Trojan War Chapter 47

 47.

“Hector, we are been pursued by two Motherships and one destroyer.” Hector heard the pilot. His fleet of two Motherships, five destroyers, and ten frigates was halved by the Archaeon combined fleet.

“We have crippled or destroyed two of their motherships, and ten destroyers, ten frigates, and many more stealth fighters but they have maintained out of range from our cannons from the surface.” The pilot gave the readout. The pilot was right to say that the surface cannons on Troy One had assisted them in the battle. The projectiles with the new firepower had taken off one of the motherships before Agamemnon pulled the fleet back. 

“Pursue the fleet. We can choke off the stranded stealth fighters.” Hector called the command. The Trojan fleet too aim at the stranded stealth fighters and vaporized them.

“We got another one hundred of them. That is a hundred and five now and they are being reinforced by the three destroyers. It’s the Archaeon Five and Eight, and Macedonian One. They are well equipped to retrieve the thousand stealth fighters here.”

“Send the mothership, and our destroyers to counter then Archaeon ships. The others picked up the stranded and take no prisoners.” Hector gave the command.

The two fleets clashed with their cannons and missiles firing. The shields of the ships were holding up.

“Re-route to the front shields.” The pilot gave the command. Just as the command went off, a concentrated burst of cannons and missiles from the three destroyers at one of the Trojan destroyer. The ‘T’ design like a hammer on the fore of the destroyer was blunted by the combined impact and with its shield focused there, it was not able to return fire. The Trojan destroyer shield collapsed and within a split second, the Trojan destroyer was sheared in half from the ‘T’ design.

“Hector, we lost the Trojan destroyer. We are compensating now.” The Trojan fleet downed the left destroyer of three with concentrated fire from the Trojan fleet.

“Focus on the other two.” Agamemnon gave the new order but the destroyers were retreating leaving the other stealth fighters. Hector was then given a surprise.

“Hector, the stealth fighters are fighting among themselves. The Argos, Macedonian and the others are battling there in space. I wonder why?”

“It’s their signature of death. The Spartans held that belief that death was preferred to defeat.” Hector reflected on his understanding. “They knew that they are defeated.”

“Hector, we have a transmission from an Archaeon ship. It’s not of the fleet but a newly arrived one.” The pilot reported in. Hector consented. 

“This is Achilles of the Archaeon fleet. I have come to do a duel with you on the nearby moon. We will do it like the ancient warriors.”

Hector landed with the shuttle on the moon's surface. He wore the armored suit and was armed with a curved sword and shield. The shield carried the sign of the Trojans. He saw the lone warrior standing there in the golden armor suit with the semi-sphere headpiece. It held the Achilles emblem.

Achilles was armed with the sword which was a broad sword and the rectangle shield. He rushed at Hector while the other spread the wings on the suit and took to the height. Hector leaped high and then used the wings to fly in a wide circle. He was circling Achilles who took up the flight with the jet boots.

Achilles flew towards Hector with the sword leveled at the other. He moved his shield to protect his frame. The sword impacted Hector’s shield but with the force of the flight, Hector was thrown backward. Hector somersaulted to slow the toss and then he swung out with the wings drawn backward to increase the speed. He did the sharp turn towards Achilles.

Hector swung the sword on Achilles and it was deflected by the shield. The Trojan landed on his feet and exchanged blows with Achilles.

Hector made an impact on the shield and shattered the shield. It was then with the subsequent swing, Hector managed to cut through and did damage to Achilles suit. The latter retreated and then discarded the shield. He held the long broadsword with both hands. He rushed at Hector and swung hard. It was the move seen as an opening by Hector and he swung the curved sword.

The blow created more damages and Achilles felt the mortal pain that one felt when the flesh was hurt.

Achilles stepped back and Hector pressed in. His next move was at Achilles' headpiece and shattered that. Achilles fell on his back gasping for air. Without the headpiece to provide the needed air, Achilles was dying. Hector reached the other and offered him an auxiliary air piece but Achilles declined. He was to speak but in the void of space, the vocal tones were deaf.

Achilles took his last pull of breath.

The death of Achilles was met with disdain by Odysseus. He stood on the bridge of the mothership watching the return of Achilles by the shuttle. He was more upset that the dead one was not Achilles but another friend, Patroclus.

“How did he get your armor, Achilles?” Odysseus looked at the hologram of his friend who had appeared haggard in appearance. “Where are you, Achilles?”