The sound of explosions echoed throughout the cabin.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
The emergency alarm blared, a deafening reminder that the ship was on the brink of destruction. Red lights flickered ominously, casting shifting shadows on the metal walls now riddled with cracks.
"D01! Status report, now!" the Commander shouted, his voice barely rising above the chaos.
D01, his loyal AI assistant integrated into the ship's core systems, responded in a calm yet mechanical tone. "Critical damage to the hull. Primary generator offline. Enemy forces are estimated to reach our position in three minutes."
The Commander clenched his jaw, forcing himself to stay focused despite the rising panic. On the holographic display, the ship's schematics showed catastrophic damage in nearly every section.
"D01, is hyperspace travel still an option?"
The AI paused briefly before replying. "Unlikely, Commander. However, rerouting all reserve energy to the main engines increases the probability of success to 38%. Navigation will be highly unstable."
The Commander closed his eyes for a moment, weighing the risks. "We don't have a choice. If we stay here, they'll destroy us in seconds."
"Redirect all reserve power to the main engines," he ordered firmly. "Set our destination to the Ardentis Alpha galaxy. Whatever happens, we have to get out of here!"
"Understood, Commander. Initiating power transfer," D01 replied.
The ship trembled violently as its last reserves of energy surged into the hyperspace engines. The sound of the machinery was a tortured roar, as if the ship itself was protesting the strain.
"Hyperspace is ready, Commander," D01 reported.
"Engage—now!"
As the ship entered the wormhole, turbulence battered it like an unrelenting storm. The cabin shook uncontrollably, and the Commander gripped his seat tightly, bracing himself. One thought burned in his mind: I will not die here.
And then, everything went dark.
"Commander… Commander…"
The faint sound of D01's voice echoed in his ears. Slowly, the Commander opened his eyes. A sharp pain throbbed in his head, making him wince.
"Ugh… My head… D01, report," he murmured weakly.
"The ship's core systems have suffered major damage. Reserve energy is down to 1%, Commander."
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, the Commander glanced at the main display. His blue eyes widened as he took in the data on the screen.
"D01… where are we?"
The AI hesitated, processing the limited data. "I… cannot determine our location, Commander. Navigation systems sustained critical damage during the explosion. Based on current readings, this galaxy is not listed in the Federation's archives."
"Not listed? What do you mean?"
"This galaxy is not mapped in any known database, Commander. It is highly likely that we veered off-course due to hyperspace instability."
The Commander turned to the main window. A foreign galaxy stretched out before him, its stars glittering like jewels in the void of space. Yet, despair clawed at his thoughts.
"So… is this the end of our journey?" he muttered softly.
Before the silence could take hold, D01 interrupted. "Commander, I am detecting a gravitational anomaly on a nearby planet. Its atmosphere is breathable. Oxygen levels are sufficient for survival."
The Commander sat upright instantly. "What? Show me!"
A flickering holographic map displayed a small planet, blue and green, orbiting a star at the galaxy's core.
"D01, divert all remaining power to execute an emergency landing. We need to reach that planet before the energy runs out."
"Understood, Commander," D01 replied.
The dying engines roared once more as the ship veered toward the planet. The entire cabin shuddered under the strain.
"Keep it stable, D01! Don't let us fall apart before we make it!"
Through the viewport, the planet's atmosphere came into view, but the turbulence intensified, making the ship nearly impossible to control.
"We're going to survive this, no matter the cost," the Commander muttered, his eyes blazing with determination as he gripped the controls, refusing to let go even as everything teetered on the brink of disaster.