"Incoming Ion fire!" Sanders said. Static sounds flooded the ship as the shields were temporarily disabled. Another volley was able to hit again before the shields came back online.

"Concentrate the shields to the areas that are going to be hit by the ion cannons." Harper ordered. Ion weapons were dangerous, especially to captains and crews who didn't know how to deal with them. Concentrating the ship's shields over one small area seems to be the only way to stop it, at least temporarily.

"Wave of drones inbound, I count at least 100." Sanders warned.

"Get our fighters back in the air and fire the flak cannons at those drones. Order the Kestrels forward to put pressure on the enemy carriers." Watts commanded. Outside, The Ultima's guns spun up. Firing over and over, they put up a wall of explosive death between them and the drones.

But some drones were able to get though, and with the shields being concentrated, they were able to punch though. The thick armor of The Ultima was able to prevent any piercing, but the drones were still taking their toil.

Amiran Farah came screaming in over coms. "You got drones all over you Ultima, permission to go under the flak line and destroy them."

"Laser arms only. Go clean them up." Harper said. At once the Razors dived in close to The Ultima's hul after the drones.

Amiran Farah laughed. "All right boys and girls, looks like your all in for a treat. You get yourself killed this way you'll have your very own memorial stamped right on the ship. Stay with your wingman and pay attention." Farah was no fool. Fighting this close to a capital ship was playing with death. Not only is there the enemy to think about, but also the ship.

Farah got under the flak line and flew straight at the enemy drones, his pilot's right behind him. At once the drones stopped pecking at The Ultima and roes up, keeping sure the be lower than the flak fire, to meet them. Laser fire burst from both sides as they quickly charged at each other. Several Razors were hit and burnt up instantly, same with the drones. Farah quickly set his sights on one in particular and took aim. The drone did the same, but Farah was too quick for it. Before the drone could react it was shot down in a fiery exposition. As the two sides flung past each other, they scrambled to turn and shoot before the enemy could do the same. To the unaware, it looked like a beautifully choreographed dance.

Farah and the Razors looked like they had the upper hand. The drones and humans were roughly equal in number before the first strikes and as Farah pulled his ship around, the drones were out-numbered. Souring this though, however, Farah realized more drones were still getting through the flak wall. The Razors would need reinforcements.

"Ultima where the hell are our reinforcements?" Farah yelled over coms.

"He has a point." Harper said. "Where are my fighters?"

'We got deck crews reporting malfunctions with the launch tube doors." Andera Raylin, the ship's damage control officer answered. "They must of been hit by Ion fire. Our fighters can't get out."

"Our number one priority is getting those doors open." Harper said. "Pull the ship away from the enemy carriers. Gotta get away from these drones. Farah you're on your own for now. Hold the line as best you can."

Farah knew they wouldn't last long against this many drones. Not alone. Thinking quickly, he pulled his ship out of the fight and flew under the flak wall towards the launch tubes. Sure enough, they were only partially open. No way a Razor could fit though.

"Ultima I need you to lower the launch tube shields." Farah said. "I'm gonna destroy the doors and wake up the wasp nest."

"He's gonna shoot the ship?" Watts asked, unconvinced the plan would work. "If he shoots and it doesn't work there's no way we can clear it."

"Not much of a choice here sir, were getting chewed up out here." Farah said. One by one more and more friendly markings on his radar were disappearing.

"He's right. Gotta get these drones off us." Harper said. "Lower the shield, Farah make it quick."

As soon as the shield lowered Farah went to work. Quickly and skillfully, the half opened doors shattered like glass and spewd into open space. "Jobs done, now get us into the air." Farah twisted his Razor back around to rejoin the fight.

"Tubes are green. Fighters are now launching." Sanders reported. With the reinforcements the Razors got the upper hand on the drones. It was only a matter of time now.

Realizing their defeat was inevitable, the drones began suiciding into The Ultima's hull. Most just harmlessly exploded into the shields, however some were able to get through to the hull. Already weakened from earlier attacks, the armor succumbed to the bombardment. With a buckle fire shot out of the top of The Ultima.

"Hull breach confirmed at deck's A and B. Sections 3-4 and 4-5 respectively." Raylin called out. "Fires also reported on C deck, sections 3-9."

"Seal off A and B deck and vent out C deck immediately." Watts ordered.

Raylin hesitated. "Sir there still evacuating. Give them a litt-"
"Ammunition for our flak guns are stored on that deck." Watt said angrily. "We let the fire light it up and we loose the ship. Do it. Now"

Reluctantly, Raylin complies. With a few keystrokes she vents the deck into space. Outside, bodies are flung out into the icy grip of space. "Its done." She said somberly.

"If they were smart and remembered their training they got to a survival cabinet as soon as they realized there was a fire." Watt said, rough but comfortingly.

"You didn't exactly leave them with alot of time." Raylin said. Watt silently turned back to the middle of the control room.

With the Kestrels finally getting into weapon range and the Engi carriers all out of drones, the Engi had no choice but to cut and run, but not before the Kestrels were able to destroy one of the carriers. The Humans were victorious.

'Regroup the fleet. Send out Mules to pick up any survivors out there." Harper said. "Casualty report. Any major damage?"

"The fire on C deck is under control. Lost about 100 people." Raylin said. "decompression is sealed on decks A and B."

"Dispatch repair teams. Sanders anything moving out there? How many Razors did we lose?" Harper said.

"No enemies on sensors. And early estimates of losses are about 25 Razors completely destroyed and another 31 damaged." Sanders said.

"This could of been alot worse people. Remember that. You did good." Harper said. 'Sanders give me coms on the station. See if they need any assistance."

"Hello? this is the Ultima correct?" A scared voice came in over coms.

"Yes. This is Commander Harper. Do you require any assistance?" Harper answered.

"I have orders from high command. Sending the confirmation codes now. You are to retrieve a VP and escort him to human space." The voice said.

"Confirmation on those codes Sanders?" Watt said.

"There good sir." Sanders said.

"All right. We'll escort him." Harper said. "Watt get Valarie to set up a security team to pick him up." Watt nodded and went to find Trish Valarie, the top security officer of The Ultima.