BOOM BOOM BOOM
Several images of the fighter's ship exploding were displayed on the scanners of the ongoing battle. The dying screams of the Skrull attacker and the Earth defender were muffled as their bodies were hurled into the vacuum of space.
The Skrulls' bodies were frozen as they entered the vacuum of space, while the Earthlings were protected by thin and sturdy exoskeleton armor designed for space combat.
As the Arcadia disappeared from the defense line and moved to attack the mother ship, Earth's defense line was heavily shelled.
The Skrull war commander noticed this and decided to push the defenders back while the mothership took care of its "pest problems." He issued some orders that put extreme pressure on the Earthling defense line.
The Arcadia had anchored its ships in front of the Skrull mother ship. Dawn had withdrawn from the battlefront and teleported into the Arcadia to lead the boarding of the Skrull mothership.
Hela reported as Dawn entered the ship, "The Earthlings will lose the battle. Not only are they outnumbered, their pilots lack experience."
Unknowingly, Hela clenched her fist until it was pale white. The Goddess of Death had fallen in love with the humans' struggle for life and no longer saw them as pawns. The sight of battle was glorious, and in her heart she wanted to lead them into battle personally, not just by giving orders from the ship without her true body.
Dawn could sense what she was feeling. He patted her head, earning a scowl from her in return, before walking toward the anchor line.
He knew that death would disrupt not only Hela, but also another person in the battle.
"Ryan. Are you sure?" Dawn asked him with concern in his voice.
He didn't care about the battle as much as Ryan did. If he and Kai got going, they could always teleport into the Skrulls' mothership and take Veranka hostage if they wanted. But this wasn't their time to shine.
The battle has immense meaning for Ryan. It represents everything he's worked toward for years, and would play an important role in Earth's history long after his death.
As he freezes an unfortunate Skrull while destroying a warship, Ryan responds with a hidden worry in his voice, "Yeah. I can't...keep babying the Earth forever, can I?"
Now it's up to his army team to defend Earth. The SSV ships didn't break the defense line and even rammed themselves into the enemy when the ship was under heavy fire.
The soldiers inside the spaceship moved through the vacuum of space with an exoskeleton spacesuit that Ryan had purchased from the system.
The spacesuit from the Dead Space universe showed its strength in battle, because even when the spaceship was down, the humans attacked the Skrull attackers with only their suits! They hold their plasma pistol and hijack a Skrull's warship in a risky battle in space!
A Skrull deputy commander inside the warship said with difficulty and fear after being shot in the chest, "The Earthlings... they're... crazy..."
Ryan grinned as he realized what his subordinate had done. He muttered to himself, "Well, that's a feat worthy of the hero universe."
The casualties in the battle were mounting, and the tension was high!
...
The battle had triggered several reactions throughout the universe.
Near Earth orbit, the Sentient Worlds Observation and Response Department, also known as the S.W.O.R.D organization, monitored the battle.
"What about our reinforcements?" Maria Hill, the temporary head of S.W.O.R.D. until Nick Fury or Abigail Brand return, said in a calm tone while clutching the necklace she wore to hide her trembling hand.
"We only have 10 ships, Director..." A S.W.O.R.D agent tried to change her mind.
Maria Hill grabbed the agent by the collar, who apologized instantly, and she ordered menacingly. "PUT THEM ALL IN THE BATTLE!"
After being admonished, only then did the SWORD organization decide to intervene in the fight. Fury had hired Skrulls - who were now gone, and the lack of skills in the recently restructured organization was giving Maria Hill a headache.
After taking over SWORD for just a week, she now knows how monstrous Ryan is about organizational change. "I need to learn more from him."
Hill didn't realize it yet, but her factional loyalty that had been only to Fury had morphed into a loyalty to Ryan. Not only she, but many of the country's other powerful figures had made the same shift - and the numbers were now climbing with the footage of the battle in space.
The one who was late to the wedding, and also Ryan's space spy, Carol Danvers, looked to the sky while holding the smartphone Ryan gave her with a shaky hand.
"What's going on Carol?" asked Rhodey, the war machine, to her during their date.
"Nothing. I should stay here." replied Carol ambiguously.
(Flashback.)
In Ryan's office 3 days ago.
"There, that's about it. No matter what happens. Just stay here." said Ryan to Carol and Peggy Carter, who was summoned by him.
"Earth is in danger? And you want me to run from the fight!" Carol slammed her fist on Ryan's desk and stared agitatedly into Ryan's eyes.
"Don't run away. Just stay here. If they break through the defensive line, the world will be counting on you." replied Ryan calmly as he looked Carol in the eye.
