The storm raged on over Wyrmfen’s contested skies, its thunder blending with the low growl of engines. The Eternal Fighter Corps was ready to launch the final blow against the Dominion’s air forces. Aboard the mighty carrier The Eternal, the squadrons prepared for battle.
Zeta Squadron Leader Zeta, her helmet tucked under one arm, paced along the line of Raptors. The yellow plasma bolts of the Fighter Corps glowed faintly on the nose of each craft, a stark contrast to the Dominion’s sickly green beams that had so often pierced the stormy skies.
“Listen up,” Zeta called to her squadron. “This isn’t about glory or kills. This is about clearing the skies for our soldiers below. Stick with your wingmates, don’t get cocky, and stay sharp.”
Rain, her second-in-command, leaned against his Raptor with a confident grin. “Cocky’s the only way I fly.”
Zeta shot him a glare that softened into an amused smirk. “Then just make sure you don’t get yourself killed. I can’t afford to break in a new second.”
---
Across the hangar, Redmist Squadron, led by Caleb Drayen, stood by their Raptors, equally tense but no less determined. Nearby, the rugged pilots of Ironclaw Squadron and the veteran Skyblades Squadron prepared their crafts. Each squadron carried a reputation forged through relentless combat.
Caleb addressed his team, his voice steady. “Stay tight, watch your sectors, and let’s keep Zeta’s flank clear. We’re not here to look good; we’re here to win.”
Ironclaw Squadron’s leader, a burly pilot named Varn, checked his plasma gun sights. “We’re going through them like a storm, boys. No mercy for the green bolts.”
---
The launch was methodical and swift. Raptors roared into the storm-filled skies, leaving trails of blue energy as their engines burned hot against the rain. Zeta Squadron took point, with Redmist and Ironclaw holding the flanks and Skyblades providing escort for their slower, more heavily armed bombers.
“Stay tight, Zeta,” Zeta ordered over the comms. “Dominion’s got nowhere to run, but they’ll fight like cornered animals.”
It didn’t take long for the enemy to appear. The Dominion’s fleet of interceptors and fighters surged out of the clouds, green plasma bolts lighting the stormy skies.
“Engage!” Zeta barked as she led the charge.
---
The dogfight began in a chaotic whirlwind of plasma fire. Zeta Squadron tore into the Dominion formation, their yellow bolts cutting through the green-lit chaos. Rain stayed on Zeta’s wing, the two of them targeting an enemy interceptor trying to outmaneuver their line.
“Got one on my six,” Rain called out.
“I’ve got you,” Zeta replied, banking sharply and firing a burst of plasma that sent the pursuing Dominion craft spiraling into the ground.
Behind them, Caleb’s Redmist Squadron engaged another cluster of interceptors. Caleb’s plasma bolts sheared off a wing from an enemy fighter, sending it into a fiery dive.
---
Casualties mounted on both sides as the chaotic fight intensified.
“Ironclaw Three’s down!” came a frantic shout over the comms.
A Dominion fighter had scored a direct hit, sending Ironclaw’s Raptor into a flaming spin. The pilot managed to eject, his chute barely opening in time before he disappeared into the storm.
“Skyblades Five, we’ve lost our leader!” another voice cried out.
Zeta heard the comms chatter but didn’t waver. The fight wasn’t over.
---
The battle turned when the Dominion’s command bomber emerged from the storm. A massive, heavily armored craft bristling with plasma turrets, it unleashed a barrage of green fire that scattered the Fighter Corps.
“There’s the prize,” Zeta said grimly. “Zeta Squadron, focus fire on that bomber. Redmist, keep their fighters off us.”
“Understood,” Caleb replied. “Redmist, with me!”
The command bomber’s plasma turrets roared to life, forcing Zeta Squadron to weave through a deadly storm of green plasma.
“We’re not getting through like this,” Rain said.
“Stay on target,” Zeta replied.
She led her team in a coordinated attack, their yellow bolts hammering the bomber’s armor. The Dominion fighters swarmed in response, but Redmist and Ironclaw fought them back.
“Plasma vents are exposed,” Rain called out, firing a burst that struck one of the bomber’s turrets.
“Good hit,” Zeta said. “Stay on them!”
The combined firepower of Zeta, Redmist, and the remaining squadrons overwhelmed the bomber’s defenses. Plasma bolts tore through its engines, and with a final eruption of fire, the massive craft exploded, its debris scattering across the battlefield below.
The remaining Dominion fighters broke formation, fleeing into the storm.
---
Back aboard The Eternal, the mood in the hangar was mixed. Cheers erupted as squadrons landed, but the empty spots where downed Raptors should have been were a sobering reminder of the cost.
Zeta climbed out of her Raptor, her expression somber. She glanced at Rain, whose usual grin was replaced by a tired nod.
“We did it,” he said quietly.
“Yeah,” Zeta replied, wiping rain and sweat from her face. “But it wasn’t free.”
Caleb approached, clapping a hand on Zeta’s shoulder. “Hell of a job out there, Zeta. That bomber would’ve torn the front lines apart.”
“Your squadron pulled your weight, too,” Zeta said, shaking his hand.
Nearby, a mechanic examined a scorched Raptor. “This one’s not flying again,” he muttered.
The storm outside was clearing, revealing a pale blue sky. The Fighter Corps had secured the heavens, but the scars of battle would linger long after the rain stopped.
YOU ARE READING
Eternal. (A Star Wars Story.)
Fiksi Ilmiah"They stood with us, side by side, Fighting through battles as the nights got colder. Their blades once lit up the battlefield, And their voices were strong-but now, it's quiet. I can still remember the way they laughed, The way they'd charge into t...
