Arriving at sector  31J01.

"Stay with your team and aboard the space drones," said (Major Captain) Yennir.

"What's the emergency, sir?" asked my rival(Aspirant) Lairilon.

I thought he had been eliminated at some stage, even more so, he probably should have passed the same test as I did last time, but he was looking as prepared as ever.

"Instructions will be issued when boarding the drones. Go!" ordered (Major Captain) Yennir.

There were four of us: Lairilon was with his partner, who was third in the ranking, and I formed a partnership with Guinna.

"Ready this time?" Guinna asked me, looking sarcastic.

"Yes," I said.

We boarded and soon we took off. I was in control. Guinna was attentive to the emergency instructions. We followed Yennir's (Major Captain) drone, which guided us out of the atmosphere. Before long, we passed the space station and headed towards the moon.

The lunar base needed support to drive an old cargo ship, from there to our planet.

"This is the emergency?" I asked.

"I also agree that this is not an emergency, but, I understood that they classified it this way because there are no veteran pilots available for this mission, which needs to be completed as soon as possible," said Guinna, also looking dissatisfied.

"Why does it need to be as soon as possible?

"I don't know, and let's be careful because it could be another surprise test," Guinna said seriously.

It really could be. We followed attentively to the moon. In a few hours we arrived. We landed and accessed the lunar base. (Major Captain) Yennir brought us together.

"Gentlemen, as you have already seen, this is our mission. It seems simple, but it requires care because the spaceships are old and can present flaws. Due to their outdated technology, propulsion, and even structure, which made adaptation to modern propellers unfeasible. The mission time will take more than one day. It will be a slow journey back, but the most important thing is to get back with them and safely."

"A question: Why not add drones to these spaceships and drive them through them? That would avoid taking the risk of flying an old ship," I said.

"You have not read all the mission instructions. There you specify the reason for your question and, before you ask, this mission will be another test for you," said (Major Captain) Yennir.

Everyone remained quiet and with nervous looks, except Guinna, who seemed safe.

"Let's go! Although these are ancient ships, you studied a lot about them and even did simulations, so I hope you have no difficulties. I follow along on my space drone. To your posts!" ordered (Major Captain) Yennir

We were assigned to the second ship, which looked much older. We boarded and prepared all the controls to be able to leave. After everything was ready, we left the base on the moon.

We went back on a slow journey.

"So far, this mission has been easy. Maybe we will have a little turbulence when we enter the planet's atmosphere, but nothing so difficult to maneuver," I said confidently.

"You're right. I don't see anything difficult so far," said Guinna.

It was dawn on our planet. We would have to take a stimulant to be able to complete the mission that would take more than a day to complete.

"There's something on the radar!" said Guinna, changing her expression.

"Are they…"

"Meteoroids."

"Shields," I said.

"This ship has no shields."

"This is true."

When I was going to contact (Major Captain)  Yennir.

"Attention, many meteoroids coming towards us. I will direct them to try to avoid further damage," said (Major Captain) Yennir, in a video call.

We maneuvered to follow Yennir's (Major Captain) drone. The ship was very large and the response time was slow when maneuvering. It didn't take long and the meteoroids started to hit us. Soon their flood passed us. The damage on our ship was not serious, but on the other where my rival was...

"They don't answer us. They lost communication. Hang on! They're trying to communicate," said Guinna, concerned.

"Emergency! Emergency! We...  help... mete... us... Emergency... Emer…," said the (Aspirant) Lairilon, on a failed video call.

"I will rescue them. Move the spaceship away from you because if their reactor explodes it will hit you. GO!" ordered (Major Captain) Yennir

He drove quickly to their ship.

"They're moving away," said Guinna, concerned.

"They shouldn't have much time, then. They…"

"We need to go to them," Guinna said, interrupting me.

"NOOO! If they come they will be severely punished! I've already reached them! I will rescue them! I have already contacted the station and they are sending help," said (Major Captain) Yennir, seriously.

"But dad..."

"Dad?" I asked.

"It's an order! Go!" ordered (Major Captain) Yennir, ending the video call and accessing the spaceship.

"Come on, Guinna! Let's go!"

"But..."

I took full control of the ship and pushed us as far as I could. The maneuver was slow. Guinna stood up and looked at the ship that could explode at any moment. A few minutes passed and, suddenly, it exploded violently.

"NOOOOOOO!" cried Guinna, desperate.

The wreckage advanced to us quickly.

"No! It will hit us. GUINNAAAAA," I shouted, desperate.

I waited for the wreck to hit us, but...

"What?" I said, not understanding what had happened.

After I realized that several drones came together and fired at the debris, reducing them to small pieces.

"That was close!" I said, relieved.

Someone came on a video call.

"As soon as he started his practice and almost died," said the pilot of the auxiliary drones of remote command, military officer (Captain Lieutenant) Dartri, my father.

When I was going to answer  it.

"Come on, go to the space station. There's a team that just arrived from another mission. They will take over. Leave it to those who know how to do it," ordered (Captain Lieutenant) Dartri, ending the video call.

