T.F.S. Merrimack bridge. Admiral Keogh enters.

"Report Captain Reeves."

"We are in orbit of Bel'Shaba sir. 3rd, 4th, 8th, 9th and 10th fleets ready and waiting for your word to proceed sir. All fighters on stand-by."

"What about the 5th and 6th fleets?"

"On standby."

"The Corregidor?"

"Reports battle ready, sir."

"The Cutani and Zandar fleets?"

"The Cutani and Zandar are poised along the border waiting for the word."

"And the Kzatti fleet?"

"Reported massing in the Sullant System."

"Then that's where were going. Move us out Captain Reeves.

"Aye sir. Mr. Dunn, signal the fleet we are proceeding."

"Yes sir."

Yorktown bridge.

"We have word to proceed Captain." says Scout

"Ms. Sally move us out." says Outlaw

"Aye sir."

"Here we go." says Saphire

Corregidor bridge.

"Take us out Mr. Burke." says Dallas

"Yes sir."

Before long the leading edge of the fleets engage in battle with the Kzatti. Soon the Cutani and Zandar join in.

"Sir the destroyer Juneau is under heavy fire from enemy fighters." says Tundra

"Take us in Mr. Burke. Mr BJ, make every shot count."

"With pleasure sir!"

"Kzatti destroyer right behind us!" reports Allen

The ship rock from several hits.

"Firing aft torpedos!" says BJ "He's disabled! Battleship Hiroshima finishing her off.

On board the cruiser Hornet.

"We've taken too much damage sir!"

"Ramming speed!"

"Sir?"

"Do it! If we have to be destroyed let's take a few of them with us!"

The Hornet rams a Kzatti battleship and both ships explode. Everyone on the Yorktown witnesses.

"Brave crew." mutters Outlaw

"Kzatti fighters coming at us!" says Muldoon

"Take them out of my sky Mr. Muldoon!"

"Yes sir!"

*****

"Sir, three enemy battleships coming at us!" reports Tim

"Evasive maneuvers!" says Dallas

The ships is hit repeatedly. One console in the back of the bridge explodes and Cunningham goes with it.

"He's dead." says Aspen

"Bridge this is engineering!" reports DeFalco "Phelps, Garibaldi and McHenry are dead! I need help down here!"

"Blaze, Kirby, get down there."

"Yes sir!"

"Maintain----"

Part of the ceiling gives way above Dallas and he goes down. Rif goes up to him.

"He's dead."

All eyes turn to Tim.

"Orders sir?" asks Burke

"BJ, fire all weapons! Try to diable those ships! Mr. Burke, evasive!

"Yes sir!"

"Hull breach, deck 2!"

*****

Yorktown

"Sir, the Corregidor is under heavy fire!" says Robert

"Cruisers Halsey and Fearless that were alongside us have been destroyed sir." says Scout

"What about our fighters?" says Outlaw

"What left of the 164th and 252nd are trying to hold off the Kzatti fighters on us."

"Head for the Corregidor. They need our help.

"Yes sir." says Sally

Corregidor.

"Yorktown coming in to help us sir." reports Raven

""Zandar ships under fire to starboard!" reports Leroy

"BJ!" shouts Tim

"On it!"

"Sickbay reporting in." says Miles "Kirby, Rusty and Danny are dead."

""We can't take any more of----" reports Burke

Burke's console explodes. Tundra takes his place.

"We can't stay much longer!"

A support beam crashes down from the ceiling and Tim goes down hard. Miles goes to help him.

"S-save y-your-selves."

Those are his last words.

"We have to get out of here!" says Miles

"Abandon ship!" shouts BJ "Move it slugs, come on! Abandon ship!"

*****

Yorktown.

"Corregidor launching escape pods." reports Scout

"Catch them." says Outlaw

"We got 'em sir." says Muldoon

"Sally, get us out of here! We're withdrawing for now."

"Aye sir."

*****

In Yorktown sickbay BJ, Miles, Tundra, Rif, Leroy, DeFalco, and Raven are on biobeds being treated.

"Considering what you went through I'm amazed your people are alive." says Isis

"We lost a lot of good people back there." says Miles

*****

Merrimack.

"Admiral Keogh, the Corregidor is destroyed. Yorktown picked up 7 survivors and are moving off for now."

"Continue on course.

to be continued.......