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Location: Terra â€" 250 years ago â€" Chentrilla City

Kestra smiled as she walked in the President's office. She was holding a big wedge of papers under her arm and her military uniform clung to her slim body frame. She opened the huge oak door into the office of the President which was a huge room, with a marble floor that spread out two large windows either side that looked out over the skyscrapers of the city.

"Mr President" smiled Kestra as she walked into the room at a disciplined pace. The President was a long faced weasel who looked up and smiled at Kestra when she entered the room.

"Ah... Commander Valentine" he continued while signing a piece of paper. "Come in and take a seat please."

Kestra immediately took the chair in front of his desk and dropped the great wedge of papers onto his desk. She waited for him to finish until she spoke next, looking out of the window at sprawling island metropolis of Chentrilla.

"I see you brought the latest tactical reports from Alexandria."

"Yes sir... but that's not why I'm here." she interrupted, looking over at him. She only personally met the President when she was promoted due to her bravery in the Battle of Argus and earned a battlefield commission.

"Well sir... I need more information about my father. We have been at war with Asgard for the better part of five years and during that time I had a personal encounter with Odin."

"I see... you never disclosed that about your skirmish aboard the Asgard vessel."

"It is not the type of thing that should stay in reports sir." sighed Kestra looking down at the floor.

"Commander Valentine..." started the President. Kestra tensed herself up for the complaint she was going to get for missing something in her report. "You are commander of our flagship, so far the Valkyrie has been the only ship that has survived an encounter with an Asgard vessel. You cannot withhold information..."

"I understand that sir... but"

"We are at war Commander!" The President tensed himself up as he leaned in to look at the beautiful Echidna sat in front of him. "We are loosing to race of beings that none of our technology seems to be able to effect. We are loosing Commander and I need all of our ships operating together... You will not withhold information from the committee again... understand or I will see you stripped of rank!"

Kestra closed her eyes as she listened to the President rant at her. She through a few seconds of awkward silence before the President laid back into his chair. "So what did this... Odin tell you?"

Kestra leant forward, she was about to bear her soul to her superior and she never felt comfortable with doing that. "Odin said..." she stared at the President in dismay. "That I will bring about the destruction of Terra and all the people on it."

"And you believed her?" asked the President, almost bemused at the fact that Kestra Valentine would actually believe that. She never seemed the type to listen to slander and had saved Terra more then any other commander in the Terran fleet.

"Not really... sir... My powers are..."

"Unexplained at best..." interrupted the President staring at Kestra through the rim of his thick framed glasses. "Leviticus Valentine was one of the most noted commanders in our entire history. I know that you were his only love in life apart from his work."

Kestra smiled at the President, it gave her some comfort. She felt suddenly like she was being stupid. She knew the President had personally been friends with her father but she had unusual powers that she could never explain to herself.

"I am sorry... sir" she said finally after another awkward silence.

"No need Commander, hearing that would rile anyone."

Location: Terran Star System â€" Present Day

"Captain! Captain!"

Colin reared his head from the floor of the damaged Valkyrie. He looked up, seeing only a blurred image coming into focus. It was Corporal Munchy that was standing over him. He looked around the Bridge, seeing only death from the members of his crew and a few getting up.

The Bridge had been completely destroyed, conduits hanging from the ceiling, exploded consoles flickering as he got up watching a few of the marine team helping up members of the crew who were fortunate enough not to die in the explosion.

Djynn raised to his feet, blood was dripping from the numerous cuts on his body but he was thankful to be alive. Nobody understood what had happened, the window that allowed the pilot to see out was replaced by a flickering, shimmering shield that covered the exposed section of the wall that had been completely blown out.

Colin looked out the great hole in the bridge to see where Terra had been. All that was left of the planet was a large white abyss, almost like a huge nebula with debris and rocks in orbit around it.

"Eugh... " said Colin, grabbing his head. He felt drowsy as if he did not want to wake up from the floor. He put his paw on his head and felt the warm blood trickling from where he had banged it. "Re..report" he said softely.

Djynn's faithful voice comforted him as Munchy let go of him, understanding that he needed to stand under his own power. Colin was very proud and Munchy understood his need to protect his ship and the people that was his responsibility.

"Main computer is offline..." start Djynn as he read out loud the huge list of damage reports from the computer console that was constantly flickering. "The ship is running on emergency power only, the main drive engine and core is... gone. Captain..." he said in surprise turning round. "The entire engineering hull and surrounding sections have been destroyed."

"What!?" said Colin, as he helped Munchy pull fallen pieces of metal off a member of the crew. He then checked for a pulse on the lifeless body, there was not one. He then turned his attention to a horrible question that he did not want to ask...

"Casualty reports...?"

Djynn looked over at the reports from the computer, his face turned to horror. "This can't be right...!?" he told himself before looking over at Colin, almost lost for words.

"Spit it out!" shouted Colin, loosing patience.

"Casualty reports from the fleet indicate that only one ship survived Terra's destruction. They are currently docked with us. But a casualty toll on all ships..."

"JUST TELL ME HOW MANY!"

"18,000"

"What!?" shouted out Colin, he felt his chest tighten as Djynn continued.

"Notable officers that were killed include;" as he began a list.

"Chief Engineer Hy Tiger

Assistant Engineer Oriyn... no last name

Special Operations Cindy Arran

Commander Ironheart

Pilot Blackfire...."

As Djynn continued the list of casualties Colin felt his heart sink further and further in the ground. They had failed to protect Terra and he felt as if it was all his fault.

"Commander Miles Tigerfox"

That was finally enough for Colin, how could have Miles been killed in this battle. He was strong, determined. Why did he die? Why did so many have to die? Munchy comforted him as he collapsed to his knees.

"He was a tough guy..." said Munchy as he sat beside Colin. "They all were, they knew the risks."

"He was like a brother to me..." said Colin looking over at Munchy, fresh tears rolling down his furry face. "And... I never told him how much he means."

"Sir..." said Djynn. "The Chimera is signalling... they are the last surviving ship. They want to evacuate the Valkyrie."

Colin looked down at the floor. He had failed, so many had died. He did not want to command anymore.

"Good job... tell them that we need medical assistance over here." said Munchy taking Command. "And tell the transport to leave for Alexandria. Tell Kariko and Leyton to make sure the civilians are safe."

Colin could not deal with the grief that he felt. He was shattered.