OLD GUARD
STARDATE 10.12.25
SECTOR 50
“STAY THE COURSE!!” Captain Severick yelled while holding onto the arms of his Command Chair tightly.
Europa’s Secret Mission, led by Admiral Beddiax, to close the Rift discovered by Babylon which led to another Universe, quickly went south as Captain Severick highly suspected it would. There were simply too many unknowns, placing the odds of success squarely against Europa and its allies. While the Combined Fleet composed of Europa, Krakenfish, Roman, Orsian, and Beardus starships was impressive, they had no idea what they would be facing.
Captain Severick had been right, although he wished with all his heart that he hadn’t been.
A circular starship as large as a starbase, the likes of which no empire in Sector 50 had ever seen, emerged from the Rift, escorted by Babylon and Black Flock starships. To Babylon’s surprise, as soon as the enormous vessel was successfully through the Rift, it opened fire on the Babylon and Black Flock starships. They were tiny compared to this titanic monstrosity. In a matter of moments, every Babylon and Black Flock starship had been ripped to shreds.
Europa’s Combined Fleet arrived just in time. Admiral Beddiax immediately gave the order to attack the Gigantic Invader from another Universe. As the Combined Fleet closed in, the strange Invader activated inconceivable devices which it carried as part of its arsenal. The Combined Fleet found itself scattered in different directions, its formation disrupted by these strange, foreign devices. Reality itself had been warped to transport each starship to a distant, random location.
Stephanos knew at that moment there was no way they could win this battle. The only way to achieve victory was to complete the mission they came here for – close the Rift forever so that nothing else could come through into Sector 50.
Captain Severick ordered his Science Officer, Mister Iblis, to work with his Chief Engineer, Pavlos Freeman, to construct a device which would close the Rift permanently. Despite objections and pushback from his two Officers, Captain Severick made it clear to them that if they did not succeed, everyone on the Old Guard was as good as dead, along with everyone in the Combined Fleet. Mister Iblis and Mister Freeman then worked feverishly on the device, determined to succeed at all costs.
Two Krakenfish Destroyers died as they were pummeled by a barrage of Phasers from the gigantic Invader. A Roman Light Cruiser fired its Tachyon Guns while an Orsian Heavy Cruiser launched its Plasmas and Drones in conjunction with Plasmas launched by a Beardus Battlecruiser. All of the weapons struck true, hitting the gigantic Invader which appeared to be without Shields. However, to the shock of everyone in the Combined Fleet, the damage from the assault was absorbed by otherworldly Panels. It was as if the Invader had not been struck at all. In response, Beams shot out of the Invader, hitting the Roman Light Cruiser, the Orsian Heavy Cruiser, and the Beardus Battlecruiser. The Beams, which were a type of highly advanced Tractor Beam never seen before in Sector 50, literally ripped each starship apart until only a mass of floating debris and dead crewmen were left floating through space.
To make matters worse, smaller Invader starships suddenly appeared in tactically advantageous positions around the Combined Fleet. It seemed as though they were carried inside the belly of the much larger Mothership. Each of these smaller Invaders was more than a match for each of the starships within the Combined Fleet.
Mister Iblis and Mister Freeman informed Captain Severick that the device was completed, but that it must be detonated from within the Rift. In other words, the Old Guard had to enter the Rift and then activate the device to completely destroy the Rift. Without hesitation, Captain Severick gave the order to fly straight into the Rift.
However, one of the smaller Invaders was chasing the Old Guard. A strange vessel, it drew power from its many Batteries and channeled the energy into a single massive weapon. The powerful energy discharge hit the Old Guard from behind, crushing their fourth shield and scoring internal damage. The Old Guard shook and its lights flickered, but its additional armor saved it from being destroyed.
“Captain, should we perform a High Energy Turn to return fire with our Photon Torpedoes?” Mister Schuler, the Old Guard’s Tactical Officer asked with his adrenaline pumping.
“Negative!” Captain Severick answered in a loud voice. His eyes were glued to the View Screen and the rapidly approaching Rift. “Mister Bacchia, stay the course! Take us directly into the Rift! Mister Iblis and Mister Freeman, activate the device the second we are in the Rift!!”
“Aye aye, Captain!” Mister Bacchia replied with both hands frantically working his console.
The Old Guard flew into the Rift at high speed. The device was activated.
TO ADMIRAL BEDDIAX, WHO WATCHED FROM HER OWN BRIDGE, IT LOOKED AS THOUGH A NEW STAR HAD BEEN BORN.
