The final confrontation was set against the backdrop of a fractured galaxy's desperate hope. Jack stood aboard the Erebus, the flagship of the allied fleet, its hull gleaming under the light of a dying star. Around him, thousands of ships from dozens of factions freighters retrofitted with cannons, sleek interceptors, and lumbering dreadnoughts prepared for the fight of their lives.
The dark force's armada loomed ahead like a shadow made manifest, stretching across the void. Swarms of blackened ships, jagged and pulsating with crimson energy, moved in perfect, almost predatory, unison.
"Admiral," Mira said, her voice tight with tension, "the enemy fleet is forming a pincer movement. They're trying to encircle us before we can reach the core."
Jack's jaw tightened. "Patch me through to the fleet."
Mira nodded, and moments later, Jack's voice echoed through the comms across the allied forces.
"This is Admiral Jack Carter. Today, we fight not just for survival but for the future of every world and every life under the stars. Stay focused, stay united, and remember our strength lies in each other. May the galaxy watch over us."
As the comms went silent, the battle erupted.
The opening volley was blinding. Energy beams and missile trails streaked across the void, lighting up the darkness in bursts of fiery destruction. Jack's fleet surged forward, formations holding steady despite the chaos.
Mira barked orders at her station, coordinating flanking maneuvers with precision. "Squadron Delta, engage their interceptors! Omega Wing, cover the capital ships don't let them get overwhelmed!"
The Erebus shuddered as it absorbed a direct hit, the shields flaring in protest. "Damage report!" Jack demanded.
"Shields at seventy percent!" an officer replied.
"Hold course!" Jack barked. "We're not turning back now."
Hours into the battle, the lines blurred between victory and defeat. Both sides suffered heavy losses, and the void became a graveyard of shattered ships and drifting debris.
Jack's focus was unyielding, but Mira noticed the exhaustion etched into his face. "Jack," she said softly, pulling him aside. "There's something you're not telling me, isn't there?"
He hesitated, then sighed. "The weapon," he admitted.
Mira's eyes widened. "The Excalibur Protocol? You said it wasn't ready!"
"It's not," Jack said grimly. "But it's our only chance to destroy their flagship and sever their control over the fleet. Without it, we can't win this."
Mira's voice dropped to a whisper. "What's the cost?"
Jack hesitated again, the weight of his decision pressing down on him. "The weapon uses a quantum feedback loop to amplify its power. If we fire it… there's a chance it could collapse the reactor core."
Mira's face paled. "That would destroy the Erebus… and everyone on board."
The battle raged on, each second drawing them closer to the tipping point. The dark force's flagship, a monstrous construct resembling a fortress wrapped in shadow, loomed in the distance. Its gravitational pull warped the space around it, and its weaponry tore through allied ships like paper.
Jack clenched his fists. "Mira, take command of the fleet. I'll handle the weapon."
"What? No!" Mira grabbed his arm. "You can't do this alone!"
"This is my call," Jack said firmly. "I need you to keep the fleet together. If we don't destroy that flagship, nothing else matters."
Mira's voice broke. "Jack, please"
He placed a hand on her shoulder, his eyes filled with both resolve and regret. "If I don't come back, you make sure this war means something. Promise me."
Mira swallowed hard, then nodded. "I promise."
Jack descended to the core of the Erebus, where the Excalibur Protocol was housed. The weapon was a marvel of engineering
a gleaming, crystalline array that pulsed with raw, untamed energy.
The chief engineer, a grizzled veteran named Torres, greeted him with a grim nod. "Admiral, are you sure about this? Once we activate it, there's no turning back."
Jack's voice was steady. "Do it."
Torres entered the activation sequence, and the weapon began to hum, its energy building to a deafening crescendo. Jack could feel the vibrations in his bones, a reminder of the immense power they were about to unleash.
Above, the battle reached a fever pitch. The allied fleet, battered and outnumbered, fought with everything they had. Mira directed their forces with relentless determination, her voice a beacon of hope amid the chaos.
"Hold the line!" she shouted. "Buy Jack the time he needs!"
The Erebus pushed through the enemy ranks, its shields flickering dangerously. The flagship's weapons locked onto it, their destructive power aimed squarely at Jack's ship.
In the core, the weapon was ready. Torres looked at Jack. "We're in range, Admiral. Your orders?"
Jack's hand hovered over the firing mechanism, his mind racing. He thought of the crew, the fleet, Mira… and the billions of lives depending on this moment.
"Fire," he said.
The Excalibur Protocol unleashed a beam of energy unlike anything the galaxy had ever seen. It tore through the void, a blinding lance of light that struck the enemy flagship with pinpoint precision. The monstrous vessel began to crack and collapse, its form disintegrating into nothingness.
The dark force's fleet faltered, their cohesion shattered. For the first time, victory seemed within reach.
But the Erebus trembled violently. The weapon's feedback loop spiraled out of control, the reactor core nearing critical overload. Alarms blared, and Torres shouted, "Admiral, we need to evacuate, now!"
