What was weird about pirate ships was their unique natures. Virtually every ship built outside of Mars or Earth orbit was one-of-a-kind. In this case, the three cruisers had hulls that were essentially patchworks of scavenged metal and stolen technology.

  The first cruiser, dubbed Nightshade, had a long, sleek profile with narrow superstructures that extended from the midsection. The whole thing looked like a Christmas tree with no needles on it, to my eye. Her dark hull was adorned with jagged, crimson patterns that seemed to dance like flames as the ship moved through space. It was clear that this vessel was designed for speed and agility. She probably served as a swift hunter, built to chase down smaller ships.

  The second cruiser, known as Iron Serpent, was bulkier and more heavily armored. This squatty ship had a hull that was reinforced with thick plating. The armor gave the ship a brutal, imposing appearance. Her main weapon was mounted on the front—a massive, slow-firing plasma cannon. According to our scans, that single gun was capable of delivering devastating blows—if it could land a hit.

  Lastly, Shadow’s Whisper was a sinister-looking cruiser with angular lines and an asymmetrical design. Its hull was a matte black, making it difficult to spot against the backdrop of space. The ship was equipped with advanced stealth technology, allowing it to move silently and undetected through space.

  Each of these pirate cruisers was a threat on its own, but together, they formed a deadly combination. Everyone on Borag’s command deck looked sullen as they reviewed the enemy specs.

  “Captain, our analysis shows that the enemy’s firepower is superior,” Commander Nichols said. “Borag is a tough ship, but I’m not sure we can withstand a barrage from all three cruisers at once.”

  “I have to agree, sir,” Lt. Gavinson added. “If we were facing just one or maybe even two of them, we might have a fighting chance. But against all three, the odds aren’t in our favor. Our ship simply wasn’t designed for that kind of engagement.”

  Captain Hansen looked at the data. She weighed her options, knowing the lives of her crew were at stake.

  “Thank you both for your input,” she said. “I’ve also reviewed the predictive AI models, and they support your conclusions. We can’t afford to engage in a battle we can’t win. We’ll need to find another way to deal with this threat.”

  Lt. Gavinson and Commander Nichols exchanged glances. They looked relieved. Maybe they worried their captain was going to get them killed this time out.

  Captain Hansen watched the ships approach from the far side of Neptune. They were already moving fast and using the gas giant’s gravitational field to accelerate their progress.

  Her face grew grim as she listened to her navigators’ projections. Commander Nichols explained that the three pirate ships were closing in too quickly. Borag simply couldn’t reach a high enough velocity to evade them. With their options dwindling, the crew members began to tense up, anticipating the inevitable confrontation.

  The captain made her choices and gave fateful orders. The ship accelerated—but she didn’t turn and run. Instead, we were driving on toward Naiad at top speed. Borag was heading back to Naiad and the hidden cavern that housed the alien portal.

  “That’s fucking crazy!” Ledbetter exclaimed.

  “Belay that shit, Private!” Sergeant Cox admonished him.

  Ledbetter and others quieted, but they were still muttering. I couldn’t blame them. After all, our asses were on the line here, too.

  The crew worked diligently to prepare for a battle we were doing our best to outrun. As we approached the moon, everyone was holding their breath as we waited to see if this desperate plan would succeed or seal our doom.

  Captain Hansen’s decision to head for Naiad instead of engaging or running for it left Red Company puzzled and anxious. We’d expected a fierce battle, but instead Hansen seemed to have something else in mind. This uncertainty led to heated debates and discussions among the marines as we tried to guess her strategy.

  Whispers and speculation filled the ship, and even the experienced members couldn’t fathom what Captain Hansen had planned. Some thought she was avoiding a fight to preserve our lives, while others argued that she might be leading them into a trap or sacrificing our ship for some unknown reason.

  As Borag drew closer to Naiad anticipation mounted. Red Company members continued to voice their concerns, but there was nothing we could do but trust our captain’s judgment. We readied ourselves for any eventuality, checking our weapons and equipment, and mentally preparing for the unknown.

