There was a pause at the other end before Captain Zar replied, "What kind of trickery is this, freighter? You think you can best us at our own game?"

Captain Carter leaned back in his chair, considering his words. "No tricks, Captain Zar. Just two parties engaging in what seems to be an unavoidable action." Captain Carter spoke, a cavalier confidence in his voice.

"Are we talking about a race to destroy the other's torpedoes Captain?" Zar's voice echoed across the communication systems of their ships. An uneasy tension filled the air now, the laughter and banter replaced with palpable tension and a mutual understanding that the situation required a swift decision.

"If we are, then everyone in the galaxy is aware that freighters, even one as massive as yours, rarely carries a full complement of marines anymore. In fact, I'm willing to bet your entire crew count is under ten." Zar paused for effect, "While my crew numbers in the hundreds. In a race, my wager is on my crew, Captain Nigel Carter of the Titans Pillar." Zar pressed, attempting to dampen Nigel's confidence.

"But if everyone, in the galaxy as you said, is aware of this, Captain Zar, then why carry a crew of hundreds?" Nigel retorted, determination welling up inside him as the unknown variables clawed at the edge of his thoughts. "In fact, I wager that your crew only numbers twice mine. Hmm, Captain?" Captain Carter pondered, yet still with the same lightness in his voice.

Captain Zar scoffed, "We are the Pirates of the Lupus, Captain Carter! It is our reputation that justifies our considerable crew size. And our precision strikes come because of those numbers!" He growled dejectedly, clearly annoyed at his challenger's audacity.

"Well then, the race has started," Captain Carter stated then motioned to First Officer Bella Brown to end transmission.

Bella quickly snapped to attention, and the communication channel terminated. Captain Zar had laid down his challenge, and the fate of the Titans Pillar hung in the balance.

"Officer Brown, you're in command." Nigel ordered while activating the ship wide communication system, "Attention everyone, this is the captain. We are under attack by Pirates, they have launched torpedoes, as have we, both are currently in stasis in the Timeless Zone of the Gate. We need to take theirs out first to have any chance out of this." He explained, then continued, "Grayson, position us broadside to the torpedoes. Bjorn, take center. Tatyana, take the bow. I'll take the stern. I repeat, Bjorn, center. Tatyana, bow. I'm on stern. Let's get it done people!" He said, cutting off the communication, confident that his crew would do their best.

Bella nodded, and with a calm yet determined tone, she said, "Aye-aye, Captain. I'm on it." She took control of the ship's systems, scanning the frozen torpedoes in front of them. Everything felt eerily still as the ships, the torpedoes, and even the crew members were locked in time.

Tatyana shouldered a laser rifle, put on her helmet and stationed at the bow, gracefully manipulated the control systems, carefully yet swiftly. She felt the weight of responsibility, but her confident gaze and steady hand were inspiring. Her hands moved deftly, her slender fingers dancing along the control interfaces as she positioned herself in the direction of the torpedoes.

"Bella?" Tatyana asked, keeping her eyes locked on the frozen torpedoes.

"I'm here, Tatyana. I'm sending an overlay to your visor to show you the locations of the frozen torpedoes." Bella responded, sounding confident. "Remember, those on vessel trajectories won't move until they enter into the fold bubble of either ship. That gives us some time to take care of them before they become active again."

Tatyana nodded, adjusting her sight to match the holographic image that Bella activated. The world around her shifted subtly as the hologram superimposed itself onto the environment.

In her visor, Tatyana saw a multitude of flashing red dots. The torpedoes, frozen in time, remained a threat until they emerged entirely from the Timeless Zone.

"Thanks, Bella. Let's just hope we can get this done quickly." Tatyana murmured to herself before turning her focus back to the task. "Before..." She started, only to see new targets on her overlay, their movement indicating pirates moving near their own ship. "They show up." she finished with a sigh.

Bjorn, the Chief Engineering Officer of the Titans Pillar grunted in response. With heavy white fur and a barrel-chested frame, he stood in the center of the room, slowly buckling into his Combat-Ready EVA-Suit. He watched, silently judging Tatyana's show of strength.

"Let's hope you kept up your marksmanship practice, Miss Carter," Bjorn stated with a hint of sarcasm in his tone, looking up from his suit. "Like me." he growled deeply with a sinister grin while brandishing his own laser rifle. Bjorn checked its settings, then went through the same rituals Tatyana had done earlier, ensuring that the suit was fully sealed, and its sensors were connected to his.

"I've been practicing, don't worry." Tatyana replied, matching Bjorn's grin as she settled into a steady battle-ready stance.

Just beyond their line of sight, Captain Carter stood in the stern of the Titans Pillar, his eyes scanning the area around the frozen torpedoes.

"May I join you?" A melodic voice called out from behind Nigel, breaking his concentration momentarily. He glanced over his shoulder and set his eyes upon her. It was Nova; she wore a white Combat-Ready EVA-Suit, which hugged her curvaceous form gracefully, the chrome attachments glistening in the dim light of the ships' outer hull. Her eyes, deep as the void itself, held an eager determination.

"I might as well put you to work," Nigel replied, with a half-smile. His eyes returned to the task at hand, but not without giving her a cursory once-over. This newcomer, Nova, seemed unfazed, fitting right into her crisp, white EVA-Suit like she had worn one her entire life.

