Phoenix

[Rodent]

Omega 49, 819 AS, April


Alpha and Delta wings, converge at coordinates 5-E-231-1. We're done here.

A chorus of "Roger that" and "Acknowledged" rose, and Robert D'Souza nodded. Being a Fleet Admiral stuck him behind a desk most of the time, but he liked to fly. He wanted to fly. Increasing powers to engines was second nature to him on his trusty Bastet.

He had Beta wing in formation around him, Order fighters scouring zoner space for any potential nomad activity. It was a safe enough region that the rest of the High command wouldn't get apoplexy by him flying there.

Admiral, we're picking up readings. It was Delta leader, flying near the Zoner planet, Gran Canaria.

Go on, D'Souza replied tersely.

Seems like a distress signal, off the plane. Looks like a zoner transport.

Investigate. Alpha, head to the location. Beta, on me!

A zoner distress signal in the heart of zoner space was strange. Strange is not good. So D'Souza thought. He mentally prepared himself, then issued out commands.

Be on your guard. Assume hostiles. If I go down, Porter has command. Test everything before going in. Understood? Good.

Space passed rapidly behind them. Delta would be near the source of the signal by now. D'Souza was about to ask for a sitrep, but he was cut short by a panicky delta lead.

It was a trap! Das wilde fighters, at least twenty and two scorpions! We can't hold them! We can-

Abruptly cut off. This was not good. Alpha, behind them, confirmed it.

Sir, we have contacts, Rhienland ships, at least ten wraiths inbound to us.

D'Souza suddenly felt very cold. It was a neatly laid trap, that meant that the wilde had exact information. The complications were immense, but they would never be solved if they died. He barked orders.

Alpha, avoid those ships, head to Delta! Beta, on me, fire at will! Hold on Delta! he practically shouted. Battle heat was getting to him. Adrenaline flowed freely.

They closed the distance between them and Delta rapidly. It was not a good sight. Delta wing had six fighters. Four had been destroyed. Two were hanging on. Delta lead was silent.

Take out the Scorpion I am marking! Concentrate fire!" he barked.

The probabilities were against them. If Beta joined in time...

Sir!. It was Beta. The military has caught us and opened fire! Possible wilde ships, engaging!

A marvelously laid plan indeed. All they could do now was to survive. D'Souza issued final orders.

Alert Gran Canaria. Evasive maneuvers, try to get as close to the Planet as you can. Good luck!

The odds were against. Even if zoner defenses got to the area in time, the small Wilde squadron could do a heavy death toll on them.

Around him, Beta 2 and 3 went silent. He collected pods, grimacing. They were losing fighters like flies, but slowly the Planet came near. Maybe they could make it.

We're down...For the ord-. Static came after. Alpha wing had been obliterated. Those forces would now converge. D'Souza could do nothing. He weaved and dodged, as stray shots took bits out of his hull. His shields had long since given way.

This is Zoner patrol Lambda, we recieved your call, we'll be there in 15.

D'Souza snorted. They would be dead in fifteen. But they had to try. The hardened pilots continued to try to evade, as slowly, the superior Wilde forces whittled them down.

And suddenly, the limited amount of cursing and shouting died. He was alone, dodging fire of at least a full squadron. Sweat beaded on his forehead.

You shall never have me! Shouting defiance, he put his everything. The planet was close now, occupying all his screen. Just a little more, and planetary defenses would kick in...

Hull breach Imminent! The Computer droned.

F*** you! D'Souza shouted. Just a final few clicks...

The dreaded siren sounded. His bastet was going to go. He murmured.

Gods protect me.

And ejected. His pod would have been easy as a toy to shoot for the Wild pilots, but he had managed it. The planetary defenses roared. Fighters went down, One Scorpion was destroyed, and the others turned and ran to save themselves.

D'Souza, in his pod, plummeted into Gran Canaria's atmosphere.

______________________________________________________________________


The Zoner forces arrived to see chaos. Fighter wrecks littered space. The entire Order squadron had been obliterated. They took their toll. Wild fighters dotted the mess. And near the planet, a ghastly construct floated. The scorpion was non-functional, and ready to fall apart, as it did before their very eyes.

Nobody could have survived that.