The Last Heroes

[filcat]

“Forty-nine degrees… thirty-six minutes… fifteen-point-eighty-three… seconds… North.” Sophie whispered. “Three degrees… three… deg… three… th…”

Sophie’s final breath caught in her throat as she desperately tried to force more air into her lungs. She strained and struggled to get those last few words out as her body failed…

Wow.

(Torturing self by jump-reading back-and-forth, while being actually way behind, but cannot hold self from peaking through the end)

Sht. Must find a way to get back before prematurely seeing the end.
<checking notes>

• Chapter 42: The Rescue at Cape Canaveral
  • Saturday, November 26
• Chapter 43: After Everything
  • Saturday, December 3
• Chapter 44: Faith in Chaos
  • Saturday, December 10
• Chapter 45: The Stormbreakers
  • Saturday, December 17
• Chapter 46: Journey's End
  • Sunday, December 25

Wow to the power of ten.
It is fascinating that the story is such infinite it has its list; but having the plan-list of the story for publication is another level beyond reach (cannot even make any promises for own posting plan even by one chapter). Kudos. And the titles: Ah, seeing what you did there. Smart.

Sigh. Enough sneak-peaking into the future; have to go back and finish reading. See you on the other side.

 

[Von Acturus]

“How could you!?” Vasquez shouted in Victoria’s ear. “She’s a kid!”

That's some peak level hipocrizy right there. Or doesn't she know that they had their basement full of kids who they used and "discarded" as needed? (I think I just realised just how dark and horrifying that really was, ops .)

But I won't lie, I feel bad for Sophie. She was just a kid whose father fed her hateful propaganda, and who saw Akira's circle as a way to give her a sense of power and belonging (at least that's how I see her, maybe I'm wrong).

And I feel for Victoria too. Killing your sister is sure to leave a permanent mark.

And Akira's underlings just decided to add use of nuclear weapons on US soil to their list of crimes. All in the service of humanity of course.

Also, that was so cruel , making us think that the cavalry has arrived, Cassandra holding off the enemy with all her power has bought time for Macavity's forces and then, poof, they're all wiped out in a blink of an eye, and we're just as bad as when we began the chapter.

 

[Macavity116]

Sigh. Enough sneak-peaking into the future; have to go back and finish reading. See you on the other side.

Safe journey to you. This is the grand finale, and you're in for quite a ride.

That's some peak level hipocrizy right there. Or doesn't she know that they had their basement full of kids who they used and "discarded" as needed? (I think I just realised just how dark and horrifying that really was, ops .)

Oh, it's worse. Inez Vasquez knew about the xeno kids. She was a Human Supremacist, and thought very little of them because they weren't Human. Vasquez is was certainly a hypocrite.

And I feel for Victoria too. Killing your sister is sure to leave a permanent mark.

Damn right. Victoria will not recover from this... assuming she survives of course.

Also, that was so cruel , making us think that the cavalry has arrived, Cassandra holding off the enemy with all her power has bought time for Macavity's forces and then, poof, they're all wiped out in a blink of an eye, and we're just as bad as when we began the chapter.

Yep. My longstanding habit of treating my characters very badly is going to rear its head one last time. That's why I made a post about my decision to backtrack on killing a certain protagonist... a moment of genuine, monstrous cruelty has been removed from the story.

 

[HistoryDude]

Inez is a very overprotective sister - it's good that she caved eventually.

It's nice to know that there were still allies at Canaveral - Akira doesn't have many allies... but why didn't she check the loyalty of the guards there?

Did Victoria not know that Sophie was a human supremacist that willingly sided with Paradox? Actually, why did she hold those views, considering her relatives?

Why are there Sectopods siding with Akira? What did she offer them?

Also, it's interesting that this chapter is named After Everything (the name of your first AAR, which also had a psionic protagonist utilize an Amplifier to win a war...), and the next chapter is named Faith in Chaos (the name of your second AAR that first introduced Akira)... so does that mean that we might see a lot more of Paradox then? Did she escape to Deneb? Is she on the way to Deneb and about to get intercepted by forces of the GDF?

Actually, how is the GDF's space navy? There couldn't have been that many ships at Orlando because... they're ships that are designed for use in space, so there still might a decent fleet outside of Earth and its atmosphere, right? The Commonwealth also had other ships... as did most of the galactic powers, so we need to wait for them to receive news of Akira and her plans... right?

 

[Macavity116]

Akira doesn't have many allies... but why didn't she check the loyalty of the guards there?

Akira did not really check the loyalties of the staff. She went straight to the next option, murder anyone who so much as hinted at reluctance to accept her. It was a single line of dialogue back in Chapter 41, so it was easy to miss:

“Alright. It’s time to be adaptable.” Akira said. “Spark, I’m just going to assume Nezzie blasted my identity to the whole damn Galaxy. Liquidate everyone in the base who had a change of heart because of me.”

Did Victoria not know that Sophie was a human supremacist that willingly sided with Paradox? Actually, why did she hold those views, considering her relatives?

Victoria did know Sophie was Xenophobic, but sadly, she did not know Sophie had switched sides. It's a throwaway line all the way back in War of the Paradox (All Our Sins Remembered) but the last time Victoria ever saw her half-sister, the two of them got into a fistfight shortly after Himawari's third marriage. (To Amako Patariki, the Partogan) Sophie was arrested and spent a short time in jail for assaulting Victoria. When Marcus Robinson left the family to fall in with Etienne, Sophie chose to go with her uncle. Victoria has not seen Sophie in two years.

Why are there Sectopods siding with Akira? What did she offer them?

The Sectopods are leftover war machines from the Second Hyperspace War. They previously belonged to ADVENT and were inherited by the UN after Earth was liberated. During the intervening years between 2036 and 2086, the UN Reclamation Agency seized all surviving Sectopods and, with a little help from the Partogan Green Guard, stripped all Sectopods of their Artificial Intelligence. UN leadership ordered this for "public safety reasons."

The thirty-foot tall warforms stomping around Canaveral right now are intelligent, but not sentient. That solitary Baterra can outthink them in a pinch.

Also, it's interesting that this chapter is named After Everything (the name of your first AAR, which also had a psionic protagonist utilize an Amplifier to win a war...), and the next chapter is named Faith in Chaos (the name of your second AAR that first introduced Akira)... so does that mean that we might see a lot more of Paradox then? Did she escape to Deneb? Is she on the way to Deneb and about to get intercepted by forces of the GDF?

Oh you know me well! Akira is very much still at Cape Canaveral, see the answer to your next question below.

Actually, how is the GDF's space navy? There couldn't have been that many ships at Orlando because... they're ships that are designed for use in space, so there still might a decent fleet outside of Earth and its atmosphere, right? The Commonwealth also had other ships... as did most of the galactic powers, so we need to wait for them to receive news of Akira and her plans... right?

The GDF fleet is still present in the Sol System, numbering approximately 750 starships. (Nearly half of the fleet was left behind to occupy the Alpha Centauri system) Without the Mahuika, command will eventually pass to someone else, most likely a Partogan vessel due to the Commonwealth holding the Galactic Custodianship. Remember, at this point, only a few hours have passed.

And as for those hundreds of vessels in orbit... that nuclear explosion on Merritt Island was very large. (about 50 Kilotons, see below) It is a near-certain guarantee that GDF warships in orbit detected the blast and will react to it.

Nobody is leaving Canaveral.

 

[Macavity116]

So... we only have three chapters left until this story comes to an end. My mind is jammed trying to wrap my head around this. The final installments are coming together quickly, and it looks like we are going to avoid the long pre-finale Hiatus that occurred in both After Everything and Faith in Chaos.

I say this quite a lot, and I say this because I mean it: Thank you all so much for reading my stories. I never had any real expectations for this series. Heck, there was never a plan to continue the story after After Everything, yet here we are.

Chapter 44 goes up on December 10th.

Chapter 45 goes up on December 17th.

The Last Heroes will become my first (and only) AAR to celebrate its one-year anniversary on December 21.

The AAR and the Stormbreaker Universe will end on December 25th...

...

But...

I have got one final offering for you.

I am making a final YouTube video to send off the series. It is equal parts End Credits, Fanart Showcase, and Thank-You Card. And it is for you, the readers.

Keep an eye out for the End Credits video after Chapter 46 is posted.




In the meantime, I'll leave you with this little teaser for this Saturday. Chapter 44 will contain the final Star Wars reference in the series. You know how much I love Star Wars. I saw the opportunity and seized it... see you Saturday.

 

[filcat]

And as for those hundreds of vessels in orbit... that nuclear explosion on Merritt Island was very large. (about 50 Kilotons, see below) It is a near-certain guarantee that GDF warships in orbit detected the blast and will react to it.
Nobody is leaving Canaveral.

Oh mate, the net is wild, even more than one can predict.
Would never have thought there would be a site in the web for impact scenario calculations. "Nukemap". Holy kwisatz haderach.

---

The AAR and the Stormbreaker Universe will end on December 25th...

Have been struggling to find a piece for the saga, but afraid that will not make it by the deadline.

Lingered around Judgement Day (of the album Vision by Sebastian Böhm, 2019); but that lost its appeal long ago, as it has too much exaggerated high points and too many cliché stops, more suitable to a generic trailer; thus discarded.

Moved on to find one to associate with the entire stormbreaking-saga, so Mana (of the album Sagas by Equilibrium, 2008), but it does not do proper justice for the most parts even though the epic element is captured; thus discarded (warning: It is a 16-minutes piece).

Thought about it may end on a sad, broken, defeated point, so rushed to Melancholia (of the album The Duke Plays Ellington by Duke Ellington, 1953), yet it has almost the tone of hope within those notes; hesitating, tried also Evenin' (of the album Evenin' Blues by Jimmy Witherspoon, 1963), but that leads to an end with the possibility of further dreams. Keeping on the sad note, for a while considered The Answer Lies Within (of the album Octavarium by Dream Theater, 2005); yet not certain, since it abruptly rises towards the end; thus discarded.

