The tension between Elric and Harris lingered in the air long after their conversation ended. Harris's parting words echoed in Elric's mind:
"This isn't over."
Elric paced the engineering bay of the corvette, his thoughts racing. Harris was close to uncovering the truth, and Elric knew he couldn't afford any missteps. But before he could plan his next move, Sigma's voice cut through the silence.
"Commander, an emergency situation is unfolding aboard the Ardent Horizon."
Elric froze. "What kind of emergency?"
"Multiple vessels have entered scanning range. Their configuration matches known pirate raiding parties, but energy readings suggest they are equipped with heavier firepower than the previous encounter."
Elric's heart sank. "How many ships?"
"Four. Two frigates and two smaller escort craft. The Ardent Horizon's defenses are insufficient for prolonged engagement."
A grim realization settled over him. The corvette was their only chance.
"Echo, prep the ship for combat," Elric ordered. "Sigma, monitor their approach and feed me targeting data. Sentinel, get to the weapons station. RX, you're on auxiliary systems."
As the crew moved into action, Elric slid into the captain's chair, gripping the controls tightly. "Let's save some lives."
The corvette emerged from its docking bay, cloaking array engaged as it slipped into the void. The pirate vessels loomed ahead, their angular silhouettes illuminated by the light of distant stars. The Ardent Horizon was already under attack, its shields flickering as plasma bolts rained down.
"Damage report," Elric said, his voice steady despite the knot in his stomach.
"Shields at 58%," Sigma replied. "Hull breaches detected on the lower cargo deck. Casualties minimal, but critical systems are at risk."
Elric gritted his teeth. "Not on my watch."
The corvette's stealth field flickered off as Elric maneuvered into position behind one of the smaller escort ships.
"Target their engines," Elric said.
Sentinel-06 complied, firing a burst of plasma bolts that struck the escort ship's rear thrusters. The craft shuddered, its movements becoming erratic as it struggled to maintain control.
"First ship neutralized," Sigma reported.
The pirates weren't oblivious for long. The remaining ships turned their attention to the corvette, their weapons locking on.
"Echo, evasive maneuvers!" Elric shouted.
The corvette twisted through space, narrowly avoiding a barrage of plasma fire. RX-47 rerouted power to the shields, reinforcing them against the onslaught.
"Shields at 72%," Sigma said. "Sustained damage will compromise functionality."
"We need to thin their numbers," Elric muttered.
As the corvette darted through the fray, Elric targeted the second escort ship. Sentinel fired another burst, this time aiming for the weapons array. The bolts hit their mark, and the ship's cannons sputtered, leaving it defenseless.
The frigates, however, proved more challenging. Larger and more heavily armed, they unleashed a coordinated assault, forcing the corvette to retreat.
"Sigma, give me options!" Elric demanded.
"Suggestion: Utilize the asteroid field to create a tactical advantage. Their larger vessels will have limited maneuverability."
"Do it," Elric said, pulling hard on the controls.
The corvette dove into the asteroid field, weaving between the massive rocks. The pirates followed, their shots missing as they struggled to adjust to the tight quarters.
"Sentinel, return fire. Target the closest frigate," Elric ordered.
The corvette's cannons lit up, striking the frigate's shields repeatedly. Cracks began to form in the energy barrier, and a final burst from Sentinel's weapons punctured the hull. The frigate drifted, its systems failing as small explosions rippled across its surface.
"One down, one to go," Elric said, his grip on the controls tightening.
The second frigate, however, wasn't as easily fooled. It unleashed a barrage of missiles, several of which slammed into the corvette's shields.
"Shields at 38%," Sigma warned.
Elric clenched his jaw. "Echo, full evasive! RX, divert all non-critical power to the shields!"
The corvette twisted and spun, dodging incoming fire as it retreated deeper into the asteroid field. But the frigate didn't relent, pressing the attack.
"Commander, the frigate is closing in," Sigma said. "Current trajectory indicates collision risk."
Elric's mind raced. They couldn't outrun the frigate, and their weapons weren't enough to take it down head-on.
"Echo, take us into that debris cluster," he said, pointing to a dense cluster of asteroid fragments. "Sigma, prepare to detonate one of the larger rocks when the frigate's in range."
"Understood," Sigma replied.
The corvette darted into the debris cluster, its engines flaring as Echo navigated the tight spaces. The frigate followed, its massive hull smashing through smaller fragments.
"Target locked," Sigma said.
"Do it!" Elric shouted.
A pulse of energy erupted from the corvette's cannons, striking a massive asteroid. The rock shattered, sending a storm of debris crashing into the frigate. Its shields buckled, and the fragments tore into its hull.
The frigate's engines sputtered and died, leaving it adrift among the debris.
"Hostile threat neutralized," Sigma reported.
Elric exhaled deeply, his hands trembling as the tension began to fade.
Back aboard the Ardent Horizon, Elric's relief was short-lived. The crew was abuzz with questions about the mysterious ship that had come to their aid. Harris confronted him in the engine bay, his expression grim.
"Vale," Harris said, his voice low. "What the hell was that out there?"
Elric hesitated, the weight of the secret threatening to crush him. "I... I don't know what you're talking about, sir."
Harris's eyes narrowed. "Don't play dumb with me. That ship wasn't one of ours, but it sure as hell was working with us. You're hiding something, and I'm going to find out what."
Elric held his ground, his heart pounding. "I'm just trying to keep this ship running, sir."
Harris stared at him for a long moment before turning away. "You better hope that's all it is, Vale. Because if I find out otherwise, there'll be hell to pay."
As Harris left, Elric slumped against the wall, his mind racing. The fight might have been won, but the battle to keep his secret had only just begun.