The Ministry of Defense Grand Hall of Heroes. The Shofixti Homeworld.
Grand Admiral Hideki Nakasone looked mournfully down at the glossy lacquered dish in front
of him. The meal was exquisite and beautifully prepared. A work of art. The steamed
Yellowtail-root was sliced into wispy, thin strips and braided into a variety of dainty,
artistic, abstract shapes. Black Fungus, Green Kudzu Stalk, Seaberries and Orange Fragrant
Petals were interlaced to form a tiny, delicate, spicy roll. Purple Flaky Tronip eggs were
speckled about a bed of Purple Leaf, frosted with Sweet BitterSap extract in a charming
flower-like pattern. But he wasn't hungry. Pushing the delicacies aside, he took a stiff
drink out of a white ceramic cup and surveyed the room. He sat with other associates
behind a long raised table, perpendicular to the several dozen other long tables in the
large meeting hall. Well over one hundred Shofixti Space Force officers sat, eating their
meals with gusto. Replete with the finest food and spirits, this meal would be their final
one.
Time to get to business, he decided. Hideki got to his feet and clapped his hands several
times. The eating officers quieted down, all eyes looked towards the Grand Admiral.
"My men and women." He began. "We have entered the final phase of the war.
We have all served the Alliance gloriously, with the greatest valor. Truly, you are
Shofixti." Taking a deep breath, he continued. "Now is our finest moment. We
will redefine the meaning of honorable sacrifice. My love for you all is limitless."
He bowed deeply towards the gathered officers, as deep as his back would allow.
"Unfortunately, time grows short, and pleasantries must be curtailed. Ninth Fleet
commander Admiral Oe will give you your mission details.
"As architect of the homeworld defense plan, I will oversee its execution. I sincerely apologize for my early departure. Enjoy your meals." Bowing again, he stepped-down from the dais and walked out one of the service entrances, several of his aides trailing respectfully behind. Most of the officers were surprised that Grand Admiral Nakasone himself would depart the ceremonial dinner before the gathered men and women had finished. Admiral Oe stood behind the dais, unfazed.
"Men and women." He forced a smile. "Every second counts, so I'll make
this brief. The incoming attackers are arranged as such." A hologram projection of
the Shofixti Home System was suspended above the heads of the officers. "The
trajectory of the incoming fleet places their projected approach route as such." As
he spoke, a red line threaded past the outer gas giants and ice-bound rocky worlds to
terminate at their homeworld. "Note, we expect them to ignore our colonies in the
outer planets. Our defensive platforms in the outermost cometary fragment belt are
presently engaging the enemy here." A bright spot appeared at the outermost fringe of
the system. "We expect that they won't last much longer. Mines are being laid in
their path, but we expect these to inflict little impact. As for their fleet, the
attackers are mainly Ur-Quan. Based on preliminary analysis of their communications
protocols, we believe their flank is escorted by a detachment of VUX Intruders." He
paused for effect, allowing all officers in the room to take notes.
"We have conducted thorough analysis of the attackers as well as our remaining
defense capabilities." He took a sip of his drink. His lips wet, he let out a
determined-sounding grunt. "We have a total two-thousand, four-hundred and eighty-one
ships available for this defense. This is the entire remainder of our fleet. We've
stripped all remaining ships from our surviving defensive lines." He took a deep
breath before continuing. "There are roughly one-hundred ninety Dreadnoughts, perhaps
some thirty Intruders. Several independent teams have run cybernetic simulations of every
possible defense scenario given our remaining capabilities. As a result, we have created
this optimized defensive plan." He gestured to the view-screen.
"Four waves of ships. About Six-hundred twenty ships per wave. They will attack at
points Alpha-One, Alpha-Two, Alpha-Three and Alpha-Four as indicated on the hologram. This
will commence about six hours from now." A holographic chronometer appeared,
integrated into the mission briefing. It was incrementing towards the time of attack.
"Each attack point lies closer to our homeworld. Each wave will conduct a type-three
Massed Glory attack. Each wave is timed to maximize use of the temporary vulnerabilities
expected from enemy formation redeployment as well as maximize the speedy deployment of
our own forces." All the officers in the room immediately grew silent. All four waves
would run headfirst into the onrushing Ur-Quan. Massed sacrifice in the name of the
Emperor and the Shofixti Race. "We believe their forces will be totally spent by the
end of the fourth wave." As one, the pilots leapt to their feet in applause. They let
loose a heartfelt cheer which shook the walls
Meanwhile, aides brought-in a long table stacked with paper scrolls and ornate katanas. Oe
stood next to the table. Oe motioned for them to stop clapping.
"I will personally lead the first wave of the attack. I will now assign your units.
Please come forward as your name is called." He peered at the list. "Major
Kakuei. You will lead the Bitter Fruits of Vengeance Squadron." Major Kakuei stood
up, back ramrod straight, and stepped forward. Admiral Oe presented him with the gleaming,
platinum-inlaid katana. Kakuei cradled the object in his paws and watched it gleam in the
room's light. "Serve the Shofixti." The Admiral bowed and handed Kakuei a paper
scroll. On it was a written note of thanks from the Imperial House. "Glory to the
Emperor." Bowing deeply a second time, Oe watched Kakuei return to his seat as he
called the second name on the list.
