Story [Issue 32] The Titancore - Part 2

[Kevred 1,586]

Read the previous chapter

 

 

Battle of the Titancore

 

 

Booming speakers pull me from my sleep.

 

“Battlestations! Battlestations!”

 

My mind is foggy, my thoughts unclear. A blurred vision shows me my personal quarters, but my memories refuse to tell me how I got here. I remember Aquila Trime, but then...nothing. Unsteadily, I rise up on my unusually weak legs. Red lights are flashing, and I apprehend the cause.

 

“Nergos? Report!” I try to say into my communication unit. I hear a hoarse and croaky voice come out of my mouth. 

 

As if on cue, the door slides open and Nergos busts in. I'm so confused I don’t even care he didn't have the courtesy of knocking.

 

“Boss! You’re awake! Great! Finally!” He gives me a big smile, which does nothing to help my perplexity.

 

“What..what happened?”

 

Nergos breaks out laughing. “Why the worried look? I don’t know what happened in there, how should I? All I can tell you is that a woman and a man your age brought you back to the ship, unconscious. So I put you in your quarters. Should I have not?”

 

A doubt runs through my mind.

 

“Did that man...look like my brother Andros, by any chance?” I ask.

 

Nergos’ smile disappeared as fast as it appeared. My worst fear is confirmed. A soldier doesn't fear the enemy, he fears what he can not fight.

 

“We’ll ponder that later. Fill me in on the situation.” I add.

 

“We’re at a few light-years of the Titancore, boss. Our ship, the Archimedes, the Hercules, the Selene and the Helios have established a temporary blockade around it. We are awaiting the Achilles before going on the offensive.”

 

“Enemy?”

 

“The RSL dispatched the Fifth Escuadron to defend the Titan'. Seven ships in total, equipped with plasma repeaters and a plasma particle cannon.”

 

I'm baffled at the casual tone with which he said that.

 

“What? Who’s commanding this mission? This is going to be another Flaming Ranges! Is that imbecile crazy?!”

 

“It’s Admiral McCollins, sir.”

 

A cold feeling runs down my spine. If it's the man himself, I better not insult him so boldly.  “Sorry, I got carried away," I apologize, " What’s the plan?”

 

“The Admiral’s orders are formal, boss: the Titancore must not be destroyed, as the information contained within it are of great value to us.”

 

I noted the way he said 'us'. After all we've been through, he still feels like he's on the Terran's side? I was pondering the question when the speakers started blaring again.

 

“The Achilles has arrived! Prepare for battle!”

 

My old captain instinct coming back, I order, “Visual on battle formations!”

 

The main screen flickers on, and I see our six battle cruisers, ants compared to the imposing RSL Star Destroyers. As if reading my mind, Nergos whispered in my ear, “Don’t worry, sir, this battle will also serve as a test of the brand new MkIII Aegis shields.” With that, he winked and went back to his post.

 

At the same moment, a bald man’s face appeared on the main screen.

 

“This is captain Sookos, of the Achilles. All ships, prepare to fire warning volley on my command. Three, two, one, Fire!”

 

I steady myself on my shoulder arms as the whole ship vibrates. The main screen flickers back to the battle, and I watch as millions of bullets make their way to the RSL lines. The damage was at best minimal, but no one was surprised. The goal of the shots was only symbolic, to officially début the battle.

 

Expecting the RSL to fire back, I order my men to divert energy to shields. I was right, series of booms* indicating the launch of multiple plasma projectiles, but much more powerful than our salvo.

 

“Brace yourselves!”

 

Fearing the worst, I prepare my mind and soul to be pulverized. Amazingly, the damage was limited to a few energy conduits. I'm starting to take these Aegis shields more seriously.

 

Soon after, the voice of McCollins himself comes out of the speakers, ordering all ships to fire rockets. My men obey, and soon a pair of glinting missiles are sent towards the RSL, only to be vaporized by their counter-measures. Nergos cursed.

 

“At this rate, we’ll reach the Titancore in ten years!” he muttered. Sharing his opinion, I decided to get into action and ordered: “Fire EMP nuke at 45,76,23! Sookos, as soon as it hits, move in and destroy them!”

 

On impact, a purple cloud envelops one of the Star Destroyers as the Achilles approaches them. Biting my tongue, I watch as it fires everything it got at the bulky RSL ship. Rockets, auto-cannons, lasers, nothing seems to even dent the well-armoured RSL warship. But after a while that seemed like hours, the latter finally shatters like glass into a million pieces, and shrieks of joy are heard all over the ship. Less prone to the illness of victory, I tell Sookos to back off and come back.

 

Unfortunately, drunk with the sentiment of success, he ignores my warning and instead, ventures further into RSL territory. Nergos questions my conduct. “Sir, there’s nothin’ to be afraid of! They've got EMPs too! And besides, the Aegis will protect them well.”

 

I sigh. “Nergos, as true as losing a battle doesn't mean losing the war, defeating an enemy doesn't mean winning the battle.”

 

Sadly, I'm proven right. Powerless, I see the soul reaper emerge from his crib. A dense sphere of energy travelling across no-man’s land, reaching its target in the blink of an eye. It embraces the Achilles with arcs of lightning, spreading its destructive power over the ship’s hull. Then the show-stopper arose.

 

An explosion almost as strong as a supernova, rocking my ship as if it was a cradle. Conduits implode and screams fill the air, but I am only focused on the terrifying, but beautiful phenomenon happening before my eyes. The Achilles bursts into a million fragments, a deadly rainbow of blood, as the horrified cries of my men are muffled by the tremendous tremors created by the blast. I close my eyes until the swaying stops.

 

“All ships, advance into RSL territory!” orders the Admiral. I don’t know what he’s doing, I don’t know why he’s doing it, but I don’t care. I'm weary of this war, of all this secrecy, of my brother, of myself. I order my ship to advance.

