[IC] Eternal Galaxy: Shards of Starlight - Part I

"HYAH!" Aion led the charge and aimed for any NGO fighter that came near him.
Target lock
Aim
Fire
A dozen Sparrow rockets ripped through the air like angry hornets, shredding through a fighter that had taken damage before.
Rolling out of the way of another fighter he took aim at one that crossed in front of his targeting reticule and opened fire.
Fighter after fighter went down.
Dodge, dive, sweep, spin, target, fire.
Aion cut through the NGO Drone fighters like a knife.
Enemy fire from 6 O'clock.
Dodge.
Enemy fire from 10 O'clock.
Grazed.
Shields down 24%.
Ascend to 50,000 meters.
He shot upward full throttle. He gritted his teeth as he could feel the G-force acting on his body, slightly lessened by G-Dampeners, a weaker version of G-Diffusers.
Enemy Fighters in pursuit.
Dive.
In an instant, Aion fired the bottom nose thrusters of his fighter and whipped around using gravity to his advantage.
He plummeted towards the oncoming fighters.
Faster than the eye could blink, he fired six warheads, which annihilated one of the four pursuing drones, and unleashed his guns on two others, taking them down with ease.
Then he utilized the Nova engine of his fighter.
In a flash, his fighter itself ripped through the remaining Drone fighter, cleaving it in two.
He readjusted his trajectory aiming for fighters that were about to attack from the right, but Joe took them down with his payload of warheads and heavy cannon fire.
"Nothing like some target practice, eh, Arrow?" Joe laughed like a maniac. "Gotta love these Drones!"
Regrouping, Aion and Joe flew in formation, destroying anything in their path. "You gotta wonder why they even use Drones." Aion responded as he took down another three weakened fighters.
"As thick as flies and ready to be swatted! WOOHOOO!" A fighter exploded at near pointblank range of Joe's forward cannons.
"How's your shields holdin?"
"With that last one, 73%. Yerself?"
"76%, got caught in crossfire."
"Hahaha! Not bad, not bad at all!"
"This is Transport Delta 8 to Silver Leader! Another Transport is inbound to our location!"
"What?"

***

"I'M NOT GOING TO DIE TODAY!!!" Nero shouted as he pushed the throttle of the Transport to maximum. "HELLO BOYS! I'M HOOOOOOME!!! AHAHAHAHAHAAHAAA!!!"
"Transport Delta 8 to Delta 9, What's your status?"
Nero opened the channel back to the other Transport, reaching past the actual pilot, who was tied up. "This is Transport Delta 9, everything is fiiiiiine~ We just needed to relieve our pilot of duty, since he didn't have the balls to charge headlong into this skirmish. Oh and tell Commander Sullivan, as Head Defense Coordinator, I WANT A RAISE! Kthx over n' out." And with that he slung back into the seat. "HA CHA CHA~!!!" he then began to maneuver wildly over to Transport 8. Everyone inside held on for dear life.

***

Kiara stared wide eyed. "Oh gods save those poor people...how did Nero get in control of a transport?!"
"Who the hell, in the name of Venturia, is Nero?" Aion asked as he kept pace with the transport, effectively clearing a path to one of the nearby Zeta Carriers.
"I'll explain when we get out of this mess."
Nero's transport quickly managed to make it into the safety net that the Hunters had set with their formation. Aion shook his head. "Nero, is it? Are you even supposed to be flying that thing?"
"Hell naw~"
"Heh, fair enough." He then redirected his attention to the matter at hand. "We're almost to the Zeta Carrier. C'mon, ladies! One last push!"
"And we'll be in time for dinner!" Joe smiled broadly.

The Hunters and Transports hurtled forward to the Zeta carrier. A gunner saw the group and contacted the main hangars. "Oi! Get the hangars open! we got transports inbound!"
"Open the main hangar doors!" shouted one of the officers.

"BRACE FOR IMPACT!!!" Both Nero and the pilot of Transport Delta 8 threw on reverse thrusters in a mad attempt to slow their transports for the crash landing.
SCRAAASH!
First Delta 8 then Delta 9 skidded to a stop inside the hangars as Aion's squadrons broke off and reformed an escort formation for the Carrier.
"HUFF! HUFF! H-HEY!! NOT BAD FOR MY FIRST TIME FLYING ANYTHING, HUH?!?" Nero looked back at everyone onboard.

***

Fleeing the battle, The hunters successfully escorted the Zeta Carrier to the Alpha Division Fleet which was engaged with a fraction of the NGO fleet.
All of the fighters managed to land in the main Maverick hangar.
"Our first fight as Delta Division mercs." Joe said, finally catching his breath. "Shouldn't we go back out there and help?"
"No...not now." Aion then switched to the group channel. "All ships, status."
The squadrons made their report, all reported positive. Until...
"This is Gold Squadron...we lost Evan."
"What?! Evan?!? No-!"
"Dammit, Evan..."
"Those bastards got Evan..."
Aion closed his eyes and kept silent.
Joe saw him from where he was. "Arrow...this is war. You can't save everyone."
"I know..." Aion then addressed everyone again. "We lost one of our own today. A superb pilot and a close, and forever dear friend. All we can do now is honor him and his sacrifice to protect and ultimately save these two transports. He saved the lives of our own ,and those we don't even know."

