((Slivin, Bridge))
Kerak and his crew knew how critical and time sensitive their portion of the mission was. If they made their move too soon, they risked being snared by the singularities and becoming trapped with the Appalachia, if they waited too long they would miss their opportunity and with what they presumed was the Kleptarky fleet barreling towards them they knew they might not get a second chance.
“Is the back-up shunt for the tractor emitters online yet?” Bamet asked the engineers over the internal comms.
“Just finished running the final diagnostics and tests on it about 10 minutes ago, its up and running now bridge.” The Chief Engineer’s deputy replied.
“We have 4 minutes until this operation commences, systems check, all stations. All departments report in.” Kerak said in a firm but flat tone.
“Tactical ready.” Ka’hor was the first to reply.
“Helm standing by.” Bamet added.
“Engine room is all set Captain.” The same engineer responded over the comms.
Now it was up to the Malem and Ganelax to perform their role and destabilize the singularity net to provide the Slivin the opening they needed to rescue the Appalachia.
((USS Appalachia, Bridge))
Commander K’lev felt his anxiety rising as the minutes ticked by; with each numerical change on the ship’s chronometer, Appalachia came a little closer to the end of her power reserves. As it stood, while she still had around 21 or 22 hours of power remaining, K’lev knew that all it took was one relay failing and that margin could vanish like smoke on the wind. Resisting the urge to obsess over the timer, he looked over towards Lieutenant (jg) Tiza. “Think anyone got our little present?”
Tiza shrugged. “Maybe? The hull cameras had trouble tracking it as it moved further away from us.”
K’lev nodded slowly, his eyes shifting to Lieutenant Commander Lotharys for a moment before he looked around the room. “Any new ideas about how to break us free?”
A series of heads shook, silently answering in the negative. While he honestly expected that response – Appalachia had a bright crew, but there was only so much even they could do – K’lev would’ve been lying with himself if he were to attempt to deny that the negatives didn’t send a shot of fear through him. I really hope someone out there’s putting some kinda plan into motion, he thought to himself. Not sure how much longer we’ll keep getting lucky.
((Slivin Bridge, moments later))
Kerak watched on in silence as the Malem and Ganelax performed there strafing runs and danced about, popping in and out of cloak to prevent the singularities from grabbing ahold of them, though there reactive responses had been noticeably retarded by the Thoron radiation clouds that the Nor ‘easters had deployed.. After several rounds of them firing their chroniton infused disruptors, and trying to draw away one or more of the orbs, the green energy field began to visibly spasm and fluctuate as it weakened. After the 2 warbirds performed another sweep, a small hole in green web appeared. Having astute spotted the perforation the Malem then quickly doubled back and performed a targeted strike against the nearest orb, and the hole expanded. When Kerak was sure the hole was more then large enough to fit them and the Appalachia through, he decided it was time to make their move.
“Bamet take us in. Ka’hor prepare to drop the cloak and lock onto the Appalachia with the tractor beam. Inertial dampeners to full, transfer a auxiliary power to structural integrity.” The old warriors senses heightened and the adrenaline rush that he had become so fond of in his younger years filled his veins once more.
