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<font size="2" color="#000000">// Challenger Bridge \\</font>
<br></p><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div><div style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><div style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div><div style="font-family: tahoma,'new york',times,serif; font-size: 10pt;"><div style="font-family: tahoma,new york,times,serif; font-size: 10pt;"><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><div><font color="#000000"><font size="2">"Incoming!" Samantha yelled over
the noise. She was pretty sure her left ankle was broken after that
last knock to the floor, but since it didn't</font> interfere with her duties,
she just hung on and did her job. She wouldn't show weakness!<br> <br>"Evading!"
Bingham shouted, his hands moving over his console, his eyes flicking
from the main viewscreen to the sensor outputs on his desktop.<br> <br>"Brace!"
Samantha hung on as one of the shots got lucky and hit the ship on the
underside of the dish, leading edge. "That hit the starboard</font>water storage tank,"
she said. "We're, er, venting water." It immediately froze. A
sparkling glitter of ice clouded the front of the ship, then seemed to
whip backwards as Bingham flew on through it.<br></div></font></span><span id="EC_EC_EC_EC_lw_1242505995_0" class="EC_EC_EC_EC_yshortcuts"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"></span></span></font><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"> <br>"DAMMIT," Bingham
was frustrated. The ship's movements were sluggish and he was taking
every hit as a personal blow to his flying skills -- and thinking of
the damage and casualties he was feeling partly responsible for.<br> <br>"Enemy status," T'Pren said. "How many are left and where are they, Mister Williams." She was continuing by will alone. Her </font></span><span id="EC_EC_EC_EC_lw_1242505995_1" class="EC_EC_EC_EC_yshortcuts"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif">heart rate</font></span></span><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"> was
once again over 500 bpm. Blood loss had her heart trying to deliver
oxygen where it needed to go with roughly half the normal volume. She
no longer asked for ship's status. The response took too long and it
was just as easy to say, 'we're all torn to hell'.</font></span></font><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><br></font></span><font style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"></span></font><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" color="#000000" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"> <br></font></span><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif">"Numerous
targets across the grid, ma'am ... but some of the sensors have taken
damage and I'm getting holes in the readouts. Piping all information
I've got down to Commander Hanley," Samantha replied. <br> <br>"McDonald to engineering, we're starting to lose power again." He turned his attention to the </font></span><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><span id="EC_EC_EC_EC_lw_1242505995_2" class="EC_EC_EC_EC_yshortcuts"><span id="EC_EC_EC_lw_1242575867_0" class="EC_EC_EC_yshortcuts"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><span id="EC_EC_lw_1242664837_0" class="EC_EC_yshortcuts"><span id="EC_lw_1242733183_0" class="EC_yshortcuts">first officer</span></span></font></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif">. "Sub Commander, with the power we have left, you have a choice. Hull plating and structural integrity or propulsion."</font></span></font></font></font></font><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><br></font></span><font style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"></span></font><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"> <br></font></span><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif">=/\=
Cara's voice came back over the comm "Where do you want it." She asked
looking at the power fluctuations all over the ship. She started
coughing again. =/\= </font></span></font></font></font><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><br></font></span><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"></span></font></font><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"> <br></font></span><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif">That
was an easy one. "Propulsion," T'Pren replied. At least, being able
to maneuver, they'd have a chance at avoiding attack. If she chose
polarization, they'd sit there and eventually be pounded into dust when
the shielding failed. "Keep us moving, </font></span><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><span id="EC_EC_EC_EC_lw_1242505995_3" class="EC_EC_EC_EC_yshortcuts"><span id="EC_EC_EC_lw_1242575867_1" class="EC_EC_EC_yshortcuts"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><span style="cursor: pointer;" id="EC_EC_lw_1242664837_1" class="EC_EC_yshortcuts"><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204);" id="EC_lw_1242733183_1" class="EC_yshortcuts">Lieutenant</span></span></font></span></span></span><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif">."</font></span></font></font></font></font></font><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><br></font></span><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><br></font></span><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" color="#000000" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif">// In Engineering \\</font></span></font></font></div>
<div><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"></span></font></font> </div>
<div><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" color="#000000" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif">Cara
heard the Sub Commander's statement "Propulsion it is." She closed the
connection and began routing power to the propulsion systems. They
might buckle but they would be able to move. Touching the comm panel
again "Mr. McDonald you should have more power to propulsion. I've
given you everything I can. We're reaching critical here."</font></span><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><br><font color="#000000"> <br></font></font></span><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif">// Bridge \\</font></span></font></font></font></div>
<div><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"></span></font></font></font> </div>
<div><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif">McDonald
saw power readouts climb slightly, but it was a shadow of the ship's
normal power output. "It will be enough to move us, but we will not be
able to maneuver at the rates we were doing earlier. </font></span><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><span id="EC_EC_EC_lw_1242575867_2" class="EC_EC_EC_yshortcuts"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif">Helmsman</font></span></span><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif">, keep it under a five degree per second roll rate and we might be able to keep our port nacelle."</font></span></font></font></font><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><br></font></span><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"></span><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"> <br></font></span><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif">"Got
it!" Bingham reduced speed in favor of power to control mechanisms.
They didn't need much speed if they could maneuver, so he used his
allotment of power more for that than anything else.</font></span></font><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><br></font></span><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"></span><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"> <br></font></span><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif">Liza
managed to stabilize the Captain and looked around the Bridge and
quietly wondered how Keaffer was doing. She notice T'Pren bleeding
again and made her way over to her and without saying anything, she
added another bandage to the laceration.</font></span></font><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><br></font></span><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"></span><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"> <br></font></span><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif">T'Pren started to jerk her head away from Liza's hands, but when she realized what the doctor was doing she held still. </font></span></font><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><br></font></span><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"></span><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><br></font></span></font></font></div>
<div><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" color="#000000" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif">Chris
was standing by in a daze. Without a station to handle communications,
and half deaf from the ear piece overload, there wasn't a whole lot he
was good for at the moment.</font></span></font></font></div>
<div><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" color="#000000" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"> <br></font></span><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" color="#000000" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif">Liza went
over to Chris to check on him. There wasn't much she could do for him
at this point except for pain relief. She held on as the ship dove
again this time she fell to the floor and felt her wrist snap.
Muttering oaths under her breath, she continued to make rounds of the
Bridge.<br><br>Vic fired another round of torpedoes, mostly the regular
ones. He tapped the comm button and said, "We're running low on
torpedoes down here. Pretty soon we'll be all out."</font></span><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><br></font></span><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"></span><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"> <br></font></span><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif">Pressing
the button on the CO's chair, T'Pren replied, "I know that you will
choose your targets wisely, Commander. Previous orders stand. Fire at
will as long as we have weapons to use. </font></span><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><span style="border-bottom: medium none;" id="EC_EC_EC_lw_1242575867_3" class="EC_EC_EC_yshortcuts"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><span id="EC_EC_lw_1242664837_2" class="EC_EC_yshortcuts"><span id="EC_lw_1242733183_2" class="EC_yshortcuts">Engineering</span></span></font></span></span><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"> will make sure you have power," she added, with a glance at McDonald.</font></span></font></font></font><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><br></font></span><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"></span><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"> <br></font></span><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif">"Incoming!" Williams shouted. "Romulan vessel off the stern!"</font></span></font><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><br><font color="#000000"> <br></font></font></span></font><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" color="#000000" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif">McDonald frantically shifted power to the rear <span style="cursor: pointer;" id="EC_EC_lw_1242664837_3" class="EC_EC_yshortcuts"><span id="EC_lw_1242733183_3" class="EC_yshortcuts">hull</span></span> plating,
doubtful that it could do more than keep the pieces of the ship in a
tight group. He braced himself against his console as hard as he could.</font></span><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><br></font></span><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"> <br></font></span><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif">Vic replied, "Aye ma'am." He then continued to fire the pulse cannon, with an emphasis on protecting Challenger's stern.</font></span></font><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><br></font></span><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"> <br></font></span><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif">"Damage to enemy ship, forward shields down to 27%," Samantha said, hanging on. "They're firing disruptors ... the </font></span><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><em><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif">Freedom</font></span></em><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"> is
intercepting!" The Challenger shuddered a bit but not too badly. "We
took that pretty well, hull polarization handled it, but we're down to
30% astern."</font></span></font></font><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><br></font></span><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"> <br></font></span><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif">"Chris,"
T'Pren said, her eyes finding him through the smoke and in the red
emergency lighting. He looked over at her. "We have to communicate
with the rest of our strike force. Is there any way you can facilitate
that." She looked at the <span id="EC_lw_1242733183_4" class="EC_yshortcuts">COMMs</span> console. It was practically a melted lump of slag.</font></span></font><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><br></font></span><font color="#000000"><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"> <br></font></span><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif">Stingley
blinked for a moment, still bracing himself against the last rumble,
overwhelmed by the immense danger they were in. In light of it all he
was giving in to his nervous nature and crumbling under the pressure.
