[I acknowledge that captain. You
and your crew has shown the greatest amount courage and I respect that. However
remember your primary mission is to protect the larger ships from those infernal
decrum torpedoes. If you can even capture a torpedo then that would be great,
however your mission still stands. It is to protect the larger battle cruisers.
You will have the *Hellcat*, and the *Nile* from here.]
"Acknowledged. Ryan out."
Ryan looked around the small bridge at the lack of officers and empty stations. Commander Heim was at the helm and ensign Benosk was working busily in the background. Ryan took a deep sigh and said "Commander, signal the *Hellcat* and the *Nile* and tell them to rendezvous with us to the rear of the fleet"
"Aye Captain" Ryan sat back and sighed again. He rubbed his forehead with his hand and decided to get something to drink.
"Commander, you have the bridge"
"Yes Captain" said Heim turning around. Being a betazoid, he sensed something was wrong, "Captain are you all right?" he asked.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." Ryan said without turning around. He exited the bridge and went straight to his quarters where he lay down and began to think about the upcoming battle. He had not been there for more than a couple of hours before Commander Heim called him to the bridge, "Yes Commander?"
"Captain, we are entering the Zebra sector now."
"On screen" What lay before the now four bridge officers with Lieutenant Sular arriving for his shift was a huge debris field made up of Klingon, Romulan and Cardassian ships. "What happened here?" asked Ryan.
"I have no idea" responded Heim.
"Captain, I've performed a sensor sweep of the area" called Benosk. "All ships that were present in the first wave are accounted for - None survived!"
"Not even the *V'ktra*?"
"No sir"
"Show me!" Benosk punched a few buttons and the huge lifeless hulk of the *V'ktra* appeared on the view screen. Ryan slumped back in his chair. "Commander, get me Captain Devore on screen!"
"Aye sir" The face of Captain Devore appeared on the screen.
[What can I do for you Captain?]
"What's going to happen now that the first wave have failed?"
[The original plan still stands. Captain Osagawa will still attack the flank with his ships. The *Ronin*, *Hellcat* and *Nile* will still protect the other ships from torpedoes. The only thing that has changed is that we are going to use the Jeorri to punch a hole through the middle of the fleet so that the *Leviathan* can get through, rescue the rest of my crew and then attack from the rear.]
"Understood Captain"
[Happy hunting, Devore out.]
"Commander plot a course to
follow the *Leviathan*. Signal the *Nile* and *Hellcat* to continue as planned.
Lets show these bastards that starfleet aren't to be messed with!"