The Fall of the Quetzal

The silence of space was absolute, a perfect backdrop for the low hum of the Quetzal's engines. The assault craft cut through the void with the elegance of a bird of prey, heading toward Kalisto, who was growing in the panoramic window of icy, barren white.

Lion watched the moon approaching, although he actually saw his own reflection superimposed on the glass. The reflection's eyes looked tired. Dr. Thorne's words about stress and exhaustion echoed in his mind. Maybe the doctor was right. Maybe it was all a trick of a mind pushed to the limit. He decided he would worry about that later. First, the mission.

With that resolution, he turned away from the window. He saw Airen in his usual corner, engrossed in his book. Lion approached, an attempt at normalcy. "There'll be action soon. Ready to stretch your legs?"

Airen did not look up. "I'm aware of the group break. That will suffice."

The answer was so curt and final that Lion did not insist. Sometimes talking to Airen was like talking to the wall. He turned around and almost collided with Eldrinch, who was offering him a nutrient bar with a smile.

"You looked like a ghost looking out the window," she said. "Eat something." She took the sandwich, the taste of familiar synthetic food on her tongue. "I saw you come into the infirmary yesterday - everything all right?"

The concern in his voice was genuine. "Yes, all good," Lion lied, forcing a smile. "In fact, I have an announcement,  !attention everyone!"

His voice echoed across the bridge. Corinelle, Hood, Lynel and Prince of Vael turned to him.

"I spoke with Commander Valerius," Lion began. "Once we finish this mission and secure Kalisto, the entire Quetzal Unit has an approved leave. Two weeks on Earth. Paid vacation."

A stunned silence was followed by an explosion of jubilation. Hood and Lynel high-fived each other. Even Prince of Vael, from the pilot's seat, flashed a rare smile.

"Really?" exclaimed Corinelle, incredulously. "Who did you bribe to get that, Lion?"

"Let's just say it's a small favor from the higher-ups for a job well done," he replied, enjoying the rare moment of shared joy.

While everyone was happily chatting about their plans on Earth, a gentle vibration on his wrist caught Lion's attention. A voice message icon flashed on his device. It was from Kenji.

Apologetically, he turned away from the group to listen to it privately. His friend's smiling face appeared on the hologram, but the audio was a mess.

"Lion, do you read me, you have to...!" The audio became a burst of static. Kenji's image froze and distorted. "...It's not a rebellion.... <buzzing> ...Kalisto...it's a trap.... <chirp> ...the readings I showed you... they're not human.... You have to cancel the mission! Listen to me, it's... <deafening interference> ...GOD!..."

The call was cut off.

A cold sweat broke out on Lion's back. Trap. They're not human. Oh, God.

"Commander!" Prince of Vael's voice, now tense and sharp, snapped him out of his trance. She was leaning over the controls, frowning.

"Hold tight. Multiple high-speed contacts approaching - we're under attack!"

Lion ran to the window. "Attack? This moon isn't supposed to have orbital defenses!"

But there they were. Crimson propulsion trails hurtling toward them from Kalisto's icy surface. They were not conventional missiles. They moved erratically, almost organically.

"Evasive actions!" shouted Lion.

Prince of Vael was already on it. The Quetzal banked sharply, inertial compensators groaning as the ship dodged the first volley. Explosions blossomed in the void where they had been seconds before.

"I can't get a lock on them!" shouted Hood from the weapons station. "Their energy signatures are chaos!"

Another volley. Prince of Vael turned the ship on its axis, a desperate maneuver. A missile grazed the hull with a deafening screech. The ship shook violently.

"Brace for impact!" she warned, her knuckles white on the controls.

One missile, faster than the others, slipped through their defenses. Lion could only watch as the crimson trail headed straight for the left wing.

The impact was a sound of pure tearing. A screech of tortured metal that resonated in everyone's bones, followed by an explosion that caused the entire ship to tilt violently. Decompression and structural failure alarms howled in unison.

"We've lost the left engine! The atmosphere is trapping us!" shouted Prince of Vael, struggling against the controls.

In the panoramic window, Kalisto's icy white landscape was no longer a destination. It was a predator pouncing on them. The Quetzal, engulfed in flames and leaving a trail of black smoke, was swooping down, straight towards the surface of the moon.