The Argonaut drifted silently above Elysium, engines idling as the crew scanned the empty expanse. Weeks of preparation had honed the Trident units' skills. Simulations, drills, and coordination exercises had strengthened their teamwork. Leon Hartmann felt sharper, more confident, ready for whatever the Vagan ace could throw at them.
And yet, a cold unease lingered in the pit of his stomach. Experience had taught him that overconfidence was dangerous.
"Contacts incoming!" Mira Solenne shouted from Valkyrie. Her voice was tense, the calm veneer of hours of drills gone. "Three units! Approaching from the colony's shadow rim!"
Leon's pulse quickened. "He's here."
Rika Hartmann, piloting Bastion, tightened her grip on the controls. "All systems ready. Let's make this count."
Rolf Brenner's voice came over the comms. "Formation delta. Protect the colony, anticipate his maneuvers, and stay coordinated. Leon, Mira, Rika—you know what's at stake."
The Vagan units emerged from the shadows, the black-suited ace at their center. His movements were precise, deliberate, almost taunting. Every rotation, every thruster burst, mirrored a pilot who had studied them, adapted to their tactics, and sought the smallest flaw to exploit.
"Engage!" Leon shouted, Aegis thrusters screaming as he pushed forward.
Valkyrie darted ahead, drawing attention, while Bastion held the rear line, its heavy cannons blazing. The Aegis moved fluidly between them, shield raised, beam rifle ready. Every movement was deliberate, a test of skill, timing, and teamwork.
The ace struck first, firing a beam directly at Elysium's outer hull. Leon raised the shield just in time, sparks erupting across the cockpit. Valkyrie twisted to flank, slashing with energy daggers, forcing the ace to split his focus. Bastion fired twin volleys, the beams converging on the enemy units with deadly precision.
"Leon, left flank!" Mira called.
Leon adjusted thrusters, weaving between attacks. His hands moved with practiced fluidity, the Aegis responding as an extension of his reflexes. For the first time, he felt the weight of total coordination—himself, Valkyrie, Bastion—all moving as one entity.
The battle escalated. Energy beams sliced through vacuum, thrusters screamed, and the void seemed to tremble with the intensity of the fight. The Vagan ace twisted, dodged, countered, and adapted with terrifying skill. But the Trident had evolved. Their teamwork, their synchronization, their trust in each other created a rhythm the ace hadn't predicted.
Leon saw an opening—a calculated maneuver he had practiced countless times in simulations. He feinted a retreat with the Aegis, baiting the ace toward Bastion. Valkyrie flanked swiftly, drawing the ace's attention. Bastion unleashed a concentrated volley, the beams striking the enemy from two directions simultaneously.
Sparks erupted from the Vagan suit. It twisted violently, forced to retreat. The ace was not defeated, but for the first time, Leon sensed hesitation.
"Push the advantage!" Rolf barked.
Leon nodded, thrusting the Aegis forward with renewed determination. Valkyrie darted beside him, Bastion covering their rear. Together, they forced the ace back further, inch by inch, their teamwork more precise, more relentless than ever.
Finally, the Vagan units broke formation, retreating into the shadows. Silence fell, broken only by the hum of thrusters and the labored breathing of the pilots.
Leon exhaled, sweat dripping from his brow. "He… he's gone—for now."
Mira hovered nearby, engines glowing faintly. "We held together. We actually held him off."
Rolf's voice came over the comm again, measured but firm. "Good. This victory is small, but meaningful. You've grown, adapted, and survived. That's what matters. But don't forget—he'll be back, smarter, faster, and more aggressive."
Leon looked at the Aegis, its white armor scarred but intact. "Next time," he whispered, "we won't just survive. We'll dominate."
Outside, the void remained indifferent. Stars glittered coldly, distant and silent. But inside the Argonaut, determination burned brighter than any light. The Trident was ready. And when the ace returned, Leon Hartmann and his team would be waiting, sharper, faster, and more united than ever before.