TARTARUSIOS

"We've surrounded them, sir."

"Well done. Those fools will learn what it means to stain the great name of the Terrian Empire. Fire the radical cannon — target the Tartarusios."

2 hours earlier

"Approaching Zellion's space border and the docking station, Captain. Requesting docking permission. Payment has been sent, but we've had no reply. Put me through to Zellion SS and request a video with the director — tell them we have Brions to appraise."

"Docking granted, Captain. Initiating. Put the call on the main screen."

"It's been a long time, Captain Meilton — an unexpected visit, some would say."

"Glad to see you, Director. You look well — gained weight?"

"Meilton, I could deny you docking right now. I'll take that as a goodwill gesture."

"Harry — that was a joke. And I've got a good shipment for you; you'll be pleased. Let's hope this isn't another scheme to use my station for repairs."

"Once we secure the Brions, call the Empire. Tell them the entire crew of the Tartarusios is at Zellion SS. Those criminals think they can fool me — I'll show them otherwise. Don't mess with Director Blain."

"Hey Oscar — you think that bastard will keep his word?"

"Don't count on it, Halley. He's still hung up on last time. We've got to unload those Brions; they can't go bad."

"Right — be ready for anything. Those assholes care about one thing: money. Once they get the cargo they'll sell us out. Prep the Orbitons — we might need air support. Reload the cannons and get maintenance standing by; we need repairs done as soon as possible. Let's hope Oscar can buy us some time."

Somewhere inside the Tartarusios

"What's all this noise? I can't sleep. Goddammit — call Oscar Meilton. Calling Oscar Meilton… Hey Youri, what's going on? What's that noise? I can't sleep."

"We're docked at a shady station and rushing repairs; everyone's handling their duties at once. I get that we're outlaws, but isn't this going a bit too far? Fifth time this month."

"Sorry, Youri — we've had a ton of shipments and they pay well. We need the cash; people need to eat and get paid."

"Fine, I'll go eat something — hope the kitchen is open. Hmm… this planet… yeah, that's sad. Half of it is almost perishing. Due to the last intergalactic war, they say the Empire unleashed their god Orbiton to teach the other factions a lesson — that they are the rightful rulers of this universe."

"Hey Youri, how's it going?"

"Hey, fine, just woke up. You seem to be in a rush — do you need help with that?"

"Thanks, Youri, but it's okay. I'm just taking this to the hangar for the guys. They haven't had breakfast yet, so I'll be bringing it to them."

"Alright, Maria, be careful — they're using zero-gravity mode in the hangar."

"Thanks, Youri."

Inside Zellion's Space Station

"Be careful with that cargo. I would not like for something bad to happen to those precious Brions that you guys valiantly brought here to appraise."

"Come on, Harry — don't worry. They're safe in our hands. We managed to bring them here, so give us some gratitude."

"Bring them to Hangar Seven. I have my guy ready to check them."

"You heard the man, boys — let's go. Move your feet."

"Alright, Captain."

"Halley, can you go with the guys at the hangar? I want to check something. Don't forget we are inside their territory — be careful, Oscar."

"Don't worry, Halley, I got this. I'm just going to check something outside the ship."

There it is. "Oh — Youri is gonna kill me."

"Hey boss, what are you doing up there?"

"Nothing, just checking the weather radar. Do you need a hand?"

"No thanks, Nolan. I was just about to come down."

"He sure likes to poke at that window area."

"Yeah. That's on top of Hangar 2, right?"

"Yes. That's the only off-limits space on the ship. Not even the captain can go in, right?"

"Yep. Why is that, though?"

"Well, let me tell you a story. Before I joined the crew I was living on Garossos, a nice rocky planet. Have you heard of it?"

"No. I'm not surprised. It was destroyed almost completely in the last intergalactic war. The Empire used the planet as a repair base — all the ships that were damaged were hauled there. Before the war I used to run a burger-patty trailer. It was fun. I went everywhere, saw everything — all the beauty of Garossos — until that day. The skies cracked and the Empire rained down. Everything was destroyed: my home, the cities — everything leveled to the ground. Those lucky enough to survive the first wave were forced to work for the Empire, like it or not."

"That's when I first saw a cosmo-ship. I was amazed. They took everything from us, but at that moment, looking at that warship, I did not think about that. All I could think was how to get inside it. So I volunteered as a mechanic and hopped on board. The first deployment went well, but with time I understood that I liked the ships but not the Empire — so I deserted. I fled the ship I was on, got in an emergency pod, and escaped. I was stranded for days on a new planet that I had no idea where it was."

"One night I had to go outside. I couldn't stay in. I don't know what it was, but I just had to go outside and look at the sky. I had already surrendered all hope of surviving — I had little food and water left. Then, as I was looking up, I saw the light. The Tartarusios had just entered the atmosphere. I had no way of sending a distress signal, so I thought they did not come here for me. But somehow the ship had decided to break down at this weary planet I was stranded on."

"I started to get close to the ship. As I approached I kept hearing the same music, over and over. I was confused. It was a melody I will never forget — you could feel its pain and happiness, sorrow and gratitude. It was coming from that same small window above Hangar Two. It kept playing the entire night. I never slept more peacefully than that night. In the morning I woke up inside the ship."

"Oscar came to my room, and with one look he said, 'Welcome to the Tartarusios.' I knew then and there that this was going to be the ship I wanted to serve on, too. Later, after some time, I went to try and fix the hangar barriers. As I was getting to Hangar Two, I was stopped by Oscar. He told me that that hangar belonged to the owner of the ship, and he, too, as captain, was not allowed to go in. I did not ask why — I just knew. Somehow it all made sense there: what was lying behind those doors, and who Youri really was."

