The End

The bay was quiet. Only moments ago it had been filled with the sounds of work. Pierce and Roxanne wrenching, Cypher shouting directions, Drake and Rook heavy lifting. The typical jovial sounds of the HLA laboring over a project. But the second their work had completed, they all fell silent as they gathered at the base of their accomplishment. It was done, but now came the part they'd all been dreading.

"Well, lads, she's done," Geck finally spoke up and broke the intensity of their silence. The Irishman tapped his wrench against his shoulder. "Thing o' beauty, aye?"

"That's a big ass gun," Drake agreed, staring at the sleek metal of the cannon. "Sheesh, Sparky, your people sure as hell didn't mess around."

"No," Cypher agreed, his expression unreadable beneath in visor. "They didn't."

Roxanne put her hands on her hips, glancing back between the others. "Right, it's a big feckin' planet cracker of a canon. But if yer all done oglin' the thing, we've got to decide what to do with it."

Flair stepped forward, arms crossed. "We use it, obviously. It's about time the Empire got a taste of its own damn medicine."

The silence that answered her was uneasy.

"What's gotten into you all?" she pressed. "They took our homes. Our lives. Our freedom. Reed, they bred you to be their loyal blood hound and left you to rot the second you became inconvenient. Doc, you saw what they did to their test subjects. Geck, Rox, your parents!"

"...Aye," Geck said quietly. "We know, love. But there's a lot of people on that planet," he added after a moment. "Not just Flyu."

"Humans too," Drake said, shifting uncomfortably. "People who ain't done nothin' wrong."

"Nothing wrong?" Flair's voice sharpened. "The humans down there only live the way they do because of domestication protocols! Brainwashing! They were taken against their will, tortured under the guise of progress. They lost their dignity the second their agency was stripped away to be molded into obedient little pets. You'd be doing them a favor."

"Cap, respect, but..." Drake rubbed the back of his neck. "I been through this once already. Pullin' the trigger on people who can't fight back. I can't just... I need to think it through."

"What's there to think about? They torture us, kill us, pump us full of drugs and call it compassionate-"

"He's right, Flair." Reed's voice carried its natural weight. "Flyu Prime is one of the most populated planets in the Empire. We need to think about this carefully."

Flair opened her mouth to argue again, but her gaze found Drake before she could. The Flyu grunt soldier who'd already once been ordered to shoot by the same Empire they'd spent years fighting. The same event that eventually made him turn his own weapon on himself.

"...I know what it cost you," she said, her voice dropping. "I'm not trying to make light of that."

"I know ya ain't, Cap. I know they hurt ya. Bad."

"But if we don't end this, it doesn't stop." She looked around the group, slower now, the fire banked but not out. "Paul, their little cloning experiment they abandoned because he grew too much of a conscience. Rook's years as D'Raxin's cash cow. Pierce rotting in that junkyard wondering what she did wrong. Me, being told my whole life my purpose was to spread my legs for them." Her jaw tightened. "Cypher's entire people, exterminated before they ever had a chance. Jade's home planet, blown up. That's not just cruelty, that's a system. And systems don't stop on their own."

After a long moment, Drake let out a slow breath. "...Yeah. They don't."

Flair held his gaze a beat longer, then gave a short nod.

"She's not wrong," Doc spoke up from the sidelines. "Humans have suffered a hell of a lot because of the Empire. Even the humans who seem happy as pets only live that way because of eugenics programs. They were taken against their will, ripped away from their families, brainwashed or killed. Tortured under the guise of progress, euthanized out of 'compassion.' And it'll all keep going if it's not stopped."

"Aye... me parents," Geck muttered. "Snatched, collared... then their brains cooked because they helped me escape."

"And Paul," Roxanne added. "Their little clonin' experiment they abandoned because he grew too much of a conscience."

"Exactly. They claim they love humans, but look what they've done!" Flair spat. "Reed was their precious attack human, and they still left him for dead! Rook was D'Raxin's drugged up cash cow for how long? Pierce was a normal, happy pet, and she spent years wondering why they dumped her in the junk yard! I was told all my life my purpose was to spread my legs for them! Not to mention half the shit Doc saw them do in the name of science. And Cypher and Jade? Their kind never even had a chance before the Empire blew them up! Now we do! I say we take it."

"...I think the big question on our minds here ain't if the blue pricks deserve it," Geck said, his green eyes shifting over his companions, lingering a moment longer on his twin sister. "It's more about whether or not we can live with ourselves afterward."

The HLA members looked between each other, the weapon, and their respective captains as the question sat in the air, oppressive and demanding.

