Valeria

  sat intently in the pilot's seat of the Orion One, trying to activate

  the flux drive. But after a brief hum and a soft crunch on the

  displays, it turned out that the drive was malfunctioning. "Damn..."

  she cursed softly as she checked the displays. Obviously, the Orion

  One was more damaged than they had initially thought.

  She

  took a deep breath and radioed Pilgrim: "The flux drive is

  kaput. We'll have to hide here until we can get it repaired."

  "Hide?

  Where exactly?" asked Pilgrim.

  Valeria

  looked at the navigation system. "There's an asteroid field

  nearby. That should provide us with enough cover."

  Pilgrim

  hesitated briefly. “Understood. That could at least buy us some

  time.”

  Irina

  Akerman, who had been listening to the conversation, spoke up. "I'll

  take care of the drive. I worked on the design of the Leviathan

  class, and if anyone can repair this flux drive, it's me!"

  Valeria

  looked at Irina and felt a twinge of respect. This woman had nerves

  of steel. “Good, we’ll hide in the asteroid field. Pilgrim,

  you’ll provide cover.”

  "I'll

  keep the five bogeys busy until you get the drive working again,"

  Pilgrim replied calmly, although the tension in his voice was

  audible. "Hang in there."

  "We

  will," Valeria replied as she steered the Orion One toward the

  asteroid field. The shadows of the giant boulders were already

  appearing on the screens, and the queasy feeling in her stomach grew.

  * * *

  The

  Orion One literally rumbled into the asteroid field, and Valeria

  could literally feel the freighter struggling through the vacuum.

  "Damn it, how can this thing be so incredibly slow?" she

  cursed loudly, her fingers drumming impatiently on the armrest of the

  pilot's seat. It was as if she were trying to move a mountain, while

  the asteroid field was within reach, but the ship was barely picking

  up speed.

  "This

  damn snail's pace! I could go faster if I got out and pushed,"

  she growled, clenching her fists.

  Pilgrim

  concentrated on his own tasks. He fired the afterburner of his Eagle,

  the cockpit shaking as the additional thrust literally catapulted him

  forward. His HUD showed five red markers approaching him. "Five

  Falchions..." he muttered, analyzing the formation.

  Individually, they weren't much of a threat to his Eagle, but in a

  pack they could be dangerous if he gave them too much space. His

  heavy fighter was designed for pure superiority, but subduing five

  opponents would still require a great deal of skill.

  "Val,

  there are five Falchions. I'll take them head-on and distract them,"

  he informed his partner over the radio, his voice calm and focused,

  even though adrenaline was rushing through him.

  "Five?

  That's all? Well, they know they're at a disadvantage," Val's

  voice came back dryly. "Take them out, boss. I'll try to get

  this flying snail shell into the cover of the asteroids."

  Pilgrim

  switched to combat mode as the distance between him and the attackers

  melted away. His finger hovered over the trigger, his eyes scanning

  the movements of the enemy ships. He knew he had to keep them

  busy—every second they spent with him

  was

  a second Valkyrie could use to rescue the Orion One.

  The

  first energy beams flickered through the emptiness of space as he

  flew a rapid zigzag course, moving toward the lead Falchion.

  Pilgrim

  focused on one of the attacking Falchions, his eyes fixed on the

  target, his heart beating calmly as if this were just another mission

  like many before. He maneuvered his Eagle into an optimal attack

  position, using its superior speed and agility to circle the enemy

  Falchions. His Eagle's weapon systems were ready, he took a deep

  breath and fired with deadly precision. A glistening beam of energy

  hits the first Falchion right at the junction of its shields. With a

  silent flicker, the shields collapse, and a well-aimed shot to the

  engines turns the ship into an exploding fireball that lights up the

  blackness of space for a moment.

  However,

  Pilgrim has no time to savor his victory. The remaining Falchions

  have already moved closer to the Orion One, like predators sensing

  their prey. Their weapons are focused on the freighter's massive

  engines, an obvious attempt to cripple the ship for good. Valkyrie

  growls angrily as she steers the sluggish Orion One through the

  asteroid field. "Those damn pirates!" she hisses as she

  desperately tries to control the Leviathan's sluggish evasive

  maneuvers. Every inch of space counts; every asteroid could mean the

  end. The warning lights in the cockpit flash frantically, and the

  Orion One's engines groan under the strain. The attackers' energy

  weapons repeatedly bounce off the freighter's shields, which are

  growing weaker.

  Inside,

  it's pure chaos. The passengers, in their luxurious evening gowns and

  suits, scream in panic. Some cling desperately to their seats, while

  others are thrown wildly around the interior.

  .

  The overload of the gravity units pushes the balance system to its

  limits, and the passengers feel the full force of the maneuvers.

