Just a story I kinda have bobbing around my head, been aching for Ciaran content so just figured I'd write something with him and Steele. Though, it takes a while to get there. Also despite my research on the forums, some stuff I had to take liberties with. Will mostly come up in the future. Will update whenever I'm satisfied with my wips.
“How is this thing legal!?” Kase screamed through the comms.
“You think Kihacorp gives two shits about legal? The bigger question is how they managed to make this thing without anyone finding out.” Anno groaned as she activated the missile turrents.
Sensors flashed red, angry beeps, before settling down. She let out a sigh, swiping at the sweat moistening her brow. Using the brief cover of the explosions they moved behind the next mostly intact ship. A Colt XLR split in half, the middle section completely missing with a clean shot of a disintegration cannon. Steele swallowed down the dread clutched at his throat. That wreck was their future if they couldn't jump soon.
“Kase how’s the repair operations going? Nothing critical right?”
“Affirmative Ms. Anno.” Kase buzzed in, “Eitan and Be- Kon, are on it with the repair drones. That first beam punched a hole through the captain’s quarters but our emergency systems were able to seal off the multilayer breach. Barely. Are we able to get the shields back up?”
Anno turned to the other side of the bridge. Azra gave a solemn shake of her head.
“That’s a negative, the kinetic array was overloaded trying to defend against the disintegration cannon. We’ve had to rely on the Captain to keep the shield’s shape in tact.” The two scientists looked to the captain’s seat. Seeing a shorter than average Terran with a mess of black hair and furious violet eyes, gripping the arm rests so tightly that blood started to drip.
Kase spoke up first.
“... How long has it been.”
“Five minutes.” Anno said solemnly
“Well then stop, he’s about to hit his limit-”
Steele cut him off, “I know that Kase, But right now we don’t have a choice. We need the shields up until the repairs are finished. How’s the progress on the light drive?”
“Almost there. Approximately ten seconds if we don’t get get-”
The ship engines roared they swerved down, abandoning the Colt XLR right before about a dozen missiles obliterated it. Like a fish found out, they ducked behind ship after ship. Alarms blaring and explosions lighting up the chilling darkness and ominous ruins around them. As disturbing as it was fighting amongst the remains of seemingly hundreds of ships, it was a blessing. Without the cover they would’ve been done for after that first opening strike.
“Yeah, that’s what it was last time.” Steele sighed. “Only problem is hiding long enough to initiate a safe escape- Oh shit.”
Slowly sliding into view was their latest nightmare. A true devil of mortal make, The Guardian of Flame. A corvette by model, still it makes their vessel look tiny. Armed with at least nine missile bays and disintegration ray big enough to give Tank Kannon a run for his money. The death ray gleamed pristine and shone as if it were fresh off the production line. Not a single scar or mark to be seen.
A red notification blared across his scanner’s screens. ALERT: MISSILE LOCK
Steele pulled up all com channels and rapid fired commands “Anno, defensive missile strikes. Anything we have to left- use it. Kase, Azra; prep light drive calculations and lock us in once I drive us through. Eitan, Kon, finish what you’re doing and get to safety.”
Red marks multiplied across the screen as he spoke. Countless missiles homing in towards them. Steele yanked the controls around, letting a good chunk of explosives bombard the ship carcass he ducked behind. Unfortunately the targeting systems were a step above normal, evident as about half of the swarm swerved out of the way like a school of fish.
“They’re still chasing us Captain!”
“Let them group, give it a second- now!” Glancing to view Anno’s screen he smiled to see a cluster of rockets detonating. The alarms died down as the chain reaction broke the collected rockets.
The crew released a collective sigh, but there was no time to relax.
A flash of red blared.
ALERT: HEAVY WEAPONRY FULLY-
Before the alarm could even finish its message, and eerie, pale, green light illuminated the abyss as a disintegration ray streamed across the screens. It was too fast and with the smoke screen from the missiles Steele couldn’t prepare evasive manuevers.
They were struck dead on. With every ounce of will Steele could muster he fortified what remained of the shield generators with his psionic abilities. Keeping it together until it felt like his head was melting.
With a deathly scream he fell to the floor. Smashing his head against it over and over. Trying to override the pain. He barely registered Anno’s attempt to hold him steady, only feeling the spike of agony drilling into his brain. Everything was turned up past twenty. Every whip of hair strangled his throat. Her warmth like lava. His breathes hammered like pistons as they tried to keep up, but each gasp ripped down his throat like thorns.
“Steele” It was Eitan, “Kon said repairs are finished, let’s go!” Heaving and shuddering, the Steele heir reigned in his psionic abilities. Feeling the pressure in his head slowly release. All tension in his body released as he fell back onto Anno. He didn’t feel like shattered glass anymore but his brain still felt like swirling oil and paint.
Through it all he vaguely heard Kase’s voice, and what felt like a question coming from Azra.
Anno yelled at them both, “Jump us now!”
