Chapter 28: Beyond the Orion Veil

A few days had passed since the completion of several critical tasks. With the fleet now fully assembled, humanity stood on the precipice of its greatest journey yet. I stood inside the bridge of Solaris Aegis, taking in the sight of my fleet lined up in perfect formation. It was a breathtaking display of raw power and ambition.

Fleet Composition:

1 Capital Ship: Solaris Aegis (Flagship)

20 Frigates: Sentinel and Guardian Classes

500 Fighter-Class Ships

200 Hauler-Class Ships

100 Support-Class Ships

1000 Interceptor-Class Ships

50,000 Humans onboard

This was more than just a fleet. It was a statement—a declaration that humanity had officially stepped into the galactic stage. And now, the moment had come to finally leave the Orion Veil and make our way toward the Andromeda system.

A holographic map of the known universe floated above the command deck, displaying our current location and projected route. I turned to my crew, the excitement in the air palpable.

"Jarvis, status report," I commanded, my voice steady but brimming with anticipation.

A calm yet authoritative voice resonated throughout the bridge. "All systems are fully operational. Fleet synchronization at 99.8%. Navigation data for the Andromeda system is locked in. FTL drives are charged and standing by."

I nodded, satisfied. "Good. And the crew?"

"Morale is high. Anticipation levels are peaking. Many see this as humanity's true first step into the stars."

I smirked. "They're not wrong."

A familiar voice chimed in from my neural link. Unlike Jarvis, this one carried a warmth and depth that made it seem almost human.

"Commander, the weight of history rests upon us," Sol, the AI of Solaris Aegis, spoke. "We are the first. The pioneers. I wonder—how do you feel, knowing that we are about to break the barriers that once confined humanity?"

I exhaled, glancing at the panoramic window overlooking the fleet. "Excited. Anxious. But above all, ready."

A chuckle came from my communications officer, Lieutenant Mira Vasquez. "Permission to speak freely, sir?"

"Granted."

"This is insane," she said, shaking her head in disbelief. "We were grounded on Earth not too long ago, and now we're about to enter another galaxy. If someone told me this five years ago, I'd have laughed them out of the room."

I chuckled. "And yet, here we are."

Commander Rook, my second-in-command, stepped forward. "All ships report ready. Pilots are in position, and fleet cohesion is at optimal efficiency."

I turned back to the holographic map. The Andromeda system was waiting. Our first true test beyond the Orion Veil.

"Jarvis, open fleet-wide communications."

A second later, a soft chime indicated that every ship in the fleet could hear me.

"This is Supreme Commander Zero Celestia speaking." I took a deep breath before continuing. "For as long as we've known, humanity has looked to the stars and dreamed of what lay beyond. Today, that dream becomes reality. Today, we take our first step into the unknown—not as wanderers, but as pioneers. We do not venture into the Andromeda system for conquest or war, but for discovery, for knowledge, and for the future of all humankind. This is not just our journey. This is humanity's journey. And we will not falter."

A brief silence followed, then erupted into cheers across the fleet.

I looked at Mira, who grinned. "I think they liked that."

I smirked. "Jarvis, initiate countdown."

"Acknowledged. Commencing countdown."

A timer appeared on the main screen.

10… 9… 8…

The ship hummed with raw energy as the FTL drives powered up. The fabric of space itself seemed to tremble.

7… 6… 5…

The other ships followed suit, their engines burning bright as they prepared to leap forward.

4… 3… 2…

I tightened my grip on the armrest of my command chair. This was it.

1… Engage!

A blinding burst of light engulfed the fleet as we tore through space, breaking free from the Solar Sytem.

After A few hours travelling and enjoying the sights on hyperspace the moment we exited we exited on it, the viewscreens filled with a terrifying sight. An immense swarm of organic, grotesque ships stretched across the void like a writhing sea of nightmares. Every eye on the bridge widened in horror.

Gasps echoed through the command center as the alien fleet loomed before us. Mira's voice trembled with a mixture of awe and dread. "What... are those?"

I turned sharply. "Sol, scan those ships. I want full biological and technological readouts. Now!"

A tense second passed before the AI's cold, precise voice returned. "Analysis complete. These entities are entirely organic in nature, resembling a hive-based species. Their composition suggests rapid adaptation and an extremely aggressive disposition."

Rook's face darkened, his jaw clenched. "Commander, whatever they are, they're already moving—fast!"

The bridge erupted into controlled chaos. The most brutal, hated race in the universe had found us: a bioengineered scourge that left nothing but devastation in its wake.

"Multiple hostile signatures inbound!" Rook shouted. "They're closing fast!"

"Battle stations!" I roared. "Raise shields and prepare all countermeasures!"

Jarvis's clipped voice broke through the intercom. "Enemy units closing. Estimated impact in thirty seconds."

"Deploy interceptors!" I commanded. "Defensive formation! Sentinel and Guardian frigates, hold the flanks! Fighters, break into squads and harass their vanguard!"

