Colonial Suit

“Section 72 shield weakening, electrical arcs penetrating armor. Fire ignited, be aware of toxic fumes. Requesting immediate support…”

“Hurry, grab the fire extinguishers, damage control team is on their way, we have to rely on ourselves until then!”

“Jimmy! Jimmy, come quick! We need you here!”

“Doctor, I need a doctor, my brother's leg is broken!”

Voices from the damage zones echoed through the warship's comms, indicating an extremely tense situation. On the bridge, Captain Jackson frowned, his face grim. He wore a crisp captain's uniform, a row of medals adorning his left breast. Even in this tense situation, he was meticulous, his white-gloved hands clenched tightly, as steady as a rock.

As the captain of a heavy assault ship in the human vanguard fleet, Jackson was known for his rigidity; he could die, but he could not lose control. The ancient naval family had passed down this tradition through generations, just like Jackson's countless ancestors who had faced the wind and waves on ancient steam warships.

A soldier should be like this: calm, composed, until death.

“Order the damage control team to immediately repair Section 72, give them fifteen minutes. If the fire is not contained after fifteen minutes, evacuate personnel and lower the isolation bulkhead,” Jackson said in a deep voice, his tone as solid as granite.

Behind him, a crew member responded, “Aye, sir.”

“What is our status?”

“The roll has been controlled, but the ship is still tilting, expected to lose attitude in five minutes. Shield capacity is only 37%, unable to be effectively replenished. The thrusters are being disrupted by the storm, trapped in the Magill Curve!” a crew member shouted. “Captain, our damage is worsening!”

“Don't worry, lads,” Captain Jackson said, standing ramrod straight, his face expressionless. “My child is very sturdy, she will bring you back. What is this small storm? Even in the abyss, she can move freely.”

“Aye, sir!” the crew responded in unison, their morale boosted. Suddenly, a crew member shouted, “Captain, incoming communication, the Eden is heading towards us, requesting that we hold on a little longer, she's going to extend her shields!”

“Good!” A glint of light flashed in Captain Jackson's eyes, finally showing a hint of emotion.

He trusted the Speaker, like everyone else. Since the Eden was coming, it meant they were saved…

With his spirits lifting, Captain Jackson's expression relaxed slightly. He reached for the top button of his collar, then hesitated and lowered his hand. Just then, his gaze inadvertently swept across the scanner, and his face instantly froze. Because he clearly saw that another human mothership, the Nemeis, not far from him, had also begun to roll…

Warships in space maintain their attitude at all times; rolling is uncommon, and once it happens, it means the warship can no longer maintain balance and is on the verge of losing control! This is equivalent to receiving a death warrant for ships in a storm!

“Bad news! The Nemeis has been caught in an energy vortex, its shields can't hold!”

“Its armor is cracking, part of the hull is disintegrating!”

“What is that? The fleet hangar? Its hangar has been torn open! Damn it, it will be pulverized in a few minutes!”

The crew's exclamations echoed through the comms. Captain Jackson remained silent. He stared intently at the image on the scanner. The Nemeis was a reconnaissance mothership, more valuable in the order than his heavy assault ship. If he could, Captain Jackson would definitely save it! But the problem was that the Jackson was also in dire straits at the moment, on the verge of collapse.

How could such a damaged warship save a reconnaissance mothership that was also a victim?

The Eden would be here in a few minutes, and then they would be rescued. Nearly ten thousand crew members on this heavy assault ship would survive. As captain, he had fulfilled his duty.

But… why did he feel ashamed?

Jackson suddenly lowered his head, looking at a medal on his chest.

It was an old medal, covered in rust. Its age could be traced back to the years when humans had not yet left the stars. At that time, humans were fragile, very humble. Faced with the滔天巨浪 on the ocean, only by uniting could they resist. The sailors of that era were brave. Even in the face of overwhelming storms, they would drink rum and sing men's songs, not caring at all.

The medal had been passed down from Jackson's countless ancestors, with only a short sentence engraved on it.

“I never regretted standing in front of my comrade that day, even if it cost me my life.”

“He was more important than me.”

Taking a deep breath, Captain Jackson suddenly raised his head, his eyes shining as he stared at the image on the scanner. He said loudly, “Forward assault! Target the Nemeis mothership! Let's save it!”

“What?” A cry of surprise erupted in the comms, the crew thought Jackson had gone mad. “Captain, we can't save it!”

“Yes, Captain! It's caught in an energy vortex, our tractor beam doesn't have enough power!”

“Our condition is also very dangerous, Captain, please reconsider.”

“I'm sorry, lads,” Captain Jackson interrupted them, saying in a deep voice. “But we have to go, because that is a mothership, and it is more important than us in the journey ahead.”

“If the tractor beam doesn't have enough power, we'll ram it! Ram it out of the energy vortex!”

Captain Jackson's voice suddenly increased, echoing through the comms like a booming bell. “This is the Jackson! The brave Jackson! Have my lads chosen cowardice, forgotten their glory?”

“No, Captain, we have been trying!”

“We will not fear!”

“Very good!” Captain Jackson raised his head, a smile finally appearing on his face. A rare, somewhat ugly smile.

He adjusted his collar with his hand, then straightened his captain's hat and walked back to the captain's chair to sit down. At this moment, he was so dignified, as if he were going to attend a ceremony! And in front of him, all the crew members returned to their posts, their eyes filled with determination.

Sailors would not retreat in the face of wind and waves, sailors also had their pride. If someone was destined to die, let the more valuable person live!

For humanity.

“Engines to full power!”

“Open the booster bay! Don't consider the damage, overload the thrusters!”

“Bow shields down, ramming spike retracted!”

“Accelerate!!”

“Target the Nemeis mothership!!”

“Ram it!!”

“Ram it!!”

The roar suddenly increased, and in everyone's eyes, the Jackson rushed towards the Nemeis like a wounded rhinoceros, with a tragic momentum. Its hull tilted, its armor shattered, but it never stopped. In just an instant, it broke through dozens of storm layers and crashed into the Nemeis!

With a loud crash, the Nemeis was violently pushed out of the energy vortex, successfully escaping the crisis of destruction, while the Jackson remained in the vortex, rolling and beginning to disintegrate…

The debris was as beautiful as shooting stars. Captain Jackson's voice echoed through the fleet comms.

“If my ancestors would not regret it, then neither will I.”

“I am honored to work with you brave lads.”

“I wish the surviving comrades good luck on their journey.”