The March of the 12th (Massive Fleet Participation Needed!)

[liquidzoo]

U.S.S. Proteus

Aloani was monitoring the bridge, giving her Captain some much needed rest. Despite her protestations, Aloani knew that Kimara had been up for the last 72 hours and desperately needed a few hours of rest.

Besides, she thought, there wasn't much that anyone could do now. The Engineering team was busy trying to patch up as many of the consoles as they could. Lt. Dar, who she had been attending to in Sick Bay, was resting comfortably and Ensign T'Naas had taken up his station for now. There wasn't anything majorly wrong that the damaged sensors had been able to detect, which was something of a relief. They had all been able to relax slightly after returning to the Fleet.

"Commander," Came the deep voice of K'Konek, the Klingon head of Security, currently working double duty as Comms officer. "There is a message incoming from the U.S.S. Eldridge."

She had seen the larger ship take up position above the Proteus not long before and was curious about the message.

"Let's hear the message." Aloani said, not sure if she should wake Kimara or let her sleep longer.

"USS Proteus, this is Captain Alexander of the Eldridge. We are taking a defensive position above your ship. Recommend you break orbit and maintain station a few kilometers from the bulk of the fleet. I don't know your internal condition, but from the outside it looks like you've had a bit of a rough ride here. We are showing erratic readings in your warp core and are prepared to initiate emergency beam out of your entire crew should the need arise. Please respond."

Aloani was a bit alarmed by that last statement. Nothing on their sensors or on Three's examinations had shown anything wrong with the Warp Core.

"Open a secure channel to the Eldridge, all non-essential personnel must leave the Bridge immediately." Came the voice of the Captain, causing Aloani to jump. She didn't even know that Kimara was awake, much less on the Bridge; and what was this about sending people off the Bridge?

"Aye, Captain." K'Konek waited until the Engineering team had left before opening the channel.

"Captain Alexander, this is Captain Ral of the U.S.S. Proteus. I acknowledge your message and will plot a standard course to a distance of 10 kilometers from the bulk of the fleet and send you the coordinates. As for the Warp Core, I was personally aware of this, though most of my crew save for our Engineer was not. I didn't want to cause alarm on an already highly damaged vessel.

"I appreciate your concern, however, and welcome your assistance. I would like to start transferring our wounded and non-essential personnel to you as soon as we arrive at the safe distance. If your medical staff would be overrun by the 63 wounded we have, I would be happy to also transfer my First Officer to assist. She is the finest doctor I have and have ever known and would definitely be a benefit to your staff, temporarily of course. Please acknowledge, Captain."

Kimara closed the transmission for now and turned to the Helm.

"T'Naas, plot a course 10 km off, away from any vessel other than the Eldridge. Keep their helmsman advised of course, speed, and destination. Engage when you are ready.

"Please route any further communications from the Eldridge directly to my Ready Room on a secure channel. Make sure that any non-essential personnel stay away from critical areas.

"What I'm about to say does not leave the 4 of you," Kimara said, glancing to Loz, Aloani, K'Konek, and T'Naas, the only members of her crew that remained on the bridge for her conversation. "The Proteus may not get us home. I only hope Captain Alexander has some fast people on his transporters. Three is doing everything she can, but we may have to abandon. I only hope she can think of a plan in the event something happens."

[Shaker]

USS Eldridge
Poighet System - Planet Charlie

"Captain Alexander, this is Captain Ral of the U.S.S. Proteus. I acknowledge your message and will plot a standard course to a distance of 10 kilometers from the bulk of the fleet and send you the coordinates. As for the Warp Core, I was personally aware of this, though most of my crew save for our Engineer was not. I didn't want to cause alarm on an already highly damaged vessel.

"I appreciate your concern, however, and welcome your assistance. I would like to start transferring our wounded and non-essential personnel to you as soon as we arrive at the safe distance. If your medical staff would be overrun by the 63 wounded we have, I would be happy to also transfer my First Officer to assist. She is the finest doctor I have and have ever known and would definitely be a benefit to your staff, temporarily of course. Please acknowledge, Captain."

"Channel closed, sir. I think they may not want the whole crew to be apprised of the danger." Remarked the XO.

