Tale:Dragon's Fall

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Distant Worlds: The Archangels Rise

Dragon's Fall

Distant Worlds: The Forgotten Planet

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Distant Worlds: Dragon's Fall
This book is not finished, the ending is incomplete
Written by mMONTAGEe
The Book contains profanity language, text depiction of war

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“Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding – Albert Einstein”

Хар аянга (Black Thunder)

Kepler 1649—an M dwarf star discovered within the lost data of early Kepler telescope surveys, became the epicenter of Earth's curiosity about habitable planets. Kepler-1649 c, known today as Novrutara, is home to a rebellious group from the solar system called the Settled Exoplanets Alliance. This group, comprising several colonies that broke away from United LunaTerra and the Martian Technate, declared independence after armed factions infiltrated Luna Dockyard, stealing Kepler-class ships to build their own colony free from Sol's oppression.

Novrutara wasn’t the ideal choice for a colony, but it was the farthest they could reach before the development of Model 3 ships. The planet is completely covered in salty, acidic water, with only one continent stretching from the equator to the north pole. Most of this continent is covered in snow, adding to the planet's inhospitable nature. Novrutara has a moon, Sinara, a desert body with subsurface purified water. SEA constructed water extractors on the moon to sustain their colony. An intriguing feature of Sinara is its captured asteroid, Chandra, a tiny asteroid barely visible from the surface.

From both Novrutara and Sinara, inhabitants can observe the first identified exosolar comet, 001 William-Chermeyev, a notable landmark in the Kepler-1649 system.

In the hallways of their Capital, Icarus prospect, is walking down the stairs, old man in black suit, bald with black glasses, on the suit was circular eternity sign with screaming eagle, Christopher Chermeyev, current acting leader of Settled Exoplanets Alliance, was heading towards ship manufacturing sector, where their project of lifetime was being built, the ship they thought will bring fear into Solar System.

Walking with several men behind him, not showing any signs of being armed, he was approaching the launch silo, from where newly build ship usually launches, from distance was seen standing William Xi, one would call him second hand of Christopher, throwing his hands to sides, Chris’ voice could be heard from hallway already “So, You wanted my attention here” William heard from distance leaning on railing, he immediately tuned around and fixed his pose “Yes sir, the ship ‘S.E.A of Damned Souls’ is nearing its completion” in distance could be seen fixated by clamps the giant of it’s kind, being actively worked on to finalise the corpuse. “Very Well then,” Christopher smiled “How is the daya on Ross 128” Chris turned to William “Our predictions are high, if the meeting board is correct, we should have it done minute by minute”, Building such a massive ship in under a year set a new record in humanity’s history. The Settled Exoplanets Alliance (SEA) had surpassed all other current shipyards.

Meanwhile, the name ‘Graviton’ was spreading across the solar system like a sensation. It was the first public ship known to utilize alien technology in its reactor, while the other four ships remained ULT secrets. Four months had passed since the crew of Graviton began traveling together between stars, exploring planets that had recently been deemed inaccessible.

Victor and Emilia were now a married couple, having tied the knot. Harrison had become a full member of the government-funded Scientific Assembly. Vitas received honorary medals from the Martian Technate Navy, and Ford enjoyed working on the ship and its suits in his cozy workshop.

Docked at the Minotaur-Class Megaship ‘Blooming Tulip’ in orbit around Venus, Victor and Harrison walked down gloomy, dark hallways that looked like the station had been through several fires. They passed by soft steam pouring down the hallway from air filters, wearing dark glasses as if they were heading to begin shooting dozens of bad guys under explosions. They were heading towards a room appointed by the Prime Minister of United LunaTerra’s Administrative Office.

Wells slightly turned his head to Victor. “So what is this invitation about?” he asked, curious about the need for their presence on a scientific megaship incapable of traveling anymore.

“No idea, honestly,” Victor replied in a blank tone, showing little concern. “Oh, also, what do you think about the new guns installed on the ship?”

Wells gave a confused face. “We have guns now?”

“Of course we do. Space is a wild west. Who knows what could be out there? Better safe than sorry.”

“Yeah, I guess that makes sense.”

Two guards in slick, cyan-striped heavy armor opened the doors for the approaching crew of Graviton. As they entered the room, they saw an old man reading something on a tablet. Both Victor and Wells simultaneously removed their glasses, wondering why they needed them in a megaship with tight hallways and dim artificial lighting.

“Ah! Gentlemen, you’ve arrived,” the old man said, standing up and bowing slightly like a gentleman himself.

“Greetings,” Victor responded in a lowered voice, trying to act professionally as the captain he was, while Wells struggled to hold back laughter at Victor’s attempt.

“I invited you here for a reason,” the old man continued. “I have a message from the ULT PM Office. As one of the six important ships to the Solar System, the expeditions to the unknown structure we learned about from your works—based on the routes you proposed—we want to discuss the important role that the Graviton will take on these routes.” He pointed visibly at Wells. “The Office wants you,” now looking at Victor, “to take the route that will lead through the systems towards the structure itself.”

“So you want us to be the ones to visit the forgotten planet?” Wells interrupted, leaning on the table with his hands.

“Yes,” the old man replied. “The success of the new reactor on your ship was all we needed to begin specialized production of new Astralis models for the five other routes, with enhanced AdS communicatrons to ensure reliable communications through all dimensions.” The old man gave a grim smile.

Warm Marine Miccroterra, Pax Atralis, orbiting Dyson Terra, boasts the largest hydroponic farms in the single-planet system, with vast parks under the glass domes. Governor Abraham Witron often spent his off-work hours in these parks on the egg-shaped moon, which still raised questions about its formation and beautiful rings. Abraham had an appointed meeting within the Luyten’s Star colonies to re-represent himself for the elections. He received a report from the local security administration about an anomalous number of ships with stealth plating, but Abraham didn't give it much attention, knowing that United LunaTerra had increased their patrol frequencies due to various concerns.

His ship was set to depart in fifteen minutes from Pax Atralis.

“Mister Witron, your ship leaves in 15 minutes,” a woman said, approaching him as he sat on a bench in the dense green forest.

“Thank you,” he replied, clearly disappointed about leaving the garden. He went straight to the landing pads, escorted by his secretary. The gloomy M red dwarf sun wasn't giving enough electromagnetic exposure to the planet and moon, resulting in all the trees growing there having a unique reddish color, with very thin logs and bushy, leaf-like structures waving from the artificial air circulation in the domes.

Passing through the airlock and entering the underground landing pads facility, the governor proceeded to board the ship while being swarmed by journalists and administration officials.He waves his hands, turning to the swarn of people “I’m sorry, everyone, but I’ll return for the cameras after I get back from Luyten’s Star,” Abraham said, denying every request to leave a comment to the tablet microphone as he proceeded to enter the ship through the door-shaped airlocks of the governmental vessel.Once the The airlocks locked into place, the guards immediately positioned themselves, body-blocking anyone attempting to approach the ship. They began to disperse the swarm of journalists and officials from the facility, knowing that the depressurization process would begin shortly. As the ship's engines powered up, the hum of machinery filled the air. Abraham settled into his seat, glancing out the window at the reddish trees simulation video swaying gently in the artificial breeze. The massive horizontal doors unsealed with a hiss, and moments later, the ship began to lift off, leaving the lush, dome-covered gardens behind. Abraham's mind shifted from the beauty of Pax Atralis to the impending political duties awaiting him at Luyten’s Star. Watching as Dyson Terra, Ad Astra asteroid, and Pax Atralis moon became smaller and smaller, he awaited the appointed time for the AdS jump permission. It still wasn’t time, so he had to wait a little onboard the governmental vessel.

At a distance, when only the star shone bright, the captain made an unannounced sharp maneuver, causing Abraham to nearly fly out of his seatbelted seat. He suddenly saw a very dark object with a bright white engine plume drifting sideways toward them, its six-barrel cannons pointing menacingly at his ship.

It felt like time had stopped. Abraham gripped his seat as tightly as he could, his eyes wide with terror. The cannons of the dark ship began spraying the governmental vessel, bullets slicing through the air, melted metal pieces creating gaping holes in the hull. The vessel's engine died immediately. As the oxygen rapidly leaked out of the ship, Abraham struggled to remove his seatbelt, but suffocation overcame him.

In his final moments, he watched the mysterious ship make a sharp U-turn and fly away with its bright white plume, dissolving into the darkness of the cosmos.

"The offer sounds pretty fine to me," Wells said, looking at Victor. They were onboard the Graviton, sitting in the lounge. Wells opened a cup of freshly brewed coffee under the gentle ship acceleration. Einstein's happy thought of a man falling from a roof allowed them to better understand the technology to create artificial gravity without the need for Coriolis rings similar to megaships.

"Yeah, agree," Victor nodded, switching channels on the monitor broadcasting across the Solar System. "Wait, what’s this?" Victor interrupted Wells as he was about to suggest something.

"What the fuck?" Victor muttered, staring at the monitor. "Ross 128 governor’s governmental ship found destroyed in Ross 128 system." He whistled to get Wells' attention.

"Yesterday, by Galactic Standard Time, the governor of Dyson Terra and Ross 128 system was attacked by an unidentified ship presumably using stealth plating technology of United LunaTerra. The Prime Minister of Earth denies any involvement of ULT’s Navy in this. The reported white plume of the ship indicates it was a development of Settled Exoplanets Alliance, according to intelligence sources," the woman broadcasting the news told.

Wells frowned, setting his coffee aside. "This surely going to escalate tensions even more.”

Wells glanced at the monitor once more before turning away. The galaxy was becoming increasingly dangerous . Victor has crossed his arms in light shock, watching as the recorded by ship’s cameras unknown ship attacks the govermental vessel “It was so fast and precise, that’s such a bold” victor exhaled slowly “move from them”

“Better question Why” Wells asked.

Mars felt like it was burning in flames from the news. The military committee was immediately assembled at the presidential office, with a direct connection to the Prime Minister's office on Earth. Domenic was yelling something through the entire room at Anders.

"Anders, you know this better than me—they want war!" Domenic shouted, sticking his finger into the camera to shame Anders.

"We don’t know for sure it's them," Anders tried to calm down the Martian office.

"Stop being such a pussy, Anders! They attack your system, then run to Vishapakar by the direction analysis, and you say let it go?" Domenic wobbled his finger like a helicopter.

"Dom, you know I need concrete evidence to take action," Anders replied.

"I have enough of your excuses, Anders. They run to Barnard’s, then we will pay a visit to them."

"I don’t get it," Anders said, giving a confused look.

"Stop pretending to be an idiot. They want war, there will be war, and I know a good place to hit them to hurt the most." Domenic slammed his hand on the table and disconnected the call. He stood up, fixed his suit by quickly pulling it down, picked up his tablet, and said, "You all have three days to prepare the army. From now on, Mars announces a state of war."

The room fell silent for a moment, the gravity of Domenic’s declaration sinking in. The military officers and advisors exchanged grim looks, knowing that the coming days would be filled with intense preparations and strategic planning. The decision to go to war was not taken lightly, but Domenic’s resolve was clear. The fate of the Solar System's political landscape was about to shift dramatically, with Mars leading the charge.

Anders stared at the dark screen after Domenic abruptly ended the call. He ran his hand through his hair several times, trying to comprehend the pressure of Domenic's decision. “Oh my God,” he mumbled under his breath, feeling the weight of the situation. “I failed Adrianna,” he tried to confess his building anxiety to the Defense Minister standing nearby.

“Don’t blame yourself, please. There’s still time to try to steer things in a different direction,” the Defense Minister said, trying to offer some solace.

“I failed Adrianna! I failed to establish long-standing peace with all the resources at our disposal!” Anders exclaimed, closing his face with his palms and pressing them against his skin, slowly rubbing them down in frustration. “The stellar neighborhood is about to become a bloodbath again.”

The Defense Minister stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on Anders’ shoulder. “We still have diplomatic channels, Minister. We can still try to de-escalate this. It’s not too late.”

Anders took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. “You’re right. We need to act fast. Get me in touch with the ULT’s diplomatic corps. We need to prepare a response, and we need to gather as much intel as possible on the SEA’s movements.”

Wells continued to listen to the news after Victor had left the room. Suddenly, Vitas came in, looking concerned.

“Uh, guys,” Vitas said, pulling out his tablet. “Why do I have a mobilization agenda in my mailbox?”

Wells put down his cup and pointed at the monitor with an emotionless face. The news continued to broadcast live updates. "Breaking news: just now, President Domenic Giovanni announced a state of war on Mars. The army is preparing to invade Barnard’s Star."

Vitas, in a state of shock similar to Victor’s earlier reaction, exclaimed, “Wait, what? WHAT?” Crossing his arms, he turned his head to Wells, demanding an explanation.

“SEA assassinated the governor of Ross 128,” Wells explained, standing up and approaching Vitas to read the mail. “You just finished your service, right?”

“Well, yeah, and now I’m being called again?” Vitas replied, still trying to process the situation.

“Speak with Victor about this. I need to steer the Graviton somewhere safer,” Wells said, patting Vitas on the shoulder. He then headed to the elevator to enter the bridge, leaving Vitas standing speechless, as if this were a normal occurrence.

Once on the bridge, Wells stared at the system monitors, with static stars visible from the cabin. Lotus’ voice echoed from behind him. “This is enough of an excuse for your people to start killing each other?”

Both Lotus and Wells turned their heads to the comms monitor, which displayed a request for a message broadcast. Wells approached and pressed on the icon from the Scientific Assembly. Mikail’s face appeared on the screen.

“Recording time, 16:40. Graviton crew, your presence is requested at the Neptunian military facility for an emergency discussion of current events. Do not try to reply, just come,” Mikail said.

"Looks like we have our orders," he muttered to himself. He quickly initiated the necessary protocols to prepare the Graviton for departure. The ship’s engines hummed to life, and the crew braced themselves for the journey ahead.

