Chapter 6: Tensions Within Vaikuntha
The Amaravarti drifted in the relative quiet of deep space, its battered hull showing the scars of its most recent battles. The crew worked tirelessly to restore the ship’s full functionality, their movements brisk but subdued. Despite their victory over Devya Varman’s forces, the tension aboard the ship was palpable. The Dominion’s ambush in the Maha Shunya had left the Vaikuntha fleet exposed and vulnerable, and whispers of doubt had begun to spread among the ranks.
Aarav walked the corridors with his hands stuffed into the pockets of his flight suit, his footsteps echoing faintly. He passed groups of engineers and officers, their conversations dropping to hushed tones as he approached.
“Pilot of Vedara,” they called him now, as though it were a title rather than a name. Aarav had never been comfortable with the attention, and he wasn’t sure he ever would be.
“Still not a fan of the stares, huh?”
Aarav turned to see Aryan Das leaning casually against the wall, his ever-present grease-streaked coat hanging off one shoulder.
“It’s not the stares,” Aarav said with a shrug. “It’s what they’re thinking. Half of them look at me like I’m a hero, and the other half look at me like I’m a ticking time bomb.”
Aryan grinned, pushing off the wall to fall into step beside Aarav. “You’re not wrong. Vedara’s kind of a big deal. Everyone’s just trying to figure out what it—and you—mean for this war.”
“Yeah, well, I’d love to know that too,” Aarav muttered.
Aryan glanced at him, his grin softening into a thoughtful expression. “You’ll figure it out. You’ve already come this far, right?”
Aarav didn’t respond, his thoughts clouded.
The Amaravarti’s council chamber was as cold and austere as Aarav remembered it. The circular room was dominated by a large holo-table, its surface projecting tactical maps and fleet reports in crisp detail. Around the table stood the senior Vaikuntha commanders, their gold-and-white uniforms pristine, their faces a mix of concern and determination.
Tara Ishani was there, standing near the edge of the room with her arms crossed. Commander Yuvaan occupied a seat near the center, his posture rigid and his expression unreadable. Aarav entered hesitantly, unsure why he’d been summoned to such a high-level meeting.
“Ah, the pilot of Vedara joins us,” Yuvaan said, his tone measured but edged with something Aarav couldn’t quite place.
Aarav frowned. “You wanted to see me?”
“We did,” Yuvaan said, gesturing to the holo-table. “Your performance in the recent battle has sparked… discussions among the leadership.”
“Discussions?” Aarav repeated, his tone wary.
Another commander, Navya Raina, stepped forward, her expression sharp. “The power of Vedara is undeniable. But so is its destructive potential. Some of us believe that this power must be wielded decisively—before the Dominion grows even stronger.”
“Decisively?” Aarav asked, a knot forming in his stomach. “What does that mean?”
“It means striking at the heart of the Dominion,” Raina said. “Not just their fleets, but their territories, their strongholds. If we deploy Vedara to its fullest capacity, we could end this war in weeks.”
Aarav’s chest tightened. “You’re talking about using Vedara as a weapon of mass destruction.”
“If necessary, yes,” Raina said bluntly.
“That’s insane!” Aarav said, his voice rising. “Vedara isn’t some giant cannon you can point at the Dominion and fire. It’s—”
“It’s a tool,” Yuvaan interrupted, his voice cold and deliberate. “A tool that the Vaikuntha Federation has chosen to use for the greater good. You may pilot Vedara, but it does not belong to you, Aarav Rishi.”
Aarav stepped closer to the table, his hands clenching into fists. “Vedara wasn’t built to destroy entire planets. You don’t even know what it’s capable of—what it costs to use it.”
“And you do?” Raina asked, her tone skeptical. “You, a scavenger who stumbled into the cockpit of a Divine Era astramech?”
Aarav flinched, the words cutting deeper than he expected.