"%+#%+," I said, in thought, disgusted.

He, on a space drone, remotely controlled other auxiliary drones. I made the right path to the space station and I went to Guinna. She was crying on her knees looking into space. I reached out to her...

"I'm sorry for your loss. I'm here with you. Come on."

She took a long time, but she took my hand and I helped her up. Guinna kept crying and, I hugged her. She cried on my shoulder. After a short while in my arms, Guinna moved away and went to sit in the cockpit. She was looking into space, not wanting to talk. I sat down next to her and remained quiet thinking about the losses we had.

We arrived at the space station. We disembarked the spaceship and another team took over the mission. Guinna immediately embarked on a space drone and returned to the planet. I saw my father approaching...

He stopped in front of me. He was going to tell me something, but he looked ahead and left.

"I don't know how he can be like that!" I thought, disgusted.

He was never a good father. He has always been absent and, since my mother's death, he has only concentrated on his missions, forgetting that he had a son.

I didn't care anymore. I didn't need his attention. I prepared to also return to the planet when I received a message notification. It was a simple text message, but an emergency one.

"What could it be?" I thought, curious.

I thought of several things, less...

"(First Lieutenant) Dornnih?"

He notified me that Micah had been arrested and that he was doing everything to free her. He did not specify the reason why she had been punished. I tried to contact him, but I couldn't. I recorded a video call asking for more information.

I hurried and boarded a space drone back to the planet.

I was desperate to meet with Micah, but first I had to answer a long questionnaire about the incident. Although I was not very satisfied with the relationship between me and her, my heart told me not to leave her. After a long time, I was finally released. I was exhausted and took a stimulant to stay awake.

(First Lieutenant) Dornnih contacted me by video call.

"Hello, Drinihian. Almost everything is resolved."

"Hello, (First Lieutenant) Dornnih, I'm on my way. Soon, I’ll get there."

"Perfect. I’ll await you. She will be happy to see you."

"Thanks for the support, (First Lieutenant) Dornnih."

He nodded with a smile and ended the video call.

In a short time, I arrived, and soon I found him.

"(First Lieutenant) Dornnih..."

"Exempt from formalities. Before meeting with her, you will need to answer questions on a videoconference with two officers in this room. Do this and you can enter the next room. I'll be with her, waiting for you."

I went to this room. Entering, I saw a screen that immediately called. The officers were virtual.

"Graduating space pilot, military officer (Aspirant) Drinihian, can you answer two questions? What is your relationship with 116L21 quadrant planetary mapping analyst, researcher (Auxiliary) Micahilla?" asked one of the virtual officers.

It took me a few seconds to answer, but...

"My girlfriend."

"What is your relationship with the military officer (Against Brigadier General) Naihinah?" asked the other virtual officer.

"Why was he asking that?" I asked myself, in thought.

It also took me a few seconds and...

"My mother."

"Dismissed, graduating space pilot, military officer (Aspirant) Drinihian," said the two virtual officers at the same time.

The screen hung up and I left the room. I entered the next room and…

"Drih!," said Micahilla, hugging Dornnih.

She ran up to me and kissed me. After a few seconds of kissing me.

"Calm down, Micah! Everything is fine now. Let's go," I said, almost out of breath.

"Forgive me! I had no choice. It was so close..."

"It's all right."

"The sad thing is, I don't have a job anymore," said Micah, looking disappointed in herself.

"Yes, but you're smart. You'll get another one," I said, trying to cheer her up.

"For sure! And I already did," said Dornnih, embarrassed.

Micah approached him and took his hands.

"Thanks, my friend. I can only be thankful. But I don't want to compromise your career," said Micah, looking him in the eyes.

"Stop it, Micahilla. We cannot waste your talent. I managed to recover part of your research. Because of them, you got your release. I was able to convince the council that you are very important, even if you are not graduated in the areas in which you conduct your research. They were surprised by many of the things that you were researching. Some remained in their power, for evaluation, and others, they released, for you to continue with your work. Now you have more time to dedicate yourself to your research. You’ll talk about the progress of this research just with me now," said Dornnih, laughing.

She started to cry and hugged him.

"Thanks!" She said, thrilled.

"Go! Go with Drinihian! I also must go now. Whatever you need, don't hesitate to contact me," said Dornnih, uncomfortable with the situation.

He wiped her tears away with a light touch on the face and left. I was agitated inside, but I stopped myself.

"Thank you, Dornnih," I said. "Come on, Micah! Let's enjoy the time we have," I said to Micah, wanting to get out of this place as soon as possible.

"What about you? What happened last time? What emergency did you attend? And your time? Aren't you out of time lately?"

"I'm still out of time, but I had a long break. On my last mission, something horrible happened. The last emergency..."

When I was going to explain the mission, in which we had to bring two moon spaceships and the incident, we were interrupted by the official military officer (Captain Lieutenant Colonel) Hennmi who was accompanied by the researcher, (Supervisor) Trissandri.