He was far too young to die.</font></span></font></font></div>
<div><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif"><br></font></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" color="#000000" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif">T'Pren's
voice cut through the fog of war thickening in his mind. He paused for
a moment as he processed the thought. Communicate? Fleet?
"Yeah...um...Yes. I can......um....where's Sattal?" He turned on his
heel and headed for the communications array, tapping the comm button
on the science station as he walked by. "Stingley to anyone who can
hear this. I need a Comm Tech to the communications array access on the
double."</font></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"></span><font color="#000000"> </font></div>
<div><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font color="#000000" face="Tahoma">=/\= "Sattal here! I'm on my way, ETA five minutes!" =/\=</font></span></div><span style="font-size: small;" class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span"><font class="EC_EC_Apple-style-span" face="tahoma, 'new york', times, serif">
<div><br><font color="#000000">The ship was approaching the point of no
return, and every readout from engineering signaled doom. "Sub
Commander, we are damn close to a warp core breach. Coolant levels are
extremely low, and the fractures in the reactor are approaching
critical. We will not survive another hit to the stern. I recommend
we withdraw from of the battle area immediately." McDonald's panel lit
his face with an eerie flashing red light as he stared directly at the
injured Vulcan.</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000"> </font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">It seemed that everything and everyone on
the bridge stopped. Time seemed to slow to a trickle. T'Pren felt it
as everyone who could turned to look at her, awaiting her response. On
her part, T'Pren looked at the Captain. He was still out, sprawled on
the deck, not moving. She didn't want this decision. That was
illogical, however, as it WAS her decision. As she considered the
problem, they took a hit to starboard, but again it wasn't so bad. </font></div>
<div><font color="#000000"> </font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">"Freedom again running interference, SubCommander!" Samantha shouted from the SCI console.</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000"> </font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">That was what they needed. The Freedom must
be aware of their condition. The Challenger's firepower was necessary
for Alpha Group's survival. If they left the fight, the other ships
would be targeted and probably be destroyed. She turned once again to
Chris. "Mr. Stingley," she said, "do we have contact with our <span id="EC_lw_1242733183_5" class="EC_yshortcuts">sister ships</span>?"</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000"> </font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">Chris had opened up the damaged Comms
console and was working on trying to jury rig a circuit bypass,
siphoning off some of the less critical internal comms circuits. Sparks
flew as he accidentally touched a wire that wasn't supposed to be
hot. His hand jerked back reflexively. "Still working on it, T'Pren!"
he shouted nervously as he shook off the pain. The fright was obvious
in his voice, but he was managing to fight through it.</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000"><br></font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">"Quickly as you can, Mr. Stingley," came the calm response.</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000"><br></font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">Sattal showed up about that time. He took
one look at the damage on the bridge and froze. He didn't have much of
a pause, though, as Chris rushed over and tapped him on the shoulder.
"Man comms. I have to crawl back in the access and rewire the circuits
from there."</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000"><br></font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">"Aye," Sattal answered as the LCmdr rushed
off without waiting for confirmation. He looked at the melted
console. What a mess, it was practically unrecognizable. </font><font color="#000000">A
light blinked to life on the otherwise darkened comms console. Sattal
tapped a few buttons and analyzed the status. "Looks like the Commander
managed to rig the communications, Sub Commander." </font></div>
<div>
<div><font color="#000000"><br></font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">"Good. Mr. Sattal, convey the following message to the rest of <span id="EC_lw_1242733183_6" class="EC_yshortcuts">Alpha Group</span>,
using our emergency channel, scrambled: 'Challenger situation dire.
