OLD GUARD
STARDATE 03.02.26
SECTOR 50
Pray to whatever Gods you believe in, Captain Severick said to himself.
The Old Guard spun out of control through space, like a bird desperately trying to right itself after losing all sense of spatial direction. Two of the Europa Heavy Cruiser’s engines were aflame and leaking streams of plasma. The third engine was a blackened, burnt out husk. Half of her lights were dark. The ones that remained lit were blinking sporadically.
“Report!” Captain Severick ordered with what breath he had remaining. His left eye was sealed shut, enshrouded by a circle of blackness. Multiple pieces of shrapnel stuck out of his right arm, making it barely useable. His Anti-Grav Wheelchair was barely afloat, having suffered significant damage like its occupant.
“We’re on a collision course with Planet Lodge!” Mister Schuler, the Old Guard’s Tactical Officer, yelled. His left arm hung by his side, broken. He was trying to make do with only one arm. “Warp Engines are in a critical state! The magnetic interlocks are broken! Plasma coolants are leaking! Antimatter injectors are non functional! Plasma relays have failed! Cannot get a count of dead crewmen at this time, but Doctor Mulread is swamped with injured personnel in Sickbay! Shields are down! Weapons are offline! Power down to eight percent! Structural integrity down to eleven percent! Life Support barely holding!”
Mister Schuler paused as he looked around the Bridge. The red triangle was flashing and blaring loudly. He continued in a saddened voice,
“Mister Symski is dead, crushed by rubble when the Bridge Ceiling partially collapsed. Mister Iblis is unresponsive. A long sharp shaft is currently pierced through his back and out of the front of his body. Garrett Catharnaigh is dead. His body was badly burned when his console exploded. Commander Brookside is dead. She died trying to reach Mister Iblis to pull the shaft from his body. Miss Ursinus is trying to coordinate her security team throughout the decks, but it is complete chaos. I received a partial report from Engineering indicating that Chief Engineer Freeman is unconscious and badly burned. Senior Chief Tortoise has assumed control of Engineering. He is doing the best he can. Your own injuries need to be tended to, sir!”
Once I get the Old Guard and her remaining crew down to the surface, Captain Severick thought without verbally answering. He opened a Com Channel to Captain Dequest’s Quarters. She came aboard the Old Guard to support Captain Severick since her own ship had been destroyed. She also wanted to work on the current status of their relationship.
“Are you alright, my love?” Stephanos asked Melina. There was great concern in his voice.
“I’m fine, Stephan,” she replied. “Let me…”
Captain Severick cut off the Com Channel.
Captain Severick sacrificed the Old Guard by building a device that would close the Rift from which the monstrous Invader had emerged. The Old Guard detonated the device inside the Rift. It was sealed forever. What Captain Severick didn’t expect was for the Old Guard to survive.
The Old Guard emerged on the other side of the Rift, presumably where the Invader came from. They were in a dead galaxy full of planets ravaged by war. The nearest Class M Planet was located and the Old Guard headed toward it. Captain Severick didn’t know why he called it Planet Lodge. It just came into his mind out of nowhere.
“We’re entering the Planet’s thermosphere!!” Mister Bacchia, the Old Guard’s Helmsman yelled at the top of his voice.
The Old Guard began to shake violently. A wreath of fire formed, encircling her.
Captain Severick stared at the View Screen with his one good eye, like a badly beaten prisoner who was defiant to the last breath.
“Mister Bacchia…all of our lives are in your hands.”
THE OLD GUARD, NOW A BURNING FIREBALL, FLEW ACROSS THE NIGHT SKY OF PLANET LODGE, LIKE THE ADVERSARY THROWN OUT OF HEAVEN.
