Alarms echo out in a large hangar, crews scramble to clear the runway. Measuring 100 meters in length, 50 meters in width, 25 meters in height. White lines run down the center of the hangar as red-light flash rapidly. The wind rushing through the hangar as crews in skintight yellow vests and black skin suits. The angled helmets have a flat glass plate with device covering their mouths and noses. Tubes run from the right of their helmets and to containers on their backs. They all wear thick leather boots with rubber seals on the bottoms.
The crews begin moving Arch dropships off the runway. Large metallic doors hang in the back as smaller doors line the walls. White and yellow paint marks the ground as Dropships with power and fuel lines litter the hangar floor. The Arch Dropships smooth angled chassis runs from a flat point front to a sharply angled back with a flat hatch, an angled glass cockpit with two seats and black reinforcement bars could be seen just in front of the flat top. Dual opening were on either side of the cockpit with extended barrels. The curved wings had a flat maneuvering thruster in the midsection with small extensions under the wings for missiles. Dual tailfins sit above and to the sides of two flat rectangular engines. After a few minutes, the runway was clear as the alarms go quiet. The Crusader flies into view and moves towards the hangar.
A sharply angled white painted chassis dropship with incurved wings pointing towards the front with circular maneuvering thrusters in the center of each wing. The angled cockpit was a yellowish tint with two openings on the right and left. Two trapezoid openings run just above the cockpit. Three powerful engines could be seen just beyond the twin tail foils. Exhaust vents run along the sides of the main engines as old burn marks on its hull. It extends out its landing gear and bumps and scrapes as it hits the runway and comes to a rough stop. A small ramp extends out as a square hatch opens.
Crews begin to scramble around the Crusader as they examine its hull. Sapphire stumbles out and collapses to the ground as sparks shoot out from her damaged left arm. Her helmet bounces and rolls a meter away. She gasps for breath as the crying gets louder. Dr get Sapphire to the Medical Bay and get her patched up, Anderson said. Already ahead of you, Dr Benjamin responded. A medical crew comes rushing up with a stretcher. Coming to a stop, they lower the stretcher and place Sapphire on the it and quickly run off. General, what has happened? Dr. Benjamin asked. Just my past coming back, I did not think we would be up against Lisa, Anderson responded with in a cautious voice. Dr, get the information from Sapphire, Anderson said. Copy that sir, Dr. Benjamin responded.
Dr. Benjamin quickly rolls away as Anderson walks forward. Bracing his legs as he bursts into a full-on sprint and shoots through the hangar. Crews turn their heads as the General shoots by and reaches a door and comes to a complete stop. The door opening enough, Anderson slips through and into the hallway. His communicator begins to buzz in his ear, reaching up Anderson presses down. This is General Anderson, he said in a firm tone. General, this is X.O. Brice, we are picking up a transponder signal following us, Brice said. Can you identify the Signal? Anderson asked. Sir, it’s the Hades, from the speed and course it’s on an intercept course, Brice said. Set conditions to red alert and arm the guns, Anderson said. Copy that, Brice said.
Sirens began to ring throughout the halls as red lights flash. Pressing down on his communicator again, CIC, patch me throughout the ship, Anderson said. Copy that sir, a person said. This is General Anderson, all hands prepare for engagement. We just learned the Hades is on an intercept course. I will not lie, we may have to shoot down one of our own ships. I know some of you may have friends and family aboard the Hades. My orders are prepare for an engagement, Gunners and Pilots hold until they fire first, Anderson said. A loud Hoorah could be heard throughout the ship.
His communicator buzzes again, he reaches up again and presses down. General, its Benjamin, I got sapphire’s left arm off, but she got off the stretcher and escaped again, he said. I think he headed for elevator six, Dr. Benjamin said with a cautious voice. Thanks, I will intercept her, Anderson said as cuts the call.
Anderson takes off into a full-on sprint and shoots down the hall and reaches and Elevator. The Door opens and he sees Sapphire standing there with right her arm around her stomach. Sapphire you should be in the medical bay! Anderson asked. Just some bruises, but she grunts and hunches forward. I heard, Sapphire said with a strain in her voice. His eyes narrow as he feels some pain in his midsection. You have no idea what mess we got into, Anderson said. Don’t lie to me, I know she is faster and stronger than she looks, Sapphire said. You have no idea what you’re talking about, Anderson responded. Sapphire extends out her right blade and thrusts it forward and stops it close to his neck. Anderson not even flinching as the blade turns his throat red. Stupid girl, Anderson said with a harsh voice. Anderson swipes the blade away faster than Sapphire could not keep up with as he grabs her throat and slams her against the wall. Sapphire starts to cough as he keeps pressure on her throat. Listen closely, you are not even ready to fight an Immortal, Anderson said.