Naturally the flow of the last one brought on a better selection, that is always working, no matter how the end happens, but it is more suitable for the credits-roll as a conclusion; besides, it has proven-use: May It Be (of the soundtrack The Lord of the Rings by Enya, 2001).


Though as said, still not able to determine confidently, still searching for a proper theme to associate; perhaps will have to wait for the ending of the saga.

 

[Macavity116]

still not able to determine confidently, still searching for a proper theme to associate

I am very confident you'll find a fitting tune. You certainly have not failed for any of the other posts I've seen you make. And some of those are downright legendary.

Not gonna lie... a few hours ago I was rewriting one of the final fight scenes that is going to happen in Chapter 45: the moment where Akira overpowers and then kills *REDACTED* While I was writing, I listened to Mana by Equilibrium on repeat several times. It's damn good for that sort of thing.

I barely mentioned May It Be and now my dad will not stop singing Lord of the Rings songs. I am about to explode.

Like I said, I'm sure you'll find the right pick. Thanks for sharing the song suggestions, too. I enjoyed!



Since you were awesome enough to share your musical takes, here's a few of mine:

When I was a bit younger, about six or seven years ago, I went through a phase where I tried to assign theme songs to some of my characters. I'm sure you won't pick any of them for your project, but maybe these will help you find the right train of thought:

• Blake Robinson
  • Storm by Koethe
• Chihiro Tachibana
  • Carrying You by Joe Hisaishi (Very strongly recommended by myself)
• Whetu Kealoha
  • Regenesis: Song of the Planet by John Higgins
• Toa Wahine Mami Tamihana
  • Dreams and Proclamations by Roland Barrett
• Jericho
  • XCOM2 Squad Loadout theme by Tim Wynn
• Akira Robinson
  • Magia (English duet cover) by Cami-Cat
    • This theme song was meant to be shared with Jericho
• Inez Espinosa
  • Sail Away (cover) by Hawke Music

 

[Midnite Duke]

I got a Noah's Ark vibe as the rescuers came off the wrecked cruiser two by two with the many different species between rescuers and kids. Thank you all of your service.

 

[Macavity116]

I got a Noah's Ark vibe as the rescuers came off the wrecked cruiser two by two with the many different species between rescuers and kids. Thank you all of your service.

You know, I was planning for certain moments in the final battle to have a kind of spiritual and "use the force, Luke" feel to them. Evacuating the Kakama was not one of those moments. XD

Glad the intended effect was still archived. Thanks for reading, as always.

---

Meanwhile, I am happy to report to everyone that progress on the final chapter and end of the series is proceeding smoothly. Chapters 44 and 45 are completely finished and ready to go. Chapter 46 is not done yet but we're getting there. Ending a story of this size and scale is a massive undertaking.

The End Credits YouTube video is coming together very quickly. I've decided to hunt down every known piece of fanart related to the Stormbreaker Universe and include them in the final video. This will be the truly complete Fanart Showcase, superseding the one found in All Our Sins Remembered. So far I've tracked down 18 artworks, including three older pieces that have never been posted to the PDX Forums as far as I can tell.

Look forward to Chapter 44: Faith in Chaos this weekend!

 

[Macavity116]

The Emerald Institute was created by @Midnite Duke. Used with permission.

The Saiiban were created by @Chilango2. Used with permission.

Eerabik was created by @Arithmetician. Used with permission.

​

<=== Chapter 43: After Everything

Chapter 45: The Stormbreakers ===>​

Chapter 44
Faith in Chaos

​

December 25, 2086
Orlando, Florida

For a moment, the brilliant flash of a nuclear explosion lit up the devastated landscape around Orlando. Then, about a minute later, a painfully loud crack rent the air. For many of the survivors, it was a signal of recent developments.

“General Macavity and his troops must have just reached Canaveral.” Said Blake Robinson. “If we’re going to get these birds in the air, it’s now or never!”

At his words, a group of Mutons turned and moved quickly to their next project. Blake was standing on what used to be one of the runways at Orlando International Spaceport. Like the rest of the city, it was devastated by Akira’s attack and in no fit state to be used.

But it was being used anyway.

What few starships remained intact were being frantically prepared for launch. Most of the crews were survivors from the pirate ship Ashoka, augmented by the local population of Mutons and Andromedons. As he looked around, Blake took a count.

There were fifteen ships total: Four Partogan Starfighters, a pair of Blorg multirole jets, a Taiidani bomber, a Scyldari gunship, half-a-dozen Contingency vessels, and the JSDF Ark Angel. Blake could not help but feel just a little bit of pride at the sight of the old spaceplane. Himawari and Chris Wright were hard at work on the vessel, helping a pair of Mutons re-arm her energy cannons.

“This old bird just refuses to die, doesn’t she?” He said as he approached.

“You could say the same for the woman who used to own this thing.” Chris replied.

He closed the access hatch and brought the dorsal energy cannon back online before looking at Blake. The two men shared a smile.

“Last time we saw each other, everyone was calling you ‘History Dude’ or something like that.” Blake commented. “Has it really been four years?”

“Feels like longer.” Chris replied, “And… yeah… they still call me that.”

They both paused to admire the old spaceplane.

“This might be her last flight.” Chris remarked. “Sure you don’t want to come along?”

“Someone has to stay here and play traffic cop.” Blake replied. “Friendly forces are starting to pour into the city now. Someone has to stay and point them towards Canaveral.”

“I think that is doing all of the pointing for you now.” Chris said, pointing towards the dimly-lit mushroom cloud, faintly visible on the dark horizon. “But it’s almost time to go. Our pilot just got here.”

A slow-moving pickup truck turned to drive down the runway, and Randall Murphy jumped down from the bed as it moved off. Himawari let out a cry of joy at the sight of him, and the ex-couple shared a tight hug.

“I was in the next town over when it all happened.” Randall explained, both in English and sign language: “I was trying to use the Hyperwave in Clermont to call our daughter… but she wouldn’t pick up!”

Randall was talking about Sophie Murphy. Blake had a general idea of where his grandchild was and spoke up:

“The last I heard, Sophie was at Cape Canaveral.” He said. “She is there of her own free will. My son Marcus said she was drawn into Etienne’s orbit more effectively than he was.”

Himawari and Randall both shuddered. Randall started to ask where Marcus was but Himawari cut him off with a firm gesture. Then they both decided to take action.

“Spread the word.” Himawari signed to her father. “All ships will take off and follow the Ark Angel to Canaveral. We’ll give Macavity and Inez whatever air support they need.”

About an hour and a half before sunrise, fifteen starships lifted off from the ruins of Orlando and started to speed East. Meanwhile, on the ground below, hundreds of Baterra warforms were marching in the same direction. Behind them was a collection of Humans, hybrids, and aliens that slowly coalesced into a ragtag army as they went. Nearly a thousand fighters, armed with whatever they could find, moved in the direction of Canaveral.

There was no organization, no central leader. Everyone simply knew where they needed to go and what needed to be done.

As the haphazard force moved out, Blake turned back to the city, where thousands of men and women were frantically digging into the rubble crying out to survivors trapped below.
Blake prayed that Jericho would be found soon, and that Macavity’s convoy could hold out until she arrived.


…

Meanwhile, the twenty-nine defenders reconvened on the ground floor of the Canaveral VAB. Victoria looked badly shaken, and in no condition to fight.

“General Macavity is dead.” Kingi reported. “Along with a whole regiment of GDF troops and equipment.”

Silence hung over the defenders. Corder and Munkustrap twitched their ears, listening to the enemy just outside. Ninu ran to the north wall and dared to peek through one of the bullet holes.

“I saw Skyrangers flying away, heading out to sea.” Ninu reported back.

“Probably going to the boats.” Inez explained. “There are two ways Canaveral is supplied: by air and by sea. Mom is probably sending someone to get more soldiers from the boats and offshore platforms nearby.”

“We’re already outnumbered, why is the Paradox going for reinforcements?” asked Karfu.

“Because she knows her advantage won’t last.” Emanuel answered.

The Professor gave everyone a meaningful look.

“The GDF is still present in large numbers throughout the solar system.” He went on. “And the UN government is coming around to our side. The Paradox is racing the clock. The longer we hold out, the more friendly forces are going to come racing to Canaveral. We’re doing good by keeping her tied down like this, we just need to keep her focus on us.”

“Yeah, but if we keep the fight on ourselves, we’ll risk hurting those kids.” Emma von Richtofen said, gesturing to the bunker. “I won’t trust that bunker to another bombardment. We just can’t count on getting lucky twice. No offense, kid.”

Cassandra put her hands behind her back and looked away from Emma. Munkustrap raised a paw and put an end to the conversation.

“Those of you with sharp ears, listen!” He said. “The enemy is getting ready to come again! They’re going to have us surrounded in just a few moments!”

“We can’t hold this building again!” Colonel Sharp protested. “If we try to defend it, it’ll come down on top of us! We’ve gotta go somewhere else!”

At that moment, Inez was very suddenly reminded of the night she escaped from Cape Canaveral with her father and sister. They had gone south, towards Port Canaveral and Cocoa Beach. She strained her memory, trying to remember any landmarks along the route… and one came to mind at once! Inez acted on the thought quickly.

“Everyone listen up!” she said. “We’ve got to attack now while they’re still preparing and before they get reinforced. We can get away while they’re off balance.”

She spoke with that tone of authority she developed during her brief command of the Solaris, and everyone froze to listen.

