.
She found herself wondering how hypocritical it was to be doing this, finally getting her revenge after so long, but teaching Yuri otherwise.
It didn't matter though, he would be better then her.
He's not going to end up like me... She thought. I've made sure of that.
So focused was she on getting her revenge, that she was willing to throw away everything and anything to get it...
Even those closest to her...
Those like Yuri.
She felt an invisible hand squeezing at her heart, and she winced.
Yuri... How good it would have been to see him grow up...
How good it would have been to see the Lugovalians squashed, in the end...
Yuri, I'm so sorry.
"We did it?!
The surprise in his voice was clear, and he found himself wondering how they had managed such a feat...
He was still in disbelief.
"We're clear Yuri! Evacuate now!"
Turning to make a run for it, he heard his console come to life, a message for an unregistered departure flashing.
"Hold on! Hey, who just broke away from us?!"
The bridge went quiet, as he looked around, Merita conversing with the artillery crew, a sombre and silent Semias... and Nia's abandoned console.
His heart lurched.
"Semias! Where's Nia?!" He asked desperately. "Don't tell me that was her!"
Semias let a pained look slip through, and he turned to speak with both the engineering, and the navigation departments. "Engines, full power! Withdraw to the area behind the Regeinlandic fleet!" He ordered.
"Semias! Semias, stop!" He called out, running over to the man.
Reaching him, he spun him around, a look of panic on his face. "What's wrong with you? What are you trying to pull here?!"
"Yuri, please forgive me. Lady Nia demanded that I get you away safely to the Large Magellanic Cloud."
She hadn't said any such thing, not to him directly at least. Though he knew, this was what she'd want.
"But, Nia! She's –"
He found his mind wondering off, the thought of one person seared into his brain as his mouth opened and closed.
"Commander Eremon! Are you hurt? Commander!" Borisova frantically called, hand coming to rest on the man's arm as she helped him to his feet.
Around the bridge, the room was a mess, bits and parts of burning consoles and half caved walls cracking...
The smell of smoke and fire hung thick in the air like soup.
"I'm fine. Everything is fine. Desmond, transfer flagship status to the SMERTRIOS
and continue the operation. Order the crew off this ship." He said quickly, turning to his Adjutant.
"Very well sir. Right this way Commander." He replied with a wave of his hand.
"I'll come along later. Desmond, make sure that Borisova gets off safely." He told him, giving the woman a look that she understood well, though still questioned.
"Well, if you're sure sir." He answered.
"Commander..." She asked with a frown.
"Hurry along Borisova. This ship won't sink on me quite yet." He told her.
"Yes sir."
Finally left alone on the now deserted bridge, he turned to glare out of the viewport, eyes narrowing...
Talking to himself.
"Their efforts are futile. So they managed to bring down this one ship. How does that change anything?"
"How about if I take you down then?"
He wasn't expecting an answer, so when he got one, and whirled around to face the bridge's entrance, got the shock of his life seeing Nia standing in the doorway.
"Wh –?!" He asked, before recognizing her. "Nia!"
"The great Lugovalian Empire isn't so impressive now, is it?" She mocked with a smile. Blaster still trained on him. "Look at how far I managed to get, and with very little effort I might add."
As she spoke, she moved forward, before stopping a few meters away.
"Hmph. The persistence of a stubborn woman. Or did you just miss me?" He bantered.
"The only one in love with you here is you, Niall. But that's all right. You can take that swelled head of yours to your grave." She told him. "After I kill ya, I'm sure your mighty fleet is gonna falter a bit, don't you think? That oughta at least give Yuri a chance to get away."
She wasn't nearly close enough for him to even attempt an attack. And with that blaster aimed at him...
"Yuri? Oh. Heh heh. That boy who was with you that time, is it?" He asked, before continuing to tease her. "Your taste in men has certainly changed, Lady Nia. He seems a bit young for you."
She snarled in response, taking a step forward. "If you're gonna talk, how about beggin' me for your life instead?"
Yes, perfect! He thought. Close enough to attack, but first, to distract her.
He chuckled. "Heh heh. Please forgive me. But I find it sad that you don't even know that your young boy's ship has long since been brought down..."
"What?!"
He smiled internally, wondering how gullible she was.
Mistake number one: never underestimate your enemy. He thought. Mistake number two...
His hand went to his plasmic blade, and he pulled it free. "Hnh!" Darting forward, he was able to cross the distance quickly, and even though she had seen him move, her mind had been too distracted to do anything but freeze. "Haaaaa!"
"Huh?! Ngh..." She grunted, before falling in pain, blaster clattering to the floor in front of her. "Son of a..."
He scoffed. Pathetic.
"You've been slashed through the middle. You can't use your blaster now. You need both hands to hold in your guts." He informed her.
Mistake number two: don't gloat until the job is done.
"Ngh... Niall... you dirty bastard..." She said, trying to breath, and struggling to just turn around.
"I'll wipe out every ship in this sector. Then you'll see the might of my fleet!" He gloated, turning and heading for the door.
An image of Yuri flashed through her head, and in that moment, she didn't much care for her life anyway, she was going to die soon.
Fumbling for the blaster, she rose slowly to her feet, her body complaining, intestines hanging loose.
She could see the outline of his form in the light of the hallway, and though her vision was blurred, was able to fire off a well aimed shot...
With the distinct sound of the blaster discharging, Eremon reached up to cup his seared cheek. "Nnh?! What...?!"
"I told you. You're not getting anywhere near Yuri." She spat.