[ IP ] Queen of the space fairies

So it had come to this. The final mission. One last chance to end this war. A war that had been going on for longer than I had been alive. 
 
 They came out of deep space without warning. Wiping out several human colonies before we knew what hit us. When we realized what was happening… all of mankind scrambled to fight off a threat with seemingly no end. A war for the survival of our species had begun. 
 
 The United Humanity Space Fleet fighting the Space Fairies. At least, that was the common thing to call these otherworldly creatures. Back in the day I was told their true name during an intelligence briefing, but damned if I could recall the short burst of birdsong that they call themselves. 
 
 Whatever they were called wouldn ’ t matter for long. Either humanity was doomed, or the threat would be ended soon enough. That ’ s what the months of planning and searching had provided. The location of their hive. Or castle. Whatever the hell the mass of living metal that formed their mothership was. 
 
 Mothership being the right word. Their Queen was here. Intel that was paid for with hundreds of thousands of lives gave us hope. 
 
 Kill the Queen and no more of the little bastards could be made. This decades old losing fight could be turned around. Humanity could defy extinction at the hands of hostile alien life. 
 
 For this one chance humanity had used over 90 % of its remaining military power. Fighting through the horde of the endless ships that guarded their Queen. Losing more and more of that military power by the minute as the small handful of strike teams fought to reach the center of the damned hiveship. Where we would find The Queen. Where we would kill The Queen. 
 
 At least that was the plan. Communication was cut off the moment my squad entered the hive. The ten people with me rushed to make it to the goal. Fighting off terrors the size of butterflies that could electrocute a man with a hand gesture. Each of us hoping that the next step wouldn ’ t be the one that revealed which seemingly random stretches of hallway wouldn ’ t fry every cell in your body. Holding our breath every time we crossed an open area that could easily open up without warning. The gravity of the ship ’ s core pulling in whoever couldn ’ t grab onto something fast enough. 
 
 All the way though we fought of the enemy swarms. Burning through ammo and lives at an alarming rate. 
 
 One by one my squadmates died. Ten became nine. Nine became eight. A gruesome countdown on a timer made of corpses. In the end, by some miracle, three of us made it to her. 
 
 **Three…** 
 
 Taking the initiative, all three of us opened fire on the Queen. An invisible barrier stopping nearly all of our shots. Save one from the guy who was on my right. His weapon managing to tear a hole through the thigh of The Queen. Her dark pink blood gushing from the wound as she let out a haunting, beautiful wail. 
 
 Before the guy on my right could try to take a followup shot a bolt of lightning came out of nowhere and turned his body to ash. 
 
 **Two…** 
 
 My remaining squadmate and I took cover. A massive swarm of fairies moving around us as we fired over and over. 
 
 At one point a blast of light punched right through my last squadmates gut. He screamed, but didn ’ t go down. He just looked at me. Blood trickling out of the corner of his mouth. 
 
 The last thing I saw on his face was a manic smile. He charged towards the queen. Doesn ’ t even manage to make two dozen steps. The enemy swarm surrounding him and tearing him to shreds. And then I see the grenade that he had been holding start to fall. The explosion rocking the room as nearly all the swarm goes down with him. 
 
 **One... ** 
 
 The entire time I never stop firing. Shot after shot. Until I pull the trigger and nothing happened. Out of ammo. That had been my last magazine. I can do nothing but close my eyes. Awaiting the end. 
 
 It doesn ’ t come. My sudden silence is met with silence. As I once again hear the song of The Queen I realize it. That last shot had taken out the last of the swarm. Myself and the Queen the last living beings in the chamber. 
 
 No choice now. Reaching down to my thigh, I remove the last weapon I have. My knife. 
 
 I emerge from cover. Fixing my gaze on The Queen. which she returns with her own eyeless regard. I take a deep, shuddering breath. 
 
 I charge forward. The Queen raises her hand. A ghostly blue light appearing and glowing brighter and brighter with every step I take. Her high, disturbingly pleasant scream issues forth. 
 
 I meet her voice with my own. A battlecry that would, one way or another, be my last. 
 
 “ I don ’ t believe in fairies! ” 
 
 _____ 
 This is my second story on the subreddit, and the first time I've ever written anything for an image prompt. Criticism is appreciated, and thanks for reading!
