The Denver shook as it was battered again by weapons fire. On the viewscreen a Centaur-class listed to port. The nacelles streamed plasma as the lighted windows flickered and whole ship fell black. A heartbeat later it exploded in an antimatter explosion bathing the bridge in a yellow-orange glow.  Only a few escape pods limped away.

“Captain, we just lost the Mississauga; fleet strength is down by almost 40%,” Riandri said from tactical as she selected the Jem’Hadar fighter which has destroyed the Mississauga and locked weapons. The telltale reddish-orange glow appeared along the main dorsal phaser array on the Denver before the beam shot forth striking the enemy vessel and piercing through its weakened shields causing it to spin out of control into a nearby Galor-class cruiser.

Riandri’s lips curled up into a vindictive grin moments before the Denver shook violently and the several consoles including her own erupted in fire. She was thrown from her feet against the bulkhead. Dazed she climbed to her feet but struggled to get her bearings as her vision swirled around her.

Jeter watched in dismay as damage reports come in on his console, the last hit caused an overload in one of the ventral shield generators causing a cascade reaction of explosions through the power relay system. “Captain, that last blow knocked out one of the ventral shield generators. Shields are down to 45%.”

“Diverting non-essential system to shields,” He checked his sensor readings and targeted the incoming Jem Hadar fighter. The Denver rocked violently, and Conroy adjusted his footing to keep his stability. “Jem’Hadar fighters are targeting escape pods headed for the surface…” 

Rebecca gripped the armrests as she glanced behind her with Conroy and Riandri side-by-side working. “Notify Lieutenant Ming to run coverage for the escape pods.  Mr. Crawford prepare to beam them to the ship.”

Crawford ran his hands across the console tasking both elements of the sensor systems and the transporter systems to be ready to move at the nimble tap of his hands.  It would need to be as near perfection as they could manage.  He was up to the task and metaphorically crossed his fingers for luck.  “Aye.”

Riandri nodded as her eyes refocused, “Right away Captain.” She glanced at Conroy, “Keep those Dominion vessels off us.” With that, she moved back to one of the operation stations and opened a direct link to Lieutenant Ming.

“Lieutenant Ming, we are detecting escape pods from the Mississauga and other federation vessels. Have your squadron provide cover for them while they make their way towards us.” As she spoke the Denver shook violently again as a Cardassian Galor-class cruiser started to bear down on them flanked by several new Jem’Hadar fighters.

Ming’s voice came back as a stressed but fierce growl, “Acknowledged Denver.”

Conroy targeted 2 more fighters with phasers, and torpedos one after another. It seemed like there was no end in sight. “Shields are down to 31%, structural damage on deck on decks 17 through 19 force fields are up injuries are reported.” 

“Ms. Jones keep those fighters off of us,” Rebecca ordered as the ship shook again. 

“Aye Sir. Setting new course, heading 040, mark 16. Mister Crawford, as I roll right, you’ll be able to bring more weapons to bear against our attackers,” Jones said.

Peter slipped his mind over to tactical and tapped gently at the console, bringing up the weapons systems.  Things were moving quicker and quicker – the speed of battle wasn’t going to be tamed or slowed for their efforts.  It would run over anyone in the way.  “Ready on your mark!”

On the viewscreen, the Galaxy-class USS Alaska rolled right in an effort to shake the tailing Dominion and Cardassian ships. The ship with the leadership of the Federation forces at Betazed was putting up a valiant fight. Banking right, it destroyed one Jem’Hadar fighter and disabled a Galor-class cruiser in a volley of torpedo and phaser fire. As it completed its arc a Jem’Hadar fighter slammed into the saucer of the Alaska ripping a hole through the starboard section. A second fighter slammed into the drive section at the connecting neck. A heartbeat later the Alaska exploded. 

“Damn!” Rebecca growled. 

Riandri watched the destruction of the majestic Galaxy-class vessel with a sense of shock and dread. Though not built for war they were very tough ships and for the dominion to resort to kamikaze-style attacks attested to that. Without a pause of more than a second or two she pinged the fleet communication channel to identify the next ship assigned command, “Captain, I am showing the T’Eris as the new flag seat.”

Jeter watched in shock for a moment before turning his attention back to the console, “Captain, I am not reading any escape pods from the Alaska. The fleet formation is starting to fall apart without the flagship to anchor it.” He left the unasked question hanging in the air, afraid to actually vocalize it even after all these years working in the fleet. He did wait long though as Riandri cursed and spun in her chair, “Captain, we cannot win this fight. We are throwing away ships and lives for no reason. We must retreat to hold on to some semblance of strength so we can continue this fight.”

“She is correct Captain, shields have dropped to 26%!” Conroy paused as he targeted a Cardassian cruiser, he glanced at Riandri and then up at the Captain. “Ma’am we’ve lost this battle, we need to regroup.”

“Not my call,” Rebecca replied as the ship shook again. Somewhere a console exploded.  “Riandri, request the T’Eris.”

Riandri responded with a simple, “Right away.” She quickly pulled up the communication ID for the T’Eris and routed a priority message through. Within 15 seconds she got her response, “Captain,  I have a response from the command, we have orders to regroup and withdraw. They are leaving Betazoid.” Glancing over at the Captain and the rest of the bridge crew she continued a moment later after her console beeped, “I have coordinates for the regroup.”

“Helm adjust course for the rally point. Mr. Crawford notify our teams on the ground we are about to pull them out.”

“Aye, Captain. ”Setting course 215 mark 113.” Ari n said, not looking down as her hands flew over the modified tactile helm console.

