Hannah peered down at the tactical map, tracing the movements of various Alliance ships.
"Jenson, enemy squadron on Gamma's tail!" she warned. Jenson spoke quickly into his comm, alerting Gamma to the danger. In no time at all, Gamma had swung about and annihilated the enemy.
"Captain, two cruisers have eluded defenses. Headed our way," Jenson informed her.
"Hit them with the broadside," Hannah ordered.
"Aye, ma'am."
Hannah watched the cruisers disappear from the tactical map. There was a whoop of victory from the bridge crew and Hannah grinned. A voice came over the general comm.
"Excellent work, Orizaba. I commend your crew and its ability. We concede defeat."
Hannah activated her shipwide comm. "I'm proud of you all. We will resume normal ship function as of now. To celebrate our success, I'm authorizing leave rotation to Arcturus Station. Captain out."
Hannah skimmed the bridge, smiling over her crew. They'd won another battle. The Orizaba had yet to be on the losing side of a drill. Let the Reapers come, Hannah said defiantly to herself. We'll show them they've messed with the wrong people. Hannah looked over at Sadik Jenson. The young man, now her XO, had earned her full respect over the last six months. He was at least fifteen years her junior, but he was alert, intelligent and dependable. She'd learned to read his face, to anticipate the quick thinking she knew was active when his black eyebrows creased and he clenched his teeth. The moment his deep brown eyes became hard as stone, she knew he'd found a solution to a problem and would soon give her advice. His counsel was valuable and sound. So far, she's always agreed with his assessments.
Hannah sighed inwardly. She had come to appreciate Jenson, but that's as far as their relationship went. Back on Earth, when she'd had that precious week with Jane after her hearing, Jane had encouraged her to close the distance between herself and her crew, insisting that befriending them would draw them to her side more than ordering them around. Jane explained that becoming personal with her own crew had made them willing to do anything she asked at any time. Hannah had tried to follow Jane's advice, but she found her own personality wasn't conducive to breaking down barriers with the crew. She wasn't used to talking to her crew, but commanding them.
Hannah frowned as she thought. I'm pretty much friendless, she admitted to herself. Her two year rant about Jane and the Reapers hadn't made people eager to get to know her. Even before that, Daniel's death had changed everything. They'd had couples as friends, but it seemed once Hannah became a single, their married friends didn't know how to relate to her. That, and she'd also left Mythos for Arcturus. She'd thrown her life into Jane, putting aside her own hobbies and solitary joys to be the mom Jane needed.
"Captain? Are you alright?"
Hannah blinked her eyes, pulled out of her reverie by Jenson. "Yes, fine, Commander. Your performance was exemplary. Good work."
"Thank you, ma'am," Jenson beamed, receiving her praise.
"Why don't you take the next few hours off. You deserve it."
Jenson shrugged. "I'd rather stay on the bridge, if that's okay, ma'am."
"Certainly. It's your call." Hannah watched Jenson walk over to discuss an issue with a tactical officer. The young man was dedicated, a perfect XO…but not her friend, not like…Hannah stopped her thoughts in their tracks. It had been six months since Lucas had escaped and still, he intruded on her thoughts at least once a week. She hadn't heard from him or Keta since the escape and she wanted to keep it that way. But still, she missed actually having a friend she could talk to, someone who would let her unload and respect her anyway.
Hannah shook her head and stretched her neck back and forth, pushing her thoughts away. It was no use dwelling on past hurts. That never accomplished anything. Right now, she needed all her concentration on the Reapers. She called out to Jenson. "I'm going to the conference room."
"Yes, ma'am," Jenson replied, giving her a quick salute, then turning back to his conversation.
Hannah walked into the conference room and sat down at its long table with her data pad. She scrolled through information on the most recent drill, perusing the number of ships they'd "lost." She found her mind pulled away, though, settling on Jane, still back on Earth under house arrest. Most of the defense committee believed her now, but that hadn't changed her status. The batarian Hegemony was still up in arms that she hadn't been turned over to them or faced a public trial yet. The Alliance higher ups had done a good job coming up with excuses, but Hannah wondered how long they could shield Jane from the inevitable. The time would come when Jane would be forced to answer for her actions in some way besides defending herself to a defense committee too scared of her claims to get rid of her.
