Snowdrops
It is an age of scientific revolution and unprecedented exploration, a golden age where humanity has finally delved from their home planet, Earth, and into the vast abyss of space. It is an age where humanity has taken to the stars under one, unified banner, the Federal Systems Alliance. The Federal Systems Alliance governs a vast, diverse empire that extends several galaxies, each galactic region separated by vast oceans of space. Its frontier is plagued with piracy and rumors of extra terrestrial aggressors spread throughout the colonies.
The Federal System Alliance Navy (FSAN) has been tasked with the most difficult task ever transposed to a single organization. To protect mankind. The FSAN is comprised of nearly a hundred million servicemen and women and is the most formidable military that mankind has ever lay eyes upon. Its space fortresses stand vigilant watch across the galaxies, its ships patrol the stars and its personnel serve as its life blood.
"This is Shark Lead! All units break off formation and engage! They have us surrounded!"
The super cruising Typhoons whirred to life, their afterburners punching through space and sending the formation hurling forwards. Blue streaks of light trailed off as a single Typhoon broke off from formation. Yellow warning lights blared across a holographic screen, warning the stoic, masked pilot that stood behind the integrated displays. "Shark Two. Breaking off." The softly spoken words traversed through his helmet and into his radio. The Typhoon plunged sideways and into space before yawing to the side, the fighter pilot moved the agile superfighter with grace, pulling backwards on the stick and skillfully aligning the interceptor to engage the foreign targets that were firing upon them.
As the lone fighter broke off from formation, the yellow warning lights hued to a crimson red, warning the pilot to multiple radar contacts, "Confirmed. Seven Coyotes. Engaging." The pilot calmly called. Slowly, his thumb trailed over to a nearby switch before gently manipulating the unit upwards. "Weapons armed." A robotic voice resembling a female cooed over his integrated heads up display.
A sharp whirring sound emitted within the cockpit of the Typhoon, its automatic, hyper kinetic cannons winding up before unleashing a flurry of shots across the abyss. Streaks of light emerged from the darkness as an enemy fighter dove out of formation and spiraled out of control before tearing itself into oblivion. Judging by his enemy's incompetence, he could easily tell the sort of enemy he was engaging. Space Pirates. A ruthless group that controlled much of the sector, they were numerous and unrelenting. Where there was one, there would be many, many more.
The lone interceptor danced with his enemy among the stars, weaving in and between six enemy fighters, the superiority of the Aurelian HI-09 Typhoons matched with the pilot's prowess made him an unprecedented force to behold, and before long, six enemy wrecks lay among the stars, destined to be swept away by the galactic abyss. As the fighters were defeated, several waves of enemy fighters replaced them, creating an endless cycle that would break them down, causing the elite squad of Federation fighters to eventually wither and die.
"This is Shark Lead, enemy frigate spotted! It's the Black Ship! How the fuck did they get the drop on us?!"
Off in the distance, a pirate flagship emerged. A behemoth of great scale that rivaled the largest of Federation crafts at the time. Of course, attacking it with such a small fighter squadron would be a suicide mission. Akula knew that, and so did his squadron leader. "I advise disengaging." The stoic pilot remarked into his radio, his hands never ceasing to pitch his fighter back and forth, engaging the multiple enemies that were assaulting his squadron. Everyone in the squadron knew that it was too late to break off and escape, their only option was to fight to the death.
"This is Shark Lead. All units, engage the enemy frigate. For the Federation!"
The Typhoons whirred once more in unison, breaking off from their current dog fights and assembling into a wedge formation, It was a desperate suicide rush to knock out the ominous black frigate that stood before them. The Typhoons were interceptors, not bombers, and therefore had no missiles or heavy ordnance to knock out the frigate with. It was then when one of the fighters decided to break off from formation.
"Shark Two, where are you going?! Shark Two! Get back in formation! AKULA!" The radio blared as a lone fighter pulled backwards, soaring up and above his squadron before pivoting back downwards.
"I'm sorry. But I can't die today. Not here. I still have something that I need to attend to. But do not worry. I will give you all the glorious deaths that you seek."
"All registered personnel to Unit Code 32-97-42 report to Hanger Bay Alpha. The Vigilance is now making final preparations for departure."
Lieutenant Akula woke up abruptly in his officer quarters, the sounds of gunfire and engines still blaring in his ears. He was aboard the Auroria, a space fortress that floated just outside the atmosphere of humanity's homeland, Earth. The space fortress was a massive complex, rivaling that of some of humanity's largest cities. The Vigilance, a new Chevalier-class battlecruiser that was docked at the space fortress was preparing for departure, a dreadnought of unprecedented scale, the Vigilance was already famous throughout the three Federation galaxies, and it hadn't even been deployed yet. For three months, the ship had been docked in space, making final preparations and organization before the crew would be allowed on board.
The grizzled war veteran pulled himself out of bed, quickly washing his face before turning towards the MK. 7 helmet that he always wore in public, slipping the robotic unit over his head before gathering the few belongings in his quarters. With that, he would soon leave the Auroria for good, traversing down the hallways of the space station and towards the alpha hangar bay, where the Vigilance remained docked. As he made his way to the hangar, personnel awed and gossiped at the sight of the infamous pilot, the pilot that was known only as Akula.
