Starfall Rebellion

Chapter 3: Into the Wreck Zone

The Wreck Zone was a graveyard of ancient wars, a chaotic expanse of shattered hulls and drifting debris that stretched as far as the eye could see. Massive derelict ships, their designs forgotten by history, floated aimlessly in the void. The region’s infamy was well-earned—navigation was treacherous, sensors malfunctioned, and no one who entered was ever truly safe.

Kael stared at the looming wall of twisted metal and ice through the *Wraith*’s viewport. "This," he muttered, "is a bad idea."

"Which is exactly why the Dominion won’t follow us in," Aelina replied from the co-pilot’s seat, her calm demeanor unshaken.

Griv’s voice crackled over the comm. "Uh, boss? I’m with you on this one. That place looks cursed."

Kael didn’t disagree. He had steered clear of the Wreck Zone his entire career. But with the Dominion breathing down their necks, he was out of options.

"Strap in," he said, gripping the controls. "This is going to get bumpy."

As the *Wraith* breached the outskirts of the Wreck Zone, the ship’s systems immediately began to struggle. The radar fizzled with static, and the proximity alarms wailed in protest. Kael silenced them with a sharp jab of his finger, his focus narrowing to the maze ahead.

"Watch the left!" Aelina warned, pointing to a cluster of jagged debris spiraling toward them.

"I see it," Kael snapped, jerking the controls to avoid the collision. The ship groaned as it skimmed past a hunk of twisted metal, sparks flying.

Griv’s panicked voice echoed through the ship. "This is insane! I didn’t sign up to die in a scrapyard!"

"Then shut up and let me fly," Kael barked.

They wove through the labyrinth of wreckage, each turn more harrowing than the last. Kael’s knuckles were white on the controls, sweat beading on his brow. Aelina worked furiously at the console beside him, trying to stabilize the ship’s systems.

"Can’t you boost the sensors?" Kael asked, frustration lacing his voice.

"I’m trying," she replied tersely. "But this interference isn’t natural. Something’s disrupting the readings."

Kael frowned. "The Zone’s full of anomalies. Could be radiation from the debris."

Aelina shook her head. "No, this is different. More precise."

Before Kael could respond, the ship shuddered violently, throwing him forward against his harness.

"What the hell was that?" he growled, regaining control.

Aelina’s hands flew across the console. "Energy spike! Something’s powering up nearby."

Griv chimed in, his voice trembling. "Uh, guys? I’ve got visuals. There’s something moving out there."

Kael cursed under his breath. "Define ‘something.’"

The answer came before Griv could respond. A shadow loomed ahead, emerging from the debris—a massive, hulking shape that bristled with jagged weaponry and glowing red lights.

"That’s not Dominion," Aelina said, her voice tight with dread.

"No," Kael agreed grimly. "That’s worse."

The Wreck Zone had its own guardians—automated war machines left behind by the civilizations that had once fought here. They were ancient, mindless, and devastatingly lethal.

The war machine’s sensors locked onto the *Wraith*, its red lights flaring brighter. A moment later, a barrage of energy bolts erupted from its turrets, streaking toward them.

"Hold on!" Kael shouted, yanking the ship into a hard dive. The bolts sliced past, one grazing the *Wraith*’s hull and sending a shower of sparks through the cockpit.

"Griv, return fire!" Kael ordered, his voice sharp.

"I’m on it!" Griv’s turret lit up, spraying plasma rounds at the war machine. The shots connected, but the ancient armor absorbed most of the damage.

"That’s not going to cut it," Aelina said, her hands flying over the controls. "We need to outmaneuver it."

"Working on it," Kael muttered through clenched teeth.

He banked hard, weaving the *Wraith* through the debris field. The war machine followed relentlessly, its turrets firing with mechanical precision.

"Got any bright ideas?" Kael asked, glancing at Aelina.

She didn’t answer immediately, her brow furrowed in concentration. Then her eyes lit up. "There’s a derelict cruiser ahead—its reactor core is still active. If we can lure the war machine close enough and overload the core, the explosion might take it out."

Kael gave her a skeptical look. "Might?"

"Do you have a better plan?"

Kael grunted. "Fine. But if this kills us, I’m blaming you."

The derelict cruiser loomed in the distance, its massive frame partially buried in the surrounding debris. Kael steered the *Wraith* toward it, the war machine still in pursuit.

"Aelina, get that core prepped for detonation," he said.

"On it," she replied, her fingers moving with practiced speed.

Griv’s voice crackled over the comm. "Uh, not to rush you guys, but that thing’s getting closer!"

Kael gritted his teeth, pushing the *Wraith*’s engines to their limit. The war machine’s shots grew more accurate, several grazing the ship and setting off warning alarms.

"Almost there," Aelina said, her voice steady despite the chaos.

The cruiser’s reactor core came into view—a glowing orb of unstable energy, faintly pulsing within the wreckage. Kael maneuvered the ship into position, skimming dangerously close to the cruiser’s hull.

"Now!" Aelina shouted.

Kael veered away at the last second, the war machine barreling toward the reactor. Aelina triggered the detonation, and for a heartbeat, the void went silent.

Then the explosion tore through the Wreck Zone, a blinding flash of light and energy that consumed the war machine and sent shockwaves rippling outward.

The *Wraith* rocked violently, its systems groaning in protest. Kael fought to keep the ship steady, his hands firm on the controls.

When the light faded, the war machine was gone, reduced to scattered fragments.

"That," Griv said over the comm, his voice shaking, "was way too close."

Kael slumped back in his seat, his heart pounding. "You’re telling me."

Aelina exhaled, her shoulders relaxing for the first time since they’d entered the Wreck Zone. "It worked."

"Yeah," Kael said, shooting her a sidelong glance. "This time."

He guided the *Wraith* away from the wreckage, the ship limping but intact. As they slipped deeper into the Zone, Kael couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of their troubles.

"Let’s hope your rebel friends are worth all this," he muttered.

Aelina didn’t reply, her gaze fixed on the stars ahead.

In the silence that followed, Kael allowed himself a rare moment of reflection. He didn’t know what lay ahead, but one thing was certain: the galaxy was about to change—and he was right in the middle of it.