"Major Toratani. You will lead the Untainted Spirit Squadron" One by one, he
continued down the list.
At his table, Lieutenant Colonel Hidemasa Yoritomo sat patiently, waiting his turned to be
called. He felt a tap on his arm. Surprised, he turned to see a non-commissioned officer
standing next to the table.
Bowing, he said in a hushed voice "Sir, the Grand Admiral requests to see you. Please
follow me."
"Very well." Yoritomo responded, annoyed. Hidemasa stood-up and followed the NCO
into an adjoining chamber. A number of high-ranking military officials stood, waiting for
him. By their side were a number of civilians whom he did not recognize. Yoritomo bowed
deeply.
Yoritomo himself was the most highly decorated surviving Shofixti pilot. Several months
before, he'd returned from leading the = all-Shofixti Nightstalker Special Attack Unit.
Slipping through enemy lines, he'd led dozens of stealthy, unconventional, hit-and-run
attacks on Hierarchy vessels, installations and colonies. Using caches of captured
supplies when possible, or surviving on wits and whatever resources were available, the
unit had functioned for nearly a year. Always on the move, under constant pursuit, never
missing an opportunity to strike at, sabotage or mislead the enemy, the Nightstalkers had
one of highest kill ratios of any other Alliance unit. All the Nightstalkers were fine
crews. However, due to their unorthodox and non-conformist tactics, the Nightstalkers
didn't integrate well into the mainstream Shofixti forces. They were much more valuable as
fighters behind enemy lines. Unfortunately, less than half of them had survived to return
from their exploits to Allied space.
Yoritomo himself had stood head and shoulders above the rest of the Nightstalkers. He'd
destroyed an impressive fifty-two vessels of every stripe. That score didn't include
destroyed enemy installations or colonies, and at least a dozen difficult-to-confirm
kills.
"Yes, I'm glad you could make it, Yoritomo." Grand Admiral Nakasone smiled.
"You won't be leading a defense squadron."
Yoritomo was flabbergasted. He opened his jaws to speak, but no sound came out.
"Do you understand, Lieutenant Colonel?"
"Sir, I respectfully wish to be present in the hall to take command of my unit. I
wish to smash the Ur-Quan!" His voice trembled in a swirl of emotion.
Nakasone held up a paw to halt the pilot.
"You're not going to command a unit. The briefing you have just seen, it contains a
number of... shall we say... embellishments."
"I'm sorry sir?"
"We have to be realistic. The defense simulations every one of them has shown that
with our present defensive capability, we cannot win. The Hierarchy will overwhelm us
despite our best efforts."
"No, sir!" Yoritomo was clearly shocked. "No! There must be a
mistake!"
"There is no mistake. We cannot win. Their numbers and sheer firepower are greater
than our remaining fleet. It's a purely a matter of statistics. Realize this: the fleet
coming towards us is not the invasion force, it is merely the first wave of the total
invasion force. They will overwhelm us with their numbers even if we destroyed the first
wave. The Alliance has been shattered. Despite the best efforts, our Alliance has lost. It
is as inevitable as the sunset." He swallowed hard and continued. "The Hierarchy
has deployed an entirely new and cruel weapon of unprecedented firepower. It has already
annhilated a large portion of the Chenjesu fleet. There is no possible defense against it.
The Alliance forces appear to be in the process of retreating to their respective
homeworlds." He paused to let the information sink in. "The war, for them, is
over."
Nakasone sighed deeply.
"Some time ago, several studies were made about such a possibility. We gathered our
best minds into a brain trust. Military experts, strategists, sociologists, social
psychologists, philosophers, religious scholars, physicists. They all were asked to ponder
the ramifications of the situation we've presently found ourselves. Their writings ranged
from the large-scale galaxy-wide ramifications to more holistic, inwards-looking,
spiritual dilemmas. Based on their advice, I have designed our final defense. We have
consulted the Emperor. His advisors, his military staff, they have agreed. He will address
the people to explain. Explain our grandest gesture."
"But sir" Yoritomo stammered. "Can nothing else be done?"
The Grand Admiral. Cleared his throat. "Oh, I'm so rude. Allow me to introduce my
dear colleagues. He gestured to the others in the room. "Admiral Tomita of our Fleet
Intelligence service. Ordinance Minister Nosuda. Divinity Minister Kenzaburo. Director
Hiroku of the Furukawa Heavy Engineering Combine, Fleet-Systems Unit. Scholars Matsui,
Sato, and Mishima."
The gathered men offered greetings. Yoritomo rubbed his chin in thought. Furukawa Heavy
Engineering was often contracted to perform construction projects of the utmost secrecy.
What was Ordinance Minister Nosuda and Divinity Minster Kenzaburo doing here?
"I've told them of your exploits. Like the time you hid your ship in the magnetic
field of an iron meteorite to ambush an Ilwrath convoy. Or how you and your crew sabotaged
an enemy Hyperwave relay, feeding false information to an Umgah task force. Quite a joke
on them, eh?" Yoritomo remembered the incident the Grand Admiral mentioned. Given
false orders, the Umgah had blundered right into the jaws of strong Alliance defenses.
