Chapter Text
Samus
There was something comforting about the infinite expanse of space. Nothing else could force you to confront your own insignificance so openly. Long after galactic empires had been reduced to ash and the memories of their accomplishments were lost to oblivion, the stars, nebulas, and black holes would persist. Even though stars themselves were not immune to the cruel march of time, compared to the trials and tribulations of sentient life, they may as well be immortal.
This reality felt amplified when traveling space alone, perhaps that was why Samus rarely interacted with others after destroying the B.S.L. and SR388. The isolation gave her space to decompress, to remind herself that no matter what the Space Pirates, Galactic Federation, or even the Chozo decided to weaponize next, the only thing at risk was the status quo of sapient life. The universe would persist even if the worst were to come to pass. Perhaps new civilizations would arise as a result.
Of course, any time a major threat made itself known, Samus would do anything in her power to end it to protect the innocents of the galaxy. The destruction of several planets was proof of her resolve. Though, such actions were rarely without profound consequences. The extermination of the Metroids allowed the X Parasite to run rampant. Their complete genocide of the Mawkin Chozo on ZDR was, in many ways, Samus’ fault. While the Mawkin’s betrayal of the Thoha to control the Metroids was unforgivable, they were still Chozo, and did not deserve to be consumed and assimilated by the X. An entire culture, the last living memory of the Chozo’s ancient militaristic traditions, was wiped out because the unintended consequences of the missions she completed years before. This was just the latest example of the cost of saving the galaxy.
It was all too easy to lose herself in the ghosts of her past. Hence the reason why she tended to go on extended flights on the edges of Federation Space whenever she had a chance. Gazing out into the unyielding void and its countless celestial inhabitants reminded her that all things will come to an end, regardless of what she did. While nihilism was comforting, charting and conducting preliminary scans of planets was actually enjoyable.
The newest addition to Samus’ extensive logbook of random celestial and biological knowledge hung in the void in front of her gunship: a planet called HYL-628. While in the Goldilocks zone for humans, it was well outside of Federation territory and far too distant to protect if colonized. It had been charted by astronomers decades ago, but anomalous quantum fluctuations in its system kept it from being a viable destination for more independently-minded colonists. Those fluctuations kept long-range scans from gaining any useful data, and would almost certainly isolate the inhabitants from any communication outside of its solar system. Long range communications relied on quantum entanglement to drastically reduce light lag so messages between different systems would not take years, decades, or even centuries to get a response.
Additionally, astronomers predicted that such fluctuations would likely limit hyperspace travel to the system; a fact that Samus confirmed by being forced to drop out over 167 au away and fly at sub-light speeds for 3 months before she could enter the planet’s orbit. Even then, her gunship was faster and more energy efficient than most commercial vessels. Being this cut off from the resources of the galaxy was rare nowadays, and going without such a luxury was too daunting for all but the most antisocial people. Given that this was just an isolated planet in the middle of nowhere when there were thousands of other habitable planets closer to civilization, it was no wonder why a proper expedition was not funded yet.
However, a few eggheads at a university’s astronomy department on Daiban were still curious enough to put out a contract for anyone willing to make the trip. That said, the pay was pretty pitiful since the reward was being privately funded by a few professors, not by an official Federation research grant.
Was this a waste of Samus’ time and talents? Technically. But after her ordeal on ZDR, she felt justified in taking a long vacation. For once in her life, she could relax and be paid to do something that did not involve Space Pirates, Metroids, the X, secret weapons programs gone awry, or the preservation of galactic civilization.
“Commencing preliminary LIDAR survey.” Adam announced in its comforting robotic monotone.
Samus reclined in her flight chair and pulled up the LIDAR system’s holographic display on her left side. She then pulled up the gunship’s status screen on her right in order to ready a probe to take atmospheric readings.
“Launching probe.”
Samus let out a satisfied sigh as she watched the probe enter the planet’s atmosphere. She didn’t fancy herself to be a scientist, but her thirst for information was insatiable. Documenting the various scans she took on the journey to this planet, while extremely mundane compared to her normal work, was still personally satisfying. And being out of her armor for so long in an environment she knew to be safe was another rare luxury.
Content that all she had to do was wait for the readings, she got out of her chair and began stretching. Daily exercise was vital on long trips like this. While her Chozo augments allowed her to build and maintain muscle better than any human, no organic being was immune to atrophy born from laziness.
Suddenly the ship’s alarm blared as warnings flashed on the pilot’s console. “Alert. Space Pirate ship detected.”
Years of training and honed instinct kicked in as Samus materialized her power suit and sat back in the flight chair. “We’ve been in this system for months, how did they sneak up on us?” She demanded.
“This system’s quantum field anomaly limits us to the use of the electromagnetic spectrum, so we could not detect them in real time until today.” Adam reported emotionlessly. “It appears they were already in orbit around HYL-628, but were on the other side of the planet from us. They are now in range of our sensors as a result of their orbital trajectory.”
