The morning on the Vanguard warship felt heavier than Jack had anticipated. The hum of the engines and the hurried steps of the crew preparing the ship for the journey to Draconis couldn't distract him from the immense responsibility now resting on his shoulders. He was no longer just an ordinary pilot, soaring through space in a fighter jet; now, he was the Commander of the Galaxy a leader who had to guide thousands of lives toward an uncertain destination.
Jack stood by the window in the command room, gazing out at the vast expanse of space, dotted with stars. In the distance, planets shimmered like jewels, but beneath their beauty, the threat of the Shadow Dominion loomed, ready to destroy everything in its path.
"Commander," Mira's voice broke the silence. She walked toward him, carrying a data tablet displaying the ship and force statuses. "All systems are ready. We just need the order to launch."
Jack nodded, briefly glancing at the holographic map showing the galaxy. The Draconis sector was at the forefront of the conflict, and if they failed here, an entire trade route would be threatened. Winning at Draconis wasn't just about saving one planet; it was a symbol of resistance against the Shadow Dominion.
"How is the fleet status?" Jack asked, turning toward Mira.
Mira looked at the data screen. "We have 30 battle ships ready to move, including the Vanguard. We also have two reconnaissance ships currently surveying the Draconis sector for enemy movements."
Jack exhaled deeply. This was his first mission as Commander, and everything that followed would determine his future as a leader. If he failed here, it wasn't just his reputation at stake; the hope of an entire galaxy could crumble.
"We depart in one hour," Jack said, trying to steady his nerves. "Make sure the crew is ready. No one can be left behind."
Mira nodded and quickly exited the command room. Jack stood still for a moment, thinking of what had been prepared, but also of everything that could go wrong. Yet, he knew one thing for certain: he couldn't back down. Not now.
Hours later, the Vanguard was ready to jump to hyperspace. Jack stood on the bridge, watching as his team worked on the control screens. With one order, this massive ship would launch at unimaginable speeds toward Draconis, a place predicted to become a battleground of intense conflict.
"Engage hyperspace engines," Jack commanded firmly.
In an instant, the sky outside the window morphed into streaks of light, the crew feeling the intense acceleration as their bodies adjusted to the gravitational forces of space. Within seconds, they were thrust into the hyperspace dimension, heading toward their uncertain goal.
But their journey wasn't as smooth as they'd hoped. Moments before they reached Draconis, one of their reconnaissance ships sent an emergency signal.
"Commander, we're detecting enemy contact!" the communication officer's panicked voice echoed. "Recon ship 3 has been attacked by a large Shadow Dominion fleet! They need immediate assistance!"
Jack immediately activated the map display on the command screen. There, he saw several red dots spreading across the Draconis sector, signaling that the enemy had already begun preparing for a large-scale assault. If they didn't act quickly, they would lose a vital trade route.
"Contact the entire fleet!" Jack ordered. "Abort the initial strike plan! We'll assist the recon ship and ensure we're not caught in a full enemy attack."
Mira moved quickly, running to her command position, ready to issue new orders. "We have less than twenty minutes before the enemy arrives," she said. "Should we stand our ground or strike first?"
Jack bit his lip, weighing the options. On one hand, standing their ground would allow them to be better fortified, but they would lose valuable time in stopping the enemy's main attack. On the other hand, striking head-on could be a risky move, but it would give them the chance to neutralize the enemy fleet before they got any closer.
"We fight," Jack said decisively. "Focus on protecting the recon ships! All battle ships, prepare to engage!"
The fleet, led by the Vanguard, quickly veered toward the enemy's location. As they arrived, Jack saw the massive, dark ships of the Shadow Dominion looming—threatening and cold, their black forms emitting a sinister aura. The Dominion fleet was far larger than they had anticipated.
"All ships, follow my lead! Full speed to the enemy's right flank! Find their weak points!" Jack ordered through the comms.
Mira sat beside him, helping to coordinate the battle tactics. "We need to stop them from getting any closer, Commander. If we don't, we'll be caught in a full-scale assault."
Their fighter ships streaked across space, Jack leading the charge straight for the right flank of the enemy. They launched missiles and fired lasers with precision. Jack felt the adrenaline surge through his veins. Every move, every maneuver could be the difference between life and death. But he knew one thing for certain: this was his moment to prove himself.
Minutes passed as the battle raged on. Although the Shadow Dominion fleet was larger and stronger, the Vanguard and its allies fought with unparalleled courage. Jack led with precision, giving no room for the enemy to advance.
