As I drifted away looking at the newly arrived and all too familiar pirate carrier I resigned myself to my fate.
We could barely take on one big carrier and now its smaller counterpart is here as well. There’s no way they aren’t both pirates. We were wrong, they noticed our scouting activity and laid a trap accordingly.
I furrowed my brow. But how did the pirates know of the trade convoy, and besides that it still makes no sense to come all the way out here just for that... There is literally nothing else of value in this system. So why come here at all? The fuel alone must have cost them more than this entire operation, and that was before the losses they were taking here. No there has to be another reason…
It doesn’t matter. Not anymore.
For one last time, I looked over at Rafar, my home. I hoped that one day I could see past the endless toxic clouds that covered the planet like a sick blanket.
“It’s over.”
“Like hell it is!” said a voice through the A.V.N. I felt something hug me from behind and saw.
“Xander?! What the hell are you doing out here?”
“Saving my friend’s idiot son from nihilism.” Said Xander, who pulled us back towards the station with the long safety cord he had attached to himself.
“Look around Xander we can’t deal with that second carrier.”
“I could say the same to you, look around, what do you see!”
“A broken station, about one fighter squadron we’ve got left, and probably a dozen injured workers.”
“Wrong, we have a half-functioning station, a full fighter squadron that is still kicking their ass, and more than a dozen men and women fighting for Rafars future. A future that is still within our grasp.”
As we reentered the station and the airlock closed behind us I took a deep breath of recycled air. “Thanks, Xander.” I said sincerely. “Thank me when we’ve won, now start using that head of yours to think of solutions not problems.”
“Okay, first off how are things in the hangar currently?” Xander had a grim look. “Henry the engineers, fighter pilots, royal guards, and other station crew are fighting tooth and nail to retake the hangar, right now it’s a stale mate, but if other reinforcements come from the second carrier we’ll be overrun.” I nodded. “Then let’s make a run for the hangar, get all but two of the remaining royal guards guarding the engineers to come with us.”
We made the best speed possible towards the hangar.
[15 minutes later - Rafarian Space Station “Miranda’s Hope” - Hangarbay]
Shots ricocheted all throughout the hangar bay from every direction. I ducked for a floating piece of cover and clung to it. Xander and the other four remaining royal guards followed suit and found their own cover.
Amanda updated us as we went. “My Lord, our last fighter squadron is fighting viciously against the three pirate fighter squadrons, it seems to be the last of their forces as no more fighters are coming from the carrier.” Well, that’s a relief. “Understood how are the defense platforms holding up and what is the state of their EMP weapon?” I took a peak over the cover and spotted Henry and the other Rafarian forces holding the pirates back but not being able to push them further out either. Since when do pirates have such sturdy-looking equipment? “Two out of the four defense platforms remain functional and are providing cover for our fighters, the charge status of the EMP weapon is unknown however we are not detecting any energy build-up.” so we have some time. “Royal guards, advance help our forces hold them off and lock them in that place.”
Without question, Xander and the guards moved out, while in the meantime I contacted one of our remaining fighters.
Heavy gunfighting and brawls continued in zero-g as both sides kept up the fight for what felt like hours. I had sent various construction drones to harass the enemy in key positions, pushing them further back to their ships. When they were in range I ordered all forces to keep them suppressed. A minute later one of our fighters did a driveby and began unleashing its fighter weapons upon both the hangar bay and our enemy tearing through both like a knife through butter. After that, we made short work of them.
“Gather the wounded to the sick bay or engineering where it’s safe, The rest of you that are still fighting prepare equipment for a second wave!” Xander shouted over the comms network.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
Henry came up to me and we shared a brief blood-covered hug. ”Henry you son of a bitch, your alive!” Henry grinned. “I could say the same about you Jason, so got any plans to get us out of this mess?” I scanned the constant stream of data the engineering now-turned command center sent us. “We need to find a way to take out the big carrier before its EMP weapon charges up for another shot. And since most of their fighter and boarding squads are dead I’m gonna assume that they have run out of most of their manpower, however, we have to prepare for the second wave coming from the smaller carrier.” I focused on comms again. “Amanda a few minutes ago you said the smaller carrier was releasing more boarding shuttles, how long till they reach us.” the link was silent for a bit. “Amanda? Is everything al-”
“Everyone, the small pirate carrier is in fact under General Thalia’s control! They won the fight and took control of the vessel. Whilst we were fighting off the boarders the general's forces have made their way into the big carrier!” a big cheer went up as everyone rejoiced at the big news.
