The console blazed in front of him. Every warning light burnt bright red. It seemed to be the end of this poor pirate’s existence. He glanced at his sensors once more just to be certain that it was all real. It seemed impossible in his mind that it was actually happening. Of all the places in the universe he had chosen that system.

The powercore was at its limits now and the engines were far from healthy. But he carried on, what other choice was there? It was this or turn back to his death. Although death was certain either way. This was one situation where he couldn’t blast his way out, or call for backup. This was it.

He had always expected to go out at the end of a missile or blaster. To end like this wasn’t right. He had survived so many battles. He had seen empire fleets burning across the heavens and endless lone pirates meet their demise at the end of his blasters. He had crossed New Eden and seen some its glorious wonders. He had seen ships that blotted out the sun explode in a ray of beautiful colours.

He would have been happy to die with the sound of blasters echoing around him or the glare of a missile in his visor. But to die with no control, in a pathetic little backwater… What would be his legacy? A few disgruntled clones that wouldn’t get their loans repaid and others sad that they couldn’t enact their revenge upon him.

His shields were almost gone now. He could almost feel the heat on the back of his neck. It was as if he could see the waves of radiation flowing through him and his trusty little Taranis. He regretted that too, the fact that his ship wouldn’t go down in a blaze of glory like it deserved to. They had both been through so much. He wanted the best for his ship. His pride showed in the dozens of upgrades and his own repair throughout the ship.

“Damn it” he thought, “I’m not going to go out running away like a coward. I’m going to face my death head on”. With that his thrusters fired one last time. He spun around to face the beast that would surely be his end. The sight before him took away his breath, a star in its final death throes. A supernova.

The star seemed to be more furious than ever in its dying breaths. Blowing itself out into space. He looked on in awe of this giant and was happy in his last moment to see one of nature’s greatest marvels. The shields went down for the last time and in an instant the ship and its pilot were gone. Gone in a blaze of glory at the setting of the sun.