On 2010-12-10 08:17, sparky43 wrote:
“Boyos, I think it’s time to leave this lovely patch of space. Eng, how much further do I need to get out from the planet to get our drive back?”

“Sir, the farther the better, but 1000 GU is the book number. Sometimes they are a bit deeper than that but mostly the book is correct.”
Tactical decided I wasn’t busy enough yet and tossed this in to the pot, “Missile separation! Vampire! Vampire! 4 bogeys, classify AR missiles………Sir, target is DISENGAGING?!?!” I felt like laughing my ass off at that moment. The tactical officer actually sounded offended that he was breaking off. We couldn’t even scratch his paint under normal circumstances.

“Tactical, burn down those missiles and give me a good look into that wormhole when he comes about. We have a station coming through and we don’t know whose it is. So get me that intel.” I was pretty sure we didn’t have any stations closer than sector command in Cincinnati but I could be wrong. Things change in war all the time.

“Eng, when we have the intel, I want you to get us the hell out of here, yesterday.”

“Aye, sir, can do. We should be clear in the next 200gu’s.” The engineer sounded upset, probably because he couldn’t get us out of here faster. Or maybe because the enemy had put scratches on his engines, I didn’t really care at the moment.

“Skipper, we’ve got some good news for you….” Tactical was practically crowing into the link.

“Well, don’t make me come beat it out of you, Ensign. Report!” I didn’t have time for the “good news-bad news” routine.

“Very well, sir.” The boy was definitely beaming now. “We have identified the origin of the anomaly…. It’s one of ours! I can’t get a solid scan on it through the wormhole but it’s one of our support stations. I’d recognize that signature if I was blind drunk on synthohol.” Well, this changed things dramatically. We weren’t going ANYWHERE. Not with the Admiral, whichever one it was, watching. “We are also picking up an couple of escorts, but we can’t ID them until they come through. The first should be coming in the next couple seconds…… Update! Two Gunboat Destroyers, one Battle Cruiser,one Interdictor class cruiser, one Agincourt Carrier and Support Station Flash have made transit. Destroyers are engaging the target. Interdictor active.”

“Take us in, helm. Let’s give this bum something else to think about. Wake up the Marines; they are going to visit our friend here.” The ICC Cruiser didn’t seem to care for the new force balance and attempted to run, but he was caught in the same trap we had been in just a moment ago.

“Tactical, pound his aft shields while keeping us on a zig-zag course; we don’t want to eat any more heavy rail rounds. Keep our speed maxed out, as we over-fly the bastard, punch the Marines at minimum range in assault pods.”

“Aye, sir.” Everyone cheered and we went in guns a-blazin……..