For many minutes Nick had been alone in space. While he had started with the ZGA and its great fleet Endeavor's speed, coupled with its pilot's want for a plan had let him reach the object of their assault far before any of their forces could ever dream of seeing the system. While he had want to see the defense he had not desire to prompt response and had let his ship drift among the vast heaps of floating junk that surrounded both he and the enemy. This junk, an immense collection of vessels great and small that drifted with great hols and parts having been torn in their side or else with a great shard of metal lodged in their great metal skins gave voice through the enormity of their numbers towards the scale of that which had last come to face them. But while the evidence of such great vessels floated freely before, above, and around, the fleet beyond that had done the deed was nothing if not unassuming.

From where he was he could see that these vessels were painted black with red florals covering their block like frame. While on most craft of such scale one would have expected a great many turrets and cannon ready and trained to fire off at anything near, these ships possessed only one weapon; a great barrel fixed to the nose. Whatever this barrel was built to fire it most certainly had to be something of great power, something that would have been built to destroy a ship of any class with lightning speed. While this weapon was sure to be impressive the fact that only one ship had been built with a living pilot in mind was something else entirely. The one ship that had been built for a pilot was not much different from the rest, the main difference being that the spot were a camera filled bulge was usually placed there had been built a small fighter ready to launch. Like many things about this fleet this lone fighter struck something within. Had this been a force built for conquest one would have guessed a great many smaller craft to engage the forces of another on the ground and air, this force had been built solely to defend.

As he looked back at the debris before him Nick saw a ship of design most common yet could not possibly have ever seen a fight. This vessel, a transport of notably rounded shape had found itself with a great chunk of that which had been blasted lodged into its side. Grabbing his throttle a careful nudge Nick slid his craft directly before the tear in the great vessel. With a quick look within he saw the shining signs of a whole manor of metals and elements of tremendous value. Looking further along a small body of silver, a drone that once may have served as a pilot or gunner for this dilapidated craft, a sign that what had been done had been done in considerable scale.

Nick hadn't looked long before his gaze returned to the fleet beyond the wreaks though what he saw made a part of him shudder. From the nose of each ship came a great rounded sphere of blue, a barrier that while transparent was sure to mean more than a show of light. For a second Nick stared transfixed at this sight, a sight that while odd reminded him of something, something from when he was young.

Whatever it was that he the color struck he had not the time to recall the past as only seconds after each enemy craft surrounded itself in light, the great fleet of the ZGA arrived. Like many things of this fleet the fact that they knew exactly the time when the enemy would strike gave Nick a sense of dread. Never had there been a way to sense a fleet falling from the fold, neither had there been a way to track one through. Without the use of a few myths and legends, the only way such prediction could have been made was by the use of a spy within the offices of the ZGA, a spy that had clearance to know of the attack kept secret for hope of surprise.

For a moment Nick watched in silence waiting to see just what it was the enemy would do. To his surprise the enemy did not immediately attack or even try to move, not even as the ZGA let loose a tempest of steel and fire did a single one of their numbers shift or move from their position. For a second the outcome seemed uncertain but as the fire struck it was clear that no matter what was done, not a single ship of the enemy would be harmed, not that such a fact would halt the desperate attempts of those whose lives depended on the enemy's defeat would cease their struggles. But like all things such fire could not be sustained, at some point the weapon's barrels froze with heat, the missiles found themselves spent and without one to follow. As soon as the fire had left them clear of attack a number of enemy craft let their barriers fall and let loose from their single cannon a blast of red. Wherever this red blast struck, be it bridge, side, or armor its target shook and tore into pieces great and small, pieces often so large that often they struck and tore through that which was near.

At first he had no idea what his plan was, all he had as the call to blast towards the fleet and try to stop further chaos. Even when he had reached the fleet and had started circling their craft strategy had failed to find presence in his mind. But while his initial thoughts were without reason he was still a Fox that made his actions with a touch of caution, though that caution was now far less than it had been mere moments before. In addition to his lessened caution, there was little reason for him to fear attack as the fleet he fought was without defense aimed at fighters like he. Thanks to the lack of fear and caution a weakness was soon found, a weakness that while lasting but a second was all he had.

Before he could try his luck on the weakness a second ship, a ship of design he had seen but once in all his life entered his view and came hurtling head first towards a vessel ready to fire. As was expected the shield of the vessel fell just before the blast flew, as was was expected it was quick to raise again. But before it had fully raised her ship was within that glowing barrier's walls twisting and firing great plumes of engine blast in a desperate attempt to slow herself before her craft struck the barrier's wall. While her speed was considerable most was lost, that which she didn't was taken by her ship's frame without much fuss. While the impact sustained was certainly extreme she was quick to recover and had her bolts aimed on her enemy's tail. Almost immediately the ship lost all signs of life, its shield quickly fading, the light of the engines dying, the force of its weapon now lost.

As her target fell away without power a second not far away fell as well. In the middle of watching her attack Nick saw a target of his own and shot it up before spinning and slowing to fall in line with her craft. While the distance between them was short neither could see the face of the other through their tinted panels. But while they could not see each others face they both knew who it was beside them, both craft being of color and shape most unique.

Sitting in his own craft without sight of her face Nick could only imagine the look of frustration his presence had brought. But while she was most certainly frustrated by his appearance and understandably suspicious of his intentions she had not enough reason to fight while reason enough against it she let him fly. For now he seemed an ally and if he proved to be something else her ship seemed more than a match for his own if they were to fight. Besides, a quick look to the screen around him was more than enough to discourage any attempt at revenge. Throughout the fleet behind him there was a number of craft much like hers though each was colored in their own unique way. Two of these craft, one with a single stripe of white running along its length and another with an otherworldly depiction came and flew of each of their wings.

As soon as her new wingmammal was with her Judy blasted back to the fleet to fight with fury leaving Nick and "L" to fly alone. While it had been some time since a fighter had joined him on the hunt Nick was quick to accept its aid. "Well buddy,", his voice was meant for the aiding pilot but as the frequency and code he needed was beyond reach he left his words sit with only him as their witness, "looks like I'm a Knight again." With his words said Nick led his ship back to the fleet and resumed his attack.

000

OK, ch.3 is done! Now we have Nick and Judy's first, I mean second meet! Please post a review and tell me what you think of the story so far and please don't feel ashamed if what you have to say contains criticism as whatever faults you point out are opportunities for me to improve.

Please, I am terrible at making up planets and moons so please put some ideas, please include the terrain, general climate, whether or not it's populated and if so how its residents cope with whatever it is they have to survive. Please never feel as if you have too much info as any details you have will be extremely helpful in the story and feel free to put the idea in the review option or as a private message. While I'm not calling for anything in particular I do have 19 moons to make and name so please maybe help me there. Then again it's all up to you.

If you have any ideas or input whatsoever please let me know about it, I'd love to know if you have a ship design, character idea, plot idea, idea for something I should look at for inspiration, weapons, gear, traditions, ect...

OK, I think that covers just about everything, see ya later in chapter 3.