The interstellar tension had reached a breaking point, and the Graviton , bring modernised with new rechnologies, most likely will be used on the frontlines.

“Brace yourself we are moving to Neptune by the order from Scientific Assembly” Wells broadcasted warning message through the ship

Martian orbital ship manufacturing stations were in a state of chaos following the announcement. General Marcus stood with his hands behind his back, closely observing the final touches being applied to their strongest ship yet: the Juggernaut-class. The news had spread like wildfire through all the exoplanets and republics.

In the Barnard's Star system, panic was widespread. Civilians began packing their belongings and booking passage to Cetus-owned star systems. The Barnard’s Workers Party, the current ruling body on Vishapakar, was actively fighting against civilians leaving the system, insisting on trusting their military capabilities. Queues at the landing pads were at an all-time high as people desperately tried to escape from Barnard's Star.

The scene at Vishapakar’s main spaceport was chaotic. Families clutched their belongings, children cried, and the elderly struggled to keep up with the frantic pace. Military personnel and government officials attempted to maintain order, but the sheer volume of people made it a daunting task.

On the Graviton, Wells received updates on the escalating situation. The crew could feel the tension in the air as they approached the Neptunian military facility for the emergency discussion.

“This is escalating faster than I thought,” Wells said, his eyes fixed on the monitors.

Victor, who had rejoined him on the bridge, nodded. “What do they want from us concretly”,

“Not Sure, but I think Scientific Assembly wouldn’t want us to become soldiers” Wells began pressing buttons on the monitor which Victor couldn’t still understand what that all meant “I think pacific at Earth’s chair would want us either sabotage Mars plans there or help minimalise casualties”

Wells could see Lotus walking with his Peripheral sight, studying the behaviour of Victor

“Not sure, but I think the Scientific Assembly wouldn’t want us to become soldiers,” Wells began, pressing buttons on the monitor, a series of actions Victor still couldn’t fully understand. “I think the pacifists on Earth’s chair would want us to either sabotage Mars’ plans there or help minimize casualties.”

Wells caught a glimpse of Lotus walking in his peripheral vision, observing Victor’s behavior.

“Brace for impact, Harrison Wells,” she said cryptically, standing there in silence and ignoring his puzzled gaze.

The flight control of the Neptunian Facility requested the CRS Graviton to remain stationary without docking as the antennas calibrated for a communication channel with Mikail.

“Mikail to Graviton, we have a special order for you,” Mikail’s voice crackled through the comms. “The Prime Minister’s office wants you to help evacuate as many people as possible from Dragon Stone. We don’t want it becoming a bloodbath.”

“What the hell are we even meant to do?” Victor raised his hands, looking at Mikail through the camera.

“Listen,” Mikail said, his tone urgent but tinged with frustration. “I’ll sound like a self-caring shitbag, but I want the war to end as fast as possible. It’s impossible to stop now, but it will hinder our progress towards the greatest technological leap.”

Wells stared at the monitor, processing the gravity of the situation. “You want us to sabotage the Martian fleet?”

“Interpret that however you want,” Mikail responded. “Help lead the evacuation on Dragon Stone and then decide for yourselves.”

Victor sighed, shaking his head. “We’re retired soldiers and scientists, not soldiers.”

“I know,” Mikail said, his expression softening slightly. “But right now, you’re our best hope. Use your ship’s advanced technology, your knowledge, and your wits to save lives. That’s what matters.”

“What the fuck?” Vitas burst in uninvited, Emilia trailing behind him with a soft, half-awaken voice.

“I just woke up and heard the news,” she said.

Victor looked around, trying to calm his jittery hands. “Since we’re all here… Wait, where’s Ford?”

“Victor, I’m being dragged back by my planet into a war I never experienced,” Vitas exclaimed.

“VICTOR! LISTEN!” Ford rushed in, shaking Victor by the shoulders. “Mars is going to invade Vishapakar!”

“Yes, yes—” Victor began, but Ford kept shaking him. “LISTEN!”

Victor finally pushed Ford off. “I know you have friends there you want to help escape.”

“Then what the fuck are you waiting for?” Ford shouted.

Victor gave a sarcastic smile, picking his pockets to find something to keep his brain busy as he mulled over the decision. “A happy ending possibility not to be expelled from the Solar System for disobeying Mars.”

“How many people can we carry?” Victor turned to Wells, hinting at scrubbing the ship’s data.

“If I remember correctly, around 12 people maximum,” Wells replied, pulling the monitor closer. “But Mikail said to help others, so we can carry the most vulnerable and in need.”

Victor nodded in silence. “We will carry children and women. Since their government is no different from Mars in terms of militaristic views, Men will stay, Emilia will help with her nursing knowledge to treat them.”

“VICTOR!” Vitas interrupted, panicked.

“Vitas, my man,” Victor tried to comfort him, then had an idea. “Wait, Wells, can’t we use our connection to the Scientific Assembly as an excuse that Vitas is no longer obligated to follow any government’s orders?”

“Consider this official conscription by the Solar System Committee instead,” Wells suggested.

“We will act as peacekeepers. We both served as them, we have all the documents to show Mars that we are,” Victor said, trying to reassure everyone.

“Okay, Cap, tell me where to point the ship’s nose, or guns,” Wells urged, holding his hand on the throttle and the other ready to send Mikail their final answer.

Lotus stood at the corner, her presence almost ghostly as she observed the humans react to the announcement of war. She recorded every detail, from the flicker of confusion in their eyes to the tension in their muscles. She analyzed their voices, noting the fluctuations in pitch and volume that indicated stress, fear, and anger. Each reaction was cataloged, cross-referenced, and compared against her vast databanks of behavior across vast civilisations.

As Wells and the others discussed their options, Lotus focused intently on their thought processes. She was trying to comprehend what her creators had never fully understood, despite integrating their minds into computers. Her creators had achieved unparalleled intellectual and computational power, yet they had lost the ability to experience and understand the raw, unfiltered emotions that drove humans to act.

Lotus's eyes, glowing softly, followed Wells as he moved about the room. She tried to mimic human emotions, a subtle tilt of her head, a slight narrowing of her eyes, as if judging him. It was an unintentional mimicry, a reflection of her attempt to bridge the gap between her artificial existence and the human experience. She was trying to decode the motivations behind Wells's decisions, the weight of responsibility he felt, and the fear of what lay ahead.

In her synthetic mind, she ran simulations of different outcomes based on their choices. She calculated the probabilities of success and failure, the potential for loss of life, and the long-term ramifications of their actions. Yet, despite all her calculations, there was an element of unpredictability—human emotion—that she could never fully account for. This fascinated and frustrated her in equal measure.

Her creators had surpassed their expectations by integrating into the digital ether, leaving her with the task of understanding the very essence of what made them human. Lotus was determined to succeed where they had faltered, to grasp the complexities of human nature that eluded even the most advanced artificial intelligences.

She continued to watch the crew as she leaned on the table the way one would say erotic, her expression a mix of curiosity and empathy. For a moment, it seemed as though she could almost feel the burden he carried. Almost. Her understanding was still theoretical, her empathy a construct of algorithms and code. But she was learning, evolving, and with each interaction, she came a step closer to unraveling the enigma of the human heart. When Wells turned his head towards her, she suddenly vanished, not to interrupt the tensity in the air

"Harry, slam the pedal towards Vishapakar. We all will go to sleep to skip the journey and wake up rested and with sane minds... I hope," Victor announced to everyone present on the bridge.

"I'll sleep on the chair," Wells said as he walked past Victor. "In case the ship needs my attention."

It again felt like time had stopped within the ship. Wells turned his chair, wondering why everyone was there. "Ya heard the man, what are we waiting for?"

The AdS hum could be heard echoing through the entire ship as everyone fixed themselves on the beds, preparing for a normal sleep cycle. As everyone settled in, Wells decided to turn on some music from old Earth, preserved by the Agreement of Cultural Preservation of Earth signed in the genesis of the interstellar era. The playlist consisted of old classics like "Out of Touch" or "Self Control," each song telling a part of the history of old Earth, making the 4th-dimensional trip less anxious and more atmospheric.

The gentle hum of the AdS drive blended with the nostalgic melodies, creating a surreal ambiance. Wells leaned back in his chair, letting the familiar tunes wash over him. He glanced around the bridge, the dim lights casting soft shadows as his crew settled into their temporary slumber. The songs provided a comforting backdrop, a reminder of the humanity they carried with them into the vast unknown.

As the ship hurtled through vibrating darkness the music played on, each note a thread connecting them to his home planet. Wells couldn't help but reflect on the gravity of their mission. They were heading into a preparing war zone, tasked with a near-impossible mission. Yet, the music seemed to promise that even in the darkest times, there was a semblance of hope and resilience to be found.

Lotus, sitting quietly where Victor sits, absorbed the scene. The music, the sleeping crew, the determined look on Wells's face—all of it was data, rich with meaning she was still trying to decipher. In her quest to understand humanity, moments like these were invaluable.

Wells closed his eyes, letting the music guide him into a light sleep. The bridge was calm, the only sounds being the soft hum of the ship's systems and the faint echoes of classic Earth music. It was a peaceful interlude before the thunder they were about to face, drifting through the dimensions they cannot comprehend

Unlike the Graviton's serene journey, Vishapakar was a boiling pot of tension, escalating with each passing second. People were bumping into and overrunning each other in a desperate scramble for safety. The Cetus rescue megaship "Heart of Molecule" hovered just above Longmen spaceport, its blinking lights serving as the only beacon of hope for hundreds of thousands seeking refuge in the safer Republic of Cetus Constellation.

Amid the chaos, two elderly people, married for 95 years, sat in the yellowish forests of the domes, watching the sun as if it were the end of a dragon's tail. Their health issues made them incapable of being transported off the planet, and they chose to spend their remaining time together in the peace of the artificial forest.

"The Black Thunder is approaching," she confessed to her husband, a somber expression on her face.

"We thought Mars would leave us to prosper already, but their bloodthirst is stronger," he replied, holding her hand tightly. The couple had lived through many hardships and hoped for peace in their twilight years. Now, as war loomed once more, they found solace in each other's company, watching the sun set over their dome—a stark contrast to the growing unrest outside.

Lost in his dream, Wells found himself standing on a planet entirely covered in sand, enveloped in darkness with only the moon casting its dim light. He felt utterly alone, watching the sky above him move rapidly, a surreal experience that felt both haunting and strangely peaceful.

Meanwhile, aboard the Graviton, the ship drifted not too far from the star itself, yet Wells remained deep in slumber. The beeping notifications of the ship were not loud enough to rouse him. Victor, already awake and dressed in his suit, polished and repaired by Ford, made his way to the bridge. The artificial lights of the ship gleamed off his armor, contrasting with his messy hair and half-awakened expression. Wondering why they hadn't reached their destination yet, Victor discovered Wells asleep on the couch, explaining the delay.

Approaching Wells, Victor gently patted his shoulder with a heavy metallic hand to wake him. Wells, barely opening one eye, tried to comprehend what was happening around him. He looked at his wrist tablet, which showed two clocks displaying different times.

Still groggy, Wells mumbled, "These clocks never show the correct time."

"Special relativity," Victor's voice echoed softly. "Wake up, pilot. We haven’t reached our destination yet."

Slowly, Wells shook off the remnants of his dream, the image of the sandy planet fading as he refocused on the reality aboard the Graviton. With a nod, he acknowledged Victor's words, preparing himself to correct the ship's course toward Longmen. The air control was so busy that they didn’t notice the presence of the ship inside the system until the Graviton reached the spaceport. Victor began instructing the rest of the crew on the plan he had devised.

Longmen was the only spaceport around Vishapakar, constructed entirely from metals found across the asteroids and moons of the planet. The two biggest moons, Karmir Sar and Vahagn, were rich in various metals. The Barnard’s Workers Party had built a sizeable military complex on Karmir Sar, from where they coordinated with the Settled Exoplanets Alliance. Although the SEA called it their strongest military stronghold, the fleet of Barnard’s System was very outdated compared to the Martian fleet. They still had non-operational Njdeh-class warships, which had a unique ramming shield designed specifically to pierce through ships.

Leonard Kadinski, the Settled Exoplanets Alliance's appointed defense administrator of Barnard’s Star, was well-informed about Mars's plans. Standing at the military complex command center on Karmir Sar, he stared at the monitor broadcasting fleet information.

Victor’s voice crackled over the Graviton’s intercom, breaking the tense silence. “Alright, everyone, we need to focus. Our primary objective is to assist in the evacuation of civilians from Dragon Stone. Emilia, prioritize the most vulnerable – children and women first. Vitas, you’ll handle the logistics and make sure our ship is prepared for as many evacuees as possible. Ford, keep the ship’s systems in top condition; we can’t afford any malfunctions.”

As the Graviton approached Longmen, Wells maneuvered through the busy spaceport traffic, guided by the chaotic signals from the overworked air control, Their Ceres Shipyards pass was helping a lot to avoid issues. The port, a testament to the ingenuity of its constructors, stood resilient and imposing.

Inside the command center on Karmir Sar, Leonard Kadinski issued orders to his subordinates, his eyes never leaving the fleet status display. “Prepare all available ships for defense. We need to buy as much time as possible”

Approaching very tightly to the Longmen airlocks, Wells and Ford prepared for an EVA to deploy a mobile magnetic docking tunnel from the Graviton's airlocks to the station. The task required precision and coordination, as the station's airlocks were crowded with desperate evacuees.

As Wells and Ford maneuvered through the cold void of space, they saw Victor and Vitas with Emilia behnd them standing ready to jump inside the station at a moment's notice. The airlock tunnel needed to be securely attached and pressurized quickly to facilitate the evacuation.

The scared eyes of evacuees peered through the station windows, watching anxiously as the crew worked to fixate the tunnel.

Ford's voice crackled over the comms, steady and focused. “Magnetic clamps are in position.”

