Wish Upon a Star
"Then there's no problem, yes? You're Earth's last remaining hope."
In the call booth, General Serizawa speaks to Niimi, who was just talking with Mamoru earlier about possibly getting back together once Earth is saved.
"I'm counting on you, Lieutenant Niimi."
Niimi nods her head in confirmation. But once the call to the general ends, her brows furrow in contempt.
5 March 2199 AD
Gamilas, Belerus City
The planet celebrates its 1000th anniversary since the formation of the Gamilas Empire, with Belerus serving as the main stage and thousands of citizens cheering for their leader. Standing proud before his people with the percussion instruments of their anthem, Dessler gives his speech, and those further away can listen in with large holograms placed at regular intervals.
"Beloved citizens of the Great Garmillas Empire, I know the crown of glory on my head is a gift made possible by your loyalty to the nation and this planet, to Great Garmillas."
The crowd loudly cheers once more and Dessler raises his hand as a request for silence.
"I name you my friends, and I am grateful to all of you for gathering here today. Thank you."
Once again, the crowd cheers at Dessler's final speech, chanting as the Eternal Leader turns away. Amongst the crowd is a girl, who's prominently stood out by her neutral skin colour in contrast to everyone else's blue skin.
"Ghale Garmillon! Ghale Dessler!"
Leaving the stage to his palace as the crowd cheers, Dessler meets with Celestella who awaits him.
"Ilun Phuzeron.", she greets.
"You wrote a brilliant speech.", Dessler praised.
"You honour me.", nodded Celestella.
"Humans are foolish and submissive creatures.", the leader scoffed as the cheers became quieter and quieter. "And more than anything, they bore me."
"Your post-speech entertainment is ready."
"About that ship?"
"Yes."
Dessler only smiles as he enters his palace, looking forward to what's to come.
Dessler's Palace, Throne room
Dessler's command staff and military leaders applaud as he enters and sits on the throne. The leader smiles, silently thanking everyone for their presence on such an occasion.
"Your Lordship, on behalf of your staff, I congratulate you on the 1000 years of Garmillas history as well as the 103 years of your family's reign.", Vice-President Hyss congratulated his leader.
"Thank you, Vice-Commander.", Dessler thanked, taking a glass of wine poured by a courtesan.
"The Great Garmillas Empire has succeeded in uniting both Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, and has expanded into the Milky Way Galaxy.", Hyss gladly reports as a map displays their nearby territories under Gamilas control and a line that leads up to show the Milky Way Galaxy is currently being sieged. "The Empire's territory continues to expand, and your glory shines down, across the entire universe."
"Our unification policy is working as well." Armaments Minister Velte Talon informs beside Hyss. "Those that submit to us are allowed to contribute to the Empire as second-class Garmillans, rather than be destroyed."
This prompted a wicked grin from Imperial Guard Captain Heydom Gimleh. Then, a thunderous and boisterous voice fills the room.
"Truly a mighty deed! Truly the act of a god.", Inspector General of the Central Army Herm Zoellik boasts, managing to out-praise even Hyss with his animated movements. "No enemy can withstand the might of His Lordship and the Great Garmillas armies! Garmillas is invincible! We will never be defeated!"
"Such arrogance like yours is a mistake."A wise voice cuts Zoellik off, revealing itself to be the Supreme Commander of the Garmillas Astrofleet, Admiral Gul Dietz. "We must remain wary of the barbarian invaders from outside the galaxy around the Small Magellanic Cloud."
"Admiral Dietz! Are you calling me a boaster?!", the loud man asked, not pleased at Dietz's words.
"As Commander of the Astrofleets, I simply speak of the truth.", the scarred Admiral simply spoke, dismissing Zoellic's statements.
Another stepped forth, Vice-Chief of Central Staff Ghader Talon and brother to Velte Talon. "Your Lordship, we will eliminate those barbarians soon."
Ghader turns to Dietz, who simply nods in acknowledgement and faces their leader. "I have already dispatched Senior General Domal."
"The Space Wolf?", Dessler pleasantly asked, taking a sip of his wine. "I'm sure he will live up to our expectations."
One man in particular, Zoellic, is not pleased in the slightest, gritting his teeth and narrowing his eyes.