Admiral Tomita of the Fleet Intelligence service spoke-up.
"And there's the electronic data-storage device your Nightstalkers brought back
intact from behind enemy lines." He was referring to the high-capacity database which
Yoritomo's team had extracted from the wreckage of a crippled Dreadnought. "It
confirmed very important ideas we had regarding the Hierarchy's strategic thought
processes. In addition, our log of communication-intercepts was also invaluable to
us." The spymaster smirked. "Based on your record of success, sometimes I wonder
how you don't develop a distastefully arrogant attitude! Cheating death so many times has
given you somewhat of a mystical air. And your father was an inner-circle member of the
secret society Patriotic Brotherhood of the Coercive Fist."
Yoritomo looked surprised, obviously feigned. "Sir? I'm afraid I don't know"
"Oh, we know he was a member." Tomita smirked wider. "Don't pretend you
don't know what I'm talking about. But in my mind, it only proves that you've descended
from the bravest of bloodlines. I recommended you specifically for this mission. We needed
the absolutely best pilot for the job."
Yoritomo looked uncomfortable from the flattery. "We in the Nightstalkers did the
best we could, Sir."
"Absolutely. That is why we need you to pilot a ship for us." Said Grand Admiral
Nakasone. He turned to the civilians in the chamber and motioned for them to kindly start
the presentation. "The good Scholar Mishima will explain."
Scholar Mishima activated a hologram just below the ceiling chamber. It showed an ore
carrying vessel being worked-on by service robots. The image was flickering, but the
robots appeared to be attaching a thick, black blanket to the outside of the ship, like a
protective eggshell. In the section of the vessel where the vast bulk ore-containers were
normally fastened was something else. It looked like a rough cylinder, but with numerous
pipes, cables, and bulbs protruding at every angle. All over the outside of the ship's
cargo was as chaotic mix of exposed conduits. There were even a few mystical-looking runes
inscribed on the side, but he had no idea what their significance was.
Scholar Mishima read Yoritomo's confused expression.
"Impressive, isn't it. You are one of less than five hundred Shofixti to ever lay
eyes on it." She removed her spectacles. "What you see attached to the bulk
ore-carrier is in fact a Precursor artifact. The location it was uncovered, and the
context in which my exoarchaeology team uncovered it are sensitive information, and
therefore unnecessary for you to know. Naturally, a find of this importance had to be kept
in the strictest secrecy. We couldn't even tell our own allies, lest the information
somehow leak-out."
The view changed to a rough schematic of the interior of the Precursor artifact. The
cross-section was a mess of piping, chambers and valves. Yoritomo could understand none of
it. Scholar Matsui continued where Scholar Mishima left off.
"My team of exotechnologists have poured over it for years. The device is, in
reality, a planetary engineering device. A = 9,000-Isoton demolition mine for removing
entire planets from existence or perhaps blasting channels through dense asteroid
belts." He grinned proudly. "Some members of our team have nicknamed it the
'Planet-Breaker'."
"I'm curious, what do the runes on the side say?" Yoritomo was awed at the
thought of the ancient device. Thousands of millennia old. "Are they some clue of
what happened to the Precursors? Do they prophesize the fate of the universe? What do they
say?"
Scholar Matsui bit his lip, his fang protruding slightly. "Well, no. Not exactly. As
near as we can figure, the translated script means something like 'store in a cool, dry
place'."
"Oh." Yoritomo made a disappointed noise. "But, do you mean to say we will
use it against the incoming Ur-Quan? You wish me to pilot the ship into the heart of their
fleet?"
"No, Major. I think Scholar Sato could explain better than I."
Scholar Sato Nodded. "My solar physics Institute has determined that the device
itself can be given a far more destructive capability." He pointed at the schematic
of the Planeteering device. "It uses an advanced quantum destabilization method in
order to temporarily rip normal space asunder. We believe that if activated close enough
to a star, it could cause the star itself to become a supernova."
"Destroy our sun?" Yoritomo gasped, he was clearly shocked.
"That's right." Sato continued. "In a star, the outward expansion of the
solar fusion process is counteracted by the star's gravity well. This creates a
self-moderating fusion reaction until its hydrogen is exhausted. The quantum
destabilization of the Planeteering device will disrupt this = self-moderation, creating a
cascade destabilization of the star. And poof, you have a supernova. The most cataclysmic
explosion in the universe. Truly, this magnificent Precursor device is the shatterer of
worlds. Such power they must have had!"
"Absolutely." Yoritomo nodded.
"We've calculated the optimum detonation point deep within the corona. The
Planeteering Device must reach that point, still fully functional."
Scholar Sato nodded to Director Hiroku. "Furukawa Heavy Engineering Fleet-Systems has
been contracted to attach the Planet-Breaker to one of our combine's newest Ultra-Large
Ore Vessels." He leaned on an ornate walking stick as he spoke. "Naturally, it's
taken a long time to integrate an alien technology of this magnitude to one of our own
ships, but we managed to do it in record time." He started to swell with pride.