Require regroup of Alpha ships our location.' Send it now, Lieutenant."<br></font></div>
<div><br><font color="#000000">Sattal repeated the message as ordered.
He looked up from the station as Chris stepped back onto the bridge.
"Message sent, Sub Commander. Waiting for a response."</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000"><br></font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">"It's weak, but they should hear it," Chris added. He prayed they could hear it anyway.</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000"><br></font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">"Mr. McDonald, can you hold us together, at
least until we get a response?" T'Pren turned to look at him. She knew
that the LAST thing anyone wanted to do was turn tail and run. The
Romulans would probably chase them down anyway, but to be taken out in
the act of retreating was not something she wanted to contemplate. If
the rest of Alpha Group would act as their shields, they could
concentrate on taking out the enemy with the rest of their weapons.</font></div></div>
<div><font color="#000000"> </font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">He sighed, pressing the controls in a
barrage of short sequences. "I'll do what I can. I'm barely staying
ahead of a cascade of failures throughout the ship. As a precaution, I
recommend we evacuate the wounded and non-essential personnel proceed
to the escape pods. We may not have much time to do it later."</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000"> </font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">// In Engineering \\</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font color="#000000">Cara saw on her computer what Rick was doing
on the Bridge and was doing virtually the same thing in main
engineering. She had ordered the main bay evacuated and told those
still walking to take the wounded to the escape pods on the Engineering
deck. She watched as the last of her crew left with the exception of
Nelson "I'm not leaving ma'am. You need one other person." </font></div>
<div><font color="#000000"> </font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">Cara nodded "Fine. I'm lowering life
support in here again. Grab a jacket." She touched her communications
panel =^=Mr. McDonald, trying to send you a bit more power. Rerouting
life support from the seriously damaged areas that have breaches and
main engineering. I've evacuated main engineering and sent the wounded
to escape pods.=^= Cara looked around as she paused for a moment
=^=You should have that power now.=^= Cara said as her hands flew
across the console and tried to stop the cascades that were happening
in front of her. </font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font color="#000000">// Bridge \\</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font color="#000000">The readout from engineering was not
insignificant, but the ship was still in serious danger. "Structural
integrity is hovering at 30%, with minimal power to propulsion. Moving
beyond .7c could push us beyond the safety limits with this level of
damage." He didn't bother to add that it would be impossible to go to
warp speed in their present state if the battle was lost. Limping away
at impulse would be a death sentence.</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font color="#000000">"Thank you, Mr. McDonald," T'Pren answered. The Engineering department was second to none.</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000"> </font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">"Ma'am! The rest of the ships are closing in on our location! <em>Aphrodite</em>, <em>Neptune</em>, and <em>Soyuz</em> to starboard ... <em>Pearl Harbor</em>, <em>Nightingale</em>, and <em>Hornet</em> to port ... <em>Vanguard</em> and <em>Luddington</em> above and below ... <em>Freedom</em> is aft and <em>Pacific</em> is at our bow!" Samantha sounded very excited as she gave her report. She grinned through the pain of her broken ankle.</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font color="#000000">"Excellent," said T'Pren. =/\= "Mr.
Hanley, friendlies will be marked on your screens. Utilize all
remaining weaponry and continue firing at will." =/\=</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font color="#000000">"Mr. Bingham, steady as she goes."</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
<div><font color="#000000">This secondary epic post also fearlessly constructed by:</font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><font color="#000000">Lt Richard McDonald</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">EO</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">--------------------------</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">LtCmdr Cara Nelson-Samad</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">CEO</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">--------------------------</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">LtCmdr Liza Rowe</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">CMO</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">--------------------------</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">LtCmdr Chris Stingley</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">CCO</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">--------------------------</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">SubCmdr T'Pren</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">XO/CSO</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">--------------------------</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">Cmdr Vic Hanley</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">CAO</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">======================</font></div>
<div><font color="#000000">NX-04 Challenger, Alpha Group</font></div></font></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>