Smoke Settles

I lay in my bunk, exhausted from a long day of fighting. It was quite a day. Quite a day so much so that my muscles ached from the intense maneuvers I had performed in my fighter jet. My mind was still racing with the memories of dodging enemy fire and taking out their ships one by one.

Dammit… Even the thought of it made my adrenaline surge again. I couldn’t believe how close I had come to being taken out.

But I was still here, alive and ready to fight another day. They were all gone now, those enemy pilots. They never stood a chance against me and my team.

“Look at you.” The door to my bunk squeaked open, bringing me back to the present. I shivered, expecting to see another one of my comrades coming to congratulate me on a job well done.

But it wasn’t a comrade. It was my commanding officer, standing at the door with a serious look on her face. “You will make for easy prey with your guard down like that. So inviting.”

I sat up in my bunk, ready to face whatever challenge she had in store for me. “Bring it on, sir. I’m ready for anything.”

She smiled, a rare sight on the battlefield. “That’s what I like to hear. You and your team did an excellent job out there today. The enemy has retreated, thanks to your efforts.”

I let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you, sir. It’s all thanks to my team. We work well together.”

She nodded. “Yes, you do. But I have a feeling that you were the driving force behind today’s victory. Your quick thinking and bravery saved the day.”

I blushed, feeling a sense of pride wash over me. “Thank you, sir. It’s an honor to serve my country and protect our people.”

“And you do it with distinction. I’m proud to have you as one of my best pilots.” She patted my shoulder and turned to leave. “Get some rest. We have another mission tomorrow.”

I lay back down in my bunk, a sense of satisfaction settling over me. It was days like this that made all the training and sacrifice worth it. I was a hero, fighting for my country in the second intergalactic war. And I would do it all over again, without hesitation.