The Zerg swarm surged toward us like a living tide of destruction, darkening the void. Spore projectiles and acid blasts erupted from their grotesque appendages, raining down on our shields. The Solaris Aegis shuddered violently as impact after impact tested our defenses.

The largest Zerg vessels, resembling monstrous leviathans, launched acid pods the size of drop ships. When they exploded, they released corrosive clouds that threatened to eat through even reinforced plating. Smaller, darting Zerg bio-flyers swarmed like hornets, spitting globs of toxic bile and piercing tendrils that aimed to breach hulls.

"Fire all forward cannons!"

The capital ship responded with thunderous fury, unleashing a torrent of plasma and railgun fire. Explosions burst across the swarm as the first wave disintegrated under our barrage. Fighters darted through the chaos, weaving between monstrous appendages and blasting apart enemy flyers with precision bursts of laser fire.

"Incoming! Three more wings, flanking us from starboard!" Mira cried.

"Mira, shift shield power to reinforce the right side! Hold the line!" I ordered.

"They're adapting!" Mira warned. "Their speed and attack patterns are shifting!"

The Zerg began using kamikaze tactics. Large bio-bombers surged forward, covered in armored carapaces. They detonated on impact, sending shockwaves and spraying caustic fluids that scarred the Solaris Aegis's exterior. At the same time, tentacled boarding pods latched onto smaller frigates, tearing through airlocks to unleash feral Zerglings into the corridors.

"Hull breaches detected in Sections 5 and 9!" Jarvis alerted.

"Seal those sections and activate emergency force fields!" I barked.

More spore mines erupted against our shields, sending jolts through the deck. A frigate on our right flank exploded in a fiery burst as Zerg tentacles tore into its hull. Screams echoed over the comms before silence claimed the crew.

"We need to break their formation!" I snapped. "Rook, prepare the fleet's main laser array. Target their central hive ship. It's the key to their coordination."

"Aye, Commander!" Rook responded without hesitation, his fingers flying over the controls.

"All ships, concentrate fire on that target! Buy us time!"

Explosions lit up the void as every available gun turned on the hive ship. The monstrosity writhed under the combined assault but didn't falter. It responded with a barrage of acidic projectiles and bio-lances that pierced one of our corvettes, splitting it in half.

"Damage report!"

"Hull integrity down to sixty percent," Mira reported. "Several support vessels critically damaged. We won't last much longer at this rate!"

The Solaris Aegis's massive superlaser began charging, its energy conduits glowing with a brilliant blue light. The hum of power filled the ship, a beacon of hope amidst the chaos.

"They're swarming the laser array!" Rook shouted. "Fighters and boarding pods inbound!"

"Fighter squads, intercept those pods before they reach us!" I commanded.

The comms filled with static-laden chatter as our pilots engaged the incoming threat. Our interceptors danced through the void, their lasers carving paths of destruction. Several boarding pods exploded before they reached the Aegis, but a few pierced through, latching onto the hull like parasites.

"Enemy boarders detected in Sections 4 and 7!" Jarvis alerted.

"Seal the affected sections. Deploy security teams!" I ordered.

Inside the ship, the sounds of distant firefights echoed through the halls. Yet there was no time to worry about internal battles.

The main laser reached full power.

"Firing solution locked!" Rook announced.

"Fire!"

A colossal beam of energy erupted from the Solaris Aegis, cutting through the void with devastating precision. The central hive ship's organic armor ruptured, and a massive explosion tore it apart from within. For a moment, the entire swarm faltered as their coordination dissolved.

"They're breaking formation!" Mira reported breathlessly.

"Push forward!" I bellowed. "Drive them back!"

The fleet surged with renewed determination. Frigates and corvettes pressed the advantage, unleashing volley after volley of destructive firepower. Our fighters chased down fleeing Zerg units, ensuring none escaped. The void became a storm of fire and debris.

Slowly but surely, the remaining Zerg forces disintegrated under the relentless assault.

"Commander, they're retreating!" Mira confirmed.

I exhaled a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.

"Hold the line until they're out of range. Ensure no survivors remain."

As the final enemy vessel vanished into the darkness, the bridge fell into an exhausted silence. Zero broke the stillness, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the battlefield. "Those ships—they resemble the Zerg from that ancient Starcraft game."

Mira blinked, realization dawning. "You're right. The similarities are uncanny."

"We'll refer to them as the Zerg moving forward," Zero declared. "Sol, dispatch salvage teams immediately. I want every piece of wreckage collected and brought aboard for analysis. We'll need to understand their biology and technology if we're to stand a chance next time."

"Acknowledged," Sol responded.

The bridge crew shared determined looks as they began coordinating the recovery effort. This was no longer just a battle—it was the start of humanity's study into a terrifying new threat.

For the first time, humanity had proven it could stand against the darkness of the universe—and win.