Purge of Prometheus

Launching their smaller ship-mounted plasma rockets, the trio plummeted toward the front of the damaged flagship. Their smaller missiles broke holes in the hull, allowing them to guide their larger rockets — the ones controlled by their onboard computers — into those gaps. As the other two ordered their large missiles to launch, Yen took control of all six of his missiles simultaneously, holding them in a psychic grip. Grouping them close together, he launched them all forward, adding his own powers to their booster rockets for incredible acceleration. The combined plasma and kinetic fury of his rockets drove through the hole in the weapons bay that Wallace had caused before his death. As all six plasma rockets ignited as one inside the volatile bay, the resulting explosion took Yen’s breath away.

The hull buckled along the length of the ship, bowing as the thick plating attempted to contain the plasma explosions within. Yen’s six rockets engulfed the Terran rockets within the bay in a bath of plasma, eating through their armored exterior and setting fire to their own plasma stores. The flames from the combined explosion raced through the halls, destroying the walls and floors inside the ship until the fire burst from the front view screen of the ship’s bridge. Combined with the four rockets launched from Iana and Gregario, the Terran flagship was quickly engulfed in fire.

They trio turned away and began the flight back to the Revolution. Between the excitement of destroying so large a ship and knowing that Keryn was here, actually within the same galaxy, Yen wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to catch his breath. A smile etched its way broadly across his face as he thought lovingly of Keryn.

“Keryn,” he said, reveling in the fact that she had returned to him.

Warning sirens sounded once more within his fighter. Yen scanned the radar and cursed himself for getting distracted. In all the excitement, he had forgotten about the fighters of which Gregario had warned him. As he watched, smaller markings appeared between Yen and the Terran fighters. They had launched missiles.

“Separate,” Yen ordered as he veered away from the other two. “They’ve launched missiles!”

The trio began weaving through the debris as missiles locked onto their engines’ signatures. Artificial intelligence onboard the rockets would keep them on the trio’s trail until an obstacle got in the way or they ran out of fuel. Yen twisted his controls as he shot between two floating strips of metal, the origins of which he couldn’t begin to guess. He allowed himself a brief smile as space behind him lit up with plasma, one of the rockets trailing him having slammed into the debris. Still, his smile was short lived. Two more rockets still followed him.

Yen wanted to check on the others, to ensure that they were still avoiding their missiles as well, but he found himself too preoccupied with staying alive himself. Skating over the surface of a destroyed Cruiser, Yen accelerated heavily and launched himself upward, using the cloud of jettisoned furniture and equipment that had once been the Cruiser’s innards as cover. He cringed as the heavy objects ricocheted off his ship, but was pleased when another of the rockets exploded in the cloud. Yen allowed himself a bit of relief knowing only one more missile followed him.

As he began maneuvering through a field of destroyed fragments of fighter ships, his radio crackled to life.

“I’m clear,” Iana called happily, “and the three Terran fighters have been destroyed.”

“Almost…” Gregario called, a clear strain in his voice. Over the radio, Gregario let out an audible sigh. “Yes, I’m clear as well.”

“I’ve still got one on me,” Yen said, slipping his fighter over the remnants of two ships, destroyed and fused from whatever explosion led to their demise. “I can’t seem to shake it.”

Yen lashed out with his powers, aiming wildly at the rocket that remained on his tail. Unfortunately, unable to see the missile, his tendrils struck the same debris around which he flew instead of his target. Though he continued to try to destroy the rocket, it remained firmly affixed in its pursuit.

“Sir, it’s closing on you quickly,” Gregario said, worried. “I’m closer than Iana. I’m heading your way to help now.”

Cursing, Yen felt his mind growing tired. Keeping the tendrils active was physically taxing his body, lowering his reaction times while flying. He withdrew his tendrils as he scraped along a chunk of metal, gouging his right wing.

“I’m heading right for you, Commander,” Gregario called. “But I can’t get a clear shot on the rocket through all this debris.”

Yen frowned. He knew he could reactivate the tendrils, but it would drain him further and could do more harm than good. His best bet was Gregario, who was unable to get into position. Still, Yen thought he might find a use for his Teammate yet.

“I need you to come to my position,” Yen said, opening a communications channel just between him and Gregario, “I have an idea, but I’ll need you as close as possible for this to work.”

“Roger, sir, I’m on my way.”

Yen tried to pull himself out of the main field of debris, finding a small gap of open space. For his plan to work, he would need the rocket flying on a straight line. As he broke free of the main wreckage, Yen found himself in relatively open space. To his left, he could see Gregario quickly approaching.

“Sir!” Gregario yelled. “The missile is almost on you. Whatever you have planned, you better do it now.”

“I intend to,” Yen said evilly. Reaching out with a powerful reserve of psychic energy, Yen grabbed a hold of Gregario’s plane, pulling it quickly toward him. As his Teammate sped in his direction, pulled forward by Yen’s powers, Yen accelerated out of the way.

“What are you…” was all Gregario managed to say before his ship was pulled into the path of the oncoming missile, blocking the way between Yen and the rocket. The plasma rocket exploded as it struck Gregario’s ship, vaporizing the cabin and the pilot within. The shockwave sent Yen’s ship spinning, but he managed to regain control before reaching any further debris.

“What just…” Iana yelled into the radio.

“Don’t start with me, Iana,” Yen threatened. “Get back to the Revolution.”

“You killed him,” she said in disbelief.

“Don’t you dare question my decisions,” he quickly answered. “You don’t have the right to question the decisions I make during combat! No one does!”

Iana stuttered as words escaped her. Finally, she blurted, “Everyone will know what you did!”

“That would be a fatal mistake on your part,” Yen said, his voice rumbling over the radio. “Very fatal, indeed.” When he didn’t hear an immediate response, he added, “Get back to the Revolution. Now!”

As Iana’s fighter sped away, Yen let himself drift in space, recuperating from the intense chase and dangerous ending. Pushing the thought of Gregario and Iana from his mind, Yen let his thoughts fall back to Keryn. Quickly, the rage and homicidal impulses fled from his mind, replaced instantly with affection and tender compassion toward his lost love. After all this time, he would finally see her again. He wanted to call out to Keryn now, but lacked the ability to communicate with a Terran Destroyer. Instead, he let his thoughts wander to their time together and to the times he was sure they would share again.

His thoughts were interrupted as the Fleet-wide communications channel opened over the radio.

“All Alliance vessels, this is Captain Hodge of the Revolution. The last of the Terran Destroyers have been incapacitated and the surviving Terran fighters have surrendered. The battle is officially over!” Captain Hodge paused to allow the inevitable cheers to roll through the Fleet. “All fighters, return to your parent ships at once. If your parent ship was destroyed, find safe harbor with one of the other Cruisers and prepare for debriefing. Once we have accountability of all surviving ships to include the Ballistae, the newest addition to the Fleet, I need all Captains to ferry to the Revolution for an immediate tactical debrief. Captain Hodge, out.”

Yen was surprised at his sudden turn of luck. In just a few hours, he would be back aboard the Revolution, debriefed, and would have the opportunity to see Keryn as she ferried over for the Captain’s meeting. He was safe and the woman he loved was mere hours away. Yen smiled widely as he started his return flight to the Revolution.

CHAPTER 33: