The Manta-S was flung out of its jump with emergency lighting bouncing off the walls and Klaxons sounding shortly after.

"Report," Lev said as he stood, taking a step closer to the viewscreen as if doing that he could see what they were facing easier.

"Our engine's are too hot," Derek replied, "Matt?"

"I'm flushing them with coolant now. We're not going to be able to move for a while, it's a 50/50 chance she will pop."

"What can we see from here?" he asked.

Derek zoomed in as best he could on the viewer. The station was lit well, but not in a good way. "This isn't good," he said. "Can you reach anyone on comms? The Faulkner?"

"Not as yet, Chief." Derek said, doing a full sensor sweep, but we don't have the best equipment."

"No sign of Crai?"

"Opposite side of the station, her fleets docked."

"They been here how long?"

"From the heat off their engines, more than a few hours."

Lev refrained from cursing, but on the inside he was, they needed to be over there, right now, not stuck cooling off.

"Can we move on sublight engines?"

"I'll try—"

"We have incoming comms," Lt Jay interrupted.

Lev nodded to him, "On screen."

Mac appeared a moment later, though he looked stressed. "It's good to see you."

"Likewise. Sitrep?"

"Lia's offline, and station-wide self-destruct has just been activated."

Lev stood straighter. "We're stranded. Engine's are hot."

"Fuck," Mac said. "They really need you."

Matt's voice interrupted them. "I can push it," he said.

"Matt?" Derek warned, "You're at risk."

"Trust me," he said. "It is a risk, but I can't do nothing. I'll jettison the engines if I must, but we're heading in."

Lev was about to protest, but he caught Derek's eyes. "Trust him," he said.

"Looks like we'll be coming in hot. Support where you can"

"Affirmative," Mac said. "I have eyes on the inside even if I can't do much."

"What triggered it?" Lev asked, though he suspected he already knew.

"Captain Crai," Mac reported.

"They're willing to destroy everything and everyone to eliminate any evidence." Lev added. "Just like Braker…"

"I am weak," Lia's voice came through. "Not exactly offline."

"Lia, can you help?"

"Hooking in now," she said. "I will try."

"Wouldn't expect anything else," Lev said.

"Fascinating, Chief. You're a live connection to the ships core?"

"Matt's something unique," Derek added, not as unique as you or Nyx though."

"Flattery will get you everywhere," Lia laughed. "Coordinating the Fleet now with Matt. All vessels report ready for emergency extraction operations, but Chief—we're running out of time to save all two thousand people."

"Why can't you stop the countdown?" Lev asked her, though he was already moving to the door.

"I've been weakened significantly by helping Peyton destroy the stations AI prototype. I can't link across to him anymore."

"You have the CIC Derek." He ordered. "Teams to the hanger, suit up. We're jumping as soon as we're in range."

"What are you planning?" Mac asked.

"There's only one another option." Lev said. Once in the elevator he hit for the only other person he knew might be able to do this. "Luna. Can you override the self-destruct?"

"I'm hooked in and trying," came Luna's reply. "This is more complex than standard mining station systems, but the underlying architecture is similar. Give me eight minutes."

"You have exactly nine minutes and thirty seconds," Derek replied.

"Can you cut off their command control at least?" Lev asked.

"Better," Luna replied. "I can isolate his neural interface from the primary systems. It's like shutting down a mine while keeping the air scrubbers running. But I need physical access to the power distribution centre."

"Main ships, evacuation points." Lev ordered. "Spec ops with me we're going for the core chamber. Doctor Rain make sure all our medical teams are on standby." He paused opening the next door. "Talia, you're with Luna. She gets priority escort to the power distribution system—she is our lifeline."

"Understood," Derek confirmed, "We really will be coming in hot."

"I trust you," Lev replied. Once in the hanger he nodded to the teams. "We're jumping to Level Seven directly."

Lev decided. "Luna, what do you need?"

"Someone to get me over there, I hate space jumps."

"We've got you," Talia said at her side, giving her suit the once over.

"Then all we need is about six minutes of uninterrupted time," Luna replied.

"We'll make sure you have it." Talia said.

"Coming in now." Derek announced. "Hangar doors are opening."

Lev stepped to the edge of the doors, looking out into space toward the station. On his HUD displayed where he needed to land.

He glanced to Talia, dipped his head. Then he jumped.

Tucking down, Lev increased his speed from the jump. The station flew toward him at almost impossible speeds.

"Your too fast," Mac said. "If you land off at all."

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"I've got this," Lev replied. "Sorrel is in there, isn't she, she's not on board the Faulkner?"

"Peyton wanted her for Dr. Martinez."

"Vitals?"

"All crew inside are still alive," he said.

"Good to know."

