Preparations were complete for the delaying action. Commander Loran had set up a mine field that would halt the advance of the Mullura. Colonel Tarik had made a reasonably sound defense grid on New Canada. Chief Murphy had rigged the station to blow if anyone that wasn't human stepped on or beamed on to the station.
Wallace made a very bold guess that the enemy would not board the station or beam down to the planet. That would take too long. They would according to Wallace, want to push up to and past the Briar Patch, and then once they held a line. Would try and secure the area they captured later.
The station was almost abandon. Only 23 personnel were onboard, the station 24 more were waiting on the Arizona. The Mullura, and Dominion ships, were on sensors now. About 25 minutes until they were in range. Lieutenant Sovick was on the Command deck when Colonel Tarik was looking for Wallace.
"Lieutenant where is the Captain?" Tarik asked, seeing he wasn't present.
"Commerce section." Sovick was real short and sweet with his reply.
Tarik took about 13 minutes to find Wallace he was on the now deserted Commerce section. It was almost quiet and spooky. Tarik saw Wallace standing by himself in the Easy Inn looking out a view port towards where the enemy would approach. Captain Wallace was in deep and heavy thought. Tarik could see and understand his deep thought. Wallace had allot of riding on him.
"Sir, the Mullura, and the Jem"Hadar are within scanner range, they will be in weapons range in 12 Minutes. Your final orders?"
Wallace turned and walked over to the bar and poured a shot of Scotch, into two glasses. " Here take this, it may be the last time we may ever be able to drink. "Wallace slid a glass over, he held his up. "To victory, and may it be bloodless." Wallace then downed the shot quickly, Tarik did the same.
"Your orders, are to hold. Until relieved or otherwise. Wallace to computer site to site transport for one to the Command Deck.
Wallace then repapered on the Command deck, and took his place behind the OPS station." Lieutenant Sovick, power up all phaser banks, load all tubes. Raise Shields, and open a comm channel to the Mullura, and Jem'Hadar." Wallace took a seat, and saw Sovick nod his head.
"This is Captain Wallace, please allow us to discuss this before it leads to war between our people." Wallace was quiet and saw Sovick shake his head acknowledging that the message was received.
"25 seconds to range of the Mine field." Sovick said, pressing a few buttons at his station.
The Mullura had 13 ships, and the Jem'Hadar had sent four Battle Cruisers. That confirmed that they wouldn't send troops right off the bat to SB901 or New Canada. The first ship struck a mine, then followed by others causing some damage but not much. The enemy then fired on the station.
Richard stood firm and kept his head strait, he looked over at the view screen, and gave the order. "Lock Phasers, and fire."
Phaser fire erupted and tore through one Jem'Hadar ship, and two Mullura causing moderate damage. As the ships came closer to the station, the station started to take damage. A few power conduits exploded sparks flew everywhere. "Fire all torpedoes!!!"
A Volley erupted tearing through three ships, and disabling 2 and destroying one. SB901 rocked hard, and Wallace knew that what ever had to be done was already done. A sense of guilt of not doing enough came over him. And the what it's started to race in his head. SB901's secondary fusion reactor went out, and Wallace knew the station couldn't with stand.
"Sovick, get everyone to the Arizona. We can't stand up to anymore. If we try we may not be able to go. Computer run program Wallace 37 Alpha." Wallace said walking down to the tactical station as Sovick worked the transporter controls.
The program was a combination of two things, a memory wipe of the Main Computer core. The second part was the setting of Murphy's traps, which acted on their own power and computer. So they could function. As the Program began to run the computers began to give a moan and the lights began to shut off. Wallace tapped his comm badge. "Arizona beam me out, and get the Arizona ready for battle."
The Arizona wasn't real crowded on the bridge, only a Helmsman, and OPS and Tactical officer. Wallace took his seat as the Arizona cleared the docking bay as the last of the stations power went out. As it entered space a Jem"Hadar torpedo hit the Arizona's aft section causing a major jolt.
"Ensign Hanley look phasers, on that ship that fired at us." Wallace ordered, as another torpedo struck the Arizona.
Sovick, was at the Helm, and powering up the Warp engines as another blast rocked the Arizona. Wallace was getting angry at the Ensign at tactical. He stood up and ran over and pushed the Ensign aside. He brought up the targeting scanners and locked a torpedo on the Jem'Hadar ship. The blast disabled the ship. "That's how you man tactical for Christ's sake. Sovick get us out of here Warp 10.5"
Sovick made a few course settings, and then slid his fingers along the control panel, and then caused the ship to go to Warp 10.5. Richard walked back around to his seat and pressed the comm channel."Chief Status?"
[Nothing major, just don't plan on using the Holo Decks, for a few hours.]
Wallace then saw that the enemy fleet was in pursuit, and would catch up in about 2.5 days. It seemed that his plan was right and working. He just hoped that the task force would be on the other side and able to greet them when they arrive, with a few friends. Garek was by now on the other side, with Banshee.
Richard kept going over how this war will be a costly one. He felt major fleet battles were as old as the musket. He kept going over in his head a way to make it a less costly action.