"What do you mean, Nolan?"

"You will see for yourself soon and understand."

"Hey, have the guys finished that inspection? Get a crew here ASAP — we need this fixed right now. What's the captain doing over there?"

"I finally got in. So, you're here, Youri."

"Is this supposed to be off-limits to you too?"

"Come on — I'm the captain, Youri. I need to know where my crew and staff are."

"Really? So I'm part of your crew now?"

"You're always welcome. You know that."

"Thanks, but I'll pass."

"You turned me down again, huh?"

"I told you, Oscar — remember that day?"

"Yeah... still, I can't help but ask. Can I ask you something, Oscar?"

"Yeah, sure."

"What does freedom mean to you?"

"Freedom?"

"To me, freedom is the ability to do what we're doing right now — travel the universe. No boundaries, no borders. Just open space and everything to see. Why do you ask?"

"Just making sure."

"Sure of what?!"

"That I picked the right captain for this ship. HAHAHAHAHA — Youri! Captain, we need you at the helm."

"I'm coming. What is it?"

"We're detecting a warship approaching the space border of Zellion. Put it on screen."

"…Shit. That bastard sold us out. Get ready to leave. Are the repairs all done?"

"Ninety-five percent, Captain. Except for the vapor room and the back wing."

"Can we finish in time to get away?"

"It'll take ten minutes, boss. I'll get it done."

"Warm up the main engines. And don't fire the cannons — no matter what. If we get hit by that radical cannon, we're done. Main plasma shield at 200%. We have to be ready to leave at any moment."

"All pilots to their stations! Enemy Orbiton approaching at rapid speed, Captain."

"Get Tom on the line. Tom, we need to buy some time. Can we hold them off for another seven minutes?"

"Don't worry, Oscar. I'll get the guys ready — we're heading out now."

"Get Nolan on the line. Are we ready yet?"

"Almost done here, boss."

"Let's go, boys. Let's show these imperial dogs what real pilots can do."

"Enemy Orbiton has engaged with TITANS. Titan 1 through 8, do you copy?"

"Copy. Titan 3 has engaged the enemy. Titan 5 has taken heavy damage."

"Titan 5, retreat. Do you copy?"

"Copy — but these guys are on my tail. I can't get away!"

"Enemy Orbiton destroyed. Thanks, Tom. Titan 5, fall back — we've got this. Boss, we're all ready."

"Bjorn, push the engine to full power. Ready to leave the space border, Captain."

"Titans, do you copy? Return to base."

"Copy that. Sir, Titans' ETA is one minute."

"Get ready — we leap in one minute. Set destination: 500 light-years from Planet Zellion."

"All crew, prepare to leap in 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… Leap successful, Captain. Good job, everyone."

"Sir… we're detecting 23 warships. We're surrounded."

At the Terrian warship

"We have them surrounded, my lady. Foolish criminals — they think they can escape the mighty Empire of Terria. They've fallen right into our trap. Countess Emilia, we've got them."

"Put me through to the rebel ship."

"But why, Countess? Let's just destroy them, my lady."

"I want to speak to the one who caused all this trouble for our fleets. I want to see, with my own eyes, the person responsible for all the men I lost at the Battle of Onyx."

"Connecting to the main screen, my lady."

"This is Emilia Rozasar, Commander of the Terrian Empire's East Galactic Forces. You are surrounded. I suggest you surrender and stand trial for your crimes against the Terrian Empire. If not, I will dispose of your ship — here and now."

TARTARUSIOS

"Oscar, we have a message."

"Put it through."

Displaying on the main screen...

"This is Emilia Rozasar, Commander of the Terrian Empire's East Galactic Forces. You are surrounded. I suggest you surrender and stand trial for your crimes against the Terrian Empire. If not, I will dispose of your ship — here and now."

"Bjorn, how soon can we leap?"

"ETA: 15 minutes, Captain."

"Oscar, if we do that, they'll just follow us again."

"I know that, Halley. How much energy output can we send to the cannon?"

"If we allocate 100% to the plasma shield, we'll have 100% output on the cannon — but that would leave us vulnerable to the other warships."

"Sir, we're receiving a request to open hangar door number two."

"What? Put me through to Youri. Youri, wait — we're surrounded. You'll get shot from behind."

"Just boost the plasma shield output to 200% and you'll survive the first blast. I'll make an opening. Get ready to leap as soon as the coast is clear. Wait, Youri—"

"Oscar, this is my ship. You're the captain, yes — but no one points a gun at my ship and gets away with it. Youri, opening hangar door two. Titan 0 has launched."

"That's Titan 0... I've never seen an Orbiton like that."

"You haven't — because no one who sees that Orbiton lives to tell about it. What you're seeing is called a God Orbiton. Only five exist, and they're all under the Empire's control."

"Why is a God Orbiton aboard the Tartarusios?"

"Because Youri is the pilot of ALTOPEREH, the Vanisher. The last God Orbiton — also known as Zero — was thought to have been destroyed. It vanished during the last war. Titan 0 ready to fire, Captain."

"Get the engine ready — we leap as soon as he takes the shot."

"I'm back inside ALTO again... even though I swore I'd never return."

"Hmm... Target locked. The antimatter cannon is about to fire. Get ready."

"ALTO... Erase."

As the cannon fires, the entire front fleet of the Empire is completely erased—by the hands of Youri Kronos, codename: Titan Zero.