test 3. ch.13

Chapter 13 Event Horizon In the aftermath of a battle that hinted toward victory, Anders, Fors, Alessia, and May made their descent onto an expansive landing platform. This vast expanse, once just a part of the plan's infrastructure, was now a hive of activity, bustling with rescue and recovery teams tirelessly working into the Chapter 13 Event Horizon In the aftermath of a battle that hinted toward victory, Anders, Fors, Alessia, and May made their descent onto an expansive landing platform. This vast expanse, once just a part of the plan's infrastructure, was now a hive of activity, bustling with rescue and recovery teams tirelessly working amidst the ruins of the city below. Their ship's landing gear kissed the platform with a gentle thud. As the quartet stepped out, their boots met the hard metallic surface, sending echoes rippling through the air, mingling with the sounds of machinery and distant orders being shouted. Five people had left, but four had returned, and that hole cut deep within them. They weren't alone. Soldiers who had fought valiantly along Anders to protect the vault now disembarked. Their weary yet determined faces were proof to the ordeal they had endured. Moments later, the air was disturbed by the descent of another craft. It landed with precision near them, and from it emerged the Grand Admiral, his presence commanding immediate attention. He moved with purpose, his eyes quickly finding and locking onto the group. Perhaps the relic's fate wasn't as we initially envisioned, the Grand Admiral began, his voice steady yet reflective. He paused, allowing the weight of his words to sink in before continuing. Nevertheless, I view our current situation as a favorable turn of events. Acknowledgement came through silent nods from May, Anders, Alessia, and Fors, a unified front in the face of uncertainty. Is this the end, then? May's voice broke through the brief silence. Is this the end, then? May's voice broke the brief silence, a mixture of hope and apprehension in her tone. The relics are no more, the Grand Admiral confirmed, his words bringing a complex blend of relief and new worries. But even with the destruction of the zinc's dreadnought, their fleet still lingers across the galaxy. Admitting to the threat, the Grand Admiral's expression turned contemplative. Our path to dispelling the shadow remains unclear, he confessed, the gravity of their situation mirrored in the faces of his listeners. Admitting to the threat, the Grand Admiral's expression turned contemplative. Our path to dispelling the shadow remains unclear, he confessed, the gravity of their situation mirrored in the faces of his listeners. The group's silent contemplative. The group's silent contemplation was suddenly pierced by Fors, his voice cutting through the tension. I have a proposition, he declared, an edge of boldness to his tone. It's somewhat unorthodox, perhaps even perilous. Interest piqued, Anders encouraged him, go on. Anders outlined a strategy that seemed as daring as it was desperate. At the heart of the galaxy lies a gravitational maelstrom, a black hole, to be exact. If we can maneuver our ships to the fringe of its pull, just enough for our engines to counteract its gravitational grasp, the zinc's troops would find it impossible to board us. Should we manage to entice them to this precise location, we could systematically disable their engines, leaving them to be consumed by the void. And how would we bait them into this trap, the Grand Admiral inquired, skepticism and curiosity mingling in his voice. Anders stepped up, a spark of strategy in his eyes. We could accidentally leak a transmission suggesting we've acquired the last relic and are planning its destruction at specific coordinates. We would need to make sure only the zinc's hear about it. We would need to make sure only the zinc's hear about it, May added, her tactical mind working. They would likely mobilize their entire fleet to stop us. Acknowledging the plan's inherent risks, the Grand Admiral nevertheless recognized its potential. It's quite daring, he agreed, but it's a chance we may need to take. I'll begin assembling the Federation's flagship and as many cruisers and carriers as we can spare, he continued. I'll speak with the command staff about the message interception. Emerging from the fabric of hyperspace, a colossal Federation dreadnought sliced through the void. It's immense length and sleek design reminiscent of a katana's precise and elegant form. The moment its warp ceased, the ship's engines roared to life with ferocity, thrusting flames into the darkness. With expert maneuvering, its stern pivoted sharply towards the gravity well, the crew inside working diligently to maintain a safe distance, ensuring they