Reforging the Blade

[Heuschrecke]

Explosions and discharges rocked the ship, the crew slowly but surely falling. Most of the vessel had been captured by the enemy forces, only the bridge and two small sections of the vessel were holding out. Heimirich knew their time was nearing the end, and he glanced out the bridge. There, hovering with intent, was Jaegerin Two, the pilot struggling away seemingly at nothing. Her guns were trained on them, almost waiting for the command to breach and space the lot of them.

"You have all served me well, my friends. If we somehow survive this..."

He strengthened his resolve, and stood up to address his bridge crew.

"All of you, each and every one have done me proud. Let these forces of evil have a taste of our reckoning! Let them feel our will to stand strong! Make them fight for every inch of this Bridge!"

A cheer burst out through them, before silence followed. The foreboding clanging of their enemy approaching the Bridge grew louder with each step, before something began to pound in the doors.

A loud detonation and the doors blew inwards in a shower of molten metal and heavy plating. One of them took the full force of it, being launched and subsequently decapitated. several others became incapacitated by the blast, it deafening and disorientating them. The captain and some of the security detail were ready though, and unleashed a barrage through the opening. A couple of thuds followed, alongside returned fire. One of their attackers strode in, and stood in front of their forces, some unknown force preventing any of them from shooting at him. He uttered one forceful command:

"Fall."

Heimirich gave several attempts at putting a gaping hole right between his eyes, each time his aim repelled into the advancing soldiers. Three times he tried, three times, a soldier fell. Each moment brought a new wave of frustration and despair, until he caved in.

"To all surviving personnel. Surrender, the bridge has fallen. Spare yourselves and stand down."

As the surrender was issued, Jaegerin Two went adrift. Their opponent covered the distance between himself and the Heimirich in seconds, lifting him up enough to stare harshly into each other's eyes.

"I always admired the tenacity of my countrymen. Tell me, do you know the difference between bravery and foolishness?"

"One gets you dead. the other, a footnote in history."

"Mmmhahaha! Foolishness, my friend, is to be unafraid of death. Bravery is to be afraid, and to act anyway."

He put the captain down and spread his arms to address the entire ship.

"Rejoice! Your bravery has purchased your lives."

With that, he departed, striding out of the bridge. The crew were instructed to take their positions and be escorted. Having surrendered, Heimirich felt he had no choice. They could quite easily have killed their entire crew and left the ship adrift. At least some of them had been given a chance to live. Not like that was much consolation for their future, there was little idea for whatever their captors intents were. All Heimirich could wish was that his sister wouldn't get tangled up, and that Imperial Shipping would have the sense to declare the ship killed in action and move on.

They were guided towards deeper Omegas, following their new 'escort' through Five and Forty-one. Little was given in regards to details of their destination, nor was there any need. They took point and the light carrier was led past the glow of the Neutron star. Not towards Omicrons, but towards a jumphole they had no idea even existed. The Wild forces knew, of course, but they refrained from sharing the knowledge, instead letting the horror and awe set in as they completed the jump.

"What the..."

Was all the captain could muster, glancing throughout the space exposed in front of the ship. A pulsar, and dark matter surrounding it, in a strange array of darkness and red hues coupled with the contrast of the pale blue emissions from its parent star. If it wasn't such a dire situation, he would have been able to appreciate far more the elegance of this sector.