Episode 8: Sorrow, Mystery and the Future

“Well? How is she?”, a very nervous and emotional Mira asked the doctor.

“Talia will be alright, sadly we could not save her leg. The piece of the ship that pierced her upper thigh caused too much damage.”

“Damn. What about Stella?”, I asked.

“I am sorry to report that Stella passed away. Her organs started failing not long after you arrived. There was nothing we could do. The chamber she was in flooded her body with various unknown chemicals. It kept her alive, but barely.”

Mira sighed, then said, “thank you doctor. When will Talia be released?”

“We’ll keep her under observation for a few weeks. She will need time to heal and adjust to her prosthetic.”

“Alright…, Olivia, I’ll be around the base. Call if you need anything. I’ll report back to command in a while.”

I nodded in agreement. Her expression said it all. Despite our overall victory in the war, there was a pervasive sense of sadness all around. Walking through the corridors people spoke in whispers. We spent a few days moving back and forth between Rastaban Prime and here. The station had more and more personnel move out. Now our orders are to take what time we need to rest and relax. Security operations have been delegated to the local police force of each sector. I’ve been ordered to remain here, no doubt to receive psychological evaluations and so on.

After the Armada’s surrender the remaining government of Rastaban declared a ceasefire. Representatives from both sides are already working on a peace treaty. The reality of Rastaban Prime was far worse than what most people imagined. The propaganda machine they ran made it seem like the people backed the Armada completely, but the truth is that they hunted down dissidents and killed the governors of the regions that did not want to take part in the war. The new governors that were placed had little choice but to comply with Ohmaaran’s requests or suffer the same fate as their predecessors. Farmlands were left unattended which caused famine to wreak havoc on the population. Thankfully the Alliance has the means to provide whatever help the people need. The governors also agreed they would immediately step down from their positions.

The Draco star system is once again on track to become a peaceful one. We worked extensively to reach this point. As for myself, I will probably move back to Seven Sigma and patrol its space again. That is, until the Alliance needs me again. I suspect that might be soon too. Julian is taking over the leadership duties of Draco Squadron. The Alliance continues to investigate the mysterious ship that departed the Rastaban moon station and left a path of destruction behind it. We have no clue as to its target destination. It’s likely it jumped to another system. A warning was sent to Sirius, Centauri and Sol. As for the signal that was detected, it lasted too little time to learn anything from it. So we are left with a mystery, hoping there won’t be a follow up from whoever built the station and the ship.

Three months after the conflict I’m heading back to the station that was my home during the war. During this time I’ve been serving as Grand Marshall again. Draco Squadron seems to be doing well. I still receive some of the reports and General Yen Li keeps me apprised of any news. They haven’t really said what they called me back for, but I guess I’ll find out soon.

“Grand Draco Station, this is Grand Marshall Olivia Manzanares requesting permission to dock.”

“Grand Marshall, this is Grand Draco Command, you are cleared for docking in hangar bay three.”

Space station four three alpha one finally got a proper name. We used to joke they might name it Draco home base thanks to the success of Draco Squadron. We were close it seems. Time to see what’s up.

As soon as I landed my ship I saw Talia and Mira in the distance near one of the exits. Looks like they were waiting for me.

“Hey Olivia! I’m glad to see you!”, said Talia rather energetically.

“You seem to be doing well Talia.”

“Even with a lost leg there’s nothing that can hold her down. I think her piloting suffered a little.”, Mira said jokingly.

“Yeah and I still scorched you on that last sim battle.”

“Hey! Olivia doesn’t need to know that. Anyway, I’m also glad to see you. I hear you’ve kept busy.”

“Indeed, Seven Sigma is still a prime smuggling route. Though it doesn’t happen very often. Do either of you have an idea of why I’m here?”

“Nope, General Yen Li asked us here as well. Let’s head to command together.”

When we entered the command bridge the operators, guards and Yen Li stood up and began to applaud. I’m looking around a bit lost, but then a banner appeared on the main screen, it said, “Welcome Star Pilots”. The celebration started with a remembrance of Stella and her career as one of the elites. We had a moment of silence and afterwards I received the offer to join the group. It felt surreal for a while there. I accepted, of course. Late that afternoon we all gathered at the mess hall along with Draco Squadron. It felt like a fitting bookend to the conflict we went through.

“So I guess you’ll be even busier than before?”, Julian asked.

“Yeah. We already have orders to escort and expedition to the Centauri system. I trust everything is good with Draco Squadron?”

“Indeed. Training has already begun for Draco 10, our newest member. He’s a bit intimidated, but the others have made him feel welcome. You helped build a fine team.”

“Well, we did spend a lot of hours in the combat simulators. Oh, remember to let the general know about the next candidate.”

“I will. Piers will be leaving in a few weeks. He said he would pursue a position in the security force back at Centauri.”

“I’m sure he will be an ace over there.”

The conversations continued over the evening. As time passed the mess hall got emptier and emptier. Later on there was just Talia, Mira and I.

“I’d say that was a decent celebration.”, said Mira.

“And surely a good start for our latest endeavor.”, I replied.

“I’ll say this, we learned early on that the Star Pilots are a constantly changing group of people. Each one brings something new to the team. No one can really replace the previous members, but each new addition brings in a fresh perspective. Let’s always be mindful to keep each other safe.”, a slightly teary Talia mentioned. I’m sure she still regrets not being there for Stella. In the end we grow stronger together. Let’s see what the future holds for the ace trio of the Draco Star Alliance.

Episode 7: The Battle of Rastaban Prime

“All squadrons report in.”, Talia’s voice came through clearly through comms. As each squadron called out their designation we approached the jump point. Our fleet was one of three separate attack groups. Each of us had specific orders. Ours was to punch through the defending fleet. This would leave the Armada vulnerable to the second and then third assaults. At least that is the plan. Draco Squadron is tasked with heading part of the initial assault. After we have whittled down enemy fighters, Talia, Mira and I are to head to the hidden base on Rastaban’s moon. Several assault teams will join us. We’ll be able to scour the base for Stella and find out what they’re doing there. Julian was finally able to crack some of the coded data we had intercepted. From that we were able to gain a set of coordinates. Hopefully everything goes to plan and we can end this quickly.