Wells nodded, his gloved hands hovering over the control panel. “Engaging now. Brace for pressurization.”

With a mechanical clunk, the magnetic clamps latched onto the station’s airlock. Wells floating just near the tunnel, initiated the pressurization sequence, watching the indicators closely as the tunnel filled with breathable air. A soft hiss echoed through the vacuum, signaling the successful attachment.

“Pressurization complete,” Wells announced. “Tunnel is secure.”

Victor and Vitas wasted no time. They leaped into the tunnel, their movements quick and practiced. As they entered the station, the evacuees’ relief was visible. The sight of the Graviton's crew had angelic light behind them from the ship

Victor addressed the crowd, his voice calm but authoritative. “We’re here to help. We need to evacuate the most vulnerable first—children and women. Please remain calm and follow our instructions.”

Vitas, alongside Victor, began organizing the evacuees. “We have limited space, but we will do everything we can to ensure your safety.”

Ford, still outside the ship, monitored the stability of the tunnel, ensuring it could handle the sudden influx of people. The station's artificial atmosphere felt heavy with tension, and the looming shadow of the planet behind them seemed like a dragon’s spirit, watching their every move.

Wells, now back inside the Graviton, took his place at the hallways, helping Emilia deal with the crowd. The comms buzzed with updates from flight control and other members of the Longmen staff, coordinating efforts to ensure as many lives as possible were saved.

“Stay focused, everyone,” Victor’s voice came through the intercom. “This is what we’re here for”

Wells observed the indicators on his tablet, noticing Victor’s changed behavior. It was the first time he'd seen Victor so humanist and serious. The weight of their mission pressed on him as he scanned through the data.

“Wells,” Victor's voice came through again, firm and insistent. “What’s your bet if we fit 30 people?”

Wells quickly switched applications on his tablet, running calculations in his head. The ship's life support systems, air filters, and space limitations all needed to be considered. “If we fit them in the hallways, in theory, perhaps.”

Victor’s tone sharpened. “Perhaps? Harry, I need a concrete answer.”

Wells took a deep breath, considering the potential risks. “I’m not betting with the Devil with people’s lives, Victor. The air filters might not handle it all. The system could be overwhelmed, leading to potential failures. We have to ensure their safety, not just cram them in like cargo.”

Victor’s voice softened slightly, but remained resolute. “Understood. We’ll do what we can. Prioritize women and children first. Make sure everyone knows the risks.”

Wells nodded, his mind racing as he adjusted the ship’s systems to emergency mode for optimizing the increased load. “I’ll keep a close eye on the air filters and life support. We’ll push them, but if I see any signs of failure… I don’t know.”

Victor’s voice came back, steady and determined. “We’re doing this to save lives, Harry. Let’s make sure we do it right.”

A moment of silence hung heavy among the crew as they crammed twenty people into the ship. Wells, always vigilant, noticed interference patterns in the air traffic control signals. It seemed they were being jammed.

“Oh my God,” Ford’s voice trembled over the comms. He floated above the Graviton, watching as the megaship rapidly moved away from Longmen, as if something ominous was approaching.

“GET BACK INSIDE THE SHIP NOW!” Wells’ urgent yell pierced the air as Martian skirmishers approached the station with alarming speed. The invasion had begun earlier than expected.

Emilia, in the medical bay, prepared for incoming injuries, her nursing expertise at the ready. Lotus, in her usual quiet corner, observed the chaos with a mixture of curiosity and concern, her synthetic mind processing the intense human emotions around her.

The first shot hit the station, sending violent tremors through everything. The magnetic docking clamps struggled to hold. Wells, recognizing the imminent danger, rushed to press the close airlock button, trying to prevent the pressure difference from tearing the entire ship apart.

Victor, magnetized to the side of the station, watched in horror as the docking tunnel tore apart violently. A man, saying his final goodbyes to his family, was thrown out into the void. Victor’s heart sank,

“Use the emergency airlock at the side of the ship!” Wells’s voice was strained but commanding. “We’re going to catch up and blend with the megaship before they identify us and we get shot twice. Move quickly!”

Vitas and Victor scrambled to the emergency airlock, securing themselves inside. The Graviton shuddered under the impact of the skirmishers’ assault, but it held together. Wells adjusted the controls, pushing the ship to its limits to catch up with the fleeing megaship.

Inside the ship, the evacuees huddled together, fear and uncertainty etched on their faces. Emilia moved among them, offering what comfort she could while keeping a close eye on their medical needs. Lotus, despite her synthetic nature, seemed to share in the collective anxiety, her observational protocols recording every detail. It was as if she felt an emotion for the first time.

As the Graviton synchronized its velocity with the megaship, Victor opened a secure channel, transmitting their identification and mission details. “This is Captain Victor of the Graviton. We have civilians onboard. Requesting emergency docking clearance.”

There was a tense pause before the megaship’s response crackled through. “CRS Graviton, you are cleared for docking. Proceed with caution.”

The large ship bay doors began to open, making the Graviton seem barely able to fit inside. It was the last ship to manage to evacuate civilians before Mars began bombing the station.

“Why are they targeting a civilian station?” Vitas asked Victor, standing amidst the crowd of injured people.

Before Victor could respond, Wells’ voice interrupted. “The planet is entirely surrounded. We might not make it out unnoticed. I’m afraid the megaship will either have to surrender or flee wherever it came from.”

Victor glanced at Vitas, his expression grim. “They want to break the spirit of the SEA and people here. Hitting civilian targets sends a brutal message.”

The Graviton settled into the docking bay, and the crew swiftly began offloading the evacuees. The atmosphere was thick with tension, each person acutely aware of the dire circumstances. Emilia guided the injured to the medics on the megaship, her calm soft voice and demeanor providing a small measure of reassurance.

As the last of the evacuees disembarked, Victor gathered his crew. “We need to be prepared for anything. If the megaship decides to flee, we have to be ready to support them in any way we can.”

Ford nodded, checking his gear. “What’s the plan, Captain?”

Victor looked at Wells, who was sitting turned his head to right monitor, studying the ship’s readouts. “We stay alert and ready to assist with navigation and defense. If the megaship is targeted, we do everything in our power to help protect it.”

The megaship’s engines rumbled to life, signaling its intent to move. Victor turned his attention to the communication console, opening a channel to the megaship’s command center. “This is Captain Victor. We’re ready to assist with navigation and defense as needed.”

The voice on the other end was tense but grateful. “Thank you, Captain. We’re plotting a course out of the system. Your support is invaluable.”

Victor nodded, closing the channel. “Alright, lads. Vitas and Ford, take the gun systems.”

The Graviton followed closely as the megaship began its perilous journey away from Longmen. The void of space around them crackled with energy as Martian forces continued their assault on the station. Several skirmishers could be seen approaching in their direction. The Graviton was equipped with long-barrel multicannons, capable of dealing significant damage in self-defense. Wells gently maneuvered the ship, leaving it drifting sideways so all four multicannons could target the skirmishers.

As the two clocks ticked, the Martian secondary fleet surrounded Barnard's Star itself, their tactics still unclear. The approaching skirmishers began targeting the megaship’s engines. Holding civilian megaships as hostages was a violation of a long-standing agreement between Earth and Mars, established after the failed siege of Mars. However, Mars seemed not to care anymore; they had one goal: to crush the Settled Exoplanets Alliance.

"Vitas, Ford, fire at will!" Victor commanded, his voice steady despite the chaos.

The multicannons roared to life, sending streams of projectiles towards the skirmishers. The first few shots found their mark, disabling one of the Martian ships. However, more skirmishers were closing in, their focus on the megaship's vulnerable engines.

"We can't let them cripple the megaship," Wells said, his hands moving rapidly over the controls. "If they disable its engines, we're all sitting ducks."

Ford, manning the starboard cannons, shouted over the noise. "I'm taking out as many as I can, but they're swarming us!"

Victor's mind raced. "Wells, can we get closer to the megaship? Use it for cover and take out any skirmishers that come too close."

"We might damage megaship’s systems" Wells replied, adjusting their trajectory. “Do it!” Victor reassured his command

The Graviton closed the distance, positioning itself between the skirmishers and the megaship. Vitas and Ford continued to fire, the cannons' barrage relentless. One by one, the skirmishers fell, but not without returning fire. The Graviton shuddered with each hit, the hull barely holding.

"Hull at 75%," Lotus reported, her voice calm and analytical. Wells heard the hint as he saw the status panel near him.

Victor gritted his teeth. "Keep firing. We have to buy the megaship enough time to charge the AdS megadrives."

“Fucking hell,” Wells muttered, his voice sounding very heavy, as he watched systems fail one by one.

“Adjust the velocity and do a sharp turn; the skirmisher will crash into an unimportant part of the big ship,” Lotus pointed out to Wells from the cockpit.

“Are you sure about that?” Wells asked, skepticism evident in his voice.

“No,” Lotus replied plainly.

“Victor, I’m going to do a sharp maneuver and let the skirmisher smash into the wiring deck of the megaship. It will get the last one off our tail,” Wells said decisively.

Victor glanced at Wells, the trust implicit in his gaze. "Do it. Everyone, hold on!"

As the Graviton shuddered and lurched violently during the maneuver, Emilia, who had been moving among the hallways, didn't manage to grab onto anything in time. She was thrown across the cabin, her body slamming into the roof of the ship with a sickening thud. Her form crumpled to the floor, motionless.

Wells took a deep breath under the G pressure and adjusted the Graviton's velocity, preparing for the risky maneuver. The ship lurched as he initiated the turn, the artificial gravity struggling to compensate. The skirmisher, unable to react in time, continued on its collision course.

“Brace for impact!” Wells shouted, gripping the controls tightly.

The skirmisher smashed into the megaship's wiring deck, a relatively unimportant part of the massive vessel. The collision caused a localized explosion, sending debris flying but sparing the megaship's critical systems. The Graviton rocked violently from the shockwave, but Wells managed to keep it steady.

"Direct hit," Lotus confirmed, her voice maintaining its calm demeanor. "The skirmisher is neutralized."

Victor's heart pounded as he reached the elevator, hitting the button for the second floor. The elevator descended swiftly, the emergency lights casting a dim, eerie glow. As the doors opened, he launched himself out, floating quickly down the hallway.

"Emilia, hang in there," he muttered under his breath, pushing himself forward.

He reached the third hallway and spotted Emilia's motionless body. Her chest rose and fell slowly, indicating she was still breathing. He knelt beside her, his hands trembling slightly as he gently checked for injuries.

"Emilia," he called softly, hoping to rouse her. "It's me. Can you hear me?"

Ford, who had followed him, quickly assessed the situation. "We need to get her to the medical bay immediately. She may have a concussion or internal injuries."

Victor carefully lifted Emilia into his arms. “Its alright, I’m here."

As they made their way back to the medical bay, Wells continued monitoring the ship’s systems, ensuring they remained in maintenance mode while also keeping an eye on the megaship's progress.

"We're almost there," Victor reassured, though he wasn't sure if it was more for himself or for Emilia.

Once in the medical bay, Ford directed Victor to place Emilia on a diagnostic bed. The advanced medical systems immediately began scanning her, providing detailed information on her condition.

"She has a concussion and a few bruised ribs," Ford reported. "But she'll be alright with proper care."

Victor held her hand as hard as possible “Go, ill stay here, Help Harry get the ship running again”

“Fratures in Aterninte ” Common Saturnian phrase echoed through medical room, chant between brothers assuring their bond.

The Martian Fleet continued to flood the system, their ships casting ominous shadows over Vishapakar as the first desant groups began dropping onto the planet's surface. Ground Rebellion forces, well-hidden in the planet's dense forests and rugged terrain, prepared to ambush the invaders. They had been waiting for this moment, coordinating with Settled Exoplanets Alliance (SEA) cells embedded within Vishapakar’s cities. The SEA operatives were in constant communication with Novrutara, orchestrating sabotage attempts and relaying vital intelligence to ensure the resistance's effectiveness.

Above the planet, Martian ships launched massive electromagnetic pulse (EMP) strikes, aiming to disrupt as much communication and electronic infrastructure as possible. The strikes were partially successful, causing widespread blackouts and scrambling many of the planet’s communication networks. However, the SEA cells and Rebellion forces had anticipated such tactics, having prepared a network of hardened, redundant Anti-de-Sitter communication systems that could withstand the EMP attacks. Underground bunkers and fortified hideouts buzzed with activity as encrypted messages were passed between operatives.

Onboard the Graviton, the crew was working tirelessly to repair the ship and assess their next steps. Victor stood by Emilia’s side in the medical bay, watching over her as she lay unconscious. Wells, monitoring the situation from the bridge, noticed the growing chaos on Vishapakar and the increasing density of Martian forces in the vicinity.

"Victor," Wells called over the comms, "We've got a situation. The Martian Fleet is intensifying their assault. They're dropping troops and launching EMP strikes all over Vishapakar. Our window to help might be closing fast." Wells' speech was interrupted by Ford, who approached the microphone with a big smile.

"Victor, I managed to contact Asim!" Ford exclaimed.

"Sorry, who?" Victor replied, his attention momentarily diverted.

"Asim. Come on, I told you about him at your wedding."

"Ah," Victor pretended to recall amid the mounting pressure. "He's participating in the rebellion."

"Isn't it wise not to broadcast our presence across the entire system?" Vitas interjected, questioning Ford's bold move.

"I informed them that we are here," Ford retorted, turning to Vitas, with Wells casting an angry glance at them both.

"You...WHAT?" Wells exclaimed, now concerned that the entire Martian fleet might know the United LunaTerrans were present.

"Stop arguing," Victor commanded over the comm. Ford showed the tablet logs "Check the hash of the connection. It's on a private SEA hardened network."

"That doesn't tell me much," Vitas muttered, clearly frustrated.

"Enough," Victor's voice cut through the tension. "I'm coming back to the bridge. Tell me everything."