"You..." Carol was taken aback. "How many people would die as a result? How-"
Before she could accuse Ryan further, Peggy Carter interjected, "What do you hope to gain from the battle?"
Ryan's eyes twitched a little as Peggy managed to see through him. Carol realized she was getting excited and decided to listen to Ryan's remarks to the end.
"The Skrull. There are billions of them." Ryan then began to explain. "Even if Veranka is a self-proclaimed queen, what would happen if Earth collided with her army?"
"The true leaders of the Skrull could gather their army and attack Earth with all their might."
"What's coming now isn't their full power?" spoke up Peggy. Carol nodded to the side, for she knew of the Skrull's power, which could be compared to that of the Kree.
"It's barely 2% of their power. Earth's forces couldn't even handle that 2% without major casualties and severe repercussions."
Ryan inwardly scoffed at the Skrulls' bully mentality. If they attack and lose, Earth should give them face and negotiate a prisoner exchange. If they win, on the other hand, they could claim Earth as their own and enslave humanity without any justification.
Long ago, a treaty was signed by 12 interstellar civilizations in the galaxy that prevented any interference with an invasion on the surface or on a primitive level.
The reason why Skrulls and Kree focused on religions to attack and conquer other civilizations was to circumvent this law. They used this loophole until they were strong enough to face the other civilizations and become the supreme ruler of their part of the galaxy.
Now that the Skrulls' home planet was destroyed, Queen Veranke again used religions, prophecies and the will of the people to justify her occupation of Earth.
"The consequences will be taken care of by our allies. I've made some plans with them that would allow Earth to escape the consequences."
"For now, we just need to show that Earth wasn't helpless on an intergalactic level to fend off coming threats until we're truly ready to operate on a galactic level."
"Why don't you want the heroes to come?" asked Peggy again, as Ryan was still undecided on the issue.
"Peggy, let me ask you this. What do you think a hero is?"
{flashback end. }
"Maverick, pull back, the Skrull defense line is too strong." The commander of the entire operation, General Hawk - whom Ryan had met once before in the New York nuke incident - ordered the team to withdraw.
Earth may have entered the interstellar age, but fighting a mature and advanced civilization is like a toddler trying to beat an adult with a stick. Even though the stick was enchanted, destructive and powerful, the Earthlings didn't have much experience in interstellar warfare.
Three of the Thousand Wing fighter ships flew toward the Skrull warship line at the edge of the battlefield.
"MAVERICK. PULL BACK!" ordered General Hawk excitedly when the group of three showed no signs of retreating.
"Sorry Commander. But if I can get past the warship and break through the defensive line, our fighters have a chance to win.
"That would mean sacrificing yourself, Maverick! The gap is too small. You won't make it!"
"I've a feeling I'll make it." Maverick grinned and pushed through the accelerator to reach the ship's top speed.
He took a deep breath, and the sight of the barricade entered his field of vision. 3 warships flying side by side, connected by a series of deadly energy lines. The Skrull fighter jets' staging and loading area was behind the barricade, and that was Maverick's target as well.
"This is it, guys. Our chance to be a hero." said Maverick to the duo following him from behind.
Brad J. Armbuster, call sign Ace, and Joystick Angel, a man who got his nickname from beating all records in a flight base game, nodded when they heard Maverick's signal.
General Hawk was solemn. Then he decided to help the trio complete their mission. "There's only a 10-meter gap near the warship's exhaust. Unless you three can thread the needle at the same time, split up and attack in different directions."
""Roger that."" Ace and Joystick Angel disengaged from Maverick.
Ryan watched the mission from a distance. 'Good luck ... Heroes.'
He didn't interfere with the mission, nor did he try to control the entire battle. One of the reasons he didn't allow Carol or any of the Avengers to participate in the battle was to polish new heroes in a trial by fire.
He also wanted to show the world the power of an ordinary person who carries the spirit of heroes.
Maverick and the others flew toward the gaps in the barricade. The Skrull commander's eyes snapped open as he realized what the Earthlings were up to.
"STOP THEM!" He yelled out the order immediately. The other Skrull might dismiss the mission as a foolish and suicidal act by the humans, but he knew better than to underestimate the enemy.
And it was too late for the Skrulls now.
Mavericks sensed that his time had slowed. The top of the fightership had broken through the gap in the barricade. He steered the ship at a 45-degree angle to make sure the wings would fit through the widest line of the gap. The ship was halfway through when the edge of the wings hit the edge of the gap.
'Come on. Come on.'
