USS Valhalla – Section Alpha, Engineering

Lieutenant Marcus Washington scanned the open panel on the second deck of engineering. Scowling he walked to the railing and shouted down to the main deck. “Sara I need a new phase inducer.”

Ensign Sara Taylor looked up from the warp core control panel the glow of the antimatter reaction falling in curelian across her face. She hesitated. She was almost done realigning the injector coils to bring main power back online. “Yes sir.”

She turned collided with Chief Gibson sending them both stumbling. “God damnit Taylor!” Gibson grumbled as he regained his composure. “Are you okay ma’am?”

“Sorry Chief,” Sara replied heading for the parts replicator. “I’m fine!” She shouted over her shoulder.

“Chief how are the inertial dampers coming?” Washington shouted down.

The whole ship shook threatening to send anyone not sitting or too far away to grab something to brace.  The hull groaned and the lights flickered. Gibson looked around. “I re-routed power from the replicators and sonic showers to the dampeners up to 82%,” Gibson reported.

The ship shook again under another volley of Dominion weapons fire.

“Good,” Washington replied.  “The aft number three phaser strip is disabled.  Get a team on it Chief.”

Gibson nodded, “On it.” As he was heading to the location he was shouting names to bring with him as Sara rushed past him with the new part.

“Lieutenant Washington!’ She shouted getting the Chief Engineer’s attention.  With the part in both hands she bent her knees and in an underhand to overhead motion the part sailed upward for Marcus to catch deftly. ”Thanks Ensign. How’s main power?”

“Give me two minutes. I think I have to damage rerouted…” The ship shook and a console exploded. “That’s assuming the Dominion doesn’t undo my progress.

“Think of it as job security Ensign,” Washington quipped as he left her standing staring up at him.  At the open panel he jerked the damaged phase inducer free of it’s mounting before slotting the new in its place.  It was just a matter of seconds to attach the power and data cables and press a series of five buttons on a keypad next to the inducer as energy surged through the device. Slapping his combadge, “Engineering to bridge.  You have dosal shields.”

Warbird Vival – Bridge

Tomerah nearly lost her grip on her chair as the aging warbird shuddered under a series of attacks. “Damage report?”

“Shields holding at 68%,” the tactical officer said working the controls of his station. 

Tomarah was certain that the young man on her bridge was Tal Shiar.  She knew the look from first hand experience from her brief stent with the organization prior to her service as a senator. 

The massive ship turned with a group of three other Romulan ships one was one of the outdated D7s. The ship was of Klingon manufacture and received by the old Star Empire in the 2250s. With the fall of the Empire that ship and several others had been pressed into service by local planetary governors for protection. With a few upgrades they were generally capable of deterring pirates,  but against actual warships they were outclassed in every way.  Yet, somehow it was still in the fight. 

“The Dominion cruiser is in weapons range,” the tactical officer said.

Tomarah couldn’t show a slight grin. This was like the old days, “Fire!”

USS Valhalla – Section Charlie

The lower half of the Valhalla‘s drive section hd become swamped with fighters. Their Romulan allies nowhere to be seen.  Lt. Commander Abbygale Willis gripped the armrests of the chair she was sitting in as another volley of enemy weapons pounded the ship.  Consoles exploded.

“Damage report?” Abby demanded.

“Shields are down to twenty-eight percent,” Operations reported. “Hull breeches are on all decks.”

“I’ve lost targeting scanners,” tactical added.

“Keep firing. I don’t care if you are missing,” Abby ordered.

Another round of incoming fire slammed into the section. This time the violence of the attack dislodged her from her seat and she was thrown free landing with a heavy thump upon the deck. Support beams in the ceiling collapsed sending a shower of sparks down on the bridge crew as wires, ODN relays and EPS conduits were torn apart bathing the bridge in darkness.  Even the red emergency lighting failed to activate.  All but three consoles were dark.