“Victoria, Eerabik, Emma. Get the kids out of the bunker and through that door.” Inez pointed to a concrete pillar on one side of the building. “It’ll take you to a tunnel. The tunnel connects this building to the Launch Control center next door. Outside of the Control Center should be a bunch of utility trucks.”

Corder started to interrupt, but Inez talked over her.

“Load up the kids, drive onto the Saturn Causeway, and then go east until you hit the ocean.” Inez said quickly. “Once you see water, go south alongside the beach until you see an Old World military base. It’s been abandoned for almost a century, but most of it is still sturdy. Get the kids inside we’ll all meet up there.”


Victoria, Eerabik, and Emma broke off from the group. The other defenders looked around at the sound of deep booming noises from one side of be building.

“They’re coming through!” Maui said, scanning the wall with his smart glasses. “They’re trying to breach the doors! West side!”

“They think we’re going to wait for them to come inside.” Inez said. “Let’s use what little surprise we got!”

Inez had no way of knowing how many enemies were stacked up on the west side of the VAB, but she did know they were using some kind of battering ram against one of the doors instead of passing through the garage door, which was wide open. She knew why: the enemy assumed that an open door was being covered, and that anyone passing through it would be shot. Today, assumptions would be lethal.

“Flyers through the garage door!” Inez ordered. “Keep the enemy looking anywhere but forward! Kingi, bring the front door down from our side. Karfu and Celta, raise fucking hell! Cassandra, put up another shield for as long as you can. Shout my name when you can’t hold it anymore! Everyone else, push forward until Cassandra shouts my name! Then we break for the trucks and get out of here!”

Masking her own fear and terror beneath a layer of confidence and authority, Inez took one final look at Cassandra. The young girl’s face was stony, unmoving. Then Kingi raised his rotary plasma cannon, spun up the barrels, and took aim at the west wall. He laid on the trigger and swept the weapon from side to side, spraying the doors, windows, and walls with hot plasma bolts. Confused shouting and panicking could be heard from the other side, but not for long.

Kingi let go of the trigger and signaled his companions. The Muton and Micore put their gargantuan shoulders to the wall, Karfu’s body was so huge she never would have fit through the front door anyway. Everyone raised their weapons, ready. With a great heave, a whole section of the wall collapsed in a swirling storm of concrete dust and insulation fragments. At the same time Honeydew, Lavender, and Maroon soared through the garage door, firing plasma pistols down at the enemy below.

“There they are!” Inez screamed, “Cut into ‘em!”
Once more, gunfire!

Against all odds, Inez’ plan had actually worked. Over a hundred Space Rangers, waiting for their turn to enter and clear the VAB, were caught completely off-guard by the sudden sortie. Men fell by the dozens as weapons roared in the darkness. Sectopods stomped around uselessly, unable to employ their devastating weapons without hitting their own men. The twenty-six defenders found themselves in a target-rich environment. Enemies were everywhere, scattering about as they ran for cover. Inez swept her laser rifle around, not even bothering to aim. In the chaos, she could have sworn she took a man’s arm off with it.

Up on the surrounding rooftops, additional Space Rangers raised their weapons and fired down into the attacking rescuers. Inez could see laser bolts streaking towards her from above, only to bend in midair and sail off in some random direction. Looking behind her, Cassandra was standing at the back of the group, her arms wide. She was panting with the effort of keeping the shield up, sweat staining her clothes.

Like athletes in a footrace, the Stormbreakers charged the enemy, running them down. Cetla tossed a Space Ranger through a second story window like a toy. Corder and Kingi advanced together, one blasting away while the other moved. Ninu rode on Maui’s shoulders, covering the flanks with his laser pistol.

The Wolverines fought as viciously as their namesakes. Lawrence, Jay, and Cera closed the distance and engaged Space Rangers in hand-to-hand combat, seeming to ignore the fact that their opponent were wearing power armor. Lawrence smashed a man’s helmet with his pistol before kicking him to the ground and stomping on his head. Cera, splattered in blood, smashed a nearby window and used the broken glass as an improvised knife. Bradley and Emanuel worked together, fighting as a single unit to bring down one enemy at a time in brutal fashion.

Ted Navarro and Colonel Sharp used the urban terrain to their advantage, sniping the enemy from close range before vanishing into the smoke and fire again. The Saiiban, high above, showed no mercy to the men on the rooftops. Inez heard a yell, a scream, and loud crash as a fully armored ranger hit the ground, Several more followed as Honeydew, Maroon, and Lavender followed up their strikes. Munkustrap helped the avians, firing his laser rifle at rooftop fighters, revealing their targets to everyone on the battlefield.

Karfu were in her element. She tilted her head back and let out a deafening, bloodcurdling roar! It was the Blood Call, the traditional battlecry of the Muton people. Hearing the sound, several Space Rangers panicked, freezing in place or turning their weapons on anything that moved, often hitting each other. Karfu thundered into the fray like one of the old Muton Berserkers. She punched a Space Ranger so hard his power armor shattered like glass! Pinning him to the ground, Karfu punched and slammed the man repeatedly, spraying blood and bones across the ground.

Navin Soban and Ruunhan Somtaaw stayed together, drilling through a whole squad of Space Rangers like monsters from the darkest of nightmares. Ruunhan wielded a large knife in one hand as though it was a sword, while Navin wielded two submachineguns, one in each hand. The Hiigaran man looked almost happy to be part of such a chaotic scene.

Meanwhile, David Sepulveda and the four UN defectors made a scene of their own. David, Rella, Shen, Tahmin, and Dmyrto stayed together, fighting as a squad, and their mere presence on the battlefield became a distraction for the enemy. Several Space Rangers turned to face their former comrades, often with a dramatic cry of “Traitor!”
David, Shen, and Tahmin fought at range with rifles and pistols, but Dmytro and Rella preferred to get close. Armed with Arc Blades and Plasma Swords, they engaged in intense close-quarter combat that would have made a war-era XCOM Ranger proud. Sergeant Rella cut down so many men with her Arc Blade that her arms started to ache.

Amidst the unfolding torrent of violence, Inez could clearly see that her sister’s efforts were paying off. The enemy pointed and fired their weapons at the rescuers, yet nothing seemed to connect. Plasma bolts seemed to fizzle out in midair, laser beams scattered as though hitting a prism, and Gauss slugs veered wildly off to the side, harmlessly hitting the ground. The enemy was simply unable to shoot any of the rescuers with their guns!

And yet…

With a horrible, icy feeling Inez realized something terrible. Her ragtag team of rescuers were cutting through the enemy like a hot knife through butter, and Space Rangers were falling with each moment… but there never seemed to be any fewer of them! In fact, there were more of them now than when the fight began! These were new, fresh troops and they had heavy weapons. Reinforcements had arrived!

“Nezzie!” Cassandra screamed. “Nezzie! I can’t!”

Inez raised her voice to be heard above the din!

“Everyone fall back! Retreat!”

At that moment, the telekinetic shield collapsed. Inez actually felt the sudden shift in Psionic energy as it happened. Cassandra’s eyes rolled up to the back of her head and she slumped to the ground. Stooping as she moved, Inez grabbed her sister and continued back into the VAB. The others waged a fighting retreat, firing their weapons blindly into the enemy force as they withdrew. Just on the other side of the building, Inez could see the tunnel to the Mission Control Building.

Behind her, there was a yell:

“He’s hit!”

Inez looked around to see her father tumble to the ground.

“Argh! Same fucking arm as last time!”

Emanuel cried out in pain, his right arm hanging useless at his side.

Karfu grabbed Emanuel and lifted him into the bridal carry position before charging toward the tunnel entrance. Two by two, the rescuers fled through the entrance. Inez stayed behind, waiting until all of her comrades were through before she stepped into the tunnel as well. Ruunhan Somtaaw and Ted Navarro were waiting for her.

“Keep going!” Ted told her. “We’re gonna collapse the tunnel.”

Inez passed through the Mission Control building, following everyone to the parking lot outside.

“When you said there were trucks, I was expecting civilian vehicles!” Said Maui. “This is perfect for us!”

Truthfully, Inez was also expecting to find civilian trucks here. Instead, about a dozen military vehicles were lined up in the parking lot, all painted in the blue and white colors of the United Nations Army, with the acronym AFUNE painted on their sides. Inez quickly counted two APC’s, an open-top cargo truck, and seven technicals. (a pickup truck with a heavy weapon mounted in the bed)

“Everyone load up!” She said, then turned to Karfu and Emanuel.

Her father looked pale. Corder and Navin had treated his injury by putting a tourniquet on his injured right arm, but Emanuel still had a determined look on his face.

“Dad, you need to take the lead vehicle.” Inez said. “Let Karfu drive, and you guide everyone to that abandoned base.”

“Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.” Emanuel panted. “I know the spot. We’ll get there.”
Inez, the Stormbreakers, and the Wolverines loaded up in the technicals. Cetla was so large that he tore the machine gun off its mount and held it in both hands, making room for other passengers. Truck engines roared to life. Then, with Karfu and Emanuel in the lead, the impromptu convoy sped out of the lot towards the Saturn Causeway.

At once, gunfire erupted. The escaping rescuers were being shot at from nearly all directions as both Space Rangers and base security realized what was going on. Everybody who could returned fire, sending plasma and lasers into all of the surrounding buildings.

“Oh, holy Jericho! Here come the Sectopods!” Ninu yelled, pointing out from his perch on the cargo truck.

Inez, sitting in the rearmost technical, turned around to look. All nine of the massive robots were following the escaping rescuers, standing at their full height and taking fifty-foot strides.

From one of the other technicals, David shouted:

“Open up the boxes in your trucks! We’ve got heavy weapons!”

Inez looked around the bed of her truck and found a long thin box. Cassandra and Corder were sitting on it. They both moved and helped Inez open it. Inside were two Blaster Launchers, a type of shoulder-mounted rocket launcher. Inez and Corder each took one and braced themselves against the metal frame of the truck bed. They tried to take aim, but Dmytro called out from the driver’s seat:

“Sharp turn!”