BOOM
Maverick made it past the gap and began attacking the fighter jets' holds, killing hundreds of Skrulls at a time. The edge of his wings were still red hot and melted a little as he passed the gap, but he'd done it!
"WOO-HOO" Ace screamed with joy as he attacked the defenseless fighter jets with Maverick.
Not only he, but Ace and Joystick Angel managed to get around the barricade. They attacked the source of the energy line, destroyed the barricade and managed to reduce the pressure on Earth's fleet.
The Skrull commander was about to give another order, but then he'd to prepare for the intruder in the mother ship. He turned and muttered, "How did you get in?"
He was sure the man had been fighting on the battlefield a moment ago. His eyes sharpened, and his arm... lengthened. A rocky skin formed on his hand, and another part of him burned. He could also turn invisible and create a force field with his thoughts.
The man in the full metal suit in front of him was still silent as he processed the sight before him. The force ... it couldn't be them ... They didn't exist here ...
"It doesn't matter. I guess the honor of killing the Mandalorian will fall to me, Julz."
"You're a super-skull?" Asked the Mandalorian in a calm computer voice. "Where did you get the powers?"
"HAHAHA. From an unfortunate Earthling who landed on the King's planet." Replied the commander. A few of his subordinates rose from their seats and stood beside him.
Bone claws appeared from the hand of one of them, another wore a visor on his eyes. He opened the visor and shot a red optical beam at Kai. At the same time, the Skrull rushed at him with the bone claw.
A black sword blocked the beam and reflected it toward the animalistic Skrull. "I see. I guess I'll have to visit him then. The Planet of the King." said Kai as he drew the DarkSaber, preparing to fight the Skrull Commander with the power of the Fantastic Four.
On the other part of the mothership.
Fury had disappeared on his way inside the mothership, leaving only Abigail Brand and Barbara Morse - the prisoner who'd been rescued to lead the other prisoners to conquer the mothership.
"Our destination is Queen Veranke. However, she's protected by several super-powered Skrull. Our only hope of getting to her is by surprise," Abigail Brand said.
"How? There are hundreds of us." said Barbara Morse. The others weren't fit to fight and couldn't be used in battle.
"By being one of them," said Abigail mysteriously. The team walked casually to the Queen's quarters, where the commander had sent them when the battle began.
On the way, the team crossed paths with some Skrull guards, but before Barbara Morse could beat up the aliens who'd held her captive on the ship for years, Abigail Brand approached the Skrulls.
(In the language of the Skrulls)
"Where are you going?" said the Skrull guard, weapons raised.
"To the queen's quarters. The defender has breached the ship. The queen ordered us to copy the human's appearance so the defender would hesitate." said Abigail Brand in a clear Skrull language, even without a translator.
The Skrull guards looked at each other, their situation complicated. Abigail decided to walk past them instead. The Skrull guard held her by the shoulder before she walked past them entirely.
"Wait..."
Abigail slapped her hand away. "I don't take orders from you. I only take orders from the Queen. Now. Move."
The Skrull guard then decided to simply let her and the team pass them by. After the guard disappeared from their sight, the people there breathed a sigh of relief.
(In English)
"How?" asked Barbara Morse suspiciously.
"Long story." replied Barbara Morse casually.
Ryan already knows about her ability to talk to other species in the universe. Not even Fury had that knowledge. She knows that this is the right time to use the ability and wouldn't hesitate to do so just to keep her secret.
Deeper into the arsenal. Fury reached the warehouse of a bomb larger than himself.
"Hey, you're not supposed to be here..." A Skrull guard tried to push Fury away, but then a gun muzzle was gently pressed to his forehead. "Huh?" The Skrull guard was confused by his brothers' action.
BANG
Fury shot at the Skrull guardian, killing him instantly.
"This... shouldn't be on Earth." Fury said with a grim glint in his eye as he walked toward the Nega Bomb's control panel.
The Arcadian crew had entered the mothership, and the Valkyrie had entered the ship.
Park Shin laughed maniacally as she slashed at the Skrulls in front of her. She took off the top of the yukata she was wearing, exposing her chest, which was covered in bandages. Green alien blood splattered all over her as she gleefully hopped over the corpse of a Skrull.
The Skrulls' defensive line fired at her, but her body turned metallic from Kai's teaching.
She separated the alien's head from its body and its torso from its legs. She walked, carrying her longsword on her shoulder, toward the Skrulls' command center.
"Hmm..Haki is the best way . HAHAHA."
Dawn, following her from hundreds of feet away, shook his head at Park Shin's behavior.
"That girl is too pent up isn't she?"