A woman born in fire

[Sturmwind]

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<span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%]A woman born in fire

Loose rays of sunlight erupting from the Honshu star broke the blue composition of the Hiyo cloud, a nebula giving shelter not only to the infamous Kansai Research Station, but at that time a crippled battlegroup of the Rheinland Kriegsmarine as well. The shattered constellation of otherwise majestic and proud vessels baring the flag of the Chancellor now stood encircled and hiding from an entire division of Kusari Naval fighters combing the nebula. Spearheading the group of survivors was the RNC-Hellstrom, a gunboat now engulfed in smoke and its own shattered hull parts.

The year was 802. Rheinland's attack on Kusari was just recalled, the troopers left behind were now hunted down by the vengeful remnants of the Emperor's Navy. The Hellstrom and the handful of fighters guarding it were originally the part of Kreuzer-Abteilung 14, tasked with seizing control over Kansai Research Station. The Rheinländers were overwhelmed by the experienced guardians of the installation and their precise defense systems weeks ago, the remnants have been hiding in the nebula ever since. Abandoned by the rest of the Rheinwehr now on retreat to their homeland and beyond, the Kusari forces now got closer to apprehending the Hellstrom than ever.

One could literally smell the desperate frustration on the gunboat's bridge. The surviving few officers were running around in an awkward manner, fulfilling the tasks of two or three personnel at the same time. The captain of the vessel, Oberleutnant Martin Bittorf, stared into the blue nebula of Hiyo, gripping the railing around the observation port.

[color=#33FF33]"Herr Oberleutnant, sensors indicate two dozen Kusari fighters combing the area in a 20 square-kilometer radius. We're detecting an additional two wings to the ships we picked up an hour ago... they're getting close."

"Shut down all non-essential systems.... again."

"Jawohl!"

The officers kept rushing around the deck, flipping random switches and pressing buttons.

A loud bang was heard. The lights went out, all motion ceased. Total silence dominated the entire deck.

Suddenly the whole room lit up red, the alarm claxon broke the sheer silence.

"Herr Oberleutnant, fire erupted in the engineering deck. We're unable to contain it without switching electricity back online."

The commander's grip on the railing tightened, his brows narrowed.

"Detach it."

"Herr Oberleutnant, I must advise against that, Gefreite Melahn and her daughter are still in there."

"I said... detach it."

"Verstanden."

The rushing continued under the crimson flashes of the fire alarm, the officers clicked a few buttons and pulled a lever, the sound of a hiss followed...