At the Rhian'Unnr's bridge, Inara focused intently on the two ships they were tracking. The Avenger, the one where her admiral traveled, was always in the lead, following an intricate three-dimensional crisscross pattern that now without any doubt took them to Dominion territory. The other Tal Shiar vessel did not follow the same pattern, thought, both obviously trying to conceal their movements and their destination. Even now that both the Numancia crew and themselves had figured out the way to discern the ships' cloaked signature, many times she lost them to the immensity of the universe.

They were making up time, though, traveling uncloaked and straight forward towards the general direction that the small convoy was set upon. And in spite of it, she checked grimly that they would barely reach their intended meeting point still at their side of the border.

Only a few minutes now. She did not need to say it, her commander did it for her. Raghnill looked taller than ever, proud and poised in her chair, irradiating a confidence that maybe she actually did not feel.

"Yellow alert," Raghnill instructed, having learnt to be cautious after taking her share of blows. Especially one. She had considered many times that her passion had clouded her better judgment that fateful battle fought now so long ago, that her recklessness had caused her ship to fall into enemy hands, and most of her crew to perish in a hateful Klingon jail. But not anymore. As she recalled, her fury and anger boiled in her veins, but she did not allow her strong emotions to control her actions. Not that negative ones, not the many hopes she held in her probable reencounter with her mother. That way, she advised her bridge crew, "Cool your heads, people."

And her chief science officer had only looked up from her post one single second, to be comforted by her superior's clear eyes and the strength they portrayed.

Because the instant their ships would meet, anything could happen, and they all have been warned that the outcome could turn out to be a nasty one. The uncertainty of their situation bugged the veteran officer far more than she was willing to admit, even to herself. And that was Inara's concern when suddenly, some unexpected readings startled her, a cold sweat inwardly tricking over her tense body.

Her troubled voice pierced the air, "Commander, I'm registering explosions in the area were Admiral Ayeya's ships are located!"

"It's quantum torpedo fire, ma'am!" From his tactical station, Lior completed the report.

"I cannot say if our ships are hit or not," Inara seethed at her own limitations.

"Red alert!" Raghnill commanded; she realized they were already heading at maximum warp speed.

"Commander, the Numancia is calling us," it was her communications officer speaking.

"Put them through."

And there was Saavik, a shadow crossing her otherwise calm eyes.

"We have a situation here, it seems," Raghnill snarled at her own understatement, putting a brave face that was nevertheless somber.

"Yes, we do," was Saavik curt reply. "Cloak your ship and do not engage, Commander. We are following our initial plan."

Raghnill's smile drop and she was about to argue, but her half-sister had already cut the communications, the screen turning blank, halting any reply. She did not want to follow their plan anymore, not now that her mother was most certainly under attack. She gripped the commanding chair until all blood left her knuckles, struggling with herself. With her desire to leap into those unknown explosions and show herself and fight face to face with whatever danger that was ahead of them. With her fear of letting Saavik take that place instead; Saavik, who hated her mother probably more than any other of her many enemies would. With her unsettling distrust, that told her that was a terrible mistake. And her eagerness for battle, that told her exactly the same.

But maybe that was not the Romulan way, after all. She stood up, her eyes glinting, and addressed her first officer, who expectantly waited for her, "Cloak the ship. Prepare to engage." And looked firmly forward, to that still black view screen, where very soon the Tal Shiar ships and their dreadful situation would appear in front of them.