Inez and Corder were forced to lower their weapons as the convoy turned onto the Saturn Causeway.

The escaping vehicles had departed the Kennedy Space Center and were now driving along a causeway that led directly to the historic launch pad 39A. On either side of the road, trees whipped by at high speed as the trucks accelerated, but the Sectopods lengthened their strides and closed the gap. Corder raised her Blaster Launcher and fired! A shimmering globe of green plasma sailed away and missed the enemy entirely. The resulting explosion was so large that it briefly lit up the nearby nuclear mushroom cloud in stark relief.

On the back of the cargo truck, Eerabik’s Baterra turned around and fired its railgun over the pack of technicals. Unlike Corder, the Baterra struck true. The railgun slug flew low, striking a Sectopod not on its rectangular head, but on one of its narrow fifty-foot long legs. The Sectopod, suddenly losing one of its two legs, lost balance and toppled over, crashing into another Sectopod and taking it down as well. One shot had taken out two highly dangerous enemies. Eerabik cheered just as loudly as everyone else.

There were now just seven Sectopods in pursuit.

Feeling frantic, Inez looked around to her right and spotted the many towers and storage tanks of Launch Pad 39A. Now that she knew where she was, Inez recognized a new sensation: the smell of salt. Engines roaring and tires spinning, all of the vehicles turned hard to the left, following Titus Beach south and away from pad 39A. Just a short distance to the left, dark waves crashed against the shoreline.

With a sense of building horror, Inez realized the seven remaining Sectopods were giving up the chase! The massive robots were turning to the south, and up above, Inez could see all three of the Prophet-class cruisers. The vessels were shadowing the convoy. Looking around, Inez also spotted a single Skyranger flying above the Sectopods.

In a moment, she understood what was happening. Someone flying over the scene had realized where the rescuers were going, perhaps they had even figured out where the kids had been moved!

“Shit!” Inez swore out loud. “We’ve been made!”

As if to confirm her words, the Sectopods veered hard to the left and stepped off the road entirely. The giant robots started walking through the swamplands, pushing straight south to the abandoned military base where Eerabik, Emma, and Victoria were waiting with the alien children.

From here, Inez was not sure who would reach the base first, but either way, it was going to be very close. She had only moments to come up with a plan.

“Honeydew!” Inez screamed over the noise of the wind. “Maroon! Lavender!”

All three Saiiban fighters answered her call. The trio of birds fluttered from one truck to the next, reaching her in seconds.

“Fly ahead to the base!” Inez instructed them. “Tell Eerabik the enemy is onto her! Move the kids to-”

Inez hesitated. There was nowhere left to run. The Old World base had been the last safe place in the area. But Inez knew help was on the way. The rest of the GDF was out there, plus the whole of the UN. They just needed to survive. Inez wracked her brains, and came up with the final answer.

“The lighthouse!” She said. “Move the kids to the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse. It’s a mile to the east of the base, you can’t miss it! Just follow the runway leading out of the airport! Now go! Go!”

The Saiiban took flight and flew straight south, crossing over the marshland where trucks could not drive. Looking around, Inez realized the Sectopods were being slowed by the swamp terrain. The Saiiban were going to win the race!

But… in the back of her mind, Inez knew the Sectopods would still reach the base quickly. They might even arrive as the kids were being evacuated. For the first time that night, Inez felt a sense of impending doom. Unless something happened to stall or stop those Sectopods, none of the rescuers would survive long enough for real help to arrive.

…

The rescuers arrived at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station a few moments before sunrise.

Eerabik, Emma, Victoria, and the Saiiban trio were already evacuating the alien children. Walking in triple-file lines, the kids were moving out of a reinforced bunker and climbing into the same trucks they arrived on. In the distance, a yellow light appeared at the top of the a dark tower. It was the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse.

“There’s an Old World bunker near the lighthouse.” Emanuel said. “The Americans used to store missiles in there, but ADVENT emptied the place out.”

Emanuel and Inez looked up to see the trio of starships in the sky above.

“They’re watching us.” Inez said. “They can see our every move, and they’re wire-guiding the Sectopods right into us. They’ll be here in just a few minutes.”

Emanuel looked up at the sky again.

“The GDF armada is still up there.” He said. “We’ve just gotta hold out, you know that. Hold out until they get here.”

Inez nodded grimly. She had already made up her mind.

“Yeah, I know.” She said. “I’ve got a plan for that...”

One last time, the twenty-nine rescuers and their charges moved out. The united convoy now consisted of fifteen military trucks, loaded to the brim with terrified children. In the back of one technical, Inez tightly squeezed Cassandra’s hand, and felt her own heart racing.

She knew what needed to be done.

The enemy needed to be stopped, or at least made to slow down just long enough for help to come. There was a simple and easy way to do this, and Inez knew all twenty-eight of her fellow rescuers would immediately volunteer for the grim task. But she could not ask them to do that. She would not. None of them deserved what was waiting at the end of this road.

As the convoy turned onto Lighthouse Road, orange light spilled over the Atlantic Ocean. Christmas Morning brought a gentle warmth to everyone it touched, except for Inez, who felt as cold as ice. Cassandra squeezed Inez’ hand and asked:

“Are you okay? Your mind is all dark.”
Inez leaned over and gave her sister a tight hug.

“I’m okay.” She replied. “It’s almost over. Everything will be alright soon.”

Then the technical reached the turn in the road. It slowed to a near stop, waiting for one of the trucks to turn ahead of it. About thirty alien kids were peering over the railing, trying to see the Sectopods, which were closing in once again.

In that instant where the truck was almost stopped, Inez summoned the last of her willpower. With a single smooth movement, Inez jumped out of the truck and onto the road, taking with her a Blaster Launcher. The Shadowkeeper was still strapped to her leg. Cassandra screamed and reached out to grab her sister, but Inez just said:

“I’ll meet you up ahead.”

And watched as the truck drove away. Each vehicle in the convoy went around Inez, a few of the kids and rescuers called out to her, but Inez did not say anything. She only had eyes for Cassandra. As they drove past, Victoria, Eerabik, Lawrence, and Emanuel all had looks on their faces that said they understood what was about to happen.

Inez watched the convoy until it was out of sight, turning into a road that was shrouded by trees. Mouth dry, stomach clenching, Inez turned to face the thundering sound of oncoming Sectopods.

Staring up the road, Inez could see everything coming towards her. Seven Sectopods, three star cruisers high above, and a single Skyranger closer to the ground. And all she had was a rocket launcher with a single round of ammunition. Not enough to stop the enemy, but enough to slow them down, perhaps for just the right amount of time. But even if she succeeded or failed, Inez knew one thing for certain:

I am about to die.

She wished she had found the strength to say goodbye to Cassandra.

She wished she had not put together this hasty rescue attempt.

She wished she had waited for the rest of the GDF or Jericho to show up first.

So many wishes and regrets filled her mind, until at last Inez pushed them aside. Instead, she thought about why she was doing this instead.

Inez thought about how those kids would get to go home. Some of them were kidnapped back when this war started, two years ago. So many families would be reunited. Akira would lose the ability to test out her Psionic weapons on non-Humans. The next Amadiio might very well be delayed because of this. In fact, without her experimental Psionic soldiers, Akira’s whole plan to reconquer Earth was shot.

These thoughts gave Inez new strength. With her final act, Inez knew that she would damage her mother’s plans irreparably. In fact, this could be the complete undoing of the Paradox forever. Inez could live happily in that knowledge…

For the next few minutes.

The Sectopods drew closer. One of them finally noticed her and lowered its Gauss cannon, ready to fire. The Skyranger swiveled its tilt-rotor engines and began to hover over the scene. Even the cruisers high above seemed to have slowed down and were hovering as well. All of the enemy’s eyes were on Inez.

As Inez lifted her Blaster Launcher and rested it on her shoulder, she felt a familiar sensation. Psionic energy washed over her body, enveloping her completely. It felt like the warm and comforting embrace of a family member. A smile crossed Inez’ mouth.

“Cassandra, I love you.” She breathed. Then she squeezed the trigger.

The Blaster Launcher went off with a mighty crack, and a moment later, the foremost Sectopod stumbled and fell over backwards! Its head hit the road surface and smashed to bits, leaving the giant robot as nothing more than scrap metal. Her rocket launcher now useless, Inez dropped it to the side and unholstered her Shadowkeeper. She raised the pistol, aimed at the Skyranger, and fired. The weapon expelled a thick cloud of black smoke.

The early morning wind quickly blew the smoke away, reminding Inez just how alone she was...

…

Aboard the Skyranger, an atmosphere of shock filled the cabin. Rafi Bakir was at the controls, flying the troop transporter. Behind him, Klaus Eberhardt, Sidney Beauclair, and Akira Robinson had all dropped their jaws. The XCOM Commander looked down at the six remaining Sectopods in shock. In his hands, Commander Eberhardt was holding a tablet computer. He had been using it to take remote control of the war machines below, and for a brief moment, he had stared (through the eyes of a Sectopod) directly into Inez’ face just as she fired the Blaster Launcher.

Admiral Beauclair shook her head in disbelief.

“There’s no way she can do that again. We should just order the Sectopods to go around her.” She commented.

Akira peered over Rafi’s shoulder, examining the scene below.

“Wait a moment.” Akira said.

At that instant, the smokescreen from the Shadowkeeper was blown away. The four men and women could see that Inez Espinosa was no longer alone. Everyone could see a second person next to her.

There was a moment’s pause as everyone realized just who the second person was.

Akira went pale. When she spoke, her voice contained a faint trace of fear:

“I want every gun we have to fire on those women.”