“That’s enough,” Tara said, stepping forward. Her voice was calm but firm, carrying an authority that silenced the room. “Vedara is not a weapon to be unleashed recklessly. Its power is tied to balance, not domination. If we misuse it, we risk becoming no better than the Dominion.”
“And what would you suggest, Ishani?” Raina countered. “We continue this endless war of attrition, losing more colonies, more lives, while the Dominion tightens its grip? Vedara gives us an opportunity to change the course of this war. We’d be fools not to take it.”
Tara’s gaze was icy. “At what cost, Raina? How many innocent lives are you willing to sacrifice for your so-called victory?”
The tension in the room was suffocating. Aarav looked around, his chest tightening as he realized how divided the leadership was. Some of the commanders nodded along with Raina, their expressions grim but resolute. Others sided with Tara, their faces marked by doubt and unease.
“This is madness,” Aarav said finally, his voice cutting through the silence. “You’re so focused on winning this war that you’re willing to destroy everything in the process. That’s not balance—that’s annihilation.”
Yuvaan’s expression darkened. “Mind your tone, Rishi. You are a pilot, not a strategist. The decisions made here are beyond your understanding.”
“Then maybe you should try explaining them,” Aarav snapped.
Before Yuvaan could respond, the chamber doors slid open, and a young officer rushed in, her face pale. “Apologies for the interruption, but we’ve detected a transmission from the Dominion.”
“What kind of transmission?” Tara asked, her tone sharp.
“It’s from Devya Varman,” the officer said. “He’s demanding an audience.”
A murmur spread through the room, and Yuvaan’s eyes narrowed. “He’s toying with us. Likely stalling while his forces regroup.”
“Or he has something to say,” Tara said. She turned to the officer. “Patch the transmission through.”
The holo-table flickered, and Devya’s face appeared, calm and composed. His crimson armor gleamed under faint lights, and his expression carried its usual blend of amusement and menace.
“Ah, the illustrious Vaikuntha council,” Devya said, his voice smooth. “Always such a pleasure to see you squabble among yourselves.”
“What do you want, Devya?” Tara demanded, her tone icy.
Devya’s smile widened. “I come with a simple message: your time is running out. The Dominion has grown tired of your resistance. Surrender Vedara to us, and we may consider sparing your colonies.”
Aarav bristled. “That’s not happening.”
Devya’s gaze shifted to Aarav, his smile sharpening. “Ah, the pilot himself. Still clinging to your naive notions of balance, I see. Tell me, Aarav Rishi—how long do you think you can carry the weight of Vedara before it crushes you?”
Aarav stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. “Long enough to stop you.”
“We’ll see,” Devya said, his tone laced with mockery. “But know this: Vaikuntha’s days are numbered. And when they fall, you’ll have to decide where your loyalties truly lie.”
The transmission cut off, leaving the chamber in silence.
Aarav looked around at the commanders, his jaw tightening. “This isn’t just about the Dominion anymore. If we lose sight of what we’re fighting for, we’re no better than them.”
Tara nodded, her gaze steady. “Agreed. The question is, how far are we willing to go to stop them?”
The silence in the Amaravarti’s council chamber was oppressive. The room’s faint hum of holo-projectors and distant machinery felt deafening against the weight of what had just transpired. Devya’s parting words still hung in the air, their venomous undertone stinging at the already fractured unity of Vaikuntha’s leadership.
Aarav stood at the edge of the holo-table, his hands clenched tightly at his sides. The faces of the commanders surrounding him ranged from grim determination to open frustration. It was clear to him that the cracks within Vaikuntha’s leadership ran deeper than he’d realized.
Yuvaan was the first to break the silence, his voice sharp. “This is precisely why we cannot afford to hesitate. The Dominion knows our weaknesses—they’re exploiting them. We must strike first, and we must strike hard.”
“And by ‘strike hard,’ you mean burn entire colonies to the ground,” Aarav said, his voice low but carrying enough weight to cut through Yuvaan’s words.
Yuvaan turned to face Aarav fully, his expression cold. “If that is what it takes to secure victory, then so be it. War is not won through half-measures, Rishi. You should know that by now.”
