Page 123 of Stars in Nova

Kisan’s gaze swept over the group. ‘We slam them hard and fast. The goal is to disable their fleet, rescue Samira, and make it out alive. Everyone clear?’

A chorus of nods and murmured affirmations filled the hall.

‘Get to it.’

His words sounded hollow even as he growled them.

He clenched his fists, frustration and helplessness gnawing at him, forced to wait and plan while the woman he cared for was in enemy control.

Kisan worked alongside Sax, tamping down his need to scream and rage at the world.

Sharin and her engineers also stayed up late into the night, the armory alive with the sound of tools and the whir of energy fields.

The lead technician adjusted the disruptor rifles with deft hands, her eyes sharp as she fine-tuned the weapons’ output.

‘These should penetrate even their enhanced shields,’ she said, passing Kisan a recalibrated rifle. ‘The pulses will hit their automated framework and scramble the cybernetics controlling them.’

Kisan inspected the weapon. ‘Good. But we’ll need more than handhelds for Cygnus.’

He turned toward the Cephei, parked in the hidden volcanic hangar. The ship loomed in the dim light, its dark hull gleaming like a predator waiting to strike. With Sax and Sharin’s help, he accessed its propulsion systems, his mind racing with an idea born from his darkest days as Ankis.

‘Back when I was Ankis,’ Kisan began, his voice grim as he tinkered with the Cephei’s power core, ‘I weaponized my ship’s Alcubierre drives. I used them to unleash kinetic beams that collapsed shields and obliterated fleets. It’s time to bring that back.’

Sax raised an eyebrow. ‘You sure about this? That tech’s dangerous.’

‘So are the Corilians,’ Kisan shot back. ‘We’ll recalibrate the drive to emit a kinetic particle burst. It’ll penetrate their ships, scramble their brains, and leave them dead in the water.’

Sharin frowned, her fingers tracing the schematics. ‘It’s risky. If the calibration’s off, it could blow back on us.’

‘That’s why we do it right,’ Kisan said, his aqua eyes glowing. ‘We don’t have the luxury of safe options.’

The work progressed rapidly with Mirage’s node integrated into the Cephei’s systems. The AI provided precise calculations, her calm voice cutting through the tension as they fine-tuned the drive.

By the third day, the ship’s guns were loaded, their cannons enabled with kinetic energy, and every firing mechanism primed for the assault.

The strain in the air was palpable as the team gathered one final time before departure the following day.

The glow of the cavern’s bioluminescent pools reflected in their hardened faces. Kisan stood at the center, his presence commanding.

‘This isn’t just about rescuing Samira,’ he said, his voice steady. ‘It’s about showing the Corilians they can’t take what’s ours. We’re going to Cygnus, and we’re bringing her home.’

Sax clapped him on the shoulder, his grin sharp. ‘Hell yeah, we are.’

Kisan glanced toward the Cephei, its sleek form radiating a quiet menace. ‘We leave at dawn. Be ready.’

The team dispersed, their resolve unwavering.

As Kisan stared out over the cavern, the sound of water echoing around him, he allowed himself a moment of silence.

The most important fight of his life was coming up. He knew, with utter clarity, he’d go to his death to ensure Samira lived through this shit show.

Kisan made his way back toward Samira’s chamber.

The buzz of activity in the subterranean city faded, leaving only the trickle of water from unseen streams.

Samira’s aunt, Misandra, had insisted he sleep in his woman’s bed, reminding him sternly that he needed rest for the mission ahead.

Kisan, however, was anything but tired. His mind was a storm, his thoughts circling back to Samira.

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