  Finally, as the big ship entered Naiad’s orbit, Captain Hansen called a meeting of her senior officers and Red Company.

  “It is my intention to use the alien portal as a means to escape the approaching pirate ships.”

  We listened, stunned by her audacious plan. Despite the risks and uncertainties, she was going to try to use alien tech to save the day. Most of us hated the idea, but we knew we had little choice but to follow her lead and place our faith in the mysterious alien technology.

  “That other ship did it,” I said to support her position. “The mothership we chased out here all the way from the belt. It vanished right here—just like Welks did.”

  “We don’t know that,” Sergeant Cox complained. Even he seemed unnerved by this decision from the bridge. “Maybe that ship was destroyed, or just got too close to that alien black-hole machine and got swallowed by accident. Did you ever think of that?”

  “Settle down, gentlemen,” Lt. Quinn ordered, and we all fell quiet. Sergeant Cox looked sheepish, but he was still upset, I could tell.

  With the plan of action laid out by the officers, all of us aboard Borag prepared for the worst.

  In the meantime, the three pirate cruisers drew closer. The outcome of Captain Hansen’s bold decision would soon be revealed, and the fate of the entire crew hung in the balance.

  Our massive ship circled Naiad’s moon. Borag’s hull gleamed with reflected starlight. The ship’s powerful engines hummed steadily, propelling it downward, driving us toward the secret hangar hidden beneath the moon’s surface.

  With careful precision, Borag maneuvered into position above the opening to the secret hangar. The ship’s thrusters worked in perfect harmony, maintaining a stable hover over the cavernous entrance. Borag’s immense size cast a dark, foreboding shadow on the lunar terrain below, contrasting starkly against the eerie glow of Naiad’s surface.

  The crew aboard Borag held their breath in anticipation, acutely aware of the high stakes involved in their captain’s plan. They watched intently as the ship’s powerful spotlights illuminated the cavern below, revealing the entrance to the hidden hangar and the potential salvation that awaited them within.

  As Borag hovered above the secret hangar, the moment of truth drew near, and the entire crew braced for the next daring phase of their mission.

  “Go, go, go!” shouted Lieutenant Quinn as Red Company marines leaped from the airlocks, falling slowly in the low gravity of Naiad’s moon. We descended toward the surface, hoping our suits wouldn’t rip on the sharp rocks below.

  When we touched down, we wasted no time in scouring the area for a way to open the domed entrance to the cavern hidden within the moon. Dust kicked up around us as we searched frantically, aware that time was running out. Every second counted as the enemy pirate ships closed in, their weapons primed and ready to unleash destruction upon Borag.

  Just as the pirates came into weapon’s range, Private Billington stumbled upon a control panel that would open the entrance. With a triumphant shout, he activated it. The massive dome began to rumble and groan as it slowly opened. The entrance was a dark maw.

  Relief washed over me as I realized we’d found the opening. But we couldn’t afford to relax just yet. The relentless pirate ships were hot on our tail. Without hesitation, we leaped down into the hole.

  Borag lowered herself, hot plasmas scorching the icy rocks as she approached the gaping entrance. The enormous ship was swallowed up by the moon’s interior. The cavern seemed to pull Borag in, like a hungry beast eager to consume its prey.

  At a series of shouted commands from Lt. Quinn, we launched ourselves, leaping into the darkness after Borag. The low gravity made it feel like we were fleas hopping onto a massive dog’s back. It took seconds to fall to the bottom as we descended into the depths of Naiad.

  As we fell, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were venturing into the unknown. The darkness had engulfed us. The only light came from the glow of our suit lights and the aft thrusters of Borag as she made her descent.

  Soon, we landed and found ourselves underneath the slowly descending ship. From my position beneath Borag’s titanium belly, I watched the hull looming larger and larger as she descended to the icy floor. Pulsating blasts from her thrusters splashed off the walls, and I could feel vibrations coming up through my boots. The rumbling engines and the cracking of ice tickled my toes.

