Interstellar

✯ 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕏𝕏 ✯

Year 3828 — Planet Avior — Section Tria

"Three unknown vessels are approaching." The ship hummed in its human-like voice. "All containing military artillery."

As quickly as Zeph could he stood to his feet, heading to his seat.

"Get in your seat and strap in! They found us!" Zeph yelled to Astaera as she stood surprised on the floor. The ship began to swerve to the left, causing Astraea to side across the metal. Gripping the ground with her hands she steadied herself.

Zeph fiddled with the buttons on the panel before pulling the control wheel up. The ship veered up, causing Astraea to shift again.

Before she slide completely, she quickly ran up to her seat. The snapping of the belt echoed before shots sounded from outside.

"They're on our tail," Zeph mumbled to himself as he shifted the wheel once more.

"Do you have a weapons system?" Astraea asked scanning the panel. As much as she didn't want to save Zeph from the peacekeepers, it would also get her in trouble. They were close to figuring out a cure so she still had to protect herself.

"Just press that yellow button, it will connect you wheel to the ship's defenses," Zeph said, not paying much attention other than avoiding the series of fires.

They still had to escape the planet's atmosphere so Zeph had to maintain the ship at a steady speed.

Following Zeph's instructions, Astraea pressed the button which caused her wheel to buzz, letting her know it was prepared. In front of her seat appeared a screen showcasing the view of the ship's surroundings.

Just like the simulations at COSMIC, an advantage that Astraea had. Without another word, she opened up the side wings' cannon system.

As she was about to fire, the ship shook from a hit.

Zeph let out another curse before saying, "They have a targeting system!" The ship was hit in the left wing by a missle shot.

"Don't you have a shield system?" Astraea said back.

"This ship doesn't have one. I was going to get one installed but—" Zeph paused as he turns the wheel again. A drop of sweat dripped down his face, from all the running and the stressing he was undertaking.

Now it was Astraea's turn to let out a curse. A ship without a shield system is a death wish. She would just have to rely on the cannons.

Using her wheel she set her target on the ship to the left. More damage to ship would not be good. With a quick press of her thumb Voragos fired a set of missiles.

She bit her lip as she hit her mark. The peacekeeper aircraft fell from the sky, tumbling to the ground below. She hoped that they would be smart enough to have parachutes on hand. Did she really just kill someone just like Zeph?

Astraea shook the thought away. Lyris always told her to be prepared for anything. If someone tries to take your life, the only way to stop them was to take theirs. She knew that being a Striker did involve killing, but only people that threatened everyone's safety.

There were certain animal-like aliens that involved that sort of retaliation. The Auraforms were an example of that. Ones that don't have a moral compass other than that they need to eat and plunder.

But the peacekeepers were trying to do their jobs. She didn't like any of this but she had to continue protecting herself.

"Can we lose them once we exit the atmosphere?" Astaera asked, setting another missile ready.