In the darkest of times, true friends bring light.

- Writings of the Sol Empress, Words of Faith

[Celeste]

Sai announced. "Sir, we are being hailed."

Moon wrinkled his forehead. "By who?"

"It is the enemy starship, sir, named the Talon. It is coming around the asteroid, ten-point-two kilometers astern."

Celeste threw off her seat restraints and stood up. "I'll take it." She glanced into Moon's supporting eyes, who nodded in approval. "Okay, Sai. Put it through. View tight on me only and filter out any noise the little ones make. I don't want them to know that the babies and Claire survived."

Diego's face appeared on the display screen. His usual immaculately trimmed beard contrasted with disheveled hair. He smiled, shaking his head. "Priestess Celeste Ciel, you are a woman hard to kill. I must say that I am impressed. Too bad about the young Empress heirs, but they were never meant to be."

Celeste narrowed her eyes to slits. "What do you want, Diego?"

"Just to say goodbye." Diego motioned, and the transmission ended.

Celeste hitched her breath. That was ominous.

She caught Moon's eyes. He shook his head. "I don't like this. Sai, take the fusion thrusters to full output. How long until we can bootstrap the quantum drive?"

"At least ten minutes, sir. The coils are still charging."

"Tactical view, Moon ordered."

A holographic image appeared, showing the relative positions of the Phoenix Star, the Talon, and nearby space objects. Colored text next to the ships relayed telemetry data. Then, blinking red triangles emerged from the enemy ship.

Sai spoke in a plain voice that defied the seriousness of the situation. "Three missiles fired, sir. One of them appears to be a quantum field disrupter. Estimated time to impact, five-minutes-and-forty-five-seconds."

Moon huffed, clenching his fist. He muttered, "Someday, we will go on the offensive." He took a deep breath and pulled his lips tight. "Okay, Sai. Bring the laser to bear on those missiles and ramp up the thrusters as much as you can. That will buy us some more time."

"Sir, that will exceed the ability of the grav system to compensate for the acceleration."

"Understood. Just keep it below four-gee in here." He turned to Celeste and Claire. "Everyone sit down and buckle-up again. It's gonna get rough."

One-by-one, Celeste fastened the babies into their restraint seats with Claire's assistance. Hope renewed her protest, letting out a high pitch cry while Faith whimpered and Gabriel squirmed, kicking his legs

Claire jumped into the chair to Moon's left and fastened the restraining straps. Her breath became raspy, and the color drained from her face.

Celeste noticed her distress. Standing, she put a hand on her shoulder. "We have come through worse situations than this. And we will again."

Moon raised an eyebrow. "Celeste, did you just say the equivalent of no worries?"

Celeste shot him a narrow-eyed look. "No. It is not the same." She squatted down and placed her hands on two baby girls. "We have Faith and Hope, both literally and figuratively. Ignore Moon's comments, Claire."

Kissing the forehead of each baby, Celeste cooed, "Be strong, little ones. We will get to you all soon." Then she secured herself in her own chair.

A deep hum rose as the fusion thrusters increased power output. The acceleration pushed each of them into the chair padding. The babies furled their brows and let out a chorus of whimpers at the uncomfortable feeling.

Moon said, "Sai, ignore the disrupter for now. Target the ordinance missiles."

"Yes, sir."

A graphic display of the missiles and a yellow target ring appeared on the forward display panel. The ring drifted back and forth around a missile, turned red when it locked on.

Sai said, "Target within range, sir."

"Fire when ready."

One missile glowed, then exploded like a bright star.

Moon nodded. "One down. Good shot!"

The process repeated for the other missile until it erupted in a flash of light and scattered debris.

Moon put on a crooked smile as he turned toward Celeste. "See? No worries."

She pinched her eyes closed and sighed. He can be so infuriating sometimes.

Sai announced, "Sir, the Talon launched five more missiles."

Moon snapped his head to the display. "Frack!"

Celeste gulped, chastising herself. "I think I like it better when you say no worries."

Sai said, "Targeting now, sir."

The targeting ring settled on the first missile. The laser fired, and the missile disintegrated in a blaze. The target system moved on to the second missile, locking on to it. But nothing happened.

Sai said in an even tone, "Laser malfunction, sir. Coolant system failure indicated."

"Damn!" Moon put on a stoic expression. "Time to impact."

"Two-minutes-and-twelve-seconds for the first missile, sir."

