War was never something to be proud of, though who sought to do so were foolish in their endeavors. There was no pride or glory among the pain and screams of those as they died. The panic and fear that struck each and every member of the crew to the core. What glory was there to behold, what glory was there to see?<br/><br/>None.<br/><br/>The only redeeming quality that came from War was the determination of the people, their hope and perseverance in face of what should have been the impossible. That was what people should tell about later, when the smoke cleared and pain filled cries died down. Those people, who in the face of impossible odds, did the impossible and lived to tell the story another day.<br/><br/>Lived to protect another day.<br/><br/>–-----<br/><br/>*Angela! * Krato shouted in her head and it took a moment for her to come to.<br/><br/>*Yeah...what...What's up? * Her ears rang something awesome and she could not even begin to make sense of anything.<br/><br/>*The captain, is calling for all ships to return to the Eylandra! Now! Come on! Get this heap moving! *<br/><br/>*Wh...what? * Still dazed she tried to remember the last thing before this moment. The harder she focused the clearer it became, with flashes of the last series of events played through her mind.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">The combat had been hot, heavy and for a moment there she had thought that this would end good, that they would get out of this no problem. Then one of her engines were struck and she spiraled out of control. An impact later, some machine gun fire followed by a desperate struggle and then....now.</span><br/><br/>*Angela! Angela! You hearing me?! Get your ass back on that ship! Get it back there now! *<br/><br/>A shake of her head, made her groan in pain, but it seemed to help her focus none the less. Hands that shook from pain and the after affects of adrenaline moved across the controls and got the battered mech on it's way back to the ship. It was time to get the hell out of this place.<br/><br/>–----<br/><br/>Ever have that sensation like the whole world around you was in motion? That you were caught in the center of nothing but complete chaos, but for some reason it all moved slow?<br/><br/>Veronica experienced that right now. With the battle going on outside and the ship a flurry of activity, she felt as if she were in the eye of the storm. A large and powerful storm that would only get worse over time.<br/><br/>“All pilots! Return! Return to the ship now!”<br/><br/>The message sent out over and again over all of their channels, while the countdown till they jumped continued to tick away.<br/>“What if one of them does not make it back?” Veronica spoke into the chaos.<br/><br/>“They know the risks for being a pilot,” the Captain now stood beside her and watched the display that showed the deadly ballet between their pilots and the enemy mechs. “We jump at the end of the count down....”<br/><br/>A hand was placed on her shoulder, for sympathy at the emotional turmoil Veronica likely suffered at the worry over Jared.<br/><br/>A shuddered breath taken, Veronica composed herself and began the manual countdown. “Hyper Jump in T minus 30 seconds....29...28....27....26....” the countdown continued while she prepared the navigation systems for the upcoming jump.<span style="font-style: italic"> Jared.....better get your ass back to me....</span><br/><br/>–----<br/><br/>“REPORT! WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT ALIEN DOING?” Michael shouted at his men, who were panicked to the point of hopelessness as their engines began to sputter and fail. Then their shields went down, “What in God's name are you all doing? Why are our systems going down?!” panic and anger now in his voice while he tried to make sense of it all.<br/><br/>“Our systems...they are....doing something to them...” one of his men reported while he struggled to compensate for the interference from the alien technology.<br/><br/>“Fix it!”<br/><br/>“I'm trying....”<br/><br/>“FIX IT!”<br/><br/>“I'M FUCKING TRYING!”<br/><br/>Silence, save for the continued sounds of combat filled the bridge as all watched the two men to see what would befall the sudden outburst from crewman. How much time passed no one could be sure, but what happened next was what to be expected.<br/><br/>The near deafening sound, in the otherwise silent room, of a single shot fired from Michael's second in command's pistol.<br/><br/>“No one speaks to the Captain like that,” is all that was said before he holstered his weapon.<br/><br/>The tension remained and even Michael did not move. No one moved or did anything until the alarms started to to go off anew as the senors detected a build up unfamiliar energy along the hull of the ship.<br/><br/>“Sir,” the second in command whispered to Michael. When the leader looked to this subordinate he continued. “We need to get you to one of the Mechs, they have their own environmental systems.” Michael looked like he would interrupt and the second in command boldly cut him off. “Please, sir. I just have a bad feeling about this.”<br/><br/>A sigh left his lips, Michael closed his eyes and looked away for a second before he looked back to this second. Hands clapped firmly on his shoulders, “You will find absolution and peace in the after life at the side of God for your bravery and loyalty.” Then he brought the other man toward him in a hug, followed by a kiss on the forehead. “May God be with you.”<br/><br/>“And with you, Sir.”<br/><br/>The crew watched Michael leave and they knew they were doomed. Funny none of them were sad about it, the lot of them were pleased. Finally they would be free from this life, free from the fear and the pain inflicted on them by their Captain. It had started as something they believed in and wanted to see succeed, but as time went on and they were more and unsuccessful those of his crew felt his wraith as if he was God. Now, at least they would be free.<br/><br/><br/>At last Michael was in the bay that held the Mechs, a final look was given down the hall toward the bridge and where his officers were about to give their lives in service to their God.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"As it should be"</span>He thought to himself before he sealed himself in the Mech and waited for the tragedy that his second felt was on the way.<br/><br/>–----<br/><br/>The old mech touched down in the hanger and Angela was helped out by some of the crewmen, “Where are the others?”<br/><br/>“The others are on approach now, Lieutenant. Captain wants you all on the bridge,” the crewman said.<br/><br/>Medics brushed off she rushed to the bridge where the countdown continued.<br/><br/>“15...14...13...12...11...10...”<br/><br/>“All pilots save for one present and accounted for.”<br/><br/>“Who is missing?” the Captain asked.<br/><br/>“The alien pilot, ma'am.”<br/><br/>“Dren?” Angela caught the end of that as she entered the bridge and rushed to the Captain's side while the image of Dren atop the Rapture's hull came on screen.<br/><br/>“Someone tell him to get back here! Stop the countdown!”<br/><br/>“Angela, you know we can't do that,” the Captain said.<br/><br/>“But....we can wait just a few more....”<br/><br/>“No. I'm sorry. We have a whole ship of people to think about.”<br/><br/>“5...4...3...2...1....Jump drives engaged!”<br/><br/>Just like that they and the alien ship that had been tethered to them were jumped to another section of space. Away from the battle, away from Dren... to what they hoped would be safety.