Chapter 76: Going home.

Seizing the opportunity. He pushed the gunboat's throttle forward, maneuvering the vessel into the gap created by the crashing fleet ship. The vessel surged forward, the engines straining as it weaved dangerously close to the wreckage.

The heat from the explosion roared around them, flames licking at the gunboat's shields as they skimmed just above the disintegrating hull of the massive ship.

Ys tightened her hold around Rex's neck with a glint of excitement in her eyes as they sped through the inferno. "Darling, you really know how to make an escape dramatic," she whispered with a playful smile dancing on her lips.

Rex didn't respond; his focus was absolute. Just as they passed the broken midpoint of the collapsing fleet ship, its space fuel storage ignited, detonating in a burst of blinding white light.