The Federation forces fired their weapons at the incoming Imperial starships, in hopes that they could turn the tide back into their favor but it was useless.

"Sir, all of the incoming Imperial starships are Prometheus class starships." Merriell said.

"Great, that's just what we need." Allensworth said.

"They're breaking off into their multi-vector attack mode." Merriell said.

Each Prometheus class ship broke off into three separate sections, each section had full weapons capabilities. It gave the Empire even more numbers against the Federation.

"Fire quantum torpedoes, dispersal pattern: Sierra." Allensworth said.

The Alexandria fired three quantum torpedoes that all separated into three different torpedoes. Each set of three slammed into one of the multi-vector sections of one of the ships. Each set erupted into fiery debris.

A Miranda class starship blew apart and its debris slammed into the shields of the Alexandria.

The starship shook as it was bombarded with weapons. As Allensworth was tossed around the deck, he knew the outcome of this battle it was either retreat or all of the ships were going to be destroyed.

"Commander Sato, tell all ships we're retreating."

The order caught Hoshi off guard and she hesitated. "Aye, sir."

Suddenly, the navigation console exploded in Lieutenant Trinn's face, sending her to the deck. Commander Zofchak had headed down to Main Engineering to handle things down there and to give his engineers a hand.

"Christine, take the helm. Get us out of here." Allensworth said.

Captain Stork stood at the tactical station on the bridge. His tactical officer laid dead at his feet with scorch marks all over his face. He continued to fire phasers and torpedoes at the ships when his ship got a message.

"Sir, we're getting a message from the Alexandria. Their captain is ordering us to retreat."

"Acknowledged." Stork said. "Set a course for the rendezvous point."

"Aye, sir."

The Federation assault fleet began their retreat. They opened an anomaly so they could return to their universe. They all leapt into warp through the anomaly and some of the Imperial ships followed.

"Sir, they're following us." Merriell said.

Now Allensworth was really annoyed.

"Come about, fire all weapons. We've gotta hold them off so the fleet can get away."

The Alexandria dropped out warp and spun around. It fired all weapons at the oncoming Imperial ships. It was a valiant effort on the Alexandria's part but it was still outnumbered. Allensworth be damned if he didn't take out a few ships with him.

"Now let us get out of here. Fire anti-matter spread."

Sparks erupted from dorsal and ventral phaser arrays. It allowed the Alexandria to turn tail and take off. A Prometheus class ship fired its phasers, striking the starboard side of the Alexandria, sending it flying wildly through space. Everyone on the bridge was thrown from their stations.

"Get us out of here." Allensworth demanded from his grounded position.

After wiping the blood from his face, Merriell looked over and saw that Nycz was unconscious on the floor. There was no one at the helm and he was the closest. He struggled to his feet to get to the helm. After battling the rocking forces that seemed like they were trying their damnedest to keep him on the deck, he finally was able to get in the navigation seat and plotted a course away from the Imperials.

The Alexandria spun wildly every which way and its nacelles flashed brightly sending it into warp in what seemed like a random direction.

They weren't in warp for any more than twenty minutes when they dropped out of warp.

"Zofchak, why are we dropping out of warp?"

"I'm not sure, sir. Something is preventing us from maintaining a stable warp field." Zofchak replied through the intercom.

"Are the Imperials still in pursuit?" Allensworth asked.

"Negative, sir."

"Plumley to Bridge. We've got a power overload in sickbay." She said.

Merriell had returned to Ops while Lieutenant Commander Freed had taken over at the helm while both Nycz and Trinn were taken to sickbay. He pressed a few buttons on his console.

"The overload is spreading. Half that deck is going to blow in less than three minutes."

"Doctor, get your people out of there." Sparhawk said. "Emergency evacuation, deck eight."

Doctor Plumley helped her patients down the corridor. Some were able to walk under their own power but others had to have help. Counselor Nycz helped the semi conscious Lieutentant Trinn as Doctor Plumley and Lieutenant Dowler helped Ensign Carbone to the Jefferies tube.

