The Shadowfang surged through space, the hum of its engines steady, but there was no peace among the crew. The transmission from Commander Dorian echoed in their minds, the weight of his threat pressing down on them. The Revenant Fleet was no joke—an army of mercenaries, feared across the galaxy for their brutal efficiency. And now they were coming for them.
Preparing for the Storm
The common area was alive with activity as the crew prepared for the worst. The ship's weapons were being checked, their ammunition restocked, and defensive systems recalibrated. Yet, despite their preparations, a cold unease lingered in the air.
"What's our plan?" Arkan asked, pacing in front of the crew. His mind was already racing through contingencies, but the lack of information about the Revenant Fleet made any strategy feel incomplete.
"We can't fight them head-on," Luna said, her fingers flying over the console. "They've got more firepower than we do, and they won't hesitate to wipe us out. We need to outmaneuver them, or they'll decimate us before we even get a shot."
"I say we hit them first," Kyra said, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Take them out before they have a chance to regroup."
"And how exactly do you propose we do that?" Taron asked, raising an eyebrow. "We don't even know how many ships they've got."
Kyra shrugged, unfazed. "That's what makes it fun."
"I think we need a more measured approach," Iris interjected, stepping into the center of the group. Her voice was steady, but the lingering strain of the Nexus's presence was evident in her gaze.
Arkan looked at her, his expression softening. "What do you have in mind?"
Iris paused, taking a deep breath as she gathered her thoughts. "The Revenant Fleet doesn't just go after random targets. They're after the Nexus, or more specifically, me. I've been their goal since they realized I was alive. If we can use that... we can turn the tables."
"You're suggesting we use you as bait?" Kairo asked, his tone incredulous.
"Not bait," Iris said firmly. "A distraction. We make them think we're weak, that they've cornered us. Then, when they're close enough, we strike."
Taron shook his head. "That's risky. If they even suspect a trap, we're done for."
"I'm not saying it's foolproof," Iris admitted. "But it's our best shot. If they focus their fire on me, the rest of you will have an opening. You can target their weak spots, sabotage their ships. We hit them where it hurts."
The room fell silent as the crew absorbed the plan.
"I don't like the idea of putting you in that kind of danger," Arkan said, his voice quiet but intense. "But if it's the only way—"
"We'll make it work," Luna said. "It's risky, but it's the best option we've got."
The First Strike
The Shadowfang dropped out of warp just outside the asteroid belt near their destination. The Revenant Fleet had already deployed several ships—massive, sleek vessels bristling with weapons. The fleet's leader, Commander Dorian, was known for his strategic genius, and his reputation for never leaving survivors was something that weighed heavily on the crew.
Iris stood before the viewport, watching as the Revenant ships loomed on the horizon. The pressure of her plan hung heavily on her shoulders, and she could feel the Nexus stirring within her, offering strength, offering power.
"You know I can help," the voice of the Nexus whispered inside her mind.
Iris closed her eyes, feeling the urge to yield. The power it offered was intoxicating, a siren call in the midst of the chaos. But she resisted. "No," she muttered. "I don't need you."
Arkan approached, standing by her side. "Are you sure you're ready for this?"
"I have to be," Iris said, her voice quiet but unwavering. "We don't have a choice."
A Dangerous Dance
The Revenant Fleet moved in closer, their ships cutting through the void with deadly precision. Dorian's voice came over the comms, smooth and chilling.
"Shadowfang, I see you've finally come out to play," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "I suggest you surrender now, before things get messy. You cannot hope to win."
Iris's gaze never wavered as she spoke into the comm. "I don't intend to surrender. But I do suggest you reconsider your position."
"We'll see how long your defiance lasts," Dorian's voice replied, colder now. "Prepare to be destroyed."
As he finished speaking, the Revenant ships began to fire. But it wasn't toward the Shadowfang—it was toward Iris herself. The distraction had begun.
"Iris, get back to the ship!" Arkan shouted, his voice tight with urgency.
"I'm fine," Iris replied, her voice steady. She closed her eyes for a moment, focusing on her own power, on the Nexus's energy within her. She could feel the pulses of energy reaching out, making contact with the incoming blasts. She summoned the strength to redirect some of the attacks, sending them harmlessly into space.
But the strain was already building.
The Crew's Counterattack
As the Revenant ships concentrated their fire on Iris, the Shadowfang veered into the asteroid field. The crew's plan had begun.
Luna and Kairo worked swiftly, hacking into the nearby Revenant ships' systems and causing critical malfunctions in their weaponry.
"They're starting to lose control," Luna said, her fingers flying across the console. "We have an opening."
Taron and Kyra took to the gunner's station, targeting the damaged ships. Kyra's strikes were quick and brutal, slicing through weakened shields and blasting away enemy defenses.
"We've got them rattled," Taron said, his voice triumphant. "Keep hitting their weak spots, and we'll have them on the ropes."
The Nexus's Temptation
Despite their success, Iris could feel the Nexus growing stronger within her. It could see the battle's momentum shifting in their favor—and it wanted to take control.
"Iris, you need me," the Nexus's voice purred, the sensation almost overwhelming. "You cannot win without me. You'll be crushed by Dorian. Let me guide you."
Her vision blurred as the energy inside her spiked. The power was intoxicating, like a flood of adrenaline rushing through her veins. She could feel the fear and doubt in her crew, the weight of responsibility pressing down on them. But deep inside, she knew that yielding would mean losing everything.
I won't let you take me, she thought firmly. This fight is mine.
Iris raised her hand, focusing on the energy inside her. She pushed back against the Nexus, forcing its power into submission. The storm of temptation began to dissipate, and with it, a newfound clarity filled her.
The Final Blow
The Shadowfang was on the offensive now. The Revenant Fleet's ships were damaged, their communications scrambled. The crew hit them hard, and the tide had turned.
Arkan stood by the viewport, watching as the Shadowfang delivered the final blow. The largest Revenant vessel began to implode under their concentrated fire, its hull breaking apart in a dazzling explosion.
"We did it," Luna said, her voice filled with awe.
But Arkan's eyes remained focused on the debris. "For now," he said quietly. "But this won't be the end. The Revenant Fleet will come back. And when they do, we'll be ready."
Iris turned away from the viewport, a determined look in her eyes. "And next time, we won't run."