"To survive the entry into our fair sun, however, we're also installing an advanced
heat shield. That's the thermal ballute you can see being placed on the outside of the
vessel's hull. Small shields of this type have been used on a number of scientific solar
probes before the war, but never has one of this size been used. It will deteriorate at a
slow-enough rate to allow your mission to succeed. The design of the ballute has been
tested in cybernetic simulation, but we haven't had time to test it sufficiently. We did
fabricate it in record time, however."
Grand Admiral Nakasone didn't care for the creeping arrogance in Hiroku's voice. All throughout the construction mission, the man had been trying to wrest more and more control over the project. Hiroku continued to brag.
"Naturally, the expertise of our Combine's engineers will ensure it performs
flawlessly. Our Precursor artifact-"
"Excuse me, Director. I must interject." Grand Admiral Nakasone interrupted.
"Ordinance Minister Nosuda is here because his ministry has been given ownership of
the Precursor mine. He has been in charge of gathering resources for, overseeing of and
executing preparations to the success of this mission. Hiroku's men did the welding."
That should put the haughty contractor in his place. Indeed, Hiroku kept his mouth shut.
Ordinance Minister Nosuda was the only civilian recognized by Yoritomo. Indeed, he was
legendary among most Shofixti. He'd initially labored as a low-paid ore-vessel engineer
but quit to start his own mining business. Through skillful management, hard work and
luck, his small business had grown to become the massive Nosuda Resources Holdings
Combine. He himself had become one of the Shofixti Empire's wealthiest
businessmen-philanthropists in the process. He'd quit his position after being appointed
Ordinance Minister at the outbreak of the war against the Hierarchy, tasked with
transforming the production complexes of the Shofixti Empire to support an all-out war
effort. Mobilizing the entire Shofixti labor force and industrial base towards war
production had been no small task, but Nosuda had performed brilliantly. Output of ships,
weapons, supplies and materiel of all types had surged under his leadership by an order of
magnitude. He'd conceived and implemented dozens of successful production-increasing
initiatives across every industry. He'd also sacrificed mightily for the effort. He'd
donated his entire personal fortune to help the government finance its massive military
expenditures. He'd sold his property holdings, his art collection, every asset he had. He
even refused a salary as Ordinance Minister. The man literally had nothing left to give
but his life.
"Lieutenant Colonel, I think you've guessed by now: your role will be to pilot the
vessel into our sun's corona to the optimum detonation point. That, of course, brings us
to Divinity Minister Kenzaburo."
Divinity Minister Kenzaburo, clad in a formal robe, smiled at Yoritomo. "I am here to
help you with any ethical dilemmas or moral questions you may have. And whether or not you
feel spiritually prepared for this mission. We had thought that being asked to destroy our
sun might create some doubt on your part. It is far from an ordinary mission, after all
and perhaps you feel your spirit isn't up to the task. After all, how can one carry out
this mission with an impure spirit? Be candid with your answer."
"I am honored to take part in this mission for our Emperor and our people!"
Yoritomo shouted. He didn't even have to think. But he paused, reflective. "I have
but two concerns. First, what of the non-Shofixti living in our system? We're murdering
them. I know for a fact they wouldn't want to be held hostage to our plan. They don't
possess the Spirit of our people, they won't transcend beyond the mortal coil the same way
we will. What of the diplomats and military liaisons? The traders, the cultural
exchanges-"
"They are not here." Kenzaburo smiled. "Not one. This morning, all of them
were instructed to leave. The Syreen provided fast ships to whisk them back to their home
systems. The Emperor has compensated them generously for whatever they were forced to
leave behind. Similarly, all Shofixti citizens and diplomatic corps outside our system are
in the process of being recalled. They'll want to be with their extended families. What's
your second question?" "A much greater question." Yoritomo rubbed his
forehead, obviously worried. "I'll destroy the wonders of our culture. Everything we
have built. All our history. Our natural treasures. I would gladly sacrifice myself to
protect our kind, but I'll be destroying every trace of our kind! Sacrifice everyone to
achieve what may prove to be a tactical victory? How foolish and shortsighted can we be?
Snuff-out a hundred-billion lives and bring-about the self-inflicted extinction of our
kind to destroy a mere hundred or so Ur-Quan ships?"
"Precisely the dilemma we had debated about for quite some time." Kenzaburo
sighed. "The Emperor will explain it to the people in a broadcast. On the surface, I
know your mission may seem to be an all-or-nothing solution. However, our present
situation forces us into a cul-de-sac of sorts." The Divinity Minister wrung his
paws. "This isn't a decision we've reached rashly or capriciously. We've weighed
every option. We have our backs against the wall, you understand. Every possible defense
action we'll take will result in our enslavement. After our last ships are destroyed, we
will be weaponless and incapable of fighting back. Every family would commit suicide when
the second wave of the Ur-Quan invasion appeared. Many painful deaths would occur.
Suffering and pain on a planet-wide scale.
"We've fully informed the Emperor of everything. He agrees: the Ur-Quan have given us
a choice: slavery and an inglorious death, or destroy a few of them with our last weapon
of any strength in a glorious, noble act of self-sacrifice for all freedom-loving
inhabitants of the galaxy. The memory of our kind will live forever, while our spirits
will transcend to merge with the cosmos in utter harmony. It's a most beautiful ending to
what has become a most miserable, horrible war. We are one family. One aggregate Spirit.
