TERRA NOVA EPISODE 21

TERRA NOVA
EPISODE 21
RED-ALERT

Space warps and bends as Gran-Charter appears just outside the dust-cloud remains of a planet. The cross-shaped front reflects light from the sun while the fusion trails of the engines come from the center of the back. The glow of energy does not reach far beyond the edge of the thrusters, but the power being emitted can be felt to the ends of the curved wings.
Captain Forsna looks over the remains with red irises, her long blonde hair touching the floor of the bridge.  “Lire, get me the head of fighter and transport divisions.”
“Yes, ma’am” says a man with a circlet wrapped around his head, covering his eyes.
A rhino is displayed on the holo-panel to the captain’s right, words below the face denoting him as Eza. “You are to take a squadron out into the nebula and search for survivors, capture all that you find.”
The horned head performs the salute then winks off of the panel.
“What do you think happened here?”
A few minutes pass before Lire speaks, “It appears as though the planet suffered from an internal fission process that exceeded the natural limits.”
“What could have caused it?”
“I would surmise that a mass driver caused it, although there have been no records of a backwater planet such as this obtaining such technology.”
“Perhaps that is why nobody knew that the people had the knowledge of such weapons…”
*******
Eza shifts the helmet on his head, unable to shake the discomfort of being unable to move his ears easily. Dust particles float around just outside his cockpit as another person who stayed behind opens a channel, “I hate being one of the people left behind… what about you?”
“I’d prefer to be back on the ship coordinating this…”
A scout ship hurtles past, the engines on full, but is unable to escape a volley of laser fire. Eza and his compatriot rocket towards the mother-ship, but another spray of shots show the rhino’s ship to be the only one able to actually get within hailing distance, “This is seizure team alpha! Ordering immediate assistance, we have unknown contacts! REPEAT Immediate Assist-” An ion beam slices through the center and detonates the small vessel, stopping the transmission.
*******
Sirens scream throughout the flagship as the captain issues orders to all of the slaver forces in the fleet. Basically it all comes down to a single message, “All forces be prepared to evacuate the sector. All fighter squadrons are to hold off the attacking forces for as long as possible.”
Dixon runs past all the other soldiers, intent on getting Sihii out of the capital-ship. Whenever someone tries to stop or talk to him he flashes his ranking and ID before moving on. When he finally gets to her cell he throws open the door and holds a hand out, “You have to come with me.”
The creature and nods, following him down the frantic halls to the starboard hangar. Only one ship remains; a small single cannoned fighter. “Where do I sit?” Sihii prompts, noticing only one seat.
Dixon points to a single attachment on the underside, “in there,” then proceeds into the cockpit and power up the engines. The tail end of the craft clears the hangar as an explosion decimates the entrance, a beam of light cutting across the top. The fox jerks the ship upwards, just above the razor wings of one of the attacking aircraft, the movement allows him to glance up and see the entire mother-ship in flames, ships being destroyed before they can completely clear the hangar. “Hold on…”
The fighter corkscrews after passing the top of the mother-ship’s wing, flying past the engine it bucks and swerves in order to dodge fire.  As soon as Dixon pilots it far enough it suddenly is forced forward, the markings and hull tearing as it does so, before long the carnage is far behind, the only noise is the echo of idle space. Sihii opens a channel to him from the container, “So what happens now?”
“We are going to head to the closest civilized system, they have to be warned of these attackers.”
Silence prevails for a while before Sihii speaks again, “Will they believe you?”
“It doesn’t matter… we still have to try.”