Commander of the Galaxy

 The tension aboard the Vanguard was palpable. Jack Ryder stood at the bridge, staring out into the vastness of space, his mind racing as the stars stretched out before him. The crew was moving like a well-oiled machine, each person focused on their role. But Jack couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty gnawing at him. He had never imagined being thrust into the role of commander, let alone facing down a dark and malevolent force like the Shadow Dominion. The weight of his new responsibilities felt heavier than any burden he had ever carried.

"Commander," Mira's voice broke through his thoughts. "We've got a situation."

Jack turned to face her. She was standing by the communications console, her expression serious. "What's going on?"

"It's Draconis," she said, her voice low. "The first wave of Dominion forces is here. They're attacking the planet's outer defenses."

Jack's stomach tightened. "How bad is it?"

"Too early to tell, but we've already lost contact with the outermost defense stations. We need to move fast, or the planet will fall."

"Set a course for Draconis," Jack ordered, his voice steady, though the urgency in his chest was growing. "Prepare the fleet for combat."

As the Vanguard's engines roared to life, Jack watched the stars stretch and blur as the ship entered hyperspace. The rest of the fleet followed in formation behind them, a dozen ships prepared for battle, but Jack knew that their combined might wouldn't guarantee victory against an enemy like the Shadow Dominion.

Mira approached him, her eyes thoughtful. "Jack, we need to talk."

"Now's not the best time," Jack replied, his gaze fixed on the approaching battle.

"It's about the council's decision," she pressed. "You're under a lot of pressure. We both know that."

Jack turned to her. "What do you mean?"

Mira hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "You've got the weight of the galaxy on your shoulders. Everyone's looking to you for answers, and not everyone on this ship is convinced you're the right person for the job."

 Jack exhaled sharply. He had felt the tension among the crew ever since the council's decision. He wasn't just commanding a fleet; he was trying to hold together a fragile alliance of different species with their own agendas and loyalties. He had never been trained for diplomacy or leadership he was a pilot, nothing more. The doubts that had started to bubble up in his mind now felt all too real.

"I didn't ask for this," Jack muttered, his voice heavy. "I don't know if I'm the right person, either."

"You've got what it takes, Jack," Mira said, her voice firm. "But you can't do this alone. You need to trust your crew, and you need to trust yourself."

Before Jack could respond, the ship's alarms blared. A voice over the intercom shouted, "Enemy ships emerging from hyperspace!"

Jack's instincts kicked in immediately. "Battle stations! Prepare for engagement!"

The Vanguard dropped out of hyperspace, revealing Draconis on the viewscreen. The planet was bathed in the dim light of a dying sun, its surface dotted with massive energy shields. Dozens of Dominion ships had already breached the outer perimeter, their sleek, black forms sending a wave of dread through Jack's heart.

"We're not going to make it in time to stop the first wave," Mira said, her tone tight with frustration. "Their ships are already on top of the defenses."

"Target their ships!" Jack barked. "Launch the fighters. I want those ships neutralized before they can breach the shield generators!"

The battle was underway.

 On the bridge, the crew sprang into action, the hum of weapons systems charging and the flash of incoming fire filling the room. Jack's hands gripped the armrests of his command chair as he watched the screens, his mind focused on the tactics required to hold off the invaders.

 But even as the Vanguard unleashed its firepower, Jack's thoughts kept drifting back to the conversation he'd had with Mira. There was no denying it his leadership was being questioned, and the pressure was mounting. He was thrust into a role that he wasn't prepared for, and now lives were on the line. It wasn't just the Shadow Dominion he had to worry about; it was the growing discontent within his own ranks.

"Commander!" Mira's voice cut through his thoughts again. "Incoming waves from the east! More Dominion ships!"

Jack turned to her, his face set in grim determination. "We can't let them reach the planet's surface. Set a course for the lead ship. We'll take them head-on."

"Aye, Commander!" Mira responded, already inputting commands into the console.

The Vanguard surged forward, cutting through the fleet of Dominion ships with precision. Jack's orders were rapid, each one meant to keep the enemy off balance. His fighter pilots engaged in intense dogfights, their movements like a deadly ballet in the cold emptiness of space.

 But even as the battle raged around them, the internal conflict within Jack only deepened. He couldn't shake the feeling that some of his decisions were not being received well by everyone in the fleet. His orders, though clear and decisive, were met with reluctance by certain officers, and the tension between them was growing.

 In the heat of battle, Jack's thoughts turned to his fellow commanders and the politicians who had backed him into this position. The council had made a choice, but how many of them truly believed in him? How many of them were just playing a game, hoping to use him as a pawn to gain favor with their own people?

 It wasn't just the Dominion forces that threatened to tear the galaxy apart it was the growing distrust between the species, the factions, the alliances that were fraying at the edges.

"Status report!" Jack snapped, shaking off the doubts that clouded his mind.

