The Carlsbad’s computer voice cut through the tension, its urgent tone piercing the air: “Red Alert, Red Alert, all hands to battle stations.”

The ship’s klaxons blared, and the lights pulsed with a crimson hue, casting an ominous glow over the bridge. The crew sprang into action, their movements swift and precise. The bridge crew’s voices were crisp and urgent as they called out status reports.

“Tactical systems online, Captain,” the tactical officer reported, fingers flying over the console. “Shields up, charging phasers, and torpedoes loading.”

“Full speed and interception course set, sir,” reported the helmsman.

The helmsman quickly tapped commands into his console. The ship sprung forward at full impulse speed, rushing head first at the Vaadwaur ship.

“The Vaadwaur have detected us, Captain. They are raising shields and charging weapons,” reported Bradley. “They are coming about.”

“We are in weapons range,” Sophia mentioned, reading a command display next to her seat.

“Lock torpedoes on the Vaadwaur ship. Hail them,” Kirok ordered, knowing they won’t respond, but it’s procedure.

Lieutenant Bradley tapped his computer board, trying to bail the Vaadwaur ship. He waited several seconds.

“No response Captain.”

“Can’t say I didn’t try. Fire full volleys of torpedoes with a full spread of phaser fire. Helm, evasive maneuvers, Kirok Alpha Three…on my command.”

Bradley smiles as he furiously taps his tactical display, firing the ship’s weapons. “Firing all weapons Captain.”

Reddish orange orbs, total of ten, sped away at the enemy ship. Several streams of orange hewed phased energy streams traveled the short distance between the ships. The phaser beams harmlessly hit the Vaadwaur ships’ shields, casting an eerily purple glow as their shields absorbed the energy. Both the dorsal and ventral phasers continued to unleash powerful energy at the enemy ship, but stopped by the purplish shields. The first volley of torpedoes hit the same spot on the enemy shields as the Carlsbad’s phasers were hitting. Powerful explosion after powerful explosion happened as each torpedo detonated. The first five hit the Vaadwaur shields, causing moderate damage to the ship’s port shields.

“Status report on enemy ship,” Captain Skyrunner ordered.

“Moderate damage to their port side shields. They are down 42%,” reported Bradley.

“Helm, now!”

Kirok gave his order for evasive maneuvers. The Carlsbad countered the Vaadwaur ship’s portside turn by turning to starboard, so as to keep the Vaadwaur’s damaged shields facing them. The Vaadwaur ship, now looking like a pissed off hornet, unleashed its own barrage of three of its twelve polaron cannons.

“They are firing back!” Bradley shouted.

Three volleys of purple hewed energy bursts shit back at the USS Carlsbad, smashing into her aft shields. The crew were flung about, hitting the deck and walls. Computer consoles exploded as plasma relays overloaded. Captain Skyrunner got tossed from his chair and landed just behind the helm. Sophia landed next to him. Bradley got tossed over his console, doubled over and winded. He slumped to the floor, trying to breathe. Kirok scrambled to his feet, grabbed the back of his wife’s uniform, yanking her up.

“Take over Tactical! I need a damage report!” Captain Skyrunner demanded.

Sophia stumbled over to the Tactical station, tapped some keys. Trying to get a damage report.

“Engineering to Bridge! I got a plasma fire down here. We lost two plasma conduits. Main power is down 75%! I’m rerouting auxiliary power to shields now,” reported Flummox over the ship intercom.

“Helm controls are a little sluggish Captain, compensating.”

“Sickbay to Bridge, I have heavy casualties down here.”

“Aft shields are down to 26%! Warp engines are down!” Sophia shouted over the blaring klaxon alarms. “I’m sending security teams to Sickbay to assist. Weapons ready!”

Captain Skyrunner managed to get back to his chair, a tiny stream of blood on his forehead. He wiped the blood from his forehead as he issued orders.

“Helm, evasive maneuver Kirok Delta One. Now! Tactical, fire at will!”

The USS Carlsbad performed a backwards loop and barrel roll, called the ‘Maverick Maneuver’ and sped towards the enemy ship again. As the Carlsbad was performing the whole maneuver, all her phasers constantly fired orange beams of phased energy. Two more volleys of photon torpedoes launched from both forward facing launchers. They tracked along the streams of phaser fire.