Releasing his grip, Sapphire drops and lands on her feet and coughs violently. Immortal, impossible? Sapphire said with a confused voice. No human is immortal, Sapphire followed up. It’s true, I am 759 years old, I am a veteran of the void incursion war, Anderson said. You don’t look a day over thirty, Sapphire said. Andersons communicator began to buzz, he reaches and presses down. General, ETA to Hades interception twenty minutes, Brice said. I want all even number cannons loaded with EMP rounds, Anderson said.
Sapphire come with me to the bridge, it’s time for you to be trained the same way I trained James, Anderson said. Trained him? Sapphire asked. Yes, when I was home, I helped train James, come on, we are needed on the bridge. Anderson takes a step in and hits the left side of the door. The Elevator shoots up and comes to a complete stop as the doors open. Anderson turns around and steps out as Sapphire follows behind. Both making their way down the hall as the lights still flash, Anderson keeps his expression calm as Sapphire looks anxious. First time in an air battle? Anderson asked. Yeah, I am used to ground combat, Sapphire responded. Keep calm, and I promise, you will get to knock Lisa’s lights out when this is done, Anderson said.
Thanks, that bitch has it coming, Sapphire responded. Reaching the door to the bridge it opens quickly open and reveals a large room twelve meters in width, nine meters in length, six meters in height with a slanted window at the front. Three rows of consoles sink down as they closer they get to the window. Screens flicker as personnel move to their stations. A circular platform sits in the center of the room with some embedded railings on the edges. More consoles run along the left and right walls. Making their way into the center of the room with a swift pace, close the blast doors, Anderson said. Large black metal plates drop down one over another along the bridges main viewport and cuts out the light. Blue lights come on and illuminate the room as the white light illuminates the crew working at them. A man 155 cm stands just in front of the circular stand. his light brown skin was slightly burned as his thin body hides under his uniform. His square head was covered with thin hair. His black eyes were blood shot with some slight burns to them.
Sapphire this is my X.O, Brice, Anderson said. Sapphire and Brice nod towards each other as Anderson gets a sense of the room. Helm, navigation, what is the situation outside? Anderson asked. Sir, we have a massive category five storm a head of us, Navigation said. We have been over the ocean for the last fifteen minutes, Helm said. Brice what is the location of the Hades? General Anderson asked. A map pops up in front of the view port. Seeing the continents El’emora, Sulfurous, and High vault, El’emora’s Mountains line the continent with a massive valley containing their home sprawling over the entire continent. High vault dented circular edges was labeled theocracy territory. Sulfurous was broken with waterways running through its landmass. Two dots pop up on the map with Damocles and Hades. The Damocles was to the east of the north section of El’emora with the Hades moving coming from the northwest.
The Hades is 25 clicks out on our port, Brice said. Navigation, chart a course for the storm, get us ahead of the main cell and keep us just ahead of it. Helm, get us just above the cloud line and keep us there, Anderson said. Copy that sir, setting a course of 006, 273, Helm said. The projection over the viewport quickly fades.
The room shifts as the Damocles climbs higher. After five minutes the ship steadies out. Sir we are in position, Helm said. Bring up tactical, Anderson said. A light blue hologram pops up in the center of the bridge. Sapphire seeing the sleek angled hull of the Damocles for the first time. Six main guns run along the top, smaller gun positions sat on the sides and back. Small humps hang on the corners as the engines extend out from the sides. A rectangular opening sit under the bridge. The hologram shows the storm behind them with cloud covering swirling around them. Location of the Hades? Anderson said. Sir, they are above us and bearing down on us, Brice said. Anderson looks over the storms and spots a few updrafts circling around the main storm cell. Helm, I see and updraft just to port, move us in, Anderson said. Copy that, moving into the secondary updraft, helm said.
General? Sapphire asked as her eyes turn blue. Anderson looks calm as he smirks a bit. The updraft will make targeting us a little harder, Anderson said. All batteries, adjust firing solutions by ten degrees port and 20 degrees up, General Anderson said. Brice, what is the Hades classification? Anderson asked. Carrier class, we have not detected any fighters being launched, Brice said. She could have already deployed them and using the cloud cover to conceal their movements, Anderson said. Computer, prep protocol, old war, Anderson said. The computer peeps, beginning reactor warmup process, the computer said. Sapphire and the bridge crew looks confused. I will explain later everyone, right now we must be prepared to fire, Anderson said.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
The hologram changes and shows the Hades coming into view. The Hades had a sleeker hull with some emplacements on the sides and top. A large rectangle hanger sits open in the front as the side hangars were closed. Four-gun emplacements could be seen just above and below the bridges viewport. Smaller gun emplacements were scattered over the hull and sides. Rounded engines extend out and were covered with angled plates.