"Thank you Tamica. We'll send packet messages unless things become extremely urgent." Captain Alexander said. Turning to his Chief Engineer he asked, "Seven, status on the Proteus's warp core?"

Looking up from her console, Seven replied, "I'm showing some instabilities. There is no imminent danger of a breach, but that could change at a moments notice. I don't believe they will be able to make much speed if they are able to get underway."

Tapping his combadge, Alexander spoke up, "Bridge to sickbay."

"Sickbay here, Commander Perry. Go ahead bridge."

"Perry, I need you to get in touch with Proteus's CMO and get a list of their wounded. Work with Transporter Room Three to evacuate them to triage areas and try to keep the transporter pads clear. We may need them in a hurry."

In the relative calm over the Poighet planet, the USS Proteus slowly made it's way to the designated safe zone with the Eldridge providing cover. Well trained crews on both ships performed their various duties to the best of their abilities despite the seeming futility of their actions in some areas, and great strides of repairs in others.

There was little notice, however, of the small patrol consisting of a pair of Birds of Prey. Cloaked, they were virtually undetectable by the flotilla of 12th Fleet starships. Like predators stalking their prey, they focused on the weakest and easiest kill first. There wasn't much honor in this type of attack, but the Klingon commander wasn't stupid. He knew the odds of a direct conflict would spell his doom, so he determined to even those odds as best he could.

Honor would come later.

[Forge04]

The Locksley left what had become regarded as the rear line of the 12th Fleet and engaged it's cloak.

Anderson: "Open a channel to the Tal'Afar."

Halnn: "Channel open Sir."

Anderson: "Var you reading me?"

The familiar sounds of battle came through the emitters as Varulal's voice responded.

Varulal: "We're doing pretty well considering. We've taken considerable damage, but she is the Tal'Afar after all. You comin to help?"

Anderson: "That's a big affirmative. Where can we be most effective?"

Varulal: "Well the Klingon's are holding on extremely well along this north to south line, center over their groundside HQ. But we're working on the north tip first, then planning on pushing them down.

"Problem is they've already gotten orbital weapons platforms in place, though not heavies. The main supply depot is completely in their control as well."

Anderson: "I'm receiving your battle space telemetry as we speak. I'll contact you in ten with our plan of attack."

Varulal: "Roger that."

Anderson: "Locksley out."

***

The KDF freighter Lo'Mak slowed up as it came to the asteroid base, hailing the station. Upon acknowledgment it moved past it and on to the Poighet planet Beta, where it would be dropping off supplies and picking up Poighet for transport to Charlie.

Even though the 12th had managed to liberate one mine, there was still a massive war to be fought, and the Klingon Empire was no where near to giving up.

Which is why Captain Tracy Wellingford was hunkered down inside her Gorn crate in the Lo'Mak's hold. Her breathing apparatus still had plenty of air left in it, her environmental suit would be able to provide her warmth for at least another week on top of the nine days she'd already used.

She didn't need to check her equipment again, she'd already done it hundreds of times. So instead she again tapped into the ship's systems to garner as much intel as she could.

But this was a civilian vessel, or as close to civilian as the KDF had, and there wasn't much. Though the lower tier pass codes and radio encryptions were useful she was sure.

In another 32-34 hours they'd dock at the main space station above Beta, where she would depart. Then it would be hitching a ride on a planet side vessel, and on to the Poighet leadership, where ever they were.

Major Allen already had boots on ground she'd seen, as one of the 12th vessels had been able to drop them off. Since then the KDF had tightened down on orbital defense, and such an operation was deemed impossible.

And since she'd already been at Valhalla, Starfleet Intelligence had asked her to, for the meantime, come out of 'black suit' retirement.

Oh joy.

Hopefully this captain wasted a little more power to the engines.

God awful 32 hours.

[Shaker]

Major Allen
MACO Special OPS
Poighet System - Planet Beta

Major Allen walked along the sandy beach enjoying the fresh sea air tinged with salt. Beside him, with an arm hooked around his, strode a beauty of a woman. Her long blonde hair wafting in the breeze, she looked out over the horizon at the sailing ships making their way slowly across the bay.

