3 Chapter 3- The Prayer - Part 3 (Updated)

Gula, the seasoned commander, entered the busy command center. She carried an aura of authority that demanded respect and focus. As she sat at the helm, she surveyed the room, her keen eyes observing the whirlwind of activity.

"Tris," she started, her voice firm and powerful. "Given Nach's report and all the updates from the battlefronts, can we identify any remaining uninfected mortal brothers and sisters on Vegeta? Are there any children who survived?" Gula's voice was laced with worry, but also a hint of hope.

Tris paused, her eyes revealing a touch of sadness. "Captain..." she faltered, her voice trembling a bit. "The corruption has entirely consumed Vegeta. The infected adults lack any rationality, even failing to recognize their own children. Our forces have reported witnessing horrifying scenes, including children being brutally killed by the infected. There are no survivors."

The room fell silent at Tris's report. Everyone present felt a chilling shiver run down their spine as they grappled with the bleak reality of the situation.

"Did our forces attempt any rescue missions?" Frisse asked, her voice barely audible amidst the heavy silence. She clung to the faint hope that some of the children might have been saved.

Tris nodded slowly, her tone filled with evident sadness as she replied. "Yes, they did. Our soldiers tried to save some of the children. Despite being outnumbered, they held their own for a while. But some of our soldiers fell victim to the corruption. They turned on their comrades and joined the infected. The commanders had to abandon the mission and retreat with the few children they had saved."

Gula closed her eyes, sighing heavily. "So, we can assume that only the infected remain on Vegeta?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Tris replied, her voice barely audible. The room fell silent, filled with a sense of impending doom.

Gula took a deep breath, steeling herself for the hard decision she was about to make. She summoned SAGE, her tone cold as she issued the terrible command. "SAGE, under my command, authorize our Star Destroyer, Rudra, to fire the singularity cannon at Vegeta."

The room went silent, everyone frozen in shock. They all knew about Rudra's deployment near Vegeta. They understood what Gula's orders meant. But no one questioned her. They trusted her judgment, knowing she wouldn't make such a decision lightly.

"Authorization code, please!" SAGE requested, its synthetic voice echoing in the eerie silence.

Without hesitation, Gula responded, her voice unwavering. "Omega-0327-Captain rank-SHQ"

"Code received," SAGE confirmed, "Code verified. Order will be executed."

Gula closed her eyes, whispering a quiet "Sorry" to the innocent lives they couldn't save on Vegeta. She had issued the command, and there was no turning back.

Near the Vegeta Star system

The crew on the Star Destroyer, Rudra, watched the chaotic situation on Vegeta unfold with growing horror.

"Captain, this is... horrifying," the Vice Captain whispered, his eyes glued to the display screen showing the chaos on Vegeta.

The Captain nodded solemnly, his eyes mirroring the dread. "I know. The situation is critical. We've lost Vegeta, and with our forces retreating, there's no hope."

"Delta squad's ENDIVE class ship, the Endeavor, was the first to retreat. Then, two of our DAUNTLESS class ships followed," the Vice Captain reported.

"Lord Cress isn't one to retreat first. I've witnessed his bravery when I had the privilege of serving with him. I fear something may have happened to Sadala," the Captain said gravely.

"Captain, we received a report that Science Officer Orach was wounded in battle alongside Empress Gula. Maybe Lord Cress heard about it and rushed to his son," the Vice Captain suggested, trying to rationalize Lord Cress's abrupt departure.

"That's doubtful. If that were the case, the two captains on the DAUNTLESS class ships wouldn't have left," the Captain countered.

Suddenly, a series of notifications from the ship's command system sent a cold shudder down their spines.

"ALERT: FIRING AUTHORIZATION HAS BEEN GIVEN."

"ALERT: CODE HAS BEEN VERIFIED AS EMPRESS GULA, CAPTAIN OF THE STRATEGIC DIVISION."

"Confirming Target. Target: PLANET VEGETA, confirmed."

"Could it be... the worst-case scenario?" The Captain's voice, although a mere whisper, echoed in the silence of the command center, heavy with dread.

"Worst case…Captain, what's happening?" The Vice Captain's voice was laced with confusion and fear. He had assumed their deployment was merely a deterrent against the Evil God. The idea of an impending attack on their sister world was unthinkable, causing a chill to run down his spine.

"Before we left Sadala, Lord Cress and Empress Gula spoke to me. You might not be aware, but Lord Cress is not only a formidable warrior, but also a cunning strategist. They outlined a worst-case scenario that chilled me to the core. The scenario was based on Vegeta falling and the Evil God targeting Sadala directly instead of meeting us at the Vegeta system. The Empress and I disputed the scenario, but we couldn't completely dismiss it. This is why we were deployed—to counteract the worst-case scenario. Now, Lord Cress's hasty retreat makes sense. Our fears are confirmed—the worst-case scenario is happening!" The Captain's voice was filled with grim determination, reflecting the gravity of their situation.