Common blood flows within us. We'll shed our mortal coil as one. A hundred billion die
together."
"I- I don't know what to say." Continued Yoritomo.
"I imagine you wouldn't." Grand Admiral Nakasone nodded grimly. "To finish
our briefing, I'm letting you know that Ordinance Minister Nosuda has volunteered to be
our ship's engineer. He is tasked with making sure the ship systems are functioning to
perfection. And I I am also coming. My task is to ensure that the Planeteering device goes
off."
"Sir, what is the name of our vessel?" Yoritomo inquired.
"It is" He paused dramatically. "The Grandest Gesture."
Five hours later, at Point Alpha-One.
The incoming Ur-Quan task force passed the Shofixti's system sixth planet. The first wave
of Shofixti craft came within visual range. Point Alpha-One.
"Anger of Retaliation Squadron to the front!" Ordered Admiral Oe. He, himself
was riding at the leading edge of the aforementioned cluster of ships. His ship, The One
Who Endures, was flanked on his left and right by his seventeen wingmen. His squadron was,
in turn, flanked by the gleaming ships of the Words of Persuasion Squadron on their left.
To their right, were the sleek, wickedly-hued forms of the Color of Whistling Death
Squadron. A dozen other squadrons stretched far to the left and right. All of them, six
hundred and twenty, speeding in a mad dash to their final destination. "Ignore the
VUX on the flank and keep your wits about you!" A grin crept across his face as his
formation approached their top speed. "Target only Dreadnoughts!" He repeated
the phrase again. Each word loudly and tortuously clearly. "Target! Only!
Dreadnoughts!"
As soon as they were within range, the green-tinted Ur-Quan vessels unleashed a barrage of
fusion bolts in near-unison. Almost immediately, the first wave of Shofixti ships
skillfully jinked to avoid the enemy fire. Several weren't so lucky as they exploded in
bright, blinding bursts when Ur-Quan fire found them.
"My Squadron! Watch for their fire! Arm cannons! Glory Device safeties release!"
He shrieked as over three hundred Ur-Quan fighters fanned-out in front of the enemy
formation. The massive matter-antimatter bombs strapped to the underbelly of each Shofixti
vessel were now active, ready to be detonated. Cannons blazing, the first Allied wave
leapt into the fray as the leading Dreadnoughts began to take evasive maneuvers.
Aboard the Grandest Gesture, 30,000,000 kilometers from detonation point.
Yoritomo, Nakasone and Nosuda sat at the controls of their ship. The inside smelled of
ritual incense. Sacred texts adorned several bulkheads. Before leaving, they had learned
that temples all over their world were conducting purification rituals, as requested by
Divinity Minister Kenzaburo. Billions were praying for the brave pilots speeding towards
the Hierarchy fleet.
The Emperor's audio address to the Shofixti people was heard by anyone with a receiving
device. On all frequencies. Through all transmission media. Within the cockpit of the
Grandest Gesture, Yoritomo, Nosuda and Nakasone listed intently. The emperor's voice was
oddly effeminate, lilting, lisped. This was the first time all but a handful of Shofixti
had heard his voice. It was a somewhat disappointing voice.
"My people." The voice began. "To Our good and loyal subjects: After
pondering deeply the general trends of the galaxy and the actual conditions obtaining to
Our Empire today, We have decided to effect a settlement of the present situation by
resorting to an extraordinary measure. Despite the best that has been done by everyone,
the gallant fighting our forces, the diligence and assiduity of Our servants of the State
and the devoted service of Our one hundred billion, the war situation has developed not
necessarily to Our advantage..."
Point Alpha-One
"Onwards!" Screamed Oe to the remaining thirteen ships in his squadron. The One
Who Endures was losing cabin pressure, as an Ur-Quan fighter on his tail had destroyed the
= atmospheric-moderating system. "I merge harmoniously with Nothingness" He
spoke breathlessly. The words seemed to flow out of his mouth on their own. Crazily
banking as fast as he could to dodge fusion blasts from the front and directed-energy
shots from the fighter behind, he aimed his vessel right at the nearest Dreadnought.
"My Soul untainted" Firing as fast as he could, he watched his shots impact with
little avail on the green ship's armor, leaving mere potholes behind. He gasped for breath
as the cabin's oxygen leaked-out into the vacuum of space. The massive ship in front of
him began to turn broadside. This was it. "I SERVE THE EMPEROR!" All members of
the Anger of Retaliation Squadron screamed in wild-eyed unison. In an eyeblink, they had
merged with nothingness as the six leading Dreadnoughts were dashed to atoms.
Aboard the Grandest Gesture
"My people, you have fought courageously." The Emperor's voice continued.
"You have been asked to give everything, and you have all delivered more than anyone
ever imagined. Words cannot approach the full meaning of how much we have given. We have
absorbed the full wrath of the enemy's fleet. We have made the Ur-Quan pay dearly for
every aggression and inroad they have made against us. We have not wavered nor have we
known fear. We have met this, our people's greatest challenge, and actualized the true
Spirit of the Shofixti."