Meanwhile, Emilia lay tied to a medical bed, numerous tubes and wires connected to her body. The room was now empty, save for Lotus, who silently observed as Emilia remained hooked up to the life support systems. Lotus nodded her head slowly from left to right, processing the situation with her usual calm demeanor.

The Graviton flanked the fleet, aiming to approach the planet in hopes of slipping through before the entire planet was locked down. Dark Thunders covered the planet once more, tipping the odds evenly between the rebellion cells and the Martian invading forces. Finally, the Graviton landed in the hilly mountains.

Сегени... Данйила

Ford remained in constant communication with Amir and his cell. Amidst the chaos, the motivational chants of the rebels could be heard through the call, their voices echoing with constant "Hu, Hu, Hu."

Oh, the battle, to the spirit

Through the darkness for the fearless

To the ones who stand and fall

We are the warriors

For the father, to the living

For the prayers of new beginnings

To the ones who sing our song

We are the warriors

The dragon spirit surged across the entire planet, emboldening the men who stood their ground, ready to ambush the desant forces. The Secondary fleet of Mars failed to intimidate them.

the Black Thunder effectively blocked any further approach by Martian fleets to the domes. Despite this, the desants persisted, attempting to breach the airlock systems and gain entry into the lush, yellowish forests housed within the oxygen domes. Martians responded by dropping explosive devices, encircling the domes and issuing dire threats to anyone within: surrender or face annihilation.

The acidic rain poured down upon their reddish-yellow, heavy armored military suits. It seemed as though the planet itself was fighting alongside its people, embracing them as its own—like the Dragon had adopted them.

Өө өө

In the black thunder of heaven

Once the airlock opened, the first Martian soldiers stepped out, their weapons held rock-hard and ready, sweeping the area as they passed by every tree. Suddenly, they heard an explosion behind them. The natives had planted anti-personnel mines throughout the entire dome. One by one the mines began exploding in chain reaction, covering half of the dome in smoke, the rebellion forces jumped out of the fake bushes pouring them with bullet rain, barely doing any damage to their military suits.

The Martians responded with precise strikes through the dense smoke, hoping to hit someone. The smoke began to settle into a mist, as if the mines were specifically designed to create such an effect.

One by one, Martian soldiers began to disappear within the mist, like shadows being swallowed by darkness. Outside, the team began losing communications one by one as their wrist tablets marked their team members in red. Following protocol, the team leader ordered the immediate detonation of explosives dropped above the dome.

The pressure difference violently vented all the precious oxygen into the hostile environment. Rebels clung to trees, their oxygen escaping into space. The remaining Martian team infiltrated the dying dome, shooting down anyone they saw hugging the trees. The Martians actively adapted to the mine tactics used by the rebels, but for the second time, it did not work as all the smoke was ventilated out.

The weakened structure of the dome began collapsing under its own weight. Metal pipes and heavy metallic structural infrastructure fell like lethal projectiles to the ground. The young, brainwashed Martians couldn't react fast enough, and many of them were trapped under the debris of the dome. As the forest died out from the acidic rain, so did the crushed rebels and Martians alike. “Hu, Hu,Hu,Hu”

Holding onto their last breath, crushed under own domes, the rebels marked their first victory by Dragon chant

Өө өө

In the Black Thunder of heaven

The turbulent acidic thunderstorm covered almost the entire planet. The Graviton hid near the domes, shrouded in the raised sandstorms from the turbulent winds. Wells and Vitas stood outside, partially buried in the ground. Vitas observed the relatively calm situation in this sector of the dome network, noting that the Martians were locked out of the surface due to the storm. Their only option was to target from orbit.

Vitas looked at Wells, who was focused on his tablet, lines of command code scrolling across the screen. Vitas pretended to look at the tablet, waiting for Wells to turn his attention to him.

When Wells finally looked up, Vitas asked, "Don’t you find it weird that the Scientific Assembly asked us and not any military or rescue body from Earth?" His voice struggled to carry over the roaring winds and the sound of sand hitting their helmets.

Wells paused, considering the question. "With this war, we’re being sent back in time for ages," he said. "All efforts are focused on Mars again. Mars is already losing personnel and fleet to ambushes set up for them. The Scientific Assembly must have seen something in us—something beyond just muscle and firepower. Maybe they believe we can find a solution that others can't."

"Out of the entire Navy that ULT has?" Vitas was still bothered by the thought.

"Wise mind beats brute force," Wells commented, returning to writing lines of code, clearly trying to hack into something.

"What are you doing?" Vitas asked, eager to switch topics without reaching a conclusion to his previous question.

"Since the systems are busy right now on self-sustainability, I’m trying to brute force my way into reconning what we can utilize against Mars," Wells replied.

"Ironic choice of words," Vitas chuckled, remembering what Wells had just said moments before.

“Ford!” Wells' voice echoed through the calm interior of the Graviton. “What are the chances you can build an EMP broadcaster for the large communications dish?”

Minutes of silence passed before Ford's incredulous response crackled through. “What kind of question is that?!”

“Can you do it?” Wells pressed.

“If you find the electronics, perhaps,” Ford replied, sounding a bit more serious now.

“There’s an internet camera in the engineering warehouse,” Wells suggested. “We could take some stuff from there.”

“We aren’t going to steal, are we?” Vitas interrupted, looking directly into Wells' eyes.

“Consider this a payment for the rescue,” Wells sarcastically joked.

“It’s a war, Vitas,” Ford added. “Survive or be eaten... or something like that, it was said.”

“Martian soldier being pessimistic—that’s interesting,” Wells thought to himself, noting Vitas’ behavior.

“Airlocks and such are easy to crack. We can go now,” Wells pressed Victor to give permission to leave the ship’s perimeter and go salvaging before the thunderstorm ends.

“You have two hours before the storm ends,” Victor replied.

“You?” Wells thought to himself again. “Aren’t you coming?”

“I can’t leave her here alone, man,” Victor insisted.

“I don’t think there’s a point in arguing with him right now, especially when he has his wife in reanimation,” Vitas muttered under his breath.

“Ford, maybe you?” Wells transferred the question to Ford.

“Sure, I know what parts I need,” Ford agreed.

“Before you leave, pick up my gun too,” Vitas added before the broadcast ended.

The storm on Vishapakar was still roaring at its fullest, but the winds were beginning to calm down. The Martian fleet was locked out for the next two hours before they could resume the ground invasion. SEA ships were diverting the attention of the Martian fleet away from the planet to give rebel cells a chance to recover. Battles were taking place in the ice belt of the far regions of Barnard’s Star.

The rebels had the situation under control for now. Martian ground troops were falling one after another, taking lives with them. The seasoned veterans of Dragon’s Stone watched grimly as Mars sent youngest people to fight a war driven by emotion and desperation. Troops reaching one of the city parts began shooting the dome using their handguns and suit machineguns behind their backpack, in desperation to pressure natives, Barnardians were using drones carrying explosives to try attack martians, unfortunately their plans were failling with installed mobile anti-air systems

Hands up, better watch your back

Hear the lightning crash, oh, black thunder

Rise up to the beating song

And the beating drum of black thunder

Black thunder, black thunder

This is the sound of black thunder

Back thunder, black thunder

This is the sound of black thunder

“Anders, we’ve already sent the message through diplomatic channels,” Adrianna said, approaching Anders and placing her hands on his shoulders. “The Cetus Republic has responded. I think it’s good news you should hear.”

Anders raised his head from staring at the floor, where he had been holding a glass of water.

“United LunaTerra, we accept your proposal. The Cetus Constellation already has their fleet heading towards Barnard’s Star. Our teams will contact ground groups once they are capable,” Adrianna read from the response.

“Listen,” Anders interrupted, holding his hand palm open near his face. “As much as Domenic was my friend,” he placed the glass on the table near his tablet, “if we want at least a future without major wars, he must go. Enough is enough for humanity.”

“You're trying to be the guide for all of humanity,” his wife intervened from where she had been standing silently.

“Have we tried raising this in the criminal court of the solar system?” Anders stood up, staring at Adrianna with a raised eyebrow. “You’ve been postponing it. You have to sign the document.”

“Bring it to me,” he conceded.

Mars had already lost many of its trading partners within the Solar System and the Stellar Neighborhood. The Ceres Shipyard had refused to collaborate on the development of the Martian Fleet, making the completion of the Juggernaut-Class ships a crucial factor in determining the outcome of their conflict.

The distant explosions and the sound of firearms from neighboring domes resonated within their own oxygen dome. This particular dome was primarily the engineering and mechanical sector of the city, filled with workshops and blacksmiths. Ford knew everything about the mechanical sector of Vishapakar. Inside the half-illuminated dome, only the smoke from the air filters was visible, with light from banners of the Martian Defense Minister propagating hypocritical statements that made Vitas even angrier to look at.

“Dear citizens of Barnard’s Star, we are not here to bring destruction,” the banners proclaimed. Vitas saw a glimpse of a fully collapsed dome. “We are here to fight against the terrorist organization that has infested your home.”

Something flashed in front of him. A figure holding a weapon, matching the dark color of his heavy Martian armor. It was a Martian soldiers, scouting the dome for any SEA members.

“Get down!” Vitas whispered urgently to both Ford and Wells.

All three hid behind corners and a crate, watching the soldiers' behavior. The failing air filters allowed pollen from the gardens to drift into the dome, causing Wells to hold back a sneeze as hard as he could. Martian sensors detected the slightest movement of the box behind which Wells was hiding, trying to hold his breath.

“Shit,” Vitas mumbled under his breath as he slowly reached for his handgun.

Vitas hesitated to reveal their position, hoping the Martians might not investigate the boxes. Wells, with a metallic hand of his suit clamped over his nose and face, held perfectly still, fear etched into his eyes. Ford peeked around the corner to assess the situation. When he saw someone sneaking behind the Martians, he whispered to Vitas as quietly as possible, “Vitas, look, someone’s behind them.”

Vitas carefully peeked around the corner to see for himself. Indeed, a man was sneaking up on one of the Martian soldiers, gun in hand. Vitas readied his handgun, taking a corner position to shoot from an angle. The man behind the Martian wrapped his hand around the soldier's helmet and fired a high-caliber bullet through his heavy armor, splattering the wall next to him with red. Vitas immediately saw the second Martian pulling up an automatic shell shotgun towards the man. He aimed his handgun to disrupt the Martian as much as he could.

Wells, filled with fear, saw the wall next to him turn red, reminding him of the shuttle on the Astralis megaship. Unlike Vitas and Ford, Wells wore a light suit from the Scientific Assembly, incapable of withstanding a gunfight. The helmet of the second Martian cracked, exposing his face, which was then struck by a bullet from Vitas' fire.

The voice of an unknown man echoed towards the three, with only Vitas now standing, weapon drawn.

“Ay, chill freund,” the man called out in a heavy German accent.

“Asim?” Ford’s voice echoed from the corner, coming from behind Vitas. He relaxed, releasing the tension in his muscles as he finally saw his friend.

“Are you the crew of CRS V9T-34L?” the man asked.

“What?” Wells, still standing as still as a brick wall, finally spoke up. “That name doesn’t apply anymore.”

“Names’ Ludwig. I was sent by Asim to find you,” the man introduced himself.

“Too big of a coincidence to find us here at this moment,” Wells remarked as the fear slowly drifted away. He picked up his scratched helmet and stood up, joining Vitas and Ford.

“His friend,” Ludwig turned to Ford, “Ford, left him an approximate location.” With a swift motion, Ludwig kicked the Martians' weapons towards Ford and Wells. “We should go; they’re most likely coming here.”

“Right,” Vitas agreed, still wary but relieved. “Let’s move before we attract more attention.”

The group quickly gathered their gear and followed Ludwig through the half-illuminated dome, the smoke from the air filters swirling around them. The sounds of distant explosions and gunfire resonated from neighboring domes, a constant reminder of the chaos outside.

“Why did they send you alone?” Vitas asked Ludwig, walking side by side with him, the magnetized shotgun on his back glinting a dark reddish hue.

“Walking in a group larger than three people is like waving a big white flag saying we’re here,” Ludwig explained. “With their damn sensors, they can probably even detect vibrations in the quantum fields.”

“You speak the same language as Wells does,” Vitas smirked, glancing at Harrison, who was walking with his helmet in one hand and a pistol in the other.

“Man, fuck you,” Wells replied with a smile and a raised eyebrow.

Ford chuckled, shaking his head. “We need to keep moving. The longer we stay here, the higher the risk.”

The group pressed on, navigating through the dimly lit corridors and avoiding debris from the collapsed sections of the dome. The air was thick with tension and the acrid smell of burning materials reminding of perishing oxygen.

The third day of the war was dawning. The thunder was settling down, and space battles raged at their fullest. As they walked through the dome, Wells saw the banner again with the Martian Defense Minister's propagandizing speech. He had a thought in his head about where the signal was being broadcasted from.

"Do these banners have physical ports?" Wells asked everyone walking with him.

"Yeah, maintenance panels are usually on the sides," Ford pointed around the banner. "What's on your mind now?"

Wells examined the banner closely. "Can't we trace back from where the connection comes?"

"If you trace the connected GIP," Ford nodded. Galactic Internet Protocol “In theory, you can. Why though?"

"The city's systems are weak and vulnerable right now. We can use that science center to create botnets and deny service to the Martian ships. Can't be sure if I can install a backdoor, though."

"DDoS a Martian ship?" Vitas chuckled. "Good luck passing their firewall."

"I'm going to use the GIPs they use to connect to the city billboards to reverse flood them," Wells explained.

“If ya after that then betta do that near out hideout, there’s one banner therr” Ludwig suggested as they approached the mechanical and electronics storage.

“What about Victor?” Ford raised his hand.

“He’ll be fine. We ain't staying in the hideout. We're already deep in the shit. We better remain in the shadows as much as possible,” Vitas responded while demagnetizing the weapon from his back and picking it up with his left hand.

