Chapter 3

Amidst the pale clouds that hovered across space nirvana, a ship shot out with a white trail on its rear.

“Where are we?” Ava asked, her coordinates taking time to recalculate her position.

“The Kingdom exists everywhere and nowhere. We can exit anywhere we choose across space. I simply chose to be near Earth’s sector.” Neka commented, sitting uncomfortably on a chair. His cape tucked on the backrest as he hesitantly settled it so.

Looking back at where she came from, she only ever was confused as to the grand mysteries of the Universe.

Beep.

The radar detects an anomaly. A massive presence bestowed upon them.

Beep.

“What is that?” Athena pointed out to the radar.

A massive object followed from starboard.

Beep.

“It’s getting closer. Hold.” Ava replied, shutting down the ship’s engines. The voyage would float adrift the cosmic ocean. It slowly came to a pause just as the massive object was hovering in their direction. The shadow of a planet not far from where it was loomed over the massive ship in darkness.

“It’s too big for a ship. Perhaps an entity?” Athena felt rather anxious to uncover the identity of this object. Slowly, the monster crawled out from the darkness.

A massive freighter draped in dark iron emerged from the shadows. Its sheer size diminishes the threatening posture of the Liberation Front’s Ordinance. The surface was completely scattered with artillery ranging from various weaponry. Its bow was equipped with a rotating cannon, one bigger than ordinary ships.

The voyage drifted dead in the cold space as it witnessed a colossal fortress hovered past it, heading to a direction of interest.

“Cross reference their flight path!” Athena yelled.

Immediately, Ava began working. Neka’s motionless reaction said it all. The Dominion. Their powerful fist. Slowly but surely, landing a blow at their enemy.

“Earth.” Ava said so, sounding rather fearful than shocked.

“We HAVE to warn them!” Athena sat upright as she toggled in controls for stealth configuration.

The voyage quickly turned to its destination, Earth.

Its engine roared, releasing a stream of light that faded on its tip, propelling the ship in immense speed. Zooming past the colossal ship, it inevitably caught its attention.

The predator sees its prey. The cannons on its surfaces began firing artillery right at the ship. Even with such firepower in the masses, Ava was able to manoeuvre to avoid impact, though barely even evading the sights of the ship.

“Open the shaft.” Neka ordered, grabbing a cable as he wrapped it around his waist. He calmly walked down the ramp, slowly unravelling his blade. Ava knows not to question his devious strategy. She willingly complied, activating the air lock right at the hangar.

Athena tossed over a mask attachment over to the Battlemaster, one that provided oxygen and prevented extensive pressure from decapitating the user. Neka was able to catch it just before the airlock activated. Strapping it on, he slammed his blade down on the ramp.

Ready, he seemed.

Ava noticed so, complying to his plan.

The ramp lowered, so did Neka.

Missiles flew over in his direction.

A few twirls of his blade and the missiles combusted before it could even draw itself near to him.

Neka used his abilities to redirect blast fire away from the ship and retaliated a few to destroy them. Athena, from within the hold of the ship, ensured Neka had room to move from the cable.

“Approaching atmospheric blockade!” Ava shouted as the voyage came into sight of Earth’s planetary blockade.

Repetitively, the ship’s telecommunication systems beeped.

“Shuttle A-930, confirm your identification immediately.”

“Emergency code 774, Ava Pentercost of the New Allegiance. I require the sequence galahad to be in motion immediately!” 

“Galahad?” Athena screamed from the other room, barely holding on to Neka.

“You’ll see!”

Slowly, a dozen battleships closed in, forming a uniform line. Shield rays sprouted out from their bow as it formed a concave protective barrier. In unison, the battleships moved forward and began raining fire over Ava’s voyage and directly to the colossal ship. Though useless.

The ship’s defences activated in midst time, using its own shield to defend itself as it began raining fire on the voyage.

“Pull me up!” Neka yelled to Athena. The ramp retracted as Neka was pulled aboard the voyage.

“The blockade will provide us with cover for a retreat back to-

A huge bolt of plasma fire would burn right through the blockade’s shield, destroying some of the ships.

Concurrently, more bolts followed to finish off the other ships and surrounding ship blockades. Fated, as it may be, Earth will remain defenceless.

Neka looked to the ship just as the ramp slowly raised back up. The huge rotating cannons at the bow of the ship slowly stopped moving, seemingly as if it had just fired. The tips were molten orange as it came to a complete stop. Even so, cannons slowly aligned itself to him.

“Brace.” He could only force himself to say one word to this endeavour.

Multiple cannon fire from the surface of the ship poured down on the voyage.

Ava had no chance to react. Athena barely knew what was going on. Neka accepted his fate.

The ship’s engine exploded from the impact of a cannon fire. The ship, still intact, spiralled out of control as it began crashing through Earth’s atmosphere.

The Colossal slowly made its descent into Earth.

Herald by nothing but darkness in its body and violence embedded into its steel frames, it carried passengers in its core.

An army.

The regents.

The King.