"Besides, I see you've already suited up." Nigel added nonchalantly, as if it were a daily occurrence for new recruits to strut around his ship in Combat EVA-Suits. And who was he to discourage newfound confidence?

Novas graceful figure moved with surprising fluidity as she settled into a stance mirroring Captain Carters.

"Well, it's fortunate that you joined when you did," Captain Carter acknowledged, grinning and snapping his neck to the side as he checked over his shoulder, the sight of her filling him with renewed determination. "The competition is just starting to heat up." His eyes flicked to the mass of torpedoes in the distance, though, surprisingly few near them. This was likely Grayson's doing, as the largest share seemed to be near the bow and Tatyana.

"So, what do you know about Timeless Zones?" He asked Nova, trying to keep her mind engaged, hoping her profound knowledge could be an asset in this unexpected predicament.

Nova's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "Timeless Zones are caused by the delicate balance of the fabric of spacetime. When the Celestial Engines of ships cross into another dimension using Fold Bubbles, they enter a pocket realm where the laws of physics as we understand them fade away. Time and space become relative to the ship themselves." She responded, reciting information so calmly and effortlessly it left Nigel dumbfounded. It seemed impossible to believe that someone with so much knowledge was a novice researcher.

"Is that where those ballistae are?" Nova's eyes widened as she glanced from Nigel to the frozen torpedoes. She seemed genuinely interested in understanding the situation, so Nigel proceeded to explain.

"Exactly. Once each torpedo left the fold bubbles of either ship, they went into a sort of stasis—no motion or time progression inside." Nigel paused for a moment. "Hence, Timeless Zone."

"Yet we can see them." Nova remarked, her head tilting to the side slightly in thought.

"Yes, light does what light wants," Captain Carter confirmed. "Our weapons and sensors can reach them in the stasis, but remember, they won't move until they exit this zone. That is our window of opportunity."

Nova nodded in understanding, seemingly engrossed by witnessing the concept of a Timeless Zone in person.

Nigel raised his laser rifle and shot at the furthest torpedo within his area of influence. The exterior of the torpedo began to glow. As it did Nova leaned forward with curiosity at the sight.

"It's just a laser, therefore, light." Nigel attempted at a flippant comment to disarm Nova's concern, but her eager attention remained fixated on the activity before her.

The intensity of the light grew, illuminating the inky darkness surrounding the torpedo. Nigel and Nova both could observe an invisible force emanating from it, shimmering like a star going supernova. With one final burst of luminosity, the frozen torpedo exploded, releasing its residual velocity and flying off with a fiery tail through the black expanse of space.

The brilliant explosion contrasted with the unfathomable darkness of the void, making it a magnificent yet intimidating sight.

"That's how it's done," Nigel said with a hint of pride, though his attention quickly shifted back to the remaining torpedoes. "First one to disable the other’s torpedoes gets to leave under the cover of their own. We still have a lot of work to do. And it takes a while, because well, it's just a laser."

Nova nodded in agreement, her fascination seemingly replacing any trepidation. "I can see that." She said, still intrigued by the process.

A silence befell them as their gaze lingered on each other. Only the sound of their breathing and the occasional beep of the control systems filled the air. Time felt distorted, suspended within the Timeless Zone, even though they knew otherwise.

Nigel took a deep breath before breaking the silence. "I suppose we should continue disabling their torpedoes."

Nova nodded, her attention shifting back to their objective. She had plenty to learn about space travel and combat, and this was an excellent first lesson. "I agree..."

A laser flash hit Nigel on his chrome chest-plate, throwing him off balance for a fraction of a second. But his instinctive reflexes allowed him to regain his composure, reminding himself that he was in a Combat-Ready EVA-Suit. He glimpsed movement out of the corner of his eye and saw one of Zar's pirates on an approach vector with what appeared to be a plasma rifle.

Nigel swiftly positioned his laser rifle and pulled the trigger, discharging a powerful beam, and struck the oncoming pirate in the helmet visor. The pirate's hands went reflexively to their face, shaking it vehemently.

A smug look appeared on Nigel's face as he spoke to Nova, "Laser, you see. So, eyes are a critical target." He smiled as he continued his explanation, "Most people have at least one mechanical eye replacement in the first year of their first tour, but not me. I still have both of my baby-blues."

"They are very pretty," Nova commented, her words an obvious diversion from the current situation.

"Thank you," Nigel murmured, keeping his gaze locked on the pirate he'd just incapacitated. "But we can't let our guard down."

Seconds later, another laser blast hit a nearby wall, prompting Nigel to take cover as he readied his laser rifle to return fire. His mind raced, the sheer intensity of the situation making him feel more alive than ever before.

Crackle and static hissed in Nigel's helmet, "That was very rude of you, Captain Nigel Carter. Fortunately for me, I have two mechanical replacements. I can already see the two of you once again." Captain Zar remarked, amusement tingling in his voice. "Impressive, Captain Carter."

A wry smile curled Nigel's lips as he kept his focus sharp, "I told you I had a formidable crew."

"You did," Zar conceded, his tone growing serious, "But I advise the two of you not to get overconfident."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Nigel assured him and motioned for Nova to continue their task while they spoke.

"Captain, please. There is no need for this." Captain Zar spoke, his helmet's shield still black from carbonization. "All I want... is the Relic."