"Everyone, I've prepared some entertainment to help you forget the stress of your difficult jobs.", Dessler announced to his men, and Celestella stepped forth.
"Tonight, you will watch a video from the front lines of the Empire's war.", the Propaganda Minister explained.
"Why would we watch that?", Gimleh asked, curious.
"Because Bis Lordship created the plan you're about to see in execution.", Celestalla answered.
"Very well, everyone, let us begin the game.", Dessler announces.
Montana, Rear Observation Deck
Standing before the rear-facing window, Mori stares at the stars and then looks at a flat golden object in her hand. From the speakers above, Misaki's voice comes through the PA system.
"When you wish upon a star, if your heart is in your dream, no request is too extreme, when you wish upon a star as dreamers do."
Laboratory
Niimi is in the lab, passing the time by looking at the map of the Gliese 581 star system. The computer screen reflects off her glasses, and then the woman raises her arms and stretches her back to relieve her muscles.
"Like a bolt out of the blue, fate will come, and see you through."
Broadcasting Room
"This is Montana Radio. Our next broadcast will be at 20:30 local time. This has been Yuria Misaki. Goodbye for now."
"And that's a wrap."
Misaki closes her radio broadcast for the day, flipping a switch and an indicator goes from "On Air" to "Standby". She stretches her arms and is displeased when she notices Hoshina waving outside her booth.
Later, she and Hoshina leave the broadcasting room and to a hallway.
"Are you sure it's okay to kill time here?", Misaki asked.
"Yeah, I'm off duty now.", the young security officer chimed. "Hey, did you know?"
"Know what?"
Hoshina points at a door up front in the distance. "There's a door up here that never opens. And supposedly, a ghost is there. And that ghost is of a beautiful woman. It just suddenly appears-"
"I saw that all the time on Earth."
Misaki's blunt response leaves Hoshina stumped, clearly not expecting an answer like that.
"…huh?"
"I see those things."
"E-Eh?!", left speechless, red dusts Hoshina's cheeks, having been outplayed as Misaki leaves. "Y-you do?"
Bridge 1
"Montana is now around eight light years away from Earth, traversing the Sirius System at 0.7AU/h.", Ota announces.
"We'll be jumping approximately twelve light years in our next warp. That should take us directly to Gliese 581.", said Sanada.
"Twelve light years? Then that means this will be our last chance to see Earth using Montana's long-range VlBI telescopes.", Abraham noticed, prompting everyone on board to gasp. Abraham turns to the XO. "Sanada?"
"Yes, sir.", Sanada types a few commands, and everyone lets out a breath when they see an image of Earth on the big screen above, blue and untainted.
"Is that..?", Kodai asked.
"The Earth?", Shima followed.
"We are 8.6 light-years from the Solar System. In other words, this is what Earth looked like just over eight years ago.", Sanada explained.
"Before Gamilas attacked it?", Kodai said, gazing at the blue planet.
"Everyone, look hard and look well. This is the Earth as it used to be, the Earth we are fighting to save.", Abraham reminded everyone, their eyes taking a good long look at the image. He then orders Shima, "Shima, prepare for warp."
"Roger, preparing for warp.", Shima repeated, his fingers imputing new coordinates into the computer and then pushing the throttle forward.
Le Chevalier
Unbeknownst to them, Ganz has been tracking Montana from behind. On the big screen, he sees the Terron ship warping away and disappearing into the distance.
"Montana has jumped.", one officer reports.
"Get the coordinates of their jump.", ordered Ganz, his men immediately working away.
"Beginning spacetime wave motion calculations."
"Tracing space wake."
"Rear Brigadier?", the comms officer spoke out, turning to Ganz. "A friendly supply ship requests to rendezvous."
"Approve the rendezvous," Ganz said, giving his approval.
The comm officer nods. "This is Le Chevalier, rendezvous approved."
Shultz' cabin
"Papa, finish your work and come home soon, okay? Mom's worried…"
Shultz listens to his daughter's hologram, sitting inside his cabin. His face is despondent, having received news about his punishment for his failure at Pluto.
"Lord Dessler ordered us to fight and die…..I'm sorry, Hilde.", the father apologises to his daughter's, Hilde, hologram.