The operations officer picked herself off the deck and slid behind her console that was still working.  It was flashing on and off from the damage but she could at least access the data. “Main and auxiliary power are offline. Impulse and warp engines are offline. Shields are offline.  Decks 15 and 14 are exposed to space. We are adrift ma’am. All coms including internal are down.”

Abby was picking herself up as a pair of warbirds flew past the section on the viewscreen. Between the flickering static the massive green ships dove right in on the enemy unleashing angry beams of disruptor fire. Now with a new threat the fighters broke off to deal with the Romulans instead of finishing off Section Charlie. 

“Could have used you two five minutes ago,” Abby muttered bitterly, “but better late than never. Mr. Stevens get down to engineering and get a report.”

“He’s dead ma’am,” someone at the back of the bridge announced. 

Abby sighed, she really liked the man. He would have been one hell of a chief tactical officer someday. “Ms. Orik I guess it’s you. Tell him priority needs to be shields and coms.”

“I Captain,” the operations officer replied already pulling away the hatch to the jefferies tube entrance, and in an instant she was gone.

USS Sojourner – Bridge

Ensign Dese Tycon relaxed as she scanned the sensor display to her right as it showed that the Romulans had successfully intercepted the dominion ship that had been in pursuit, “We have left weapons range of the dominion ships, Captain.” She glanced back quickly to see Kirin sitting in the command chair, with her chin propped up on her elbow as she focused on her small display screen.

Without looking up she tilted her head ever so slightly, “Thank you Dese. Get us to the Andromeda ASAP.” As Kirin said that she was torn about having left the rest of the allied ships but she knew it was the right thing to do, there were over 400 civilians on board.

She shook her head ever so slightly and glanced over at Belania, “Keep an eye on the battle, give me any updates, I need to go have a chat with our guests.” Belania nodded but before Kirin had reached the turbo lift the Ferengi went rigid. “Two contacts less than 20 thousand kilometres aft and closing fast, Jem’hadar fighters. I don’t know where they came from!”

Kirin swore under her breath and turned back to the bridge, “Send a message to the Andromeda and Valhalla, Bring us about; let’s get them off our tail.”

USS Andromeda – Bridge 

“Two Jem’Hadar fighters have broken formation and following us,” Amanda Wheeler announced.

Órlaith glanced at Erin for a fraction of a moment,  “How’s the Sojourner?”

“They’re being pursued as well Captain,” Eichmann said.

Órlaith sighed. “Adjust course to bring us in closer with the Sojourner. Let’s cross each other’s paths and see if we can dislodge our shadows out there. On screen.”

The main viewer switched to show pair of fighters in pursuit of the the Federation science ship. There were nearly a thousand civilians on these two ships and it was their job to protect then.  “Attack pattern five-omega-Riker Ms. Vass.”

Ensign Miranda Vass entered commands into the helm and the Intrepid-class ship shot forward in a spiral motion.  As they bared down on tne enemy ships the Andromeda let loose  full barrage of phaser fire and torpedo after torpedo from its sole working launcher.

“Direct hit. We have disabled the enemy’s shields,” Eichmann announced triumphantly as one of the fighters fell out of formation as flaming wreckage.  The other undamaged fighter broke right. 

“Steady the course, ” Órlaith said as the Andromeda shot past the Sojourner dragging their own fighters past the Pathfinder class ship and right into Sojourner’s most powerful firing arc.

USS Sojourner – Bridge

“Clever girl,” Kirin muttered to herself as the Andromeda flew past the Sojourner. “Ril, target the ship following the Andromeda and fire.

As the Jem’hadar fighter followed the Sojourner a barrage of phaser bolts flew directly before its pather, unable to evade them at the last second the unfortunate ship sailed right through them exploding under the intense fire.

“Any more surprises out there Belania?” Kirin asked.

“None that I can see, I do not know where those two came from. Our sensors did not detect them until the last moment.” Belania said clearly puzzled as to what had happened.

“Run a full diagnostic on the sensors and the transports. There have been too many odd issues of late. Pull in whoever else you need to help you,” Kirin remarked before turning to the con.