“Draco One, reporting in. Ready to jump.”, it’s time.

Our jump into the system was anticipated by the Armada. As soon as we arrived we were immediately bombarded with fire from all sides. The battleships and carriers fortified their shielding and positioned themselves to protect the fighters. We deployed into the fray. Our bombers pushed back the enemy battleships while we blazed a path through their fighters.

The hours of combat blurred together. In the chaos that unfolded, our second assault fleet arrived. As soon as they did, the tide turned further in our favor. The Armada’s capital ship began its slow approach into the front line. The generals advised caution. No one could predict what they were planning. Our ships reshuffled their formation and prepared to battle the second wave of enemies that neared.

Suddenly we received a report that a distress signal was received from one of the enemy fighters. When we arrived at the location we had already split from the main force. Talia, Mira and I were close to the moon when we saw it. An enemy fighter closed in. I didn’t recognize the voice, but Talia and Mira were stunned. It was Stella.

“Please don’t shoot me out of space, I was able to escape. We need to get back to the fleet! I’m carrying important data. Please, we must hurry!”, she said. Her tone was desperate. Who knows what she had gone through, so we turned around and started our way back. Just as we did this we received a message. This time it was Ohmaaran.

“Well, I see you’ve met your old friend again…”

Before we could properly react a small group of enemy fighters jumped right in front of us. A risky maneuver, but what truly caught us by surprise was the laser fire behind us. Stella started to attack us and hunt us down.

“Good luck facing against her, you are likely the last hope of the Alliance. Eliminating you here will mark their end.”, the message continued.

On comms Talia screamed out, “What did you do to her?!”. Of course, cowardly Ohmaaran is running things from afar. He wouldn’t dare risk his neck. Now we have no choice but to fight against an old ally. To Talia and Mira this was a nightmare.

Bit by bit our teamwork pulled us through. We avoided Stella’s attacks as best we could. Talia took most of the punishment. When the last of the enemy fighters was dealt with we tried to talk to Stella, but it was in vain. She didn’t respond to anything. At this rate our reluctance to fight her would be our undoing. I admit my own lack of attachment to her made my decision all the easier, I fought back. Although Talia and Mira were surprised by my sudden change to an offensive position, they eventually joined up.

“Schematics uploaded. Aim for the power regulator. We should be able to shut down her flight systems.”, Mira said. I complied, but Stella’s flying was difficult to track and she quickly compensated our attacks by adjusting the energy shield.

“She knows what we’re trying to do.”, Talia sounded rather hopeless about the situation. “We might not have any other choice but to destroy her ship. Do we even have a chance of bringing her back to us?”

“The doctors might be able to undo any brainwashing she might have gone through.”, I replied. “We have to stop her now.”

Despite our best efforts to disable her ship we couldn’t halt her attacks. Tired of the cat and mouse game I fired directly at the power generator, after damaging her shields for long enough.

“Olivia, what are you doing?!”, Talia yelled out. “Without power her ship will…”, before she could continue Stella fired multiple shots at her, weakening her shields and then rammed her fighter against Talia’s. The impact caused Stella’s cockpit to shatter. A seemingly mechanical humanoid was inside. It wore her face which had melted away slightly. Talia looked on in horror, but she also screamed out in pain. A piece of metal had pierced her leg and was holding her in place.

“Talia! Are you alright? Respond!”, I was worried that my actions pushed Stella to such a desperate move.

“Olivia, move away now! There’s a device hidden behind the pilot’s chair.”, Mira was quick to notice after scanning the ship. The data she acquired showed that the pilot was actually some kind of android far beyond our technology. We were in awe, but there was no time to analyze things further.

“What about Talia? We can’t just leave her there.”

“It’s alright. The damage you did to the power generator was enough to shut down whatever that device is.”, I proceeded to do my own scans. Mira was right.

“Get out of here, continue the mission. I don’t care what this thing is we need to find out what else the Armada is doing.”, Talia was in pain but stable.

“Draco One, this is Draco Two, we received your distress signal, we’ll be there in a short moment.”, it seems Talia’s ship sent the signal after it received the impact of Stella’s ship.

With the help of Draco Squadron Talia was now on her way back to one of the carriers. Meanwhile Mira and I made it to the moon station along with the assault teams. We ran through a multitude of corridors gunning down soldiers. At this point of the battle there were soldiers that surrendered. We were surprised, but they looked weary and exhausted. What they told us was shocking. Ohmaaran ordered experiments to be done on some of them. Many didn’t return from this. Finally, we arrived at what appears to be their main command room. None other than High Lord Ohmaaran was there. After eliminating his escorts and securing most of the base we started to search through the odd computer systems.

“You won’t find anything. This place is beyond any of you.”, Ohmaaran said with confidence, not recognizing that Mira had already started to enable access to our assault forces to previously sealed rooms.

“You’re not as smart as you think.”, Mira looked at him as he was handcuffed.

“I thought you were just very good pilots, it surprises me a little to see you here doing ground operations.”

“We go where we are needed and this system needs us to be here.”, he looked at me. His eyes seemed to glow, a twitch of insanity making his lower right eyelid move.

“If it isn’t the Grand Marshall. I read all about you. They turned to you when I caught their little star pilots. It’s such a wonder now, maybe I should have captured you, tortured you for all the Alliance secrets and then made a copy of you like I did with Stella.”, Mira was not happy to hear that but it gave her motivation to continue searching. If he simply made some sort of copy then Stella could very well still be alive.

Mira hastened her search through the computer systems. There is a hidden chamber that holds Stella in stasis. Part of the assault team was directed to go there. I told Mira to go with them while I continued to check the terminal for more information. Out in space Ohmaaran’s capture signaled the Armada’s defeat. Most of the defending fleet was ordered to stand down and surrender.

As I gathered some of the data into a storage drive I noticed a command had been executed from another location.

“A signal? From the surface of Rastaban Prime…”, Ohmaaran heard me.

“Ha! Now you’ll get it. This will eradicate the Alliance from the Draco System and Rastaban will rule!”

