"Got it,"
Airid replied, gripping the controls as the enemy drones appeared on the radar, swarming towards us in formation. They were fast and agile, darting through space like deadly wasps.
"Incoming!"
Paul called out, marking the targets on the display.
"Engaging targets,"
Robert said, his fingers flying over the controls, the ship's small caliber mass double barreled accelerator cannon and six-barreled point defense laser cannons roared to life, sending solid slugs and beams of red lasers toward the incoming drones.
The first wave of drones was quickly dispatched, but more kept coming.
Airid skillfully maneuvered the ship, dodging enemy fire while keeping us in an optimal firing position.
"Good shooting, scrooge"
I praised.
"Keep it up."
Robert smirked.
"Piece of cake."
Paul's voice was tense.
"We've got more incoming, and they're faster than the first wave."
"Let's split them up, fish man, give me a reading on their formation."
I barked subconsciously choosing to use nicknames Instead of names.
"They're grouping into three squadrons vamp,"
Paul reported.
"If we can lure one squadron away from the others, we can take them down piecemeal."
"On it,"
Airid said, adjusting our course. The ship banked hard, turning away from the bulk of the enemy force. As predicted, one squadron broke off to pursue us.
"Alright, scrooge, they're all yours,"
I said.
The cannons blazed again, and Robert took down the first few drones with ease.
But the remaining ones were learning, and adapting to our tactics.
They started to weave and juke, making themselves harder targets.
"Alright I had enough with these f*ckers"
Robert barked.
"Eat nukes you f*cks"
He switched to a different weapon system, launching two small sized space torpedoes with nuclear warheads.
The drones tried to evade, but after reaching a certain distance the space torpedoes detonated themselves creating miniature suns.
That vaporized everything In Its blast radius Into atoms but because the space torpedoes were designed to kill capital spaceships, only one squadron got destroyed.
"Two squadrons left,"
Darius announced.
"But we've taken some hits. Deflectors are at 75%."
Julian added.
"Noted Cezar,"
I said.
"Let's finish this up, weeb, bring us around for another pass."
I barked to Airid using his nickname, as we turned to face the remaining drones, the ship shuddered from a direct hit.
The impact rattled through the hull, and warning alarms blared.
"That was close,"
Darius said, frantically adjusting the energy output to the deflectors.
"Deflectors down to 60%."
"Scrooge give me another salvo"
Robert unleashed another volley of space torpedoes, the drones were relentless, but so were we, bit by bit, we whittled down their numbers.
"We're almost there,"
Paul said, his voice steady.
"Just a few more."
The last few drones were the most persistent, dodging and weaving through our fire
Airid pushed the corvette to its limits, performing maneuvers that left us all gripping our seats.
"Hold ,hold..."
I called out, watching the remaining targets on the holographic display.
"Wait for it...now blast that f*cker to pieces!"
Robert fired the final shots, and the last of the drones exploded in a blaze of light.
"All hostiles neutralized,"
The AI instructor confirmed.
"Congratulations. You have successfully completed the combat training module."
We all let out a collective cheer, the adrenaline still pumping through our veins. The VR environment began to fade, and we removed our helmets, grinning at each other.
"Well that was fun"
Airid said, wiping sweat from his brow.
"I can't believe how real it felt."
Paul nodded.
"It's amazing technology. We're going to be unstoppable with this training."
Darius stretched, a satisfied look on his face.
"If the real thing is anything like that, we're more than ready."
I looked at my friends, feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of exploring the galaxy with them only for Robert to voice out his confusion.
"Hey, how come we knew how to operate a f*cking spaceship like we're been doing It for years?"
Robert looked at me with a confused look, causing everyone else to focus their eyes on me.
"Its the VR helmets, basically they crammed a bunch of technical knowledge Into our brains"
I said while tapping my temple, after all, I wasn't just lying In the bed fiddling with my balls the entire time.
But absorbed all the Information I deemed critical for myself like a dried out sponge soaks up water.
"Isn't this pretty much brainwashing?"
Airid couldn't help but point out.
"Do you want to read the technical manuals Instead then?"
I asked as I pulled out a pack of cigarettes, took one out, and passed the pack between the gang.
"Fair point"
Airid answered as he Ignited the cigarette with my lighter and Inhaled deeply.
"Alright, it's enough for today we start grinding the VR again tomorrow any questions?"
I asked as I puffed out a cloud of smoke.
"Got It, so what's the H hour for tomorrow?"
Darius asked as he dusted off his cigarette Into a nearby ashtray.
"Zero six zero zero fritz any more questions?"
I asked only to see that the gang shook their heads Indicating that they had none.
"Alright let's hit the sack then"
I said as I stood up and beelined straight to my room while the rest of the boys did the same.
...
In a luxurious hospital room that seemed more like a palace chamber, Augustus Hunter sat in a high-tech bed, his new mechanical arm twitching and flexing involuntarily.
The room was outfitted with the latest medical advancements, automated monitoring systems, a holographic display for patient stats, and robotic assistants ready to respond to any need.
Despite the comfort and opulence, the atmosphere was tense, charged with anger and pain.
Augustus's son, Lionel, and his grandson, Julian, stood before him, their expressions a mix of concern and fury.
The Hunter's families patriarch's face was contorted with rage, and his mechanical arm lashed out furiously as he recounted the events that had led to this moment.
"That damned demon b*tch!"
Augustus spat, his voice trembling with fury.
"How dare she do this to me?"
Lionel stepped forward, trying to calm his father.
"Father, please, this isn't helping"
"Shut up, Lionel!"
Augustus barked, the veins in his neck bulging with rage.
"This is all your fault! If you'd kept your grandson in line, we wouldn't be in this mess!"
Hearing this Julian looked down, guilt and shame etched on his face, his son who had grown up as If he was the king of the world had been the one who instigated the confrontation with Dracula, leading to this disastrous turn of events.
"It's not just about her,"
Augustus continued, his voice lowering to a venomous whisper.
"That bastard that dared to Injury my great grandson... I'll see him dead for this one way or another."
Lionel, sensing his father's pain and anger, tried to interject.
"Father, we need to be careful, ambassador Lilith has clearly showed that any action..."
"To hell with that xeno w*ore!"
Augustus roared, his mechanical arm smashing a delicate and beyond expensive vase on the bedside table.
The shards scattered across the floor, a testament to his uncontrollable fury.
"I will not let this go unpunished. I will kill that f*cker, and I will have my revenge on the b*tch, even if it's the last thing I do."
Julian, still grappling with his own guilt, spoke up.
"Grandfather, maybe there's another way. We could..."
"There is no other way!"
Augustus interrupted, slamming his fist on the bed.
"This is about family honor now. We will find that f*cker, and we will make him pay."
Lionel sighed, knowing there was no reasoning with his father when he was like this.
"Very well. We will do as you say. But we must be careful. One wrong move, and the entire family could be at risk."