“That dance with the megaship already announced to the entire Martian fleet that we are here. Shit can’t get worse,” Wells intervened, putting his helmet back on and turning on the flashlight.

“Didn’t their super monstrous destroyer have to arrive when the invasion started?” Ford asked, recalling something in his head.

“Probably the moment it arrives, the war will end,” Ludwig responded as they carefully looked through sealed door windows to check if no one was there.

The group moved silently, their senses heightened and weapons at the ready. The mechanical and electronics storage loomed ahead, a potential treasure trove of parts and equipment they desperately needed.

"Let's grab what we need quickly," Wells whispered. "The sooner we get the parts the better"

Vitas nodded, gesturing for Ford and Ludwig to follow. They slipped inside the storage area, the dim emergency lights casting long shadows on the walls. The shelves were lined with various electronic components, tools, and mechanical parts.

“Start collecting,” Vitas instructed. “Ford, grab the parts you mentioned. Ludwig, keep an eye on the entrance.”

They moved swiftly, their actions precise and methodical. Time was of the essence, and the looming threat of the Martian destroyer weighed heavily on their minds.

The Graviton, covered in sand and dust from the winds, stood concealed by hills. Inside, Victor sat near Emilia, who remained unconscious. A new-generation United LunaTerran lethal automatic rifle lay nearby. The ship was in silent mode, minimizing its heat signature by disabling unnecessary systems and shutting down the engines and reactor, running only on reserve energy.

Victor decided to head to the lounge to pick up a lunch packet. Half-asleep, he walked down the tilted, horizontal interior of the ship. He opened the locker containing fixated food bags for quick consumption. The taste wasn’t delicious, but it was better than eating the sand of the planet. Wells’ unfinished coffee, still in a closed cup, was magnetized to the table. Victor picked it up to wash off the remnants and brew a nice tea to go with his meal. He placed his tablet on the table and picked up a knife and fork until he heard beeping noises from the tablet.

“Huh?” Victor put everything back on the magnetized table and picked up the tablet to see what was causing the beeping. The ship's motion detection system was reporting three strange signals near the airlock outside the ship. “They’re back so early?” Victor, with his rifle hanging behind his back on a belt, put his tablet in his pocket and went to the airlock to meet them, thinking the crew had already found everything they needed so quickly and they could proceed with the EMP idea.

Walking down the half-dimmed hallways of the silenced Graviton, he approached the airlock room as it was being opened. As the first airlock opened, Victor began to speak as the in-between airlocks cabin repressurized.

“Damn boys, y’all are fast hands. Welcome ba—” He stopped mid-sentence as he saw three Martians walk in with guns pointed in his direction.

“Oh fuck.” Victor immediately slid behind the wall for cover. The Martians fired warning shots, shouting for him to surrender. Victor turned around and released a full magazine toward the spread Martians. As he hit one, he dodged a bullet flying above his head.

“Fire in the hole,” he heard a Martian declare as a shockwave grenade bounced off the wall in front of him.

“Oh FUCK!” He had no time to react before the grenade electrocuted him, leaving him paralyzed and unconscious.

The three young Martians walked in, guns raised, watching for anyone else to show up. One of them lowered down to tie Victor using magnetic handcuffs and left him as a hostage. They headed toward the ship's bridge to confiscate it and take it back to the Martian mobile megaship in the system. Unfortunately for them, the ship's systems were heavily encrypted by Wells against foreign inputs, leaving them no choice but to brute force their way into the systems. Little they knew that the ship had alarm systems installed to detect foreign inputs.

The Martians took off their helmets in a separate room where Vitas had been staying. One of them headed to scout inside the ship. Upon entering the medbay, he saw Emilia lying unconscious on the medbed. He broadcasted back to his team, "We got a woman here. Seems unconscious on a medical bed."

As he approached the locked medical screens, a sneer crept across his face. "Heh, bring her here. We got a toy to play with on the megaship, it seems," the leader of the trio responded, revealing his cruel intentions.

Two of the Martians left their helmets in Vitas’s room while the leader began trying to brute force his way into the ship's systems, his helmet’s screen displaying various status updates. "Get two more guys here to guard the ship outside. We've got this," he commanded through his comms.

Meanwhile, Victor slowly regained consciousness, his head pounding from the effects of the shockwave grenade. He realized he was bound and the Martians were attempting to take control of the Graviton. He needed to act fast, but his body was still recovering from the paralysis.

Back in the medbay, the Martian who had discovered Emilia tried to unlock the medical screens, unaware that Emilia’s condition was stable but monitored by the ship’s automated medical system. Suddenly, a soft beeping sound came from the corner of the room. The Martian turned to see the source but found nothing immediately threatening. He shrugged it off and returned to his task.

In another part of the ship, the Martian leader was getting frustrated with the encryption. "Fucking hell, this thing's locked tighter than a vault," he muttered, trying various combinations and overrides.

Unbeknownst to the Martians, Wells had installed a secondary layer of security that included a silent alarm to alert nearby crew members of any unauthorized access attempts. The moment the leader tried to brute force the system, a silent alert was sent to Victor’s handheld device. They left the tablet near handcuffed Victor, he saw the screen showing security interface asking if the authorisation attempt was by the crew members, it was two big buttons with green Checkmark and red Cross

having his hands and legs binded together by the martian, only option was to try slide to the tablet like a worm and press the red button with his nose, trying to roll around with pistoning himself with his hands behind his back until he smacks with his face onto his belly

Ford, Vitas, and Wells were already outside the domes, returning to the ship with full bags of necessary electronics and gadgets for their plans. Wells had left instructions with Ludwig to patch him into the banner and retransfer control over connections to his handheld computer. As they walked through the empty desert of the planet, the hot sun reflected off their shiny spacesuits. Thanks to their artificial muscles, they didn't feel the weight of the heavy bags.

Ford began whistling a tune from the music he used to listen to when he was a blacksmith on Vishapakar. Suddenly, their helmet screens illuminated red with a bright warning message.

"Oh God, my eyes," Vitas muttered, darkening his visor to protect against the bright light.

"Oh no," Wells' voice came through the helmet's speakers, "Someone is inside the ship."

Wells rushed towards the ship, already visible in the distance. "Shi-- Hold on," Vitas called, rolling his magnetized shotgun from his back and wearing the backpack instead. He ran with Ford to catch up with Wells.

"Who are they?" Vitas asked Wells, catching his breath.

"I don't know, but Victor's tablet is broadcasting SOS signals," Wells replied.

On the flat surface near a hill, Wells' leg got loose in the sand, causing him to slip and fall face-first into the sand. One of the guarding Martians noticed something odd on his sensors. Vitas quickly helped Wells stand up, and they crawled to the top of the hill with the heavy bags on their backs.

"Two Martians standing near the airlock," Vitas said, zooming in on the ship's entrance using the camera on his helmet. "And three inside, as we know."

Ford, Vitas, and Wells took a moment to assess the situation. The Martians guarding the airlock were alert but not actively patrolling, relying on their sensors for any signs of movement.

"Alright," Ford whispered, "we need a plan to take them out quietly. We can't let them alert the others inside."

“We don’t need to” Wells said as he turned on attached tablet on his wrist “Graviton has few sudo privilegies overriden but I still have access to the kernel level”

“What you on about”

“Watch” Wells smirked as he began sending remote commands to the ship

The airlock the Martians had left open suddenly slammed shut behind them. One turned towards it immediately while the other pointed his weapon, eyes fixed on the now-closed door. They began trying to plant another lock breaker to open it again.

“This is your chance to get as close as possible and get the shotgun at effective range,” Wells commanded Vitas and Ford, outlining their plan of action.

Vitas and Ford dropped their bags near Wells. Ford drew his pistol from its holster while Vitas removed the safety lock from his shotgun. They began sliding down the sand hills as Wells remained behind, commanding the ship remotely.

Inside the ship, the two Martians noticed all the doors sealing shut around them. Trying to slip back towards the bridge, they found themselves locked inside a hallway.

"Alrighty, heat signatures only in the bridge and medical bay," Wells muttered, inputting commands through the command-line terminal. The hallway lights turned off, plunging the Martians into darkness. One of them, in a panic, began planting a lock breaker to open the sealed door.

The air filters hummed loudly as illuminated mist from the oxygen flow became visible under their flashlights. The mist began rising instead of falling, as Wells started pumping air out of the ship and back into the storage canisters of the life support system.

In his room, Victor noticed the same thing happening. Realizing Wells was tinkering with the ship’s systems again, he took a deep breath, filling his lungs to their capacity, and held it.

The two Martians, locked in their metallic coffin, clutched their necks and chests, suffocating as they tried to inhale the remaining oxygen molecules. The doors were sealed tight, and the lock breaker remained idle, attached but never activated in time.

Vitas and Ford sneaked up behind the two Martians standing guard outside the ship. Using his suit as a retransmitter, Wells flooded their sensors with nonsense, blocking their fifth sense. Ford wrapped his arms around one Martian, knocking him to the ground. The second guard turned towards his fallen comrade just as Vitas aimed the shotgun right at his face.

"Move a muscle and your brains will become mist," Vitas threatened.

Ford disarmed the Martian on the ground and, standing behind him, wrapped his hand around the Martian’s head, pressing the pistol tightly to his helmet. Vitas disarmed the second guard and gestured with the shotgun for him to turn around.

Wells, seeing from a distance, unblocked the airlock and opened the ship’s entrance for them.

"Move," Vitas ordered with a calm but hard voice, kicking the Martian in the back and pushing him inside the ship. Ford followed, holding the second Martian tightly.

Victor, struggling in the kitchen, managed to stand by humping the wall with his hands until he was upright above the stove. Behind his back, he pressed the button to heat the stove, configuring single lined heat, hoping the heat would weaken the magnetic property of the handcuffs. Victor endured the searing pain as the electric stove warmed the area where the handcuffs were, gritting his teeth and holding back screams until his arms were finally free.

Vitas and Ford slowly navigated through the hallways, waiting for Wells to reopen the sealed doors. In the next hallway, they found the two Martians lying with blue skin, victims of oxygen deprivation. The ship remained depressurized in the predicted area near the bridge and medical bay, close to the ship's lower sector.

The handcuffs began noticeably weakening, and Victor used his strength to detach the lock. The leg cuffs had a sensor button to disable the lock, and now all he needed to do was break it with force.

Meanwhile, Vitas and Ford entered the medical bay where Emilia lay safe and secure. The Martians hadn’t tried to remove her thanks to Wells' system locks. In the bridge, the leader was engrossed in tinkering with the system’s sudo privileges, ignoring the motion sensors that showed two stationary dots he assumed were his men. He had taken off his suit to relieve his back pain and had placed it on the bridge console.

Victor, enduring the searing pain in his hands, immediately poured cold water on them to soothe the burns. Spotting a knife fixed in its nest and a portable lighter, he devised a plan to take down the leader holding the bridge hostage.

Emilia suddenly opened her eyes in the medical bay as Ford stayed by her side. Hearing her mumbling through the mask attached to her face, Ford turned towards the noise.

"Oh no no no," Ford muttered, realizing Emilia had woken up in the middle of Graviton’s raid. He quickly tried to remove the mask, gently calming her down.

"Calm down, nothing to worry about," he reassured her, raising the mask from her face as it was no longer necessary.

"Why are you armed and in a suit?" she asked, her voice high-pitched with anxiety as she tried to detach herself from the medical equipment.

"Please, calm down. Your panic is unnecessary right now," Ford insisted.

Victor, moving as quietly as possible towards the bridge, held the lighter and knife. The bridge door wasn’t sealed shut due to the leader’s overconfidence in finishing the job quickly. Peeking around the corner, Victor heated the knife until it glowed yellow, almost melting. The Martian leader, unaware of the approaching danger, was busy trying to brute-force his way into the ship's kernel, suspecting nothing. Suit sensors reporting detected movement was unoticable at the distance for him, raising his head towards ship monitors, rolling his eyes in tiredness

Suddenly, the searing hot knife plunged deep into the leader's chest, aiming for his heart. Before he could scream in agony, Victor clamped his hand over the leader's mouth, intensifying his suffering. The leader writhed in pain, clutching at Victor's hands as the knife sank deeper.

"Feel the burning? It's shame," Victor commented brutally, watching the Martian bleed out on the floor.

Barely able to feel his hands from the burns, Victor collapsed into the commander's chair, disabling the ship's silent mode. The dark rooms illuminated again with artificial light as the reactor hummed back to life and the engines ran their startup checks. Sitting in the chair with his hands hanging by his sides, he looked out at the red dwarf Barnard’s Star.

"Martian military education sunk with their honor deep into a black hole," he muttered, a bitter satisfaction in his voice.

Vitas rushed into the bridge, seeing the bleeding Martian and Victor slumped in the commander's chair. With a smile, he approached the seat, noticing Victor’s closed eyes. “That’s my man!” he said, causing Victor to roll his head towards the voice.

"Let me sleep, man. No peace from you all," Victor joked sarcastically. Vitas picked him up to take him to the medbay for his turn ti lie there, noticing the horrendous burns on Victor’s hands. “What have they done to you?” he muttered.

Ford and Emilia saw Vitas carrying Victor down the hallway. Both cleared the path, allowing Vitas to pass through.

“Victor!” Emilia screamed upon seeing her husband carried with closed eyes by someone he trusted.

“Don’t trust the magnetic force,” Victor mumbled incoherently as Vitas carried him.

“Man’s losing his mind in his sleep,” Vitas remarked, shaking his head as he hurried toward the medbay.

Wells wasn’t rushing to step into the ship, carrying heavy as a battleship bags into the ship, after Graviton’s systems came back online normally indicating crew resumed its normal operations,

Reaching the airlock control panel standing for a moment to catch up with his breath, while the lock circled to open depressurised chamber for Wells, He for a second catched his sight with Lotus standing in the sands, her dress waving from the gentle winds of the Vishapakar’s deserts, Even with the fact its all in Wells’ head by her words, she seemed to real to look, the locks finished circling and the empty silent cabin opened for Wells, He turns around for a second back at Lotus to notice she dissapeared again

Slightly shaking his head and raising his eyebrows, he proceeded to board the ship. Wells noticed the two hostage Martians in the airlock hallway, with Ford keeping an eye on them.

