11-07-2026, 01:16 AM
The deck plates groaned beneath Morad’s boots as another concussive tremor rippled through the hull, the harsh strobe of red alert reflecting off the sweat sheen across his brow. On the tactical display, the grim realities of the broader battlespace laid bare the cost of every second they had bought.
"Go, A'kilees," Morad said, catching the Saurian's eye with a sharp, resolute nod as the officer stepped toward the lift. "You and Singer are our ticket home. Keep that bypass from blowing out our bulkheads. Godspeed."
Turning back toward the center well, Morad stepped down toward the science and operations station, his face hardening as he took in the telemetry Cortez had pulled up. The telemetry for the Aquila; her secondary core gone, shields down, two damaged Keldons hovering just outside her perimeter. And then the Yeager... crippled, hemorrhaging atmosphere, and deliberately curving into a terminal ramming vector with the lead Cardassian warship while blowing her escape pod covers.
Damn it Jen... you had to go and play the hero now... Just do me a favor and don't go down with the ship...
The scout cruiser's final text order flickered on his armrest repeater: Withdraw to Starbase 214. Provide support for any craft evacuating the area.
A tight knot formed in Morad's chest, but his voice remained absolute steel when he spoke.
"Cortez, lock onto those Yeager pod transponders," Morad ordered, his jaw set tight. "Tag every single beacon signature and stream the telemetry straight to Starbase 214 and the evacuation shuttle routes. We honor the Yeager's sacrifice by making damn sure her people make it to the base."
He stepped up beside the helm, his eyes locked onto the towering, illuminated spire of Starbase 214 looming ahead on the main viewer, while the three fresh Hideki escorts were steadily closing in to join the pursuit.
"Krandall, you heard Captain Braggins' final transmission. Hold this vector, full impulse!" Morad barked, leaning over the console. "Don't let them box us in. We ride this arc straight across Starbase 214's outer defense threshold and give those pods the escort they need. Powl, keep aft tubes hot and stagger our rear phaser sweeps. If any of those Hidekis try to break away from us to hunt pods, put a torpedo right through their flight deck!"
"Ra'an, what's the status of Federation One? Are they clear?" Ameen asked.
He keyed the shipwide channel, his voice cutting through the klaxons and engine whine across every deck.
"All hands, this is the Bridge. Prepare for extreme maneuvers and final defensive transition. We're almost to the threshold. Hold fast."
== Tag Bridge ==
"Go, A'kilees," Morad said, catching the Saurian's eye with a sharp, resolute nod as the officer stepped toward the lift. "You and Singer are our ticket home. Keep that bypass from blowing out our bulkheads. Godspeed."
Turning back toward the center well, Morad stepped down toward the science and operations station, his face hardening as he took in the telemetry Cortez had pulled up. The telemetry for the Aquila; her secondary core gone, shields down, two damaged Keldons hovering just outside her perimeter. And then the Yeager... crippled, hemorrhaging atmosphere, and deliberately curving into a terminal ramming vector with the lead Cardassian warship while blowing her escape pod covers.
Damn it Jen... you had to go and play the hero now... Just do me a favor and don't go down with the ship...
The scout cruiser's final text order flickered on his armrest repeater: Withdraw to Starbase 214. Provide support for any craft evacuating the area.
A tight knot formed in Morad's chest, but his voice remained absolute steel when he spoke.
"Cortez, lock onto those Yeager pod transponders," Morad ordered, his jaw set tight. "Tag every single beacon signature and stream the telemetry straight to Starbase 214 and the evacuation shuttle routes. We honor the Yeager's sacrifice by making damn sure her people make it to the base."
He stepped up beside the helm, his eyes locked onto the towering, illuminated spire of Starbase 214 looming ahead on the main viewer, while the three fresh Hideki escorts were steadily closing in to join the pursuit.
"Krandall, you heard Captain Braggins' final transmission. Hold this vector, full impulse!" Morad barked, leaning over the console. "Don't let them box us in. We ride this arc straight across Starbase 214's outer defense threshold and give those pods the escort they need. Powl, keep aft tubes hot and stagger our rear phaser sweeps. If any of those Hidekis try to break away from us to hunt pods, put a torpedo right through their flight deck!"
"Ra'an, what's the status of Federation One? Are they clear?" Ameen asked.
He keyed the shipwide channel, his voice cutting through the klaxons and engine whine across every deck.
"All hands, this is the Bridge. Prepare for extreme maneuvers and final defensive transition. We're almost to the threshold. Hold fast."
== Tag Bridge ==