flirted with danger without succumbing to it. Soon after this dramatic entrance, a fleet of Federation cruisers burst into the scene, markedly smaller but no less impressive in their agility and coordination. They ignited their engines with synchronized precision, each one positioning itself in its strategic alignment with the dreadnought. They arranged themselves in a protective diamond formation, some stationed above and below, others ahead and behind the towering dreadnought, their engines casting a luminous glow against the backdrop of space. Let's hope they took the bait, the Grand Admiral declared, his voice resonating with cautious optimism. He stood on the bridge of the formidable behemoth, surrounded by the steadfast members of Bruno's squad and the Federation. His eyes were drawn to the vastness of space beyond the viewport, where the menacing presence of a black hole loomed like a dark sentinel on the horizon. Minutes stretched on, charged with anticipation, until the fabric of space itself seemed to ripple and fold. Emerging from hyperspace in a disciplined wall formation, just shy of a dozen zinc cruisers appeared. With sudden agility, they executed a sharp ninety-degree turn, their formation shifting into a disorganized line as they navigated the treacherous gravitational pull of the black hole, a move that spoke of hurried desperation more than strategic finesse. The tense silence of the bridge was shattered when, moments later, reinforcements arrived. Another squadron of Federation cruisers burst onto the scene, materializing on the opposite flank of the zinc's vessels. This strategic encirclement turned the skirmish into a trap. The zinc's fleet, now caught between the Federation forces and the relentless pull of gravity, fired the four ships' engines, quickly, the Grand Admiral commanded, his voice a beacon of urgency. The order was met with immediate action as the Federation cruisers targeted the engines of the landing zinc's vessel, aiming to cripple their ability to maneuver. In a desperate countermove, the zinc's cruisers deployed swarms of droids, a last-ditch effort to turn the tide. These mechanical combatants, each equipped with thrusters, surged forward like a metallic storm. However, their thrusters proved inadequate against the overwhelming gravitational force. One by one, they were inexorably drawn to the abyss. In the ensuing chaos, the lead vessel of the zinc's hastily aligned formation became a catastrophic spectacle. Its hull, breached by precise Federation firepower, erupted into a colossal fireball. This incendiary demise was not solitary. The doomed cruiser, now an uncontrolled inferno, careened backward into its immediate successor. The collision sparked another violent explosion, a chain reaction of destruction that reverberated to the zinc's rakes. The second ship, engulfed in flames, became an unwilling harbinger of havoc. Its explosion unleashed a shockwave of shrapnel and fire, dealing devastating blows to the adjacent vessels. The force of the explosions and the ensuing debris field created a domino effect of destruction, propelling several of the crippled ships toward the insatiable maw of the black hole. One after another, the zinc's cruisers met their end in a grim ballet of obliteration. Each ship's annihilation served only to hasten the demise of those unlucky enough to follow in its wake. As these vessels were consumed by the gravitational vortex, they were twisted and torn apart, their wreckage spiraling into the abyss. The relentless pull of the black hole acted as a final executioner, dragging the remnants of the zinc's fleet into the unfathomable depths of the void, where even the light bending around the event horizon seemed to mourn their loss. This sequence of destruction, marked by fire and the relentless void, underscored the merciless nature of the cosmos. The Grand Admiral took a deliberate step forward, distancing himself from the tumultuous spectacle of destruction that raged just beyond his broadside. Turning, he shifted his gaze from the unfolding chaos and the peripheral blur of space, his eyes settling instead on the tranquil expanse of the stars that stretched infinitely ahead. The stark contrast between the violent skirmish now behind him, in this moment of calm amidst the storm, he addressed his fellow servicemen. Brothers and sisters, let's go home. One by one, the Federation warships, their hulls barely marked by the conflict, aligned their trajectories toward the beckoning stars. With precision and grace, they initiated the jump into hyperspace. The moment was marked by a breathtaking spectacle, as each ship engaged its drive, leaving behind a brilliant trail of cerulean blue. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope.