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General Grendel saw the two magical torpedoes hit the side of the engines.
They didn't explode but stuck against the hull. "What is happening?"
The torpedoes started to spin and whirl. He couldn't see what happened because Fergun said, "Hold on. I'm not sure if this will work. Wing ships, leave now."
General Grendel felt something like magic. It tingled around the ship. "What type of torpedoes were those?"
The torpedoes disappeared into the Vvong ships. Explosions started to ring around the enemy battleship. They were too close. Fergun's fighter craft was knocked to the side. The magical feeling started to get stronger. General Grendel understood. The ship suddenly transported away. They were flung far away. The ship easily moved.
"This must be new Holo tech. I didn't think ships could do this," General Grendel said.
"Yes, it’s a new drive that does shadow jumps," Fergun explained.
General Grendel looked at the scans. "I think we are far enough to transmit the broadcast."
"Yes, I will start now."
General Grendel saw on the screen that his transmission had been sent. He was waiting for a reply when an explosion knocked them to the side. Suddenly, Vvong battleships came flying through space toward them.
Fergun said, "Watch out. Here they come."
A swarm of enemy fighters flew to their flank. General Grendel pressed the controls of his gun. He saw another set of buttons. Touching the sensors, he saw the gun change and extra symbols floated close by. Each symbol depicted the five elements.
"Ah, you found the element fire controls," Fergun said. "Hurry, I need some help."
General Grendel quickly chose the air magic and then more symbols appeared. He chose the lightning bolt. He set his sights at the foremost enemy fighters and pressed the fire button. A wicked lightning bolt shot from his gun. The spell destroyed several of the Vvong ships.
"Wow!" General Grendel said. He was surprised at the power of the gun, but there were too many enemy ships coming toward them. "Can we do another shadow jump back to the Hive?"
"No, the extra engine is a prototype and needs to be powered up again. We have to wait," Fergun said.
Another blast hit them. General Grendel knew it was only a matter of time before they would be destroyed. Fergun spun and flew around the enemy ships. General Grendel shot his gun, destroying several enemy ships at once.
They were hit in quick secession. Their ship spun and then slowed.
Fergun said, "Oh no, they hit the engines and nav systems. We cannot move."
They started to float sideways. General Grendel still shot his gun at Vvong ships, but he couldn't hit any because of the awkward position they were floating in.
He heard Fergun trying to fix his controls. They should be dead. The Vvong ships stopped firing at them. Then the ship shuddered. Something attached to their hull.
General Grendel remembered the Vvong liked to eat a magic-user’s power. It was their sustenance, but he was not a Mage or an acolyte.
He said, "Fergun, the Vvong creature is coming to you because of your magic."
He heard the sound of something prying the metal.
The computer said, "Intruder alert!"
General Grendel looked for a weapon. Attached to the side of his chair was a small hand-pistol. He was not sure if it powerful enough to stop the creature. The ship shuddered again. He saw an insectile creature land on the nose of the ship.
The Vvong didn't wear any helmets or space suits. Their glowing red eyes bore into his. General Grendel's suit had a Holo helmet. And he knew he could survive for a while outside in space. The creature came toward Fergun's cockpit. He heard the sounds of Fergun trying to do something. He couldn't see his face, but he saw his hands moving along the controls.
Suddenly, the ship thrust to the side. The Vvong insect fell and floated away into space. Fergun killed it with his forward guns.
"Very nice!" General Grendel said.
They still had thruster control. The ship shuddered. Another creature was coming from the bottom of the hill. The Vvong was working its way toward Fergun.
General Grendel said, "Don't use your magic, unless you're a very strong Mage."
He was not sure if Fergun heard. A large insect exploded from the front of the ship. Shards of metal floated away.
The computer yelled, "Hull breach! Hull breach!"
General Grendel grabbed the handgun. He turned on the controls of the space suit. The Vvong creature was large, almost as big as their fighter ship. Touching the controls of his cockpit, the glass cabin opened. He floated upwards. Pointing the gun, he shot several laser volleys at the Vvong. He struck it in multiple places.
The creature reared at him and hissed. The glowing red eyes fixed on him. Then it came at him. General Grendel hit his thrusters on his suit and flew to the side. The Vvong's large claw missed him. Staring at the Vvong's tough hide, he noticed he didn't even scratch its carapace.
The Vvong turned away from him and scrambled back at Fergun. His cockpit was open. He was gone. The creature turned to him and gave him a look as he took Fergun away. Wings opened from behind its back and it jumped at him.
General Grendel shot at the creature several times. Still it came at him.
A voice came from his Holo intercom. "General, move toward your right."
He quickly complied and used his space suit’s thruster to move. Lasers shot close by him and killed the Vvong creature. A Hive fighter ship flew past him. More Hive fighter ships flew close by, and the General turned.
The Hive fleet arrived.
"Hello, General Grendel, nice to see you. It looks like you’re missing a ship."
It was Captain Romo’s voice.
General Grendel said, "Hello, Romo. I didn't think they would give you another ship after yours was overrun by the Vvong."
"Very nice, Grendel. Where is your pilot?"
"I'm over here," Fergun said. He floated next to him.
"We will send a ship to you."
"Quick," General Grendel said to Romo, "you need to get to the Hive."
"It's fine. The Vvong battleships left after the fleet came back. It's odd. They had enough battleships to attack us and the Hive."
"Hello, General Grendel," said a rough dwarf voice.
"Is that you, Yaddle? I didn't know if you’d made it."
"Aye, I did. I will see you on board."