Jack shook his head. "There's no time. Get the crew to the escape pods. That's an order."
Torres hesitated, then saluted. "Yes, sir. It's been an honor."
As the crew evacuated, Jack remained in the core, stabilizing the reactor to buy them precious minutes. He thought of Mira, of the promise he made her keep, and of the hope he carried for the galaxy's future.
The ship shuddered one last time, and Jack closed his eyes, a small smile on his lips.
"For the galaxy," he whispered.
On the battlefield, Mira watched in horror as the Erebus was consumed by a brilliant explosion. The shockwave rippled through space, scattering the remnants of the dark force's fleet.
"Jack…" she murmured, tears streaming down her face.
But there was no time to grieve. The battle was not yet over, and Mira knew what she had to do.
"For the galaxy," she whispered, echoing his words. "And for you."
She turned back to the comms, her voice steady. "All ships, regroup and press the attack. We finish this together."
The final battle was far from over, but Jack's sacrifice had turned the tide. The galaxy's hope now rested on Mira and the united forces she led, their resolve stronger than ever.
Terjemahan Indonesia:
Konfrontasi terakhir berlangsung di bawah bayangan harapan galaksi yang rapuh. Jack berdiri di atas Erebus, kapal utama armada sekutu, dengan lambungnya yang berkilauan di bawah cahaya bintang yang sekarat. Di sekitarnya, ribuan kapal dari berbagai faksi kapal kargo yang dimodifikasi dengan meriam, interceptor ramping, dan kapal tempur besar bersiap untuk menghadapi pertempuran terbesar dalam hidup mereka.
Armada kekuatan gelap menjulang di depan seperti bayangan yang menjelma, membentang di kegelapan. Armada ini adalah kumpulan kapal hitam bergerigi yang berdenyut dengan energi merah menyala, bergerak dengan keselarasan yang hampir predatoris.
"Admiral," kata Mira dengan suara tegang, "armada musuh sedang membentuk gerakan penjepit. Mereka mencoba mengepung kita sebelum kita bisa mencapai inti mereka."
Rahang Jack mengencang. "Hubungkan saya dengan seluruh armada."
Mira mengangguk, dan beberapa saat kemudian suara Jack terdengar di seluruh komunikasi pasukan sekutu.
"Inilah Admiral Jack Carter. Hari ini, kita bertempur bukan hanya untuk bertahan hidup, tetapi untuk masa depan setiap dunia dan setiap kehidupan di bawah bintang-bintang. Tetap fokus, tetap bersatu, dan ingat kekuatan kita ada pada kebersamaan. Semoga galaksi memberkati kita."
Ketika komunikasi terputus, pertempuran pun meletus.
Serangan pembuka membutakan mata. Sinar energi dan jejak misil melintas di kegelapan, menerangi ruang angkasa dalam kilatan kehancuran yang membara. Armada Jack melaju ke depan, formasi tetap terjaga meskipun dalam kekacauan.
Mira meneriakkan perintah di stasiunnya, mengoordinasikan manuver sayap dengan presisi. "Skuadron Delta, hadapi interceptor mereka! Sayap Omega, lindungi kapal-kapal utama—jangan biarkan mereka kewalahan!"
Erebus terguncang ketika menerima serangan langsung, perisainya berpendar karena menahan beban. "Laporan kerusakan!" perintah Jack.
"Perisai di 70%!" balas seorang petugas.
"Teruskan perjalanan!" Jack berseru. "Kita tidak akan mundur sekarang."
Berjam-jam dalam pertempuran, garis antara kemenangan dan kekalahan menjadi buram. Kedua belah pihak menderita kerugian besar, dan ruang angkasa menjadi kuburan kapal-kapal yang hancur dan puing-puing yang melayang.
Jack tetap fokus, tetapi Mira melihat kelelahan yang terpahat di wajahnya. "Jack," katanya pelan, menariknya ke samping. "Ada sesuatu yang kau sembunyikan dariku, bukan?"
Dia ragu, lalu menghela napas. "Senjata itu," dia mengakui.
Mata Mira membelalak. "Protokol Excalibur? Kau bilang senjata itu belum siap!"
"Memang belum," kata Jack dengan muram. "Tapi ini satu-satunya kesempatan kita untuk menghancurkan kapal utama mereka dan memutus kendali mereka atas armada. Tanpa itu, kita tidak bisa menang."
Suara Mira merendah. "Apa risikonya?"
Jack kembali ragu, beban keputusannya semakin berat. "Senjata itu menggunakan loop umpan balik kuantum untuk memperkuat kekuatannya. Jika kita menembakkannya… ada kemungkinan reaktor intinya bisa runtuh."
Wajah Mira memucat. "Itu akan menghancurkan Erebus… dan semua orang di dalamnya."