The Emperor paused, cleared his throat, and continued. "We cannot but express the deepest sense of regret to our Alliance friends, who have consistently cooperated with the Empire towards the emancipation of the galaxy. The thought of those who have fallen in the fields of battle, those who died at their posts of duty, or those who met with untimely death and all their bereaved families, pains Our heart day and night."
"Entering the outermost fringes of the heliopshere in ten seconds." Droned
Yoritomo. The outside of the heat shield began to burn away.
Point Alpha-One
Frantic communications could be heard shouted back and forth among the remainder of
the first wave of Shofixti. Their words were mashed together into a barely understandable,
static-filled mish-mash of noise. Chased by Ur-Quan fighters, the last of the ragged line
of ships tore into the Hierarchy formation. Audio snapshots from within the heart of
Battle. "Come-around, Yukio! Watch the wreckage! Watch the wreckage!"
"Glory Device safeties release! Plague of Fire Squadron, head for the following
coordinates!" "-four on my tail! Banking to starboard!" "Two fighters
at your three o' clock Stagger your formation! Follow my lead!" "-under heavy
fire. Engaging back-up navi-system-" "You're too close! Turn! Turn! Tur- damn
it!" "Beautiful shot! I see secondaries! Bright as lightning!" "I'm
hit! I'm-" "Let them come-in one at a time! Turn inside their arc- good
shot!" "Haruko, help the Ochre Talon Squadron to target after they regroup,
they're leaderless!" "-too much smoke! Fire suppression isn't-" "Nice
one! That's a kill!" "-and try to keep up with us!" "Break formation!
Kyoko's gone!" "Difficult to see through the wreckage, but they're gone."
"Straighten out, you're going to-" "-detonator damaged! Going manual!!
GLORY TO-" "Maneuvering engines failed! Get the hell out of the way! Collision
warn-" "Someone cover Kuni! He's hit bad!" "-catastrophic failure
imminent-" "You're inside their kill zone! Translate vertical and cut
engines!" "flash blinded me! Can't see! Aiiiii!" "Revenge for
Atrocities Squadron! Dreadnought at your nine o' clock is already hammered beyond repair!
Concentrate fire on-" "-around to my eleven o' clock! I'll get that fighter off
your backside! Tally one more!" "Hurricane of Rage Squadron, press on in pairs!
Watch your targets carefully!" "-at your six! He's passing into your
sights!" "-wingman's gone! Going-in alone!" "-break starboard and
fire-" "-whole squadron destroyed!" "-lory Device malfunction! The
Gods Help us!" "-the wreck at your eleven o'clock, Fumiyo! Turn!"
"-entire crew dead! Going to-" "-venting atmosphere. Isolate the puncture
by closing bypass-" "-too many of them! Get the cannon charged-"
"-help him! Help him before its too-" "-break now!" "-go
for it! You've got an open shot!" "-be damned! Get off my tail!"
"-wounded! He'll bleed to death before-" "-got him! The way is clear
for-" = "-pressure dropping. We won't get a second-" "-THEY'RE = EVERYWHERE!!
TOO MANY OF THEM!" "-jinked out of the way, he's turning back to-"
"-ninety percent losses! Completing final run alone!" "I SERVE THE
EMP-"
Aboard the Grandest Gesture
Yoritomo announced "We're just inside the outermost layer of the
heliosphere!"
"Hull temperature within normal limits, so far!" Reported Ordinance Minister
Nosuda. The thermal ballute is doing its job, apparently."
The Emperor's highly ritualized benediction continued in the background. "-fleeting,
like raindrops. Most honorably, blackening the skies with..."
Grand Admiral Nakasone tried as best as he could to monitor the progress of the battle
raging halfway across the solar system. He watched the friendly ships vanish from the
display soon after merging with the huge Ur-Quan cluster. "The formation of Ur-Quan
was dented!" He announced . Markers representing VUX Intruders began to pull from the
left-front of the enemy formation . Their fleet was approaching point Alpha-Two.
"Like waves crashing on a beach." Nakasone intoned. ".Batter enemy shoals.
They leave us now." A tear rolled down his cheek. "Their sacrifice will be
forever remembered, as will our civilization."
"Damnation!" Shouted Nosuda. "The heat-shield is burning away at a
faster-then-expected rate!"
"What!? How long do we have?" Asked Nakasone, horrified. His voice went-up an
octave.
"At present rate, the ship will burn-up at least nine seconds before the optimal
detonation point!"
Point Alpha-Two
The second wave of Shofixti ships arrived. The sinister profile of VUX Intruders loomed
interlaced with the monolithic, green Ur-Quan ships. A second cloud of Ur-Quan fighters
streamed-out to intercept the Shofixti.
"Get past the VUX as fast as possible!" Called Major Yoshitsune, leading the
Arrow of Light Squadron. "Ur-Quan are what we want." Opening fire as soon as the
fighters came within range, he began to take evasive maneuvers. Still speeding, ever
closer, to their last destination.
"Don't bunch!" He'd been one of the original Nightstalkers in this vessel, The
Azure Starburst. Now he led the second wave at Alpha-Two. He shouted over the com-link.
