I hated that there was nothing we could do to help as Elliot and Tuc fought to keep us moving away from the Council ships. Elliot serpentined the ship as Tuc shouted out where the ships were and suggestions for moves to make. Drac and Trolis were silent in the main body of the ship, firing endlessly at the horde behind us.

I was stuck, sitting mutely and examining the scanners to see if there was anything that I could work out that someone had missed. Maybe a way to shut off the gate or a pattern to the Council ship’s movements but I had nothing. Anytime I did notice something someone shouted it over the comms half a second before I could.

My head slammed back in the chair as we pulled up quickly. Our ship and Andy’s ship, which was just in front of us, moved in a carefully orchestrated ballet, dodging and weaving, creating space for the other to fire and providing cover when possible.

Their flying was masterful. They managed to take down more ships than my crew would have been able to, their experience and mods working together seamlessly to destroy the Council but still, it wasn’t enough. There were just too many ships. We might have flown and fought better but we were still outnumbered. There was only so much we could do. Our additional ships, which had been waiting outside the nearby gates, were too far away. I could hear them over the comms, speeding towards us as fast as they could but I wasn’t sure they’d reach us in time.

Aquila had put out a call for all nearby ships to mobilise and assist. Quite a few had come but it did little to help.

“Fuck!” Elliot cried just half a second before our ship shook as something hit it.

“What was that?” Peggy’s voice came through the comms, high pitched and panicked.

The lighted flashed out for just a second, leaving us in the dark, illuminated only by the light shining through the window, before they flashed back on.

“Reboot. Route all power to the engines and weapons!” Elliot commanded.

Tuc’s hands flew across the console, typing furiously as Elliot gripped the controls and engaged the thrusters again.

“We were hit? How much emergency power is there? Can we restart the system?” Peggy cried.

Neither Tuc nor Elliot responded and I wracked my brain to try and answer her questions.

“The system restarts automatically if there is enough power for it, if not there should be enough emergency power to get us home,” I said, checking the screen.

“Are there any safe planets nearby we can land or swap ships?” she asked.

I knew that Aquila and the team in the War rooms would be listening too but I felt the need to check for her.

“No safe planets nearby, the Council must have planned that intentionally. There are warp gates nearby but we can’t trust them. If we need to evac, we’ll need to do it in the air,” I said, panic gripping at my heart.

If I was in control, I could have done more. I felt useless.

I could hear faint gasping breaths through the comms and I switched quickly to the private channel between Peg and me. Her hand was squeezing mine so tightly it hurt, despite our reinforced gloves.

“You okay, Peggy?” I asked cautiously, knowing that she wasn’t but normally she didn’t like to talk about it when she was having a panic attack.

Her gasps broke down into full sobs. Each one tugged at my heart sending pain and guilt through me.

“I can’t go back. Please, I can’t go back,” she whispered between each cry.

Despite the doubt that had chased all hope out of me, I promised, “You won’t go back, Peg. I’ve got you and I won’t let them take you back.”

Her hand tightened on mine even more as the ship shook with another hit. The emergency lights flickered out but this time, the engines kept running.

“The reroute is holding but the shield is almost gone. Aquila, what’s the order?” Elliot shouted.

My heart thumped loudly in my ears as I waited for her to decide. We could keep flying on only emergency power for a while but with the shield being out, we were vulnerable. Another laser to the right area could leave us stuck. Or worse, the ship could explode.

Our suits were good but they wouldn’t be able to protect us from that. At best, we’d be injured. At worst, dead.

I knew what our options were. They were keep flying or perform a mid-air transfer but glancing at the screen, I saw how risky it would be. With our ship in its current condition, it was too dangerous for another ship to get close. We’d have to fly between the ships, meaning that we’d be even more vulnerable as we did.

My hand tightened on Peggy’s.

The best option would be for other ships to engage and barricade around us, providing enough cover as we flew to different ships. Then, the Council wouldn’t know which ship we were all in and they wouldn’t be able to keep targeting us but I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving Peggy once more. I had to keep her with me. I knew it was risky but I had to.

She wasn’t strong enough for space flight right now, that was enough of a risk but even more so, I didn’t want her to be alone. If I was with her, I could at least fight anyone who came near her. I wouldn’t let the Council get her again.

“Alright,” Aquila’s solemn voice came over the comms. “Elliot, we’re going to need for you to do a mid-flight transfer. Hyd and Andy, I need your ships to act as the blocks. Make sure that your shields cover Elliot’s ship. Turn your deflectors up as far as they’ll go. Lep, get close. I want you to cover the opposite side to Hyde and Andy. Horo, cover the underside. Indie, top side. Lace, all of your ships will need to be on the offensive. Engage with them as much as possible. We need distractions. Lyra, Ant, engage as well. All other ships, do what you can to distract them, lead them off course if possible. The Interplanetary Defence aren’t far, they will engage when they arrive as well.”

I took a deep breath, squeezing my eyes shut as shame rose within me. I felt like if I’d done more, if I’d done anything, we wouldn’t have had to attempt this. It was too risky.

“Alright,” Aquila’s voice was much softer this time. “You’re all going to be going to different ships with the exception of Aries and Peggy. Tuc, you’re to go to Lep’s ship. Elliot to Lep’s, Trolis to Horo and Drac go to Indie. Aries and Peggy, you’re going to Andy’s. Does everyone understand?”

A chorus of yes’ came through the comms.

“Alright. I want Aries and Peggy first, then Elliot, Tuc, Trolis and finally Drac. Does anyone have any questions?”

“Yes,” Elliot said, his voice low. “I’m going last. I can man the ship and control the weapons until then.”

Aquila paused and I could tell that she wanted to refuse but she knew it was for the best.

“Fine. Prepare to transfer once everyone is in place and the other ships are ready to engage.”

The ship jolted violently as a laser hit the ship and the console lit up with flashing lights.

“Fuck,” Elliot growled. “We’re dead. Evac needed now!”

His words barely registered over the panic that was pounding in my head.

This was it. It could be the end.