  Valkyrie, however, remains undeterred. She shifts energy from the

  weapon systems to the shields, as the weapons would be useless in

  this battle anyway.

  At

  the same time, Pilgrim had his sights set on his next opponent, but

  the pilot of this Falchion proves to be a more skilled opponent. He

  flies fast evasive maneuvers, turning and twisting the ship with

  surprising precision. Pilgrim grits his teeth as he analyzes his

  opponent's every move. It is a duel to the death, and although his

  Eagle is superior to the Falchion, Pilgrim knows that a single

  mistake could turn the tide. The enemy pilot seems to understand his

  strategy, performing daring maneuvers and forcing Pilgrim to fly even

  more aggressively. They engage in a deadly dance where every second

  counts.

  * * *

  As

  the duel intensifies, Valkyrie calls out over the radio through the

  constant noise of the sensors: "Pilgrim, the shields are about

  to collapse. I need more time!"

  Under

  constant fire and the constant threat of being hit, Valeria had

  little time to think about the situation. The Orion One groaned with

  every risky evasive maneuver that took it through the asteroid field,

  while the passengers on board reacted with screams and panic as the

  gravitational systems reached their limits.

  Irina

  Akermans voice, calm and focused, cut through the chaos in Valkyries

  helmet. "I've found the problem, but I need more time. The flux

  drive is almost ready, but we have to..."

  Valeria

  interrupted her sharply: "Time is the one thing we don't have,

  Irina! We're under attack!"

  ,

  Irina! We're under fire!"

  The

  heat of battle intensified as three of the attackers relentlessly

  fired at the engines of the Orion One. Sparks flew as projectiles hit

  the outer hull. In the distance, Valeria could see Pilgrim finally

  getting rid of his opponent after a fierce battle, but he was still

  too far away to help immediately.

  "Valeria,"

  Irina said suddenly, this time with an unusual tone in her voice, "I

  have an idea. We need to fly closer to the enemies."

  "Closer?"

  Valeria frowned as she weighed the idea in her mind. That meant

  putting themselves in the middle of the Falchions' line of fire. But

  something about Irina's confidence made her prick up her ears.

  "Trust

  me, please," Irina repeated, "I know what I'm doing."

  Valeria

  stared at the flashing displays in front of her for a moment. She was

  used to acting quickly and making decisions. "All right,"

  she finally replied curtly. "Let's do it."

  With

  a quick push of the control stick, the Orion One changed course and

  flew directly toward the Falchions, who continued to swoop down on

  their prey like birds of prey.

  Valeria

  put her plan into action. She throttled the Orion One's engines

  completely, letting the massive ship drift sluggishly through space

  and simulating a total failure. The displays flickered as the systems

  went into emergency mode. The attacking Falchions then changed their

  tactics, like predators encircling their prey.

  "Now

  let yourselves be deceived," she murmured as she watched the

  enemies' movements.

  Suddenly,

  the Leviathan's tractor beams flared up and grabbed one of the

  attacking Falchions with an almost invisible but irresistible force.

  Valeria held her breath as the beams caught the enemy ship and held

  it seemingly effortlessly. The Falchion seemed to freeze for a moment

  before the pressure became too great. Without a sound, without an

  explosion, the Falchion broke

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  two

  halves, and their debris began to drift slowly through the silent

  space. Sparks flew and metal parts shattered, but the silence

  remained omnipresent.

  Valeria

  couldn't help but laugh out loud. "That was brilliant! I never

  thought the tractor beams could be used like that!" Her hands

  loosened slightly on the control stick as the adrenaline rush still

  reverberated within her.

  Irina

  Akerman reported in over the radio, also laughing: "You should

  never underestimate a 'tough old bitch'!" Her voice resonated

  with joyful pride, as if she had known exactly how successful this

  unconventional plan would be.

  * * *

  Valeria

  grinned broadly. It had been a risky strategy, but it had worked –

  and how! The remaining attackers were clearly confused by the sudden

  destruction of their comrade. In the brief silence that followed,

  Valeria sensed that the tide was turning in her favor. She hadn't had

  time to catch her breath yet, but this moment of superiority gave her

  new strength.

  Jonas

  Akerman, visibly frightened, nervously approached his mother, his

  eyes darting back and forth between her and Valeria. "How can

  you joke around in a situation like this?" His voice trembled,

  and his hands were clenched into fists with tension. "We're

  being shot at, and you... you're just laughing! How can you do that?"

  Irina

  paused, gave her son a calm, almost indulgent look, and smiled

  slightly. "Jonas," she began with a composure that stood in

  stark contrast to the hectic situation,

  "Sometimes

  that's the only way to keep a clear head in moments like this. People

  react differently to danger.

  Some

  freeze, others become overly focused. And some... laugh to relieve

  the stress. It helps to release the tension."

  Jonas

  frowned, still visibly confused. "But that's... not normal, is

  it? I mean, we're in mortal danger right now!"