"Go to collision readiness. And adjust our course so the missiles are directly behind. The stern shielding and the thrusters will provide us some protection."

"Yes, sir." The door to the bridge swung inward and sealed closed. Across the ship, other doors closed and sealed. The two remaining maintenance-bots activated and stood ready.

Celeste reached across to Moon. He took up her hand.

"Moon, are you worried?"

He dipped his head as he nodded. "Yes."

An icy chill traced its way down her spine. After all we faced, all we have been through, does it end now?

As deep sadness gripped her heart, Celeste took some consolation that she would die with those she loved. After gazing into the eyes of each of her children, she looked up at Moon with moist eyes. "No matter what happens, I am glad I found you. I love you."

He smiled. "And I love you."

Sai spoke through Nanny-bot. "Impact in ten seconds, sir." The bot braced itself against a wall support. All three babies stilled and widened their eyes as if they knew the desperation of the situation.

A single tear traced Claire's cheek. Celeste released Moon's hand and turned her head. "Thank you for all you did, Claire."

Sai said, "Impact."

It all seemed to happen in slow motion. A violent quake shook the ship, and it lurched forward, pitching down. Celeste wheezed as forces thrust her body forward, pushing the air out of her lungs. The lights flickered off as a deep rumble rolled through the ship.

Everything became like a distant blur. Memories flashed to her dazed mind: the warmth of Mihra's wide grin; the resolution as she fled Earth with the Empress' seed; the apprehension when stowing away on the Phoenix Star; the joy of holding newborn babies for the first time; the contentment of laying wrapped within Moon's arms.

High pitched wails of the children brought her back into the moment. A sharp pain radiated from her chest with each raspy gasp to refill her lungs. A bitten tongue leaked a salty metallic taste in her mouth.

Red symbols flashed warnings on the forward control panel. The holographic tactical display had vanished. Emergency lights blinked on.

Moon yelled out. "Is everyone okay?"

Celeste nodded, while Claire gasped for breath.

Moon yelled again. "Sai, status!"

"Sir, containment breech in the starboard fusion reactor. Initiating emergency reactor shutdown. Port fusion reactor and thruster output cut to twenty-seven percent. Hull rupture indicated in the rear starboard pressurized hold. The emergency isolation doors are holding."

"Time to next impact?"

"Thirty-four-seconds, sir."

"Chance of survival?"

"Very low, sir."

Moon blew out a slow breath. "Sai, you have been a true friend."

"It has been my pleasure, sir. You have been--"

On the viewscreen, a shower of orange plasma fire streaked across space, cutting down the missiles in mid-flight with dazzling white bursts. Moon's eyes snapped wide open.

Celeste opened her mouth. Only one word came out. "What?"

Sai responded. "It is the Amadi, Priestess, and one other ship. They just dropped out of quantum space. I had not observed them coming."

Celeste's heart leaped as the two Confederacy starships appeared on the screen. Both were of the same design, a smooth cylindrical body with artistic styled delta wings. They turned toward the enemy ship. Four missiles flew out like shooting stars. But before they found the enemy target, the Talon rolled and disappeared, escaping into quantum space.

Moon unfastened his seat restraints and jumped up, pumping his fist. "Yes!" He took Gabriel and Faith from their baby seats, hugging them to his chest. Then Celeste came up to him holding Hope, her eyes lifted to his. Moon wrapped them all in his arms. As if they knew the scope of good fortune, three little smiles rose on three little mouths.

Moon looked up. "Sai, power down the port reactor to minimum and begin damage assessment and inspections."

"Yes, sir."

Celeste moved back from the hug. "Oh, Sai. Had you contacted the Amadi?"

"Yes, Priestess. That was part of the wild-ass plan. My simulations indicated a high probability that we would need their assistance."

Moon grinned. "Awesome, Sai!"

Sai spoke from above. "Thank you, sir. Oh, Priestess, the Talon transmitted a message file to you."

Celeste's smile dropped as a coldness came over her. She turned toward Moon. He nodded slowly. She said, "Okay, play it."

Diego leaned forward in the video, scowling with teeth bared. Celeste shuddered and took a step back as his eyes blazed fire at her. Moon stepped protectively beside her.

Diego bared his teeth, spitting out his words in spite. "This is not over, Priestess! There is nowhere in this galaxy you can hide! The day comes where my face will be the last thing you ever see."