The ship's engines groaned unevenly, each pulse a desperate plea for survival. Aidan sat in the co-pilot's seat, his knuckles white as he gripped the armrests. The viewport revealed a chaotic expanse of asteroid debris, faintly illuminated by distant starlight. Each jolt of the ship signaled another grazing blast from their relentless pursuers.
It had only been minutes since they'd shaken off the smaller ships, but Varn knew their respite was fleeting. The Aeloria family might only be a branch of the Darnath faction, but their resources were vast, their reach long. He could almost feel the weight of their pursuit pressing against his spine.
A shrill alarm shattered the tense silence, pulling both men's attention to the console. The radar lit up with an ominous new signal.
"Damn it," Varn muttered. "Big ship's here. Knew they wouldn't sit back and let us go."
Aidan leaned forward, his stomach churning as he studied the screen. The radar displayed a massive blip, accompanied by several smaller ones converging fast.
"How bad is it?" he asked, his voice tight.
Varn's expression darkened. "Worse than bad. That's a cruiser-class ship. If we don't get out of this asteroid field and warp soon, we're dead."
---
The cruiser loomed into view, its sleek, silver hull glinting ominously in the starlight. Rows of weaponry bristled along its flanks, and smaller ships flanked it like a pack of hunting dogs.
"Branch family, my ass," Varn growled, his hands flying over the controls. "These guys are loaded. Look at that thing! It's a fortress with engines."
Aidan couldn't tear his eyes away from the monstrous ship. "You said this ship can warp. Why aren't we doing that?"
"Because this little beauty," Varn said, slapping the console, "is barely holding together. Warping with this much damage? Risky as hell. We get one shot, and if we screw it up, we're space dust."
A sudden blast rocked the ship, throwing Aidan against his seatbelt. The shields flared in protest, and warning lights blinked furiously across the console.
[System Alert: Hull Integrity at 68%. Shield Output Reduced by 50%.]
"Kid," Varn said, his tone grim but laced with dark humor, "you better start praying. If their big guns lock onto us, it's game over. And trust me, they will."
Aidan swallowed hard. "If this is just a branch family, what's a core family like?"
Varn barked a bitter laugh. "A core family wouldn't chase us. They'd just flatten this whole sector and call it a day. Be grateful for small mercies."
---
The ship weaved through the asteroid field, Varn's hands a blur on the controls. Each turn was a calculated risk, a delicate dance between dodging the cruiser's fire and avoiding the jagged rocks that littered their path.
"Found it," Varn said suddenly, his voice taut with focus. He angled the ship sharply downward, heading for a cluster of asteroids. "There's a gap here. Perfect for a warp jump, if the ship holds."
Aidan gripped his seat tighter as the ship dipped and veered into the cluster.
"Let's hope this works," Varn muttered. "Or we're both toast."
Another blast rocked the ship, and the shields flickered dangerously. Warning sirens blared as the energy barrier barely held under the cruiser's relentless assault.
"Almost there," Varn said through gritted teeth. "Hold on to something. This is going to be rough."
---
As the ship cleared the asteroid field, Varn initiated the warp sequence. Energy crackled around the vessel, and the hum of the engines rose to a deafening crescendo. The viewport blurred, stars stretching into streaks of light as the warp drive engaged.
The cruiser fired one last volley, this was even bigger than the last. For a heart-stopping moment, Aidan thought they wouldn't make it. But the ship surged forward, the streaks of light swallowing them whole.
He felt the force so much that had he not heard Varn's warning and secured the seatbelt tight he might have just crashed into the back side of the ship.
It lasted only for few minutes.
The sudden stillness was almost disorienting. Aidan blinked, his vision swimming as the ship stabilized. The hum of the engines softened to a low, steady thrum.
Unable to hold it in, Aidan vomited into a nearby container. Even Varn, despite his experience, slumped back, his injuries taking their toll.
"Did we make it?" Aidan croaked.
Varn exhaled heavily, leaning back in his seat. "Yeah, kid. We made it. Barely."
---
The viewport cleared, revealing a lush, green planet surrounded by a faint energy barrier.
"Velcro's territory," Varn said, his tone a mix of relief. "We have finally made it."
The console beeped, and Varn frowned. "Of course. They're hailing us. Probably want to know why we're limping into their space like a dying starfish."
Aidan tensed. "What do we tell them?"
Varn smirked. "The truth. Well, mostly."
He activated the comms, his voice smooth and confident. "This is Captain Varn, independent trader. Took some damage from pirates in neutral space. Requesting emergency landing for repairs, here is my ID".
Saying that he displayed his mercenary card to the patrolling guards through monitor transmission.
There was a pause before a calm, authoritative voice replied. "Permission granted, Captain Varn. Proceed to docking bay 12. Velcro forces will escort you."
"Much obliged," Varn said, cutting the comms. He glanced at Aidan. "See? Easy."
---
As the ship descended, flanked by two Velcro fighters, Aidan marveled at the sight below. A sprawling city of sleek, crystalline towers stretched across the planet's surface, surrounded by dense forests and shimmering lakes. The faint energy barrier shimmered like a protective veil, casting a soft glow over the landscape.
The ship touched down in the bustling docking bay, the landing gear groaning under the strain. Aidan braced himself as the ship settled, the impact jarring him slightly.
Varn slumped back in his seat, his face pale. "Well," he rasped, "that was… eventful." He glanced at the console, a wry smile playing on his lips. "Looks like we've got some repairs to do."
Aidan examined the damage. The hull was scarred with blaster fire, several sections dented and smoking. The viewport was cracked, the edges jagged and threatening to shatter. Inside, wires were exposed, and the air was thick with the smell of ozone and burning metal.
"Looks like we're not flying anywhere anytime soon," Aidan observed, his voice laced with a mixture of relief and apprehension.
"We don't need to. We can just use the teleportation portal over here if they have any or we can make use of the public transport space ships. With that said, lets go outside first" said Varn.
Aidan's system chimed softly, providing an analysis of their location.
[System Analysis: Planet Veridian
Governance: Velcro Family Faction
Environment: Temperate, rich in flora and fauna Threat Level: Low (Civilized Territory) ]
"Kid, Although we're safe for now," he said, his tone cautious. "But don't get too comfortable. The Aeloria family doesn't give up easily. That said, unless you do something big enough to shake the galaxy, they won't notice us here."
Aidan nodded, though his gut told him their troubles were far from over.