"Commander Shultz, General Goer's resupply has arrived.", Ganz informs over the PA just then, the commander's face lighting up.
"No way…is that true?", Shultz asked, his voice hopeful.
"Yes, we were not abandoned, after all!"
Shultz's lips break into a smile, relieved that they have another chance.
Dessler's Palace
Popping up on the hologram, Goer at once greets, or more like grovels, himself to Dessler.
"Galactic Theatre Commander, Garemud Goer, sir! I am honoured to be the commanding officer for the operation Your Lordship designed.
Visibly annoyed at the obnoxious introduction, Dessler rubbed the side of his head and asked. "That's enough. Goer, what became of the thing I sent you?"
"Ah yes, sir! I'm sorry! The new torpedo...uhh..."
"The Dessler Torpedo.", Celestella helpfully informs.
"Yes, yes! The Dessler Torpedo! We have already deployed it at the front lines."
Montana
Warping out, the ice breaks apart from Montana's hull as the bow points at a red dwarf star up in the distance.
"Warp complete.", Mori reports. "We are now in the Gliese 581 System."
"We are now 20.4 lightyears from the Earth.", Sanada said, turning his seat to look forward. "That's the primary star, Gliese 581, a red dwarf."
Captain's quarters
In his cabin, Abraham is being checked up by Dr. Sado as per his request. The doctor took a visual examination of Abraham's body, whose jacket is taken off and shirt unbuttoned, and used a stethoscope to check his lungs and heart.
"Hmm…Nothing wrong here. Physically, you're in great condition, Captain.", the doctor declares, taking off his stethoscope and putting it in his bag brought by Harada.
"So, nothing wrong with his body?", Sasha asked, holding Abraham's jacket and hat.
"Yep. Other than some scars which have healed rather nicely, you're still fit for duty.", Dr, Sado confirmed, standing up and taking his leave.
*thump thump*
"This is Intelligence Officer Niimi. I'm coming in."
The door opens and in walks Niimi. Standing up, Sado and Harada say their goodbyes as they pass by Niimi who's walking to Abraham.
"Is this a good time?", Niimi asked.
"It's fine.", Abraham assured, buttoning up his shirt and putting on his jacket handed over by Sasha. "Is there anything you need?"
"This system has a planet suitable for colonisation. With your position, I'd like to form an expedition to investigate it."
Abraham's eyes narrowed. "Niimi, if this is about the Izumo Plan, it was cancelled. You know that."
"I know. But there still might be worth in the Izumo Plan. We can still perform a scan on planets to send possible resources back to Earth in the future once it's saved."
"She has a point. We could send a planet probe to scan it and pick it up once we return.", Sasha offered.
"Hmm, I'll have a think about it.", the captain considered until he and everyone were rocked by a sudden jolt from the ship.
"Sorry, Niimi. Looks like I'll have to postpone that idea."
Bridge 1
The bridge shudders and tilts as everyone grips tight on whatever surface they can reach. Out in front of the windows, a blue electrical discharge ripples around the ship.
"Port side has been hit.", Nambu said.
"Righting the ship. Tilting fifteen degrees.", Shima banks the controls, the ship slowly righting itself.
"EMP Shields are holding up.", Aihara reports.
"Sensors detect powerful charged wave motion particles. Nothing the Shields can't handle.", Monty added in.
Rapidly typing on the computer, Sanada tried to analyze their predicament. "What is this….?"
Just then, the door opens and Abraham and Sasha enter, both taking their seats.
"Sanada, report.", Abraham asks.
"It seems we've run into a hyperdense plaza filament field.", told Sanada.
"What are those?", asked Ota.
"Plasma flares emitted by a star.", Abraham explained.
"In other words, a solar storm. Our ship has run into the edge of one of the plasma corridors.", Sanada swung his seat back to face the computer. "But this isn't normal. Birkeland currents are several hundred million times their theoretical values."
"What does that mean?", Kodai wondered.
"He means that those solar storms aren't natural, they are artificially made.", Sasha clarified."
Dessler's Palace
"The rat has fallen into the trap! I, Goer, am terribly impressed that you predicted they would come to this system!"