Our main fleets are here, together in this system. If their previous attempts were any indication a powerful enough blast could destroy us all. The uncertainty of what might happen next sent my heart racing.

“Mira, report!”

“We found her, she’s in a coma but stable for now. The medics are looking after her.”

“I need you here, Ohmaaran activated something on the station that’s located on the surface of Rastaban Prime.”

“On my way!”

We investigated for what little time we had. When the signal arrived the station began to shake and rumble. In our search for clues as to what the signal might be we discovered that there is a hidden part of the base. This part was activated and emerged from the ground after detaching a corridor leading to it. Ohmaaran hoped this would be the ultimate weapon. Upon further inspection we found it was a ship. Another signal was fired off into deep space and this ship blasted off in that same direction. The mystery deepens. Utterly defeated, Ohmaaran confessed that they discovered the stations recently after a scientific survey commissioned by a group from Orion. The Armada didn’t build these. Instead a previous group of settlers had built them. The technology is vaguely human, but the complexity of the systems was almost alien. That same technology allowed Ohmaaran to create an android clone of Stella.

“Olivia, Mira, we need you out here. Get back as soon as you can.”, General Yen Li urged us.

Mira and I left the moon station. When we reached the space between the moon and Rastaban Prime we saw the carnage. The ship that flew off from the station continued on its way without stopping. It tore through battleships and even the larger carriers from both sides. We were told that it jumped shortly after reaching a certain distance from Rastaban Prime. Our efforts now focus on search and rescue. This is all just horrifying.

Episode 6: Lull

“…And on the latest news coming from the Centauri system, after two years of conflict between the Centauri Liberation Front and Starlance Security Force a peace treaty has finally been established. A fierce battle took place that allowed the CLF to apprehend the mastermind of a rogue faction, a general by the name of Dalton Greer. The security force was dragged into this conflict after they assaulted one of their own, then branded as traitors, for defending a space colony said to be harboring criminals. What the security force didn’t count on was that their aggressive pursuit of control gave rise to various groups, many of which were branded pirates and terrorists. The unprecedented cooperation between these factions opened the way to better relations between the colonies. A new government is being established with the idea of having every voice heard. Currently the Liberation Front along with members of the colonies and the new leadership of Starlance have begun talks to take charge in rebuilding trust as well as fixing the damage done by the war. We will have further information to share later so stay tuned. This is Paul Evans reporting.”, I turned off the monitor. It was good to see that other systems were stabilizing. Piers would be particularly happy, surely he would want to return home soon. I looked back at my shelf. History books, some dusty science books and several flight manuals. I’ve studied how we left Sol system after the discovery of stellar jump tech. We have had many conflicts since, but soon after we have also found new and better ways to coexist. It was as if we didn’t have Earth history to draw upon. I guess it is still a learning experience for everyone. It’s been a while since a lot of us have been back on Earth, maybe I should pay a visit to our ancestral home. I wonder how the government there is doing.

These days have been fairly quiet. The attacks by the Armada have decreased. Many of their ships have been recalled to Rastaban Prime. We suspect they’re simply waiting for the inevitable. It feels like we are just a few steps away from recovering our lost peace. The battles they won, areas under their control have now been abandoned. There wasn’t any real strategy to any of this except for one thing. The Armada kept us away from Rastaban Prime. Every battle took us further from them. It has been one distraction after another. It was only after we rescued Mira and acquired the data from the space station at Rastaban II that their plans came a little into focus. High Lord Ohmaaran found something on Rastaban Prime and one of its moons. What those things are is anyone’s guess. That information was not available in that station’s systems. Julian spent days with a group of the most talented engineers from the Alliance. There was nothing else that could be gleaned from the data we took. Now all we could do is make a direct assault on Rastaban Prime. Something like this will take quite some time to prepare for, but at least now we feel better prepared. Not only is Draco Squadron one of our best elite units, we also have two of the three star pilots with us. Although they aren’t joining the squadron they’re still the elite aces that we relied upon before. It is our hope that we can end this all soon so that we may have a chance at rescuing Stella.

The next day I made my way to the mess hall early in the morning. I need to go through a number of reports and familiarize myself with the fleet formations of the Armada. If we’re going to battle them I’d better be prepared for anything. As I finished breakfast Piers, Julian and Hino joined me.

“Grand Marshall, how are you today?”, said Piers, ever formal.

“I’m doing well, Piers. Did you see the news on Centauri?”

“I did.”

“And? Will you be leaving soon?”, I was curious. He had mentioned before that his intent was to return once things settled down back at his home.

“No. Although I’m still opposed to all the conflict here, I feel it’s best if I stay and help out.”

“I’m glad to hear. Julian, anything to report?”

“Nah, just that I’m still tired from staying up late last night.”, it was obvious from his looks that he had not slept well.

“Doing what exactly? You know we are all encouraged to rest properly.”

“Oh, well, General Yen Li asked me to crack a coded message that was intercepted from an Armada outpost. I got most of the solution matrix I needed but it still falls short of decoding everything.”

“I see. Don’t make a habit of this, I need you at your best. Was there anything worth noting?”

Hino interceded, “Liv, you’re getting that in the next debrief. Let him have his breakfast.”

I smiled, “Ah, you’re right. Sorry, I get too caught up in all this. I’ll head to the command bridge. Get some rest before getting back to work alright?”

“Will do.”

The squadron is grounded for a few days while all the preparations are made. Meanwhile I keep busy studying combat tactics and information on enemy movement. At the Command Bridge, Yen Li was busy giving orders and receiving reports. People were moving to and from the briefing room. The other two generals kept almost constant communication with our base. This had become the main hub for the offensive that would soon launch. Dealing with the Rastaban Armada was not going to be easy. The largest carriers had been positioned in different areas of the sector and could provide quick support to most defense stations. As I kept reading on, coffee in hand, I chanced upon what Julian mentioned earlier. Although the data was incomplete, due to the missing decoding, there was a part that caught my eye. Brief descriptions of a base or station that seemed odd. There wasn’t much else to read on the data, so I moved ahead with other reports.

“Didn’t expect to see you here so early.”, Yen Li stopped by the terminal I was using.

