The walls shook as explosions took place on the exterior. Sparks flew by, and bullets whizzed through the hull in several rooms. Maximilian didn't appear scared by the sound or the visuals of several fighters flying on the main screen. He maintained a stern expression as he directed his men: A group of 5 operators, eight armed guards, and a couple of technicians fixing the damage that slowly accumulated on the bridge.
"Amdahl, report."
"We lost engine room number two." An operator answered in a quivering tone. "The other three can bear the load temporarily, but..."
"How much?" Maximilian cut him off.
"T-three hours at best, sir. An hour at worst..." His voice trailed off in the end.
Another shock rattled the bridge as a torpedo exploded just a couple of meters away.
"We lost the corridor leading to the escape pods!" An operator screamed, fear apparent in his eyes and tone.
Muffled curses followed, and despair began to settle in. They were inside the cargo ship "Alexander." In what appeared to be an easy mission for the Magpie squad to rack up some achievements. Just transport luxury cargo from the capital of the Allied Colonies of Humanity to one of the planets under the charge of the Lengerkes, a prominent political and military family.
However, not everything went as planned. Pirates managed to locate their fleet and ambushed them after re-stocking in a private station. In a matter of minutes, the two patrol ships, the recon ship, and several of the fighters that served as escorts of the Alexander fell to the pirate onslaught.
"The warp drive is almost in full capacity, sir!" Another of the operators said with an excited tone. "Jump in 2 minut- AGH!" The bridge shook once more, and blaring alarms began to ring.
"They anchored our cargo hold!"
Maximilian cursed inwardly after hearing that. He looked at the screen in front of him and a particular button in it. After debating with himself for a second, he pressed it.
"Attention to all personnel in the Alexander, This is Captain Maximilian Howaldt. We're going to cast away our cargo hold and warp in two minutes. Repeat, Wer's going to cast away our cargo hold and warp in two minutes. Prepare for the jump."
The faces of everyone steeled after receiving the command. Two operators began with the procedures to separate the ship, while another took control of the steering and accelerated. However, another problem popped up.
[What is the meaning of this? It's valuable cargo that we have here!] An urgent transmission from the VIP room interrupted the flow of the bridge. [I deny your request, do your best to fend off the pirates.]
"It is impossible in this circumst-" Maximilian tried to explain himself, but he was interrupted before he could say anything.
[Stop making excuses. It's your job to protect MY cargo and MY Alexander.] The young man answered in a dismissive tone. [Whatever, I'll just get you demoted when we reach Vanheilia.]
The transmission cut off at that moment. The armed guards showed their discontent with the voice but didn't voice their complaints. The operator looked at the captain with a fearful gaze. The man just looked forward, took a cigarette from his pocket, lit it up, and smoked for a couple of seconds.
"Proceed with the plan. I won't condemn my men to this." He exhaled a puff of smoke. "Whatever comes, comes. I'll deal with it later."
---
"Bunch of imbeciles, I'll make them cook potatoes in Saturn's asteroid belt," Leon said to himself, pushing a girl that was with him at that moment. "Do they know who am i? I'm Leon Lengerke, goddamit."
"Of course they don't, sweetie..." The naked girl didn't mind his rude behavior. She brushed her red hair with one hand and clung to him. "You're the best that this cluster has to offer..." There was fear for her life in her eyes. She wasn't stupid enough to ignore the dangerous situation that they were in, but at least she could survive if she was close to this idiot.
They were inside the VIP room. It had enough to live comfortably for several weeks, had sturdy walls surrounding it, construction, repair, and medical droids were stored inside for any eventuality, as well as an assistance android. If push comes to shove, it can function as an escape pod.
The man had blonde hair, purple eyes, milky white skin, and a chubby complexion. Even if he was part of the military, it didn't show in the slightest.
"Yes, you understand me, Lily." He caressed her cheeks and began to dress up in his uniform.
"W-where are you going?" The girl stood from the bed. Her lips quivered as she felt the shocks from the explosions.
"To escape." He went to a panel near the entrance, sealing the room shut. "I don't trust these idiots. I'll use them as bait and wait for the reinforcements."
"You're not going to leave me behind, right?" The girl approached him and gently pressed her breasts against his back.
"Of-"
The ship shook once more, knocking them from their feet. Before Leon could complain, alarms began to ring once more inside the room.
[Attention, the Warp sequence started. Spatial jump imminent.]
"That fool!" Leon screamed before the room shook once more.
[Spatial jump failed.]
Leon didn't want to wait anymore. He jumped to his feet with all of his might and pressed the escape pod button. Leon and Lily sighed in relief when they noticed that there wasn't a problem with its activation and felt the force of the thrusters coming to life. He went to sit for rescue, maybe play some more with Lily in the meantime. However, a message that he didn't expect sounded in his small room.
[Starting procedures to enter the atmosphere. Planet: Unknown.]
The closest planet to the Alexander was at least a warp away, there were just rocks and the space station that they used nearby as far as he remembered. If the warp failed, then, what planet were they entering? And where was the Alexander?