Battle at Outer defense grid of Zeta-9

The blinding flash of the explosion cut through the blackness of space like a strike of lightning in a storm. Vale's heart pounded as the shockwave reverberated through the hull of his Wraith-Class Corvette. The Kran dreadnought, once a formidable presence, had been torn apart in a flash of hellfire and ionized debris. But as the smoke cleared, the void seemed even darker, more suffocating, as the remaining Kran ships closed in.

"Another one down, Major," Aegis reported, its synthetic voice calm as ever, though Vale could sense the unspoken tension in the AI's words. The Kran were adapting quickly. Too quickly.

"Not enough," Vale muttered, his eyes scanning the tactical map that flickered in the corner of his visor. "We need to buy more time. The fleet's almost at Zeta-9, but we're not there yet."

He gripped the controls, the cool metal beneath his hands offering little comfort in the heat of the moment. His mind raced, calculating their dwindling options. The Kran had more ships on the way, a fresh wave of reinforcements that could easily overwhelm them. They had to fight like hell, like this was their last chance, because it was.

"Focus fire on their flanks," he ordered, his voice steady, but beneath it, a current of urgency ran. "We're going to force them into a corner. Get them to think we're vulnerable."

Aegis acknowledged the order, initiating the tactical shift with a precision only an AI could manage. As the Wraith-Class Corvette glided effortlessly through space, dodging incoming fire, Vale watched as his fleet moved in tandem, coordinating their attacks.

He saw it—an opening. The Kran flagship, a monstrous vessel whose hull seemed to pulsate with its alien biology, was lagging behind its escort ships. If they could hit it now, if they could cripple its command structure, it might break the Kran's cohesion.

"All ships, target the flagship," Vale barked. "Now!"

The sudden shift in tactics took the Kran off guard. Several ships in Vale's battlegroup unleashed a barrage of fire, the kinetic rounds and plasma bolts streaking toward their target. For a moment, it seemed like victory was within reach. The Kran flagship shuddered, its shields flickering under the intense barrage. But the Kran were not without their tricks.

The Kran flagship unleashed a pulse—a sonic shockwave that tore through space, disrupting the weapons systems of Vale's fleet, throwing them off balance.

"Shit," Vale muttered under his breath. "Brace for impact!"

The Corvette lurched violently, the sudden turbulence throwing Vale against his harness. He heard the distinct clatter of tools and equipment shaking loose from the ship's walls. His heart skipped a beat as the tactical map flickered.

"Status?" he demanded, his teeth gritted against the disorienting force.

"We've lost power to the starboard shields," Aegis replied, its voice calm but the underlying tension palpable. "Engines are at seventy-five percent output. Repair crews are responding, but we're vulnerable."

Vale's eyes flicked to the incoming wave of Kran ships. The enemy was closing in, faster than he expected. He couldn't afford to waste time. The battle was turning against them, and the Kran were relentless.

"Dammit," Vale muttered, his pulse quickening. His thoughts flashed to Zeta-9. Their hope. Their salvation. It was out there, but it felt farther away now than ever before. "We need more firepower."

The hum of the ship's weapon systems came to life, but it was different this time. A new directive from Aegis, a split-second decision, a last-ditch move.

"Activate the Thor's Hammer," Aegis said, almost too calmly. "I've rerouted power. You're clear to fire."

Vale didn't need to be told twice. He slammed his hand onto the command panel, his finger dancing across the controls. The TH-1 "Thor's Hammer" rail cannon hummed to life, the massive weapon charging up with a low, menacing sound.

The massive arc of energy discharged, a blinding bolt of kinetic power slamming into the nearest Kran ship. The vessel crumpled under the force, its shields buckling and hull imploding in a spectacular burst of light.

"Good hit," Aegis praised, but the words rang hollow in Vale's ears. They were still surrounded. The Kran fleet was relentless, regrouping and pushing forward.

"We can't keep this up," Vale growled. "How's the rest of the fleet?"

"Scattered, but they're holding," Aegis replied. "The Kran are still focused on your position."

Vale didn't have time to process that. He didn't have time for anything other than the battle in front of him.

"Initiate Phase Two," he said, his voice steel. "Prepare the Nyx-2 warheads."

The AI did not hesitate. A second later, the silent, almost imperceptible drones were launched from the ship's ventral hangar.

"We've got one shot," Vale muttered, his gaze narrowing on the Kran flagship once more. "Just one shot."

The warheads cut through space with the precision of a blade through flesh, moving faster than the Kran could react. They struck the flagship simultaneously, detonating in a series of perfect synchronizations. The ship's hull shuddered, and the unmistakable flare of critical damage spread across its surface.

The Kran flagship's command center imploded in a violent eruption, and for a moment, the battle seemed to pause.

But it didn't last.

"Reinforcements incoming," Aegis warned. "The Kran are coordinating their final push. They won't give up. We need to move—now."

Vale's heart pounded. There was no more time to play games. He glanced at the rest of the fleet, all of them engaged in the same brutal dance for survival.

"Hold the line," he ordered, his voice firm. "Zeta-9 is just ahead. We make it there, or we don't make it at all."

And as the Wraith-Class Corvette tore through the void, the grim truth settled into Vale's mind like a weight he couldn't escape: this was the last stand, the final fight, and not everyone was going to make it out alive.