"He died as a true Guardian of Helios."




Venturia
Sol Inceneron
Near one of Inopia's moons

Ember landed her fighter in the base. The cockpit opened and she jumped out. She dusted her deep green jacket. The coattails jutted out slightly. She then looked up and saw Nhiome. her green eyes seemed to sparkle slightly as she walked towards him. In her mid thirties, Ember was tall and seemed to have a certain authority about her. across her lower back were two hand guns, slightly larger than most and modified with rapid fire capabilities. "So you're the little darling."

----------------------------------

Venturia
Celestora System
NGO Patrol Ship

"What...? Someone's tapping into the systems. Find the source!" The infantry began to organize themselves to break through the doors and proceed. They eventually set the charges and blasted through. "Spread out!"

Venturia
Celestora System
NGO Patrol Ship

Oh boy she was enjoying this, for every door opened, another two would close. Water sprinklers would activate from wherever corridor they would enter as distorted alarms would sound around them

("Come on little test subjects, let´s see how you play on my playground") the bioroid thought getting out of the console and running to another safe place

Mara got into the service room with some escapes routes and a small console to keep playing with her mice

Venturia
Helios System
Planet: Duon

---

Mima didn't say a word, but calmly floated over and slapped Nero across the face.

"Baka." Mima said.

---

Venturia
Celestoria System
Planet: Mortem

---

It's work done, The Reaper simply walked back through the halls, disappearing into the shadows like a ghost.

Eventually, it reached a bluff outside the base, and behind it, it decloaked a small spaceship, somewhat shaped like a UFO, with long tentacle like appendages on the back, but with no visible viewport. A hatch opened on the bottom, and it stepped inside, the hatch closing, and the ship departing the planet as the base seemingly exploded.

Venturia
Celestora System
NGO Patrol Ship

Suddenly, a pulse hand gun was placed against Mara's head. "Ah...you must be the bioroid. How quaint to find you here." A man with deep red eyes and grey spiked hair was standing behind her. His black coat, which resembled a variation of the Strike Fighter's commanding officer uniform, was buttoned up slightly, with the collar up. Red streaks patterned the jacket and his weapons. A single edged Energy Sabre, or what appeared to be an Energy Sabre, hung from his belt. "You must be wondering where you went wrong with your little game with my troops to let me slip past your net." He smiled as he backed away and lowered his gun. "Ah, that is the question...isn't it?" He turned while keeping an eye on her. "My men are merely looking for things out of the ordinary...but I have a different goal." He turned back to her. "Where is the girl? Was she here?"

----------------------------------------

Venturia
Helios System
Planet: Duon

After a brief silence, everyone in the transport applauded Mima.
"Amen, sister. Amen."
"Suddenly, I like this girl."
"She'll fit in juuuust fine."
"He had it coming to him..."
Then the female patrol walked up to Mima and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Remember how I said we always question what he does?" She smiled. "Now you know why." She patted Mima's shoulder then made her way out of the transport with the others. Nero remained in the chair, dazed.

--------------------

Venturia
Celestoria System
Beta Division Flagship

A long range sensors officer turned to Commander Suria. "Ma'am, there was a large explosion on Mortem."
"Explosion you say? Might be the NGO. Chart a course, we're heading to The edge of the solar system!"
Mortem at this time of year was on the edge of the system near the point where one would be close to Egale System...

Venturia
Celestoria System
Orbiting Mortem

---

The Reaper sat in a chair in the middle of the main, perfectly circular room, the only light coming from the large orange hologrphic display around it. There were many sides. One side showed large or local event going on, another with a view of the galaxy, and another side with a view for all angles of the outside of the ship. It tapped a few keys, making the entire ship invisible. Now was a time for a short break, to find more unjust waiting to be punished. It scrolled through the list of news and local communications networks, both civilian and military, marking possible notes, points, or targets of interest on the 3D map. He couldn't stay for too long, as reports were probably already sent out about the destruction of the base, or overall, just a large, unnatural explosion. Hell, they could have already sent out someone. Wouldn't surprise it. Military forces had a habit of getting on it's nerves form their quick responsiveness.

But who knows? Maybe they'll bring someone unjust enough right to it.

---

Venturia
Helios System
Planet: Duon

---

"You have five seconds to get out of that chair and explain, or i'll slap you again." Mima threatened.

Venturia
Celestora System
NGO Patrol Ship


Mara´s smirk didn´t went off even though she had a gun pointed on her head "Hmm a girl you ask? I have seen many things on this ship and many people having affected by the ruckus" she said as the console´s screen showed how some soldiers were struggling with the maintenance droids and similar ocurrences on other rooms

"But a girl? I haven´t seen an inocent girl here and tell you what, even though I knew, I would decline" she got up seeing the man with calmness


"Now I´ll suggest you something, either let me go and nothing happens since I know nothing about the girl you are searching for or things could end bad for you stranger" the white haired said with a warning tone despite her calmness

Venturia
Celestora System
NGO Patrol Ship

The man shook his head and smiled. "Always the clever one...But..." He looked at her with a wry grin as he put away his gun. "I know you're lying to me..."