Goer continues to grovel, expressing his admiration for Dessler's plan. On the big screen above, the leader and his men watch Montana's progress with curiosity.
"It's nothing. I thought it would be a little amusing to analyze their ship's course.", Dessler says with a smile as his glass of wine is refilled. "The fun is just beginning. Everyone, let us have a toast to cheer our Terron friends on."
This prompted a rather unwelcoming reaction from the crowd, the leader's smile dropping.
"Hahahaha, hilarious! Set a trap for them and then cheer them on?!", an overweight man laughed out loud, that being the Food Management Director Dotem Galhem. Visibly drunk with red on his face, he continues to laugh and comment, much to the fear of the men nearby. "The leader sure does enjoy his jokes! Hic Ahahahaha!"
Disgusted at such behaviour, Dessler's lips fall into a frown and his left hand opens a flap on the throne's armrest, revealing a hidden touchpad underneath. His finger swiping, a blip is heard and the floor beneath Galhem opens up, the fat Food Director suddenly dropping and falling to his death, his screams disappearing into the void below.
"Garmillas has no need of such disgusting men.", Dessler coldly states.
The shock waving off, the command staff raise their cups and salute. "Ghale Dessler! Hail to our Leader!"
Montana
"No faults detected in our electronics.", Sanada said, turning to face the captain. "But I would caution to avoid contact with the plasma flares."
"Calculate the range of plasma amplification. Find a weak point in the corridor.", Abraham ordered. "It must be there somewhere."
*riiing!*
'Tch, of all times.' Abraham thought, his eyes scrunching in discomfort as a ringing noise went in his head. This remains unnoticed by the crew.
"Plasma gets weaker at three o'clock.", Mori reports, her radar screen displays a clear patch of space to the northwest between two red walls. "Likely a weak spot."
Just then a warning appears on Sasha's radar, accompanied by rapid beeps. "Abraham, there's a gravity distortion to our rear. Something is warping out."
From behind Montana, Le Chevalier emerges from hits hyperspace jump, rapidly rolling as they exit before righting itself.
On the port side, one of its torpedo ports opens, revealing a torpedo ready to fire.
Le Chevalier, Bridge
"Torpedo locked on.", the gunner officer said, the reticle locked onto Montana up front.
"Fire the Dessler Torpedo.", Shultz orders.
The torpedo is launched, smoke trailing behind and heading towards Montana.
Montana, Bridge 1
"Enemy ship has fired a torpedo.", Mori's radar tracking the incoming torpedo coming from behind. "Estimated time of impact, 20 seconds. Passing DEF Zone 2."
"Torpedo locked on. Oerlikon cannons ready.", Kodai said, the target locked on and ready for fire.
"AA weapons, ready to intercept.", Nambu repeats.
Seconds pass. However, Abraham still hasn't issued the order to fire, still dealing with the ringing in his head.
"15 seconds. Entering DEF Zone 3.", Mori reports, the torpedo getting closer and closer on her radar.
"CIWS cannons and missiles ready to intercept.", Kodai repeats, his teeth gritting and sweat forming as he anxiously waits for the order.
"Time until impact: Ten, nine, eight."
Hearing Mori's countdown, Kodai turns and calls out for the captain. "Captain!"
"Seven, six, five."
Finally, Abraham speaks up, regaining his composure after having subdued the ringing. "Fire CIWS missiles at our stern!"
"CIWS missiles, fire!", Kodai exclaimed.
The CIWS missile launchers on top of the battleship turn and take aim, firing off four RAM missiles that track and home in on the Dessler Torpedo.
The missiles quickly hit the torpedo, the explosion happening from behind Montana.
"Confirmed hit, target intercepted.", Mori reported on the radar. Kodai lets out a sigh of relief but is short-lived when another warning rings out from the radar.
"Wait, something's not right. An unknown contact is forming off our stern.", Sasha said, a red growing circle showing on her radar screen.
From where the Dessler Torpedo is intercepted, an eerie black smoke emerges from the wreckage. Red energy crackles as the black smoke begins to absorb the debris and is now following behind Montana, growing in size.
Le Chevalier
"What is this?", Shultz asked, baffled at what he was seeing on the screen.
"Sending video feed to Imperial Command.", an officer said.