Pertempuran terus berkecamuk, setiap detik membawa mereka lebih dekat ke titik kritis. Kapal utama kekuatan gelap, sebuah konstruksi mengerikan yang menyerupai benteng terbungkus bayangan, menjulang di kejauhan. Tarikan gravitasinya memutar ruang di sekitarnya, dan persenjataannya menghancurkan kapal-kapal sekutu seperti kertas.
Jack mengepalkan tangannya. "Mira, ambil alih komando armada. Aku akan mengurus senjata itu."
"Apa? Tidak!" Mira meraih lengannya. "Kau tidak bisa melakukan ini sendirian!"
"Ini keputusanku," kata Jack tegas. "Aku butuh kau menjaga armada tetap bersama. Jika kita tidak menghancurkan kapal utama itu, tidak ada yang lain yang berarti."
Suara Mira pecah. "Jack, kumohon"
Dia meletakkan tangannya di bahunya, matanya dipenuhi tekad dan penyesalan. "Jika aku tidak kembali, pastikan perang ini berarti sesuatu. Janjikan itu padaku."
Mira menelan ludah dengan berat, lalu mengangguk. "Aku berjanji."
Jack turun ke inti Erebus, tempat Protokol Excalibur berada. Senjata itu adalah keajaiban teknik sebuah susunan kristal yang berkilauan, berdenyut dengan energi mentah yang tak terkendali.
Kepala insinyur, seorang veteran bernama Torres, menyambutnya dengan anggukan muram. "Admiral, apa Anda yakin dengan ini? Begitu kita mengaktifkannya, tidak ada jalan kembali."
Suara Jack tegas. "Lakukan."
Torres memasukkan urutan aktivasi, dan senjata itu mulai berdengung, energinya membangun crescendo yang memekakkan telinga. Jack bisa merasakan getarannya di tulang-tulangnya, pengingat kekuatan besar yang akan mereka lepaskan.
Di atas, pertempuran mencapai puncaknya. Armada sekutu, yang sudah babak belur dan kalah jumlah, bertempur dengan segenap yang mereka miliki. Mira mengarahkan pasukan mereka dengan tekad tanpa henti, suaranya menjadi mercusuar harapan di tengah kekacauan.
"Tahan garis!" dia berteriak. "Beri Jack waktu yang dia butuhkan!"
Erebus menerobos barisan musuh, perisainya berkedip berbahaya. Senjata kapal utama musuh mengunci kapal itu, kekuatan destruktifnya diarahkan sepenuhnya pada kapal Jack.
Di inti, senjata itu siap. Torres menatap Jack. "Kita sudah dalam jangkauan, Admiral. Perintah Anda?"
Tangan Jack melayang di atas mekanisme penembakan, pikirannya berputar. Dia memikirkan kru, armada, Mira… dan miliaran kehidupan yang bergantung pada momen ini.
"Tembak," katanya.
Protokol Excalibur melepaskan semburan energi yang belum pernah dilihat galaksi sebelumnya. Sinar itu menerobos kehampaan, tombak cahaya yang menyilaukan yang menghantam kapal utama musuh dengan presisi sempurna. Kapal monster itu mulai retak dan runtuh, bentuknya hancur menjadi kehampaan.
Armada kekuatan gelap goyah, kohesi mereka hancur. Untuk pertama kalinya, kemenangan tampak dalam jangkauan.
Namun Erebus berguncang hebat. Loop umpan balik senjata itu di luar kendali, inti reaktor hampir meledak. Alarm berbunyi, dan Torres berteriak, "Admiral, kita harus evakuasi sekarang!"
Jack menggelengkan kepalanya. "Tidak ada waktu. Bawa kru ke pod penyelamat. Itu perintah."
Torres ragu, lalu memberi hormat. "Ya, Sir. Merupakan suatu kehormatan."
Saat kru dievakuasi, Jack tetap berada di inti, menstabilkan reaktor untuk membeli mereka beberapa menit berharga. Dia memikirkan Mira, janji yang dia buat, dan harapan yang dia bawa untuk masa depan galaksi.
Kapal berguncang untuk terakhir kalinya, dan Jack menutup matanya, senyum kecil di bibirnya.
"Untuk galaksi," bisiknya.
Di medan perang, Mira menyaksikan dengan ngeri saat Erebus hancur dalam ledakan cemerlang. Gelombang kejutnya mengguncang ruang, menyebarkan sisa-sisa armada kekuatan gelap.
"Jack…" gumamnya, air mata mengalir di wajahnya.
Namun tidak ada waktu untuk berduka. Pertempuran belum usai, dan Mira tahu apa yang harus dia lakukan.
"Untuk galaksi," dia berbisik, menggemakan kata-katanya. "Dan untukmu."
Dia berbalik ke komunikasi, suaranya tegas. "Semua kapal, berkumpul kembali dan lanjutkan serangan. Kita akhiri ini bersama-sama."
Pertempuran terakhir belum usai, tetapi pengorbanan Jack telah mengubah arah perang. Harapan galaksi kini ada di pundak Mira dan pasukan bersatu yang dia pimpin, dengan tekad mereka yang lebih kuat dari sebelumnya.