"Thirty seconds til structural collapse." The computer said.

Lieutenant Khean opened the door to the Jefferies tube and helped others get in. Finally, Plumley got in and readied herself to pull Carbone through the crawlway.

"Fifteen seconds."

She pulled her down the crawlspace so Dowler could get in.

"Ten seconds."

Dowler got in and was ready to pull the door shut when she saw a set of doors open and two crewmembers came out. She recognized them as Lieutenant Commander Lauren Skundrich and Lieutenant Andrew Coble. They ran for the Jefferies tube.

"Five. Four."

Dowler knew she could wait no longer. She felt bad for giving these two crewmembers hope that they could get to safety and then end up stopping them in their tracks. It was either those two or those two and the ones in the Jefferies tube.

"Three. Two."

Dowler shut the door when Coble and Skundrich were only meters away. The deck exploded exposing it to the vastness of space. The entire ship rocked, sending everyone on the bridge to the deck once again.

"Report." Allensworth said.

Merriell got back to his station. "Sections ten through forty-seven of deck eight are gone."

Zofchak was running around in Engineering trying to keep things from falling apart.

"Get a stabilizer on that conduit." He said. "Zofchak to Bridge, anti-matter containment fields are failing. If I can't stabilize them I'll have to dump the core or she'll blow."

Zofchak walked over to a panel on the wall. He opened the panel and looked at it with worried eyes. He shut the door, stepped away and tapped his comm. badge. "Zofchak to Bridge, I've got a problem. The magnetic interlocks have fused and…"

He was cut off by the door being blown open and a barrage of sparks erupting from it. He spun around and looked up at the warp core. A low rumble turned into a loud sonorous roar.

"Coolant leak. Bridge, we have a coolant leak in the engine core, I can't shut it down. I estimate four minutes til a warp core breach."

There was another explosion of sparks.

"Come on, everyone out. We have a coolant leak." Zofchak said.

Smoke began to fill engineering and people ran. Zofchak ran deeper into engineering making sure engineering was evacuated.

"Hoshi," Allensworth said. "evacuate everyone to the saucer section." Allensworth said. "Mister Merriell, prepare to separate the ship."

Merriell nodded and entered the commands into his console.

Crewmembers everywhere scrambled to get to the saucer section of the ship. Doctor Plumley had set up a make shift sickbay in ten forward. Her and her medical staff ran around the room getting people secure for the ship's separation.

"Warp core is accelerating, Dustin. We've got to get out of here." Allensworth said through the intercom.

Dustin had just come through the Jefferies tube and shut the door behind him. He was the last to make it to the saucer section.

"We're all out, bridge."

"Begin saucer separation sequence. Then ahead full impulse once we're clear." Allensworth said.

"Warp core going critical."

The ship began its separation sequence. Seconds later, the ship was clear from the star drive section.

"Engaging impulse engines." Freed said.

"Warp core breach in progress." Merriell reported.

The star drive section exploded sending out a shockwave. The shockwave struck the saucer section sending it out of control and everyone, who was standing, to the deck. The saucer section spiraled out of control. Zofchak came out stumbling out of the turbolift and did his best to stay on his feet while he headed to Hoshi's position. He grabbed her and held her tight so that she wouldn't fall and injure herself or the twins.

"Report!" Allensworth ordered.

"Inertial dampeners are offline. Attempting to compensate." Merriell said.

What was only a few seconds, that seemed like an eternity, the crew had regained control of what was left of their mighty starship. Dustin helped Hoshi into her chair, before heading over to his station which was like a meter away.

"Helm, set a course for Deep Space Nine. Best possible speed."

A set of beeping filled the bridge.

"Sir," Merriell said. "Sensors are detecting a squadron of Imperial starships headed our way."

"Damn." Allensworth muttered to himself.