“I know that this isn’t the way,” Aarav shot back, stepping closer to the table. “You’re not talking about victory—you’re talking about slaughter. You want to use Vedara to wipe out everything in your path, and you’re calling it ‘strategy.’”
“And what would you suggest?” Navya Raina interjected, her voice edged with irritation. “That we continue to play defense? That we allow the Dominion to dictate the terms of this war while we sit back and bleed resources?”
“I’m suggesting we stop acting like them,” Aarav said, his voice rising. “You talk about balance and protecting the galaxy, but all I see is a bunch of generals trying to play god. Vedara isn’t some superweapon you can point and fire—it’s meant to protect life, not destroy it.”
“And how would you know that?” Yuvaan demanded, his tone laced with contempt. “You’re a scavenger who stumbled into something far beyond your comprehension. You think your time in Vedara gives you the authority to lecture us on its purpose?”
Aarav’s fists tightened, his frustration boiling over. “I don’t need your permission to know that wiping out entire planets isn’t the answer. I’ve seen what Vedara is capable of. I’ve felt what it costs to use it. If you try to turn it into a weapon of mass destruction, you’ll destroy yourselves along with it.”
“Enough,” Tara said sharply, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. She stepped forward, her gaze locked on Yuvaan. “Aarav’s right. Vedara’s power is not something we can wield recklessly. If we stoop to the Dominion’s level, we lose the very thing we claim to stand for.”
Yuvaan scoffed, his composure slipping for the first time. “Idealism will not win this war, Ishani. It will only get more of our people killed.”
“And abandoning everything we stand for will do what?” Tara retorted, her voice steady but fierce. “Give us a hollow victory? A galaxy ruled by fear and ashes?”
Aarav stepped closer to the table, his voice unwavering. “I’m not going to be part of this. If you want to use Vedara to burn the galaxy, you’ll have to find someone else to pilot it.”
The room fell deathly quiet.
Yuvaan’s eyes narrowed, his tone ice-cold. “Careful, Rishi. Your loyalty to Vaikuntha is already in question. Refusing to follow orders will not endear you to this council.”
Aarav didn’t flinch. “I’m loyal to the people we’re supposed to protect—not to whatever this has turned into.”
Navya Raina leaned forward, her expression hard. “If you refuse to pilot Vedara as directed, you’ll be removed from duty. Permanently.”
“That’s enough,” Tara said, her voice low but firm. She stepped between Aarav and the table, her presence commanding. “We’re not threatening the one person who’s kept us alive this long. Aarav isn’t just a pilot—he’s the only one who truly understands Vedara’s purpose. If we lose sight of that, we lose everything.”
Yuvaan stared at Tara for a long moment, his jaw tight. Finally, he turned to the rest of the council. “This debate is pointless. The Dominion won’t wait for us to resolve our moral dilemmas. We need action, not hesitation.”
“And yet, hesitation might be the only thing keeping us from losing ourselves,” Tara countered.
The tension in the room was unbearable. Aarav glanced around at the commanders, his stomach churning at the sight of their divided faces.
“This isn’t over,” Yuvaan said finally, his voice cutting. “We’ll reconvene once we’ve assessed the full damage from the last engagement. In the meantime, I suggest everyone reflect on what’s at stake here.”
One by one, the commanders began to file out of the room, their expressions grim. Tara lingered, her gaze fixed on Yuvaan as he departed without another word.
Aarav caught up with Tara in the corridor outside the council chamber. “That was… intense,” he said, his tone light but strained.
Tara sighed, rubbing her temples. “You have no idea. Yuvaan’s always been ambitious, but this? I didn’t think he’d go this far.”
“He’s not just ambitious—he’s dangerous,” Aarav said. “If he gets his way, this war is going to end in a firestorm.”
Tara nodded, her expression heavy. “And it’s going to get worse before it gets better. The council is fracturing, and the Dominion knows it. Devya’s message wasn’t just a threat—it was a calculated move to push us further apart.”