A hint of familiarity tingled at the back of his mind, but he pushed it away. Enjoying the moment, the Major silently walked alongside the woman, his bare feet absorbing the heat of the sand warmed by the blazing noon-time sun. To his left, he glanced over at a figure dressed in combat fatigues standing farther up the shore. He could see this figure shouting at him, but he couldn't make out anything said. Ignoring the out of place figure, he glanced back toward the sailing ships. Only this time, he saw that their sails were ablaze. In a panic, he looked at the woman holding his arm. Instead of the beautiful blonde he knew now to be his wife, he saw a charred remnant silently screaming and reaching out toward him.

Major Allen awoke screaming. The private assigned to watch over him and treat his wounds following the nearly fatal explosion quickly tackled his commanding officer and quieted him with a forceful hand over Allen's mouth.

"Quiet, sir!! I know you've had a rough landing but the Klingons know something is up over here. We've found some patrols while you were out of it and have kept our camp undetected. Now that you're awake we need to move out. Lieutenant T'Las took over command while you were down, I'll go get him."

The private stood up and left the hastily erected lean-to. Major Allen sat up and rubbed his throbbing head where his helmet impacted the rock. Thinking back to his nightmarish dream, he realized that he was dreaming about his long dead wife. He wasn't there when her planet was razed by the Borg, a regret he will always live with.

Shaking his head to erase the memory, he crawled out of the lean-to and stood up. Shaking the sand out of his helmet he placed it back on his head and activated the built-in HUD system. He noted the location of his squad leaders and the deployment of his troops. Noting the time since landfall, he realized he'd been unconscious only for a few hours. Grunting in approval, he decided that Lieutenant T'Las would have a commendation in the future for keeping all the MACOs alive during this time even though the small island was crawling with Klingons searching for an infiltration.

Reaching down, the frazzled Major grabbed his phaser rifle, checked the charge, and steadied himself for the mission. Already down a few troops, he still had an objective to accomplish. After only a couple steps, a small squad jogged up to him. The Sergeant in charge approached the Major.

"Major Allen, glad to see you back on your feet, sir. Lieutenant T'Las is on patrol right now and wanted me to bring back this report to you." The Sergeant handed him his PADD. "He suggests we gather up the gear and get ready to move out. The Klingon patrols are getting close to our position." Pointing to the large building towering in the sky, he continued, "It seems that the transport inhibitors are screwing with everyone's bio-sensors. We can't get an electronic fix on the enemy and they seem to be having similar issues."

"Good work, sergeant," Major Allen replied. "Gather some troops and get all the equipment ready to move out. I'm going to meet up with the Lieutenant and get up to speed on the situation. Has there been any word on the three we lost to the ocean in the drop?"

"Yes, sir. We have made contact and they are making their way to shore. With the currents out there, they aren't sure where they will land. They are keeping a low profile and offered to play sniper with their only TR-116. A secure comm channel has been set up specifically for them on command sub-net two."

"Way to improvise MACOs. Carry on."

Looking out to the sea, Major Allen remembered the horrible nightmare from minutes before. Half expecting to see billowing smoke on the horizon, he hesitated for a few seconds before jogging off to T'Las's forward position.

[liquidzoo]

I.K.S. Ch'Daq

Commander Chu'Thak watched carefully as the pair of Federation vessels slowly navigated away from the bulk of the fleet that had amassed here. His eyes particularly on the slower of the two ships, the U.S.S. Proteus his scans had shown.

The ship was heavily damaged, he could see that, and both internal and external structures could fail at a moment's notice. He narrowed his eyes, glaring at the ship on the view screen. I will get my revenge, Proteus, for what you did to Tel'Vagh and Koz'Rug

The two Captains had ambushed the Proteus as it was following a false distress beacon. Their last report had said that they were taking minimal damage, while bombarding the Proteus into submission. That was days ago, and no one had heard from them since. Judging by the fact that the Proteus was here, albeit heavily damaged, did not bode well for his comrades.

He and his fellow conspirators on the Da'Orri, without the consent of the Klingon High Command for this sector, had slowly crept up on this Federation fleet's location fully cloaked. They had been watching and waiting, and now they had their opportunity. The Proteus was limping away from the rest of the fleet. This was what they had waited for.