“Ah, I can’t keep myself calm. This quiet time is unnerving. It feels like the Armada just bought itself whatever time it needed to execute their plans.”

“We don’t know what they’re up to, so until we see anything we still have the upper hand. So far all that is clear is that they retreated to Rastaban Prime and are probably waiting for the inevitable confrontation. Relax, the other generals and I will handle the preparations. Speaking of, I should head back to the briefing room.”, Yen Li left. She must feel a heavy burden right now. Our peace is in their hands. Of course, it’ll also be on ours soon enough. She has a point though. Stressing over this is taking its toll. I’ll do some training in the combat simulators and call it a day.

Episode 5: Pushing Back

Draco Squadron has been moving around a lot. Sometimes I take command, others I let Julian lead the group. As far as I’m concerned it’s more training, but I know the generals are relying on us to deal with the more stubborn problems. Skirmishes have been going on all over the system. Our tactical expertise has given us an edge. Ohmaaran knows this and has pulled back some of his forces to the vicinity of Rastaban II. At this rate the Armada will have lost more territory than what they started with. Not that the Alliance is looking to gain anything. Before all this we were one system, united under the Alliance’s banner. Their bid for conquest has only thrown the system into pointless conflict and loss of life.

It has been about three weeks since the battle of Sector Seven Sigma. Talia recovered from most of her wounds and returned to the front lines, though the doctor advised her to wait at least another week. She has been investigating a number of reports that state that another of the star pilots might be held in a research facility. I’m heading up to the Command Bridge for a briefing with her and Yen Li. Some of Draco Squadron will be with me as well. It is likely we’re going to head up the next mission.

“Alright, everyone is here. Talia, give us the news.”, General Yen Li was eager to learn what Talia had found in her investigation.

“The Armada has been pretty sloppy in their attempts to hide information from us. With the help of Julian I was able to gain data on the whereabouts of both Mira and Stella. We suspected that High Lord Ohmaaran’s reinforcement of the area around Rastaban II must have had some proper reasoning. Well, I discovered a research facility there. They are going through prisoners doing odd experiments. The other generals have approved of the next mission. We are going to lead an assault on that research facility.”

“How is that going to work?”, I asked worried about how dangerous this mission was considering the Armada had just moved a large amount of its forces to that area.

“I’ll answer that.”, Yen Li said. “Draco Squadron will enter the system and engage the station’s defenders. Your mission is to keep them occupied while a pair of transports, led by Talia, continue on to infiltrate the facility. Expect heavy resistance. We are deploying some of our most experienced tactical assault teams. One team in space, two teams in the corridors. Keep in mind that not all of Draco Squadron will be present. You will have to make due, but if you can deal some damage, go for it.”

“This will not be an easy mission, but it will be worth it. We can free the prisoners, gather intel and find Mira and Stella.”, said Talia.

When the briefing was over we had a short time to eat at the mess hall and then get ready at the hangar bay. I was inspecting my ship, a bit lost in thought when Cass, Piers, Lara and Clair approached me.

“Grand Marshall, you called for us?”, Piers said.

“I did. As you know Jaan, Hino and Julian are out on another mission. I’ve picked you four to join me in the mission to distract the Armada’s forces. While we’re risking our necks out there, Talia and two assault teams are going to infiltrate a research facility in the hopes of freeing the prisoners there. Intel suggests that Mira and Stella, the other two star pilots, might be there as well. Our team will have four fighters and one bomber.”

“I’ll take the bomber this time, if that’s alright.”, Piers said eagerly.

“Good choice. Lara and Clair will be your cover. Meanwhile Cass and I can go hunting for enemy fighters and being an overall annoyance.”

“Oh I’m down for that.”, Cass, one of the youngest, was also fired up.

“Slowly but surely we’ll help bring this dumb conflict to an end. We depart in half an hour, get your ships ready!”

“Yes ma’am!”, they said in unison.

When I saw the list of pilots being assigned to Draco Squadron I was worried about Lara and Clair. Both of them are very talented and I hear it runs in their family. They’re sisters. Many times they’ve insisted on going on missions together, despite what the loss of both of them might mean for their family, but they tell me that no matter what they want to do as much as they can to help in the conflict. Their father is none other than General Victor Garlan, head of Alliance security and a peer of General Yen Li. Then there’s Cass. Cassandra Olivares spends her days in the simulation pods hoping to beat the highest scores. There are records from pilots all over the system, even a few from Sirius and Centauri. Those Centauri pilots are no joke, many of them hold the highest scores. Every now and then I join her in the training runs. It helps to hear a familiar voice and gets her accustomed to receiving orders. The last of today’s group is Piers. From what little I can gather he’s quiet, but determined. Not much else about him. He came from Proxima Centauri trying to escape the conflict there, only to find another one here. Hopefully this war will end soon and we can all get back to living our lives.

Draco Squadron arrived at the vicinity of Rastaban II. Our jump point was deliberately in the middle of a sensor net. The plan was to engage enemy fighters while the transports and Talia moved in from outside their detection range. The Armada would still notice them, but by that time we should have taken care of most enemy fighters. 

The dogfights were fierce, but in the end we were able to defeat our opponents. The last few fighters we faced came from a small fleet that was now headed our way. Two battleships and a carrier were bearing down on us. If the carrier could get close enough they would be able to overwhelm us with sheer numbers. Talia reported that their attack was successful in reaching the command bridge of the station. Most of the data was split into parts so that if any one of us was lost we would have something to work with. The part I received mentioned the prisoners. Talia confirmed that Mira was still there but Stella had been moved to a hidden base on Rastaban Prime.

“Talia, you’d better hurry up. A carrier is nearing and if they launch their fighters we will be overwhelmed.”, I said while keeping track of the action around me. Several fighters were still trying to take us down.

“Copy Draco One, we’ll be out shortly. I found Mira and freed most of the prisoners. They will commandeer some of the transports here and launch as soon as possible.”, Talia replied.

After a few more minutes I saw an explosion in several areas of the space station. At the same time our transports along with several others launched from the station’s hangar bays. The battleships had nearly arrived and started to fire on the transports. Due to their distance they could not hit their targets. The carrier launched its fighters, but they couldn’t catch up. As soon as we reached the jump point we were out of the system.