 

“Fire all EMPs!” I shout.

 

“The launch turret isn't responding!”

 

“Get a repair crew down there! Fire the auto-cannons non-stop!”

 

A huge tremor sends me tumbling to the ground. A blinding light emanates from the screen, then a deafening deflagration makes itself heard. On screen, I stare in bewilderment at the Hercules, now nothing more but debris.

 

“Boss! Sensors indicate RSL forces approaching from left side! Right side too!” warns Nergos.

 

“What?” is all that comes to my mind.

 

“RSL warships! Multiple approaching from the rear too! More under us! Above us! We’re surrounded!” He turns at me, a panicked look in his eyes. Another explosion makes it even worse.

 

“The Selene isn’t responding anymore!” a young helmsman yells.

 

I make my decision.

 

“Nergos, direct our ship towards the Titancore. Go to light-speed. We’ll be invulnerable to RSL forces.”

 

“But boss, we’re probably going to crash into one of them! And even if we make it, we’ll hit the Titancore!”

 

I smile. It feels good to smile.

 

“That’s the whole point,” I grin.

 

As if knowing my plans, Admiral McCollins’ face suddenly appears on my screen.

 

“Captain, what do you think you’re doing? I officially said that the Titancore must remain INTACT!”

 

My smile gets even bigger. He probably thinks I'm crazy now, and he’s right.

 

“Nobody cares,” I mock, and immediately shut off the screen, ensuring any more transmissions from him are sent directly to the block-list.

 

“Nergos,” I repeat, “light-speed course towards the Titancore. Go.”

 

The latter straightens, his back turned to me.

 

“Sir...all those men serving on this ship...they have families…”

 

“We’re going to die either way, might as well accomplish something!” Despite the situation, I can’t stop smiling.

 

“There’s maybe still a chance!” Nergos yells, whipping around, staring at me with a pair of desperate eyes. I start laughing, a hysterical laugh that makes more than a few heads turn my way.

 

“You think? Open your eyes, Nergos! We’re surrounded! Let’s not make our deaths worthless, shall we? Now set a course for the Titancore!”

 

Nergos looks at me, strangely calm.

 

“No,” he says.

 

“What?”

 

“No, I won’t do it.”

 

I stare in disbelief as Nergos walks away from the pilot console. My smile gone. I always considered him as a loyal friend, someone who would never let me down. And now a few steps shattered my belief forever. Anger rushes into my body.

 

“Lieutenant Nergos, you are relieved from duty permanently. You are confined to your quarters” I say as I approach the console, turning my back to Nergos.

 

“Stop, captain,” he murmurs.

 

Feeling something strange, I turn around and discover Nergos, pointing his gun at me. He continues,

 

“I was the one who implanted the bomb. I was the one who sent regular data uploads of our ship to the Crimson Blade. I was the one who killed Sarkas. Did the Genetarr really think the Terrans wouldn't discover who he really was? Times are changing, Arshton. Forces you can’t imagine are at play now, and we are only peons of the great game. The difference is, the whites always start. And I'm on the white side. Now step aside. I am officially taking command of the Perseus, with authority level Terran Secret Services.”

 

 

He killed Sarkas.

 

He killed Sarkas.

 

I activate the console.

 

“Stop or I’ll shoot!” warns Nergos. But I am impermeable to the world. One thought, and one thought only.

 

He killed Sarkas.

 

I enter the coordinates. Faintly, I hear a detonation, but it feels like it’s coming from a different world. I barely notice the sudden cold I feel in my abdomen.

 

He killed him.

 

I continue to drum my fingers on the console, a rhythmic heartbeat animated by unstoppable power.

 

Another bang. Blood spills out of my mouth, but I continue to type. I don’t feel pain. Instead, I feel complete relaxation. The cold is refreshing, the blood is beautiful.

 

And then probably another one, but I don’t hear it any more. My legs fail me, I'm sent tumbling to the ground. I scramble to get up, and finally, activate the reactors. The battered Perseus shakes like never before, and my face meets the ground once again.

 

The screen is still on, I gaze at the beautiful void. The Titancore glints of a thousand shades of red, and I watch as my ship turns into a giant fireball.

 

My eyelids drop.

 

 

*Please note that in reality, there is no sound in space.

[deadtoyou 2,502]

 

*Please note that in reality, there is no sound in space.

What a fitting end to a action-packed story. :P :lol:

[CombatCat2 248]

I guess you deserve a few compliments kev.

Sad ending or not, written, as always! I enjoyed it! Keep up the good work!

Edited February 27, 2015 by CombatCat2

[liverpoolaum 811]

nicer always :)

[carefulmatthewtomas 39]

Very good Kev, enjoying this series :)

[pwhite 120]

Hm that picture looks like it was taken in EVE Online?

[Kevred 1,586]

What a fitting end to a action-packed story. :P :lol:

Didn't want some NASA employee to start a  riot.

 

I guess you deserve a few compliments kev.

Sad ending or not, written, as always! I enjoyed it! Keep up the good work!

It wasn't written, I telepathically made it appear on screen. Duh.

 

nicer always :)

 

Very good Kev, enjoying this series :)

 

Great! Thanks

 

Hm that picture looks like it was taken in EVE Online?

Don't ask me, I don't play subscription games.

[deadtoyou 2,502]

Didn't want some NASA employee to start a  riot.

True dat, brothah.

[CombatCat2 248]

It wasn't written, I telepathically made it appear on screen. Duh.

Then you kinda just ruined a compliment I was trying to give you. All the hard work to manage to type that...wasted....

[jan-willemdb 0]

   :excl:  :excl:  :excl:

[Raakin_Tanker 3]

pretty good

[jazz20 1,181]

Nice article :)