At last, Reed spoke up again. "Pull the switch and kill billions, or leave it and let billions die. We'd also kick the mother of all hornets nests if we did. They'll hunt us. They may even reorganize. But whatever we do, we're going to decide the way we always have: as a team." He put his hand out flat in front of him. "The bastards bred me to be their attack dog, then left me to rot. They enslaved my people. They've exterminated billions to satiate their lust for power, and used us to help them along. If we don't put an end to it, they won't stop. I say we blow the bastards to hell."

Everyone else watched him, each meeting his sharp eyes.

Doc unfolded his arms and stood beside him. "I saw the Empire do horrific things to their human test subjects. I saw them tortured and killed, turned into monsters, even. I even helped them do it because I was too blinded by loyalty." He set his hand on top of Reed's. "No more."

Flair joined them. "I've spoken my piece. Fuck the Empire."

Cypher raised his head, shifting his weight, then wordlessly also put his hand in. "The Empire destroyed my people. Let my home planet rot and stole our technology," he said evenly. "For Circuiria."

The O'Riley twins locked eyes. "Well, Georgie? What're ye thinkin'?" Roxanne asked her brother.

"...I'm thinkin' those blue bastards stole our home, stole our identities... They stole our feckin' parents from us, Rox. Ye weren't there to see their faces when I went back to get 'em. They weren't themselves anymore. Just... gone. I'm thinkin' we repay the damn favor and remind them why they never should've fucked with the Irish in the first place."

"Yknow, Gran's gonna worry herself sick when she finds out we done it," Roxanne told him with a weak smile.

"...Aye. She will. Everyone back home will. Hell, we might not make it back at all. But knowin' ma and da were avenged? That we told the bastards exactly where to shove their superiority? Worth every bleedin' second."

Roxanne's smile spread into a grin. Together, the O'Riley twins put their hands in.

Jade shuffled her feet in uncertainly as she watched her team mates make their decisions, then looked up at Drake with wide eyes. "Drake...?"

"...dunno, Sprite," the big guy muttered in response. "We do it, we're killin' people. We don't do it, we're lettin' people get killed." He stared at the metal floor of the underground compound. Shiny and pristine, despite being a thousand years old, unlike the surface of the old planet. Once home of Cypher's people, now a massive ruin in space.

"The Flyu... they'll keep waging war," the Novarian girl said quietly. "Humans suffer greatly. But others will, too. like my people... the Circuirians... the Auraelians... So much needless pain... But I'm a healer, I'm supposed to save lives, not... not..."

"Yeah, kid. I know," Drake replied. "I was s'posed to protect people. Til suddenly I wasn't. Empire should pay for their crimes, but... but there's lots of em who don't think that way, yknow? They don't deserve that."

A shadow moved up beside them. Rook, the Shrike crew's resident gentle giant, set his scarred hand on Jade's shoulder. "Sometimes... the wound has to get worse before it can get better."

"I..." Jade let out a sharp breath as a tear slid down her cheek. "It might not even work! If they just reorganize, or... what if they just use it as an excuse to get *worse?* Kill even more people? We'll be responsible for that! We'll-"

"Maybe," *Rook rumbled grimly.* "But still gotta try." He lifted his hand and moved forward to join the rest of the HLA, adding his hand in silent agreement.

Jade looked up at Drake again. "I... I don't know if I can do this..."

Drake's expression darkened for a moment, but then, he looked up, shifted his gaze to Jade, and smiled weakly. "I... I ain't the smartest guy here, Sprite. But... I think I know what the big guy's gettin' at. Ya get a tumor, ya cut it out. Might take some good cells with it, but it gives the other good cells the chance to heal it up, right? Makes the body feel stronger when ya get rid of what's boggin' it down. So maybe that's what we gotta do. Get rid of the tumor and... give everyone else hope, yeah? Make 'em see they can fight back, just like us."

The Novarian blinked again, more tears slipping from her eyes. "I..." she dropped her gaze. "Give everyone else... hope..."

"Lots of people would die... I ain't feelin' great about that," Drake admitted. "But even if we fail, it'll still leave the Empire with a hell of a reminder: 'ya don't mess with other people's homes, and ya don't mess with the HLA.' Who knows, the Auraelians might get their second wind, they sure gave the Empire what for! Might bring more human rebels out of hidin', give some other smaller factions some bite. So... maybe we gotta..." he paused, then steeled himself. "Gotta try."

"Drake..."

The Flyu put on his trademark grin and set his hand on her shoulder. "I got ya, Sprite. Always got ya."