We arrived at home base with a haul of tortured prisoners. All the reports of the experiences were painful to read. The prisoners were experimented on with unknown substances and technologies. Some reported that Stella had some compatibility with something they couldn’t identify. Data from the research station supported this and explained why she wasn’t there. Whatever they discovered through the experiments was something they needed desperately back at Rastaban Prime, hence her transfer. We are now hoping that she can hold on just a while longer as we prepare a rescue mission.

Episode 4: The Defense of Seven Sigma

Coordinates locked in. Jump drive stable. “This is Draco one, reporting ready to depart”, I said. The rest of my wing mates reported in, followed by the battleships. Our defense group was ready. As soon as we jumped into the sector we got to work on preparations. The colonies moved to positions where they could more easily be defended. The Armada would not be able to outflank us. This sector has been my home for many years. I was born in one of the colonies here. There are five colonies in total. Each of these vessels has a specialization. The three largest, the Argent, the Doma and the Silph are also the most productive. The other two, the Artemis and the Seraph are focused on military technology and parts construction. All of these colonies work together and are very well known in this system and beyond. People live mostly peaceful lives, though the occasional theft was not unheard of. Smugglers tried a few times to destabilize the colonies, but none ever succeeded and they stopped trying altogether a few years after I made it to Marshall. Our security forces were recognized as some of the most talented. By the time the Alliance formed I was Grand Marshall and kept a tight patrol of the sector. They admired my work so much I was allowed to join up, rank included despite not being customary.

The past few hours have been tense. Draco squadron has been making the rounds ensuring everything is in its proper place. Some of the pilots are a bit weary, but I’ve assured them that the plan will work. Just as we were turning around to make another pass through the sector one of the sensors went off. An energy signature was detected. An unidentified ship was making a jump to the system. Shortly after that several other sensors activated. The Armada will be here very soon.

“Alright everyone, buckle up!”, I said to the other pilots.

“Draco one, what should we prioritize? According to these readings there are at least three groups”, Draco five was worried, but he knew he could rely on my experience. Tilik was also from this sector and had served as deputy under me multiple times. Though he left the security force for some time, he returned to the field when he learned that I was working for the Alliance.

“Here’s the plan Draco Squadron. The largest group of ships will be the force that will make a beeline to the colonies. They will try to attack the colonies, but we’ll be there to intercept. The battleships will also cut them off. Once they’re engaged with the battleships we split into two groups. One will keep that force occupied. We have four bombers, two of you will remain in that group to take out the enemy battleships. In the meantime, Draco one through five will intercept the other ships trying to outflank us.”

“Acknowledged Draco one, let’s get them!”, said Hino. Her designation was Draco four. She is piloting one of the bombers. Armed with plasma cannons, they are our best chance at stopping the larger ships.

“Draco one, this is Draco six, let’s give them hell.”, and that was Jaan. I’m afraid of splitting these two up. They rely on each other a lot, but this is necessary for their growth as well.

Draco Squadron isn’t just the elite pilots of the Draco Star Alliance. It is also the training ground for the next elites. At least that’s what the generals told me. I was surprised at first, but considering our current predicament it would prepare the Alliance for any future conflict. These would be the new Star Pilots. Legends in their own right, but they would have to earn it by going through this squadron.

The battle for Sector Seven Sigma has been raging on for hours. Alliance forces have been successful in keeping most of the attacking force at bay. Draco Squadron, split into two groups, has been providing a great amount of support. Opposing fighters have been no match to our team. Meanwhile the bombers have dealt massive damage to the enemy fleet. The Alliance is sure to have victory here. Now all that’s left is to finish off the remaining battleships.

“Draco one, this is the battleship Guardian Four, sensors have detected two ships entering the system. One is a prison transport, the other a heavy assault carrier. The carrier is outside of engagement range and is likely here to launch an escort for that prison transport. Can you intercept and disable it?”

“Why would they send a prison transport through here? They know this area is controlled and monitored by the Alliance.”

“We don’t know, but we can’t let this opportunity pass. Get to it.”

“Acknowledged. Draco two you’re with me, three, four and five meet up with the rest of the squadron and finish off the remaining battleships.”, I was sure this was some sort of trap. There was one other explanation. A number of jump points here could be used to reach certain coordinates in deep space. They could intend to send the prisoners far from the system and any hope of rescue.

We quickly tore through the fighter escort that was accompanying the prison transport. I ordered them to stand down and stop their ship. They didn’t respond so we had to do things by force. While I whittled down their shield Draco Two was hacking into their systems. The pilot of Draco Two is Julian, one of our best engineers turned elite pilot. Despite not being at the top, his technical knowledge of both coding and mechanisms made him an ideal candidate for the team. After a few short minutes the ship was disabled.

“Good job Draco Two, let’s…”, before I could finish he screamed out a warning.

“Draco One! Move away now! Disengage!”

I had so little time to react. The prison transport exploded with incredible force. The shockwave of energy nearly knocked my ship out. Draco Two wasn’t so lucky, but despite the damage to his ship, he was alive.

“Draco Two respond! Are you alright Julian?”, at first there was only quiet. Then a short burst of static followed by his reply.

“Sorry about that. Had to rewire the comms. My shields are down but I think I can fly home. Could you do a sensor sweep? Before the ship exploded I detected something leaving it. I think there really was someone in there, it could have been an escape pod.”

“I’ll search around, but don’t leave yet. I don’t want you heading back without an escort.”

“Roger that. I’ll use the time to try to get at least some shield charge back, also I’m transmitting some of the data I got. It might prove useful.”

And indeed it was. A signal within the data helped me adjust the sensors to quickly find what left the ship before it exploded. It was an escape pod, like Julian suggested. I got near it and tried to see inside, but the window was obscured. Possibly damaged when the ship exploded. If anyone had survived inside it might be out of pure luck. Further scans revealed the pod was mostly in working order. I also confirmed someone was inside. Before I left, towing the pod behind me, a communication arrived directly to me.

“I thought I had all the elite pilots. Did the Alliance grow a spine to use the rest of you?”