Then, a loud voice echoed through the command room.
"Commander, we've successfully destroyed most of the enemy fleet!" the communication officer reported, a note of triumph in his voice. "Several enemy ships are retreating!"
Jack sighed in relief. It wasn't a total victory, but it was a significant first step. "Good. Make sure this sector stays secure," Jack replied, his gaze remaining vigilant.
He knew this was just the beginning. The Shadow Dominion threat wasn't over, and this mission was only the start of the long road ahead.
At that moment, Mira stepped forward and placed a hand on Jack's shoulder with a small smile. "We did it, Commander. That wasn't an easy task, but we made it through."
Jack turned to her and smiled faintly. "Thank you, Mira. This is just the beginning of a much longer journey."
He turned his eyes back to the stars outside, feeling the weight of the responsibility on his shoulders. But one thing was certain: he wasn't backing down. Not now.
The first mission was over, but the war against the Shadow Dominion had only just begun.
Terjemahan Indonesia:
Pagi hari di atas kapal perang Vanguard terasa lebih berat dari yang Jack bayangkan. Suara deru mesin dan langkah kaki kru yang sibuk berlari menyiapkan kapal untuk perjalanan ke Draconis tidak mampu mengalihkan perhatiannya dari beratnya tanggung jawab yang kini dia emban. Dia bukan lagi seorang pilot biasa yang melaju dengan pesawat tempur di ruang angkasa; sekarang dia adalah Komandan Galaksi, seorang pemimpin yang harus mengarahkan ribuan nyawa menuju tujuan yang tak pasti.
Jack berdiri di jendela ruang komando, menatap luasnya langit gelap yang dipenuhi bintang-bintang. Di kejauhan, planet-planet berkilauan seperti permata, tapi di balik keindahan itu, ancaman Shadow Dominion mengintai, siap untuk menghancurkan segala yang ada.
"Komandan," suara Mira memecah keheningan. Dia berjalan mendekat, membawa tablet data yang menunjukkan status kapal dan pasukan. "Semua siap, kita tinggal menunggu perintah untuk berangkat."
Jack mengangguk, melirik sejenak ke layar hologram yang menampilkan peta galaksi. Sektor Draconis adalah garis depan, dan jika mereka gagal di sini, seluruh rute perdagangan antarplanet akan terancam. Kemenangan di Draconis bukan hanya soal menyelamatkan satu planet; itu adalah simbol perlawanan terhadap Shadow Dominion.
"Bagaimana status armada?" tanya Jack, berbalik ke arah Mira.
Mira memandang layar data. "Kita memiliki 30 kapal tempur yang siap bergerak, termasuk Vanguard. Juga ada dua kapal pengintai yang sedang melakukan survei di sekitar sektor Draconis untuk mencari pergerakan musuh."
Jack menghela napas panjang. Ini adalah misi pertama sebagai Komandan, dan semua yang terjadi berikutnya akan menentukan nasibnya sebagai pemimpin. Jika dia gagal di sini, tak hanya reputasinya yang akan tercemar, tapi juga harapan seluruh galaksi.
"Kita akan berangkat dalam satu jam," ujar Jack, mencoba menguatkan dirinya sendiri. "Pastikan semua kru siap. Jangan ada yang tertinggal."
Mira memberi anggukan dan segera keluar dari ruang komando. Jack berdiri untuk sesaat, memikirkan apa yang sudah dipersiapkan, namun juga semua hal yang bisa salah. Namun, dia tahu satu hal: dia tidak bisa mundur. Tidak sekarang.
Setelah beberapa jam, Vanguard siap untuk melompat ke hyperspace. Jack berdiri di jembatan, melihat timnya sibuk di layar kontrol. Dengan satu perintah, kapal besar ini akan melaju dengan kecepatan yang tidak terbayangkan ke arah Draconis, tempat yang diprediksi akan menjadi medan pertempuran sengit.
"Engage hyperspace engines," perintah Jack dengan suara tegas.
Seketika, langit di luar jendela ruang komando berubah menjadi serangkaian garis-garis cahaya yang memanjang. Semua kru merasakan percepatan luar biasa, tubuh mereka menyesuaikan diri dengan gravitasi ruang angkasa yang melonjak. Dalam beberapa detik, mereka terlempar ke dalam dimensi hyperspace, menuju tujuan yang penuh ketidakpastian.
Namun perjalanan mereka tidak semulus yang dibayangkan. Sesaat sebelum mereka mencapai Draconis, salah satu kapal pengintai mereka mengirimkan sinyal darurat.
