It’s a warm afternoon in the world of Nois, the wind blew softly through the fields and insects could be heard chirping softly everywhere in the meadows and forests. Nois is an industrial planet that specializes in agriculture and steel mills. It’s a world located at the edge of Republic space and is an essential planet to the Andromeda Republic and is the primary source of food and metals used by dozens of worlds across the galaxy as well as the Republic’s military. Freight companies and merchants gather in this world to sell and trade goods. However, the planet is small compared to other worlds, and as a result, it relies heavily on a gargantuan space station that orbits the world and serves as the main hub for selling and trading.
Down at the planet’s surface, lived a Republic naval pilot named Sam Axel. He is 25 years old, has brown curly hair, and has green eyes. He is married to his wife, Jessica, and had twin two daughters named Ellen and Alana who were 3 years old. He recently graduated from the Republic’s naval academy and flight courses. Together, the family lived in a small house on a farm which Jessica looked after.
Sam was assigned to the A.R.S. (Andromeda Republic Ship) Victoria. However, since the Victoria had to stay at the Nios Station for several days to resupply, Sam was allowed to visit his home and family. The Victoria is an Alpha-Class Republic Carrier, a 2,100-meter-long capital ship. It has an oval-shaped design with a short tower near the back of the ship, where the bridge is located. Despite its size, it is lightly armed, but what makes up for firepower is the ability to be able to hold up to 500 starfighters.
Sam was at his home for three days and nights. On the fourth day, he was called to head back to the Victoria as they were going to leave the station in a few hours.
“It was so nice that they allowed you to stay with us for a few days!” said Jessica. “Stay safe out there!”
Sam gave Jessica a kiss, and then noticed Ellen and Alana rushing towards him. He knelt and gave them a hug.
“Will we ever see you again?” asked Ellen. “When are you coming back?” asked Alana.
“I’m afraid I am unsure; there has been recent news of a massive unknown ship that destroyed Clizora. But I promise I will come back again soon!” Sam explained to his family.
Sam walked to a nearby town where was sent to a box-shaped Republic shuttle that took him along with other Republic Navy members to the Victoria. But little did they know of what was to come.
“Emperor, where do you plan for us to strike next?” Chaos Bringer asked. Once again, he was at the bridge of the Black Harbinger where Emperor Kronos stood gazing through the central window.
“There is a planet called Nois that has constructed a space station for selling and trading. By destroying it, we will spread panic across the nearby planets as they will be short of supplies from Nois.” Kronos explained.
“Let’s just go in with our ships and just kill everything in sight!” Chaos Bringer shouted.
“I am afraid that would not be a wise move; that idea worked out on Clizora is because it was the farthest planet in Republic space, and is isolated from the other worlds. Our goal with our next objective is to intimidate and spread panic, not obligate.” Kronos said softly.
Kronos ordered two Zeta Dreadnaughts from the main fleet to aid The Black Harbinger in this attack. Zeta Dreadnaughts are 15 kilometers long capital ships. They are colored gunmetal grey, and are rectangular shaped in the front, but have a rounder design in the front. Each ship has heavily armored plating and large turrets on the top and sides of the vessel.
Kronos gave the order to jump into Giga Drive, and the three ships went off for their mission. The Zeta Emperor purposefully allowed the dreadnaughts to go first, as he coordinated a special strategy to guarantee his victory.
In the A.R.S. Victora, the captain aboard, got a report of two incoming vessels. Within seconds, the Zeta Dreadnaughts had arrived, and they instantly began to unleash their plasma cannons at the freighters that were docking in and out of the station. One focused on the freighters that were stationed, while the second one targeted the ships that tried to leave.
“ALL HANDS-ON DECK!!! WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!!!! PILOTS GET TO YOUR ASSIGNED STARFIGHTERS AND DEFEND THE STATION AT ALL COSTS!!!” the captain announced on the loudspeaker.
Sam ran into the hanger bay along with the many other pilots, and he could smell the grime from the many fighters the ship was holding. Mechanics working on the starfighters finished up their final touches as pilots scrambled inside.
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Sam was assigned to a Crescent Shark, and they are known for curved wings shaped like a crescent, a sleek tailfin, two power generators on the sides of the vehicle, Towards the bottom back of the ship is a hidden compartment containing a photon missile launcher. As Sam strapped himself in the cockpit, he saw caught a glimpse of the maroon and white colored Nova Hawks taking off and preparing for their bombing run.
"A new photon missile compartment has just been installed!" Said a mechanic as she was doing pre-flight checks for Sam.
"Then this'll be a perfect chance to give it a test!" Said Sam.