“Who…?”, before I could continue the message continued.

“Well, I have no further need for the star pilots. You might find them all in pieces, good luck. Oh and by the way, just so you know, I will see you swear allegiance to me Grand Marshall. I will keep an eye on you and your squadron.”

The transmission ended. I looked to my side and saw the carrier in the distance. As I was watching it jumped away. Two of the Armada’s battleships escaped, but the rest were destroyed. The sector was safe, but I couldn’t shake off this feeling. Who could have sent that message? I suspected it could have been High Lord Ohmaaran. I sent the transmission log to Julian so that he could analyze it. He confirmed that the voice matched what was on record. Ohmaaran seemed obsessed with the elite pilots of the Alliance. This means that Draco Squadron was in danger.

Upon our return to the station we reported our victory. The escape pod was hauled into one of the battleships which would arrive shortly after us. Everyone was eager to find out who it was inside. I thought it could have been the pilot of the prison transport, but Julian mentioned there was no pilot. It was being remotely controlled. The plan apparently was to send that ship to a specific jump point where it could reach home base. This very space station. Had it reached its destination it would have been a tragedy. Our intervention forced their hand. During our debrief Julian also commented on how that ship was supposed to sneak by through the chaos of the battle.

“If they had been successful in their attack they could’ve taken out one of our most important outposts.”, I said.

“Yes, I don’t think they expected the Alliance to regroup so well after the loss at Seven Tau.”, Julian continued.

“What about the pod? Is it here yet?”, Jaan was curious, as was I.

“General?”, Yen Li was there and she looked worried.

“Draco Squadron, you all did incredibly well. As for the pod we found one person inside. She is in the infirmary recovering. At the very least I’m glad she is back with us. When we opened the pod we discovered Talia, the leader of the star pilots, unconscious. She managed to escape her confinement but the explosion of the prison ship damaged the pod. It’s likely she got tossed around in that thing quite a bit. The doctors have said that there are also signs of torture.”, everyone in the briefing room was shocked. I could see their anger rising. “She will need a few weeks to recover so I ask all of you to remain focused. This is just the beginning, but Draco Squadron has shown that the Armada is nothing but amateurs playing at war. I will convene with the other generals for our next steps. In the meantime, take a well deserved break. Dismissed!”

I stood outside Talia’s room in the infirmary. Hino and Jaan joined me. Hino asked, “Are you ok?”

“Yes, I’ll be fine. Ohmaaran sent me a transmission. He was there, in that carrier. He seems obsessed with the pilots of the Alliance. Especially the star pilots and now Draco Squadron.”

“Do you think he has spies here? He learned of you awfully quickly.”, she continued.

“We can’t know for certain, but I wouldn’t dismiss that idea. Maybe they’ve been intercepting coded transmissions. Regardless, it’s unsettling. I can’t shake his voice from my mind.”

“How about we go to the mess hall. The other pilots are there, we should celebrate the victory at least.”, Jaan’s suggestion was on point. Perhaps getting distracted there would help.

Julian, Kai, Hino, Tilik, Jaan, Cass, Piers, Lara and Clair. Draco Squadron. That scare of nearly losing Julian shook me a bit, but seeing them now in celebration puts my mind at ease. I trust that we will become the force that defeats the Armada and brings peace once more.

Episode 3: Threatening Despair

“This is Captain Bellam of the battleship Striker Four. We have arrived at our destination and have set up a perimeter. The aces are pushing ahead to scout near the sector border. So far, no signs of the Armada’s assault fleet.”, we listened intently to the recording on the Command Bridge. A week passed after the fateful mission. The star pilots are gone. Evidence collected in the area of Sector Seven Tau shows that a fierce battle took place. I took charge of that mission after Striker Four, the only surviving battleship, barely made it back to our station. It’s currently docked and receiving repairs. Meanwhile, Draco Star Command dispatched a few cruisers and a carrier to reinforce our position. The news shocked everyone. Now we listen to the evidence of what happened while our tacticians prepare contingencies. These days have been stressful to say the least.

We continued to listen to the recording. “It has been two hours since our arrival. We continue to wait for enemy forces, but no one is certain anymore. Our intel specified that they would be passing through here. That their first targets would be our data and telemetry satellites. Could they have…?”. An explosion could be heard in the recording. They were swarmed by ships jumping directly into the sector. The fleet they encountered had prepared an ambush that separated part of the intercepting forces into two. On one side, the aces and on the other the battleships sent to provide support. Whatever few fighters they had were quickly destroyed after launch. The ace trio made short work of any enemy fighters they encountered, but a large battle cruiser overwhelmed them. “Talia, Mira, Stella, Report! What is happening? Are you alright?”, the captain’s voice sounded worried. Then we heard Talia respond, “This is Talia, we are being overwhelmed. They’re using weapons to disable our ships. Stella has been captured and they will most likely do the same to us. Get out of here while you still can, I can open some space for you to maneuver, but you have to move fast!”. The rest of the recording depicted explosions, screams and a final sigh of relief. Three battleships lost. The ace trio have now been captured and we have no way of knowing what the Armada is planning to do with them.

There were so many injured or dead from this skirmish. At least our base was well equipped for such an emergency. I knew this was only the beginning, so I am bracing myself for whatever comes next. It was clear that the intent of that battle was to lure the aces out and capture them. The amount of resources the Armada used for that made it clear they wanted some of the biggest threats out of the way. Each day has been a scramble to read mission reports, writing new strategies to protect the Alliance’s interests and deployments to different sectors. In the coming weeks I’ll be busy leading Draco Squadron into the fray. The Armada will still attack Sector Seven Sigma, but this time we’ll be better prepared.

After another three weeks we finally have confirmation that the Rastaban Armada is deploying its forces to attack Sector Seven Sigma. This time we don’t have the aces, instead the newly formed Draco Squadron will be deployed to assist the colonies in their defense. Knowing my interest in defending the sector, General Yen Li has appointed me as the leader of the squadron. In all this time we have yet to find the aces. A task force was deployed and they have been tracking prisoner movements. So far all they know is that one of the star pilots was moved somewhere near Rastaban Prime. Intercepted communications point to the torture of the other two. Thankfully the task force’s pursuit has allowed the Armada little time for whatever they plan to do to them. Meanwhile I prepare plans for the defense of Seven Sigma.