"Komandan, kita mendapatkan kontak musuh!" suara perwira komunikasi terdengar panik. "Kapal pengintai ke-3 telah diserang oleh armada besar Shadow Dominion! Mereka membutuhkan bantuan segera!"
Jack langsung mengaktifkan tampilan peta di depan komando. Di sana, dia melihat beberapa titik merah menyebar di sekitar sektor Draconis, pertanda bahwa musuh telah bersiap melakukan serangan besar-besaran. Jika mereka tidak bertindak cepat, mereka akan kehilangan jalur perdagangan penting.
"Hubungi seluruh armada!" Jack memerintahkan. "Batal rencana penyerangan awal! Kita akan bantu kapal pengintai dan memastikan kita tidak terjebak dalam serangan musuh."
Mira bergerak cepat, berlari menuju posisi komando, siap memberikan arahan. "Kita punya waktu kurang dari dua puluh menit sebelum musuh tiba," katanya. "Apakah kita akan bertahan atau melawan langsung?"
Jack menggigit bibirnya, memikirkan opsi-opsi yang ada. Di satu sisi, bertahan berarti mereka akan terlindungi lebih lama, tetapi akan kehilangan banyak waktu untuk menghentikan serangan utama. Di sisi lain, bertempur langsung bisa jadi langkah berbahaya, tapi akan memberi mereka kesempatan untuk menghancurkan kapal musuh sebelum mereka semakin dekat.
"Kita harus bertempur," kata Jack akhirnya, suara tegas, "Tetap fokus pada perlindungan kapal pengintai! Semua kapal tempur, siap melawan!"
Armada yang dipimpin oleh Vanguard segera bergerak menuju titik pertemuan dengan musuh. Sesampainya di lokasi, Jack bisa melihat bentuk kapal besar dan hitam yang dikenal sebagai kapal dominion. Mereka memancarkan aura gelap yang membuat hati Jack berdebar. Armada musuh jauh lebih besar dari yang mereka kira.
"Semua kapal, ikuti perintah saya! Kecepatan penuh menuju flank kanan musuh! Temukan titik lemah mereka!" seru Jack melalui saluran komunikasi.
Mira duduk di sampingnya, membantu mengatur strategi pertempuran. "Kita harus mencegah mereka mendekat lebih jauh, Komandan. Kalau tidak, kita bisa terjebak dalam serangan menyeluruh."
Pesawat-pesawat tempur mereka meluncur cepat, dengan Jack memimpin serangan langsung menuju sisi kanan musuh. Mereka meluncurkan misil dan tembakan laser dengan presisi tinggi. Jack merasakan adrenalin mengalir begitu kuat dalam dirinya. Setiap gerakan, setiap manuver, berpotensi menjadi keputusan yang membawa hidup atau mati. Namun, ia tahu bahwa inilah waktunya untuk membuktikan kemampuannya.
Selama beberapa menit, pertempuran berlangsung dengan sengit. Meskipun pasukan Shadow Dominion tampak lebih banyak dan lebih kuat, Vanguard dan armadanya bertarung dengan keberanian yang tidak kalah besar. Jack memimpin dengan ketegasan, tidak memberi ruang bagi musuh untuk mendekat.
Sampai akhirnya, sebuah suara keras menggema di ruang komando.
"Komandan, kita berhasil menghancurkan sebagian besar armada musuh!" laporan dari perwira komunikasi terdengar riang. "Beberapa kapal musuh mundur!"
Jack menghela napas lega. Itu bukan kemenangan penuh, tapi ini adalah langkah besar pertama. "Bagus. Terus pastikan sektor ini aman," Jack menjawab, namun matanya tetap waspada.
Dia tahu bahwa ini baru permulaan. Ancaman Shadow Dominion belum selesai, dan misi ini hanya memperlihatkan betapa besar perjuangan yang harus mereka hadapi.
Di saat yang sama, Mira melangkah maju dan menyentuh bahu Jack dengan senyuman kecil. "Kita berhasil, Komandan. Itu bukan pekerjaan mudah, tapi kita bisa melakukannya."
Jack menoleh ke arahnya dan tersenyum lemah. "Terima kasih, Mira. Ini baru awal dari perjalanan yang lebih panjang."
Dia menatap bintang-bintang yang berkelap-kelip di luar, merasa beban berat di pundaknya. Namun satu hal pasti: dia tidak akan mundur, apapun yang terjadi.
Misi pertama selesai, tetapi peperangan melawan Shadow Dominion baru saja dimulai.