She looked up at him for a long moment. Then back at the hands already stacked. Reed, Doc, Flair, Cypher, the twins, and now Rook... People who lost everything and decided to do something about it anyway, like she had when she'd first joined the HLA.

Slowly, without a word, she stepped forward. Then, carefully, like she was making a promise she wasn't sure she could keep, she added hers.

Drake was right behind her, his huge hand dwarfing most of the others.

The HLA looked between one another. No one spoke, but they didn't have to.

"So then, since we're all in agreement," Roxanne began as the group stepped back. "What's the plan? The second this feckin' thing blasts, the Flyu are gonna be lookin' to swarm."

"We'll have to make a fast exit," Reed answered, tapping his chin with his thumb* "Void knows they'll kill us on sight if we linger. But we also can't just leave the canon here, either. If the Empire got their hands on that..."

"So we pull the ladder up behind us," Flair supplied. "Break the canon so they can't use it, or fix it, or steal it."

"Aye," Geck agreed, folding his arms and looking over the weapon with a keen eye. "Few well placed charges ought to do it. Could rig it up remotely. Fire it, scatter back to the ships, then blow the thing.

Cypher glanced towards the ground and lightly touched his visor. "...No, that would still leave too much evidence. The canon's system ties into the planet's core network. If the Empire ever managed to crack the security, which now they'd have massive incentive to do, they could get their hands on much more than just this."

Geck gaped at him. "Christ's bleedin' robe, mate."

"Just the facts," Cypher replied flatly.

"And we'll be too busy running for our lives to stop them from doing it," Doc added.*

Flair ground her teeth and let out a frustrated growl while the others shifted in place, racking their brains for solutions.

"...Unless," Cypher began again. All eyes turned back on him. "Unless the Empire thinks we're dead."

"Dead? Ye mean fake our own demise?" Geck asked.

Reed tilted his head curiously. "You have something in mind?"

"I do," the Circuirian said. "The canon was wired directly into the global energy grid. I could decalibrate the conduits so when it fires, it will back up into the chamber. It will fry the circuitry, overheat the power cells, and start a chain reaction that would travel throughout the entire planetary network, and eventually reach the geothermic power generation chambers underground."

Reed recoiled. "You're talking about blowing the planet?"

"...Yes," Cypher replied, his voice taking on a rare somber tone.

Drake stepped forward, gesturing wildly toward the ceiling. "Wha? Sparky, this old ruin's your home!"

"I'm aware."

The air turned tense.

"Cyph... you'd really make that kind o' sacrifice?" Geck asked.

"...There isn't much left for me here. My people have been gone for a millennium. Most of the technology here is worthless by now. I never knew this place while it lived." Cypher shook his head, then looked away and lowered his voice. "All I would be losing are... ghosts."

Another solemn quiet befell the group until Flair cleared her throat.

"So then, we glass Flyu Prime, evacuate the premises, then let Circuiria have the last laugh," she listed, trying to return to some semblance of pragmatism, despite the way her shoulders tensed. "The Empire thinks we're dead, there's nothing left for them to use, and we go into hiding and watch them chase their tails. But we still need to make a clean getaway. If they pick up our ship's trails, they'll know we duped them."

Reed nodded, his keen mind already strategizing. He set his eyes on Jade. "Jade, can your shadow magic conceal us?"

The young Novarian was taken aback, but wrung her hands and thought for a moment. "Um... possibly. If I connect with the Voidrunner's tree and use it to boost my energy... But the Shrike would have to stay very close by."

"Noted. What if we hooked the Shrike into the Voidrunner's towing field? Close enough?"

"It might be... I'll try my best."

"Alright. Go back to your ship then," Reed told her. "Do what you need to to prepare."

As Jade turned to go, Reed held up his comm device and contacted Pierce. "Pierce, did you get all that?"

"Loud and clear, Cap," came Pierce's prompt response from aboard the Shrike. "I'll move into position and assist how I can."

"You feel ready to die today, Helmsman?"

"I'm ready to die every day, you dramatic asshat."

Reed chuckled. "Just have the ships ready to make a very fast getaway and contact Mirage to tell him to stay clear of the sector."

"Roger. And Reed? ...Don't miss."

The line cut off. The HLA's leader looked once again at his team. "Alright then. Cypher, get to work on the canon modification. Flair, take Roxanne, Doc, and Drake with you. Rook, man the shuttle. Get the engines warmed up. We'll only have a matter of minutes to get off the planet. O'Riley?"

"Aye, Cap."

"Canon. Once the system is online, be ready to fire on my mark."