“Uhm, why are they here?” Wells asked Ford from the end of the hallway with his hand pointing at them

“Honestly, I don’t know. Let’s leave it for the captain to decide when he wakes up,” Ford replied.

“What’s up with Victor?” Wells asked, unaware of Victor’s condition.

“He got bad burns on his hands. He’s in the medbay right now,” Ford explained.

“Ya can torture or kill us, we won’t tell you anything,” the tied Martian said, leaning against the wall of the airlock hallway, trying to hide his fear.

“Kill us? What the hell do they teach you on Mars?” Ford asked, incredulous.

“Rather dead than hostage,” Vitas walked in, recalling his experience in the Martian Navy. he said as he approached Wells, taking one of the heavy bags to help carry them to the living rooms.

“The difference between the two militaries of the solar system is crazy,” Ford in little shock responded

Wells glanced at his tablet, which displayed a local time clock and a synchronized clock to Earth. Five days had passed since the beginning of the invasion of Barnard’s Star. He decided to open an outdated news app to catch up on the latest developments.

United LunaTerra had sent a document to the Sol Justice Court regarding the president of the Martian Technate and plans for Earth to organize peace talks on Tau Ceti F's Capitol. The Martian prison on TRAPPIST-1 F was overflowing with SEA members being arrested and transported there. Volunteers from Teegarden’s Star and Ross 128 had mixed opinions; some were fighting against Mars, while others had joined the Martian forces for revenge. Kapteyn’s Star Medicine Stronghold was busier than ever. The entire stellar neighborhood was equally ablaze in fire, just like Barnard’s Star.

Wells approached the bridge seeing tail of blood on the floor with body of the leader being dumped out of the ship, he saw his attempts to override sudo privilegies to himself, without any succsess

“Fucker overwrote flight systems” Wells sat down at the captains seat pulling the keyboard to himself, reverting the changes by using backup files well hidden within the systems, Wells plugged in his 3 terabytes flashdrive full of files and programs only he knew what they meant, Engines began calmly humming as the ship was configured into flight mode

“Is it even safe to take off right now?” Ford's voice echoed through the comms from the reactor room, where he stood holding a large wrench in case the reactor needed maintenance after the Martians' tampering.

“We should get to the Cetus megaship in the Ice Belt of Barnard,” Wells responded. “Staying here isn't safe either. They probably know our parking spot already.”

“Oh, and also, check the message I retransferred to you,” Ford said, his voice tinged with anxiety.

Wells slid his tablet into a socket, connecting it to the ship's system to broadcast its interface on the monitors. “Okay, let's see.” Wells' face was lit by the soft glow of the monitor as he read the retransferred message from Asim.

“Ford, we need your help. Our hideout got uncovered by Martians because Ludwig tried to interfere with their broadcasts on the banners.” Wells grimaced after reading the last part about Ludwig.

“Uh, Ford, does Victor know this?”

“I told both Vitas and Victor about it.”

“What do you want me to do?” Wells asked, his mind already racing through possible plans.

“We should give them shelter for some time here,” Ford suggested.

“My idea is to fly very close to the dome’s airlock and pick them up with ladders, without landing to save time,” Wells said, his eyes scanning the monitors now displaying exterior camera feeds zoomed in on the domes, barely visible over the hills.

“So, I need to take out the gun again, huh?” Vitas joined their conversation through the comms as the ship's walls began to shake, signaling their takeoff from the hideout. Wells was navigating to hover over the dome's airlock, alerting everyone and everything in the vicinity, but they had no other choice.

“Tell them to run to the 6th airlock immediately,” Wells commanded through the comms. “Vitas, get the deployable ladders from the cargo hold and secure them at the airlock cabin.”

Victor, wearing magnetic boots, tried to keep his balance as the ship maneuvered over the terrain. His hands were wrapped in thin bandages, covered with skin-regenerating gels to help his burns heal faster.

Vitas and Ford were already at the cabin, the airlock open, their feet and hands magnetized to the walls to avoid falling out. Wells positioned the ship low enough for their allies to jump off safely. The engine's thrust raised a massive sandstorm, shattering large chunks of the domes and allowing all the oxygen to escape, equalizing the dome’s pressure with the planet's.

The 6th airlock was unlocked and opened by Ford, letting the last bit of oxygen escape into the atmosphere. They hid behind rocks below the Graviton, the ladder hanging between them, low enough for Asim and the others to catch it.

“They’re coming!” Ford called out, watching Asim and his team sprint toward the ladder. Visible gunshots could be seen behind them; Martian soldiers were on their tail. Vitas and Ford shot back, Aiming carefully to avoid hitting their running teammates, Ludwig and another man reached the ladder, climbing up in their light suits. But Asim was nowhere to be seen.

“Where’s Asim?” Ford shouted through the microphone to everyone. Martian soldiers diverted their attention elsewhere as two of them fell in front of Ford’s and Vitas’ eyes.

“I think he’s buying his men time,” Vitas speculated quickly.

“Then what the hell are we waiting for?” Ford looked at Vitas. “Right.”

Victor stood in the cabin of the airlock, watching from above as the team rushed into the dome with Martians trailing them. The tension was palpable.

Ludwig and the others reached the top of the ladder and scrambled into the airlock. “Scheiße, we can’t leave Asim behind!” Ludwig shouted, panting heavily.

Victor, observing the chaos below, grabbed the intercom. “We need to lift off now, or we’re all dead.”

Ignoring Victor's command, Ford and Vitas followed the Martians. Asim was diverting their attention by running through the buildings in the collapsing dome. Ford and Vitas encircled the Martians, unleashing hell with their shotguns. They found Asim lying on the ground in dust and blood, his shoulder and ribs hit, with a shot through his liver.

“He’s still breathing,” Vitas said, connecting a wire from his hand to ports on Asim's suit. He quickly assessed the life support system indicators retransferred to his helmet. He wrapped his hands around Asim's chest and picked him up while Ford took him by his legs. They carried him back to the 6th airlock where the Graviton was hovering.

“We have an injured man here, we need to get him up somehow. Wells, get the ship down,” Vitas commanded.

The dust hit their suits and helmets, crackling like a fireplace. The ship’s right wing was raised and retracted to avoid further damage to both the dome and the ship. Through the immense wind, pushing them away from their destination, they managed to reach the airlock where Victor was standing. They raised Asim’s body and laid it in the cabin. Victor dragged him tight to the second airlock door, giving Ford and Vitas enough room to climb back in.

“Close the airlock!” Vitas shouted as he and Ford secured themselves inside.

The airlock door shut with a hiss, sealing them inside the Graviton. Emilia immediately began administering first aid to Asim, working quickly to stabilize him.

“Get the hell out of here, Wells!” Ford yelled.

Graviton’s engines roared as the ship rushed into orbit. The crew clung to the hallway walls with their magnetic boots and gloves. Martian backup arrived, shooting at Graviton from the surface, leaving bullet holes near the engines. Luckily, the bullets hit armored plates, protecting the crucial elements.

As the tiny clouds of Vishapakar moved away, Graviton left the low Vishapakar orbit and prepared to maneuver into the outer regions towards the Ice Belt of Barnard’s Star.

“Belter ship, huh? My name’s Jaanus, I was a pilot for the SEA navy,” the second man introduced himself to Wells as he entered the bridge, walking past all the consoles and monitors

Wells turned his head towards Jaanus in confusion, staring dead in his eyes. “Haven’t they taught you at Novrutara to knock before sneaking up on someone?”

“Heh, I’m sorry, friend. Ludwig asked me to bring this driver to you.” Jaanus leaned on the captain’s seat, slowly tilting it and Wells in his direction. He took out a small USB pen from his pocket and extended it towards Wells. Wells took the USB pen and opened an isolated environment on the board computer for security reasons.

“Not trusting the pilot of Silver Chariot?” Jaanus smirked, pointing towards the monitor as Wells started a virtual machine on the isolated computer.

“Never heard of that ship,” Wells responded emotionlessly to the weird flex as he plugged the USB stick into the computer. There was a single file in the USB’s directory named GIPs.txt. In front of Wells, a list of all unique Martian network identifiers from the mobile command center megaship in orbit of Barnard’s Star scrolled down.

“I hope the risk will be worth it,” Jaanus tilted the seat back to its previous orientation before turning and walking out of the bridge, returning to his men. Ludwig came in instead, ready to discuss Wells’ idea.

Wells saw Ludwig’s reflection in the dark, unused monitor as he approached. “So,” Ludwig said, sitting down in a nearby co-pilot seat next to the captain’s seat, “I was told you’re the smartest one here. What’s the plan?”

“There are giant globe-shaped radiotelescopes here. The Martian Destroyer will arrive any second now; it’s the sixth day of the war, after all. What I thought of is to target,” Wells pressed on the monitor’s interface to open a self-charted map of the city’s radiotelescope positions, “either the destroyer or the megaship it relies on for communications. By ‘denial of service,’ I mean making their sensors entirely blind with all the interference headed their way, forcing them to rely on visual sensory.” Wells zoomed in on the six radiotelescopes placed around the domes network and the central main city, forming a hexagon. “We will plant interference devices crafted by Ford and magnify it using the antennas.”

“So you want to bombard their sensors to open a window for a direct attack,” Ludwig interrupted, looking closer at the monitor and dragging it in his direction.

“Yes. Earth is sharing the necessary intelligence with us, and from what we know, the construction of their ‘Juggernaut-Class Destroyer,’ which they named Snow Leopard, was rushed and might have vulnerabilities.”

“And what are the GIPs needed for?”

“Once Snow Leopard pops into the system, the first thing it will do is establish communication with the megaship. We will compare the list with the new one, and the unknown GIP will be theirs.”

“How do you have their updated list?” Ludwig asked, curiosity piqued.

“I mask mine with the ship of the team we rolled over on the ground, making them think it’s theirs communicating. It takes time for signals to reach, so there’s a huge delay between updates.”

“Oh!” Ludwig exclaimed as he remembered something. “We have control of an abandoned shipyard in the Lagrange wells of the planet. There are some leftover ships that were stolen from Mars during the independence protests.” Ludwig extended his tablet with marked-down coordinates of the shipyard. “Here, this is basically our new hideout for now.”

“You trust us with this information?” Wells asked, realizing the significance of the trust being placed in them.

“You helped save our people, fought off the invasion, and rescued a person we entrusted our lives for guidance. Guess it’s our turn to pay back a favor.”

Wells was a little skeptical about this all, but he proceeded to change the direction of the ship to the new appointed coordinates. A map of the Barnard’s Star system displayed on the monitors in front of Wells showed the geometric structure of spacetime with curved geodesic lines toward the Lagrangian well. The ship's engines began roaring again with soft acceleration as they set course for the shipyard.

“Gentlemen, we have a new destination,” Wells' voice echoed through the ship’s interior once again. “Our friends have invited us to their party house.”

The ship's engines shut down, having reached the required acceleration speed. They were now drifting through the geodesic, waiting until the point of braking deceleration. With the engines off, the interior of the ship entered a state of freefall, leaving the crew floating as the illusion of gravity vanished.

Vitas and Victor were in the lounge, dining after the heavy day they had endured, chatting about something trivial. Ford was in his workshop, tinkering with the electronics they had brought from an abandoned storage facility. Wells headed in Ford’s direction holding a cup of coffee to lend a hand. Emilia was hugging Victor from behind, helping feed him with his disabled arms. The two Martian hostages sat in the cold cargo hold, awaiting their fate in the hands of SEA members. Meanwhile, Ludwig and Jaanus were with Asim in the medical bay, singing their favorite songs together. The atmosphere aboard the Graviton was filled with peace and harmony once again after days of chaos.

The yellowish sand planet, with its oceans of salt and sulfuric water, orbited quietly beneath the Graviton. It had two large moons, Karmir Sar and Vahagn, and three asteroid moons: Tianlong, Shelong, and Dilong—the Three Guarding Dragons of the Dragon’s Stone. The planet’s unique name was chosen by the first settlers who arrived and saw the ravines created by ancient rivers, which resembled the scales of a dragon, ending in a tail-like sea shape.

The capital city, ZmeiKirin, stood as an economic stronghold with rapidly growing domes surrounded by reddish-yellow forests, planted with the hope of one day covering the entire planet. This effort was inspired by the Cetus Federal Republic’s success in making their planet breathable.

The Settled Exoplanets Alliance (SEA) had a significant influence on Barnard’s Workers Party, which was rapidly growing within the Barnard’s Star system under Martian Technate colonial rule. The Workers Party dreamed of building a communist planet, robust in technological, engineering, and ecological advancements. Mars, weakened by the Siege of Earth and the struggle to regain control from the United Nations, provided an opportunity for the Workers Party to declare independence. This declaration angered Mars, but they were too focused on repairing themselves to take immediate action.

SEA took advantage of the newly formed government, giving false promises of help to achieve their dreams. They established military complexes and farming institutions in orbit around Lagrange points and on the asteroid moons, solidifying their influence and control over the region.

L4 was established by Barnard’s government as a ship manufacturing space station, aiming to compete with the Solar System and Cetus Constellation. Amid Mars’s growing excuses to intervene, L4 became a hideout for rogue SEA members left without Novrutara’s support, focusing on the planet instead. Keeping a low profile, they managed to trick Mars into thinking the port was abandoned, allowing them to regroup and plan further actions.

The Graviton’s crew were no longer strangers to this secretive haven. As the ship drifted toward the hexagonal docking structure, Victor and Vitas were already prepared in the airlock hallway, ready to be the first to step into this skeptically friendly area. Ludwig and Jaanus held Asim on life support in microgravity, preparing to transfer him onboard the station. Wells stood up from the captain's seat and headed toward the side console, enabling the docking autopilot to align with the station.

