The Colonel was on the bridge waiting for a response from the scout ships. He'd been standing there a while now, as his comms officers attempted to contact the scouts that had informed them of unknown contacts.
There was a worried look on the comms officers face as she spoke up, "Sir, we just lost all tracking signals on our scouts."
"How long until we approach their last known position?" the Colonel asked.
"Half hour, Sir," the navigation officer confirmed.
"All hands to battle stations," the Colonel ordered. In response the ship alarms blared as the warning system called all hands to take up battle positions.
"Send our fighters out in escort formation around our weakest ships. Ready all ordnance," Phoenix ordered, as he stood next to the Colonel.
"What do you think, Sir?" Phoenix asked.
"This far out?" the Colonel asked. "There shouldn't be anybody else here."
Twenty minutes later the comms officer spoke up in a hurry, "Sir! We're receiving video communication!"
"From where?" Sergeant Phoenix asked.
"Unknown. We're not detecting anything out there," an officer replied.
"Our scout ships?" Phoenix asked.
"No sign of them either."
"They're hiding behind that planet," the Colonel stated, referring to the planet that was passing on the ships right.
Phoenix agreed.
"Put them on," the Colonel ordered as he looked at the view in front of him, currently showing the blackness of space with a few bright dots of distant stars.
A few seconds later the view changed to a ragged looking man, wearing clothes that may have once fitted him well, but were now far too loose.
"What a surprise to come across more company dogs all the way out here," the man spoke in disdain. "Have you come to finish us off?!"
"Who are you?" the Colonel demanded, no hint of emotion in his voice.
"Who are we?" more disgust in his voice. "You should know. You're the ones who sent us out here, sent us to die!"
"What have you done with our scout ships?" the Colonel asked, not letting the man on screen affect his emotions.
"They're with us now," the man stated. "You can have them back for a fair trade."
"You have taken our people. We will not trade with you. You will give our people and their ships back to us," the Colonel stated.
"Taken your people?!" the man became visibly upset, moving animatedly.
His movement made it obvious that he was just skin on bones, hence the loose clothes, the Colonel noted.
The man continued, shouting in frenzy into the vid com. "You killed our people! Our families, our children, you destroyed our homes, you drove us all the way out here!"
The man sat back in his seat, took a deep breath, and visibly calmed himself. In a brief flash both the Colonel and Sergeant noted the man looked extremely vulnerable, as if he was very tired. They glanced at each other. Phoenix went over and pressed a button on the comms, stopping all communications between them and the man.
"You know what he's talking about?" Phoenix whispered.
"Yes," the Colonel confirmed. "He's from a colony that refused to abide by the company. They were killed and driven out to die out here, alone and defeated."
"He's survived a long time," Phoenix noted.
"Yes, he has," the Colonel agreed, a slightly empathetic look flashing across his face, which only Phoenix could see.
Phoenix re-activated comms. The Colonel went back to his neutral stance, looking directly at the man on the screen.
"We're willing to trade with you. We can give you some supplies," the Colonel told the man.
Some of the officers on the bridge gave each other quizzical looks, confused at the Colonels words.
The man leaned back in his chair, "I'm afraid that's not good enough," the mans voice sounded resigned now. "We'll trade them for your lives. All of your lives."
With that, the comms ended.
"Sir, we're picking up multiple contacts coming from around the planet," the nav officer spoke hurriedly, though calmly.
"How many?" Phoenix asked.
"Seven, Sir" came the reply.
"Holy..." the Nav office no longer sounded calm. "They have a destroyer sir!"
Phoenix took action, "Send out all bombers, remaining fighters and gunships."
The officers complied. Dozens of untested ships were now leaving the bay.
The Nav officer continued, "They have three mid size fighter ships, two cargo ships and a small fighter ship."
"We're a transport ship, we're not equipped for this," an officer stated to the Colonel though he was already well aware of that.
"Keep calm," the Colonel ordered firmly. "Follow your orders."
Phoenix began organising the numerous ships that were now leaving the bay, "Bomber groups Alpha through Delta take out those cargo ships. Fighter groups Golf through Foxtrot, provide cover."
"Sir, we have fighter ships exiting from the destroyer," the Nav officer reported.
"Sir, why not send the bombers to the larger fighter ships first?" an officer suggested.
"We're using untested equipment officer. Anything goes wrong, the cargo ship isn't going to cause our people problems," came Phoenix's answer.
Activity on the bridge increased as orders went through and officers worked together to co-ordinate both attack and defence.
"All fighters not on escort duty, engage the large fighter ships first. All fighters and bombers to take out the destroyer once primary objectives are complete."