"Plot me a course to come within two kilometers of the Proteus, slowly so that we don't alarm the sensors on that other ship." Chu'Thak said to his helmsman, "And relay the message to the Da'Orri, have them come up on the other side."

As his orders were carried out, Chu'Thak couldn't help but smile wickedly. His opportunity had come, his comrades would be avenged.

----------

U.S.S. Proteus

--One Hour Ago--

"What's our speed, T'Naas?" Kimara asked her acting helmsman. Lt. Dar was still out of action, though Aloani had remarked that he had been released from sickbay and ordered to rest.

"Barely one tenth impulse, Captain. I'm having trouble even holding that. When we shut down after that last jump, the impulse engines must have shorted." Came the reply.

"How long until the rendezvous?"

"At this speed, another hour. Maybe more."

Kimara sighed. She knew the Eldridge was tailing her, and that Captain Alexander would take on the wounded as soon as they were able. She had considered taking them out by Shuttle, but they were better off being kept under the medical supervision they needed the whole trip. Besides, Kimara thought, I can't afford to lose any shuttles if something happens.

----

"How many more need to be transported?" Kimara asked Aloani, who had gone to the main sickbay to monitor the patient transfer; as well as to monitor the non-essential personnel, who had been ordered to sickbay in order to make sure everyone got off the ship and to the relative safety of the Eldridge.

"All of the wounded except for Lt. Dar have been transferred, we are waiting for confirmation from the Eldridge before we start transporting the remainder of the crew. Not counting you, me, Dar, T'Naas, K'Konek, and Three there are eighty-two remaining crew."

"Get as many of them off as you can. We can run the entire ship from the Bridge if we have to." Kimara said, mentally calculating how long it would take to get everyone out. Captain Alexander has seven transporter rooms, she remembered. If they each grabbed a full compliment each time it would still take more than five minutes to get everyone, since they would need time to get on and off of the pads. An eternity if something was going wrong.

Kimara sighed. She hated the thought of leaving the ship all the way out here, but at the same time it was a war zone and sacrifices had to be made.

Kimara was focused on making sure that those people remaining on the bridge were essential to the running of the ship. She didn't see the blip on the tactical monitor that indicated something was incoming at high velocity.

----------

I.K.S. Ch'Daq

Chu'Thak watched the readings through barely concealed rage. He was monitoring the shield readings from the Proteus, they rose and fell on a regular basis, indicating that people were transporting between the two vessels though there was no way to tell for sure, or to tell what ship was the destination.

Every fiber of his being was seething. Over the past hour he watched as the other ship had limped along. There was no honor in an attack like this, but he was beyond honor. He was doing this for revenge.

His weapons, as well as those of the Da'Orri had been primed and ready from the moment the ships had stopped. He was not concerned with the larger of the two ships, only the Proteus.

"Sir, what are your orders?" Came the voice of Lt. Tul'Toq, his weapons expert.

Chu'Thak didn't hesitate, and didn't take his eyes from the view screen. He wanted to watch every moment of this.

"Fire."

[Inry]

The Green Dragon

It had taken days at minimal power but now they were ready, and the Gorn commander smiled as he had been given the perfect distraction. He was unaware of where the two birds of prey came from, but they gave his attack force a perfect distraction while his force attacked from the opposite side of the fleet which would likely catch them off guard. His force had crept in close using minimal power to move through the asteroid field. The commander looked at his officers and nodded not needing to issue their orders. As the 12th ships began to respond to the Klingons the Gorn emerged from the asteroid field ready to strike a devastating blow.

****************************

An Undisclosed Location

Inry awoke with a pain in her side she looked around trying to get her bearings, then the memories started to flood in from the last few days, the attack on the Kulakov and the subsequent interrogations by the KDF. Now she was in her cell, it seemed like forever since she had been last in interrogation, she was worried had the Klingons gotten the information they wanted? She became aware she was watched and turned to see a Klingon at her cell entrance.

"You are in luck. Tomorrow you leave for Q'onos to be tried by the High Council. If your lucky your death will be quick." He grinned laughing as he walked away. Inry slumped against the cell wall and seemed to despair at her future.