Aarav frowned, his mind racing. “What do we do?”
Tara glanced at him, her gaze steady. “We hold the line. Whatever happens, Aarav, you need to stay true to what you believe in. Vedara isn’t just a machine—it’s a symbol of something greater. Don’t let them turn it into a weapon.”
Aarav nodded slowly, the weight of her words settling on his shoulders. “I won’t.”
Tara’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Good. Because whether they see it or not, we’re going to need you to keep this fleet together.”
She turned and walked away, leaving Aarav standing alone in the corridor. For the first time, he felt not just the weight of Vedara’s power, but the fragile balance of the galaxy itself.
The faint hum of the Amaravarti’s engines was the only sound in the interrogation chamber. The room was stark and utilitarian, its gray walls bare save for a faint Vaikuntha insignia etched into the metal. A single table sat in the center, and across it, Lavanya Surya leaned back in her chair, her wrists shackled to the surface.
Her expression was calm, almost amused, as though she wasn’t seated in the most secure room aboard the Amaravarti. Her dark eyes studied the two figures standing across from her: Tara Ishani, her face an impenetrable mask, and Aryan Das, who leaned awkwardly against the wall, his fidgeting betraying his unease.
“So,” Lavanya said, her voice carrying a faint edge of mockery. “What do I owe the pleasure of this charming reunion?”
Tara’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve got ten seconds to stop playing games, Surya. Why did you sabotage the Amaravarti?”
Lavanya tilted her head, her expression unbothered. “Sabotage? Is that what we’re calling it? I was simply following orders.”
Aryan shifted, his brow furrowing. “Orders from the Dominion, you mean.”
“Of course,” Lavanya said, her tone light. “I’m nothing if not loyal.”
Tara slammed her hands on the table, her patience clearly wearing thin. “Loyalty? Is that what you call selling out an entire fleet to Ravana?”
Lavanya leaned forward slightly, her smile fading. “You don’t know a damn thing about loyalty, Ishani. Do you think it’s easy being caught between two worlds, two armies, two ideologies tearing the galaxy apart? I did what I had to do.”
“And what was that?” Aarav’s voice cut through the room as he stepped inside.
Lavanya’s eyes flicked toward him, her smile returning faintly. “Ah, the golden boy himself. Pilot of Vedara. I was wondering when you’d show up.”
Aarav ignored the jab, pulling up a chair and sitting across from her. “You want to talk about being caught between two worlds? Fine. Let’s talk. Why did you do it? Why betray us?”
Lavanya studied him for a moment, her gaze sharp. “Betrayal is such a dramatic word, don’t you think? I wasn’t trying to destroy Vaikuntha—I was trying to survive.”
“By feeding intel to the Dominion and nearly getting us all killed?” Aarav shot back.
Lavanya exhaled slowly, her smile fading again. “The Dominion isn’t just some faceless enemy, Aarav. They’re people—people trying to carve out a future in a galaxy that’s been crushed under Vaikuntha’s boot for centuries. You think Vedara is the first tool of ‘balance’ they’ve tried to use? Vaikuntha doesn’t care about balance. They care about control.”
Tara folded her arms, her tone icy. “Save the speech. You didn’t sabotage us out of principle—you did it because Ravana told you to.”
“You’re right,” Lavanya said, meeting Tara’s gaze without flinching. “I followed orders. And for a long time, I believed in those orders. But something changed.”
“Let me guess,” Aarav said. “You realized Ravana wasn’t the savior you thought he was?”
Lavanya smirked faintly. “Not bad, pilot. Ravana is brilliant—ruthless, yes, but brilliant. He convinced me, and so many others, that he could reshape the galaxy into something better. But his vision… it’s not balance. It’s domination. He doesn’t want to fix the galaxy—he wants to bend it to his will.”
“Welcome to what we’ve been fighting against,” Aryan muttered.
