Solomon ordered The Evergreen to bring itself about and present its full broadside of guns that ran the full length of the beautiful blue vessel. Small explosive vacuum shells roared through the void to plaster crimson red fast movers with pressure pockets and flak to pierce and warp their protective skin and bodies. Within seconds multiple blips on the monitor scope had gone out as they exploded with a hit and the ball of fire winked out as quick as the flash of light it created as the vacuum void of space sucked out the life of even the destructive forceful fire. The fighters began their strafing runs along the skin of the Evergreen, pattering it with a mixture of ammunition fired from their stolen and modified weapons. The fast movers had only one job. Distract The Evergreen until the carrier could get into optimum weapons range and open fire upon the human ship, and they did their job extremely well. They lived for the projectile chase. The chance of death exhilarated them as they soared through the void, dodging the void pressure pockets and shrapnel spat out by the exploding shells. A little more of the pitter pattering of the smaller munitions striking the skin of The Evergreen sounded dully through the arteries of the vessel where the internal antibodies of The Evergreen flowed with almost perfect harmony as the crew went between consoles, checking systems and power routing, the soldiers could be seen briskly walking the halls strapping on the last bits of their armour, slapping clips into place. Solomon's remaining forty two company members sealed their still beaten and bruised bodies into their fitted midnight blue armour as they readied themselves for the combat to follow. They each made their way to their assembly area, nodding with respect to each passing member, a bond crafted through countless conflicts, a bond that could never be broken, not even by the Reaper itself. The deck plating shuddered beneath their feet as a larger shell smashed into the hull of The Evergreen. Most of The Evergreens guns had been distracted by the pirate fighters, chasing their crimson forms through the blackness, some had tried to launch an explosive round in to the hull of the approaching Carrier but mid-flight the shell would become intercepted by an adrenaline crazed drunk pirate, a determined pilot, or just an unlucky killer as they placed themselves into the path of the missile. The Carrier presented very little to shoot at, it was a thin but tall ship, posing with the nose facing The Evergreen, the main weapon had been mounted upon its fore hull and with a blinding flash, a lighting rod fired from the long extension of the nose and glanced off the port side of The Evergreen, shaving paint and scarring into the metal but not penetrating. The First Company awaited their Lieutenant Commander, but he never came, he was busy on the Bridge, taking control for Kyril as his Captain Commander was carted promptly to the medical bay to be taken care of. Whilst the void battle waged outside, The Evergreen fired forward at full thrust to come along side the Carrier that was now seemingly recharging the primary weapon. They had one chance to strike the Evergreen and they had blown it, merely scraping the paint with the destructive lightning weapon. Solomon smiled as he saw the Carrier pass through the side monitors, he held up a hand, as steady as the vibrations in the hull would allow. "Steady. Hold fire... hold... Fire now!" he called as The Evergreen was not at full length along side the starboard of the Carrier and every single gun and launcher dotting the port side of the Evergreen erupted simultaneously, ripping through the Carriers inners and spilling them out the other side as more shells tore through the ship. Small explosions flared out and the lights flickered on the ship before turning dark for the final time.
The engines of the Carrier had ceased and the ship drifted almost limply as debris left its body and ventured off into the void as if flying the nest. Slowly spiralling away from the barely charred Evergreen, the Carrier loss had meant the fast movers had nothing to land on. The larger ship, that contained the screaming and cursing Zhou could only carry a small contingency of craft. The rest would have to make way to the planet and hope their fuel could take them that far. Solomon followed the fleeing jets with his eyes and saw Zhou driving headlong towards his position. "Jesus bloody Christ, man!" he called out, "They just never bloody quit!" he continued as he strapped himself in once again to his chair, "Maintain red alert, bring us into firing range, aim at their engines. I want to get aboard this one and see who the big balls belong to, that thing is ruining my day!" said Solomon almost as if goading himself towards a victory.
The thrusters of the beautiful and slender blue ship fired in patterns that moved the ship with true elegance and deliberate movements. The crew had the experience that they had long ago thrown away any form of manual and committed everything to memory. The Evergreen was an extension of each and every one of their bodies, they all loved her as much as a mother, carrying them through the void like children.