…

Inez did not see where the other person came from. She did not hear their approach. It was as though the newcomer had simply popped out of the ground.

This person was the single most beautiful girl Inez had ever laid eyes on. She was a mixed-race person, no older than twenty-one, with vaguely Asian features. She had brown skin and wavy hair that was dyed blue. Her round face was set by vivid purple eyes and a gentle smile.
Inez knew she was looking at Jericho.

Not the old woman the Stormbreakers found in Arcadia Bay, no. This was Jericho in her prime, as she had been during the last war, fifty years ago. She was even wearing the same iconic yellow shirt and blue jeans.

Jericho did not say anything. She reached out and took Inez’ hand. The two women stood shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand, and stared up at the Skyranger.

And then, the six remaining Sectopods opened fire. Gauss cannons and laser weapons raked the ground, causing Inez and Jericho to vanish in a cloud of smoke and debris. A second later, all three of the Prophet-class cruisers followed suit. Mass driver rounds, Railgun slugs, space torpedoes, energy cannon blasts, plasma bombs, and Ion beams rained down on Inez and Jericho.

The bombardment was ferocious and accurate, lasting for a full thirty seconds. It only stopped when the Ark Angel arrived.

…

Fifteen small starships reached the scene by following the light of weapons fire. Aboard the JSDF Ark Angel, Chris Wright and Randall Murphy watched the destructive downpour play out from the cockpit. Himawari, connected to the ship once again, scanned the area quickly and confirmed the trio of cruisers were the only opposition.

“Holy god.” Chris breathed as he watched three star cruisers mercilessly pummel an area no bigger than a car.

“Everyone lock and load!” Randall called out.

The allied Starfighters rose into an attack formation and accelerated to full speed. Himawari gave the weapons-free signal.

“Squadron, we are weapons hot!” A Partogan pilot said over the radio. “Bird’s away!”

“Friendship 7 on your starboard!” Chimed in a Blorg pilot. “Weapons hot, bird’s away!”

All fifteen vessels opened fire. Missiles screamed across the early morning sky and struck the unsuspecting cruisers. Zoroaster lurched so hard to one side she accidentally shot and destroyed two more Sectopods on the ground. Chris and Randall maneuvered the Ark Angel to cut across Zoroaster’s axis and draw her fire.

“I’ve tone!” Chris yelled, “Target lock, bird’s away!”

Two missiles and a plasma bomb connected with Zoroaster, severing one of her Ion cannons. The weapon fell away from the starship, heading for the ground. On its way back to Earth, the Ion cannon crashed into the tail of Akira’s Skyranger. The troop transport went into a flat spin, swirling in a vortex of white smoke. With its engines screaming, the damaged Skyranger hit a grove of trees, turned over, and crashed into the ground.

<=== Chapter 43: After Everything

Chapter 45: The Stormbreakers ===>​

 

[Von Acturus]

That was a rollercoaster! You got me convinced Inez was going to die for a hot second there. And we're left with many questions here: is that the real Jericho or the illusion?

Is Akira going to pull a Kylo Ren and go down by herself to face Jericho after her overkill barrage failed, only to be dealt a humiliating defeat?

And this line:

Argh! Same fucking arm as last time!

I feel bad for Emanuel, but this was pretty funny. He seems less like an academic and more like a hardened guerilla fighter by this point!

 

[HistoryDude]

The plan is a delaying action - and it's working!

Is this a moment where you decided to spare Inez? It would have been a glorious way to die.

That was a rollercoaster! You got me convinced Inez was going to die for a hot second there. And we're left with many questions here: is that the real Jericho or the illusion?

I highly doubt that it's the illusion. That was allied with Akira and probably was Akira's. Akira wouldn't self-sabotage herself...

Or would she? It would be a worthy plot... and she is still under mind control. Can that ever be undone? I assumed that the answer was no, but, if it's yes, it would change everything. And you do like Star Wars...

 

[Macavity116]

That was a rollercoaster! You got me convinced Inez was going to die for a hot second there. And we're left with many questions here: is that the real Jericho or the illusion?

Is Akira going to pull a Kylo Ren and go down by herself to face Jericho after her overkill barrage failed, only to be dealt a humiliating defeat?

Ride's not over yet, my friend. Do you really think I would let Akira die in something as ignominious as a Skyranger crash? Oh, no. This fireworks show is going to have one helluva finale.

I feel bad for Emanuel, but this was pretty funny. He seems less like an academic and more like a hardened guerilla fighter by this point!

Poor Emanuel. He's had a rough year. Don't forget this is actually the THIRD TIME Emanuel has been shot. Akira shot him with his own bullet all the way back in the prologue. He's tied with Chihiro Tachibana for "bullet sponge" status.

Is this a moment where you decided to spare Inez? It would have been a glorious way to die.

You must be thinking of my October 27 post, announcing my intentions to spare a Protagonist's life. Well, your guess is off by one chapter.

The scene you are looking for is in Chapter 45: The Stormbreakers. It is the very last line of narration before the chapter ends. The scene is preserved in its original state, with the obvious change of the character surviving the action instead of perishing.

 

[Macavity116]

Well here we are.

As of the moment this message is posted, the final chapter is complete. The book is complete. The Stormbreaker Universe is complete.

Actually, the final chapter was finished two days ago. I needed to step away from the computer and take a mental health break. I have never gotten truly emotional while writing but it happened Monday, and it happened again yesterday. Chapter 45 and Chapter 46 hit me very hard, mentally. I was a wreck for about five minutes after I stepped away from the keyboard, honestly. My dad says I'm mourning for the characters I spent so much time with. Maybe.

I think I'm better, so now I'm back.

Thank you for reading... all of you. Thank you for being part of this incredible four-year journey. Thank you for your comments, for your artwork and support. Even if you read every word but never left a comment, thank you for reading.

Chapter 45: The Stormbreakers will be released at 12noon on December 17.

Chapter 46: Journey's End will be released at 12noon on December 25.

The Envoi will be posted at 8pm on December 25.

The End Credits and Fanart Showcase video will be uploaded to my YouTube channel on December 31.


And then... that's it. The story will be over. I've enjoyed every moment of this project, creating and sharing it with you all. Thanks for everything.

---

I guess that leaves one last tradition. Longtime readers know what's coming.

Whenever I announce the ending, I conclude the post by including the very last line of the story. Honestly, I do not remember why I started doing this. I have no idea if sharing the very last line is helping convincing people to read the finale. I just like sharing this little teaser. So, one last time... the final line:


"Time to go."

 

[Macavity116]

Welcome to the second-to-last chapter of the Stormbreaker Universe.

---

Gameplay trivia: the Homeworld games have a collision mechanic that allows starships to perform Kamikaze attacks. This chapter contains the only Kamikaze attack in the Stormbreaker Universe.

The Emerald Institute was created by @Midnite Duke. Used with permission.

The Saiiban were created by @Chilango2. Used with permission.

Eerabik was created by @Arithmetician. Used with permission.

<=== Chapter 44: Faith in Chaos

Chapter 46: Journey's End===>​

Chapter 45
The Stormbreakers

​

December 25, 2086
Cape Canaveral Lighthouse


Across the road from the old lighthouse, Victoria and Lawrence ushered the last of the alien children into a concrete bunker. They had little faith in the structure, as they could plainly see the date “October 1962” stamped on one of the outer walls, but it was better than no protection at all. Behind them, an overwhelming noise caused the two fighters to drop their weapons and reach up to cover their ears. Victoria looked around to see what was happening:

All three of the Prophet-class cruisers were firing their weapons at the point on Lighthouse Road where Inez was left behind. Ion beams shot down from the sky, converging on the ground while energy cannons and mass drivers racked the terrain. The twenty-eight rescuers gathered outside of the bunker, in front of the only door. Cassandra screamed:

“Where’s Nezzie!?”

“Somewhere in that mess.” Jay replied, pointing at the conflagration.

“Space Rangers and Sectopods are surrounding the site.” Maui added, using his smart glasses to peer through the dense grove of trees that separated the lighthouse from the main road. “Does it really take that much firepower to kill one woman!?”

Maui gasped and leaned forward, putting one hand up to his smart glasses.

“Son of a kinloka, she’s still alive!” Maui yelled over the noise. “I can see her!”

At that moment, the bombardment stopped. New noises and flashes of color drew everyone’s attention. Fifteen Starfighters and Corvettes roared onto the scene, guns ablaze. Missiles streaked through the early morning light and struck a devastating blow onto one of the enemy cruisers! A moment later, the lone Skyranger fell, tumbling out of the air and into the trees below.

“I don’t believe it!” Cera cried out. “Someone came! We’re saved!”

“Not yet!” Lawrence said. “We’ve gotta get Nezzie! Eyes up and follow me!”

…

For just one moment, Inez was standing in the center of an inferno. The world around her was nothing but a storm of fire and shrapnel. Then, as suddenly as it began, it was over. Inez, still holding Jericho’s hand, stepped out of the smoke.

Inez felt as though she had entered a hellscape. On both sides of the road, forest and marsh alike were enveloped in flames. The nuclear mushroom cloud, about thirty miles to the north, as lit up in deep orange colors by the rising sun. The Prophet cruisers flailed about in the sky, struggling to engage fifteen strike craft that buzzed about like insects. On the edge of the burning treeline, just where the swamp ended and forest began, Inez could see the Skyranger, wrecked on the ground.

There were two people emerging from it:

Rafi Bakir, armed with a Laser Sniper Rifle, pulled the body of Admiral Beauclair free of the ship before grabbing at the radio on her belt. He waved to a group of nearby Space Rangers, trying to get their attention. Akira Robinson stepped away from the Skyranger, checking her Prometheus Device to make sure it still worked.