[Forge04]

As the KDF battleship maintained its course towards home, the three B'Rel birds of prey remained cloaked along the K'Tinga's flanks. They were there just in case a rogue 12th Fleet vessel decided to make an attempt at their prize.

Commander Rewli: "Captain, multiple contacts decloaking on all sides of us!"

The aging Klingon captain responded to the Nausicaan, an unusually smart man of his species, with immediacy.

Captain Tar'Lork: "Raise shields! Arm weapons! They're after the prisoners!"

The three escorts responded similarly upon the readings of decloaking contacts, though it did little good to save them from the tractor beams the mines stuck on all four vessels.

The USS Locksley suddenly appeared, itself decloaking, as it hit the main cruiser right where it hurt most, targeting the shield systems. The Orion tactical officer reported as such.

Lt. Grimlock: "Shields down to twenty-three percent!"

Tar'Lock: "With one pass?! Impossible!"

Grimlock: "Anti-proton cannons Sir!"

The vessel rocked as the Locksley completed another pass, albeit with less force than the first blow.

Grimlock: "Sheilds are down! Damage reported in sections 3-5!"

Rewli: "Intruder alert! Enemies have boarded the us!"

Grimlock: "Brace for impact!"

***

The sight was stupendous, or so Grant thought as he watched, his fingertips flying over the console as he did.

"Very good shooting Halnn, I'm bringing us around to bear on the bogey two, then we're bugging out for thirty seconds."

"Aye Sir."

The escort turned on a dime and unleashed it's hellish orange fire on another B'Rel, this one already belching smoke and flame into the darkness of space, then the rest of it's being as it exploded in silence.

Then the Locksley went to warp.

***

0.01 seconds.
Lt. Cmdr. Katrok fired as soon as he dematerialized. He and the other four members of the Locksley's MACO compliment went forward five feet then turned left, two of the soldiers facing to the right, now their rear.

They walked, though one couldn't tell from the speed. They covered the fifteen meters to the brig in less than three seconds, weapons fire streaking past them as Chief Sanders moved to the door.

0.06 seconds.
Katrok took down his third enemy with a precise, between the eyes shot that Angel would have been proud of. It was amazing how much he'd come to depend on this weapon of the humans, a rifle almost identical to his commanding officer's. The doors opened.

0.08 seconds.
No words needed to be spoken as the team entered the room, engaging and killing the four guards on duty, they were ready for a boarding party, but not the sledge hammer that was this smash and grab assault.

They placed a charge on the console and detonated it with just their backs turned, their shields flaring. Disruptor fire was a green curtain at the door, though Sergeant Bliss's force-field generator was working just fine for the moment.

0.18 seconds.
Katrok went to the first cell and encountered an Andorian female with what was left of a engineer's gold uniform, though the commanders rank was still there.

"The Colonel! You have to get the Colonel!" she said. This was Commander Nyssos, the chief engineer of the Admiral Kulakov. Katrok didn't say a word, merely adhered a transporter tag to her shoulder and moved on. He saw the other two soldiers applying tags to the others, though Yoksei and Drahela definitely looked to worse for wear.

Commander Tala came over to the Klingon Lt. Cmdr. and pulled out his sidearm.

0.23 seconds.
"How much longer do we have?" she asked him.

"You don't have long at all Ma'am," he said, going to the last cell, pulling out his last transporter tag. "The Locksley is returning to get you all -"

The cell was empty.

"She's not there?" Cmdr. Nyssos was calling from the group as they crowded together in the back corner, the two other MACOs protecting them.

0.32 seconds.
Katrok's communicator beeped.

"Colonel Inry is still somewhere aboard. Beam aboard the POWs while we search-"

"There's no time," Anderson said, almost as calm as Angel would be. "They're almost finished with the mines and we can't stay out of their arcs forever. We're getting you out of there."

The six Kulakov officers shimmered and were gone, as Katrok moved to the door as it shut, the generator failing.

"No Colonel Inry?" Captain Gren said, shouldering his assault rifle with one hand. Katrok knew what the MACO soldier felt even as the words left his mouth.

0.48 seconds.
"Mission failed."