The Vice Captain could only stutter in response, "No way. Then we have to…"

"All hands prepare the singularity cannon. This is not a drill. I repeat, prepare the charge. Target Planet Vegeta!" The Captain's voice resonated through the comms, filling every corner of the ship with a sense of dread. Recognizing the crew's apprehension at the order, he continued, "My crew…My comrades. I know the weight of the actions we are about to take today. I am a descendant of one of the soldiers who witnessed the horror of the uncontrolled cannon in the last war. I can still remember my ancestor shedding tears not just for his comrades who were pulled into the singularity and died, but also for both the enemies and the entire world that was lost."

"We are soldiers. We are prepared to defend our home, our people with our lives. We understand that by doing so we are not only protecting the present but also the future. We live with the guilt of taking lives and are prepared to face judgment for our actions when our time comes to meet our makers. My ancestor and his comrades understood this. Yet, witnessing the devastation wrought by such a weapon shook them to their core. The use of this kind of weapon removes the concept of winner or loser; it turns a simple war into a war of survival. It brings a chilling silence to the cacophony of war."

"That's why this warship acts only as a deterrent, even with the most advanced technologies. We all know this, and even our superiors know this. Yet, we have just received authorization to target Vegeta with it. This means that this war is now on the brink of turning into a war of survival."

"Vegeta, our sister planet, is now fully consumed by the Evil Gods' corruption. There exist no brothers or sisters of ours on Vegeta. All that remain are enemies who, if allowed to leave orbit, will head straight for our home, Sadala. Hence, today I ask you, please follow my orders to ensure the survival of our race's future."

As the Captain's words echoed throughout the ship, he was swept over by a myriad of emotions: fear, anguish, resolve, and above all, hope. Despite facing the worst-case scenario, they were ready to fight for their race's survival. They were Saiyans, warriors by nature.

There was a palpable tension on the ship, and a heavy silence filled the air. Without a word, everyone nodded at each other, silently agreeing to face their dire situation together. They began to prepare for the daunting task ahead, each movement weighted by the enormity of their undertaking. They were on the brink of committing an act that would eternally scar their souls, an almost unbearable sin.

However, as warriors, they understood the gravity of their situation. They knew that their leaders would resort to such measures only if there were no other options. The Captain had said, the war had become a bitter fight for survival.

Slowly, the cannon, began to charge. The process took ten minutes, each second agonizingly slow as they waited in suspense. As the cannon charged, their ship emerged from its hiding position within the rings of a neighboring planet, and set a course towards Vegeta, their target. Guided by duty and determination, the Captain and Vice Captain each produced a key card. With a shared nod, they approached the terminal, where two key slots awaited their cards.

Deafening silence filled the room as they inserted their keys. The system came alive, recognized the keys, and prepared to start the firing sequence. The AI, emotionless, broke the silence, "System now ready to initiate firing sequence," it declared.

Despite the seriousness of their situation, the Captain asked the AI in a steady voice, "Have our forces retreated from this sector?"

"Confirmed. They have retreated," the AI replied.

The Captain took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come. "Let the logs show that the crew showed great valor," he said, his voice heavy with emotion. "But what we do today is borne out of our desperation to save the souls of our brothers and sisters on Vegeta from the clutches of the Evil God."

With heavy hearts, they pressed the fire button, beginning the countdown as they entered the firing range. Their ship, previously hidden in stealth mode, appeared. Its front opened, revealing the menacing muzzle of the cannon.

The countdown began, with numbers resounding ominously in the ship's silence.

10...9...8...7...6...

An alert from the AI pierced the tension. "ALERT: ENEMY SHIPS HAVE SPOTTED US AND ARE HEADING OUR WAY."

5...4...3...2...

Another alert, its tone as calm and unflinching as before. "ALERT: ENEMY SHIPS ARE FIRING AT OUR LOCATION."

1...

"May the Gods have mercy on their souls," whispered the Captain, a prayer that resonated with every crew member onboard.

The countdown reached its conclusion, and with a ground-shaking roar, the cannon fired. It launched a lethal payload that sped through the icy void of space towards Vegeta. The crew, once orchestrators of this cataclysm, were now horrified onlookers. They watched in stunned silence as the singularity engulfed everything in its path.

Vegeta, now had become a distant memory. Its existence, spanning countless millennia, was obliterated in mere minutes. Nearby enemy ships, ensnared in the merciless gravitational pull of the singularity, were helplessly sucked in as well. In a blink, they disappeared into the singularity, their absence marked only by the void they left behind.

The aftermath of their actions was a haunting sight that would forever be imprinted in their memories. They knew sacrifices were necessary for their race's survival, but witnessing the destructive power they had manifested was a sobering moment. It was a harsh reminder of war's brutal reality, the lines they had crossed, and the heavy price they had paid.

After a moment, the Captain's voice broke the silence. "Now, let's retreat. Head to Sadala," he commanded, his voice a beacon guiding them out of their dark thoughts.

"Aye, Captain," the deck crew responded in unison. Their voices, heavy with regret, echoed with renewed resolve. They had a mission, and they would face it with the same unwavering determination that had carried them through numerous battles.

"AI, send a report back to HQ," the Captain ordered, his voice steady despite his internal turmoil.

"Aye, Sir," the onboard AI responded, its emotionless voice resonating in the quiet ship.

The day's events weighed heavily on their hearts, a stark reminder of their survival's cost. But they knew they had done what was necessary, even if the price was a burden they would carry for the rest of their lives.