Whilst the cheering and cleanup was underway Amanda sent me a private link. “My Lord the General has requested aid, as her forces seemed to have taken heavy casualties during the skirmish with the former occupants of the small carrier. I thought it best to relay this privately.”
“Good call Amanda, tell her help will be on the way.”
I called over Henry and Xander and opened a private comms link between the two.
“The general has requested our aid in seizing the big ship, it seems her forces were still battered and under-strengthed when they launched the assault on the carrier, I want us to join her, how many vehicles are left functional?”
Henry shook his head. “During the fight just now we lost the last of our ships, the only functional ones left are the pirates boarding vessels.” I eyed Xander. “Get everyone that is able-bodied and willing to get some vengeance ready for the attack, Henry and I will get the transports going.” Xander sprinted into action immediately forming a group.
I and Henry stormed off towards the vessels. Once inside we tried accessing the controls, only to find that we were locked out of the system. “Shit!” Henry cursed. “Tell me Henry does this equipment look like that of pirates.” Henry’s eyes went wide. “No, it doesn’t this is far too much for mere pirates.” we tried breaking into the system but as minutes passed no progress was made. When I was about to snap I tried a different approach.
“Designate this vessel as my subordinate.”
[!!ERROR!! The vessel has refused to be your subordinate]
“Designate this vessel as my subordinate.” I tried again.
[!!ERROR!! The vessel has refused to be your subordinate]
“Designate this vessel as my subordinate.” and again.
[!!ERROR!! The vessel has refused to be your-]
“Designate this vessel as my subordinate.” and again.
[!!ERROR!! The vessel has refused to be-]
“Designate this vessel as my subordinate.” I tried over and over.
[!!ERROR!! The vessel has refuse-]
Even though I knew it was futile, I kept going, I needed to avenge those who had fallen due to someone’s cowardly scheme, and I refused and spit on any chance that they might salvage some kind of win from this. Hateful thoughts occupied my mind as I kept trying to break into the system.
[Unique function formed due to user's need and desire.]
[User can now access the [SUBJUGATE] Function from the Administration Skills system.]
[The [SUBJUGATE] Function allows the user to force a mechanical system to become your subordinate.]
I barely registered that a new function had formed as I kept pressing my intent into the system to just SUBMIT!
[The [Boarding vessel 03] has been subjugated, you now have control over the vessel.]
And as the system said the ship finally gave in. “Holy shit Jason, what did you do.”
“I kept hitting it till it relented, now decide whether you're coming with me or not.” Henry grabbed two guns. “Of course, I’m coming with you! These bastards have hell to pay for!”
I keyed Xander. “Xander is everyone ready.” without missing a beat I got a reply. “We are ready, Lord Jason, what about the vessel?” I quickly looked over at Henry and pointed my nose at the console. He gave me a thumbs-up. “It’s ready. And Henry can fly it.” The vessel soon filled up with those that wanted to execute some vengeance on these so-called ‘pirates’.
The remaining fighter squadron provided what cover they could, and now joined by General Thalia’s corvette the ride went quite smooth so far. As I leaned against my seat rifle in hand I felt a pressure on my shoulder, looking over I saw Xander’s hand. “Hey kid, how you holding up?” Asked Xander in our private channel. “Good..” Xander shook his head. “Kid don’t lie to me, forget about ranks, forget about being a prince, I’ve been in enough war to know when I see a tired and broken soul, I won’t tell you to get rest right, but focus on seeing this through, then let the old guard handle it okay?” I nodded. “Thanks, Xander.” Shouts came over the channel, mentioning that we were getting close to the big carrier’s hangar. “Don’t mention it. Now make sure not to die, now let’s give these bastards hell.” The boarding vessel nearly crashed to a halt inside the hangar bay.
We were now inside the belly of the beast.