Samus accelerated the ship to put the planet between her and her natural enemies. All she needed to do was delay long enough to get her readings before she either retreated from the system or positioned herself to ambush them later. “How many did you detect?”
“One frigate. However, I cannot confirm anything hidden behind HYL-628.”
Samus grimaced. Pirates rarely travelled alone. Normally they would have two or three frigates escorting a research vessel or a troop transport as the smallest unit of organization in their fleets. For anything beyond reconnaissance or pure research, they would have at least a dozen ships, a force strong enough to wipe out most frontier colonies or Federation outposts. When they truly intended to go on the offensive, they would deploy multiple capital ships, each with an escort of hundreds of support ships, frigates, destroyers, and cruisers. Once in a while, they would build a massive ship meant as a super weapon that could wipe out entire fleets single-handedly.
However, the Federation invasion of SN-883 and the Bermuda system, as well as Samus’ destruction of Phaaze and Zebes, should have crippled the Pirates’ ability to field any truly effective fleet. Sure, there may be stragglers, but none that could realistically threaten the Federation. The fact that there was even a single frigate out in a sector of space that was effectively cut off from hyperspace travel and communication may be a sign of how desperate they are.
“Keep us on our current course,” Samus commanded, “we may be able to stay undetected for now.”
“Unlikely. Frigate is now on an intercept course.”
“Is it so much to ask for one job where I don’t have to kill anything?” Samus muttered under her breath. Normally she was not one to complain, but she had high hopes for continued peace and quiet.
“Given your history and our current situation, that is highly improbable, Lady.” As Samus checked her munitions, Adam interrupted with more bad news. “Multiple contacts detected. Three frigates, twelve fighters total. Fighters advancing ahead of the frigates to engage us. It is likely that there is a larger tender vessel on the far side of the planet.”
While she was a skilled pilot and Adam’s electronic warfare capabilities were incredibly advanced, she was outmatched here, especially since she would be their only target. She could try to flee, but if the Pirates were set on chasing her, she would have to be on high alert for 3 months straight while she got out of the solar system’s quantum field anomaly. She would have better chances if she could somehow board them, or if she landed on planet-side and lured them down. The first option would be riskier due to the lack of docking bays she could effectively store the gunship in, while the second would allow her to fight in her element and obtain a lot more data about the planet for her employers.
Multiple alerts flashed on her console. “Alert: enemy lock on detected. Multiple missiles incoming, ETA 5 minutes. Readying point defense cannons and electronic countermeasures.”
Samus pulled up the LIDAR display from earlier to see roughly where there was land versus ocean through the cloud cover. Just her luck: she was over a vast ocean at the moment, and nearest land was in the direction of the Pirates. Regardless, she would have to thin out the fighters while they currently did not have an altitude advantage against her to maximize her chances of escape.
It was time for the Hunter to get to work.
She changed trajectory and charged the Pirate flotilla. The low hum of the PDCs warming up their plasma coils was an appropriate harmony to the melody of the Hunter obtaining her own missile locks on four fighters as she engaged her afterburners.
The staccato of the PDCs firing to destroy the incoming missiles accompanied the alerts of new enemy lock ons. Samus held her fire and continued to close the distance. A couple more minutes passed before she saw more missiles explode before they could reach her, and the Pirates were now in visual range.
Mere kilometers away, Samus launched her first barrage of missiles, acquiring new locks as she dodged the incoming plasma shots. Fortunately, the gunship was close enough for Adam to interfere with the Pirates fighters’ systems, so no more missiles could lock on her, their own automatic countermeasures could not be used, and the pilots were forced to visually aim instead of relying on their targeting computers to find a solution. Three of her missiles found their mark, while the last missed due to well timed chaff deployment. She deployed four more missiles as she fired the main cannons. This time, each missile found a target, and she downed two more fighters with her cannons.
“The frigates appear to have their own dedicated electronic warfare suites, and we are in range of their rail guns.” Adam announced. “I cannot guarantee defense against their targeting solutions.”
Without hesitation, Samus performed a displacement roll as the gunship screamed past the surviving three fighters and took a few potshots at a distant frigate as she dove towards the planet below.
An alert about an enemy lock flashed briefly before the gunship shook violently from an explosion.
“Port side stabilizers critically damaged. Superior port side point defense cannon damaged. Maneuverability severely compromised, further ship combat inadvisable. Emergency landing required for auto repair.”
“That was already the plan before we got hit.” Samus calmly answered. “What’s our hull integrity?”
“Fuselage hull integrity at 97%. The cabin will remain pressurized during atmospheric entry. However, the port wing will likely be lost in the process. The odds of landing safely are low, Lady.”
Just another day at the office. Samus almost chuckled at the thought. Damn it all.