Aquila’s speech rang out over the speakers in the garage but I mostly tried to ignore it. I know that if I focused on it, I’d stop helping Fornax and fear would grip me again rendering me basically useless. It felt good to be busy, even if it was just reloading the weapons and making sure they were clear to fire.

My hands were slick with sweat and grease but I wiped them on the rag tucked into my belt and continued my checks. Seven of the eight weapons systems were clear and ready to go but I still had to do the last one.

For such a large ship, it was manned by a fairly small crew. There were only eight of us. Me, Fornax, the rest of my crew and then three other fighters I vaguely knew from some of the missions I’d been on recently. The layout of the ship was unusual. Fornax and I would be in the cockpit, like normal. She’d mostly be in charge of the flying so I’d have to control the two weapons systems set up on the front wings. I didn’t mind that. It had been a while since I’d worked the guns, that would be good.

That wasn’t the weird part though, that’s the back of the ship. So, the gunners wouldn’t be sitting in the main bay with a screen pulled down like in the Council-approved ships or Frida. In this ship, they each had their own individual pod. The pods considered of a big, comfy reclining chair and control systems. The pods, when in action, were completely sealed from the rest of the bay and the sky around us would be displayed on the inside walls so that they could see everything. The chairs turned in all directions too to help facilitate the fight and make sure they didn’t miss anything.

The pods almost looked like the simulators back on the base but much, much cooler and instead of controlling a fake ship, each of the six pods controlled one of the back wings which had weapon systems built-in.

It made the ship a weird shape though. It was longer than I was used to but still fairly thin and flat. The front of the ship was kind of pointed but then it blossomed outwards with the six back wings sticking out in kind of a star shape. Maybe it wasn’t that weird. I’d never been in a Council warship, just the normal ships on the base. I had nothing really to compare it to.

I wiped the sweat off my forehead with the back of my arm and surveyed the garage. It was alive with movement but all conversations were muted apart from Fornax who was cackling loudly at something Tuc had said.

“Oh, if only the Council could see their golden boy now!” she cried, wiping her streaming eyes.

“Damn right. Council golden boys have a habit of running off to the other side. Just ask Andy, eh?” Tuc shot back with a grin.

Fornax continued chortling as she turned back towards me.

“Aries, you done?” she called.

I glanced down at the weapons system in front of me. I’d reloaded it, cleaned out all of the parts that I could remove and replaced them. Physically, I was ready to go but emotionally, I wasn’t sure that I would ever be ready. Fear jackhammered inside my chest.

“Sure,” I said, forcing myself to smile.

Fornax nodded before glancing at Aquila on the huge screen on the wall.

“Alright, you ragtag crew. Get your asses into the ships!” she shouted.

You all ready to do this? I asked.

Let’s go get her, Gem thought back, fear and excitement in her voice.

I jumped down from the wing and circled the ship, giving it one final once over as the rest of the crew entered.

Tuc strutted into his ship, shooting me a playful yet reassuring wink.

“You okay?” Cas muttered.

I’d felt him approach but I didn’t want to look at him. I didn’t want him to see the doubt in my eyes. I continued watching Fornax oversee the fighters climbing into the single-person jets.

“Hey,” he said quietly, tugging gently on my sleeve.

I sighed and turned back to him.

His umber eyes searched mine and I saw my fears reflecting back at me.

“I know,” he said before I could speak. “I’m worried too but it’ll be okay. This is a bigger mission than we’ve ever been a part of except Irision. They know what they’re doing here.”

I dropped my head down, not wanting to look at him when I spoke.

“But what if it doesn’t go well? Then what?” I asked almost silently.

“Then we try again. Peggy knows we’re searching for her. She knows we won’t stop.”

I raised my head again, my eyes seeking the confidence he had. I nodded. He was right. She had to know. We wouldn’t ever stop.

“All sorted?” Fornax called to the fighters.

I watched as they all held their thumbs up at her.

“Alright, you better get in your ship too,” she told Trolis who was still standing next to her.

“Really, darling? Trying to get rid of me that quickly?” he grumbled back.

A wicked smile came over her face.

“I’ve been trying to get rid of you since I met you but you’re like a mould. Very hard to kill.”

His lips quirked up into a smile before he narrowed his eyes at her.

“Well, one-hundredth time’s the charm?”

She smiled at him before grabbing hold of his suit and pulling him in for a kiss.

“Don’t die,” she ordered before pushing him back towards his ship.

He stepped backwards before grabbing her hand and pulling her in for another kiss.

I smiled and looked back at Cas who was still standing close to me.

“Shall we?” I asked.

“No retreat.”

“No surrender.”

A smile came over my face and my gaze landed on Cas’ lips.

“Alright, you two. Get into the ship! Let’s go wage war!” Fornax cried, climbing the ramp ahead of us.

I snorted softly and followed her, my hand finding Cas’ and squeezing tightly.

“Okay, fighters, get into your pods. You don’t need to seal the doors, for now, in fact, it would probably be easier if you don’t. We might need something along the way. Cory, I know you’re here as a doctor and probably a little rusty but you’re a hell of a gunner. I want you in that final pod too, if you’re happy to be there?” Fornax asked, looking around the fighters standing in the bay before addressing Cory.

He nodded, the look on his face a mixture of relief and anxiety.

You sure? Gem asked.

Better than just waiting out here whilst you all fight. At least I can come out if someone needs me, he sent back.

I understood that. I wouldn’t have been able to just sit and do nothing whilst the rest of my crew fought.

“Great! You lot get settled, Aries and I will get us to Nova,” Fornax finished the briefing.

A cheer went through the main bay but my crew were silent. I couldn’t bring myself to feel the excitement the rest of the fighters were feeling. I just needed Peggy back.

I followed Fornax into the cockpit and completed my checks whilst she spoke to Tuc and Trolis over the radio.

“Alright, just need to let the big shots know we’re going,” she muttered before hitting the comms button again. “Directors, we’re ready to depart.”

“Safe flight. Remember, stay out of the way and be ready to intercept,” Aquila’s voice said.

“Be careful out there,” Andy warned.

Elliot was silent.

“Aye, aye. Leaving now.”

Fornax hit the comms button one last time before opening the garage doors and waiting for the fighters to leave. We waited whilst Tuc’s ship pulled out before Fornax directed us out of Freo, humming softly to herself.