The concentration of all three phaser arrays targeting the exact same spot on the port side shields of the Vaadwaur ship wore down the purple colored shields. It grew brighter in color as it continued to absorb the constant phaser barrage from Carlsbad. The first volley of torpedoes slammed into that weakened shield arc. The first three detonated against its shields. The fourth torpedo popped that shield arc. The port side shields winked out as fast as a pin popping a balloon. The fifth torpedo smashed into the Vaadwaur ship’s hull, directly hitting a weapon emplacement, which caused a small series of internal explosions. The second volley of torpedoes found their marks as well, strafing the whole length of the Vaadwaur ship as it started to maneuver away from the Carlsbad. Five successful torpedo detonations showed on the viewscreen, through the smokey Bridge.

“Weapons status Sophia,” Captain Skyrunner inquired.

Lieutenant Bradley reported, between deep breaths, “we used half of our torpedoes. Phasers are currently down to 75%.”

Captain Skyrunner turned to look at Tactical, wondering for a second why he answered and not Sophia. Bradley nodded to his Captain that he was good. Kirok glanced at Sophia, who nodded as well. Captain Skyrunner nodded back to both.

“Very well Lieutenant. Status on the enemy ship.”

Lieutenant Bradley tapped some keys on his panel, as Captain Rodriguez made her way back to the XO’s chair.

“Their port side shields are completely destroyed sir. So are all three of their port side polaron cannons. They are completely defenseless on their port side. They have had several internal explosions as well. Their main power is down, but they are still managing to maneuver and have power to their other weapons,” Bradley reported. “Our condition is not that good either sir. Aft shields are only up to 61%. We used half our torpedoes and the phaser capacitor is showing signs of overheating.”

“Sauce for the goose babe,” Sophia said as she examined the scan data from the display next to her chair.

Kirok glanced at her and smirked, getting the reference.

“Sir, we are being hailed from the runabout,” reported the Operations Officer.

“On screen. Helm, keep us on their port side. Tactical, keep firing phasers only, save torpedoes as much as we can.”

The viewscreen changed from the limping Vaadwaur ship to the face of his Executive Officer.

“Carlsbad, come in,” Commander Lionel said, as Catersha was handling the helm, avoiding taking fire from the enemy ship.

“Carlsbad here, status report Commander,” Kirok ordered.

“We are alright sir, just minor shield damage from a graze. We are coming around to assist,” Aramis said.

“Acknowledged. Their portside is exposed. Carlsbad out.”

The viewscreen changed back to the view of the heavily damaged Vaadwaur ship. Orange phaser fire was seen hitting the exposed portside flank from beneath the Carlsbad. The runabout also fired several photon torpedoes as well. All four of the torpedoes found their targets. Massive explosions were seen on the viewscreen of the Carlsbad’s Bridge.

“Reading a massive power buildup from the enemy ship. Warp core breach is imminent,” reported Bradley.

“Helm, get us out of here now!”

The helmsman quickly entered commands into his board and the Carlsbad responded as fast as its damaged engines could do. The USS Carlsbad quickly banked hard to its starboard and sped away, the runabout next to it. The Vaadwaur ship exploded as the result of a core breach. A massive shockwave chased the Carlsbad and the runabout. When it hit them, it buffeted both ships hard. The Bridge officers got tossed on the floor again. The helmsman managed to keep his seat and keep the ship on course. The shockwave passed and everything calmed down.

“Helm, take us back to the planet. Tell the runabout they can come home then. Damage report, all stations,” Captain Skyrunner ordered.

“The shields are firming up, back up to 85%. Weapons are still good, though we are down to half our torpedo complement. Sickbay reports several injuries, no fatalities,” Bradley reported.

“Well done everyone,” Kirok praised his bridge officers. He tapped his comm badge. “Engineering, report?”

“Assistant Chief Flummox here sir, we managed to keep main power online. We got several conduits damaged and many relays that were overloaded. Otherwise we are doing ok down here right now. We should have everything fixed within a few hours Captain.”

“Good to hear Chief, Skyrunner out.”

The Carlsbad headed back to the planet, the runabout following behind, lined up to enter the shuttlebay. The shuttle bay doors slowly opened as the runabout approached slowly. When the bay doors were at the widest, the runabout slowly slid inside and settled on the deck. Once the runabout settled down on the deck, the bay doors closed and the aft exterior ramp of the runabout opened. Commander Lionel, Chief Engineer Catersha, and Ensign McDowell walked out. Cat was carrying the recorder and McDowell was carrying the tool case. Both the ladies made a beeline for Engineering and Aramis headed to the Bridge. A maintenance team walked to the runabout to assess and damage it may have taken, make repairs, and prep it for its next use.