Hannah ran a hand over her head, stopping at the bun at the nape of her neck, pausing to fiddle with a couple loose strands. Sometimes she wished the Reapers would just come so they could get the fight over with. Her crew had not only taken part in battle drill after battle drill, but she also had them on a combat training schedule. She'd explained to her combat officer the various techniques Jane had taught her. He'd done his duty and prepped the crew, though he'd seemed a little hesitant. She was glad Alliance officers had learned to obey even when they didn't understand. It was hard enough training her people to fight an enemy they didn't believe in without officers questioning her judgment.
"Captain, urgent vid call from Admiral Hackett coming in," Hannah heard Toureau's voice in her ear.
"Thank you."
"Yes, ma'am."
Hannah stood and walked over to the vid comm, activating it. Steven shimmered into existence, his face more serious than usual.
"The latest drill went well…" Hannah began but Steven interrupted.
"We've lost contact with several deep space outposts."
Hannah felt her heart leap in her chest. She put a hand to her neck. "Reapers?"
"We can't be sure yet, but I'd stake my life on it. I'm ordering everyone to battle readiness. Let your crew know this is not a drill."
"Yes, sir," Hannah replied, falling back into duty mode.
"Hannah," Steven said, his tone suddenly soft, his sky blue eyes tender. "I don't know what's going to happen from here on out. If I don't see you again, it's been an honor serving with you."
Hannah felt a sting in her eyes, but she stood tall and saluted. "You, too, sir. But don't give in yet. We've got capable, battle trained fleets. We're ready."
"I hope so. Hackett out."
Hannah turned once Steven's image had disappeared, marching for the door, putting on her game face. This was it.
Forty-five minutes passed by after Hannah sent out the call to battle stations. She paced on the bridge next to her helmsman, Jim Stewart, glancing out the window every so often. The fleets were in position, right in front of Arcturus Station, ready to protect her and the mass relay in system. They were bound and determined that no Reapers would get through to Earth.
Hannah had given a last speech to her people, spurring them to stay alert and diligent and make humanity proud. She'd never been in a war before. She'd been on rescue missions mostly, always on the defensive. This was different. Her heart beat in anticipation and she found both excitement and dread combining uncomfortably in her emotions.
"Captain, look!" Stewart called out.
Hannah stopped pacing and probed the forward view. Flashes of light indicated that the battle had begun. Hannah put her ear to her comm, talking as she strode back to the tactical map. "We have incoming enemies. Stay sharp, stay focused."
She leaned over the map when she reached it, Jenson right next to her. She blinked several times and worked to keep a gasp from escaping her mouth. "How many?"
Jenson's grim brown eyes were captivated by the map. "Too many to count," he breathed out, his voice shaking.
One whole side of the system map was covered in red dots, each one indicating a Reaper coming their direction. Hannah's heart sunk. How arrogant she had been to think all their drills had prepared them for this. Now she prayed silently they'd just make it through the next few minutes.
"Fighters, assemble!" Hannah called into her comm. "I want you out there, now!"
"Aye, ma'am," a voice acknowledged.
"Jenson," Hannah spoke sharply. The young man turned to her, obviously still shaken. "We're going to give 'em hell, you got me?"
Hannah's words penetrated Jenson's fear and he straightened, his face now resolute. "Yes, ma'am. Of course, ma'am."
"Then get to it."
Jenson put his hand to his ear, watching the map and issuing orders. Hannah kept her eye on the map as well. The wave of red was making its way to their position faster than she'd expected. In only a moment, they'd be at Arcturus Station.
"Fifth Fleet," Steven's voice came through the comm, "Take the rear. Don't let one of those enemies through."
"They've hit the Second Fleet!" Jenson called out.