"Open the distance between each other! Don't give them a dense target." He urged
them. Furthermore, he thought, if one of them set-off their Glory Device early, it would
take-out the whole squadron. "Bank towards the fighters, to get them in your line of
fire!" The men and women in his squadron were newly-recruited. Their ships
all-to-often clustered together, as if for mutual protection. They knew nothing. All they
were good for was dying. He shook his head in frustration.
Even their ships were brand-new, just off the assembly line. Several weren't even painted
or given proper names. At least two of the ships in his the Arrow of Light Squadron were
pressed into service before they'd even had their backup systems installed. That is why
he, Yoshitsune, the skillful, experienced Nightstalker was tasked with leading these new
pilots into battle. The pilot of the Azure Starburst saw a few of his cadets making
textbook evasive maneuvers, starting to dodge the enemy fighters. Perhaps he could meld
them into a cohesive fighting force after all. But no, banking away from the incoming
fighters in a vain attempt to reduce his ship's profile, one of the new pilots' ships
blundered into a fighter's sights and was pounded to cinders. Veins throbbing with anger,
Yoshitsune flew right through the cloud of wreckage, blasting the offending Ur-Quan into
oblivion with a single, skillful shot. Shards of metal plinked off the Azure Starburst.
"Bank towards the fighters!" He screamed with rage. "If you turn your
blind-side towards them, you're almost begging them to kill you!" Coming within range
of the VUX, he keyed his microphone again. "Avoid the bows of the Intruders!" He
called. "Get past them as soon as possible and outrun any Limpets!"
The Intruders erupted with the brilliant green light of their laser-cannons. Cutting
everything in their path, The Arrow of Light Squadron skillfully weaved past with minimal
damage, the last ship in the squadron, however got grazed by an energy beam. The Shofixti
ship was ripped to pieces. Looking in the rear-view display, Yoshitsune grimaced at the
orange-black flash of light. One more down. But on the positive side, Limpets trailed
harmlessly far behind his unit, uselessly looking for something to snag onto. The
Intruders were slowly trying to turn about-face, but were no longer a threat. Directly in
front of them were the Ur-Quan. The nearest Dreadnoughts unleashed a barrage of
fusion-bolts.
"Split up! No more than three ships per target! Glory Device safeties release!" A swarm of at eighteen Ur-Quan fighters ejected from his target and pounced at him. Before Yoshitsune could react, they were firing on him. Their lasers pounded his ship once. Twice. Three times. Every warning light on his panel went-off. The Azure Starburst could never make it to the Dreadnought in time. His eyes teared.
"Go without me!" Gritting his teeth, Yoshitsune mashed the Glory Device
trigger, taking all eighteen Ur-Quan fighters with him in a hurricane of white-hot hull
fragments. The path was clear for the remainder of his unit. They plunged through their
Squadron commander's debris and burst against the sides of a cluster of Ur-Quan ships in a
chain of bright, multicolored flashes. Their targets were no more.
Aboard the Grandest Gesture
"We'll have to detonate early!" Shouted Yoritomo. "The ship won't last
more than a few seconds without the heat shield!"
"We have to get to the optimum coordinates to ensure success!" Said Nakasone. "This is the final mission of the Shofixti. It will be carried-out to perfection! The Grand Gesture will last as long as six seconds after the heat-shield boils-away." He shook his head. "Hold this course as long as possible." He instructed the pilot. "Hold it at all costs." They were deep into the corona now, halfway to their target. Outside, the heat-shield deteriorated as small flecks sloughed-off and were immolated in the million-degree plasma. Each second, it became ever-thinner, and the temperature outside only increased.
"The Ur-Quan fleet gives our people a choice" the Emperor's monologue
continued. It became more static and sporadic as they sailed ever-deeper into the heart of
the sun. "Slavery or total destruction. Surrender or erasure from existence.
Impotent, pointless eternity in chains or become one with Nothingness." He paused for
effect. "This choice gives our kind no choice at all"
Point Alpha-Three
The remaining Dreadnought-Intruder formation had become frayed, but some surviving
hundred-eighty ships redeployed themselves, rebuilding their well-choreographed approach.
Then the third wave of Shofixti defenders intercepted them at point Alpha-Three.
"GLORY TO THE EMPEROR!" The crews screamed in unison.
Aboard the Grandest Gesture
Nakasone eyed his display nervously as the Battle of Point Alpha-Three played-out.
Colored particles flashed across the screen, showing craft speed and heading. They were
grouped in two clusters: one red group of incoming dots, one green group of dots
rushing-out to intercept. Eyes misting, Nakasone watched the two bunches of particles head
ever closer to each other unerringly. The leading edge of the Shofixti formation began to
visibly suffer losses; green particles disappeared in twos and threes as the defenders
approached the Ur-Quan. Even from his vantage point millions of kilometers away, Nakasone
could tell it was turning into one hell of a massacre for his side. As the two bunches
ticked closer and closer, there were fewer and fewer green dots. Nakasone rapidly scanned
the screen full of rapidly maneuvering blips, turning at every angle and every speed.
Within seconds, both green and red clouds merged.
Nosuda slammed his fist on the panel. "The damned ballute is going to break-up!
Trust those damned engineers, and look what it gets you!"