Through the rend in his mind ripping at his psyche, he felt the familiar swirl of space and unsettling compression of time. With the shields back up and no longer fueled by his efforts, Steele curled up against Anno. Shuffling closer after Azra and Kase confirmed they were safe. Settled at all sides by conforting warmth Steele finally let himself completely relax.
A silent minute passed with the four of them cuddled in a warm pile.
Anno said something to Eitan and Kon before returning to gently patting over Steele’s hair, “You alright, Captain?”
Steele let out a barely there grumble.
They accepted that answer, and simply chose to bask in the company of eachother. Anno holding him from behind while Kase flanks his right, and Azra his left. He was sweaty, overheated, and needed about fifty pills of ‘Brain Pain Be-Gone’, but he found himself curling into the company regardless.
“Hw mch loger tl w gt therr?” Steele mumbled through Anno’s hair and a growing migraine.
“Let me see- ah, in approximately seven minutes.” Kase stammered, “There is something you should know though.”
Steele had a feeling this was going to be bad news.
“Azra had pointed out that making such a long jump back to Tavros, in the current condition of our ship, was just out of acceptable risk ranges. So… we’re landing elsewhere.”
Anno lent an ear and spoke out for the barely-there captain. “‘Where we heading? Mhe’ga, Tarkus?’”
Azra spoke up this time, “Unfortunately not. Wild jungle with barely any infrastructure and a junk planet of scavengers; repairs didn’t seem feasible at either of those locations. I also ruled out Myrellion: we don’t know how long we’ll be there, and the Myr might break out into fighting again. Not to mention that you and Eitan crossed out returning to Uveto just yet.”
Azra continued talking but Steele’s mind was already lazy jello, and entirely focused on his own thoughts. Safety was nonexistent back at Dhaal and Zheng Shi. Uveto would have been an fine choice in hindsight, but not ideal for multiple reasons. He was drawing blanks. Though it might just be the overloaded implant if he were thinking about it.
“So... I chose the next best— well, only, option. Kase seemed against the idea for some reason.”
Anno gasped in realization, “Wait, no…”
Steele drew up from Anno’s bosom, turning dead, tired eyes towards the Suula Scientist and Kaithrit, “Where are we headed to?”
Both of them were silent for a long time. Until finally Kase quietly pulled up a projection with his hung head barely hiding crimson red cheeks. With a flash, picturesque green hills, busty bar maids, horned men sporting huge bulges danced in the air. Each of them sporting tails of all kinds. Finally to frame it all, a huge milking barn stood in the background.
They were about to land on New fucking Texas.
“Hey Anno, could ya take one of those guns and just finish me off here and now?”
Chapter 1 – A Return to Simpler Times
“How is this thing legal!?” Kase screamed through the comms.
“You think Kihacorp gives two shits about legal? The bigger question is how they managed to make this thing without anyone finding out.” Anno groaned as she activated the missile turrents.
Sensors flashed red, angry beeps, before settling down. She let out a sigh, swiping at the sweat moistening her brow. Using the brief cover of the explosions they moved behind the next mostly intact ship. A Colt XLR split in half, the middle section completely missing with a clean shot of a disintegration cannon. Steele swallowed down the dread clutched at his throat. That wreck was their future if they couldn't jump soon.
“Kase how’s the repair operations going? Nothing critical right?”
“Affirmative Ms. Anno.” Kase buzzed in, “Eitan and Be- Kon, are on it with the repair drones. That first beam punched a hole through the captain’s quarters but our emergency systems were able to seal off the multilayer breach. Barely. Are we able to get the shields back up?”
Anno turned to the other side of the bridge. Azra gave a solemn shake of her head.
“That’s a negative, the kinetic array was overloaded trying to defend against the disintegration cannon. We’ve had to rely on the Captain to keep the shield’s shape in tact.” The two scientists looked to the captain’s seat. Seeing a shorter than average Terran with a mess of black hair and furious violet eyes, gripping the arm rests so tightly that blood started to drip.
Kase spoke up first.
“... How long has it been.”
“Five minutes.” Anno said solemnly
“Well then stop, he’s about to hit his limit-”
Steele cut him off, “I know that Kase, But right now we don’t have a choice. We need the shields up until the repairs are finished. How’s the progress on the light drive?”
“Almost there. Approximately ten seconds if we don’t get get-”
The ship engines roared they swerved down, abandoning the Colt XLR right before about a dozen missiles obliterated it. Like a fish found out, they ducked behind ship after ship. Alarms blaring and explosions lighting up the chilling darkness and ominous ruins around them. As disturbing as it was fighting amongst the remains of seemingly hundreds of ships, it was a blessing. Without the cover they would’ve been done for after that first opening strike.
“Yeah, that’s what it was last time.” Steele sighed. “Only problem is hiding long enough to initiate a safe escape- Oh shit.”
