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patchwork of space modules. Decade after decade, it had grown, making it resemble a giant interlocking chain of parts. Worthy Station was hardly appealing to the eye. But within the confines housed some of the SpaceCore’s top military commanders, in addition to the most advanced technology mankind had in its possession. It would likely be there, where Julian would receive his first orders. Just like he had, years before.
    However, as the Crusader emerged into normal space, Julian could see what Worthy Station had become.
    He saw no patchwork of modules, or any military monument on display. There was only the debris field in front of them, the fortress of humanity cut to pieces.
     

Chapter 4
     
    Instinct was guiding his every move as he piloted the Crusader through the chaos, the weapons ripping across space. Explosions left over from the destruction of Worthy Station filled the view screen, with Julian making every effort to dodge them.
    He had no idea what was going on, only that they were in danger. Upon arriving in the Haven system, they had found SpaceCore Command to be no more. As they traveled, the carcasses of other starships appeared, all leading to a trail of where a battle was raging on. Julian powered up the shields, bracing for the inevitable combat.
    “What do you read on the scanners?” he asked, trying to make sense of what was happening. Before he finished his question, Nalia sent over the image to his console screen.
    Julian had seen war before. He had known the slaughter. But still he was in shock. According to the navigational map, the star system was in the midst of an invasion. The Crusader’s computer counted waves of enemy vessels, numbering over a hundred and entering from all sides of the system. They were a swarm, striking deep within human territory, and breaking through Haven’s fortified defense perimeters. With each second, their forces seemed to grow one by one as more came, warping into the system. SpaceCore, having already lost their command center, could do nothing to fend off the attack. Their vessels, from capital ships to automated defense drones, were all falling off the grid, succumbing to the barrage of weapons fire. Closer and closer the enemy came to Julian’s homeworld as Haven’s military continued to fall back.
    “How did this happen? I don’t understand. We should have been ready for this,” Nalia exclaimed.
    Julian wanted to reassure her, but he could think of nothing to say. Whatever salvation they had hoped to find was crumbling right before them. Switching to the navigational map, he tried to focus.
    The other vessels were in view. The row of battleships trying to hold the line.
    It was SpaceCore, or what was left of it — the weapon discharges lighting the darkness, and launching a stream of shells into space. Each ship was cloaked in metal, and pummeled at their targets with a power that could decimate entire cities.
    “Talk to me Nalia. What are the remaining ships saying?”
    Through her console, Nalia synched the Crusader’s systems in with the military orders coming through the communication link.                
    “All ships are to rendezvous at grid zero-point-one-eight. That’s right near Haven’s orbit.”
    “Sounds like a last stand.”
    “Alliance reinforcements are inbound,” she said. “Hopefully it’ll even up the odds.”
    While the battleships continued to fire off their arsenals, Julian looked at the Crusader’s own weapons. Missiles stocks were depleted. But rail canons were still functioning. Julian had never thought he’d get the chance to helm a warship again, let alone in actual combat.
    This battle would count the most. “Activating weapons,” he said.
    As soon as he did, the enemy fire came striking.
    “Endervars spotted!” Nalia shouted, shaking in her seat.
    Julian felt the jolt hit the Crusader and checked the view screens. There, within the space, he spied the dreaded sight.
    He was familiar with this.