Captain Gargle

Chapter 2

The stealth cruiser shot through Earth's atmosphere like a falling star, its hull glowing from the friction of entry. Commander Floss gripped the controls, her knuckles white beneath her gloves. The ship was barely holding together, the damage from the battle over Planet Gargle more extensive than she had anticipated. Alarms blared in the cockpit, warning her of imminent failure.

Floss gritted her teeth, her eyes narrowed in fierce concentration. "Just a little further," she muttered to herself.

Through the viewport, Earth's surface came into view. Green fields, blue oceans, sprawling cities—it was all so peaceful. So unaware. She didn't have the luxury to admire the beauty of it. Her mission was clear: find someone, anyone, capable of leading the defense of Earth. The Cavities were coming, and Earth wasn't ready.

The cruiser shuddered violently as it descended, a trail of smoke and fire following in its wake. The damage from the attack on Planet Gargle had left the ship vulnerable, and its stealth capabilities were failing. Floss could feel the ship breaking apart around her, the metal groaning under the strain.

Suddenly, a burst of fire erupted from one of the engines, sending the cruiser into a violent spin. Floss fought the controls, her muscles straining as she tried to steady the ship. She barely managed to pull it out of the dive, angling toward a stretch of forest below. It was the best landing site she could find in the seconds she had left.

The trees loomed closer, their green canopy rushing up to meet her. She braced herself, hands gripping the console.

"Brace for impact!" she shouted to no one in particular, a grim smile on her lips.

The cruiser crashed through the trees, the sound of splintering wood and tearing metal filling the air. The impact threw Floss against her harness, and for a moment, everything went black.

----

Floss awoke to the smell of smoke and the hiss of steam escaping from broken pipes. Her head throbbed, and her vision swam as she blinked away the haze. Slowly, she unbuckled her harness and pushed herself up from the pilot's seat, groaning as pain shot through her side.

The cockpit was a wreck, the control panels sparking and the glass of the viewport cracked but intact. Beyond the shattered glass, she could see the dense forest surrounding the wreckage. Birds scattered from the trees, startled by the crash.

Floss grimaced as she checked the ship's readouts. Most of the systems were down, and the stealth field was completely offline. She cursed under her breath. The Cavities would know she was here.

With a groan, she pried open the emergency exit, kicking it free when it jammed halfway. As she climbed out of the ship and dropped to the forest floor, she winced at the sharp pain in her ribs. Probably bruised. Maybe cracked. But there was no time to worry about that now.

Standing in the clearing created by the crash, Floss took a deep breath, scanning her surroundings. The air was different from Gargle, thicker and richer with oxygen. Birds called to one another in the distance, and the wind rustled through the leaves. It was serene, but she knew this peace wouldn't last.

Not with what was coming.

Floss reached back into the ship, retrieving her laser rifle and a small satchel containing her supplies. She slung the rifle over her shoulder, her mind already turning to her next move. She needed to find someone—a champion. Someone who could rally Earth's defenses before General Blaguda's fleet arrived.

"Earth," she muttered to herself as she started walking. "Let's see what you've got."

-----

As Floss pushed through the dense undergrowth, she heard the distant hum of engines approaching. Helicopters. She tensed, ducking low and peering through the trees. Sure enough, several military helicopters were circling above the crash site. They were fast—faster than she'd expected.