  Irina

  put a hand on his shoulder, squeezed him gently, and continued in a

  soft but firm tone. "You don't know that because you've never

  really been in mortal danger yourself. Once you've experienced it,

  you'll understand why we react this way. It's a way of staying in

  control, Jonas. It doesn't mean we don't take the situation seriously

  – quite the contrary."

  Valeria,

  who had been listening to the conversation on her helmet radio,

  glanced over her shoulder without taking her fingers off the

  controls. "Your mother is right," she added, her voice

  calm, even though shots were still pelting the shields of the Orion

  One outside. "If you focus only on the danger, you'll eventually

  become incapable of acting. Sometimes it's better to create some

  distance so you can think more clearly." She grinned slightly

  before turning her attention back to the instruments. "Besides,

  what would life be without a few good jokes, even in the worst

  moments?"

  Jonas

  looked thoughtful, as if he were trying to grasp the concept. For a

  moment, he seemed lost, unsure if he was really reassured. But then

  he nodded slowly. The trembling in his hands subsided, and a hint of

  understanding flitted across his face.

  "Okay...

  that kind of makes sense. But," he hesitated briefly and then

  added resolutely, "Mom, when this is over, I'm going to ask you

  about the times you were in mortal danger."

  Irina

  laughed softly as she went back to work. "You'll get your

  stories, kid. But until then, let's focus on getting out of here

  alive."

  Valeria

  turned to Irina and asked hopefully, "Can we repeat the maneuver

  with the other two attackers?"

  Irina

  shook her head. "Unfortunately not. One of the tractor beams

  burned out. We only have one that works, but I already have a new

  idea."

  Valeria

  raised an eyebrow. "What do you suggest?"

  "Fly

  as close as possible to a large asteroid," Irina explained with

  a determined gleam in her eyes. "If we catch one of the

  attacking Falchions with the remaining tractor beam, we can pull it

  against the asteroid. The collision should take it out."

  Valeria

  nodded, her lips curving into a slight smile.

  "Understood.

  Hold on tight."

  She

  gripped the control sticks and steered the Orion One toward a massive

  asteroid whose surface was littered with craters and sharp rock

  formations. The two remaining Falchions followed close behind, their

  weapons firing relentlessly at the freighter. The Orion One's shields

  flickered under the barrage, but Valeria remained focused.

  "Ready,

  Irina?" she called over her shoulder.

  "Ready

  when you are," Irina replied, instinctively slipping into a

  familiar tone as her fingers hovered over the tractor beam controls.

  At

  the last moment, Valeria pulled the controls around, and the Orion

  One scraped past the asteroid. One of the pursuers was so fixated on

  its target that it barely had time to react. Irina activated the

  tractor beam, and an invisible burst of energy engulfed the Falchion.

  With precise control, she steered the enemy ship directly toward the

  surface of the asteroid.

  The

  Falchion's pilot desperately tried to free himself from the tractor

  beam's grip, but it was too late. Without a sound—because there is

  no sound in the vacuum of space—the ship shattered upon collision

  with the asteroid and broke into countless pieces of debris that

  scattered in all directions like sparkling stars.

  Valeria

  breathed a sigh of relief. "It worked!"

  Irina

  smiled contentedly. "You should never underestimate the

  possibilities of a single tractor beam. It was really worth buying

  the license from Nimbus Aerospace."

  Valeria

  couldn't suppress a broad grin and turned to Irina. "That was

  another brilliant idea!" she exclaimed enthusiastically.

  Irina

  smiled contentedly. "I haven't had this much fun in a long

  time," she replied with a twinkle in her eyes.

  With

  a curious look, Valeria asked, "Doesn't it hurt a little to

  destroy your own designs? After all, you designed these ships

  yourself."

  Irina

  shook her head. "Under normal circumstances, perhaps. But when

  my ships are used by people to attack me and try to kill me, it

  doesn't bother me in the slightest. On the contrary, I consider it a

  personal insult."

  Valeria

  nodded understandingly. "Good point."

  Suddenly,

  an alarm flashed on the displays. "Damn it!" Valeria

  exclaimed. "The second tractor beam is now down too!"

  Before

  she could react, the last remaining attacker opened heavy fire on the

  Orion One. Energy waves hit the ship, and the shields began to

  flicker dangerously. Warning sirens wailed through the corridors, and

  the passengers panicked again. Screams filled the rooms as the ship

  shook under the attacks.

  "Irina,

  the shields won't hold much longer!" Valeria cried in a tense

  voice. She desperately tried to get out of the line of fire, but

  without functioning tractor beams and with damaged engines, the Orion

  One was an easy target.

  Irina

  pressed her lips together. "We have to hold on! Your partner

  should be here any minute."