"Steady," Hannah warned. "Prepare to engage enemy."
Hannah stared at the map, disbelief causing her to fall into stunned silence. Whole Alliance flotillas were already flickering out of existence. Her heart almost stopped. What had they gotten themselves into?
"They've punched a hole to the Fifth Fleet!" Jenson called out only minutes later.
"Evasive action!" Hannah commanded. "Fire all weapons when they're in range." Bridge crew rushed back and forth from station to station, calculating, strategizing, issuing orders. She felt the slight tremble of the ship as all of its weapons fired at once.
"Ma'am," Jenson said, turning his serious gaze her direction, "The station is under attack."
Hannah stalked over to the helm. Looking out, she saw hundreds of ships in the midst of life or death battles. She hadn't seen a Reaper since Sovereign two years ago. Now, there were hundreds of Sovereigns outside the hull of the Orizaba, maybe even thousands. From her perspective, the Alliance wasn't making much of a dint in their forces. But that didn't matter; they had to protect the station.
"Swing us around," Hannah ordered her helmsman. "Get us in range of the station."
The bulk of the dreadnought began to move, firing as it went. Smaller Reaper ships were being dispatched, but it took several shots before they were eliminated and it seemed every time one went down, two took its place. The station had just come into view when Hannah was interrupted by Jenson.
"Captain! They're headed to the relay!"
Hannah rushed back to the map. Most of the red wave had moved away from the battle, making for the relay. The attack on the station had been a ploy to keep them occupied.
"Turn her around!" Hannah called out. "After them!"
"We can't, Captain," Stewart yelled out. "Reaper in our way, firing with all it's got. Our fighters are going down."
The tactical map showed Hannah he was right. An enemy ship stood right in their path. Luckily, two cruisers were already on his tail, weapons pummeling it. "Fire all you've got!"
Hannah felt the Orizaba shake and groan as it took fire from the Reaper.
"Barriers down!" another officer shouted out.
Hannah's knuckles went white as she gripped the rail around the tactical map. She brought a hand to her ear. "Our barriers are down! We need any aid that can be sent our way!"
The Orizaba was now shaking violently, her bridge crew holding onto their stations to maintain their positions. Hannah didn't know how much more her ship could take. The Reapers were far more powerful than she'd imagined. It had been one thing to listen to Jane's stories, experiencing them was a whole other matter. Now she knew exactly why Jane had to destroy Bahak. What she was in now wasn't a battle; it was a slaughter.
"It's backing off!" Jenson announced triumphantly.
Hannah saw why. Another dreadnought had appeared on its aft side. "Keep firing!" Hannah shouted. The Reaper was taking an enormous amount of damage, but still, it hadn't been destroyed. Hannah didn't understand how it could be so impervious to damage. The Reaper turned faster, then accelerated out of range.
"Who came to our aid?" she asked Jenson.
"The Kilimanjaro, ma'am," Jenson replied.
Hannah smiled. She put her hand to ear. "Admiral Novikov, we owe you one."
"My pleasure, Captain," came her old Admiral's voice. She could imagine the short, bald Novikov, standing tall, hands behind his back, angry grimace on his face as he tore through the battle.
"Captain," Jenson drew her attention, "The enemy is pulling back, regrouping. I think they're preparing for a larger push."
Hannah heard a sudden voice in her ear, strained, yet determined. "Third and Fifth Fleets! This is Admiral Hackett. I'm ordering a retreat effective immediately. Get out any way you can."
Hannah gulped. Retreat? Already? It felt like they'd only been in battle for a few minutes. Could their situation be that desperate? Hannah once again focused her attention on the tactical map. Alliance ships had been completely overwhelmed and the fleets were losing more ships by the minute. The bulk of the red wave was gone, already through the relay. The station itself was surrounded by numerous red dots. Her heart sank. They had lost and so quickly. They were like ants easily stepped on by the larger, stronger Reapers. Jane had been all too right—this was war like they had never seen before.
"Jenson," she spoke somberly, "Get us through the relay."