Lavanya ignored him, her gaze locked on Aarav. “And then there’s Vedara. The Dominion’s entire strategy hinges on one thing: taking that mech from you. Ravana doesn’t just want it—he needs it. If he gets his hands on Vedara, this war will end, but not the way you think. He’ll use it to rewrite the galaxy, to tear apart the flow of dharma itself.”
Aarav frowned, leaning forward. “What do you mean, ‘rewrite the galaxy’? What is he planning?”
Lavanya hesitated, her expression darkening. “Do you know what the Kalachakra Engine is?”
Aarav exchanged a glance with Tara, who shook her head.
“It’s not just a weapon,” Lavanya continued. “It’s a machine designed to manipulate time. Ravana’s been building it for years, piecing it together from remnants of the Divine Era. If he finishes it, he won’t just win this war—he’ll erase everything Vaikuntha stands for. He’ll undo the balance of the galaxy itself.”
The room fell silent, the weight of her words pressing down on everyone.
“How do you know this?” Tara asked, her tone skeptical.
Lavanya smiled faintly. “Because I helped him build it. At least, the parts I understood. The Kalachakra Engine is almost operational. Ravana’s just missing one thing: Vedara’s Prana Sphere.”
Aarav’s stomach sank. “He needs Vedara to complete it.”
“Exactly,” Lavanya said. “And he won’t stop until he gets it. That’s why I’m here. You think I betrayed you, but the truth is, I’ve burned my bridges with the Dominion. I’m out of moves, and Ravana wants me dead. The only reason I’m still breathing is because you took me prisoner.”
Tara studied her carefully. “So what are you offering? Redemption?”
Lavanya shrugged. “Call it whatever you want. I know Ravana’s plans better than anyone. I know where the Kalachakra Engine is being built, and I know how to stop it. But if you want my help, I want something in return.”
“And what’s that?” Aarav asked warily.
“Freedom,” Lavanya said simply. “When this is over, I walk away. No prison cells, no executions, no strings attached.”
Aarav leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. Lavanya’s information could change the course of the war, but trusting her was a gamble. If she was lying, she could lead them into a trap. If she was telling the truth, Ravana’s plans could spell disaster for the entire galaxy.
“She’s lying,” Aryan said, his voice low. “You can’t trust her.”
“Maybe,” Aarav said. “But what if she’s not?”
Tara’s expression was unreadable, but after a long pause, she nodded. “We don’t have to trust her. But we can verify her information.”
Lavanya smirked. “Smart move, Commander. I always liked you.”
“Don’t push it,” Tara said coldly.
Minutes later, Aarav stood outside the interrogation chamber, his thoughts heavy. Tara joined him, her expression hard to read.
“This feels like a mistake,” Aarav said quietly.
“Maybe,” Tara admitted. “But we don’t have a choice. If what she’s saying about the Kalachakra Engine is true, we need to act fast.”
Aarav nodded slowly, his gaze distant. “And if she’s lying?”
“Then we deal with it,” Tara said firmly. “But for now, we have to take the risk. The galaxy doesn’t have time for second-guessing.”
Aarav exhaled, his chest tightening. The weight of Vedara’s power and the responsibility it carried felt heavier than ever.
“Guess we’re all out of moves,” he muttered.
The Amaravarti’s tactical briefing chamber was alive with arguments. The voices of Vaikuntha’s commanders clashed like swords, their words cutting through the tense atmosphere as officers debated Lavanya’s revelations. The dim lighting of the room, designed to focus attention on the central holo-table, did little to conceal the growing fractures within the fleet’s leadership.
Tara Ishani stood at the edge of the table, her arms crossed tightly. Beside her, Aarav remained silent, his expression grim as he watched the bickering unfold. Lavanya’s information about the Kalachakra Engine and Ravana’s plans had sparked a firestorm of dissent, with half the commanders calling for immediate action and the others questioning whether the former Dominion spy could be trusted.