Seeing her mother seemed to bring back Inez’ strength. Her hands shaking, Inez reached to her belt and reloaded the Shadowkeeper. The whole process took only a few seconds, but in those few moments she took her eyes off the scene, everything happened.

“AKIRA!” Jericho screamed.

Over a hundred yards away, Akira and Rafi looked up and spotted Jericho. Rafi reacted instantly, raising his Laser Sniper Rifle and taking a shot at Jericho. Inez cried out as a crimson bolt sailed through the air. But then, inexplicably, the bolt froze in place! Held fast as though someone had paused a movie, the lethal point of energy suddenly seemed like it was just part of the grim scenery.

Jericho lowered her hand, and the laser bolt faded from existence. Then, she launched herself at Akira.

There was a momentary flash of light as Akira activated her Prometheus Device. The hologram reappeared, and Akira was transformed into the False Jericho once more. Psionic energy rippled across the battlefield as the Girl Who Became a God clashed with her impostor!

Jericho realized Akira was going to counterattack and took a defensive posture. The False Jericho lashed out, swiping her hand through the air and sending a crescent-shaped construct flying away. Moving almost lazily, Jericho side-stepped the first attack. The Arc Wave missed by a wide margin, tearing up the ground as it went.

Then Akira fired a beam of green light from her palm. It struck an invisible barrier just before Jericho, who still looked unconcerned. Jericho retreated, falling back while keeping a Psionic shield in front of herself. Akira gave chase, conjuring a Psionic lance and hurling it towards Jericho. The attack missed again, Jericho stepping out of the way with a surprising amount of ease. Now Akira was on the offense. The False Jericho attacked so quickly that each strike transitioned smoothly into the next. Psi Volts, Soulfire, and telekinetic blasts rained down on the true Jericho, who parried and evaded each attack with little effort.

Meanwhile, Inez was quickly figuring out just what was going on. Akira was unleashing her full powers against Jericho, yet her opponent only saw fit to dodge and evade, never once trying to attack. Inez knew about Jericho’s immense power, and for just a moment, she did not understand why Jericho refused to squash Akira like a bug. Inez could feel the immense Psionic energy coming from Jericho, it was all around her… almost overwhelming.

Then the truth hit Inez at full force!

Jericho could not strike Akira because she was not there.

It all made sense. Jericho, the real one, was still buried in Orlando! She was using her Psionic powers to reach all the way out to Canaveral, to this very point. Akira fell for the rouse, considering the Phantom Jericho to be the bigger danger, which meant…

Jericho was creating an opportunity for Inez to kill Akira.

As though the Universe itself wanted to confirm Inez’ theory, there was a new commotion. Gunfire erupted from the treeline behind Inez! All twenty-eight of her fellow rescuers stormed onto the scene. Victoria and Lawrence led from the front, Eerabik rode atop her Baterra, and Cassandra brought up the rear.

“Kill the traitors!” Rafi shouted at the Space Rangers, pointing at the rescue party.

“Engage those Rangers!” Lawrence yelled, directing the rescuers towards the main threat.

The battle resumed as fighters dove for cover and laid down fire.

Moving between trees, Corder and Munkustrap stalked their prey. The Baterra turned its attention to the Sectopods, thundering away with its railgun. Karfu let out another blood call before charging headlong into the enemy. Emanuel, Bradley, Ruunhan, and Kingi used machine guns to spit overwhelming fire in the direction of the Skyranger wreck, forcing Rafi to hide behind cover. Eerabik flew high above, raining death on the enemy with a plasma pistol.

Through it all, Jericho was still evading Akira. Inez could see her mother growing frustrated as Jericho dodged and escaped from one strike after the next. Akira screamed in rage and brought both of her hands to her chest. A moment later, Akira seemed to pull a flickering ball of green light from her own body and aimed it at Jericho.

An inferno of green Soulfire erupted from Akira’s hand like a flamethrower! Jericho conjured a shimmering translucent wall to shield her from the flames, and amidst all of this chaos, Inez started to run.

Inez had eyes only for her mother. She drew the Shadowkeeper and started to sprint across the cratered landscape. Behind Inez, the smallest of the rescuers broke away from the group and followed her.

…

Up in the sky, Commodore Vargas directed the action from the bridge of the Solaris.

“Focus fire on the machine vessels.” He ordered. “Those are the same ships that gave us so much trouble at Alpha Centauri, and get me an ID on that spaceplane!”

“It’s the Ark Angel, sir.” Akbar Saraki quickly replied.

“Robinson.” Vargas seethed. “Trying to bring us down like you’ve always done… well let’s see you do it now if you dare. Blow that piece of junk out of the sky!”

On his orders, Solaris fired up her maneuvering thrusters and started turning to attack the old spaceplane. Himawari, fully connected to her ship, read the situation and reacted accordingly. She contacted several of the other strike craft and gave orders.

Aboard the Solaris, Captain Dotsenko barely had time to yell:

“Incoming!”

The cruiser lurched violently as she was struck from above and behind. The lights flickered worryingly.

“Damage report!” Commodore Vargas demanded.

“Sir, we’ve taken serious damage to our dorsal armor plating.” Zhen Li reported. “Enemy fighters coming around the front!”

“Divert power to the dorsal guns and keep ‘em off us!” Vargas snapped.

Zhen Li went to work on the weapons control station, directing fire. While Vargas was looking around to spot the Ark Angel, Li suddenly shouted:

“Got one! Target down!”

A Blorg Starfighter erupted into flames, spiraling down from above. Then, a few moments before it fell past the Solaris, the Blorg pilot suddenly regained control of her vessel. The fighter veered hard to one side, toward the cruiser!

“Collision course!” Saraki yelled.

Before Vargas could say or do anything, Saraki grabbed the helm and threw the Solaris into a desperate evasive maneuver, but it was too late. The Blorg fighter crashed headlong into the bridge, killing Vargas, Dotsenko, Saraki, and Li all at once.

Careening out of control, the Solaris heeled over and fell out of the sky!

The stricken cruiser nosedived into the ground at speed, crashing into the launch tower just north of the lighthouse before erupting into a hellish firestorm. Shrapnel flew along the shockwave and peppered the battlefield, dropping rangers and rescuers alike.

Eerabik let out a strangled cry and fell out of the air, crashing to into the swamp below. Emanuel, still wounded from the fighting at the VAB, finally dropped his weapon and hunkered behind a tree. With his good hand, Emanuel grasped at metal shards embedded in his leg. The explosion also injured Ruunhan and Munkustrap. Battered, bloodied, and unable to fight, both of them crawled into a ditch, hiding from the fighting all around them.

One of the last remaining Sectopods, crippled by the explosion, tried to take a step further into the fray. Its legs locked up and the towering robot came crashing down into the forest, now completely engulfed in flames.

Inez had crossed about half of the battlefield. She could plainly see the wreck of the Skyranger. Akira and the Phantom Jericho were close by. Jericho was quickly walking in a large circle around Akira. Still disguised in her False Jericho hologram, Akira blasted her opponent with every Psionic technique she could think of, yet nothing seemed to take. Psionic Volts and Lances were either parried away or easily avoided. Jericho stepped through Soulfire without acknowledging its existence, all the while never changing the unimpressed expression on her face.

“You’ve lost your edge, Akira.” Jericho taunted her.

“And you lost your nerve!” Akira retorted. “You’re really not going to fight back!? Above such brutality now?”

Jericho actually laughed. The sight of her laughing looked very out of place, given her nightmarish surroundings.

“I’m not the one who is going to kill you, monster.” Jericho spat. “You wrote the script for my life, didn’t you? You should know that already.”

Akira hesitated. Using the noise of battle as cover, Inez drew closer, hiding behind the Baterra warform as it stomped around. Then, for the first time, Jericho raised one hand and pointed her palm at Akira. The False Jericho immediately took a step back.

“You made me, Akira.” Jericho said. “You built the world I fought for, the friends who died for me. You spent hundreds of lifetimes playing with your Galaxy in a bottle, making sure everything was exactly the way you wanted it. Blake and I always thought you were deluded… but you’re even worse than we imagined. Take a look around, we’re standing in your delusion, your perfect future!”

Jericho took a step forward. Akira clenched her fists, and they became enveloped in green Soulfire.

“You don’t understand.” Akira seethed.

“That’s right, I don’t.” Jericho replied. “And I never will understand what’s wrong with that broken mind of yours. Nobody will. If you weren’t such an absolute monster, you’d be a tragedy, and we would pity you.”

The Baterra warform finally noticed Akira. It turned and started moving toward her at a fast clip. Inez had to jog to keep up with it.

“I don’t want your pity!” Akira shouted. “I’m stronger than you now! I’ll become what you should have been all along!”

“A tyrant who exploits fear and religion to surround herself with subservient yes men, insulated from the Galaxy around herself.” Jericho said. “So wrapped up in her palaces and power that she won’t learn until the very last moment that all she’s really done is build a prison for herself. Even if you win, Akira… you’ll never be happy. Your future will never be perfect, even if you change the plan a hundred-sixteen times. Whatever you were trying to accomplish was lost so long ago you don’t even remember it. Your time ended over a hundred eternities ago, Paradox. There’s nothing left for you here.”

Jericho turned her hand over and conjured a magnificent flame. Blue Soulfire flickered in her palm, ready to be set upon her enemy. Akira screamed and unleashed her own attack!

Spewing forth from her hands like a jet, a twirling inferno of dark green flames shot away from Akira and enveloped Jericho! The emerald Soulfire swept around Jericho and became a vortex, rising into the morning sky to become a tornado of supernatural fire. The column of fire roared louder than any starship engine, and yet above the noise, Inez and Akira could hear Jericho’s parting words:

“Goodbye, Akira Robinson.”

Akira lowered her hands and the green inferno died away. As the flames died out, Inez could see that Jericho was gone. Nothing remained to suggest she was there to begin with. Even Inez could sense the absence of Jericho’s power… all of the Psionic energy previously saturating the battlefield was suddenly gone.