Sam punched in the launch codes and he felt his ship shake a little as his Crescent Shark lifted from the floor. He heard the engines of his fighter roar as it accelerated, and within seconds he was caught up with the other ships and Ebon Vipers; subcompact starfighters designed to be incredibly fast and maneuverable for intercepting. Sam could see why they were called Ebon Vipers, because the ships were colored jungle-green with a black stripe on the sides.
He could now get a better look at the bombers, they are loosely A-shaped in design with bulky and round armored plating, and carry two standard auto firing laser turrets at the top and bottom of each wing. Once the squadron of ships were in attack range, the Nova Hawks went for the heavy artillery on the dreadnaughts, while the other Crescent Hawks and Ebon Vipers were ordered to flank and attack from the sides. As Vipers darted through space, they left a blue streak that resembled a blue serpent.
Unfortunately, the Nova Hawks couldn't fly as fast as the other fighters due to the heavy armor, but fighters scattered and fired their lasers. Sam locked onto a dreadnaught and fired a photon missile. It caused a huge exosion but the damage was minimal.
"Sam, focus on the dreadnaughts' shield generators, only then will our photon missles have a chance at doing major damage!" said the captain.
Unfortunately, the Nova Hawks couldn’t fly as fast as the other fighters due to the heavy armor, but fighters scattered and fired their lasers. As the Vipers darted through space, they left a blue streak that resembled a blue serpent. Sam and the others had to stall the dreadnaughts until the Nova Hawks were in bombing range. As Sam flew his Crescent Fighter, he saw many of his allies get blown to smithereens and heard them screaming in terror through the radio.
“Hang in there guys, the Nova Hawks are now in bombing range!” Sam said.
He could see them dropping green orbs onto the dreadnought canons from his cockpit. Upon impact, they created gargantuan explosions that sparkled in many colors. The fighters had the upper hand, but it only lasted for a few minutes.
“Massive unknown vessel incoming!” The captain said to his fighters.
Then the Black Harbinger arrived at the other side of the battlefield, and right on top of the Nois Station.
“Launch a squadron of Zeta Hornets and Scarab Bombers!” Kronos commanded. “Have the bombers focus on the Republic capitol ship and the station, and have the Hornets head away from the Black Harbinger for 15 kilometers, sweep around, and engage in a cluster formation to engage the Republic starfighters.
The opening for the fighters to launch an attack is located underneath the Black Harbinger, and it was directly above the Nois Station. Bombers instantly rushed out and decimated the station within minutes. They also bombarded around the Victoria. With all the fighters engaged with the Dreadnaughts, the Victoria was unable to hold off against that many bombers and was quickly destroyed.
“Oh shit! The Victoria!” Cried Sam as he watched it explode in the distance.
He couldn't see the enemy fighters from his distance since they were so far away, but they quickly circled around the Republic fighters.
They came in very fast and attacked from the sides, meanwhile the dreadnaughts warped into Giga Drive to retreat back to the fleet. The sheer amount of enemy starfighters destroyed the Republic fighters rapidly. There was nowhere to run because the Republic’s fighters were sandwiched in between the clustered formation of the Hornets and Scarabs.
Sam could now see what the enemy fighters looked like, and they were by far the most grotesque and creepy looking ships he has ever seen in his life. There were two kinds of enemy fighters. One was dark grey and looked like a demonic hornet with two blasters mounted on each wing.
Sam quickly fired his ship's laser cannons at it, and he watched it explode into tiny pieces. He was surprised how easily the ship got destroyed, but then he realized just how many of these things were swarming around. Sam heard a loud boom and felt his starfighter shake.
He turned his head and saw another grotesque ship. This one was round, bulky and resembled a hornet scarab with its wings spread out.
Sam couldn't shake it off and was getting shot multiple times, but he was suddenly saved by an Ebon Viper.
"We are completely outnumbered by these bugs! You must go and warn the Republic!" Said the pilot.
Sam had to fight his way through the swarm and engaged the Giga Drive to escape, within minutes he was lightyears away from the battle, but was now stranded in space.
Meanwhile back on Nois’s surface, Jessica watched the skies in horror as multiple big explosions could be seen. Her children were unaware of the carnage above because they were playing inside the house. Jessica knew there was only one Republic capital ship at that time and Sam was sent to that ship. She had a dreadful feeling that Sam died either aboard the ship, or in a starfighter. As debris from the Nois Station and ships fell from the sky, people began to evacuate the planet. After the Black Harbinger left the area, Jessica scrambled to the nearest refugee ship with her two kids, and they departed to another world.