Chapter 9 - Chapter 8

While everyone was waiting for the hyperdrive to be ready, the red line and the protective layer it was created started to dim out. Sooner the body of the ship was exposed. Scratches and other damage started to appear.

Andrew who was waiting for the hyperdrive to charge up to eighty percent started to loss his patient. Because he knows that the longer they will stay here the more damage the ship will incur and it is not good for them. Through the monitor, he can see the current situation outside. The red lines and the layers was wearing thin. If this will continue, they will loss the only thing that separate them from harmful cosmic particles. Not only that, there is chance that they will be ripped apart.

For him, second seems to be an eternity. The only one percent left before they will reached up the eighty percent takes too much time. In normal circumstances, it should take a couple of seconds.

When the bar hit eighty, he almost jump up from his chair to report but he was stop when he saw the pop-up notification on his monitor. Hi rubbed his eyes to clearly see what it is. When he saw what is the message on the notification, he froze on the spot.

The thing that he prayed not to happened was presented before him. The Cosmic Armor or the red lines was badly damage by the barrage of explosions. Barely half of the ship was protected and if they will try to jump into hyperspeed, the ship might not last long.

"Captain.." he called up his captain.

He turned around and found out that his captain was already looking on him.

"Why we're still here?" He opened his mouth but before he could do it, his captain asked him first.

Andrew didn't know where to start or should he say that everything was fine. This is his first combat experience and it is very different from a simulator they trained while they were still in the academy. Right now his nerves was still shaking and the only thing he wants was to leave this place. If he will report it, will the captain decided to stay or will she still leave. The stakes was too high. He calmed down himself, he just remembered that he was not civilian but a soldier.

He straightened his posture and reported "Cap, our cosmic armor is badly damage and if we still jump into hyperspeed. We might not survive"

From his position, he can clearly see the frown on the face of his captain.

Right now, Andrew was waiting for the decision and he know clearly the consequence in every choice. If they will stay, they might be killed in action specially right now that the enemy is currently on the the field of view. Their life is on greater danger compared to last tine, while if they jump in, there is a little chance for survival.

"How long can it last?" He was pulled out from his trance of thought when his captain asked him. Before answering, he looked back to the monitor. "I think thirty seconds or below" he replied.

"That's enough" Annie mumbled." Everyone! hold on" after this words was said. He saw his captain nodded.

This only meant that they will still continue to jump despite the damaged and the uncertainty of what will happen to them.

It was much better than staying here, Andrew thought so.

Andrew activated the hyperdrive and the next thing happened, they are already at the hyperspace traveling faster than the speed of light.

After jumping and made sure that they successfully leave the warzone, everyone raised their hands to cheer up.

But before they could celebrate, the ship shook very hard and a "BOOM" sound was heard.

"This is not good" Andrew shouted anxiously.

Before his eyes, the streak of light turned into complete darkness. They were sent out from the hyper speed. Andrew take heave of relief, the worst case scenario did not happened.

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