"Shields at 70%, Commander," one of the officers reported. "We're holding, but we've lost a few fighters."

"Continue engaging," Jack ordered. "We can't afford to let up now."

The battle raged on, with the Vanguard taking heavy hits from the relentless Dominion forces. Jack could feel the weight of each decision, each command, bearing down on him. He knew he was in over his head, but there was no turning back now. The fate of Draconis and the galaxy was in his hands.

 As the Vanguard continued to fire, Jack's mind raced. There had to be more to this war than just fighting on the front lines. He needed to understand the bigger picture, to find the heart of the Shadow Dominion's power. But for now, all he could do was fight.

And fight he did.

 As the battle pressed on, Jack realized that his leadership would be tested in ways he had never imagined. Both external and internal forces were at work, and he was caught in the middle. But one thing was clear: the stakes were higher than ever. The fate of the galaxy rested on the fragile alliances he was trying to build, and the pressure to succeed, to unite his people and defeat the Shadow Dominion, was only growing stronger.

The real war had only just begun.

Terjemahan Indonesia:

 Ketegangan di atas Vanguard sangat terasa. Jack Ryder berdiri di jembatan, menatap ke luar angkasa yang luas, pikirannya berputar-putar saat bintang-bintang terbentang di depannya. Kru bekerja seperti mesin yang sudah terpelihara, masing-masing orang fokus pada perannya. Namun Jack tidak bisa mengusir rasa ketidakpastian yang menggerogoti dirinya. Ia tidak pernah membayangkan dirinya harus memimpin, apalagi menghadapi kekuatan gelap dan jahat seperti Shadow Dominion. Beban tanggung jawab barunya terasa lebih berat daripada beban apapun yang pernah ia bawa.

"Komandan," suara Mira memecah pikirannya. "Ada situasi."

Jack berbalik menghadapnya. Dia berdiri di dekat konsol komunikasi, ekspresinya serius. "Ada apa?"

"Ini tentang Draconis," katanya, suaranya pelan. "Gelombang pertama pasukan Dominion sudah datang. Mereka menyerang pertahanan luar planet."

Perut Jack terasa kencang. "Seberapa parah?"

"Masih terlalu dini untuk tahu, tapi kami sudah kehilangan kontak dengan stasiun pertahanan terluar. Kita harus bergerak cepat, kalau tidak planet ini bisa jatuh."

"Atur jalur ke Draconis," perintah Jack, suaranya tetap tenang meski kegelisahan di dalam dirinya semakin kuat. "Persiapkan armada untuk bertempur."

 Ketika mesin Vanguard menyala, Jack memandangi layar, melihat bintang-bintang yang melarut ketika kapal memasuki hiperruang. Armada lainnya mengikuti di belakang mereka, dua belas kapal siap bertempur, namun Jack tahu bahwa kekuatan gabungan mereka tidak akan menjamin kemenangan melawan musuh seperti Shadow Dominion.

Mira mendekatinya, matanya penuh pertimbangan. "Jack, kita perlu bicara."

"Ini bukan waktu yang tepat," jawab Jack, pandangannya tetap terfokus pada pertempuran yang akan datang.

"Ini tentang keputusan dewan," Mira mendesak. "Kamu sedang berada di bawah banyak tekanan. Kita berdua tahu itu."

Jack berbalik menatapnya. "Maksudmu apa?"

Mira ragu sejenak, memilih kata-katanya dengan hati-hati. "Kamu membawa beban galaksi di pundakmu. Semua orang menunggu jawaban darimu, dan tidak semua orang di kapal ini yakin kalau kamu orang yang tepat untuk posisi ini."

Perut Jack mual. "Aku tidak minta ini," gumamnya, suaranya berat. "Aku juga tidak tahu apakah aku orang yang tepat."

"Kamu punya apa yang dibutuhkan, Jack," kata Mira dengan tegas. "Tapi kamu tidak bisa melakukan ini sendirian. Kamu harus percaya pada kru-mu, dan yang paling penting, percaya pada dirimu sendiri."

Sebelum Jack bisa menjawab, alarm kapal berbunyi. Suara melalui interkom berkata, "Kapal musuh muncul dari hiperruang!"

Insting Jack segera terpicu. "Stasiun pertempuran! Siapkan untuk pertempuran!"

Vanguard keluar dari hiperruang, menampilkan Draconis di layar. Planet itu diselimuti cahaya redup dari matahari yang hampir mati, permukaannya dihiasi dengan perisai energi raksasa. Puluhan kapal Dominion sudah menembus perbatasan luar, bentuk mereka yang hitam dan ramping mengirimkan gelombang ketakutan di hati Jack.

"Kita tidak akan sampai tepat waktu untuk menghentikan gelombang pertama," kata Mira, suaranya tegang. "Kapal mereka sudah berada di atas pertahanan."