“This is madness,” Commander Navya Raina said, slamming her hand on the table. “We’re supposed to risk everything on the word of a traitor? For all we know, she’s leading us into a trap!”
“And if she’s not?” Tara countered, her voice calm but edged with steel. “If we do nothing and Ravana completes that engine, this war is over. We can’t afford to ignore this.”
Yuvaan’s deep voice cut through the noise. “There’s no guarantee that this ‘Kalachakra Engine’ is even real. The Dominion has used fear and deception to manipulate us before—this could be another ploy.”
“And what if it’s not?” Aarav said suddenly, his voice steady but sharp. The room fell silent as all eyes turned to him. “What if she’s telling the truth? You think Ravana’s just going to stop at conquering Vaikuntha? If he gets his hands on Vedara’s Prana Sphere, he won’t just win this war—he’ll rewrite the galaxy.”
Yuvaan’s expression hardened. “Bold words for someone with no proof.”
“Vedara’s power comes from the same era as the Kalachakra Engine,” Aarav said, his gaze locked on Yuvaan. “I’ve seen what it can do. If Ravana’s building something on that scale, we have to act.”
“And risk the entire fleet in the process?” Raina said, her tone incredulous. “We’re already stretched thin. If this mission fails, it could be the end of Vaikuntha.”
Tara stepped forward, her voice cutting through the tension. “Then we don’t send the entire fleet. We take a small strike force—one that can move quickly and strike decisively. If Lavanya’s intel checks out, we destroy the Kalachakra Engine before it’s completed. If it’s a trap, we fall back before the Dominion can capitalize.”
“And who do you propose leads this suicide mission?” Yuvaan asked, his tone laced with sarcasm.
“I will,” Tara said firmly.
A murmur spread through the room, and Raina shook her head. “You’re willing to stake your life—and the fate of Vedara—on this?”
“Yes,” Tara said without hesitation. “Because the alternative is sitting back and waiting for Ravana to finish what he started.”
Later, Aarav found himself back in the Amaravarti’s hangar, standing beneath Vedara’s towering frame. The golden mech rested silently in its cradle, its armor glowing faintly in the dim light. Aarav placed a hand on the cold metal, the hum of the Prana Sphere resonating softly beneath his palm.
“You’re quiet,” Tara said, approaching from behind.
Aarav didn’t turn around. “I’m trying to figure out if I’m the crazy one here,” he said. “Everyone’s so caught up in politics and posturing, and I’m just… trying to keep up.”
“You’re not crazy,” Tara said, stepping beside him. “You’re just not used to how this works. The higher up you go, the messier it gets.”
Aarav sighed, his gaze fixed on Vedara. “And the closer we get to stopping Ravana, the more divided everyone is. How are we supposed to fight a war when we’re tearing ourselves apart?”
“That’s what Ravana wants,” Tara said. “The Dominion doesn’t need to defeat us outright—they just need to break us from the inside.”
Aarav turned to her, his brow furrowed. “And what happens if they succeed?”
Tara’s expression was unreadable, but her voice was steady. “They won’t. Because no matter how fractured we are, there are still people in this fleet who believe in what we’re fighting for. And as long as we hold onto that, we still have a chance.”
Aarav nodded slowly, the weight of her words settling over him.
Meanwhile, in the Amaravarti’s brig, Lavanya sat alone in her cell, her expression calm despite the tension in the air. The faint hum of the ship’s systems filled the silence, and she leaned back against the wall, her eyes half-closed.
The door hissed open, and Aryan stepped inside, his arms crossed. “Thought I’d find you enjoying yourself,” he said dryly.
Lavanya opened one eye, smirking faintly. “What can I say? I have a knack for making the best of bad situations.”
Aryan stepped closer, his expression hardening. “You’d better hope this intel of yours is solid. Because if it’s not…”
“You’ll what?” Lavanya said, raising an eyebrow. “Throw me out an airlock? That’d be a waste of perfectly good leverage.”