Geck's responding grin was nothing short of devious and he wasted no time turning on his heel and sauntering toward the canon and hopping into the seat. The rest of the HLA members followed suit, either leaving on one of the two shuttles they'd come in, or preparing the canon.

Cypher worked as he always did, quick and efficient. Although there was a slight hesitation in his movements now. Geck kept his eyes on the terminals and whistled one of his preferred tunes, smirking as he always did when a job was near complete, but his whistle was a little shakier than normal.

It didn't take long. Cypher straightened up from his work in the maintenance hatch, then stared for a moment before lifting his head. Only a small sliver of sky was visible through the dense walls of the bunker, but it was enough to see the stars. The stars that Circuiria would never see again. Slowly, steadily, he removed his visor and blinked, taking in the sight unhindered.

"...Reed," he said. "The canon is ready."

Reed turned from the terminal screen he was watching as the weapon's systems began flashing to life. "Cypher, if you need a moment to-"

"I'm alright," Cypher interrupted, his voice firm, but calm. "My people... won't have died in vain."

Reed just nodded. The two then joined Geck by the main controls. The Irishman was already deep into a system's check, the console displaying each in bright green until stopping on a blinking cursor. The silence in the compound faded as the mechanical components hummed to life.

"Well, lads, this is it, aye?" Geck said.

Cypher input a few commands.

`ACQUIRING TARGET: FLYU PRIME`

`TARGET FOUND`

`SYNCING ORBITAL TRAJECTORY... OK`

`ALL SYSTEMS ONLINE`

`SECURITY VERIFICATION: CLEARANCE ACCEPTED`

`AWAITING COMMAND...`

One last time, Reed tapped his comm device. "Reed to Voidrunner. We're ready down here. What's your status?"

"We're set up here," said Flair. "Shrike is tethered. Engines are hot and ready to go. Jade can hold the cloak for just long enough to clear the sector."

"Roger that. Standby, Voidrunner." The captain inhaled deeply and looked at Geck and Cypher. "...And everyone. If things go south and some of us don't make it through this... It was an honor working with all of you."

"...Likewise, Reed," Flair replied. "Just... get out of there alive."

The line cut.

A nod from Reed signaled Geck to returned his attention to the controls. The canon's hum grew louder as the ancient mechanisms engaged, old gears grinding to life, old circuitry sparking with electricity.

`SYSTEMS ENGAGED`

*The three men stared at the screen as Flyu Prime appeared in the reticle.*

With a deep breath in, Geck bowed his head. "Heavenly Father, be my refuge and strength. Break every chain, demolish every stronghold, and silence every voice of the enemy. I clothe myself in Your armor and declare that the battle belongs to You. In Jesus's mighty name... amen."

"...Amen," Cypher whispered, sliding his visor back into place as Geck crossed himself and hovered his hand over the final input.

"Fer Earth, ye feckin' pricks."

"For every home you destroyed," Cypher added.

"For every life you condemned," Reed finished. His sharp blue eyes met theirs, then focused on the viewer. "Fire."

Geck's hand came down. The canon revved up into a high pitched whine. Then...

The shot fired. Loud and powerful, a blinding streak of white across the blackness of space. The beam found its mark, boring a molten hole into the planet's crust and seared deep into the core. Red veins formed on the surface as the geology reacted.

And then Flyu Prime burst into a firework of rubble.

The ground beneath them shook.

"Right, time to go!" Geck declared, hastily jumping from his seat with the other two right behind him.

The shuttle was waiting for them, and Rook was already halfway to lift off when the last of them jumped onboard. Circuiria rumbled ominously beneath them, the old ruined network hubs sparking and snapping as the energy pulse surged through.

"Time to fly like ye've never flown before, big man!" Geck exclaimed, leaping into the co-pilot seat.

Rook didn't answer, but hit the controls with a ferocity he rarely displayed that jerked the craft into motion.

"Flair, get ready! We're coming in hot!" Reed shouted into his comm.

Meanwhile, Cypher watched through the back hatch as Circuiria began to tear itself apart.

On the bridge of the Voidrunner, Flair stared unblinking at the viewer at the shuttle tore through Circuiria's atmosphere. Drake gripped the helm controls with bloodless knuckles. When the tiny ship broke into orbit, it beelined into the Voidrunner's docking bay.

"Got 'em!" Flair shouted in triumph. "Jade, cloak us! Now! Drake! Punch it!"

"Aye, Cap!" Drake responded, his large hands flying over the console.

Circuiria glowed molten red and cracked open. The Voidrunner's engines roared to life, and with the Shrike in tow, shimmered and vanished into shadow.