Chapter 16: Desperate Attack

The sound of the alien ship’s engines resonated through the desolate landscape, a deep, otherworldly hum that sent vibrations through the ground. Sirius Capella stood on the upper platform, the fiery glow of the reactor’s impending meltdown illuminating the horizon behind him. The alien vessel loomed in the distance, a sleek, menacing silhouette against the night sky.

“We don’t have much time,” he said, scanning the area with sharp eyes. “That ship’s here for a reason. Whatever they’re looking for, we can’t let them get it.”

Maya Ramirez knelt beside him, her rifle resting against her shoulder as she peered through its scope. “They’re not just sitting there. Look.” She gestured toward the smaller crafts detaching from the main ship. “Landing pods. They’re deploying troops.”

Akira Tanaka adjusted his scanner, the screen lighting up with energy readings. “It’s worse than that,” he said grimly. “They’re triangulating on the facility. Their movements aren’t random—they’re targeting the reactor site.”

“They know we’re here,” Maya said, standing. “They’re not just going after the facility; they’re coming for us.”

Sirius nodded, his jaw tightening. “Then we take the fight to them. If we let them pin us down, we’re done.”

The team moved quickly through the facility’s upper levels, the walls trembling as explosions echoed in the distance. Every corner of the structure felt like it was seconds from collapse, the air thick with dust and the acrid scent of burning metal. Dr. Vanya Aksel trailed behind, her face pale but determined.

“We can’t take them on head-to-head,” Aksel said, her voice steady despite the chaos. “Their firepower is too advanced.”

“We’re not going to fight them head-to-head,” Sirius replied. “Akira, is there anything in the facility we can use to even the odds?”

Akira hesitated, then nodded. “There’s an armory on the north side of this level. It’s mostly conventional weapons, but there might be something we can rig.”

“Good,” Sirius said. He turned to Tino. “Get us there, and scan for any surprises.”

“Affirmative,” Tino replied, its optics flashing as it led the way.

The armory was a reinforced room filled with racks of weapons and crates of ammunition. The team wasted no time, gathering what they could. Maya grabbed a grenade launcher, her expression grim as she loaded it. “If this doesn’t slow them down, nothing will.”

Akira found a set of EMP charges and began examining them with interest. “These might work against their tech,” he said. “If we can get close enough to plant them.”

Sirius picked up a high-caliber rifle, inspecting its scope and firing mechanism. He glanced at Aksel. “Can you handle a weapon?”

She hesitated but nodded, taking a smaller rifle from one of the racks. “I’ll do what I can.”

“Good,” Sirius said. “We don’t have the luxury of passengers.”

As they exited the armory, the first wave of alien troops arrived. The creatures moved with unsettling precision, their dark armor blending seamlessly into the shadows. Their weapons emitted a faint, eerie glow, firing pulses of energy that tore through the facility’s walls like paper.

“Contact!” Maya shouted, firing the grenade launcher. The explosion lit up the corridor, sending two of the creatures flying. The others advanced undeterred, their weapons cutting through the air with deadly accuracy.

Sirius and Tino moved in tandem, their combined firepower holding the line. “Focus fire!” Sirius barked. “Target their weak points!”

Akira worked quickly, setting up one of the EMP charges on a structural support beam. “Cover me!” he shouted as the creatures closed in.

Maya stepped in front of him, her rifle spitting bullets that ricocheted off the creatures’ armor. “Hurry up, Akira! They’re not going to wait for you to finish.”

The charge activated with a high-pitched whine, and a wave of electromagnetic energy rippled through the corridor. The alien troops staggered, their movements faltering as their systems were disrupted.

“Move!” Sirius ordered. The team pressed forward, using the brief opening to escape the advancing enemy.

They reached an exterior platform that offered a clear view of the alien ship. The massive vessel hovered above the ground, its underside glowing with energy as smaller crafts continued to deploy. Sirius crouched behind a stack of crates, his gaze fixed on the ship.

“They’re not going to stop until they’ve secured the reactor,” he said. “We need to get aboard that ship and take out their command.”

“Getting aboard isn’t the hard part,” Maya said, loading another grenade into her launcher. “Surviving once we’re there—that’s another story.”

“Suggestions?” Sirius asked.

Akira glanced at his scanner. “There’s a docking port on the lower side of the ship. If we can get close enough, we might be able to sneak in while they’re distracted.”

“Then we split up,” Sirius said. “Maya and I will create a diversion. Akira, Tino, and Aksel—you take the EMP charges and disable their systems from the inside.”

Maya raised an eyebrow. “That’s a hell of a plan.”

“It’s the only plan we’ve got,” Sirius said.

The team moved swiftly, sticking to the shadows as they approached the alien ship. Maya and Sirius positioned themselves near a cluster of debris, their weapons trained on the landing pods.

“On my mark,” Sirius said quietly. “We hit them hard, draw as many of them away as we can.”

Maya nodded, her finger hovering over the trigger of her launcher. “Ready when you are.”

“Mark.”

The first explosion rocked the landing zone, sending debris flying and throwing the alien troops into disarray. Maya followed up with a volley of grenades, her shots precise and devastating. Sirius fired relentlessly, targeting the pods and cutting off the aliens’ reinforcements.

The distraction worked. The alien troops turned their focus to the source of the attack, giving Akira, Tino, and Aksel the opening they needed.

Inside the ship, the atmosphere was oppressive, the air thick with an acrid tang. The corridors were dimly lit, the walls lined with alien consoles that pulsed faintly with energy. Akira led the way, his scanner guiding them toward the central systems.

“Stay close,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “This place is crawling with activity.”

Tino’s optics scanned the area, its synthetic voice calm. “Multiple hostiles detected. Recommend stealth approach.”

“Noted,” Aksel said, clutching her rifle tightly. She glanced nervously at the shadows, every sound making her flinch.

They reached the central systems room, a cavernous space filled with towering consoles and conduits. Akira immediately set to work, placing the EMP charges on the key systems.

“Two minutes,” he said. “That’s all I need.”

Back on the platform, Sirius and Maya continued their assault, holding their ground despite the overwhelming odds. The alien troops advanced relentlessly, their weapons tearing through the makeshift cover.

“We’re running out of room here,” Maya said, firing her last grenade. “Whatever Akira’s doing, it better be soon.”

“It will be,” Sirius said, his tone unwavering. He reloaded his rifle, his gaze fixed on the advancing enemy. “Just keep holding.”

Inside the ship, the EMP charges activated, sending a wave of energy through the vessel. The lights flickered, and the ship’s systems began to fail, throwing the alien troops into chaos.

Akira grinned. “That’ll do it.”

“Then let’s get out of here,” Aksel said, her voice urgent.

Tino led the way as they raced back toward the docking port, the ship’s structure trembling as the EMP destabilized its systems.

The team regrouped on the platform as the alien ship began to descend, its engines sputtering. Sirius looked up at the failing vessel, a grim smile on his face.

“That’s one problem solved,” he said.

Maya nodded, her rifle slung over her shoulder. “One down. A hundred to go.”

As the ship crashed in the distance, the team turned their attention back to the facility, the glow of the reactor’s meltdown casting a fiery light across the sky. Their fight was far from over, but for the first time, they had the upper hand.