Space Valkyries

Chapter One: The Call of the Stars

Far beyond the planets humans had ever discovered, there was a hidden realm between the stars.It was called Valhalla Nova.Unlike the ancient halls spoken of in forgotten Earth legends, Valhalla Nova floated among galaxies. Its golden towers were made from starlight, its bridges stretched across nebulae, and enormous silver ships rested upon platforms carved from celestial stone.And aboard those ships lived the Space Valkyries.They were warriors chosen from countless worlds.Some had been born on distant planets. Others had once been humans from Earth. A few had even come from civilizations that had existed before humanity had learned to look toward the stars.But they all shared one purpose:Protect the living worlds of the galaxy.Among the youngest Valkyries was a warrior named Astrid.Astrid had silver-white hair, bright blue eyes, and armor that shimmered like a night sky filled with stars. Across her back rested a magnificent energy spear called Skyrend.She had trained for years to become a Valkyrie.But she had never been chosen for a real mission.Until tonight.Astrid stood on the observation deck of the Valkyrie flagship, The Allfather, staring into the endless darkness."Beautiful, isn't it?"Astrid turned.Standing behind her was Commander Freya, captain of the Valkyries."It is," Astrid replied.Freya walked beside her."Do you know what I see when I look at the stars?""Worlds?""Possibilities."Freya smiled.Then every light aboard the ship suddenly turned red.WARNING.A deep alarm echoed throughout the vessel.Astrid's expression changed.Freya looked toward the command deck."The Shadow Fleet has arrived."Astrid tightened her grip around Skyrend."The Shadow Fleet?"Freya nodded."The oldest enemy of the Valkyries."Chapter Two: The Shadow FleetThousands of kilometers away, space began to twist.Stars disappeared.A black cloud spread across the galaxy.Then came the ships.Hundreds of enormous vessels emerged from the darkness, each shaped like a monstrous blade. Their hulls absorbed starlight, making them appear almost invisible.At the center of the fleet was a colossal dreadnought.Its name was Ragnarok.The Valkyries had believed it destroyed thousands of years ago.They were wrong.On the bridge of the dreadnought stood a mysterious figure wearing black armor.His name was Lord Veyr.Once, he had been a Valkyrie commander.Now he sought to destroy Valhalla Nova itself."The age of the Valkyries ends today," he whispered.His fleet opened fire.Thousands of weapons erupted simultaneously.Golden shields appeared around Valhalla Nova.The impact shook the entire realm.Astrid was thrown against the railing."Battle stations!" Freya shouted.The Valkyries rushed toward their ships.Engines ignited.One by one, the golden spacecraft launched into the darkness.Astrid climbed aboard her fighter.Her cockpit closed.A holographic image appeared before her.VALKYRIE ONE — ASTRIDShe smiled nervously."Well..."Her fingers tightened around the controls."...I suppose this is my first real mission."Her fighter shot into space.Chapter Three: Wings of StarlightThe battle was unlike anything Astrid had ever imagined.Valkyrie fighters raced between enormous warships.Energy arrows streaked through the darkness.Explosions illuminated distant planets.Astrid spun her fighter around an enemy cruiser and fired.BOOM!The cruiser broke apart."One down!"A voice crackled through her communicator."Don't celebrate yet."Astrid recognized the voice.Freya."Three fighters behind you."Astrid glanced at her scanner.Three enemy ships were closing in.She pushed the engines to maximum.The enemy fighters followed.Astrid flew straight toward a massive asteroid."Come on..."The asteroid grew larger."Come on..."At the last possible second, Astrid pulled upward.The enemy ships followed.They weren't fast enough.CRASH!Two slammed into the asteroid.The third barely avoided it.Astrid spun around.She fired.The final ship exploded.Freya laughed over the communicator."Not bad, young Valkyrie."Astrid smiled."Thank you."Then Freya's voice became serious."Astrid, return to the flagship.""Why?""We've detected something.""What?""A ship."Astrid frowned."Whose?"Freya paused."We don't know."Chapter Four: The Starborn ChildThe Valkyries surrounded a tiny spacecraft drifting through the battlefield.It wasn't a warship.It wasn't even armed.Its hull was covered in strange glowing symbols.Astrid