  Borag’s powerful floodlights snapped on, illuminating the dark cavern. They cast an ethereal glow on the icy walls and floor. The blue and white hues of the ice shimmered, reflecting the ship’s lights. The whole place was lit up like a ghostly dance party.

  I fled from her jets, scrambling like the others to escape being cooked alive in my spacesuit. Vibrations from her engines caused chunks of ice to break loose and crash to the floor. When she finally touched down, her landing gear sank into the icy surface with a muted crunch. The thrusters gradually powered down, and the cavern once again fell dark, save for the faint glow of the ship’s cooling engines.

  Borag settled into place, and we found our footing again. I realized that our situation had become even more precarious. We were now deep within the guts of the moon, right next to a mysterious alien machine. I couldn’t help but wonder if we knew what the hell we were doing. Did I really want to follow Welks into the unknown? Did anyone?

  Then, I saw lights blossom bright above. Up, outside the hole in the roof of the cavern, something was flashing.

  My heart pounded when I realized the first missiles were streaking down from the sky, chasing us. The enemy cruisers had arrived.

  They were within range, and didn’t hesitate to fire down upon Naiad. It seemed they were intent on destroying everything—including us and their own former base.

  The range was still extreme, which caused the majority of the missiles to miss their target. Instead, they exploded on the base and the mountains surrounding the opening. The impacts shook the ground of Naiad as shockwaves reverberated around us.

  A few missiles managed to make their way into the cavern, and their arrival sent us all into a frenzy. We scrambled to take cover under Borag’s fat belly. The missiles exploded, but I kept breathing.

  “Come on!” Sergeant Cox shouted at us. “They’re opening up the airlocks—hustle aboard!”

  We moved toward the opening hatches, but most of us didn’t make it in time. Recognizing the danger from the missile barrage, Borag lifted off again. We were driven back by her bright plumes of fire and radiation. The big ship glided toward the alien device.

  “Fuck, fuck, fuck!” Cox shouted. “Follow that damned thing—she’s leaving us behind!”

  We raced after the big ship, dancing away from the jets that gave random blasts to keep her position and course steady. Borag was as big as a building, but in the low gravity of Naiad she could maneuver like a titanic ballerina. Unfortunately, Red Company was caught under that ballerina’s feet, and we were desperate not to be crushed by her.

  I could see the pyramid-thing just ahead. Its surface was a smooth, silvery metallic material that seemed to shimmer and shift with an otherworldly quality. The device towered over us as we drew closer, and it seemed to exude a strange energy.

  As Borag approached the tip of the pyramid, it began to transform into an absence of light and color. It became a blackness encircled by moving light. To me, it looked like a tiny black hole, and it hungrily drew the massive ship closer.

  What happened next was the weirdest sight I’d ever witnessed. Borag seemed to be swallowed by the device. That clearly defied the laws of physics as I knew them, but it happened, I swear it. The colossal vessel was simply absorbed after a brief moment of distortion and resistance. The outline of the great ship warped and rippled—then it was gone.

  We watched in awe and terror as the alien technology enveloped Borag, and the familiar bulk of our ship disappeared before our eyes. It was like watching a cosmic event unfold in front of us—like watching a black hole consume a star, leaving nothing but the void behind. Not knowing what else to do, we raced in Borag’s wake. I saw other marines ahead of me turn into shivering outlines and vanish just as the ship had. The sight was both stunning and horrifying. I raced closer still, not knowing what else to do. None of us could help but wonder what fate awaited us on the other side.

  I was about to plunge into the point of no return when I noticed that Sergeant Cox had stopped running toward the alien machine. He was standing in an uncertain way. I moved up to his side.

  “We can’t stay here, Sergeant,” I said.

  “I… I’m making sure everyone gets through all right,” he said, but I didn’t believe him.

  I nodded as if his words made sense to me. One by one, our fellow marines rushed past and disappeared into the silvery metallic structure, leaving only the two of us standing at the precipice of the unknown.

  Sergeant Cox looked at me with determination in his eyes and waved for me to go ahead. “Go,” he said.

