[Location: Level 6 - Main Hangar Bay Access]
The ship was dying. We could feel the gravity fluctuating as the Enemy fleet pounded the hull from the outside.
We moved as a unit. Me in front, Vesper and Lyra in the middle, Silas and her remaining three Valkyries covering the rear. Dr. Aris had vanished in the chaos—probably hiding in a secure bunker like the coward he was.
"Two bogies left!" Silas shouted.
BLAM! BLAM!
Her aim was supernatural. Two drone spiders exploded mid-air.
"We're clear!"
We reached the blast doors of Hangar Bay 1.
"Locked," Vesper said, plugging her datapad into the door. "The Admiral has initiated Protocol Omega. He's sealing the bulkheads to contain the boarders. He's sacrificing the crew to save the bridge."
"That son of a bitch," Silas spat. "Open it."
"I can't. It's a hard seal."
"Stand back," I said.
I revved my arm. The charge was dropping fast. [POWER: 8%].
"Caelum, you don't have enough torque," Vesper warned. "You'll strip your gears."
"Just need to make a hole," I grunted.
I punched the door. CLANG. The metal dented. I punched it again. CLANG. The dent deepened. I punched it a third time. My arm screamed in protest. Smoke poured from my elbow joint.
CRUNCH.
The locking mechanism shattered. I pried the doors open with a groan of metal-on-metal.
The Hangar was a war zone.
Dropships were burning. Fuel lines had ruptured, spraying fire across the deck. Hundreds of soldiers were fighting a losing battle against a swarm of Stalkers.
"There!" Lyra pointed.
At the far end of the bay, untouched by the fire, was a sleek, prototype stealth shuttle. The X-7 "Icarus".
"That's the General's personal escape craft," Silas said. "It's heavily armored."
"It's our ride," I said.
We sprinted across the deck.
"Look out!"
A massive piece of debris—a burning wing from a destroyed fighter—collapsed from the ceiling. It was falling directly toward Lyra.
I was too far away. My legs were exhausted.
"Lyra!"
WHOOSH.
A white blur slammed into Lyra, tackling her out of the way.
It was one of the Valkyries. The debris crashed down, crushing the soldier's legs instantly.
"NO!" Silas screamed.
We skidded to a halt. The Valkyrie, a girl named Ren, was pinned. The fire was spreading toward her.
"Captain..." Ren gasped, blood bubbling from her mouth. "Go..."
Silas grabbed the debris and pulled. "Help me! Caelum! Pull!"
I grabbed the metal. We heaved. It didn't move. It weighed five tons.
"It's too heavy," Vesper cried, scanning the structural integrity. "The floor is collapsing!"
Ren looked at Silas. She smiled, blood staining her teeth.
"Order me to hold the line, Cap," she whispered.
Silas's hands shook. Tears streamed down her face, hidden by her visor.
"Unit 99," Silas choked out. "Hold the line."
"Yes... Ma'am."
Ren pulled the pin on a cluster of grenades at her belt.
"RUN!" Silas roared, grabbing Lyra and dragging her toward the Icarus.
We scrambled up the ramp of the prototype ship.
BOOM.
The grenades detonated behind us. The shockwave slammed the ramp shut.
Silas punched the wall of the cockpit. She didn't scream. She just breathed, heavy and jagged.
I jumped into the pilot's seat.
"Vesper, get the engines online! Silas, turret! Lyra, strap in!"
"I'm going to kill them," Silas whispered, sliding into the gunner station. "I'm going to kill every single one of them."