@alonicus released a prompt and asked that way tell a story using it, and I found the topic interesting, and figured it would be a nice setting for a short story.
Here's A Link To The Prompt, If You'd Like To Submit Something To It.
Gordin Stok walked down the corridor of the badly damaged Q7-G-Force cruiser.
What was once shining beacon of hope to The Confederation, was now dull titan-steel. He could still recall the first arrival.
Gordin was apart of the first wave, who charged headlong into a very routine battle. It was going to be an easy win; the first in a long spout of them. Nau-Ban was a world without much of any presence. Once it was said to be lush and fertile, but after some experimentations went wrong, the place was mostly abandoned, years after that it became a prison world for Free Space scum. Upon release, most stayed, worked, built, turned it into something more than a glorified rock. It stopped being used for convicts, and started to be used for military training; a little hide-away to run drills. There were bases too for weapons experiments.
Reading the brief, he chuckled at that moment.
"A world abandoned due to experiments is rebuilt, only to start experimenting once more." He laughed after speaking.
"Trust these alien freaks to act like fools. The place would have made a good resort world, if they hadn't messed it up." One of the other soldiers commented.
"What are we taking this place for anyway, seems like a waste of Confederation resources." Another mentioned, before chatting broke out in the briefing hall.
Jokes and laughter erupted shortly after.
Back before their first encounter, everyone joked.
It was supposed to be a routine battle. They weren't expecting the Free Space forces to get backed up by contingent of Gnosians: Creatures, who acted on animalistic instincts, and brutality, rather than reason, or logic.
The first wave went terribly, and the battle was lost. Second wave was a disaster, and the third wave didn't have time to muster before the enemy went on the offensive.
The Q7 arrived though, and things seemed brighter. It didn't get much better, instead they lingered on, in a stalemate. Gordin had no idea what is superiors were planning to do, but then he got the call; another briefing, only smaller.
He stepped into a half full room. Taking his seat, he waited for something to happen, for something to be said.
The faces of all present showed signs of fear, and battle fatigue. No one seemed ready to continue this particular campaign. More people trickled into the room, in ones and twos. Monitors flickered to life, showing the faces of other captains, and commanders.
"We are calling a retreat; we have no choice in that matter." Director Flaq stated solemnly.
There was a wave of relief that seemed to resonate from each person present. There was also a smell of regret.
"We've lost a lot of good men and women on this campaign, and we don't mean to lose anymore. All forces will create some distance between the enemy fleet, and then open a jump-lane." There was some questions asked, and an outburst from one of the admirals who didn't like the idea of running.
Those discontents were quelled, and Gordin figured it was little more than an act of fake confidence. Nobody wanted to stay, and everyone knew it.
"What of all those captured?" Commander Kuren asked, and to that, nobody could answer. "We can't just leave them down there," he continued, but his words echoed throughout the empty conversation.
Downed cruisers held a lot of personnel who were left down there, because there weren't enough people to hold an offensive large enough to secure their freedom.
"A synchronized detonation of the downed vessels, planet side." Director Flaqq finally said.
There was much uproar; many people were angry, some sad, and there were even complaints of how inhumane it was to just murder all of those innocent people.
"Leaving them to a fate worse than death is any better? Gnosians aren't known for their hospitality." He replied. "There have been many unsettling reports from other fronts of this conquest."
"Who will be the one to commence this remote detonation?" One of the commanders asked.
"I wouldn't expect anyone else to do such a task," Director Flaqq replied, as he offered himself to carry out the task. "I wish we lived in a time where mercy killings weren't a thing, but this is war; at that, it's one against an enemy who do not share our same standards, or ethics."