Less than a minute later Lev and his team were inside. The klaxons were loud and the lights annoying. He turned his HUDs hearing down which helped somewhat.

"Breach to the power level is successful, teams deploying to their designations," Derek reported.

Heal to toe, Lev moved fast, corridor to corridor, guns up, fingers on the triggers.

"Luna's escort team has reached level three." Derek reported. "Core chamber and processing bay teams are moving to secondary objectives."

Several bouts of gunfire erupted ahead. Lev stopped, waited, fired in retaliation then moved again.

"Lev?" Peyton's voice came through the command channel. "That you?"

"We're almost there," he replied. "Sitrep?"

"Commissioner Rayner has Braker and Hinada, they're making a run for it. We're trapped between them and his men."

Bullets ricochet off the wall behind him. "One shooter," Lev said and indicated forwards. They moved again as one unit, firing in quick succession before ducking behind the next wall they could.

Bullets whized past his head again, when Lev stepped out this time though the shooter got off one more round. "Close call," Lev muttered.

"Power distribution centre secured," Luna announced in his ear. "Beginning override procedures now."

"Time?" Lev asked.

"Six minutes, forty-three seconds," Mac replied.

Lev took out two more men, dropping them fast before moving towards Peyton again. "Luna, status?"

"I've located the primary control nodes," she replied. "Tim was smart, but he was also using standard power routing protocols. Give me four more minutes."

"You have five minutes, twelve seconds remaining," Mac informed them both.

Lev's shoulder ached, but when enemy fire subsided again, he made a run for it. This time, he missed his shot though. The soldiers with him took the enemy down.

"Almost there," Luna called. "The system tells me the Commissioner's maintaining three primary control links to the self-destruct system."

Lev pushed into the corridor, immediately taking out two men on the far side. "With me," he ordered, and his men followed.

"Four minutes, eighteen seconds."

Meter by meter they gained on the enemy. Lev took out two more men, but as the next round of fire hit, he took a bullet.

"Lev," Lia said.

"I'm fine," he grunted.

"You got hit?" Sorrel this time, her voice was high. Concern?

"Winged me that's all." He forced his way forward faster, hearing her voice everything he needed right now.

When had it all gotten so complicated? The thought of her in danger, real danger. Fuck.

"Got it!" Luna announced as he rounded the next corner with triumph. "I've severed the primary control link. The countdown should be stopping anytime... now."

The facility's emergency klaxons cut off abruptly, and the lights dimmed to normal.

"Self-destruct disabled," Mac confirmed with obvious relief. "All facility systems are returning to normal operational parameters."

But the gunfire ahead hadn't stopped—if anything, it was getting heavier.

"Outstanding work, Luna," Lev praised through the comm. "All teams, mission parameters updated. We now have time for a full station sweep, no prisoners."

"Lev," came Peyton's voice. "Sorrel took a bullet in the back. Commissioner Rayner and his men escaped with Hinada and Braker."

"Sorrel?" Lev asked, though his throat felt tight. "Bad?"

Lev stepped out, saw a figure move, and squeezed the trigger once, dropping him.

"She says' she's fine. Is self-medicating right this second."

When someone else popped up to fire, he hit them first again. "Moving to your position now," he announced, gesturing for his team.

His only thoughts were to reach his friends, no, Sorrel.

"Chief," Lt Steel's voice came from ahead he'd fallen behind a touch, "There's automatic turrets covering the approach."

"Eight hostiles, confirmed," Lia announced.

"Glad to have you back," Peyton said.

"Visual confirmation on our people?" Lev asked the Lt.

"Negative. They're keeping everyone away from the observation windows." Lt Steel's voice carried strain.

"Options?"

"Limited," came another voice from a different firing position. "They've got overlapping fields of fire and are using Coalition personnel as human shields. Any direct assault risks massive civilian casualties."

A fresh barrage of energy weapons fire erupted from the medical section, forcing everyone to duck behind cover.

"They're not just defending," Lt Steel observed. "They're buying time."

"No," came a new voice through their tactical channel. "They're waiting for me. Chief, is it?"

"Commissioner Rayner?" Lev replied, keying his comm to broadcast. "Just let the hostages go."

"The hostages are the point," Tim replied, and Lev saw a man step into the corridor pushing someone forward.

Lev almost took a shot to take him out but noted the fear in his hostages' eyes. Sorrel.

All eyes were on him, so were his teams red lining dots.

Lev had to force himself to stay calm. "What do you want?"

"Safe passage out of here," Tim replied. "In exchange my men will pull back with us."

Lev could also see Peyton in the window. "Let him go," he mouthed.

"Chief we're on your position now," Talia called, "I've got a possible breach route through the maintenance ducts. Risky, but it might get us behind their defensive line."

"Time required?"

"One minute to position, two more for breach execution."

