10-05-2026, 10:13 PM
[This is Captain Braggins of the Yeager. I'm taking command of the engagement. Aquila, engage the Battlecruisers marked Contact 2 and 3. Zephyr, engage the Escorts. Do not engage the Dreadnought. Do not engage the Dreadnought.]
Jez stared at the tactical display for a moment as the transmission ended.
She wasn't sure how she felt about another Captain suddenly taking charge. Captain Brooks was clearly a strong, capable, and confident man, but who was this Captain Braggins of the Yeager to take command? Oh, yes, Commander Braggins had been a great officer, but this was different. Captain Brooks was still the Captain of the Aquila, and yet it seemed like he was being shoved aside like an old shoe or something.
The thought barely had time to settle before Brooks looked toward Talion.
"Oops."
Jez couldn't help the faintest smile.
Captain Brooks turned toward the helm.
"Bring us about to tackle the two Battlecruisers. Full spread of phasers and torpedoes once we are locked on."
He then opened the comm.
"Captain Braggins, this is Captain Brooks of the Aquila. We are heading towards the targets suggested; good to hear from you. After this, I will buy you a drink. Brooks out."
"Let's do this," Captain Brooks said as he got up from the center chair and moved toward the helm.
Jez turned her attention back to the tactical display.
The two Battlecruisers were maneuvering together, maintaining enough separation to create overlapping fields of fire. If the Aquila charged directly between them, both ships would have a clean firing solution, and neither would have to expose itself unnecessarily.
Jez studied their movement.
"They're covering each other," she said quietly.
Her eyes shifted toward the Dreadnought.
Braggins' order suddenly made more sense. The Dreadnought didn't need to be their immediate target to affect the engagement. Its position limited their maneuvering space, and any attempt to swing too far around the Battlecruisers could potentially bring the Aquila into its weapons envelope.
Jez began calculating the Battlecruisers' likely firing arcs and maneuvering options.
The solution wasn't to meet both ships on their terms.
"Captain," Jez called, "if we attack the lead Battlecruiser directly, the second will have a clean shot at our flank. If we break their formation instead, we can force one of them to expose itself while the other maneuvers to compensate."
She brought up a projected flight path.
"Recommend we concentrate our initial fire on one ship. Phasers to weaken the same shield quadrant, then torpedoes through the opening. Don't split our fire between them. If we can force one Battlecruiser defensive, the other will have to decide between maintaining its firing solution on us or maneuvering to protect its companion."
Jez tracked the second Battlecruiser's position.
"Either choice gives us an opportunity."
Her attention returned briefly to the Dreadnought.
"And we need to keep our maneuvering options open. If we become predictable, the Dreadnought doesn't have to be our target to become our biggest problem."
Jez settled back over the tactical console, eyes fixed on the approaching Battlecruisers.
Two Battlecruisers were dangerous.
Two Battlecruisers supported by a Dreadnought were considerably worse.
But they didn't have to beat all three ships.
They only had to make sure the two ships in front of them couldn't fight as one.
== Tag All. ==
Jez stared at the tactical display for a moment as the transmission ended.
She wasn't sure how she felt about another Captain suddenly taking charge. Captain Brooks was clearly a strong, capable, and confident man, but who was this Captain Braggins of the Yeager to take command? Oh, yes, Commander Braggins had been a great officer, but this was different. Captain Brooks was still the Captain of the Aquila, and yet it seemed like he was being shoved aside like an old shoe or something.
The thought barely had time to settle before Brooks looked toward Talion.
"Oops."
Jez couldn't help the faintest smile.
Captain Brooks turned toward the helm.
"Bring us about to tackle the two Battlecruisers. Full spread of phasers and torpedoes once we are locked on."
He then opened the comm.
"Captain Braggins, this is Captain Brooks of the Aquila. We are heading towards the targets suggested; good to hear from you. After this, I will buy you a drink. Brooks out."
"Let's do this," Captain Brooks said as he got up from the center chair and moved toward the helm.
Jez turned her attention back to the tactical display.
The two Battlecruisers were maneuvering together, maintaining enough separation to create overlapping fields of fire. If the Aquila charged directly between them, both ships would have a clean firing solution, and neither would have to expose itself unnecessarily.
Jez studied their movement.
"They're covering each other," she said quietly.
Her eyes shifted toward the Dreadnought.
Braggins' order suddenly made more sense. The Dreadnought didn't need to be their immediate target to affect the engagement. Its position limited their maneuvering space, and any attempt to swing too far around the Battlecruisers could potentially bring the Aquila into its weapons envelope.
Jez began calculating the Battlecruisers' likely firing arcs and maneuvering options.
The solution wasn't to meet both ships on their terms.
"Captain," Jez called, "if we attack the lead Battlecruiser directly, the second will have a clean shot at our flank. If we break their formation instead, we can force one of them to expose itself while the other maneuvers to compensate."
She brought up a projected flight path.
"Recommend we concentrate our initial fire on one ship. Phasers to weaken the same shield quadrant, then torpedoes through the opening. Don't split our fire between them. If we can force one Battlecruiser defensive, the other will have to decide between maintaining its firing solution on us or maneuvering to protect its companion."
Jez tracked the second Battlecruiser's position.
"Either choice gives us an opportunity."
Her attention returned briefly to the Dreadnought.
"And we need to keep our maneuvering options open. If we become predictable, the Dreadnought doesn't have to be our target to become our biggest problem."
Jez settled back over the tactical console, eyes fixed on the approaching Battlecruisers.
Two Battlecruisers were dangerous.
Two Battlecruisers supported by a Dreadnought were considerably worse.
But they didn't have to beat all three ships.
They only had to make sure the two ships in front of them couldn't fight as one.
== Tag All. ==