Dessler's Palace
In the throne room, most of the men are as equally confused at what they are seeing in the video from Le Chevalier.
"What is this?", Zoellic is the first among the staff to ask.
"Do you see that? That is the Dessler Torpedo.", Dessler simply replied, his head resting on his hand.
"But, is that gas?", Hyss said, confused.
"Originating in the Mirbelia System, it's an autonomous, self-replicating gaseous life form.", Celestella explains, the video shows the black cloud growing bigger and bigger. "It converts, unites, and absorbs material energy, enabling it for indefinite expansion. The ultimate in chemical weapons."
The crowd ooohhs at the description.
"I simply threw a cat into the rat trap.", Dessler pleasantly says.
Montana
"Unidentified object's energy readings are rising.", Ota exclaimed as his radar feed showed the black cloud growing in size.
"Keep an eye on it.", Abraham ordered. Sanada then opened a camera feed to the rear and observed the gas approaching from behind.
''Plasma levels are dropping yet the gas is rapidly growing in size.', Sanada examined when he saw the gas crackling intensify briefly before growing even bigger. Coming to a conclusion, he turned in his seat.
"It's absorbing the plasma and growing. If we come into contact with it, Montana and everyone on board will be broken down and absorbed.", Sanada said in alarm.
Dessler's Palace
Everyone watches on the big screen as the gas grows and follows behind Montana.
"Just like a rat in the trap, indeed. Now we just need to wait for the cat to kill it.", Zoellic says with confidence
"No, I've prepared an exit for them.", the leader cryptically responds, confusing the staff.
Montana
"Shima, can we make it through that weak point we found in the plasma?", Abraham asked the Chief Navigator.
"I believe so.", Shima replied confidently.
"Wait a moment. If we keep going through that area….", Ota warned as he typed on his console. The analysis finished, he discovered that heading there would lead them directly to Gliese 581, the roof screen showing the bright red dwarf up ahead
"No way…", Kodai utters in disbelief, the red star illuminating his face.
Dessler's Palace
"However, a red star awaits, mouth open, at the exit.", Dessler says to his men, everyone looking at the red dwarf above on the screen.
"Will they be consumed by the gas? Or will then be disintegrated in a burning fusion reactor? Or perhaps, there's another fate for them?", Dessler wonders in amusement.
"No, of course not, Your Lordship.", Hyss dismisses the thought, praising the plan. "It is perfect."
Lips curling into a smile, Dessler congratulates the Terron ship, "Everyone, let us applaud on the brave decision they're about to make."
Montana
"We can't go forward or back, can we?", Kodai despondently says, seeing no way out of the situation.
"Shima, set course towards the star. Full speed.", Abraham orders, surprising many on board.
Kodai turns in his seat, confused and nervously asks, "Are we going to ram into the star?"
"No, Kodai. I have a plan. Just trust me on this one."
A wave of silence passes, the captain's assurance calming down the crew if even a little bit. Shima puts his hands on the controls, ready to execute Abraham's orders.
"Setting course to the star, full speed ahead! Yo Soro! (Steady as she goes!)"
Montana rockets forth at full speed, its thrusters burning brightly as it heads towards Gliese 581. The battleship dwarfs in size compared to the massive red star and following ominously from behind, the black gas takes pursuit like a starving predator.
Dessler's Palace
"So, it appears that the Terrons have chosen to commit suicide by fire.", Dessler smugly comments, seeing Montana heading straight to the red dwarf on the video feed. He applauds their decision, clapping his hands with his staff following suit.
Montana, Bridge 1
The bridge begins to glow red from the red dwarf's light reflecting off the interior surfaces, the intense heat causing sweat to form on the crew's skin.
"Exterior surface temperature is eclipsing 1100 degrees Celsius. Interior, 90 degrees and rising!", Ota exclaimed, sweat forming on his brow as the temperature reading went higher and higher.
"Environmental control systems are unable to moderate the temperature.", Mori notified as red overheating warnings popped up from the ship's compartments.
"Captain, why don't we engage the Wave Motion Shields?", Sanada suggested as the exterior diagram of the battleship glowed orange from excessive temperature around the keel. "At this rate, the ship's temperature will exceed the limit unless we climb higher."