General, transmission coming in from the Hades, a coms officer said. Put her through, patch it through the entire ship, Anderson said. The coms system tunes itself as Lisa comes on. General Adam Anderson, by the authority of the E’gaia union you are ordered to surrender immediately, Lisa said with a firm voice. Anderson raises his right hand to his head and rubs his temples. After all we been through, you suspect me a traitor? Anderson asked with a firm voice. Even for how long we lived, you did change a lot, Lisa said. I know, Sapphire has a list of names, we found a list that was a cover, Lisa said. You suspect me of having altered the files? Anderson asked. You got Sapphire shipped to you, I suspect you have more to do with this, Lisa said. I did not, I got lucky in getting Sapphire, Anderson said. Besides scan my ship, you will find a functional En’toran reactor ready to go, Anderson said. You what? Lisa said with an angry tone. Sapphire looks and sees the firm look on Andersons face. I also have Several old weapons from the void war, Anderson said.
Computer, activate weapons array and lock all phase missiles on to the Hades bridge, Anderson said. Sapphire sees the Damocles hologram raising four missile launches on the top and take aim at the Hades. Those are not the only weapons I have, Anderson said. I also have phasic shields, and Raptor cannons, Anderson said. I am sure you remember those weapons we used in the war, you ship will not last long in a fight, so please stand down, Anderson said with some pain in his voice. I have my orders, this conspiracy will be dragged into the light, Lisa said. Sapphire feels weakness overcome her as she feel faint, she collapses onto the floor with a heavy crash.
Two bridge crew move to her and help her up and walk her out of the room. Lisa, if I were a traitor I would have blown you out of the sky, Anderson said. Fair point, but I need that data Sapphire has, Lisa said. We will meet in three days at a public location, Anderson said. Ok, bring your data and I will bring what I have as well, we will compare notes, Lisa said.
Sir, the Hades is starting to break away, the navigation officer said. I will see you there, Anderson said. the line goes dead as the hologram shows the Hades turning away and moves out of range. Everyone still listening, there is a secret the union has kept from you all, and I will explain later, Anderson said. Helm, take us close to the mountains and circle around, General Anderson said. Copy that sir, the helmsman said. Anderson turns and walks away and heads for the door. Damn, I guess I will need to break the truth to Sapphire, General Anderson thought to himself. Frustration grows on his face as he remembers the Void war. The horrors that came through those gates, his family being slaughtered, and the memory of the procedure twists his hand and face. He feels the urge to drink as his hands begin to shake. Reaching the stairs, he climbs quickly and reaches the door as it opens. Passing through the door, his face changes to pain as he remembers the needles in his arms, legs, and side of his head. He looks to his right hand as it continues to shake. Was immortality worth the years I spent alive, Anderson thought to himself as he clenches his hand tightly.
Turning right, he heads down the hall with hasty heavy steps. Passing through the halls and turns left, Anderson reaches up to his ear and presses down. Put me through to Dr. Benjamin, Anderson said. The line buzzes for a bit and opens. This is Dr. Benjamin, he said. What is your location? Anderson asked. Medical center, Sapphire is having issues with her memories, Dr. Benjamin said. What? Anderson asked. She keeps covering her womb and keeps crying about losing something else? Dr. Benjamin said. I had to get her arms and legs off and strap her to the bed, Dr. Benjamin said. Good thinking, I will be there shortly, General Anderson said. Picking up the pace, Anderson runs through the halls at a great speed. He passes through several Junctions and comes to a stop in front of a door with a blue cross on it. The doors slide open, He steps through and looks around the large room.
White beds line the walls with screens to the right and left of each bed. A small white pillow rests at the head of each bed. Seeing several doctors and Benjamin ten beds down, he hears faint crying coming from Sapphire. He turns and walks down to the bed. One doctor turns and looks to him and back away and heads towards him. General, the doctor said. What is her condition? Anderson asked. Not good, it looks like a memory is trying to assert itself, her body cannot handle the current stress with her cybernetics, the doctor said.