Aryan shook his head, his frustration evident. “I don’t trust you, Surya. And I don’t think I ever will. But if you’re serious about helping us stop Ravana, now’s the time to prove it.”
Lavanya’s smirk faded, her gaze turning serious. “You don’t have to trust me, Das. But you’re right about one thing: if we don’t stop Ravana, none of this will matter.”
Back in the war room, the final decision was made. Tara and Aarav stood at the center of a small team of handpicked officers and pilots, their faces marked by determination.
“The strike force will consist of the Amaravarti and two escort ships,” Tara said, her voice steady as she addressed the group. “Our objective is simple: infiltrate Dominion territory, locate the Kalachakra Engine, and destroy it before Ravana can complete it.”
“What about Vedara?” one officer asked.
“Vedara will lead the assault,” Tara said, glancing at Aarav. “Its power gives us the best chance of breaking through the Dominion’s defenses. But this mission isn’t about brute force—it’s about precision. We hit fast, we hit hard, and we get out.”
Aarav nodded, his resolve solidifying. “Let’s end this.”
As the team dispersed, Tara placed a hand on Aarav’s shoulder. “This isn’t just another battle, Aarav. If we fail here, there might not be a second chance.”
“I know,” Aarav said quietly. “But if there’s even a chance we can stop Ravana, we have to take it.”
Tara nodded, her gaze unwavering. “Then let’s make it count.”
The Amaravarti cut through the inky darkness of Dominion-controlled space, its engines humming softly as the strike force moved with precision and caution. Flanked by two escort ships, the Garuda and the Nandi, the flagship’s battered hull had been patched and reinforced for the mission, though the scars of past battles still lingered.
Inside the ship, the atmosphere was tense. The skeleton crew onboard operated with hushed efficiency, their movements deliberate and their voices low. Everyone knew the stakes. The mission was as bold as it was dangerous: infiltrate deep into Dominion territory, locate the Kalachakra Engine, and destroy it before Ravana could complete his plans.
In the ready room, Aarav sat in his pilot’s suit, his elbows resting on his knees as he stared at the floor. The faint hum of Vedara’s Prana Sphere echoed in the back of his mind, a steady rhythm that felt both reassuring and unnerving.
“Deep in thought?”
Aarav looked up to see Aryan Das leaning casually against the doorway, his ever-present grin doing little to hide his nervous energy.
“You could say that,” Aarav replied, leaning back in his chair. “Hard to stay calm when we’re flying straight into a hornet’s nest.”
Aryan walked over, dropping into the chair across from him. “Yeah, well, calm’s overrated. I’d settle for not getting blown up.”
Aarav chuckled faintly, though the weight of the mission remained heavy on his shoulders. “Think Lavanya’s intel checks out?”
Aryan’s smile faded. “I don’t trust her, if that’s what you’re asking. But if there’s even a chance she’s telling the truth, we don’t have a choice. We’ve got to act.”
Before Aarav could respond, the comms crackled to life. Tara’s voice came over the ship-wide channel, calm but commanding.
“All units, report to your stations. We’re approaching the designated coordinates.”
The bridge of the Amaravarti was a hive of activity as the ship neared its target. Tara stood at the helm, her gaze locked on the tactical display. The Kalachakra Engine’s location was marked as a faint red blip deep within a swirling nebula—the perfect place to hide something as monumental as a machine that could manipulate time.
“We’re entering the nebula,” the helmsman reported. “Sensors are degrading—visibility is down to twenty percent.”
“Stay steady,” Tara ordered. “Maintain formation with the Garuda and the Nandi. If we lose them, we’re done.”
Aarav entered the bridge, his presence drawing a few glances from the crew. He moved to stand beside Tara, his expression grim. “How’s it looking?”
“Bad,” Tara admitted. “The nebula’s disrupting everything—sensors, comms, even propulsion. It’s the perfect hiding spot.”
“Or the perfect trap,” Aarav muttered.
Tara nodded. “Exactly. Which is why we’re sticking to the plan. No improvising, no heroics. We find the Engine, hit it hard, and get out. Understood?”
