Today had started normal, save for the Meechans coming up unexpectedly and firing at the Protector.
"Lieutenant, announce emergency evacuation!" Peter shouted. "And activate self destruct."
"Computer, announce ship wide evacuation," Lieutenant Tawny said. "And activate self destruct!"
Lazarus looked over toward Peter, half in surprise, and half in shock. Never did he order a evacuation. His motto was 'Never give up! Never surrender!' something that he abided by. Now, here the captain was towing Laredo out along with several other members off the command deck. The computer announced a ship wide evacuation. The sides of the starship were being struck by the plasma canons of the Meechans. People were going into the escape pods. Some were not fortunate to escape the plasma cannons as they were destroyed.
"Commander, why are you not surrendering?" Lazarus asked.
Peter looked over toward Lazarus.
"Because it is worth saving my crew!" Peter replied.
The protector trembled from side to side with a loud boom knocking down the humans in the wake. Peter took Tawny's hand then helped her up. They came to a emergency senior officer escape pod where Chen was buckled up, hands on the side of the metal pressed against his chest, and his eyes boggling. The crew got into the escape pod. Peter slapped on the rounded device to the side. The doors closed as the wail of the emergency evacuation became mute. Then the escape pod dejected as had the other pods flying away from the damaged starship.
Peter sat down onto a chair with a sigh.
Laredo and Tawny watched the ship be surrounded by Meechans and then, quite simply, it exploded taking the two Meechan starships with it. Lazarus looked over toward the unsure man who was never 'unsure' but mostly a 'I am hell sure what I am doing' with his hands going through his hair and his head pale. It was unsettling to Lazarus as he sat down beside the Commander then buckled himself in.
The escape pod was heading directly back to Earth.
"Peter," Lazarus said. "We could have used Omega 13."
Peter lowered his hands down to his side then flashed a sad smile at the Mak'Tar.
"I know." Peter said.
And the triangle escape pod followed a fleet of other escape pods in the direction of Earth.