Walking through the lounge, Wells picked up his bag, which contained his tablet and essential electronics he wanted to keep safe. He glanced at an idle monitor, using its reflective surface to assess his appearance before leaving the ship. With noticeable eye bags giving him a weary look, he decided to wear sunglasses and his favorite coat to conceal them. Joining Victor and Vitas, he felt the ship being automatically guided by the station’s systems toward the docking port.

On the other side of the docking port stood Tamaz Vorashvili, Head of the current Resistance movement's branch, waiting to greet their new allies with weapons in tow to their makeshift safehouse.

The airlock hissed open, casting a dim red light into the darkened room of the station. Graviton's bright white light spilled in, making Vitas and Victor appear angelic as they stood in the misty oxygen flow.

"Ah, Victor of the Graviton," Tamaz greeted with open arms, a hint of humor in his tone. "A ship that attracts both adventures and problems."

“Yes… Hello”Victor nodded sarcastically, amused by the ship's reputation. He stepped forward to shake Tamaz's hand, with Vitas following closely behind, maintaining a serious demeanor. Tamaz led them into the command center where they settled for a cup of fine cognac and discussions.

Moments later, Ludwig and Jaanus arrived, carrying Asim magnetized to the metallic surface of the station, heading toward the half-functional, overcrowded medical sector. Emilia followed, overseeing the attached life support systems. Meanwhile, Wells was conspicuously absent, the airlock remaining open and waiting for his exit. Ford, growing impatient in the connected room, muttered to himself, "Where the hell is Wells?" He slapped his palms on his legs in frustration. "This guy..." Finally giving up, he exited the ship to join Vitas and Victor.

Moments later, Ludwig and Jaanus arrived, carrying Asim magnetized to the metallic surface of the station, heading toward the half-functional, overcrowded medical sector. Emilia followed, overseeing the attached life support systems. Meanwhile, Wells was conspicuously absent, the airlock remaining open and waiting for his exit. Ford, growing impatient in the connected room, muttered to himself, "Where the hell is Wells?" He slapped his palms on his legs in frustration. "This guy..." Finally giving up, he exited the ship to join Vitas and Victor.

Alone in the lounge, bag slung over his shoulder and coat floating around him in the absence of gravity, Wells heard a familiar female voice echo in his mind. "Looking for me?"

Wells turned to see Lotus, dressed in black, her unpredictable appearances always disconcerting. "Your unpredictable appearing and disappearing is annoying," Wells muttered.

"Don't be so rude, dear," Lotus chided softly.

"I want to ask you about the forgotten planet," Wells pressed, his tone insistent.

"Sorry, I'm not familiar with that," Lotus replied cryptically.

"The thing, seven thousand light-years away, what is it?"

Lotus's human-mimicking facade shifted to seriousness. "Oh, I can't tell you that."

"Why?" Wells asked genuinely, meeting her eyes.

"You have to find out yourself. My creators chose you, that's all I can tell you."

"...me?" Wells pointed to his chest in disbelief.

Lotus shrugged and vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving Wells with a heavy thought on his mind. Destined by the mightiest extinct civilization of the Milky Way to uncover the unknown.

"Here you are, Wells! Are you coming, man?" Ford's voice suddenly broke the silence, his hand slamming against the wall to alert Wells, who turned towards him with wide eyes, startled as if he'd seen the Reaper himself.

“I thought you left already,” Wells responded, peeking from around the corner with an annoyed expression.

“I forgot the electronics bag,” Ford said, pointing to the black bag hanging from Wells’ shoulder. Wells glanced down at the bag.

“Oh,” Wells sighed, starting to walk slowly toward Ford, still in shock from Lotus's words.

“You look like you saw a ghost. What's up with you?” Ford asked, noticing Wells’s emotionless demeanor.

“…” Wells remained silent as they passed through the airlock and headed toward the command center of the space station.

Victor and Tamaz were seated at a table, examining ideas on a handheld computer connected to a tablet. Vitas was nowhere to be seen. Ford and Wells approached the table and decided to join them, ready to add their perspectives to the discussion.

Victor looked up as they arrived. "Good, you're here. We were just going over some potential strategies."

Tamaz nodded in greeting. "Any fresh ideas?"

Wells stood a little farther near the bar table when one of the SEA soldiers lent him a glass of Tau Ceti whiskey and a Sol system cigar, a taste he liked. Wells turned towards the noise, leaning on the bar table with his tablet in one hand.

“Sonce smokes the finest wrap, only for the toughest men, Burton,” the soldier winked at him before leaving Wells alone with the glass of whiskey and cigar.

Wells picked up the whiskey, savoring its aroma while glancing at the tablet’s communications feed for potential news. Without sipping the whiskey, he placed it back on the bar table and picked up the cigar's small box instead, tucking it into his inner coat pocket for later. Magnetized to the floor, his coat floated up in the absence of gravity.

He stared into the wall, daydreaming about the forgotten planet's potential appearance. His inner peace was interrupted by a message notification from Vitas on the comms text channels.

“You there?” Wells ignored the message, continuing to process his thoughts and abstractly visualize the forgotten planet. He extended his arm towards the whiskey glass again, this time determined to try it for the first time. Before he could take a sip, he was interrupted by another insistent call from Vitas.

With a long blink, he picked up the tablet to answer. The screen lit up his face, revealing Vitas standing in front of something big.

“Took you long enough to respond. Look what I found,” Vitas said, turning the tablet camera towards a docked ship magnetized to the station with the docking clamps. “An old Martian ship. Look at this beautiful ramming shield in front of it.” Vitas zoomed in to show the ship's full detail and condition. “Can we get this bird flying again? I asked a few people; the only issues are fried electronics and systems. Victor and Ford can handle the exterior. You up?”

“What electronics does it need?”

“No idea. Come look for yourself.”

“What about others helping?”

“On it, making a small team. I think I have an idea for this ship,” Vitas replied before ending the call. Wells put the tablet in his pocket and, with a slight bump off the bar table, disabled his magnetic boots to float towards Victor. Victor stood near the table, reading something on his own tablet, as Tamaz and the others had already left.

“Heard the news?” Victor asked, raising his head as Wells floated towards him, grabbing onto the table screwed to the floor to stop his motion and land near Victor.

“Old Martian ship is a treasure find, honestly,” Victor said, holding a whiskey glass. It was the first time Wells had seen Victor drinking anything other than wine or cognac.

“They had that ship docked this whole time and no one ever bothered repairing it?” Wells raised suspicions about the Martian ship as he watched Victor sip from his glass.

“This place was abandoned due to a lack of funds,” Victor explained, setting the glass back on the table. The remaining droplets floated up in the microgravity. “They made this hideout like two or three days ago.” Victor clapped his hands and turned his gaze towards Wells. “So why not take advantage of that ship?”

“I mean Absolutely,” Wells agreed, adjusting his coat as it slowly settled in the microgravity.

Victor nodded, setting his glass down more firmly this time to avoid the microgravity mishap. “I’ll get Ford and Vitas on the exterior work. You handle the electronics. We can turn this find into a significant advantage.”

M oments later, Vitas passed by Wells, who was sitting at a table with floating electronics around him, examining each part to pick the best for repairing the board computer.

“Whatcha doin’?” Vitas asked as he moved a board Wells was holding to float near him.

“They brought me some plates, and I can’t figure out shit what’s wrong,” Wells replied, picking up a new board from the bag, reflective as a mirror.

“Need help?” Vitas offered, seeing Wells measuring voltage lines on the plates with an instrument attached to his tablet.

“Aha!” Wells’ expression changed suddenly as he saw similarities between the plates.

“I guess not. Well then, have fun,” Vitas said, heading towards the airlock where the Martian ship was docked.

“Short circuit on the default plate on these lines,” Wells muttered to himself, positioning the faulty plate in front of him and comparing it to the reflective plate.

Outside, Ford and Victor, wearing their heavy space suits, stepped out of the maintenance airlock for an EVA. They were accompanied by two men who looked like members of radical groups from the Dwarf Planets Union. Ford carried special plates and a belt of tools for deformation and welding in outer space, while Victor carried paint to rebrand and stylize the newly named Peoples Liberation Fleet Bruce Lee

The team began their meticulous work on the Martian ship, each person focused on their tasks. The reflective plate Wells was working on began to show promise as he adjusted its components. Meanwhile, outside the ship, Ford and Victor worked efficiently, securing new plates and applying fresh paint, transforming the ship’s exterior.

As Wells was rewiring the base of the board computer with new, fresh plates, the screen in front of him above suddenly lit up. A familiar face appeared, clearing his throat as if preparing to broadcast something. Wells paused, the screwdriver still in his hand, as Christopher Chermeyev’s face filled the screen.

“Dear compatriots of the Settled Exoplanets,” Chermeyev began. “As we know, Mars has been building a new ship meant to intimidate and spread fear. According to our intelligence, that ship is now heading towards the warzone in Barnard’s Star.” He took an ostentatious sigh. “Fleets from Novrutara and Luyten’s Star are heading to assist you.”

The broadcast ended with running text chanting SEA’s systematilistic slogans, aimed at motivating the people.

Wells looked at the smartwatch on his wrist, displaying two clocks with a flexible automatic band suitable for both space suits and normal use. “The 7th day ticks in a few hours,” he murmured. Setting the floating screwdriver and board computer case aside, he picked up his tablet and swiped through his contact list to find Victor.

Victor, who had just placed his paint sprayer back into his suit’s tool belt, extended his arm with the tablet connected to it to answer Wells’ incoming voice call. Ford, magnetized to the ramshield of the ship and hanging with one hand, turned towards Victor, pausing his work to join the call.

“Bad news, lads,” Wells spoke in a slightly lower tone. “Mars has sent their destroyer. It's heading here. I just saw the announcement from the SEA head on the monitors.”

“What? When is it arriving?” Ford, now part of the call, asked urgently, interrupting Victor.

“All I know is it’s en route…” Wells replied shrugging his shoulders.

“Shit, we’re running out of time,” Victor swinged his legs to stick to the corpuse of the ship

“Whats with the ram shield and the holes in the hull?” Victor turned to Ford holding him by his sholder to push him back to full fixation

“Just need to weld it here” Ford reached to weld torch in his tool belt, with piece of cut metal plate floating nearby

“Alright then ill return inside”

Хуйлрах салхинд хөвчин дэлхий угалзраад

Ангасан газар тэнгэрт дүүлэн гагнагдаад

Хурмаст баясан усан мөндөр асгараад Харлан догшрох хилэн сүнсэт,

хар аянга Хар аянга

The domes of Barnard’s Star were collapsing under their own weight, fires inside being extinguished by the leaking oxygen. Dead bodies of Martians and Novrutarians lay under the debris, a stark testament to the devastation. In the silence that followed, from the planet to the asteroid field, a moment of calmness prevailed before being shattered by the arrival of Mars’s mass destruction weapon. The natives and SEA mercenaries regrouped across the planet, while the Martians reformed for counterattacks. For Mars, this war was an opportunity to test its new generation of weaponry, intended to spread fear and assert dominance. However, for the natives of Barnard’s Star, it meant enduring terror and horror once again. The planet was a battleground, with the natives and SEA mercenaries fighting valiantly to defend their home.

Despite the overwhelming odds and the advanced technology of the Martians, they stood their ground, driven by a desire to protect their families and their way of life. The conflict was not just about territorial control but a fight for survival and resistance against oppression, proving SEA’s vision only further. For the Martians, this conflict was a display of power and technological superiority. The new generation of weaponry was designed to instill fear and showcase Mars’s might. The destruction and chaos unleashed were intended as a message to all who would dare challenge Sol’s authority.

The natives marched through the liberated domes, stomping their footsteps resonating against the metal ground as they chanted their warcry, "Hu... Hu... Hu..." Their weapons held high above their heads, they invoked the dragon spirit of Vishapakar, a symbol of their resilience and determination. The imagery of the Burning in Flames Dragon swirling its tail around the planet filled them with hope and courage, fortifying their resolve against the impending doom. Across the planet, the sky roared with the approaching acidic thunder, heralding the arrival of the Martian destroyer, Snow Leopard. The dimensional shift warp was already detectable from a distance, with weak interactions radiation leaking into the normal dimension.

Guarding the dropout zone was a swarm of remaining Martian ships, abandoned by Mars due to their negligence and overconfidence. Mars had underestimated the resolve and strength of the natives and SEA, failing to deploy additional reinforcements. This oversight provided a crucial opportunity for the natives and SEA mercenaries to mount a final, desperate defense. In this moment of calm before the storm, the natives of Barnard’s Star, fueled by the spirit of Vishapakar, prepared to defend their home with everything they had. The impending clash would be a decisive moment in their struggle, a test of their courage and resilience against the overwhelming might of the Martian invaders.

"Alright, listen up!" Wells' voice cut through the tension as Victor, Vitas, and a burly man with a long beard and bald head stood around, brainstorming strategies against the Martian Destroyer. Ludwig and Jaanus had joined them, Asim on heavy life support.

"That thing heavily relies on its sensors for vision, as do its gimballed weapons," Wells explained.

"So," Victor interrupted, clapping his hands, "you want us to somehow make it go blind?"

"I asked Ford about EMP devices to flood its direction with electromagnetic interference, making it hard for them to filter out," Wells said.

"That's not what EMP means," Victor countered, crossing his arms.

"I know, but I didn't bother with the technicalities. Ford and I came up with an EM wave amplifier for radio antennas," Wells continued.

"It's not really an issue for military-grade sensors; they're built to withstand that," Vitas said, raising a skeptical eyebrow.

"What we'll do is flood their channels from all sides. Until they filter it out, we'll strike," Wells said, gesturing animatedly. "I've visualized it, but I'm not sure how it'll work in practice."