"There's no need.", declined Abraham. "Everyone, put on your environmental suits. Keep energy expenditure to a minimum, seal the bulkheads and close all hatches and flaps. Have faith in Montana. Earth's fate depends not only on us but this ship as well."
The battleship goes silent as all the thrusters go out, Montana now only being propelled by its momentum above Gliese's sea of flames. Heavy metal shutters lower and close off the exterior windows and all exterior ports close shut.
Inside the bridge, emergency lights illuminate the inside as the shutters block off the last of the light from the star.
"What about the Gamilas ship?", Abraham asked.
"It's about 8000 kilometres from behind the gas. It's following us.", Sasha answered, looking at the radar.
"Alright, keep an eye on it."
*RIIIIIIINNNNGGGGG!*
'Shit, what is it now?!'
"Venture, maintain full speed straight towards the sea of fire."
"The temperature's rising, Captain. Phew!"
"Are you okay, Mark?"
"Be quiet, don't talk! Eager, quickly plot the position of the fireball."
"Right!"
"Captain, I think we should put on our spacesuits. They'll enable us to withstand 800 degrees heat."
"…Do it…"
"Attention, all crew members put on spacesuits immediately!"
*thud*
"Captain? Captain! Doctor! Doctor Sane, quick!"
'What is going on? A memory from him?' Abraham wondered as his head throbbed in pain. Images flash before his eyes, an elderly voice coming from his mouth but not his own, and people in uniform with faces similar yet different. 'Venture? Wildstar? Who are they? They look so alike and yet couldn't be more different. And is that Sanada?'
"…tain! Captain!"
"Ugh…" The visions dissipate and his eyes flutter open, before him are Mori and Sasha, both looking at him in concern. As he was hoisted to his feet, he saw everybody else in their suits, eyes filled with worry.
"What happened?"
"You suddenly collapsed over on your seat.", Sasha said, an environmental suit in her hands.
"I have already called Dr. Sado, he should be on his way.", Mori added, her tone filled with worry and helping her captain put on his spacesuit. "Captain, is there anything wrong?"
"The heat seems to be getting to me, but I think I'm fine now.", Abraham assuredly answered as he slipped his arms into the suit and pulled up the zipper.
"CAPTAIN!"
Just then, the door opens and in bursts the resident ship's doctor, his arms flailing as his feet screech to a halt. Behind him, Harada follows in tow holding up his spacesuit and her medical bag.
As his eyes search for the captain, the doctor's sight first focuses on the massive red glowing star on the screen before him.
"Why the hell are we running toward that!?", Dr. Sado screamed to the bridge crew, his expression turning into a mix of horror and anger. "Turn the ship around, are you trying to get the captain killed?!"
"It's fine.", Abraham calmly said to the doctor. "Like I told everyone, it's likely just the heat getting to me. Is that right, sensei?"
"Ehh…Well, let me have a look, just to be on the safe side."
The bald doctor then approaches Abraham, the former offering his wrist and the doctor putting his fingers on it.
"Pulse is 80, a little bit high but nothing to be concerned…..Rhythm is regular…"
Everyone watches on with worry and anticipation on their faces. Will Abraham be alright?
"…Hmm….No problem at all! Just some work-induced fatigue aggravated by the heat. Just a nutrient injection will do, with some electrolytes to help boost your energy."
Dr. Sado opened up the medical bag in Harada's hands and pulled out a needle filled with fluid. The bridge crew all sigh in relief, glad that there's nothing serious with Abraham.
As the needle enters the skin and the fluid is injected, the doctor puts on his pissed-off face and glares sternly at Abraham.
"As the ship's doctor, it's my duty to ensure everyone stays alive. You may be the captain, but when it comes to one's health, you follow my orders!", the doctor silently chastises. "If you have any underlying conditions that I'm not aware of, you better speak to me now or so help me god-!"
"I know, doc. I'm sorry, I'll try to be more transparent in the future."
Dr Sado begrudgingly accepted the apology, turning to put on his suit assisted by Harada. Just then, an alert rings from Ota's console.
"Solar prominence straight ahead at SK223.", detected Ota. The bridge flashes bright yellow when a large solar flare erupts from below up ahead.