  I nodded and took a deep breath, feeling a little sick, and I stepped toward the alien device. The energy emanating from it seemed to intensify as I moved closer.

  With a final glance back at Sergeant Cox, I stepped closer to the alien pyramid. The world around me began to shift and warp in ways that defied understanding.

  At that final moment, I saw a realization in Sergeant Cox’s face. Maybe he’d finally understood he was about to be left behind, to face the wrath of the pirates all alone.

  Even if the portal led to an icy death in space, wouldn’t that be better than the hot death that was coming up right behind him?

  Cox finally began to run. He raced right behind me, his heavy boots following closely, and we both plunged into the unknown.

  Together, we were swallowed up by the mysterious alien device.

  Chapter 10: Diving into the Abyss

  A disorienting sensation gripped me. It felt as if I was falling through an endless abyss. My body contorted and twisted in ways that defied physics. Even weirder was the swirling mass of colors and shapes around me that seemed to stretch on forever, leaving me feeling completely alone.

  As I continued to fall, I tried to control an overwhelming feeling of panic. What the hell was I caught up in? A wormhole? Another universe? Hyperspace, or a tunnel in time? It was something like that, I felt sure. It was as if I had been swallowed by the universe itself. As if my existence had been reduced to a single, insignificant speck hurtling through the cosmos.

  The only sound I could hear was my own labored breathing inside my helmet. Each inhale and exhale echoed loudly in my ears. The cold, metallic taste of the air within my suit helped keep me sane. It was a shred of something normal and real—compared to the cosmic stew that was whirling by every second.

  After what seemed like minutes, but which might have only been seconds, I emerged from purgatory. I found myself at the center of a tumbling planetoid.

  It was a colossal rock in space. An asteroid—and a weird one.

  “What kind of rock is this?” I asked, catching my breath.

  “I don’t know, but it’s hollow and as full of holes as Swiss cheese—plus, it’s in a hell of a spin.”

  “Ledbetter?” I asked, looking around.

  “No… it’s Welks.”

  I laughed weakly, and I almost puked. Almost. Don’t ever puke in a spacesuit. You don’t even want to know what happens.

  The rock we found ourselves inside of was about the size of a small moon. It was in a fast tumble, uncontrollably gyrating through space.

  The planetoid’s interior was a labyrinth of tunnels, and as it rotated, brief flashes of light from an alien sun illuminated the dark passages that were drilled through the rock in every direction.

  Borag, now precariously positioned within this ever-shifting maze, faced an imminent threat. The crew on the bridge was in a state of panic, their radioed voices echoing through my helmet as they shouted orders to one another. They knew that if any part of the ship made contact with the moving tunnel walls, the consequences would be catastrophic.

  As I floated nearby in my spacesuit, I listened to the scene unfold. I could hear Captain Hansen struggling to maintain control over her crew, barking commands. The pilots worked frantically, calculating the ship’s trajectory and desperately attempting to avoid collision with the rapidly spinning rock formations.

  The air inside my suit felt even colder than before, and I couldn’t help but wonder if this would be my final resting place. All of us might soon die here, entombed within an alien planetoid, forever spinning in an unknown slice of space.

  It was about at this point that I spotted the alien machine. There it was, the same portal that had brought us to this place. It was the same pyramid—or one very much like the original on Naiad. It shimmered with the same enigmatic energy.

  That freaky thing posed a fresh danger. We knew that Borag had to avoid the portal at all costs. If we were to get too close and be sent back to Naiad, we would surely be destroyed by the waiting pirate cruisers. It stood to reason they knew about this place, and they probably knew better than we did how to manipulate this alien tech.

  Officers shouted at one another in a rising panic as Borag inched dangerously close to the pyramid-thing. On my comms, I could hear Captain Hansen bellowing orders.

  Pilots frantically recalculated the ship’s trajectory, desperately searching for a safe path through the labyrinth of tunnels while avoiding the lurking portal.

  As the pilots managed to pull Borag away from the brink of disaster, all of us, inside the ship and out, held our breath. We all knew that one misstep would mean certain doom.