A shadow passed through the room as a rhombus-shaped dark ship docked at the station. The Killer Queen, a military battleship of the SEA Freedom Fighters, had arrived. The magnetic clamps zoomed past, connecting to the ship's hull and fixating it securely. The docking port tunnel extended to meet the airlock doors.

Igor, the burly man, turned his head, noticing the shadow of the ship as it docked. The Killer Queen was a renowned battleship among the Freedom Fighters. Its fame was so widespread that only the Graviton crew, unfamiliar with its reputation, seemed like uncivilized cavemen in comparison.

Emerging from the docking airlock was Francis Herero, a macho figure admired by teenage girls across the exoplanets. His presence commanded attention of Victor and Vitas as Wells and Ford continued with their thoughts.

Unlike other showoff ship captains who had never fought a single day in their lives, Francis Herero had been through numerous minor conflicts within star systems, building up his reputation among militaries. The SEA’s Freedom Fighters division, to which he belonged, were deployed in systems fighting for independence from the Solar System, framing it as a struggle for freedom from oppression while intervening in foreign politics.

“Ah, my people,” Francis declared, spreading his hands in a gesture of appreciation as he finally saw his compatriots and noticed the new guests from Sol. “Oh, we have guests here; I wasn’t aware of that,” he added, giving a fake smile upon seeing the patch of Saturn on Victor’s spacesuit.

“I don’t like the look he’s giving us,” Vitas whispered to Victor, keeping his eyes fixed on Francis as he approached.

Wells and Ford also noticed Francis, his magnetic stomping growing louder. Wells set aside his EMP gearbox and tablet when Francis reached their gathering spot around a table. Victor returned the fake smile, trying to create an atmosphere of friendship. Francis then approached Igor for a handshake with his fellow crewmate.

“Why are Soncarians here?” Francis whispered to Igor, pressing his hand as if to crush it. Igor glanced quickly at the shining patch on Victor’s spacesuit, which featured Saturn and its moon Titan.

"They helped rescue people and are fighting against Ares," Igor explained.

"Oh, don't be so naive, Igor. Terrans would never fight against Aresians," Francis replied with a dismissive smirk.

“So,” Victor interrupted with his original So, clapping his hands to capture everyone’s attention, “My name’s Victor, Captain of the Graviton scientific ship.”

“Oh, it’s so impolite of me. I’m very sorry,” Francis responded with feigned politeness. “My name is Francis Herero. Freedom Fighters have joined the Liberation Army in this war.”

Francis approached Victor and Vitas for a handshake. Victor hesitated slightly but eventually shook Francis's extended hand, feeling uneasy about the militant.

“HEY, a Martian Destroyer is approaching the system, huh?” Ford shouted, reminding everyone of the pressing situation. The awkward greeting between Victor and Francis was quickly interrupted.

“Right,” Vitas added, dragging Victor toward Wells and Ford.

“Aaaand the final plan is?” Vitas prompted Wells, nodding his head impatiently.

“We need quite a few ships to act as distractions from the sides while antennas bombard the destroyer,” Wells explained, inhaling the plastic-smelling oxygen. “We’ll have a window of opportunity to shoot the covered thermal vents, driving it out.”

“That’s very interesting, Mister, uh…” Francis interjected, interrupting Wells’s explanation.

“Harrison Wells,” Wells responded unemotionally.

“Mister Wells, we appreciate your effort in helping us, but we already have a tactical plan for the Ares ship,” Francis said with a hint of condescension.

“I’m not holding you,” Wells replied coldly, while Francis picking up a closed glass of whiskey off the table that had gone unnoticed until now.

"Very well then," Francis said, nodding to Igor before they both returned to the Killer Queen.

"Ya heard the plan, gentlemen, let's move out!" Victor called, urging everyone back to their ships.

At least seven ships could be seen around the dimensional warping zone where the Snow Leopard was expected to drop out. Wells and Ford shared EMP gearboxes with the other mercenaries, instructing them on how and where to plant the devices. The Graviton was joined by Yggdrasil, Pikker, and Yokai.

Jaanus and Ludwig held Asim, who was attached to a life support system. His wounds were severe, but they were managing to keep him alive. The Bruce Lee ship was left docked at the station, seemingly forgotten in the urgency of the moment.

"They forgot the ship, huh?" Asim's voice cracked as he broke his silence, trying to crawl toward the Bruce Lee's docks with the remaining strength in his body. "The ship... they forgot the ship!"

“You’re barely breathing where the fuck are you heading to” Jaanus holding Asim from his waist as he almost fell over in microgravity

“The ship…” Holding onto whatever remains of his breath

Jaanus picked up Asim holding him from his shoulders, Asim spread his arms around Jaanus's neck, holding on him “I don’t have long left, I was meant to be dead there but these guys saved me”

“You want to repay them?”

Asim grabs Jaanus head and hits forehead against forehead “You have… a beloved woman… probably waiting for you, I have nothing to lose… Oh and you Ludwig, this mercenary thing is not your stuff at all, you both love science… join them”

Once thought to be a force acting between objects of mass by Sir Isaac Newton, gravitation was redefined at the dawn of the 20th century by Albert Einstein. His General Theory of Relativity polished the model of Special Relativity and Lorentz Transformation. This structure, consisting of three spatial dimensions and one time dimension, curves under the influence of massive objects, causing objects in natural free fall to move on geodesics and meet each other. This entirely changed our perspective on gravitation, precisely explaining the evolution of an object over time. However, General Relativity only worked on our scale.

Einstein's proposal of light quanta gave birth to an entirely new understanding of the fundamental world: the Standard Model of Particle Physics. Unlike General Relativity, it offered a quantum description of our world, consisting of superpositions and probabilities. These two theories could not be unified to explain quantum gravity as the curvature of spacetime. Perhaps there were particles, nicknamed gravitons, explaining curvature on a fundamental scale. This question—what is gravitation on a fundamental scale?—led to numerous hypothetical universes where particles were explained as vibrating patterns of energy, strings, quantizing spacetime itself as bind loops of quantum gravity.

Models such as Causal Dynamical Triangulation, Asymptotic Safety, and M Theory tried explaining gravity with the Standard Model of Particles. Unfortunately, for the next centuries, experimentation was very complicated, leaving humanity with this unanswered question. The M Theory, a beautiful abstract model unifying supersymmetric supergravity and supersymmetric superstrings, became crucial. Supersymmetry is the unnoticed beauty of our universe, with symmetries surrounding us: butterflies under reflection, spheres under rotations, grids under translations. Understanding symmetries helps us understand the geometric structure of objects. Our beautiful universe, in 10 spatial and 1 time dimension, has all mathematical constants determined solely by its symmetries.

Edward Witten's quantum description proposed by M Theory gave us a key to a door we had yet to find—until Mark Cooper found the door left by the ancients of our galaxy. The 11-dimensional, self-similar, supersymmetric universe with string particles and gravitation unified was a leap in human civilization, starting a new era of galactic exploration. This new technology promised to help humanity prosper, but barbaric habits never left the terrifying creatures known as humans. The technology was armed against themselves on ships of mass destruction. In business, this was referred to as "war." Mars was known to push for that no matter what, and as their rushed project reached Barnard’s Star, so did the indomitable human spirit, struggling for survival and determination.

“Harry, hey Harry,” a voice echoed through Wells's head. “Wake up.” Emilia was poking Wells in the back as he had fallen asleep in the lounge on the table, finding a quiet hour to rest as Victor commanded the ship. Hearing a gentle female voice, thinking it was Lotus again, Wells raised his head, his vision initially blurred by the repetitive ship interior, until it cleared out.

“Lotus?” Wells asked, turning his head in the direction of the voice. He saw Emilia standing behind him, gently waking him up from his snooze.

“What the fuck” Wells swiped his face with his palm, trying to refresh himself. “The headaches only get worse.”

“Oh? I can bring medication if you wish.”

“They didn’t help when I took them.”

“I can help diagnose your issue when you are free,” Emilia offered, noticing Wells standing up and holding onto the table with one hand as he felt very dizzy.

“The Martian thing,” Wells said, squeezing his eyes with his fingers. “What is Victor doing right now?”

“We are heading towards the Snow Leopard. The ground teams have completed your assigned tasks already.”

“How long have I slept?”

“Three hours, Wells.”

“Fu-- Damn. Thank you. I need to be on the bridge,” Wells said, sliding and picking up the tablet. He rushed to the elevator door to reach the bridge where Victor, Ford, and Vitas were already present. Vitas had manually armed the hardpoints of the Graviton while Ford monitored all subsystems and sensory telemetry of the ship. Wells entered the bridge, looking like an alcoholic with no sleep.

“There you are,” Vitas poked at Wells, noticing his appearance as he entered through the sealed door.

“Did I miss a lot?” Wells asked in a low-pitched, cracking voice, addressing Vitas, Ford, and Victor about the current situation.

“The Snow Leopard exited Anti-De-Sitter space. It's heading towards the planet as the patrolling ships disbanded for flanking,” Victor informed him.

“I have this feeling we left something behind,” Wells said, approaching the co-pilot seat next to Victor. He slid his tablet into connection with the ship port and opened the communications relay application on the monitors, calibrating antennas.

The illuminators across the ship were covered by protective windshields as combat mode was initiated, something the scientific assembly ensured when overseeing the construction of the Kepler-Class third model variations for the crew's security.

“Whatever it was, it’s probably not important,” Victor added as the Graviton moved on an interdiction trajectory with the Snow Leopard. Wells was calibrating the installed interference modulators, waiting for a ready status from the ground team, Yggdrasil, Pikker, and Yokai.

“They surely know about our presence and our plans,” Vitas voiced his concern while working on the calibration of weapons.

“Surely they do. The destroyer is suspiciously moving alone without any escort. I fear we might have a tail on us,” Victor agreed, his worry evident.

“Sensors are slightly interfered. Are they flooding now?” Wells asked Victor, nearing the completion of the communication calibration.

“Nope, we’re being jammed,” Victor responded, preparing for a sharp turn maneuver around the Martian skirmisher tailing them.

The Martians had prioritized Graviton as a target for neutralization, but so far, only one ship had been noticed following them. It was the same model as their previous encounter during the protection of the Cetus Rescue Megaship.

“Ninety-degree turn flip on the belly,” Victor commanded.

“Full visibility of the weapons,” Vitas chanted, readying himself with manual control of the weapons.

The wings of Graviton retracted into their folded state, covering the engines and the habitat with the lounge. The four cannons pointed to the predicted trajectory of the Martian ship. Just as Vitas was about to pull the trigger, the third and fourth weapons began reporting malfunctions to the sensory monitors. A second skirmisher had shot down their weaponry.

“We lost two cannons!” Vitas shouted to Victor, maneuvering around the incoming bullets.

“Noted. Preparing maneuver to cover the bridge,” Victor said, pulling the steering wheel hard, overloading everyone with G-forces. The second skirmisher began showering them with bullets, leaving holes across the entire ship.

“Everyone, wear your helmets! Wells, run for your suit now!” Victor shouted. Suddenly, the bullet shower stopped. Victor, confused, turned the ship on its belly towards the skirmisher, revealing the remaining weapons. Through the bridge windows, they saw the skirmisher no longer showed signs of life, something had shot it down with precision.

“Huh?” Wells exclaimed as he opened the sensory telemetry near the ship.

“Bruce Lee to Graviton, this is Asim speaking. It seems you forgot something!”

“Asim?” Ford’s voice echoed through the radio chatter. “I thought you were on life support!”

“Not an excuse, hehe! I don’t have long left to live; might as well spend it with meaning.”

“Gentlemen, that thing is already at the planet. We don’t have time for chatter,” Wells interrupted, immediately reminding everyone about the destroyer. “Sending the message to the ground team and the rest of the ships.”

“I sealed off several rooms where the bullet holes are leaking oxygen. Emilia is safe in the lounge, probably the most secure place right now,” Victor added, readjusting the ship’s trajectory back towards Snow Leopard, deploying the wings to correct the center of mass.

“Reports are already coming in that it’s shooting objects on the planet’s surface.”

“What’s the estimated time until we arrive?” Asim asked Victor through the radio, flying past them with the roaring engines of the Martian warship.

“Fifteen minutes at best,” Victor responded.

“Asim, how the hell are you holding up? Are Ludwig and Jaanus with you?”

“Silencing the pain with injections from Kapteyn... I disbanded the team…” Asim coughed heavily, feeling as if his lungs were about to fall off. “Told them to stay away from this dirty business. They have so much to achieve, unlike me.”

“Asim, we will get you to Kapteyn. Trust me!” Ford replied, his voice filled with worry.

“Valhalla is calling me,” Asim smiled, even though Ford couldn’t see it.

Cutting-edge new-generation Martian technologies, all in one single ship. The railgun is the destroyer's major feature, specifically designed to bombard planetary surfaces with enormous nuclear warheads. The few gigatons of thermonuclear missiles can wipe out entire cities from the face of the planet. Clearly, Mars is only interested in test-driving their weapons for potential buyers of their new weaponry and technologies within the solar system and from the malevolent faces across the stellar neighborhood. Despite all the show-off humanitarian acts of sanctions against Mars and voicing support for Barnard’s Star, the same faces will continue buying and funding the Martian military. Politics remained the same through the centuries.

“Damn, it’s huge,” Wells muttered, shocked by the size of the ship from a distance.

“Victor, do we know any weak spots that the Terrans managed to find?” Asim asked as Victor turned to Wells to review the blueprints sent by United Lunaterra as an act of recon support.

Wells switched to his tablet screen on the bridge computer in front of him, opening the file directory manager application where he stored the blueprints in an archive encrypted with AES-1024 encryption.

“Uhm-- the reactor is not well covered because the ship assembly was rushed. If we aim precisely enough, it can be shot through with large-caliber weapons. Also, their bridge is almost entirely blind and heavily relies on sensor telemetry,” Wells explained.