***

Less than a minute after firing its first shot, the USS Locksley cloaked and sped away from the remaining two KDF vessels at high warp; back to the relative safety of the 12th Fleet. Knowing that one hour more and there never would have been a mission at all.

[Karadok]

Where's my medkit.....this can't be right....it is only a piece of cloth and some bottle.....I need a hypo......The screaming...I can't take the screaming... O.k patient is sedated with ether.....my laser no.....a what a knife...scalpel and saw..... This patient is out of uniform.... Where is the CMO these conditions are barbaric......I can't amputate we have not done that for centuries...Where am I...This is not right....
COMMANDER....COMMANDER LYKOS....COMMANDER KARADOK LYKOS

Who is that why can't I respond....My mouth wont open......My jaw it is missing so is my arm....What has happened. help me......

Suddenly Karadok sat bolt upright screaming and sweating. The poor Ensign who had been sent to wake him about died of fright.
"Sir, oh the space fight is renewing and they want you to be ready in case we have to help with wounded..Oh and you have a message from Starbase Valhalla it is for your eyes only. You can take it in the CMO's tent."

"Thanks Ensign. I will be right there."

Karadok looked at his watch he had gotten only 4 hours of sleep and they had not been peaceful..There was something at the edge of his mind he could not remember.. He had been dreaming..a nightmare from the looks of it. He was tangled in his sheets which were soaked in sweat. It was like the time he awoke in sickbay after his encounter with the Devidians. A month had past since he had served under Nishka to deal with that threat... His ship was gone and he may face a court martial yet for that...

Karadok headed to the CMO's tent to recieve his message.

"Computer access message for Karadok Lykos code Alpha 321 Beta Gamma 627."
"Beep code recognized access granted."
The computer screen filled with the UFP emblem.
"Message for Commander Lykos for his eyes only voice only...
Commander Lykos you are here by ordered to Earth Space Dock as soon as Possible. You are to bring any remaining officers of the Kyra Magdalen with you..A transport will pick you up within the next 24 hours to take you to Starbase Valhalla where a Starship is waiting to bring you the rest of the way, be ready speed is of the essence."

Well now it begins I will probably be busted in rank my officers transferred to other commands...maybe even given their own commands Takera and Etoura certainly are qualified and deserve their own commands. Guess I should go tell them the news. It will takes about a week to reach Starbase Valhalla... Depending on Warp spend but I can just about say with great accuracy that within a few weeks I will know what this is all about.
And with that thought Karadok stepped out into the cool early morning air.

[Inry]

Command Briefing room IKS: Hegh 'ej Quv

General Chu’Troq sat calmly in his chair as he listened to Captain Tar'Lork relate the details of the attack by the Locksley.

Captain Tar'Lork: "And then by the time we had destroyed the tractor mines they had cloaked and gone to warp. I could try to trace them, and perhaps we could inter-" The General cut him off.

"They're likely heading back to their fleet, take what ships you have and go, the Green Dragon has already reported in that they have engaged them and I want more ships committed to the battle." The view screen closed and the General turned to one of his aides.

"General, it was expected that the federation would attempt a rescue." The general held up his hand to stop him, and motioned for a mug of bloodwine. As he drank it he responded.

"I know, that is why the Federation Colonel was not aboard. Speaking of what is the latest report from the Ba'koth?" Another aid looked over a data terminal.

"They expect to arrive at Q'onos within three days mylord." The General nodded and turned his attention to the battle already ragging at Charlie.

IKS Ba'koth enroute to Q'onos

The Vor'cha class battle cruiser sped along toward Q'onos unaware they were being watched.

****************

Inry woke up in her cell as she was suddenly tossed about, alarm klaxons ringing across the ship. It must be a rescue she thought. She felt her strength return at the prospect of the Locksley or one of the other 12th ships saving her. She was thrown back to the ground as another explosion rocked the ship. Who ever was firing wasnt being very careful. Suddenly her cell shield failed and she beamed out. Inry rematerialized smiling expecting to see her friends. It quickly disappeared when instead she was face to face with a handful of Romulans most of whom were aiming disruptors at her. One of them stepped forward.