The briefing room is packed with people from our logistics and armory divisions to the pilots of various squadrons, including Draco Squadron. We also have direct communication with the other generals of the Alliance. I started the briefing explaining the plan. We are to deploy sensor satellites around the sector. This sensor net will alert us of the energy fluctuations that happen just before a jump. This would protect us from being surprised by any ships that might try to enter the system at an advantageous position. Battleships will be posted around the colonies while they make preparations to stand their ground. I assured the generals and everyone that we would defend the sector at all costs. It was the key to maintaining the opposition against the Rastaban Armada. The final piece of the puzzle was Draco Squadron. We will punch through enemy defenses and take out as many of their battleships as we can. They will either be forced to retreat or suffer heavy losses. When the briefing ended everyone felt ready for battle. The generals approved of the plan and promised to send reinforcements if needed.

“Draco Squadron, you’d better take out some of that energy at the simulation chambers. Should also keep those senses sharp.”, I said to my new partners. Among them was both Jaan and Hino. The Alliance keeps records of pilot performance. I was both surprised and pleased they were near the top of the list, just below me. What surprised me the most was that I was in fourth position, below ace Stella. The years spent as protector of places like Seven Sigma paid off. Of course, I never sought to become one of the aces. About a year ago Yen Li approached me to take up a position among the aces. They’d accommodate me with them. Back then I remember the General said, “they take on the hardest missions”. To me, having those three was enough. I had my sights set on my little piece of space. I declined that position. If I had taken it back then who knows where we would be.

“Reminiscing?”, General Yen Li approached me.

“Oh, General. Yes actually. About that time you asked me to join the aces.”

“I’m glad you didn’t take it back then. We’d be in quite a pickle right now.”

“There are other great pilots, as evidenced by Draco Squadron.”

“Don’t sell yourself short. You aren’t Grand Marshall for a mere fluke. You earned your position because you are determined, talented and you look out for others.”, Yen Li has always been supportive.

“Thanks, and I have to keep working hard. I am afraid of this coming mission.”

“You would be a fool if you weren’t afraid. We all analyzed your plan and have already picked the forces to go. We have your back.”

“I’ll make sure to bring back Draco Squadron in one piece.”

“I’m sure you will, go get some rest. Tomorrow will be tough.”

Episode 2: The Rastaban Conflict

It has barely been two weeks since the announcement and the Alliance is moving around like it’s the end of the galaxy. Though the leaders have downplayed the threat publicly, internally we have been scrambling to gather information and prepare tactical analysis of what is to come. The Rastaban Armada is the name they chose for their military forces. Reports coming in from the planet have revealed that most of the population has been lulled by promises of peace through veritable conquest. Despite the fact that the Alliance had never really gone against the wishes of the government, I suspect there is more to this. I honestly think it’s just a ploy to raise Ohmaaran, the newly appointed Grandmaster, to fulfill his own desires for ruling. Well, no matter the reason the Armada has been on high alert and has moved a number of defense groups to key areas. A blockade has also been gaining traction, but some of the leaders have been reluctant to do it as it would harm the citizens of Rastaban Prime. As things are now we are at a precarious stage, waiting on who makes the first strike.

I’ve been waiting for new orders since my last mission, where I met the elite trio of pilots. Not a few minutes passed when they were issued new orders and deployed in an instant to various points of the system. They were ordered to gather what information they could. Meanwhile I was stuck here going through report after report trying to see if we could find a way to give some diplomatic leverage to our leaders and find a peaceful resolution. Sadly, I think there is nothing to be done here. I took some time to study High Lord Ohmaaran. In his circles he was a strong and proud leader. His ambitions were clear from the start and he continuously opposed the formation of the Alliance. After it happened anyway he seemed to become unhinged. There are rumors that state he even founded an underground movement meant to destabilize the government, get the people to back him up and eventually take over. The thing about these rumors though is that there isn’t any solid proof. It’s all hearsay. Accusing him of treason would’ve only garnered him more followers. In this our leaders were wise, but now we face a big threat.

Rastaban Prime is a powerful commercial hub. A lot of the trade in the system goes through there. They’re also incredibly productive, only rivaled by specialized colonies… wait. Oh no.

I rushed to command, realizing that their first target was likely the colonies of sector Seven Sigma. Why would they take so long to prepare an assault though? Surely their declaration meant that they were prepared for war. Yen Li saw me enter the Command Bridge in a hurry. I stopped for a second to catch my breath. “Are you alright? Did you find something?”, she asked.

“Yes General, I think I know what their first target is…”, before I could continue, someone in the room spoke up to the general. It was the comms officer.

“General! I’m sorry to interrupt, but an urgent message has arrived. It’s from the Armada. They said that the colonies of Sector Seven Sigma are to surrender to them at once.”

“Well? Grand Marshall?”

I looked to the General, “That was what I came here for. I realized that our main production and supplies would be hit, starting with our most productive colonies.”

“Let’s see how the Alliance responds. Stay here Olivia, we’ll know what to do soon enough.”

A few hours passed and communication arrived from Draco Star Command. The ace trio was going to be dispatched to intercept whatever attack force was sent to Sector Seven Sigma.

“I don’t doubt their capabilities, but should the Alliance be relying on them so much?”, I said.

“If the other generals deemed it enough, then it should be enough. Are you worried they can’t do the job? They’ve proven themselves many times over. Look, I know Sector Seven Sigma is part of our jurisdiction and I know your family is from those colonies. Worrying won’t help things, we have to trust in their ability to perform their duty.”

“You’re right. Let me know if anything changes. I’ll be at the mess hall.”

“Alright, don’t linger on thinking about all this. I know you well enough and don’t even think of doing anything on your own. Tell Jaan and Hino to join you, I’m sure they can distract you for a while.”

“For sure, thanks General.”

Mess hall was the prime meeting spot to have some good food and talk to your companions. Like Yen Li suggested, I called Jaan and Hino to join me.

“I heard the news, the aces are going up against one of the first assaults from the Armada.”, said Jaan, placing his plate on the table.