"Steer to port.", Shima said, tuning the controls left and steering the ship clear of the flare.
"Captain, there's a change in the gas cloud.", Mori reports.
From behind Montana, the solar flare they avoided makes contact with the black gas, smothering it in flames as gas tries to absorb it. But instead of growing in size, the gas seems to be overwhelmed and is burned off by the star.
"It's trying to absorb the flare and the star by extension, but is being absorbed in turn.", Sanada analysed as he watched the camera feed. Turning to face the captain, he said with a smile, "So that was your plan, was it, Abraham?"
Abraham only responded with a smile and a wink.
The flames smother the black gas completely, bringing it down to Gliese's sea of flames and incinerating it down to nothing.
Dessler's Palace
The command staff watch in horror as they witness on-screen their leader's ultimate weapon being burnt off by the red dwarf. Dessler himself is not pleased, having not foreseen this outcome.
Le Chevalier
"You worthless, incompetent, inferior FOOLS!"
Goer lays verbal waste to Shultz and his men, berating him for the loss of Dessler's weapon even though it was by no means any of their fault.
"Were you just sitting there and watching, as His Lordship's gas was devoured?! You useless inferior races! The entire responsibility for this rests with you worthless lot, okay?"
Shultz holds himself together as he is berated by Goer, but even he has his limits as he grits his teeth and clenches his fists. Having fed up be their disrespectful and racist general and seeing Shultz reaching his breaking point, Ganz takes action and walks to the comms station. The comms officer moves out of the way and Ganz presses a button.
"You better believe I'll be reporting that to His Lordsh-!"
The call severed and the ranting gone, a surprised Shultz turns to look at Ganz, who gives him a complicit smile and nods his head. The elderly commander returns the gesture, turning to face his crew as he decides to take matters into his own hands.
"This ship will now make a final run at the Montana!"
"We go with Brigadier Shultz!", Ganz salutes, and everyone on board follows.
"We go with Brigadier Shultz!"
Montana
"Something's up ahead! A massive flare in front of us!", Ota cried in alarm. Not even two seconds later, an enormous flare, the largest the crew has ever seen, erupts in front of them. Its tremendous size covers the entirety of the roof screen, illuminating everyone in a yellow light.
"Can we dodge it, Shima?", Kodai asked.
"No, it's too big. At this speed and distance, we can't evade it in time!", Shima dejectedly replied.
Only one person stays undeterred, and Abraham speaks up, "Maintain course. Kodai, hit that flare with the Wave Motion Gun. Set primary Engine to charge and secondary to the thrusters."
"Yes, sir.", Kodai at once confirmed, but then did a double take and turned to the captain in confusion. "Wait, hit the flare?"
"Yes! Repeat that order!"
"Y-Yes, sir!"
The WMG's gun trigger rises from Kodai's console and he puts his finger on the trigger. "We'll hit the flare with the Wave Motion Gun."
"Opening circuit to the Wave Motion Gun.", Nambu said, assisting Kodai with the WMG''s firing procedure. "Shutting all emergency valves."
"Releasing safety locks. Activating force injector. Tachyon particle pressure rising in chamber. 80, 85, 90%."
"Enemy ship approaching from behind!", Mori warned as she saw the Gamilan battleship on radar.
Following from behind and into firing range, Le Chevalier turns its forward guns and prepares to target Montana.
Guns trained and locked on, the forward guns open their gunports, two sets of red energy building up and fire off to Montana. The red positron energies flew to the Earth battleship but missed due to the intense heat and gravity of the red star. One blast manages a lucky hit but bounces off against Montana's hull.
"Hit to starboard!", Ota said as the bridge gets rocked.
"Ignore them! Focus on the task ahead!"
"Ten seconds before we are too close!", Mori warned as the ship etched closer to the flare.
Still being peppered by enemy fire, Montana slowly flies forward and the WMG's shutter muzzle opens, blue energy building up in the barrel as the super-weapon comes to life.
"Energy charge 120%!", Nambu declared, his gauges maxing out.
"Hado Ho, UTE!", exclaimed Kodai, pulling the trigger.
