The Battle of Silent Stars
The chill of space was nothing compared to the cold tension gripping the bridge of the UED Frigate Resolute.
Vice Admiral Sloane Veridian stood with her hands clasped behind her back, her expression a mask of composure as the tactical displays flickered around her. The Resolute was a small but maneuverable ship, built for precision strikes rather than brute force.
But precision would not be enough.
Not against Kain's loyalists.
---
The Ambush
"We've lost contact with the Ironclad," Lieutenant Harper reported, his voice tight with panic.
Veridian's eyes narrowed. "And the Astraeus?"
"Engaged by two destroyers. Shields are holding but not for long."
She took a slow breath, her mind racing. The small flotilla she'd managed to assemble was already falling apart under Kain's relentless assault.
Their fleet had been discovered too soon, barely ready for combat. Kain's forces had pounced on them like wolves smelling blood.
"Patch me through to all ships," Veridian ordered.
The channel opened, her voice calm and commanding.
> "This is Vice Admiral Veridian. We knew the risks when we chose to defy Kain. We fight not just for ourselves but for the UED that once protected Earth, not enslaved it. Do not break formation. Target their support ships. Disrupt their formations. And for the love of all that's left, stay alive."
The bridge crew moved with tense efficiency, their eyes locked on the chaotic displays showing the brutal engagement unfolding outside.
---
The Desperate Battle
Explosions flared like miniature suns, vessels tearing each other apart with ruthless efficiency. The void was alight with streaks of plasma, kinetic shells, and laser fire.
The Resolute shuddered under the impact of a near-miss, its shields struggling to compensate.
"Shields down to sixty percent!" Harper called. "Another hit like that and we're done."
"Divert power from the auxiliary thrusters," Veridian barked. "We need those shields operational. Any word from the Astraeus?"
Harper's voice was a pained whisper. "Gone, ma'am. They're gone."
Veridian closed her eyes, a flicker of despair threatening to break through her resolve. They were losing.
And worse, Kain's forces were still coming.
The tactical display showed the approaching Dreadnought-class cruiser Ravager, a massive warship built for destruction. Its hull gleamed with dark plating, bristling with weaponry designed to tear fleets apart.
"Kain's not taking any chances," Veridian murmured. "He's throwing everything at us."
"What do we do, ma'am?" Harper's voice trembled.
Veridian's gaze hardened. "We make them pay for every inch of space."
---
The Legacies' Intervention
Just as the Ravager closed in for the kill, something shifted.
New signatures flared on the tactical display, dozens of ships emerging from seemingly nowhere. Sleek, angular vessels with a design unfamiliar to Veridian.
But not to Harper.
"Those ships… they're private military. High-end, heavily armed. What the hell are they doing out here?"
The answer came as the newcomers opened fire.
Streams of plasma and railgun blasts tore into Kain's fleet with brutal precision. The Ravager's shields flared, struggling to absorb the unexpected onslaught.
"Who are they?" Veridian demanded.
A transmission crackled through the comms, a voice smooth and aristocratic.
> "Vice Admiral Veridian, this is Commander Alistair Rhys-Kingsley of the Orion Consortium. We were in the area and thought you could use some assistance."
Veridian's eyes widened. "The Legacies?"
> "And their personal army," Rhys-Kingsley replied coolly. "We have a common enemy, Admiral. I suggest we make use of that."
The Resolute shook again, but this time from the concussive force of explosions tearing through Kain's fleet.
Rhys-Kingsley's private military force was ruthlessly efficient, their ships bristling with the latest technology. Shields that bent light, railguns that punched through even the thickest armor, drones that swarmed like a living entity.
It was as if they'd come prepared for this very battle.
---
The Tide Turns
"Ma'am, they're… they're saving us," Harper whispered, awe and suspicion mingling in his voice.
"For now," Veridian replied, her tone icy. "But their help won't be free. They're here to make a statement. And they're doing it damn well."
The Ravager's shields collapsed under the relentless bombardment, its hull rupturing like brittle glass.
Ships that moments ago had been pushing Veridian's forces to the brink of annihilation were now desperately trying to retreat.
"Do we pursue?" Harper asked.
Veridian shook her head. "No. We lick our wounds and regroup. We're in no shape to chase them down."
The comms flared again.
> "Vice Admiral, consider this a gift," Rhys-Kingsley's voice purred. "A gesture of goodwill. The UED's time is coming to an end. Those of us with vision would prefer to be on the right side of history."
Veridian's lips thinned. "And I suppose you think you're that right side?"
> "I know I am. And now you have proof."
The transmission cut off, leaving Veridian with the unsettling knowledge that her rebellion had just been saved by the very people she distrusted the most.
---
The Legacies' Strategy
In the glittering lounge of the Orion Consortium, Rhys-Kingsley sipped his wine, eyes glimmering with satisfaction.
"The first strike is always the most important," he remarked. "Now Veridian and her forces owe us. And she knows it."
Duval smirked, her gaze lingering on the tactical displays broadcasting the battle's aftermath. "She'll try to resist our influence. But she won't have a choice when the UED comes for her again."
"Precisely." Rhys-Kingsley's smile was shark-like. "We're not just fighting for control. We're fighting for relevance. And every act of mercy we bestow becomes another chain binding them to us."
"Chains forged from gratitude," Duval mused. "Elegant."
Rhys-Kingsley raised his glass in a mock toast. "To the future."
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