The multiple affirmative confirmations came back. Now there was only the wait. It would be a few minutes before the two sides engaged each other.
Orders done, Phoenix turned to the Colonel, "Well, least we get to battle test ourselves and our equipment."
"Always looking on the bright side," the Colonel responded humourlessly, watching the large display in front of him.
The four bomber groups split off with their escorts towards the cargo ships. None of the enemy fighter ships chose to engage the groups, although they were about to become preoccupied with the Colonels fighters.
"This is bomber group Alpha, engaging target," came the confirmation over comms.
The Colonel and Sergeant stood in silence, watching the action unfold. Indicators on screen showed the bomber groups engaging each cargo ship. At the same time, the other fighters began engaging the enemy fighter ships along with the two larger fighters. The destroyer was a fair distance behind, slower than any of the other ships.
"Their pilots are inexperienced," Phoenix noted, as he watched his own pilots outmanoeuvre and start taking down the enemy.
The two larger fighters started engaging with missiles, lasers and external turrets. Some of Phoenixs fighters were taking hits as they tried to engage the ships.
Indicators on screen showed the bombers groups deploy their ordnance towards the cargo ships, the fighters close by keeping escort as ordered. The staff on bridge watched as the displays showed the bombs travelling towards their targets and finally impacting.
There was a small flash as the bombs hit their targets, quickly followed by a second much larger explosion engulfing the displays. They dimmed automatically as some of the staff winced at the initial bright light.
"What just happened?" the Colonel asked.
"Sir, we just lost all four bomber and fighter groups assigned to the cargo ships," the Nav office replied, astonished.
"How?!" the Colonel demanded.
"The cargo ships. They were loaded with explosives," Phoenix answered, his voice angry.
"Take out the bigger fighters. Now!" the Colonel ordered through gritted teeth.
Phoenix relayed the order to all the pilots still out there. The fighters had already dealt with almost all enemy fighters and were now moving to engage the bigger fighter ships. Despite the loss of four groups, there were still a few dozen fighter ships taking on each enemy fighter ship, with the remaining bombers staying a safe distance away.
"Sir," there was hesitation in the comm officers voice, "we're receiving vid comm from the destroyer."
The Colonel closed his eyes momentarily, opened them, then looked straight at the display. "Put him on."
The same man's face came up. "You ruined the surprise, Colonel," he said the last word with disgust. "I meant it when I said we'd trade them for all of your lives."
The Colonel saw in an adjacent display that the mid size fighters were now no longer firing at his ships. They were being picked apart by the fighters. They must've run out of ammo, the thought flashed in his mind.
The Colonel again looked the man in his eyes. He turned to his comms officer, "Put me on a private line to him."
The man on the screen looked confused as he looked at the Colonel. The comms officer looked at the Colonel, unsure of his words. Rayner broke eye contact with the man and walked up to the comms officer. "Put me through on a private line, officer," he repeated.
"Ye..yes Sir" came the nervous reply.
She did so, as the Colonel moved to an empty corner the vid chat switched off. Sergeant Phoenix moved to ensure no one would interrupt the Colonel. As the Colonel picked up the headset, some of the others on the bridge watched in confusion at his behaviour. An officer made a move to exit the room but Phoenix quickly stopped him. He called over a guard, whispered to him, and had the guard take the officer away.
The Colonel activated the headset. "You can still come out of this alive," the Colonel suggested.
"That isn't an option, not anymore," the man answered. His voice was heavy, tired, just like earlier.
"You should not have attacked us," the Colonel stated.
"And you bastards should have left us alone," more contempt, "you killed most of the people I ever cared for. FOR WHAT?!" A pause, heavy breathing.
The Colonel stayed quiet, listening.
"For nothing! That's what. You chased us out like rats, you took everything from us and left us to die!" the man was beginning to rant uncontrollably.
"We aren't who you think we are. We can help you, in more ways than one."
The man replied without pause, "It's too late for help! Nothing matters anymore. There's only one last thing for us to do."
The Colonel now understood the mans tone of voice. He'd heard it earlier when he spoke with the infected Karla. The man was on a suicide mission.
"It doesn't have to be," the Colonel attempted to reason.
The comms cut off. Rayner got up and walked back over to look at the display. Ignoring the questioning looks of some of his staff, he watched as his fighters finished the last of the enemies off. All that was left now was the frigate, travelling slowly.
"Sir, the frigate is gaining speed," the Nav officer reported.
They watched the display as it showed the frigate begin speeding up significantly.