The WMG opens fire, the blue wave of tidal energy disturbing the sea of fire below and creating a small channel. The large blue beam hits and pierces the flare ahead, breaking apart the flare and making a large passage for Montana to pass through.
"Head straight through that opening, full speed ahead!", Abraham barked.
Full speed ahead, aye aye, sir!", Shima repeated, slamming the throttle to max power.
The blue beam dissipates, and all the rear thrusters come to life at full power propelling Montana through the gap in the flare. The battleship manages to pass through with time to spare as the gap begins to close up by the emerging plasma from below.
Le Chevalier
Witnessing from behind, Shultz and his men watch in shock as Montana passes through the flare practically unscathed.
"Montana has broken through the solar prominence! Ship temperature is three million bek! Our ship can't take this heat!"
"Impossible…", Shultz lowly uttered, but is knocked as explosions are heard and warnings ring out.
"The stern is melting!"
"We are losing control!"
The lower hull of Le Chevalier begins to melt into slag, the thrusters dying as the stern falls apart. With no propulsion and stranded in the flare, the Gamilan ship is now a sitting duck being roasted alive with no means of escape.
From below, the emerging plasma begins to fill up the gap with Le Chevalier inside.
Explosions rock the bridge as it begins to fall apart. With no way out of this dire situation, the men stand up and salute for their home planet.
"Zaltz, banzai!", Ganz yelled.
"Zaltz, banzai!"
As the men salute, Shultz closes his eyes and remembers his family for one last time.
A woman, his wife, giggles as a little girl, his daughter Hilde, speaks animatedly about something. Both turn to face him as Hilde runs to him, arms outstretched for a hug.
'I'm sorry, everyone. I won't be coming home.'
The plasma envelopes Le Chevalier, the solar flare completely covering the Gamilan battleship. Up ahead, Montana propels up and speeds away from the red star.
Dessler's Palace
"Video signal lost."
The staff watch in surprise as the video feed from Le Chevalier breaks into static. Amongst them is Goer in a hologram, who nervously turns to face their leader and tries to save face.
"Your Lordship! All responsibility for this failure rests with Shultz! And I…"
Fortunately for him, Dessler only simply disconnects the call and Goer disappears from view.
"Well, was that a splendid battle, everyone?", Dessler asked everyone. "I'll say it was quite an interesting game. Hyss."
The man in question straightens his back. "Sir!"
"The dead are to be awarded a two-rank promotion. Give their families honorary Gamilan status."
"Zar Belk!", Hyss saluted.
"That will be all this evening."
With that, Dessler stands up from his throne and walks away to the exit.
"Good night, everyone."
"Ghale Dessler!"
Just before he leaves, however, Dessler stops and speaks up.
"Oh, one more thing. Celestella, what was the Terron ship's name?
"I believe it was called the "Montana".", the woman answered.
"…Montana, huh? I shall remember that."
When the leader exited the room, Velte turned pensive, his fingers rubbing his chin.
Celestella noticed this and asked, "What's wrong?"
"That weapon which broke through the flare, is strikingly similar to the prototype that the Weapons Development team is working on.", Velte answered.
"Is that true, Velte?", Ghader asked, feeling troubled by this revelation.
"That's impossible.", Celestella dismissed it, but both brothers were still uneasy despite the Zirel's words.
Montana, Rear Observation Deck
Now a good distance away from Gliese 581, Mori is once again in the Rear Observation Deck and sends a silent prayer. From the speakers above, Misaki's voice comes through the PA.
Let's wish upon a star again tonight. Trust our wishes to the stars, like dreamers do."
The door to the room then opened, and there stood Kodai. Walking in, he spots Mori inside and turns to exit in silence, leaving the blonde alone in her thoughts.
"When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true. This has been Yuria Misaki."
Belerus City, Shultz Residence
Hilde Shultz sat at the edge of her bed in her new room, herself and her mother having been given honorary Gamilan status by their leader. In her hands illuminated by the dim city light from outside, is a picture frame with the tear-stained image of her father, her honorary uncles Guelf and Wol, and all the men under his father's command, all proudly smiling in the photo.
Putting the frame on her bedside, Hilde climbed into her bed and wrapped herself in the duvet, sobbing silently as she clutched close one of her many plushies bought by her father.