"There's a channel of low-turbulence plasma about a thousand kilometers ahead. If I steer the ship into it, it should slow the ballute's deterioration." Said Yoritomo. Taking the controls of a multi-million-ton, poorly-maneuverable ship through a roaring cloud of hurricane-force, six million-degree plasma wasn't as easy as it might sound, but somehow Yoritomo managed to do it. Within seconds, the intensity of the hellish tempest abated by an almost-imperceptible amount, but it did ease the abuse the heat-shield was taking.
"Okay, that's better." Reported Nosuda. "You've bought us an extra five seconds or so. But we still won't reach our detonation point before it goes!" Nakasone looked at Nosuda and then at Yoritomo.
"I'm going to wait the extra few seconds." Both men knew what would happen. They had hoped that the heat shield would last them right up to the Planet-Breaker's detonation. But now Nakasone was suggesting something painful beyond every stretch of the imagination. The instant the heat-shield broke-up, the ship would get flash-heated to several million degrees within a microsecond inside and out. The hull would pucker and split in a million places, exposing them all to the full intensity of a star's heat even before the explosive decompression would kill them. What Nakasone was proposing is to trigger the device after at least five seconds of feeling his flesh fry, sizzle and vaporize in the nuclear firestorm, they would at last finish their mission.
"We've got about twenty seconds until our shield breaks-off! Twenty FOUR seconds to optimum detonation point." Nosuda reported. "But, I'll go with you, Hideki."
Yoritomo nodded. "And I. For the Emperor." Their ship hurtled onwards. A
bright comet.
At point Alpha-Four
Coming relentlessly, the fourth and final wave of over six-hundred Shofixti ships
streaked towards the Ur-Quan fleet. The previous Shofixti wave had indeed made an
impressive impact on their formation. It was thinned-out in several places. The VUX had
started to take severe losses as two dozen kamikaze pilots who were too damaged to reach
their primary targets opted to take-out the nearest Intruders instead. The Ur-Quan decided
to hold-back their remaining fighters, so heavy were their losses at Alpha-Three. Just as
the Hierarchy formation began to redeploy their ships to more evenly distribute their
forces, the last and final wave of Shofixti tore into them. A third of the final wave was
comprised of half-functional warships. Derelict, damaged vessels which had been stripped
of useful parts. Vessels reaching or beyond the end of their useful life-span. Vessels fit
for the scrap-heap. They were crewed by second-stringers, mavericks, incompetents, and
drunkards. Whoever could staff a vessel. Each one, however, did pack a working Glory
Device. And each squadron was led by a competent officer who led the way. What the
inexperienced crews lacked in skill, however, they made-up for in bravery and enthusiasm.
What the ships lacked in beauty and function, they made-up for in brute force. The
situation had tempered them with grim determination. Before the Hierarchy could fully
re-form their attack pattern, the last wave of was on top of them. A strobing, blinding
series of flashes marked their transcendence toward Nothingness.
Aboard the Grandest Gesture.
The inside surface of the heat-shield was visible out the vessel's view-ports. It was
glowing bright orange. The sun was at last starting to burn through. The ore vessel and
its cargo would disintegrate into a cloud of so many nuclei. Nakasone looked at the
viewscreen showing the plight of the pitched battle raging at Alpha-Four. He smiled
broadly.
"They're taking a beating!" The Emperor's speech continued, oblivious to their plight.
"..volcanic blaze of Glory. This is our finest moment. We merge with pure
Nothingness and become the light. Free of the fetters of our corporeal being, we may at
last roam free together. Our eternal peace and happiness will be realized. The noble
memory of our finest moment will endure for all time. Glory everlasting."
After point Alpha-Four
The remaining hundred Ur-Quan vessels continued on. The wreckage of destroyed and
self-destructed ships lay drifting behind like so much roadkill. The VUX contingent had
been decimated. Their ships smashed, battered and burning. Their crews dying. Ahead lay
the Shofixti homeworld. Another prize for the Hierarchy. Another captive race for the
taking.
Aboard the Grandest Gesture
The heat-shield split-open as the last of its covering sublimated away. The Emperor's
voice became more strained, as if he were fighting a lump in his throat. Every listener
could almost hear the tears streaming down his face. "Glory to the Shofixti. Glory
Everlasting." Immediately, the brightest light imaginable flooded the cockpit of the
Grandest Gesture. A fraction of a second after, all of Nosuda's, Yoritomo's and Nakasone's
hair burst into flame. Their flesh melted and vaporized. Eardrums ruptured. The fluid
within their eyes boiled, causing their ocular membranes to burst. Maws open in silent
screams of untold searing Pain. Layer upon layer of their flesh was stripped away and
sublimated. Their fire-resistance polymer seats melted and boiled and turned to vapor.
Inside another second, both Nosuda and Yoritomo were reduced to silently screaming
skeletons. The last of their flesh ripped away like a heap of autumn hay in a tempest. For
as long as he could possibly stand, Nakasone waited. Blind, deaf, with every nerve aflame,
every surface of layer of skin ripping off his body, he sensed his soul slipping from his
body. Miraculously, sinew still connected among the muscles in his arm. In immense pain,
wishing that Death would come a faster, he activated the detonation switch in his final
act, just as he felt himself become the light.