Georgius - The Loss

They have seen "Huragan"'s demise. It was a shattering hit, a bright explosion; in an instant they knew that the enemy was well prepared for their arrival. The XVIIth Fleet's ships were still shooting the shipyard's shields, unable to pierce it - and still taking hits, one after one. -I wonder whether they have anti-aircraft guns too- whispered Georgius to himself. In an instant, he felt Speranza's "I don't know" info-flow. He braced in his chair... Suddenly, he felt another info-flow, urgent and scream-like, simultaneous with a plethora of danger marks on his holographic overlay, and instinctively sent his mecha in a sharp turn. This saved his life - his and Speranza's. They were prepared. On a command, hundreds of smaller guns opened fire on the Black Squadron, sending a rain of projectiles in their direction. The sky became bright with traces of shrapnels; just above Georgius, a mecha armed with a demolition charge - piloted by Auriga Makulis, he remembered - was hit and spiralled out of control, falling uncontrollably to the ground. And then, a second later, just behind him a mecha leadng the assault disappeared in a cloud of fire. A direct hit; the pilots' worst nightmare, the worst luck; no chance of survival. And the worst thong about it was that it was Bailiff. He unplugged Speranza before he could feel her anguish and despair. It was a panic move, he knew it; now, in the concentrated fire, a Vessel's help was more important than ever. -Georgius!- screamed Speranza. -Nicolaus, he... -I know- Georgius felt frigid cold in all his body. Everyone else must have felt the same - or worse; if no one took the lead... Georgius activated a disposable emergency channel with a shivering hand. Even now he could see on the radar that the assault was breaking, with mechas making sharp turns towards their own ships. Someone had to act. Now. -Georgius to everyone. Stop the retreat. We're breaking through!