"Target kapal mereka!" teriak Jack. "Luncurkan para pilot tempur. Saya ingin kapal-kapal itu dinetralisasi sebelum mereka bisa menembus generator perisai!"

Pertempuran dimulai.

 Di jembatan, kru bergerak cepat, suara sistem senjata yang mengisi daya dan kilatan tembakan yang datang mengisi ruangan. Tangan Jack mencengkram sandaran kursinya saat ia memandang layar, pikirannya terfokus pada taktik yang diperlukan untuk menahan invasi.

 Namun meskipun pertempuran berlangsung di sekitar mereka, pikiran Jack terus kembali pada percakapan dengan Mira. Tidak bisa dipungkiri kepemimpinannya dipertanyakan, dan tekanan semakin besar. Ia tidak hanya memimpin armada; ia mencoba menjaga persatuan antara berbagai spesies yang memiliki agenda dan kesetiaan masing-masing. Ia tidak pernah dilatih untuk diplomasi atau kepemimpinan ia hanya seorang pilot, tidak lebih. Keraguan yang mulai mengambang di pikirannya kini terasa begitu nyata.

"Komandan!" suara Mira kembali memanggilnya. "Gelombang musuh datang dari timur! Lebih banyak kapal Dominion!"

Jack berbalik menghadapnya, wajahnya penuh ketegasan. "Kita tidak boleh membiarkan mereka mencapai permukaan planet. Atur jalur ke kapal utama. Kita akan serang mereka langsung."

"Siap, Komandan!" Mira menjawab, sudah mulai mengetik perintah di konsol.

Vanguard maju dengan cepat, menembus armada kapal Dominion dengan presisi. Perintah Jack datang dengan cepat, setiap langkah dimaksudkan untuk menjaga musuh agar tetap terkejut. Para pilot tempur terlibat dalam pertempuran udara yang intens, gerakan mereka bagaikan balet mematikan di tengah kehampaan angkasa.

 Namun meskipun pertempuran berkecamuk, konflik internal dalam diri Jack semakin dalam. Ia tak bisa menyingkirkan perasaan bahwa beberapa keputusan yang ia buat tidak diterima dengan baik oleh semua orang di armada. Perintahnya, meskipun jelas dan tegas, sering kali disambut dengan keengganan dari beberapa perwira, dan ketegangan di antara mereka semakin meningkat.

 Di tengah pertempuran, pikiran Jack melayang pada rekan-rekan komandannya dan para politisi yang telah menempatkannya dalam posisi ini. Dewan telah membuat keputusan, tetapi berapa banyak di antara mereka yang benar-benar mempercayainya? Berapa banyak dari mereka yang hanya bermain dalam permainan politik, berharap bisa memanfaatkannya sebagai pion untuk mendapatkan keuntungan bagi rakyat mereka sendiri?

Bukan hanya pasukan Dominion yang mengancam untuk merobek galaksi tapi juga ketidakpercayaan yang semakin tumbuh antara spesies, faksi, dan aliansi yang semakin terpecah.

"Laporan status!" teriak Jack, berusaha menyingkirkan keraguan yang mengganggu pikirannya.

"Perisai 70%, Komandan," lapor salah seorang petugas. "Kami masih bertahan, tapi beberapa kapal tempur kami hilang."

"Lanjutkan serangan," perintah Jack. "Kita tidak bisa berhenti sekarang."

Pertempuran terus berlanjut, dengan Vanguard menerima serangan keras dari pasukan Dominion yang tak henti-hentinya. Jack merasakan berat setiap keputusan yang harus ia ambil, setiap perintah yang diberikan, semakin menekan dirinya. Ia tahu ia sudah terjebak dalam situasi yang lebih besar dari dirinya, tetapi tidak ada jalan mundur. Nasib Draconis dan galaksi ada di tangannya.

 Ketika Vanguard terus melepaskan tembakan, pikiran Jack berputar. Pasti ada lebih dari sekadar pertempuran di garis depan dalam perang ini. Ia perlu memahami gambaran yang lebih besar, menemukan inti dari kekuatan Shadow Dominion. Namun untuk saat ini, yang bisa ia lakukan hanyalah bertempur.

Dan ia bertempur habis-habisan.

 Saat pertempuran terus berlanjut, Jack menyadari bahwa kepemimpinannya akan diuji dengan cara-cara yang tidak pernah ia bayangkan. Baik kekuatan eksternal maupun internal bekerja, dan ia terjebak di tengah-tengahnya. Namun satu hal yang jelas: taruhannya kini lebih tinggi dari sebelumnya. Nasib galaksi tergantung pada aliansi rapuh yang sedang ia coba bangun, dan tekanan untuk berhasil, untuk menyatukan rakyatnya dan mengalahkan Shadow Dominion, hanya semakin besar.

Perang sesungguhnya baru saja dimulai.