  At

  this critical moment, Pilgrim came on the radio. "Val, I'm on my

  way. Hang in there!"

  The

  enemy was getting closer and closer, its weapons ready for the final

  blow. Just as the Orion One's outer armor was about to be breached,

  Pilgrim's Eagle shot in. With precise maneuvers, he positioned

  himself behind the enemy Falchion and fired a targeted salvo.

  The

  attacker didn't stand a chance. Hit by Pilgrim's weapons, the

  Falchion exploded in a silent fireball, its debris scattering into

  space.

  Relief

  broke out on board the Orion One. The passengers breathed a sigh of

  relief, some sank exhausted into their seats, others embraced each

  other with joy. Valeria let the tension fall away and leaned back

  briefly.

  "Thanks,

  Pilgrim. That came at just the right time," she said with relief

  over the radio.

  "You're

  welcome," replied Pilgrim with a slight smile in his voice. "I'm

  not going to leave my partner in the lurch."

  Irina

  spoke up. "Well done, you two. Now we can finally take care of

  repairing the flux drive."

  Valeria

  nodded. "Right. Let's not delay any longer."

  Pilgrim

  grinned slightly. "I thought you could use some help. But tell

  me, where did the other two ships go? I was actually expecting three

  opponents."

  Valeria

  smiled. "Well, they ran into a sneaky, tough old Lu-der. I'll

  explain it to you in more detail later."

  In

  the background, Irina could be heard laughing loudly. "I think I

  have a new nickname!" she exclaimed cheerfully.

  Pilgrim

  raised an eyebrow in surprise, even though Valeria couldn't see it.

  "Now you've got me curious."

  "You

  have every right to be," Valeria replied with a mischievous

  undertone. "But first we have to make sure that the Orion One

  is

  fully operational again."

  * * *

  Together,

  Jan and Valeria set about repairing the flux drive. Irina, with her

  in-depth knowledge of Leviathan construction, purposefully guided

  them through the necessary steps. Valeria assisted her, handing her

  tools and checking systems while Irina replaced the damaged

  components and recalibrated the complex electronics.

  As

  they worked, there was an atmosphere of concentrated determination.

  The previous tension gave way to a certain confidence. Irina remarked

  with a smile, "You know, it's been a long time since I've worked

  on one of my ships myself. It feels good." Valeria nodded

  respectfully. "You can tell you have it in your blood,

  Miss

  Akerman."

  Irina

  waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, just call me Irina. After

  everything we've been through together, we don't need to be so formal

  anymore."

  Valeria

  smiled. "All right, Irina."

  After

  a while, the control indicators on the panel lit up green. Irina

  leaned back and exhaled contentedly. "That's it. The flux drive

  should be working again now."

  Valeria

  went back to the cockpit, activated the systems, and checked the

  diagnostics. "All systems are online. We can take off."

  She

  opened the radio channel to Pilgrim. "Pilgrim, the flux drive is

  repaired. We're setting course for Valkor."

  "Understood,"

  he replied. "I'll fly alongside you and provide cover."

  The

  Orion One and Pilgrim's Eagle formed a formation. Valeria entered the

  coordinates for the planet Valkor while Irina stood next to her and

  looked out the panoramic window. "It will be good to come home

  again

  ,"

  she said quietly.

  Valeria

  nodded. "Yes, and I'm excited to see what awaits us there."

  Pilgrim's

  voice came over the radio again. "Ready to jump in three...

  two... one..."

  At

  the same time, they activated their flux drives. The stars in front

  of them distorted into glowing lines as they plunged into the flux

  jump. A feeling of forward momentum filled them as the ships sped

  toward their destination.

  The

  mood aboard the Orion One was calm. The passengers had settled down

  and gathered in small groups, whispering to each other or gazing

  pensively at the dancing lights of the flux drive.

  "I

  want to thank you again. Without you and your partner, we would have

  been lost. That was very good work and much more than I would have

  expected from strangers," Irina said over the ship's radio.

  Valeria

  smiled modestly. "We just did what we could. Besides, I had

  excellent support from a cunning, tough old vixen."

  Irina

  laughed heartily. "I don't think I'll be able to shake that

  nickname anytime soon."

  The

  two women fell silent, lost in thought, the silence marked by respect

  and a newfound friendship.

  As

  the ships emerged from the flux jump, the planet Valkor appeared

  before them, a sight full of promise and new possibilities. The

  silver bands of clouds and shimmering oceans glistened in the light

  of the nearby sun.

  "Here

  we are," Pilgrim said over the radio. "Welcome to Valkor."

  Valeria

  took a deep breath. "Time to bring the Orion One safely into its

  nest."

  Irina

  nodded in agreement. "And maybe we can return the favor. I think

  Orion Dynamics owes you something."

  With

  that thought, they began their descent, ready for what

  what

  lay ahead.