From above the Martian surface, Cody surveyed the scene unfolding at Olympus Mons. Past her dark skinned reflection in the shielding of the front of her ship, Cody could see the daunting shimmering form of one of the Republic’s Dreadnaught warships. It was a terrifying behemoth that she knew was bursting with potential destructive firepower even from its position above the atmosphere. Looking down she saw the groups of people being loaded onto transports, leaving the planet in a manner that she had come to expect from the Republic Navy, a combination of speed and efficiency.

The events weren’t what she had wanted. It was not what any of them had wanted, and ever since negotiations had broken down it was all she could do to just watch, and pray, that the soldiers got off the red planet safely. They hadn't of course, she thought with regret. The Angels had seen to that. They had lost contact, or been cut off, two days before the attack, and Kodiak had watched helplessly at the wanton destruction left in the Angel’s terrible wake. Next to her sat a man with a grey beard and black hair. Redmon Silas was a man built enough for his age, shorter than average, and the most capable copilot she had ever flown with.

“Got something coming in.” He said.

“Interference?”

“Not here.” He said, leaning over the screen. “Ascraeus. They found the rest of the last battalion and are moving in to finish the job.”

“Damn.” Cody said, thumbing the controls and winging around her modified Rapier class marauder. “Get our wing and have them rendezvous with us there.”

“You’re going to engage?”

“I’ll make that call when we get there.” She hit the thrusters and the speed of the Rapier pressed them both against their seats. The ride was tense and silent, even as their flanking vessel joined them en route.

“APES fire.” Silas said as the scene came into view. Kodiak nodded, noting the damage the wing of Saber classes had taken.

“Open a hailing channel.”

Silas looked at her doubtfully, but flipped the switch without hesitation.

“Angel three, this is Black Bear.” She said.

No response.

“He won’t answer.” Silas growled, but Cody shook her head.

“Angel three, come in for Black Bear.” She pulled off to the side, circling wide, her wing ship following close.

“Angel three!” She all but screamed.

A clicking sound came from the console. “Fuck off Cody.” Came an angry voice.

“They’re leaving, Angel, goddamnit, they’re leaving. They’re doing what you want.” She took in the state of the marauder wing. “Just let them get off the planet.”

The incoming transmission line clicked off.

“No one else has to die, Angel…” Cody said, though she knew that no one was listening. Then she shook her head and her lips peeled back as she pulled the Rapier back around. “Pulling a dry pass.” She said as they rushed closer to the scene. “But if you see an opening, take it.”

“Roger.” Silas said, pulling the weapons controls up to his chest level. No sooner as he looked at the targeting display then he snapped. “Extraction vessel targeting ship: target lock. Wing vessel pull up time now, engaging.” And he opened fire with hard rounds, his aim true as his on the spot thinking. The unfortunate Saber class was ripped to shreds.

“Nice shot,” Cody hissed as she strained to pull the ship around. “Second pass.”

“It’s all we’re going to get.” Silas said grimly, and Cody could see it too, the Saber class coming up on the extraction vessel.

“Shoot him down!” Cody yelled, angling the ship for a shot he couldn’t miss.

Lips peeling back in concentration Silas took aim at the front of the vessel and opened fire again. If she hadn’t flown with him before, if they hadn’t flown together many times, Cody would have wondered why he didn’t take the unmissable shot at the ship’s unmissable flank.

But she knew.

As the hiss of the felbound snapped to life, an errant bullet struck it as the rounds tore through the ship. The missile spun on its course still, damaged as it was and—

Madeline Kodiak woke up. She blinked in the relative darkness, looking around to see what had woken her. Silas was seated in the electrical light of a space torch, his face set hard. “Let it go.” He said.

Laying back down, Cody closed her eyes.

“We did all we could with the resources afforded us. Which was almost none. In fact we did more than was expected.”

“We could have done more.”

“No, we couldn’t have.” Silas stood. “Try and go back to sleep, but if I hear you screaming again you’re up for the night.”

He left the room and shut the door, and she could hear him shooing away the no doubt concerned people that would be clustered around it. Cody opened her eyes, though it did no good in the utter blackness.

The images of the dream still played across her face, and all she could do was hope that whoever had been on that ship had gotten away safe.

Doubtful. But she could hope.