"But, ma'am…"
"Do it," she said grimly. She didn't want to leave, would have argued if Steven would have listened. But she knew he wouldn't have ordered a retreat unless he saw no hope. She remembered an old Earth saying she had disagreed with vehemently when she first heard it: "He who fights and runs away will live to fight another day." It had sounded so cowardly at the time. Now, she understood. There was a time to fight and a time to run away, to heal wounds so you could come back stronger and with a plan.
As her ship pulled out, the Reaper that had assaulted them previously moved back, blocking its exit. Hannah felt a sudden jerk of the Orizaba, then groans and creaks echoing and popping, heard even on the bridge. "Jenson, what's going on?"
Her XO pointed to the map. "Two Reapers, one in front, one on our tail."
"Fire all weapons!"
"We are, Captain," Jenson affirmed.
Voices began to call out all around the bridge reporting damage to all parts of the Orizaba. For the first time, it occurred to Hannah that she might not get out of this alive, that she might be seeing Daniel again soon. Don't you give in Hannah Shepard, she commanded herself. She issued orders in lightening speed, listening to Jenson, reading the tactical map, trying to get her ship to the relay a foot forward at a time.
"Our engines have taken a hit. We're losing power," Jenson finally reported.
Hannah's heart beat harshly. This was it. They wouldn't make it. She put an uncharacteristic hand out and touched Jenson's shoulder. "We're not going down without a fight."
"Captain," a voice sounded in her ear. "We've got them. You get out." It was Novikov. Hannah looked down at the tactical map. Her old ship, the Kilimanjaro, had intercepted both Reapers, along with several frigates and cruisers.
"Admiral," Hannah stammered, "I…"
"Go!" Novikov ordered.
"Yes, sir."
Hannah called out to Stewart. "Get us out of here!"
"What course?"
"Any! Go!"
The Orizaba shook as it made for the relay. The more they traveled, the more it trembled.
"We're not going to make it," another of her officers, Hill, whispered next to her.
"Engines almost depleted," Jenson reported.
"Push it!"
"Come on, baby!" Hannah heard Stewart, the helmsman, coaxing the Orizaba to make it through the relay. Hannah left the tactical map to stand next to him, heart pounding as the relay came into view.
"Captain," Jenson called out again. "Breaches in the hull! We're taking enemy fire again!"
Hannah held her breath. The relay loomed larger and larger. Only a few more seconds. They were a kilometer from the relay when Jenson called out for the last time, his voice in a complete panic. "We're losing air to space. Cracks all along the hull."
"Put on your helmets, now!" Hannah commanded. She walked over to her cubby, grabbing her helmet and snapping it on. She'd commanded the entire crew to be equipped in enviro suits for just this type of emergency. She walked back to the helm. They were almost to the relay. She felt the relay's energy reach out to them, pulling them into its grasp. There was a sudden scream. She turned to look behind. The bridge was breaking up. The Orizaba shuddered as it shot through the relay. It was thrown into another system, which one, Hannah didn't know. But she didn't have time to think about it as the ship disintegrated, the energy from the relay breaking the Orizaba to bits as it flew into the next system. She felt her body thrown forward as she careened into debris. She tried as best she could to cover her head and neck, pulling into a tight ball as her body propelled forward. Slowly, she stopped turning end over end and drifted weightless in the gravity-less waste. Her chest hurt, her arms ached and she felt like she was going to faint.
She tried to get her bearings, but there was too much debris to distinguish much. A steel beam came sailing her way. Hannah put out her feet, intending to push off the beam, but as it slammed into her, her knees buckled and she cried out inside her suit as she felt shooting pain all along the right side of her body. Tears streamed down her face. Dark dots danced before her eyes and she felt pinpricks of static run from head to toe. Right before she lost consciousness, she sensed a large shadow fall over her frame, dwarfing her with its immensity. Fear overwhelmed her pain as she recalled Jane's stories of humans turned into husks, stories that terrified her more than death itself.