"Display the frigates projected course," Phoenix ordered.
Promptly a line was drawn on the display. It showed the frigates path was coming right through them.
"He's going to ram us," the Nav officer stated the now obvious.
"Can we stop him?" the Colonel asked his old friend.
"With most of our bombers destroyed, and all of our remaining fighters out there already low on ammo, we don't have enough time to resupply." Phoenix reported.
"Options?" the Colonel asked.
"Load up some cargo ships. Blow it the hell up, we have time," Phoenix stated bluntly, reading the displays ETA of 25 mins til impact. "But who's going to fly 'em?" he looked at Rayner.
"Order our escorts and fighters to move away. Get the cargo ships ready," the Colonel ordered. "Comms, get me Lieutenant Williams."
"He's on, Sir."
"Lieutenant, meet me in quarantine and bring a medic," the Colonel told him.
"Yes, sir," came Williams reply.
A few minutes later the Colonel arrived at quarantine. Lieutenant Williams was already waiting. Oddly, he was holding a clipboard. He was talking to a medic. The two armed guards stood motionless at the entrance.
They moved aside and unlocked the door as the Colonel alone stepped forward and into the room. He looked at Karla sympathetically. She was in obvious pain, and was looking pale now. The others, six of them in total, were in bad states too.
"We have an enemy frigate heading straight at us, it's going to ram us."
Karla looked up weakly at the Colonel, understanding already in her eyes.
The Colonel locked gaze with her. "We're going to fill two cargo ships with enough explosions to take them out. We need two pilots."
The Colonel had been informed on the way down that Karla and another infected were already licensed cargo pilots.
Karla got up weakly, looked at the others, who looked back at her in turn. She nodded, as unofficial leader of this group whose undeserved death sentence was due any time now. She already had the others trust.
"We'll do it." She looked at the Colonel, "Thank you."
"No." The colonel replied, "Thank you."
As he got up to leave he closed the door but stayed inside the room. Lieutenant Williams made a move to enter the room. The two guards outside stopped him and forcefully moved him back in to the corridor
He looked back at the group. "Know this. Your sacrifice won't be for the company. It won't be for those suits who think they own us all. Who think the galaxy is their playground. We are going to change it all. Your sacrifice will be remembered by those who matter. I'll make sure of that."
At this, Karla got up weakly and moved to hug the Colonel. Rayner didn't push her away. Instead he hugged her back, warmly. He whispered in her ear. Tears fell down her cheeks.
They let go of their embrace. The Colonel promptly composed himself and left the room, leaving the door open.
"Give them whatever you need to get them ready to pilot two cargo ships," he informed the medic, gesturing towards Karla and the other pilots. "The others, make them as comfortable as possible for their journey."
The Colonel went to the nearest comm and activated it, "Sergeant Phoenix?"
"Yes, Sir?" Phoenix replied.
"Commence lockdown." Rayner ordered.
"Understood," Phoenix affirmed.
At this, one of the guards threw Lieutenant Williams to the ground and cuffed him, the clipboard clanging as it bounced on to the floor.
Williams looked questioningly up at the Colonel. "Sir?"
"Don't pretend. I know who you really work for," the Colonel replied.
At that, he made his way back to the bridge. As he walked along the corridor his radio activated with updates as the lockdown he had just ordered began.
The Colonel arrived on the bridge, watching his previous Nav officer being removed from his station.
The new Nav officer spoke, "Sir, the cargo ships are leaving now."
The Colonel stayed silent and stood alone as his gaze returned to the displays in front, impassively displaying the two cargo ships leaving. The looming frigate continued its final journey towards them.
The bridge stayed silent as the cargo ships neared the frigate, travelling quickly.
"Sir, no signs of defences activating on the frigate," the new Nav officer told the Colonel.
Must be an old ship, Rayner thought as the details became clearer the closer it got, decommissioned a long time ago. "Put me through to the cargo ships."
"Ready, Sir."
"Remember what I told you. I meant it all. We will not forget your sacrifice."
After a pause, a single low voice replied, "Thank you. Sir."
It was Karla's.
A few moments later, the bridge crew watched as the two cargo ships, unchallenged, ploughed directly into the frigate. Two bright flashes, dimmed by the screens, were followed by smaller explosions as the frigate was torn apart.
Another pause as they all watched the aftermath, huge chunks of the frigate moving in all directions.
"Take us out of here," Rayner ordered his Nav officer.
"Roger that," he replied, as he began manoeuvres to go around the remnants of the battle that had just occurred.
Without another word, the Colonel left the bridge for his own quarters.