Aarav nodded, though the unease in his chest didn’t fade.
Minutes later, the strike force entered the heart of the nebula. The swirling clouds of gas and energy created a surreal, almost hypnotic landscape, with tendrils of light snaking across the void. But beneath the beauty lay a sense of foreboding—a tension that thickened with every passing second.
“Contacts!” an officer shouted. “Multiple signatures—closing fast!”
“Dominion forces,” Tara said sharply. “Raise shields and prepare for engagement. Aarav, get to Vedara. Now.”
The hangar was alive with activity as Aarav sprinted toward Vedara. The golden astramech stood ready, its armor glowing faintly in the dim light. Aarav climbed into the cockpit, his movements automatic as the systems roared to life around him.
“Maitreyi,” he said, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him. “You ready for this?”
Maitreyi’s form appeared beside him, her serene expression unwavering. “Always, Aarav Rishi. But remember: balance, not destruction. The nebula is unstable—any excessive force could cause a catastrophic reaction.”
“Got it,” Aarav said. “Precision strikes only.”
Vedara launched from the Amaravarti, its golden light cutting through the swirling clouds. The Dominion forces were already closing in—a swarm of Naraka Fighters and a handful of Rakshasa-class mechs, their weapons blazing as they engaged the Vaikuntha ships.
“Here we go,” Aarav muttered, gripping the controls.
The battle erupted in a chaotic storm of light and energy. Aarav guided Vedara through the fray, its golden blade igniting as it clashed with the Dominion forces. A Naraka Fighter streaked toward him, its plasma cannons firing in rapid bursts, but Aarav twisted the controls, guiding Vedara into a tight roll that brought him behind the fighter.
The golden blade sliced cleanly through the enemy ship, which exploded in a flash of light. Aarav didn’t pause, immediately pivoting to engage a Rakshasa mech that loomed ahead.
The Rakshasa swung its massive claws toward Vedara, but Aarav moved with precision, deflecting the attack with Vedara’s shield. He countered with a quick strike, the golden blade carving through the mech’s arm. The enemy staggered, and Aarav followed up with a decisive blow to its core, sending it spiraling into the nebula.
“Warning,” Maitreyi said, her voice calm but urgent. “Dominion reinforcements inbound. The Kalachakra Engine’s location remains obscured.”
Aarav glanced at the scanner, which flickered with erratic readings. “We don’t have time for this,” he muttered.
Just then, Tara’s voice crackled over the comms. “Aarav, we’ve found it. The Kalachakra Engine is anchored on an asteroid at the nebula’s core. Sending coordinates now.”
Aarav’s display lit up with a new marker, and his stomach tightened as he saw the dense field of enemy ships surrounding the target.
“Maitreyi,” he said, his voice firm. “What are we dealing with?”
The projection shifted, revealing a massive structure built into the asteroid. The Kalachakra Engine was unlike anything Aarav had seen—an enormous ring of glowing glyphs and intricate machinery, its core pulsing with an ominous red light.
“This is it,” Maitreyi said. “The nexus of Ravana’s plan. But its defenses are formidable.”
Aarav nodded, his resolve hardening. “Then let’s break through.”
The Amaravarti and its escorts pushed deeper into the nebula, their weapons blazing as they cleared a path toward the Kalachakra Engine. Aarav led the charge, Vedara cutting through the Dominion forces with calculated precision.
But as the strike force closed in on the asteroid, a new presence entered the battlefield—a massive Rakshasa Dreadnought, its shadow swallowing the surrounding ships.
Aarav’s comm crackled as Devya Varman’s voice echoed through the chaos. “You’re persistent, I’ll give you that,” he said, his tone calm and mocking. “But this ends here.”
Vedara’s sensors flared as the Dreadnought’s weapons locked onto the Vaikuntha ships. Aarav’s chest tightened, but his grip on the controls didn’t falter.
“This isn’t over,” he muttered.