F2

Some time later, in low orbit over Aiur.

Having lost nearly all its engines, the Terran Empire warship Iron Fist gradually slowed, its altitude steadily dropping, until it was finally caught by swarms upon swarms of Corruptors, Mutalisks, and Vipers.

Iron Fist was a Minotaur-class battlecruiser, inheriting its name from another Behemoth-class warship that had already been retired. Its commander was Colonel Haley, an irritable and ruthless man with a heavy accent, known to others as Fighting Haley.

Among the new warships that had entered service in large numbers after the Imperial Navy entered the new century, Iron Fist could also be considered exceptionally young. In fact, she had been assigned to the combined fleet the moment she left Apollo Shipyard and immediately rushed to Aiur to take part in this battle.

Before entering the war, Iron Fist had been brand-new and gleaming. Fresh red paint stood out against her black advanced alloy-steel hull, flags flew from every deck, and the assembled Marines aboard sang "The Emperor's Glory."

Forty hours later, the warship that had made all her crew so proud was riddled with holes and staggering along like a dilapidated house leaking from every side. Iron Fist's heavy armor peeled away from her once-majestic hull like cracked fish scales, while thick, snakelike cables spilled from the ruptured plating, resembling heaps of bluish-black intestines.

The warship roared within and without as enormous balls of fire surged up from beneath the decks, releasing astonishing light and heat.

Despite suffering severe damage, losing her shields, and being stripped of most of her external laser batteries, Iron Fist still possessed formidable firepower. Powered by nuclear energy and antimatter, the heavy armor layered across her hull, reinforced alloy-steel keel, and bulkheads made her extremely difficult to destroy.

Even though they often paid an agonizing