"Captain, shouldn't we write a full report about the battle?" Viktor asked.
"I'll review the data for now. Keep the men ready to deploy at any time." Bernard ordered.
"Yes, sir." Viktor replied.
Bernard entered his quarters and started up the computer. He downloaded the data he gathered and ran a search on the machine. There was only one record of a machine similar to the one they fought a few hours ago.
"ASN-0001...a relic from Earth. How did Jupiter-Astra get a hold of it?" Bernard mumbled to himself.
Bernard reviewed the file and studied the machine. He found out that only five of these were produced and only one saw combat during the Exo-Wars. It maybe be centuries older than their current mass produced models but the specs of Asterion surpasses them by tenfold. Bernard believes that it's the pilot that can bring out a machine's potential. From what he observed, it's still too early to conclude the pilot's skills. It would be reckless to underestimate his enemy, it would be wiser to test the water a few more times before diving in.
"Contact Heros Hilt." Bernard ordered the computer.
"What is it Bernard?" Heros asked.
"Father, I need you to move our forces away from the asteroid belt." Bernard requested.
"Do you hear yourself? I don't think the council will agree if we do that." Heros replied.
"I'm encrypting this call. I want you to keep this between the two of us for now. I found a weapon that can make Jupiter-Astra submit to XenoMarsian rule." Bernard stated.
"A weapon? What kind?" Heros asked once more.
"Those old bedtime stories you told me as a child about the Exo-Wars. The legends of a lone ship that can destroy entire fleets, I found it." Bernard replied.
"Son, those were stories your grandfather's grandfather told him when he was a child." Heros argued.
"I'll send you an image I captured during a battle and an old file from the archives." Bernard added as he sent the file and images.
Heros paused for a moment and browsed what Bernard sent him. He then smiled and praised Bernard.
"I'll take care of the council and the public. I'll move our forces away from the belt so that your unit will have enough room." Heros stated.
"Thank you, father. I'll capture it and bring it back to Mars myself." Bernard replied before dropping the call.
He closed the monitors and exited his quarters before heading to the bridge. Viktor greeted Bernard once he got to the bridge.
"Welcome back, Captain." Viktor greeted.
"All hands on deck. We have new orders directly from the supreme leader." Bernard ordered.
"I'll take charge of the other pilots." Viktor replied.
"No, I need you to be acting Captain of the ship. I need to be out there." Bernard added.
"I understand, sir." Viktor stated before saluting.
Bernard went down to the cargo bay and informed the pilots to be ready to deploy any moment. He hopped inside his Stern-S and turned on the public announcement.
"We'll be patrolling sector B of the asteroid belt. I want everyone to keep a close eye on anything that looks out of place." Bernard ordered.
"Set a course for Sector B." Viktor ordered the crew in the bridge.
"Viktor, I want you to keep the ship near the mining colony. At my command, I want you to fire a barrage in front of my location." Bernard stated.
"Yes, sir. Leave it to me." Viktor replied.
"Attention all pilots, prepare for deployment." Bernard announced.
The destroyer made it's way to the sector of the mining colony and the XM-3s quickly deployed. Bernard's Stern-S lead the squadrons towards an area known for being a smuggling route of black market merchants. They hid behind clusters of space debris while keeping a close eye on their radar.
"Anything yet, Viktor?" Bernard asked.
"Nothing on radar and sub-radar. Are you really sure they'll use this route, sir?" Viktor replied.
"One of our assets from inside showed us this back door. The Alliance has no clue that we know about it." Bernard added.
"The double agent seems to be giving better intel now." Viktor commented.
"It's playing dirty but Jupiter-Astra also has eyes and ears inside Mars." Bernard added.
A fast moving object suddenly appears on their radar. Bernard ordered everyone to stand down and wait for it to come closer before engaging it.
"Sir, we have visual of the target. It's her." Viktor stated.
"Everyone, stay in position and don't engage unless I say so." Bernard ordered before flying towards the approaching ship.
"Captain, don't rush out on your own! All units Engage!" Viktor exclaimed.
Bernard shot at the red Orion ship but it was quick to dodge all of it. Bernard immediately pulled out of the engagement but the Orion tailed his Stern-S and landed several hits on him.
"We have unfinished business, you and I." Bernard mumbled as he tried to shake the other ship off his tail.
"Captain, I've spotted more enemies on radar." Viktor stated.
"I'll draw her away, make sure that they don't get past us." Bernard ordered.
Victor organized the other pilots while Bernard's Stern-S danced with the red Orion. He knows that his ship can't beat the speed of the Orion so he takes back in agility. Pulling off nauseating turns and never staying in a straight line for too long.
"Hey Blue. You move too much." Veronica, the pilot of the red Orion stated over the open frequency.
"I won't let you get away this time." Bernard replies.
"Don't worry, I won't be running away and neither will you." Veronica added.
Brook's ship along with Asterion, appeared out of nowhere and began firing at Bernard. Bernard blasted a whole through the debris and used it as cover.
"Don't hide from us, Blue. The fun is just beginning." Veronica stated.
"You're right. It just did." Bernard replied before smirking.
The surrounding asteroids and debris suddenly blew up and sent fragments flying in all directions like shrapnel. Veronica and Brook quickly retreated because their ship's hull is too thin, hence the Orion's nickname of Paper Plane. Kjēl reacted too late and was hit by several of the high speed shrapnel that failed to damage Asterion's outer armor.