Peter’s hands now moved quickly as he sent the message and sent a firm order to the transporter team – get our people out, and get them quickly.  It took an agonizing forty-five seconds and he called out, “We have them – clear to depart.”

Sickbay…

Doctor Lorsa Efe scanned sickbay.  It will filling up with casualties. There were more than she or the Denver’s medical team could handle. “Nurse Calloway,” Lorsa shouted above the cacophony of voices, moans, and cries. 

Calloway pushed his way through the throngs. At six-foot five and arms the size of tree trunks the man cut an imposing sight. “Yes doctor?” He said in a deep rumble that could only come from a Southern man of African descent. 

“We need to set up triage. Walking wounded administer a pain reliever and send them to the man crew lounge. Serious, but non-life threatening you and your nursing staff stabilize for us.  Immediate cases get the biobeds… and those of no hope.. or will require hours long surgery administer morphine and make them as comfortable as possible.”

“Let them die?”

Lorsa sighed, “Calloway, we can’t save them all. Get to it.”

Starbase 75…

Trinity watched in curiosity from one of the consoles in the Operations Center onboard the starbase.  She was fettered to the seat and the console in front of her had been deactivated. Beside her Ethan slept softly snoring, the concussion making him sick.

She had never been in Ops before, yet it felt strange that it was being crewed by Jem’hadar and Cardassians. On the viewscreen the Federation fleet was putting up a valiant fight, but it was hopeless. Occasionally there would be brilliant flash of light as a ship exploded.  Sometimes it was a Dominion ship; usually, it was Federation.

Ranek stood, his hands clasped loosely behind his back as he watched the battle rage. His expression showed no emotion, even when a dominion ship was destroyed. He didn’t spare them a second thought, his attention on the movement of the two force’s around each other. It was a delicate yet brutal ballet, and just as glorious to behold.

As he watched, satisfaction rolled through him. His plan had worked, as he’d known it would. The Federation were so predictable it was laughable.

“I can feel you looking,” he turned to look at the girl they’d found on the promenade. She was an odd one, fierce as a warrior, but also protective of the injured boy. But resourceful as well. They’d had to tie her to the chair and deactivate the console in front of her.

“What else am I to do?” She retorted.  “Escape is off the table… for now.  And the…” She swallowed hard, the taste of the word like bile in her mouth. “The battle is like a shuttle crash.  You don’t want to see it, but you can’t look away either.”

“Then watch,” he ordered, his expression grim as he turned back to the viewscreen. “Watch the glory of the Dominion as the Federation forces are destroyed. Learn how futile it is to oppose us.”

“Bajor… you know your people opposed the Cardassians and sent them scurrying.  That doesn’t sound so futile to me. You know who else uses that word? The Borg.  Earth isn’t assimilated.”

Ranek shot the girl a hard look.

“Don’t let my outward appearance fool you. I am not bajoran,” he spat the word, shooting a look over his shoulder at two guards.

“They bore me, take them away. Lock them up somewhere,” he ordered. 

Trinity didn’t resist as Cardassian guards drug her and Ethan from Operations. Their ordeal at the hands of the Dominion was just beginning. 

Bridge,  USS Denver…

The Bridge was silent as the battered fleet fled Betazed.  In less than ten hours, the planet had fallen to the Dominion,  and the remnants of the two fleets limped across space, heading for Vulcan.

The leadership of the Denver’s fleet had been decimated.  The ill-fated training mission had led directly to the ease the Dominion had taken the system. Out of position, it was too late for them to mount an effective resistance. It was dark times, and victory never felt more impossible than ever before. 

Riandri sat in a bit of a daze as she kept an eye on the consoles around her as a stream of information continued to come in from the fleet and beyond. She sensed movement behind her and turned to find Master Chief Jeter standing there, a long gash that had been partially healed ran down his cheek and he was covered in oily smudges and a number of brusiers and minor cuts. “Chief, why haven’t you had those checked out?”

Jeter looked around, “Other people needed to be seen first,” he said with a tired smile as he looked off into the distance. After a second his attention snapped back, “The repair of the main systems is complete thought they still need to be optimized.”

“Mr. Jeter,” Rebecca said, her tone giving no room for argument.  “Get that taken care of. We have it here.”

Jeter looked over at the Captain and nodded without hesitation, “Right away Captain.” Without pause, he turned and stepped onto the turbo lift, “Medical.”

“Now what?” Rebecca asked in a low voice. She was leaning towards Riandri so they could only be heard. “Where do we go from here?”

Riandri face darken at the question, “I wish I knew…” Turnign to look at the viewscreen and the image of the ships around them traveling at warp,  “With the fleet, until we are ordered otherwise and hope something changes.” She brought her hands to her temples and slowly massaged them before she spoke again looking at Rebecca, “If something doesn’t change and soon we look after those we can and do whatever is necessary….” 

Rebecca sighed. He family was separated.  Milo was still on Betazed,  and Ethan missing.  She fought back tears that were threatening to burst. There would be time for that, but not in the bridge. “How do I tell the girls their father is missing? Oh, God, what if they hadn’t come with us?” She clinched her fists the thought sending cold chills down her spine. 

Riandri reached her hand out and placed it on top of Rebecca’s, “Be honest with them; they are old enough to know the truth. It will be hard but it is the right thing to do. Believe me I know.” She paused for a moment and exhaled as she thought on her next words, slowly she spoke, “I wouldn’t count Milo and Ethan out. Milo knows what he is doing and the Dominion wanted the station, they had no reason to harm children. We cannot let go of our hope. It is for them, and the others we left behind that we fight.”