The laser explosion launched by the Saitan's interstellar fighters hit the side of "the Aquilon". Alarms and damage warnings sounded throughout the bridge, the crew did what they could to minimize the impact.
"Isolate the bulkheads of sector three!!! Turn at 66% power towards sector B8!!! Plasma cannons on this destroyer!!! Against measures in line!!! "Launch the fighters in front of those bastards and prepare the mechs, we leave in 2 minutes." General Osiris's orders would never be disputed, even if he had given the order to sacrifice two thousand soldiers just to buy time to launch the real line of attack and defense, the Mech warriors.
Although the Aquilon was the flagship of the Hellenic Navy, Grand Admirals Zeus and Poseidon had long since died during the war. The commander's flag or nation had long since ceased to matter.
The Order to prepare did not surprise Eneas, it was a matter of class. Those who did not measure up to pass the exam of the officer academy of the Intergalactic forces could only opt for that, to be cannon fodder for the forces of defense... if only his mother had not died that day, he would have had his head focused for the exam, but there was no point in regretting it now; he was a soldier, and he knew what his duty was.
He put on his old, reused helmet and went to the launch hangar. The starships fighters were old junk more than two hundred years old, obsolete technology... Pure space trash...
"Sergeant Eneas presents himself, awaiting orders, as my ensign." Despite everything, he had risen above all the failed cadets for his ability to fly, and his role as leader of a squadron destined to die was not a dish of good taste. .
"You have to buy two minutes until the mechs are deployed. Try to return as many boys as you can alive…" Ensign Wang Janggun's huge hand rested on Eneas's shoulder. It was a suicide mission, and they both knew it.
On the flagship of the Star Forces, the lower hangar was abuzz. Soldiers ran towards the old fighters, many praying that they would not make it to start that day...
Eneas's helmet was synchronized with the system of his old B29. Before his eyes, multiple screens informed him of the status of the systems. Since the beginning of the war, he had gone out and managed to return with that piece of junk twenty-nine times, a record, but now it was different.
The three home planets of humanity had been destroyed by comets launched by enemy forces against them, nothing could stop them.
Now the few remaining Allied forces, the last soldiers, the last officers, the last warships faced the impossible mission of stopping the enemy fleet long enough to allow the civilian ships escape with the rest of humanity.
Through the space gate, the dark outer space was illuminated by explosions, and he could make out the silhouette of the Nebuchadnezzar breaking in half and bursting into pieces in the distance...
This time it was not a simple battle; it was a fight for survival. The entire combat force of the three planets had united not to try to win the war, but to open a gap through which the motherships could flee...
They had had to sacrifice more than ninety percent of the population, but there was no other option; the entire future of the three planets had already been decided. The only thing left to do was try to save the remains and flee.
The old B29's engine shuddered as it slid down the launch pad.
"Here is Sergeant Eneas, cape squad, everyone behind me and in formation; let's give those bastards a show worthy of being called heroes" A clamor echoed in the middle of the radio channel. At least Eneas would die with the respect and loyalty of his squad engraved in his soul.
The nineteen fighters of the Cape squadron went out into space, fanning out in a pyramid formation. It was a varied group of designs and ships, with the five ships of the old B29 model being the most modern and powerful of all, which was not much to tell the truth.
The Aquilon turned behind them; more than 100 squadrons were deployed, creating an illusory barrier, not because they were not solid but because in front were the terrifying and maneuverable Saitan's fighters with their double U-shaped wings and their powerful particle lasers.
"Go for them." With that simple order, the resigned pilots launched into a suicidal and sterile fight. Ten star navy fighters fell for just one that they managed to shoot down, but if the fighters were not enough of a problem, behind them the squid shape of one of the Saitan's destroyers could be seen, one of the most powerful weapons in the galaxy.
The combat was stagnating, at least for the moment; surely they could contain the two minutes of the attack by the fighters of the bloodthirsty silicate race before being overwhelmed, but the presence of the large combat ship was something impossible to stop... The Aquilon would be reduced to ashes as soon as they were within firing range.
"Capa Squadron, all with me" The sixteen ships that still remained followed their leader, heading toward the enemy destroyer.
"Ohgmios, play the record…" A loud and fast electronic music began to play in his head…
They were ants fighting a giant... lasers flew around the squad as they put all their expertise into advancing...
"Ganwan and Borgar have fallen." Only a few seconds had passed, but they had already lost five companions.
Eneas drove his B29 recklessly through an inferno of gunfire. Plasma bombs were detonated as a countermeasure right under his nose... The old fighter's auxiliary engines were stretched to maximum as he climbed ninety degrees to avoid the blue plasma tide...
Shit, there were only less than half of the ships left... Eneas maneuvered to correct the course with his simple idea: launch his proton torpedo against the kinetic barrier of the enemy ship, pass through the gap, and crash into the command bridge. They had no choice; everyone knew it.
An enemy fighter appeared behind him. It could not compete against his speed or his firepower; only his expertise remained. At that moment, the main engine of his B29 lost power. Junk shit. He evaded enemy fire as best he could, but a well-aimed shot shattered his right wing.
Hundreds of red warnings appeared on his hull. His hunt was just space junk; he managed to eject from the ship before it exploded into a thousand pieces. In front of him, the Saitan's destroyer passed slowly; he could see how the red light that announced the firing of the main plasma cannon shone in the darkness of space...
Seconds later, the Aquilon was destroyed... From a privileged position floating in the middle of space, Eneas could see how the entire navy and all the motherships that were supposed to be the future and the only chance for his race were annihilated.
Ten hours later, while he was floating in the cold space, alone, accompanied by space junk and ship remains, his oxygen ran out. Hell, he couldn't even end up as a hero... his consciousness went out, and at the same time his life.