Slowly sliding into view was their latest nightmare. A true devil of mortal make, The Guardian of Flame. A corvette by model, still it makes their vessel look tiny. Armed with at least nine missile bays and disintegration ray big enough to give Tank Kannon a run for his money. The death ray gleamed pristine and shone as if it were fresh off the production line. Not a single scar or mark to be seen.
A red notification blared across his scanner’s screens. ALERT: MISSILE LOCK
Steele pulled up all com channels and rapid fired commands “Anno, defensive missile strikes. Anything we have to left- use it. Kase, Azra; prep light drive calculations and lock us in once I drive us through. Eitan, Kon, finish what you’re doing and get to safety.”
Red marks multiplied across the screen as he spoke. Countless missiles homing in towards them. Steele yanked the controls around, letting a good chunk of explosives bombard the ship carcass he ducked behind. Unfortunately the targeting systems were a step above normal, evident as about half of the swarm swerved out of the way like a school of fish.
“They’re still chasing us Captain!”
“Let them group, give it a second- now!” Glancing to view Anno’s screen he smiled to see a cluster of rockets detonating. The alarms died down as the chain reaction broke the collected rockets.
The crew released a collective sigh, but there was no time to relax.
A flash of red blared.
ALERT: HEAVY WEAPONRY FULLY-
Before the alarm could even finish its message, and eerie, pale, green light illuminated the abyss as a disintegration ray streamed across the screens. It was too fast and with the smoke screen from the missiles Steele couldn’t prepare evasive manuevers.
They were struck dead on. With every ounce of will Steele could muster he fortified what remained of the shield generators with his psionic abilities. Keeping it together until it felt like his head was melting.
With a deathly scream he fell to the floor. Smashing his head against it over and over. Trying to override the pain. He barely registered Anno’s attempt to hold him steady, only feeling the spike of agony drilling into his brain. Everything was turned up past twenty. Every whip of hair strangled his throat. Her warmth like lava. His breathes hammered like pistons as they tried to keep up, but each gasp ripped down his throat like thorns.
“Steele” It was Eitan, “Kon said repairs are finished, let’s go!” Heaving and shuddering, the Steele heir reigned in his psionic abilities. Feeling the pressure in his head slowly release. All tension in his body released as he fell back onto Anno. He didn’t feel like shattered glass anymore but his brain still felt like swirling oil and paint.
Through it all he vaguely heard Kase’s voice, and what felt like a question coming from Azra.
Anno yelled at them both, “Jump us now!”
Through the rend in his mind ripping at his psyche, he felt the familiar swirl of space and unsettling compression of time. With the shields back up and no longer fueled by his efforts, Steele curled up against Anno. Shuffling closer after Azra and Kase confirmed they were safe. Settled at all sides by conforting warmth Steele finally let himself completely relax.
A silent minute passed with the four of them cuddled in a warm pile.
Anno said something to Eitan and Kon before returning to gently patting over Steele’s hair, “You alright, Captain?”
Steele let out a barely there grumble.
They accepted that answer, and simply chose to bask in the company of eachother. Anno holding him from behind while Kase flanks his right, and Azra his left. He was sweaty, overheated, and needed about fifty pills of ‘Brain Pain Be-Gone’, but he found himself curling into the company regardless.
“Hw mch loger tl w gt therr?” Steele mumbled through Anno’s hair and a growing migraine.
“Let me see- ah, in approximately seven minutes.” Kase stammered, “There is something you should know though.”
Steele had a feeling this was going to be bad news.
“Azra had pointed out that making such a long jump back to Tavros, in the current condition of our ship, was just out of acceptable risk ranges. So… we’re landing elsewhere.”
Anno lent an ear and spoke out for the barely-there captain. “‘Where we heading? Mhe’ga, Tarkus?’”
Azra spoke up this time, “Unfortunately not. Wild jungle with barely any infrastructure and a junk planet of scavengers; repairs didn’t seem feasible at either of those locations. I also ruled out Myrellion: we don’t know how long we’ll be there, and the Myr might break out into fighting again. Not to mention that you and Eitan crossed out returning to Uveto just yet.”
Azra continued talking but Steele’s mind was already lazy jello, and entirely focused on his own thoughts. Safety was nonexistent back at Dhaal and Zheng Shi. Uveto would have been an fine choice in hindsight, but not ideal for multiple reasons. He was drawing blanks. Though it might just be the overloaded implant if he were thinking about it.
“So... I chose the next best— well, only, option. Kase seemed against the idea for some reason.”
Anno gasped in realization, “Wait, no…”
Steele drew up from Anno’s bosom, turning dead, tired eyes towards the Suula Scientist and Kaithrit, “Where are we headed to?”
Both of them were silent for a long time. Until finally Kase quietly pulled up a projection with his hung head barely hiding crimson red cheeks. With a flash, picturesque green hills, busty bar maids, horned men sporting huge bulges danced in the air. Each of them sporting tails of all kinds. Finally to frame it all, a huge milking barn stood in the background.
They were about to land on New fucking Texas.
“Hey Anno, could ya take one of those guns and just finish me off here and now?”