“NO!” a voice cried out.

Inez and Akira both looked around.

All six of the Stormbreakers were nearby, plus Cassandra. They were following Ninu, who in turn was following Inez. Ninu, Corder, Maui. Kingi, Cetla, and Cassandra were staring... not staring at the spot where Jericho vanished... but at Varian Robinson.

The Psionic illusion was broken, and the team leader had returned to his original appearance.

Varian looked down at himself, then at his friends, then at Akira. Everyone knew the truth. There was only one reason Jericho would not be able to keep up the illusion around Varian, a task said to be incredibly easy for her.

No words were spoken.

Weapons were drawn.

Inez fell in line with her sister and comrades.

Eight Stormbreakers closed in on Akira.

The Baterra struck first, raising its railgun and firing at Akira from almost point-blank range. Akira turned on the spot and sent a telekinetic wave toward the machine in return. The railgun slug reversed course in midair and flew backwards, striking the Baterra squarely in the center of its body. The Baterra was instantly rent into thousands of small pieces, smoke still curling up from its weapon.

Then the Stormbreakers fell upon their foe!

Everyone except Cassandra opened fire with their weapons. The little girl hung back, enveloping the seven adults in her own power. Akira raised both hands to conjure a telekinetic shield, scattering all of the projectiles and beams as they came. After a few moments, Inez, Varian, Corder, Ninu, Cetla, Kingi, and Maui all ran out of ammunition.

“Right.” Akira said. “My turn.”

White hair and cape billowing behind her, the False Jericho lunged at the Stormbreakers!

Inez, Varian, Maui, and Ninu leapt out of the way, but Corder, Cetla, and Kingi threw down their weapons and charged. Akira ducked under Cetla’s huge arm and kicked Kingi’s legs out from under him. With one hand she blocked a swipe from Corder’s claws, aimed the other down and shot Soulfire at Kingi. The Assurian Hybrid rolled away, his body engulfed in green flames.

Ninu reloaded his laser pistol and fired wildly at Akira from Cassandra’s shoulders. The little girl was running around the periphery of the fight, using her powers to extinguish Soulfire wherever it appeared. With a wave of Cassandra’s hand, the Soulfire attacking Kingi went out. Strangely, he was not burned or injured at all. As she moved, hundreds of green lights flickered inside of Cassandra’s body. She was looking less and less Human by the moment.

Inez, Varian, and Maui threw themselves into the fray, reaching out for Akira, ready to kill her with their bare hands if needed. Inez clutched the Shadowkeeper tightly in her left hand. The weapon was loaded; she just needed an opening! Akira aimed her palm at Maui, a bolt of lightning jumped out of her hand and struck him in the chest. Maui stumbled, regained his footing, and returned to the fight. He was completely unharmed!

A telekinetic force pushed the Stormbreakers away from Akira, who slammed her palm to the scorched earth. At once, translucent green tentacles burst out of the ground and seized Corder, holding her up in the air as she screamed in agony. Cetla roared and finally managed to grab Akira. The giant reptilian lifted Akira into the air while Varian and Kingi pointed their weapons at her.

Akira screamed and another telekinetic pulse rippled out of her body. Cetla was forced to drop her while Varian and Kingi flew several feet away before crashing back to the ground. Inez grabbed Kingi’s submachinegun off the ground and swung it, trying to club Akira with the weapon itself. Moving deftly, Akira grabbed the gun by its barrel and pushed, hard. The buttstock hit Inez at the base of her throat and knocked her to the ground. She tried to quickly sit up but Akira’s voice suddenly rang out in her head.

Kill yourself.

The telepathic command echoed in every corner of Inez’ brain. She had never been placed under Mind Control before, and now it was happening too quickly for Inez to wrap her mind around the concept.

Kill yourself now. Akira’s command simply appeared in Inez’ mind.

Inez felt her hands moving of their own accord. She could feel the Shadowkeeper being turned around in her palm by hands that weren’t her own. She had lost control of her body! For the shortest possible moment, Inez felt the urge to panic. Then she calmed down and reminded herself that she was in control of her body, no one else was or could be.

Instantly, Inez broke free of Mind Control.

…

Under attack by seven foes at once, Akira had very little time to think. She was all action, but as she fended off the Stormbreakers a train of thought did work its way through her mind. Between deflecting weapons fire and punching Varian for the umpteenth time, Akira remembered a conversation she had with Marcus Robinson back in June.

Akira remembered talking to him about a book written by Richard Tygan, XCOM scientist. In it, the old man proved a very important concept: a person’s ability to resist Psionic attack is tied to their own mental willpower.

Now, as Corder broke free of the Void Conduit and rejoined the fight, Akira was able to understand why none of her Psionic attacks were effecting the Stormbreakers. Their mental resolve was stronger than her own.

Akira understood (a little too late) why Jericho had stalled for time and then allowed herself to be killed… in full view of the Stormbreakers.

At least for the next few moments, all seven of the adult Stormbreakers were totally immune to Psionic attack… but there was one last chance… one final opening.

Subject Two was here. The mind of a child would be much easier to bend…

…

Up in the sky, the last two Prophet cruisers were breaking contact and attempting to flee. Aboard the Ark Angel, Himawari, Chris, and Randall were starting to panic.

“Son of a bitch! They’re gonna try to escape!” Chris said.

“All ships, target their engines and Hypespace modules!” Himawari ordered frantically.

“I don’t think we’ve got enough firepower to stop them from leaving!” Randall warned.

“Well…” Chris was grasping at straws, struggling for any kind of hope or a chance. “We could ram them!”

At that moment, a voice crackled over the radio:

“Mind if we lend a hand?”

Shimmering Quantum waveforms opened up in the skies above Florida. Appearing first by the tens, then in their hundreds, starships of the Galactic Defense Force emerged from Hyperspace and descended upon Cape Canaveral. Following them came even more vessels, none of which bore the markings of a military. A civilian starliner nosedived out of the sky towards Canaveral, escorted by a squadron of Human Starfighters.

Aboard the starliner, six former Stormbreakers were coordinating the relief effort:

Chihiro Tachibana leaned against a window and used her cane to point out landmarks for several men wearing military uniforms.

Tsubaki Endo zipped around the bridge in an electric wheelchair, delivering messages from the Galactic Defense Force.

Dyeunda Zeil, a former ADVENT loyalist-turned Stormbreaker, was using the docking camera to keep an eye out for the rescue team below.

Kanti Divakar, a member of the endangered Vanian species, stood inside of the sensors manager, allowing the holographic display of the battlefield to surround her.

Deep in the hold, the Muton warrior Axiom ordered his fellow soldiers to prepare for action.

Rounding out the group was Jane Kelly, former director of the Reclamation Agency and the last surviving veteran of Operation Gatecrasher. She too was directing younger soldiers with the aid of a cane.

All six heroes looked far too old to be doing this sort of work, but the young soldiers and crew treated them with incredible reverence and respect.

“This is Blue Dragon calling the Ark Angel.” Chihiro spoke into the radio set. “Let the Taiidan deal with the cruisers. I’ve got about a thousand Partogan Green Guards on my ship, and they’re just itching for a fight. Could you guide as to a good landing site?”

As she spoke, a flotilla of Taiidan warships broke from the formation. Ion frigates and destroyers, flanked by Gravwell Generators, bore down on the Zoroaster and Confucius. Himawari cheered!

“Mom! Is that you!? Where did you get all these ships!?”

“Scrambled as soon as I heard something happened in Orlando.” Chihiro replied. “Called in some favors with old friends and we commandeered this thing to move troops. The GDF was already responding and offered to give us an escort. Not bad for some old crones, don’tcha think?”

Warships from every spacefaring civilization dove onto Cape Canaveral with weapons hot. Space Rangers scattered as their positons were strafed, and the last of the Sectopods was finally brought down by an Ion cannon strike. Up in the sky, Taiidani warships surrounded and pummeled the Zoroaster. Venting smoke and flames from all decks, Zoroaster lowered her nose and descended toward the Atlantic Ocean.

Just before the stricken cruiser hit the water, her sistership Confucius broadcasted a transmission to the GDF fleet:

“Attention GDF warships, this is the Chinese warship Confucius. We surrender! Cease fire immediately! Cease fire! We have a child aboard! Say again! WE HAVE A CHILD ABOARD THIS VESSEL! Cease fire! Cease fire!”

Down on the ground, the paltry ground force from Orlando was arriving as well. Andromedons, marching in their pressurized enviro-suits, simply walked along the bottom of the Indian River before emerging on Merritt Island. With no heavy weapons and short on men, the last members of Base Security simply threw down their weapons and ran away, desperate to escape before even more forces arrived.

Surrounded by warships from the Galactic Defense Force, the cruiser Confucius slowly came down to the water’s surface, gently touching the ocean under her own power. Floating off the coast of Cape Canaveral, the warship drifted along half-submerged, looking not unlike an Old World submarine.

Once the Confucius cut her engines, two starships descended towards her. It was a Levakian Marine Frigate and a civilian star cruiser. Both vessels hovered mere feet above Confucius, and a boarding party travelled the remaining distance by rope ladders and rappelling lines. Under the command of former Stormbreaker Axiom, the GDF fighters moved into position on the enemy hull.

Partogan Green Guards and Levakian Hunters, armed to the teeth, stacked up around hatches and doorways that led into the Confucius. After a moment, many of these doorways were opened from the inside.

“Don’t shoot! We surrender!” said the Human crew.

Humans stood aside as their vessel was boarded. A small hovercraft delivered GDF officers and the former Stormbreakers to the scene. When Chihiro Tachibana and Dyeunda Zeil arrived on the bridge, the Confucius command crew hung their heads in shame. Jane Kelly, flanked by Partogan Green Guards, seized control of the vessel. She attempted to interrogate the ship’s captain.