“Urgh, don’t remind me. I think it’s a mistake. They are incredibly talented, but sending them on such a dangerous mission?”

“Livi, you worry too much.”, Hino arrived with her food. They both sat down.

“I know, I know. It’s like when we’re on missions together. I’m always worrying about you two.”

“Hey, we can hold our own. Besides, this is the career we chose. It’ll always be dangerous.”, Jaan was right. I nodded in agreement. Took a deep breath and let out a sigh.

“And you, ma’am didn’t make it to Grand Marshall by worrying alone. I’m sure you could teach the aces a thing or two.”, Hino said.

It was funny, but to them I was as much an ace. “I think my problem with this is not only are they put into a very dangerous position, they’re also one of our biggest tactical advantages. Is using it so early in this conflict wise?”

“We can’t know for sure. All we can do is hope that this will serve as a deterrent. Surely they’ll think twice before sending another attack.”, Jaan said just before taking a bite of his food.

We spent most of the afternoon talking about other things. It helped to ease my mind a bit. Shortly before Jaan left for maintenance duty, General Yen Li arrived and joined us for a few minutes. Things seemed calm for now. All I can do is trust that things will go well.

Episode 1: Enter the Aces

“The political landscape in Rastaban Prime has once again been shaken up. High lord Ohmaaran believes it is time to change leadership and denounce that the Draco Star Alliance will eventually end up being another oppressor to their free world. Meanwhile on interstellar news the war in the Centauri system has been going on for almost two years now, we go live to Paul at outpost…”, I tuned out the rest. Conflict and war was something I didn’t really want to hear this morning, but I’m afraid we might get our dose of it soon. I was reviewing reports of more unrest in Rastaban Prime. This world is one of the most important in the system with large amounts of trade and production coming from it. Another news segment started, “Today we watch the special sky show performed by none other than the legendary trio of the Draco Star Alliance. Live from Eltanin IV, here is Millie with more on the show”. The star pilots. Three of the best fighter pilots in this system performing a show for the masses. Of course, it all helps the public image of the Alliance. Not too long ago it was every planet on its own. The governments were at each other’s throats trying to settle the territorial lines, but in space it’s very difficult to settle on who can claim what. So the alliance rose and not only settled the debates, but the hearts as well. Our peace is fragile though. The government of Rastaban Prime has been in opposition to the Alliance for some time now and internal dissidents have been particularly aggressive about it.

“Grand Marshall Olivia Manzanares, please report to the Command Bridge”, that was my cue. I finished with the small details of my uniform, turned off the monitor and headed out. As I made my way to the Command Bridge, my mind was swarmed with thoughts. I was glad that the Alliance formed. I kept my title and they provided some nice cozy quarters on the recently remodeled security station. There was, of course, a lot of work to do. Smugglers, pirates and all manner of rebellious groups had to be dealt with. It was difficult to keep everyone happy and the leaders of the Alliance were painfully aware. The majority of the people supported them. Most of the leaders were reelected after evaluating their previous performance. It has barely been four years. I hope the current peace lasts, I also hope I didn’t just jinx it. Meeting the general always gets me a bit nervous.

When I entered the command room everyone was laser focused on the forward viewport. The star pilots were giving their best performance yet.

“Wait really? Is this why you called me?”, I asked somewhat puzzled.

“Oh of course not Grand Marshall.”, the General said.

“Ah, ok, hit me. Why am I here? I was kind of enjoying the few days off.”, I said rather playfully. Nothing much had been happening recently and General Yen Li always worried that I was too focused on work. She ordered those days off.

“Always eager to work eh? Well, I have just the thing. You see that monitor? Those aren’t the aces.”

“Wait what?”

“They’re actually on a mission and they want us to send a cleanup crew.”

“Seriously? Now I’m just clean up?”

“Hey, don’t scoff at a mission like this, we could gather some good intel. Regardless, their mission is to sweep some smugglers before they reach Rastaban Prime.”

My eyes widened, “That planet again. I keep hearing rumors and I don’t like them.”

“Don’t be surprised, but we think it might be connected. I want you and two other fighters to hack into the cargo transports. You can do that from your ship now by the way. I took the liberty of installing the new systems.”

“That’s great. Are those the new ones we ordered from Sirius?”

“Yes indeed.”

I smiled, we had those systems ordered for months. Then, I said as I grinned, “I’ll contain my excitement for now.”

“Sure, take two pilots and get going. You are to report back in three hours.”

“Yes ma’am. I’ll be heading out then.”

Our jump to the sector was smooth. When we arrived the renowned star pilots were finishing up the last of the escort ships. Talia, Mira and Stella. It was awe inspiring to see them in action, even if for a short time.

“Alright you two, let’s get closer to the cargo transports. We each take one and then converge on the fourth. Should be a piece of cake. Hino, take the farthest one. Jaan, take the closest and I’ll take the middle transport”, I said to my wingmates.

“Acknowledged.”, said Jaan.

“Heading there now.”, said Hino.

I was glad to pick these two. Some of the best friends one could ask for. We’ve stuck through thick and thin. I wonder if the star pilots were the same.

“Grand Marshall, glad you made it. We’re gonna stick around for a bit to make sure there are no reinforcements. The combat unit will be infiltrating the transports soon, you’d better get to work quickly”, Talia said.

“Acknowledged, this won’t take long.”, I responded.

A little over an hour passed and we finished our mission. We stopped to watch as the trio of elite pilots jumped away to their next mission.

“Let’s head back to base. The general will want to see what we found.”, we made our own jump out shortly after.

As soon as we arrived we noticed quite the commotion in the station. When we arrived at the Command Bridge everyone was staring once again at the screen. I was surprised to see the star pilots here with us. Then, I noticed the voice of the newscaster, “…that is the information we have so far. Relations with Rastaban Prime had been shaky for quite a long time. Their declaration and the apparent death of their leaders has us questioning if this will be the end of peace in Draco. This is Liliana, reporting live. Our coverage…”, the sound was cut off. General Yen Li had that look. She was worried. Our next steps would be very important. Rastaban Prime has declared war against the Alliance.