Breaking Point

The shrill whine of the ship's alarms echoed through the cabin as the enemy ships closed in. Vale gripped the edge of his seat, his knuckles turning white. His heart raced, but his mind remained sharp. The hunt was on. Their survival now depended on speed, precision, and a whole lot of luck.

"Zero!" Vale barked over the roar of the ship's engines. "How much longer until we hit the extraction point?"

"Two minutes, but we're not going to make it if we don't shake these bastards off!" Zero snapped, his hands flying across the console. The ship swerved violently as he executed another evasive maneuver, barely avoiding a missile barrage that erupted behind them. "They're too fast. And now they're jamming everything."

Kiera, still at her position near the rear, shifted her stance, eyes scanning the ships closing in on them. "We can't outrun them forever."

"Then we'll have to make a stand," Vale replied, voice grim. "Doc, are you ready?"

"Always," came Doc's steady reply from the rear of the ship. His fingers gripped the controls of the ship's automated guns, adjusting the targeting system. "These bastards won't know what hit 'em."

Vale turned to Zero, who was still working feverishly to maintain their evasive course. "Keep them off us. We'll break away once the extraction point is in range."

"You're asking me to outrun elite hunters while getting pounded by missile fire," Zero said with a faint smirk, though the strain in his voice was evident. "But I'll do my best."

Vale gave him a nod. "That's all I ask."

The first ship on their tail launched another volley of missiles. Zero swore under his breath as he yanked the control yoke, sending the ship into a sharp, gut-wrenching dive. The missiles exploded behind them in a brilliant flash of light, but the ship had evaded the worst of the blast.

"That was too close," Zero muttered.

The ship's rear was now locked in the sights of the second enemy ship. Vale could see it on the display—a sleek, deadly predator closing in fast, its weapons primed for the kill. It was time to make a move.

"Doc, fire on my mark!" Vale shouted. "We take them down now, or we die here."

Kiera braced herself, her body pressed against the bulkhead. "Just say the word, Major."

Vale took a deep breath, analyzing the enemy's movements. The hunter ship was adjusting its course to fire, its guns ready to unleash hell. He had seconds—if that. This was their moment.

"Mark!"

The ship's main guns erupted with fire as Doc unleashed a blistering barrage of high-caliber rounds. The impact slammed into the enemy vessel, sending sparks flying as the ship's shields began to crack under the pressure. For a moment, it seemed like the enemy might back off—but then the ship surged forward, its guns coming to life.

Kiera was already locking in her target. "I've got them. Weapons hot!"

Her rifle roared to life, unleashing precise shots into the weak spots that Doc's initial barrage had exposed. The enemy ship staggered, losing altitude as its engines sputtered from the damage.

But before Vale could even register a victory, the third enemy ship appeared from the shadows—larger and more heavily armored than the others.

"Damn it!" Vale cursed under his breath, eyes narrowing. "This isn't good."

The larger ship launched a payload of missiles with devastating speed, the first of which struck the transport's wing, sending the ship into a violent spin.

"Zero! Get us stable!" Vale shouted as the ship lurched.

"I'm trying!" Zero gritted his teeth, desperately manipulating the controls. "They're all over us!"

The ship tilted dangerously, and for a heart-stopping moment, Vale thought they might go down. But Zero wasn't about to let that happen. With a sharp turn of the yoke, he managed to right the ship, but they were still under heavy fire.

"Not good enough, Zero!" Kiera shouted, reloading her rifle. "We need to get rid of them—now!"

Vale slammed his fist against the console. "Zero, take the damn shot."

"Already on it," Zero replied, his fingers moving faster than ever.

In a flash of blue light, Zero activated the ship's advanced EMP system, sending a pulse that disrupted the guidance systems of the incoming missiles. A few seconds later, the missiles lost track of their target and veered off course, missing them by mere inches.

Vale let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "Well done, Zero. Now let's get the hell out of here."

The extraction point was close now, just beyond the atmosphere's pull. He could see the familiar shape of the landing platform coming into view. His team had done the impossible—again.

But their ordeal was far from over.

"We've got one more problem," Zero warned, his voice tight. "The landing platform's not clear. There's debris blocking the approach."

"Then we clear it," Vale said with finality. "Doc, get on the guns. Kiera, prep for a quick disembark. Zero, you've got the controls."

Zero didn't hesitate, adjusting their flight path for a final, aggressive approach. The ship cut through the remaining atmosphere, barely dodging the last of the enemy ships as they fell behind. Just as they neared the platform, Vale could see the hazard ahead—crates, twisted metal, and wreckage from previous skirmishes. The space was narrow, and the timing was critical.

"Now or never," Vale muttered under his breath.

Zero's voice rang out with determination. "We're going in hot!"

The transport dove toward the platform, a trail of fire and smoke following it as the team braced for impact. The ship barely cleared the debris, its landing gear scraping against the platform's surface. For a moment, it felt like the ship might tumble, but Zero slammed the brakes, bringing them to a sudden halt.

The ramp opened, and without hesitation, the team sprinted toward the extraction vehicle. Their mission was far from over, but they had made it through the first wave.

Vale turned back to see the damaged transport—a battered reminder of how close they had come to death.

But there was no time to dwell on that.

"Move out, now!" Vale shouted, the urgency in his voice sharp.