“Where are the children?” Jane asked. “You said there were children aboard in your transmission.”

“Subject Three is here.” The captain replied. “He’s in the Prometheus Engine down below-”

Before he could finish speaking, Kanti was gone. The albino avian was able to move swiftly despite her age. With a great sweep of her wings, Kanti raced out of the bridge and vanished into a corridor. Several GDF soldiers tried to follow her, but only Levakians were able to keep up with her. Alarmed Humans scrambled to get out of Kanti’s path, opening the way to the Prometheus Engine.

Deep in the core of the Confucius, Kanti found the Prometheus Engine. At her command, the device was opened and Subject Three extracted. UN soldiers moved slowly and carefully as they handled the child. Behind Kanti, one of the Levakian soldiers swore.

“Holy mother of Tantomile… that’s an infant!”

Subject Three was a Human boy, just barely one year old. The infant wailed, bleeding from two pinpricks on each hand. Kanti looked at the child, then up at the ceiling. She could see a portion of the Divine Enforcer weapon above. Once Subject Three was removed from the Prometheus Engine, the Psionic weapon had fallen silent.

“I don’t believe it.” Kanti breathed. “Were you really going to fire this weapon at the GDF!?”

None of the Human crew dared to speak.

Up on the bridge, A two-way radio squawked. Jane Kelly quickly answered the call.

“We’ve got Subject Three!” Kanti announced. “A Human infant, looks to be in fair health, but he will need medical attention right away.”

Chihiro’s face went pale. Tsubaki reached up from her wheelchair and snatched the radio away from a shocked Kelly.

“We have Subject Three.” Tsubaki repeated into the microphone. “Subjects Two and One are the Espinosa girls. We must send someone to the mainland to make sure they are both safe!”

…

At the same moment, on the mainland, both Akira and the Stormbreakers knew the tide was turning. The Paradox had lost her chance to escape from Canaveral, with or without the alien kids. Akira’s victory was inexorably transforming into a defeat with each passing moment.

Enraged, Akira released a wave of Psionic power, striking all eight Stormbreakers. Everybody was knocked to the ground. Inez hit her head and curled up for a moment, seething.

At this point, Inez had been awake for almost thirty-six hours, of which she spent the past seven fighting for her life. Every inch of her body ached, the corners of her vision were blurred, and her ears were ringing nonstop. Inez wanted to stop fighting, to just lay down and close her eyes, but she knew that was not an option.

Inez grabbed the Shadowkeeper and forced herself to stand up, fighting against the pain in her legs.

The other Stormbreakers were still down. The rest of the rescue team was fighting the Space Rangers. Akira Robinson looked her daughter in the eyes and then raised her hand once more.

Inez flinched, readying herself for yet another Psionic blow. But it did not come. Instead, Inez felt a ripple as the energy wave passed her by. Realizing she was unharmed, Inez opened her eyes.

Akira was ten feet in front of her. Cassandra was off to her right, about thirty feet away. The young girl was lying on the ground next to Ninu, who had dropped his laser pistol.

Inez raised her Shadowkeeper, took aim at Akira, stepped forward, and placed her finger on the trigger.

It was point blank range. There was no way she could miss from here.

Then, Inez felt a sharp stabbing sensation in her right arm. It started from a tiny pinprick and rapidly spread out until Inez felt as though someone was twisting a white-hot knife in her bicep. Panicking, Inez looked away from her mother, trying to see what was causing this new agony. What Inez saw made her heart freeze…

Cassandra was pointing Ninu’s pistol at Inez. The barrel was still smoking.

Before Inez realized what was happening, Cassandra shot her again.

<=== Chapter 44: Faith in Chaos

Chapter 46: Journey's End===>​

​

 

[Von Acturus]

This chapter was an emotional rollercoaster. First the two Star Wars references: the poor Blorg Starfighter taking down the Human cruiser in an unwilling kamikaze and Jericho's projection toying with Akira which, frankly, was just too satisfying and really well planned of her.

Then we have the Akira Stormbreakers battle which ends with this chilling line:

Subject Two was here. The mind of a child would be much easier to bend…

This right here gave me chills and is the perfect summary of Akira's mind. Power at any cost, victory at any means. Exactly like Jericho said, a tyrant devoid of empathy. And she is absolutely convinced she is doing this for a bigger cause. And that's what makes her so good an antagonist.

The part where Jericho dies was pretty dramatic and quite messianic, though I'm a little sad that unlike Luke Jericho probably won't come back as a force ghost.

Then the older Stormbreakers return to lead the GDF to victory, in what is both a happy (the Confucius is captured and 3 is saved) and kind of sad (the old Stormbreakers all frail in body despite their sharp minds) moment.

And we end with possibly the last great act of evil Akira will ever commit. To take the mind of a child and force her to shoot her sister.

Now this doesn't look good. I wonder how Inez will rebound from this. Will she help Cassandra break free and then together take down Akira? Will Subject Three come into play? Who will the GDF send to help the Espinoza sisters and will they arrive in time?

And will a special someone make an appearance to finally catch up with Akira and make her pay for her treachery?

 

[Macavity116]

This right here gave me chills and is the perfect summary of Akira's mind. Power at any cost, victory at any means. Exactly like Jericho said, a tyrant devoid of empathy. And she is absolutely convinced she is doing this for a bigger cause. And that's what makes her so good an antagonist.

Oh, I am so happy to hear that Akira is still a convincing antagonist, despite the "dulling of the blade" pointed out by Jericho and other readers. She's as dangerous as a cornered animal right now.

The part where Jericho dies was pretty dramatic and quite messianic, though I'm a little sad that unlike Luke Jericho probably won't come back as a force ghost.

Jericho won't come back, but you will get a chance to say goodbye to her properly. Check back anytime after 12noon on Christmas Day for some final closure.

Then the older Stormbreakers return to lead the GDF to victory, in what is both a happy (the Confucius is captured and 3 is saved) and kind of sad (the old Stormbreakers all frail in body despite their sharp minds) moment.

It was surprisingly difficult to chose which of the 2036 Stormbreakers would get to appear in the finale. The following 2036 Stormbreakers are still alive but were excluded from the finale for various reasons:

• Sophia and Sophia Ackermann: They are both insanely old, pushing triple-digits. Learning their adoptive son Yassen was killed in the battle would probably cause both women to die of shock. So they are still in their self-imposed exile in the multi-species city of Hokianga.
• Lily Shen: Simply too old.
• Temirzhan: Could have participated in the Rescue, but his homeworld Assuria is on the opposite end of the Galaxy and there's no way he would have arrived in time.
• Arzhang Pahlevan: Was hit and brainwashed by the Divine Enforcer weapon during the Battle of Amadiio and is now loyal to the Human Supremacist cause.
• Soylent Green: Too old.
• Matthew Hawkins: I genuinely do not know where this lone wolf character is. Remember the Epilogue of The Stormbreakers? The man's a recluse and off the grid, and getting him to come out of retirement is too tall of an ask.
• Isis Dekker: Also living in self-imposed exile across the Galaxy and would not be able to reach Earth in time.
• Odette Fournier: Again, too old. However, she is on Earth. She's in Berlin specifically. (Remember, Blake is her distant cousin. She was trying to convince Blake's new government to give a job to one of her family members)

Now this doesn't look good. I wonder how Inez will rebound from this. Will she help Cassandra break free and then together take down Akira? Will Subject Three come into play? Who will the GDF send to help the Espinoza sisters and will they arrive in time?

And will a special someone make an appearance to finally catch up with Akira and make her pay for her treachery?

The answers you seek can be found in the grand finale.

The final chapter will be released at 12noon on Christmas Day, so you'll have a full week to enjoy the ending before the Farewell Video on December 31. See you there!

 

[HistoryDude]

The story is ending. All good things must come to an end, I suppose.

Akira isn't defeated yet. Her doom will come later...

It's a shame that Cassandra was forced to shoot Inez... but Cassandra is also psionic, so I wonder if she has some kind of ability to resist subconsciously?

I want to see if Akira ever repents... She will never be satisfied... Jericho is right there.

I do wonder if the End of the Cycle will make one final appearance. It would be fitting - the End of the Cycle ending the story for one final time.

Why did the starships surrender now? Did the news about Akira only recently reach them?

Did anybody except Jericho, Akira, and Inez hear Jericho's speech?

 

[Macavity116]

It's a shame that Cassandra was forced to shoot Inez... but Cassandra is also psionic, so I wonder if she has some kind of ability to resist subconsciously?

This is an incredibly deep cut, but cast your mind back to Faith in Chaos: In that story, I established that victims of Mind Control are fully conscious and "locked inside" of their own bodies. (No-mouth-must-scream type of situation) Cassandra is aware of her body being hijacked and is actively resisting, just like Mami Tamihana and Nya Ririnui two centuries before her.

Why did the starships surrender now? Did the news about Akira only recently reach them?

The crew of the Confucius chose to surrender after realizing that escape was impossible. Someone on the bridge was simply unwilling to risk the life of Subject Three (Isaac) and decided surrender was the only option that allowed Issac to survive the day.

On top of that, Confucius was spooling up her Divine Enforcer and would have opened fire given half a chance. That chance was lost when the former Stormbreakers showed up with the GDF in tow. Without a superweapon, outnumbered, outgunned, and surrounded, surrender became the only remaining option.

Did anybody except Jericho, Akira, and Inez hear Jericho's speech?

The Stormbreakers were close at hand and witnessed Jericho's speech. David Sepulveda, Emma von Richtofen, Lawrence Ridge, and Rafi Bakir were also close enough to see and hear the confrontation. You'll see what they're up to in the final chapter.