entered the vessel.Inside, she found a single passenger.A child.The girl couldn't have been more than ten years old.She had glowing golden eyes.Astrid slowly approached."Hello."The child looked at her."Are you a Valkyrie?"Astrid nodded."Yes."The girl smiled."Then I'm safe."Astrid knelt beside her."Who are you?"The girl looked toward the window."My name is Lyra.""Where are your parents?"Lyra lowered her head."They're gone."Astrid's heart sank."Who attacked your planet?"Lyra looked directly into Astrid's eyes."The Shadow King."Astrid froze."Lord Veyr?"Lyra nodded."He destroyed my world because he was searching for me."Astrid looked at Freya."Why?"Lyra slowly reached toward her necklace.A small crystal hung from it.Inside the crystal was a miniature galaxy."I was born with the Heart of the Stars."Freya stared at the crystal."Impossible."Astrid looked confused."What is it?"Freya whispered:"An ancient power capable of awakening the Star Gates."Astrid looked at Lyra."And what happens if Veyr gets it?"Freya's expression darkened."He could open the gates to every inhabited world.""And then?"Freya looked toward the endless darkness."He could destroy the galaxy."Chapter Five: The Last ValkyrieThe Valkyries knew they couldn't remain in Valhalla Nova.They needed to protect Lyra.Freya ordered the fleet to retreat toward the ancient Star Gate.But Lord Veyr was already waiting.His dreadnought emerged from hyperspace."Valkyries," his voice echoed through every ship."Give me the child."Freya stepped forward."You will never have her."Veyr laughed."You still believe you can defeat me?"Freya raised her spear."We have defeated you before.""Not this time."The dreadnought's weapons charged.Astrid looked around.Hundreds of Valkyries stood beside her.She suddenly realized something.They weren't fighting because they believed they couldn't lose.They were fighting because there were worlds behind them worth protecting.Astrid lifted Skyrend."For the stars!"Thousands of Valkyries raised their weapons."For the stars!"The fleet charged.Chapter Six: The Battle of RagnarokThe final battle began.Valkyries boarded enemy ships.Spacecraft collided.Ancient weapons awakened.The Star Gate began to glow.But Veyr reached it first.His black dreadnought entered the center of the gate."Lyra!"The child suddenly screamed.Her crystal began glowing.Astrid grabbed her hand."You don't have to be afraid.""I am.""So am I."Lyra looked up.Astrid smiled."But being afraid doesn't mean we stop."The two stepped forward.The crystal erupted with light.Every star in the galaxy seemed to shine at once.The Valkyries' armor transformed.Their wings became enormous.Their weapons burned with celestial energy.Freya stared in astonishment."The Starborn has awakened them."Astrid looked behind her.Thousands of Valkyries now possessed wings made of pure starlight.Freya raised her spear."Valkyries!"The warriors answered."To Valhalla!"They launched themselves toward Ragnarok.Astrid flew directly toward Lord Veyr.Veyr raised his weapon."You cannot defeat me."Astrid smiled."Maybe not."Her wings spread wide."But we're not alone."Behind her came every Valkyrie.Every warrior.Every starship.Every world they had sworn to protect.Astrid raised Skyrend."For the galaxy!"She struck.The Heart of the Stars exploded with light.Ragnarok shattered.Lord Veyr disappeared into the collapsing darkness.And the Star Gate closed.Silence returned to the galaxy.Epilogue: The New ValkyriesYears later, Astrid stood on the balcony of Valhalla Nova.She was no longer a young trainee.She was now Commander Astrid.Beside her stood Lyra, who had grown into a powerful Starborn guardian.Below them, thousands of new Valkyries prepared for their first missions.Astrid looked toward the stars."Do you ever wonder what's out there?" Lyra asked.Astrid smiled."Every day."A distant star suddenly flashed.Then another.Then another.A strange signal appeared across the galaxy.Astrid's smile disappeared."That's not a natural signal."Lyra looked at her."What is it?"Astrid lifted her spear."I don't know."The stars began forming a massive symbol.Something ancient.Something that had been sleeping beyond the edge of the known universe.Astrid looked toward the Valkyrie fleet."Looks like we've got another mission."The engines of thousands of starships ignited.Golden wings unfolded across the darkness.And the Space Valkyries flew toward the unknown.Their legend had only just begun.