“Dese, bring us alongside the Andromeda and continue on our course.” Without waiting turned to her ready room to assess the damage.

USS Valhalla – Section Bravo

Section Bravo was sandwiched in the middle of a six ship formation.  A Breen cruiser grew larger on the viewscreen. A pair of Klingon Birds-of-prey broke from the formation to chase a Jem’Hadar fighter leaving Section Bravo and three Warbirds to deal with the cruiser.

“Helm adjust course 151 mark 12,” Commander Halstead ordered.

“Aye captain.”

“Breen ship moving into range,” tactical announced. In response the cruiser opened fire and the ship shook violently. 

A console exploded in at the back of the bridge. Nicholas glanced over his shoulder to see a crewmember laying on the floor. “Steady…” Nicholas urged as they closed the distance. “Full spread on my mark…”  There was an uncomfortable silence at the Breen hammered the section. “Mark!”

Section Bravo opened up. Despite taking damage they had closed in where their weapons would be the most effective.  The Romulans followed the example and green disruptor beams and torpedos crossed the inky blackness of space slamming into the hull of the asymmetrical ship. The shields glowed blue under the onslaught before failing altogether just as the Alliance formation sailed over the top of the cruiser. As their aft firing arcs fell upon the damaged Breen vessel they let loose a final volley and the Breen ship explode in a ball of flame, one of the elongated arms of the ship detached and floated away.

Jem’Hadar Battleship – Bridge

The Changeling that had replaced Kat Donovan stared down at the tactical readouts.  Someone had upgraded the planetary defenses and the defenders were using them to great effect.  The unexpected reinforcements of Klingons and Romulans had been unfortunate and she had to admit was contributing to the massive shift in the balance of this engagement in favor of the enemy.

As she studied the tactical readout two fighters vanished from the screen having stayed too closely to the planet, and the four fighters following the three fleeing Alliance ships had been eliminated. She scowled at the information. Victory could not be had now even with her battleship in the fight. They would have to secure another source for white. Until then they must conserve their finite resources. This Federation was far more powerful than they were in 2373. This was not going to be an easy victory.

“We cannot win this,” she announced decision made.

“Of course Founder,” her Vorta shadow replied with the bow of his head. “What are your orders?”

“We will regroup with the rest the fleet located in the Ciatar Nebula,” the Changeling replied. “See that it is done.”

The Vorta nodded and approached the Jem’Hadar First, “Hur’klatin, signal the fleet to break from the engagement and set course for the Ciatar Nebula.”

The Jem’Hadar first glared at the Vorta murder in his eyes. The Vorta must have sensed the danger and hesitation, but to his credit he didn’t back down. “Victory is life,” Hur’klatin said at last and turned to shout orders to his troops. They didn’t like retreat, but they would follow an order from a Founder. It was ingrained into their very being. Defying it was as unthinkable as not breathing.

USS Valhalla – Section Alpha

“Captain,” Eddie announced not believing his eyes. “The Jem’Hadar fleet is disengaging.”

Aoife stood her expression a mix of surprise and relief, “On screen.”

The viewscreen switched to a wide scan of the battlefield to show enemy ships turning away from them and then warping away leaving the burning wreckage of dozens of ships from both sides. It was carnage Aoife had not seen in a long time and a chill ran up her spine.  It brought up some very old and very bad memories.  Had she been religious like her old mentor she would have crossed herself in a silent prayer.  

Pushing the flood of emotions aside she let out a long sigh. It was over for now. They won the battle, but she also knew the war was far from over. For now there was nothing left to do but lick their wounds and try their best to put the fractured pieces back together.

“Mr Talon,” she said to her helmsman. “It’s time to reintegrate the ship. See to it please. Mr. Vee  please scan for survivors in the wreckage.” The tactical chief and pilot both acknowledged their orders and went to work. “Ms Fontaine,” she said to the operations officer. “Notify the Sojourner, B’mal, and Andromeda that the threat is gone and they can return with the colonists.”