What can you do for her? Anderson asked. the Doctor shakes her head in a disapproving way. I cannot risk using antidepressants or tranquilizers without potentially damaging her body. I called for some icepacks and bandages to help with some bruising on the back and side of her head, the Doctor said. I will begin some regeneration therapy on her ears to heal damage from a close-range explosion, the Doctor said. Thanks, please do what you for her, Anderson said. Anderson starts to move. Sir, from what I have seen, she is fighting a memory, the Doctor said. What? Which memory? Anderson asked. She kept placing her hand over her lower belly just where the uterus is and kept talking about a baby crying, the doctor said. Anderson stops in his tracks and looks back to the doctor.
The only way I can think of is to have her stop fighting this memory, I also ran some scans of the area she keeps covering. I found some breakage along her pelvis, the Doctor said. I think she was pregnant at one point before her death, the doctor said. The news hits General Anderson like a ton of bricks and drops to his knees. He tightens his fists and slams the floor repeatedly. Generals are you alright? The Doctor asked.
No, I just learned I lost a grandchild, General Anderson said. As if things were not bad enough, he pauses as he stands up. I am just learning how much I lost again, Anderson finishes up. He moves forward and pushes past the other doctors and reaches Sapphire. Seeing her in her pants and crop top with eight centimeters just under her breasts and reveals her midsection. Thick leather straps run across chest and waist as her remaining limbs were gone. Sapphire’s head was turned away as her lips tremble. May I have a chair please? Anderson asked. Sure thing, we will be over there if you need us, the chief medical officer said. A few seconds pass as one Doctor brings a chair and sets it as the foot of Sapphire’s bed. Anderson takes a seat as the doctors moves away and keep an eye on them. He leans forward with a sad look on his face. Sapphire, it’s time for the truth, Anderson said. She turns her head to the right, just leave me alone, I lost everything, Sapphire said.
Sapphire, I know what you lost, Anderson said. We were going to have a baby girl, she pauses as she feels her throat tighten. I was so scared about breaking the news to James as I feared what I would do to our child, Sapphire said. Living with no parents, I would not be a good mother, she pauses again. I wanted to terminate my pregnancy before he found out, I sat in the bathroom with a handful of pills to end my pregnancy, Sapphire said. Anderson looks shocked as he processes the information. Sapphire, having a child would have been easy with James, did he not tell you he wanted to be a father, Anderson said with a calm voice. He did, but I took my own selfishness too far, either way I lost my baby when I died, Sapphire said with a wail. She turns her head back and looks to Anderson with deep blue eyes. If you want I could search to see if your daughter survived? Anderson asked. Sapphire remembers some medical technology can save a very young embryo. She looks back to Anderson with a slight smile as she feel deep regret.
Please, if you could, it may help, Sapphire said. Anderson nods in approval. But I need to tell you the truth, Anderson said. What truth? Sapphire asked. The real history of the E’gaia union, Anderson said. Sapphire looks confused and blinks a few times as the pressure in her eyes dissipates. This is the third incarnation of the union, the first fell over 600 years ago, Anderson said. What? Sapphire pauses.
“The flair happened almost two hundred years ago, Sapphire said with a stutter. That was a lie the union concocted to keep the population from panicking. In truth the flair is a malfunctioning weapon from the war, it’s job was to cover E’gaia with solar radiation to kill void creatures, Anderson said. We lost control when Echo bunker was destroyed, Anderson said. He blinks a few times as he remembers the fires burning deep into the night.
We told the truth to the second union, they panicked and killed each other in the streets, Anderson said.” How old are you? Sapphire asked. He cracks his neck, I am 759 years old, General Anderson said. Sapphire’s jaw drops. How can you live this long? Sapphire asked. General Lisa and I are two of the last three immortal super soldiers, Anderson said. There were 100 volunteers during the last days of the Void war, out of the 100 only five survived the genetic modification, Anderson said. After that, we were always being deployed to fight the monsters that can from the void, Anderson said. Did your family survive? Sapphire asked. He clenches his fists tightly as his anger boils over, no, those monsters ripped them apart! Anderson said with hatred in his voice. It not just you that lost everything, but I need you to be ready to fight, Anderson said with a firm tone. Sapphire nods in approval.
I will let you rest, but tomorrow I will have you train and be ready to fight an immortal, Anderson said. He gets up from his seat and walks away. Reaching up, Anderson waves over the doctors and heads for the door. After a few moments he reaches the door as it opens and steps out into the halls. Moving through the halls, Anderson reaches his quarters. Reaching out he twists and pulls the door open. Stepping into the room, he looks to the left and sees photos on the wall with a nightstand underneath it. He walks over to the nightstand and pulls open the drawer and pulls out a glass bottle with a brown liquid in it. Scotch was written on the label as the urge to take a drink rushes throughout his body as his hands start to shake.