This stand-off did not have one minutes.

"Chief, that's not a good ide—" Derek started.

"It is," Lev interrupted him with command authority that brooked no argument.

"Breach team in position," Talia reported. "We can see into the medical section."

"You have your answer, Commissioner." Lev said and focussed his eyes only on Sorrel. Aiming his sights just above her shoulder. "All teams, weapons free. "Breach—"

Peyton

"—Breach! Breach!" came Lev's command, and suddenly everywhere was lit with gunfire. I ducked behind the first thing I could. "Sorrel!" I shouted.

Pushing out, I moved fast.

"Covering fire!" Lev shouted. Already inside and sweeping to clear anyone in our area.

There she was, flat out on the floor. The pool of blood I could see spreading out from her back was not good.

While the bullets still flew and I could see Commissioner Rayner fleeing down the corridor, I slid in beside her. "I got you, Kerry." I whispered. "I got you."

Sorrel looked up at me. "She knows," she whispered.

"I know," I said. "What do I need?"

"Me," Dr. Martinez said as she also dropped beside me a medical pack in her hand.

"Bu—"

"She just saved my life, it only fair I do the same for her."

Dr. Martinez was fast, the pack was out, and she'd cut Sorrel's uniform exposing the exit wound. "Nanite pack going on now," she said. "It will sting."

"Do it," Sorrel said.

Dr Martinez placed the pack over the wound and Sorrel screamed. "Hold it, while I turn her over, I need to get the entry wound as well."

"Surgery?" I asked.

"Clean in and out, nothings been hit, a small miracle there." Dr Martinez said.

I held onto the pack and aided her when she turned her over. Sorrel moaned but didn't flinch.

"Going on now," Dr. Martinez said.

I held her eyes as the pain hit and she gasped, but held herself well.

"You good?" I asked, and she nodded.

"Pain relief should take any second too." Dr. Martinez confirmed.

"It is," Sorrel said. "Help me up."

"You're sure?" I asked.

She pushed herself up some and together, Dr. Martinez and I helped her.

That's when I spotted Lev moving towards us. He had the kind of focused intensity I'd never seen before. There was something personal in his eyes and not just worry.

"You're bleeding," he said, moving to Sorrel's side.

"Flesh wound. Entry and exit, missed all the major vessels." She looked up at him. "You're bleeding…."

"Flesh wound." He copied her.

<<He's been carrying this for a long time,>> Lia said. <<The fear of losing people he cares about.>>

<<I know,>> I replied silently, watching as Lev struggled to maintain his professional composure. <<Should I give them space?>>

<<Wait and see. He might need command support.>>

I took a step back moving to help Dr. Martinez instead who wobbled on her feet.

That was when my friends command discipline finally broke. He stepped in and pulled her gently against him, mindful of her injury but unable to resist the desperate need to hold her.

"I thought..." he said quietly, his forehead resting against hers. "When I heard you were hit..."

"I'm okay, Lev," she replied. "I'm he--."

He shocked all of us, leaning down and kissing her. It was everything I'd expected and nothing I was prepared for. Desperate and fierce, it was the kind of kiss that happened when you realized how fragile everything really was.

When they broke apart, both breathing hard, I realized I'd witnessed something that would change our dynamics forever. They'd finally crossed a line they couldn't uncross.

"Lev," she said softly.

"Later," he replied, stepping back as his command awareness returned. "When you're not bleeding and we're not surrounded by people who need medical attention."

<<That's your cue to provide the professional framework they need.>>

I coughed. "Chief," when he looked at me, I added. "We need to coordinate medical evacuation for the wounded. Get them to Ring-14."

"Of course," he managed, though part of his attention remained on Sorrel as she leaned into him, favouring her side. He tapped his comms. "Report."

"All prisoners are freed," Talia reported in.

"Facility status, Luna?"

"Secured and the station is fully operation."

"I need to check on the other wounded," Sorrel said. "Doctor?"

Martinez moved to her other side.

"You're wounded," Lev replied.

"And so are you," she pointed to his shoulder. "With me, Chief."

"Go," I said and tried to wave the both of them away.

"You're the one that needs medical attention. That's an order from your commanding officer—you first."

She looked at him with surprise, then something that might have been amusement despite her obvious pain. "Which commanding officer would that be? The one who just kissed me?"

The question hung in the air while Lev processed the complications of mixing personal feelings with command authority. Dr. Martinez and I exchanged looks. I could see Lev calculating the implications for unit cohesion, operational effectiveness, and personal relationships.

"Both," he admitted, his honesty carrying more weight than deflection would have. "It's... complicated."

"Later," she said softly, using his own word back to him. "When I'm not bleeding, and we're not surrounded by people who need medical attention."

"Later," he agreed.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.