"Ah Colonel Inry.... do pardon my men, but we have some questions for you."

*****************

The massive Romulan warbird came about and cloaked before going to Warp, leaving behind the lifeless burning hulk that had been the Ba'koth.

[Shaker]

USS Eldridge
Poighet System - Planet Charlie

Lieutenant Reed eased the Eldridge into it's defensive position over the USS Proteus, "We are in position, Captain. Ready to begin rescue and recovery operations."

Tamica, the ships tactical officer, chimed in, "Sir, I'm reading some odd emissions approximately four kilometers from our position bearing two-eight-four, mark oh-three-five. With the activity in this system, I believe it likely to be a large cloaked ship."

Captain Alexander nodded, "Put in on the viewer." Looking at the area in question for a few seconds, he could see a faint shimmer. Straining his eyes, he could barely make out that the shimmer was actually two in close proximity. "Red Alert!" He shouted, "Tamica, alert the Proteus we have incoming cloaked ships--"

"Sir," Tamica interrupted, "ships de-cloaking and firing on the Proteus!"

"Boost our shields and get us in the line of fire!" Alexander ordered.

"We won't last long under a sustained attack!" Tamica said while locking on the ship's weapons to the closest de-cloaked Bird of Prey. "Returning fire on nearest warbird. Minimal damage, engaging tachyon beam and overcharging forward phaser banks."

Aiden Alexander gripped his seat as he watched disruptor blasts impact Proteus's already weakened shields. "Reed, get us in the line of fire!" Turning to the communications officer, "Get word to the rest of the fleet that we've been ambushed. Relay tactical data and get us some help!"

Tamica glanced up from her console, "Tachyon beam showing moderate effect on the warbird, their shields are down 50%. Firing overloaded phaser bank!"

The Eldridge rocked as the second Bird of Prey unleashed a barrage of disruptor fire. Several EPS conduits across the ship blew out at once causing multiple sections across all decks to momentarily lose power. Lieutenant Reed shouted over the cacophony of noise in the bridge, "In position between the attackers and the Proteus! That last hit would've vaporized her if we'd been a second slower!"

"Good work, Reed. Now keep us between--" The main viewer shown bright white before automatically polarizing, causing everyone on the bridge to avert their eyes.

Tamica spoke up, "Direct hit on the nearest warbird. That overloaded shot must have punched right through their shields and straight through the warp core!"

"Warn me next time things will get bright!" The Captain shouted. "Status of the Proteus?"

Tamica smiled at the faux-rebuke. "Proteus has taken some hits and her shields are failing. Hull breaches forming all around the ship. She can't take much more punishment."

Another series of blasts rocked the ship, though not nearly as hard as before. Captain Alexander glanced at the viewer and watched as the attacking warbird came about for another pass. He looked over to Tamica and smiled as inspiration struck.

Tamica noticed the sly smile on her Captain's face, "I'd say you have a plan, sir."

"I do, Commander. Kimara might not like what I have in mind, but I might get some ale as a thanks. Prepare all transporters for emergency beam-out of all tagged crew members on that ship. Increase the transporter buffer three-fold." Alexander paused as another round of disruptor fire impacted. "Warm up the charged particle generator and prepare another overloaded phaser blast. As soon as the tachyon beam is ready to go again, I want you to knock out those shields and fire everything we have into that last attacker!"

Tamica hesitated, "But sir, the charged particle blast will knock out Proteus's shields too!"

Captain Alexander looked to the main view again as the Bird of Prey moved away to position itself for another salvo. "I'm counting on that. As soon as her shields are down, initiate transport and get everyone except the bridge crew off that ship. They will initiate transport when they're ready. Let's hope this is enough to knock out that Birdie."

Looking down at her tactical console, Tamica's eyes widened at the cause of a newly frantic beeping. "Enemy contacts de-cloaking right on top of the fleet!"

Sighing and shaking his head, Captain Alexander rhetorically lamented, "What else can go wrong today?" Addressing Tamica at tactical, he said, "Execute the plan."

"Overloaded phasers and quantum torpedoes locked, charged particle burst ready, firing tachyon beam!"

Everyone on the bridge turned their eyes to the view screen to watch...