"...Mara." His grin slowly faded as his face turned grave. "You don't know yet, but there is more to this so called 'War of Eternity' than just a humans fighting due to their insatiable greed." He turned and began to leave. "I'll let you play with Anankerisa for now, but know this: The time will come when everything comes down to one thing, and one thing only. The question is: Will you do what is necessary for the sake of this Eternal Galaxy?" And thus, he left. As he rounded the corner, he seemed to vanish. All that remained was a small burn mark on the floor...

-----------------------

Venturia
Helios System
Planet: Duon

Nero leapt to his feet, turned, and stood at rigid attention while saluting. "UH-uh-Y-yes Ma'am! It was completely necessary! I swear! Please...not the face again...!" And with that, Nero ducked scurried across the floor and broke into an all out run to get out of the transport. Once outside he cried out in fear. "SAVE ME-!!!"
This reaction by Nero elicited an uproar of laughter by everyone that heard.

Venturia
Sol Inceneron
One of Inopia's moons, Nhiome's Sol Inceneron base

"Now that you are in here, and my ship is fixed, what do you want? I already told you I'm not interested in joining, the only thing I am interested in right now is finishing my final project before I die, and I'm gonna need all the time available without being distracted by the likes of you." Nhiome said as he walked right past her, heading towards the area the last ship was under construction. He called back over his shoulder, " since you made me fall behind the schedule, and you doubt my capabilities, I shall allow you to see the final ship while I try to catch up on the schedule. If you try to in any way use those little toys you carry on your back, you can be assured that they won't work, so don't try."

He stopped by the stores to load up on even more metals and resources, before turning to navigate through the base, towards the last ship. Which he had decided to call "divine wind" or KaziKame ...

Venturia
Helios System
Planet: Duon

---

As Mima floated out of the transport, she made a chuckle low enough for only her to hear. It almost...reminded her of something. A pain shot through he head at the speed of a bullet, and she almost fell to the ground, her staff holding her up for a bit, before, try as she might not to, collapsed, and was out cold.

---

Venturia
Celestoria System
Orbiting Mortem

---

The Reaper got a odd ping on it's sensors, it was what seemed to be a lone ship, sending out a distress signal. The ship turned towards the source of the signal, and zoomed off, leaving nothing in it's wake.

Venturia
Sol Inceneron
One of Inopia's moons, Nhiome's Sol Inceneron base

"Your so certain you'll die?" Ember shook her head as she followed him. "Such a pessimist and yet still young." Once she looked at what Nhiome was building she paused. "And you take a passion in building these? Tsk, do you have no heart of soul?" she leaned against a crate. "Have you ever heard of the Legend of the Shards of Starlight?" She smiled softly and recited one of the passages.

"...as war storms and thunders and starts the inferno that consumes all that it touches and reduces all to mere ashes...those with a will to change cruel fate stand up from the smoldering embers. With hope and strength of the heart, they force the clock of fate to change again, to move on to a new time, to bring new fortune."

Ember then repeated the one phrase: "With hope and strength of the heart..." She closed her eyes and quietly finished her thought. "These legends bear more than some fairy tale for children's bedtime stories. There's a truth that rings true of everything. The War of Eternity, the rising violence, everything. The legends can explain everything, if you believe them." She opened her eyes again. "Words from the wise. Take them to heart, and maybe you too can change the clock of cruel fate."

And with that she began to leave but waited for his response.

---------------

Venturia
Helios System
Delta Division Flagship | Excalibur

"Oi! Miss!" some of the onlookers rushed over to her. Nero stopped and turned and ran back.
"Your flying was too much for her mate."
"Now look what you did!"
"Tsk! Don't go blaming me...She's..." Nero Paused. "We just need a medic. She's fine. This is just....it's something else."
"Back to being cryptic old Nero again eh?"

***

Aion jumped out of his fighter and watched the others do the same. There will be time to mourn later, he thought. In the meantime he went over to where the Two transports had transferred to from the Zeta Carrier. Joe ran up to him. "Oi, you alright matey?"
"Ya, I'm fine. Gonna focus on the transports for now."
"Right, happy thoughts now. Evan wouldn't want us to dwell on it. So! Where's that fine...perky lass, Kiara?"
"Heh, always one with words, Joe."
"You'd be lost without me huh?"
"Always."
"BIG BROTHER~!"
"Well Joe, seems your sister is fine."
"You don't say?" Joe then opened his arms for his oncoming sister. "C'mere you rogue! Everything all right?"
"Yup!"
"I'll say, your sister is quite the optimist." Kiara walked up to them.
"Ah, Kiara, good to see you."
"Likewise to you. I'm glad both of you survived and I have to thank you for your help."
"Oh it's nothing, just our job." Joe pried himself from Terrisa. "Say, where's this Nero fellow? I want to see the madman behind that mad flying."
"Oh he's over there-" Kiara stopped her sentence short when she saw the group of people. "What's going on?"
"Let's find out shall we?" Aion ran over to the group with Joe, Terrisa, and Kiara close behind.