The assault shuttle glided silently through the dark void of space, its sleek frame barely visible against the endless black. Inside, the air was thick with tension. Matthews sat at the front, clad in his combat armour, the weight of it reassuring. The shuttle was cold, but sweat clung to his skin as he adjusted his grip on his rifle. The rest of the team was seated around him, each one a silent figure of determination in their own armour, weapons ready.
Yumi was checking her rifle, her face calm beneath her visor. Kaito sat next to her, eyes closed, mentally preparing for what was to come. Carbin was across from them, his sniper rifle slung across his chest, his fingers tapping rhythmically against his thigh. Goode was next to him, tinkering with her wrist-mounted control pad, her lips pressed in a thin line of concentration.
The comm in Matthews’ helmet crackled to life. “Team, the transport ship is about to jump in,” came Valdez’s voice. “Get ready to board. Fighters, neutralize those escorts.”
Matthews glanced around at his team. “You all set?”
“Ready,” Carbin replied, his voice steady as ever.
“Let’s get this over with,” Yumi muttered, locking the final piece of her armour in place.
Kaito remained quiet, his focus inward as usual. Goode simply nodded, her hands still working over her wrist pad.
“Jamming outbound comms signals in three…two…one,” she said as triggered the shuttle’s jammer.
The transport ship appeared in front of them with a flash, flanked by two light frigates.
“Fighters, take care of those frigates,” Valdez ordered sharply over the comm.
Almost immediately, the Talon fighters swarmed in, engaging the Red Brotherhood escorts with a volley of missile and laser fire.
Matthews felt the subtle hum of the shuttle’s engines as it accelerated, following the Talons toward the transport. “Goode, Kaito, Yumi, stand by. We’re almost in range.”
Outside one of the frigates lit up as its shields collapsed under a barrage of missiles launched by the Talons and Havocs. Then with a blinding flash it blew apart. The shuttle shook violently from the shock wave and the sound of debris striking the shields echoed in the cabin.
“Transport is making a run for it and spooling its jump drive!” Sung’s voice said over the comm.
“On it,” replied Valdez calmly.
Matthews adjusted his position to look out the viewport. Two Talons whizzed past and rained laser fire onto the transport’s shields. With a flash they collapsed and the fighter’s switched weapons to EM disruptors, the weapons used to disable enemy vessels. Blue bolts of energy rained onto the transport creating lightning that spread across the vulnerable hull.
“Engines are down. Assault team you are a go,” Valdez said, her voice as calm as ever.
Carbin stood up, moving to the hatch as they neared the crippled transport. “Me and the marines will take point once we’re in. Clear the path for the rest of you.”
The shuttle closed in on the transport’s underside. Goode’s fingers moved across her pad, activating the docking clamps. With a metallic clunk, the shuttle latched onto the transport’s hull.
“We’re locked on,” Goode confirmed, her voice calm despite the adrenaline pulsing through the team.
“Cut us in,” Matthews ordered, checking his rifle one last time.
Kaito moved forward, pulling out a plasma cutter and setting to work on the docking hatch. Sparks flew as the intense heat sliced through the metal, and within moments, the hatch popped open with a hiss.
“We’re in,” Kaito said, stepping back as the hatch slid open.
Carbin led the way, rifle raised as he stepped into the transport’s dimly lit interior. The air was cold, and the corridors were narrow, the faint hum of the ship’s systems barely audible over the sound of their boots hitting the metal deck. The marine team moved in formation, weapons raised, as they advanced through the ship.
The transport’s crew had been caught off guard, but they were rallying. As Matthews and his team moved deeper into the ship, they encountered the first line of resistance—a pair of Red Brotherhood guards scrambling to draw their weapons.
Carbin didn’t hesitate. Two shots, two bodies crumpling to the ground.
“Clear,” Carbin said, his voice low.
They moved quickly, making their way through the transport’s narrow corridors, sweeping through each room with ruthless efficiency. Yumi and Kaito flanked Matthews, their eyes scanning every shadow for movement. They reached the transport’s bridge in minutes, but the Red Brotherhood crew inside was ready.
The door slid open, and Matthews was instantly met with a barrage of blaster fire. He dropped behind a console as Goode, already on one knee, returned fire with precise shots. The Brotherhood guards were quick, trained, but no match for the experienced marines.
“Take them down!” Matthews shouted, squeezing off a burst of energy rounds toward one of the guards. The man staggered backward, his chest plate scorched from the impact, before collapsing against the wall in a lifeless heap.
Two of the transport’s command crew remained at their posts. Instead of panicking, they stood defiant, staring at Matthews and his team with cold determination. Carbin, moving forward to secure them, slowed his approach, sensing the tension in the air. One of the crew—a man with a haunted look—suddenly drew a pistol from his jacket. Without hesitation, he shot his colleague in the head.
“For the Brotherhood!” he yelled, his voice filled with manic conviction, before turning the gun on himself and pulling the trigger. His body slumped to the floor next to his comrade.
The silence that followed was eerie, a stark contrast to the chaos moments earlier. Matthews lowered his weapon, scanning the bridge. It was theirs. The Red Brotherhood crew lay scattered across the floor, dead.
Goode, clearly troubled by what they’d witnessed, was already at the ship’s controls,
“We’ve got control of the transport,” she said, her voice trembling. “Hacking into the nav systems now.”
“Good,” Matthews replied, sparing a glance at the fallen command crew. “Kaito, Yumi take the marines and secure the rest of the ship. Carbin, stay by the door—keep an eye out for any surprises.”
Kaito and Yumi moved out with the marines, their weapons raised as they swept through the transport’s dim corridors. Matthews watched the doorway, his pulse steady but his senses heightened. In the distance, he could still hear the dull thud of explosions as the Talons continued to engage the remaining escort frigate outside. The battle raged on in the void, but their mission was clear. They needed to get this ship back to Eris—and fast. They were dangerously close to overrunning their return time.
“How long Goode?”
“A few more moments, and- we’re good. Power restored to the engines and slip drive.”
After a tense few minutes, Kaito’s voice crackled through the comms. “Transport is secure. Minimal resistance in the cargo hold. We’ve got this locked down.”
“We’re ready to jump,” Goode confirmed, glancing up from the console. Her expression was strained, her eyes haunted. “Just give the word.”
Matthews nodded. “Do it.”
The transport ship hummed as the jump sequence initiated, the stars outside the viewport blurring into long streaks of light as they accelerated. The familiar pull of the jump drive tugged at Matthews’ body, a reminder of the distance they were about to cover. Moments later, they vanished into the void, heading straight for Eris.
