"We could use some of the big coils to make a magnet," Harper suggested, "We polarize the hull and boom! Those big magnetic fields toss us right out of harm's way."

"If we're lucky," Rev said, "But they are surrounding us. We could easily be thrown against of the other ships."

"Since we're short on time and options, we had better get to work," Dylan answered, "Andromeda, how many Type 7 conducting coils do we have onboard?"

"Three," Rommie answered, "It should be enough to magnetize the hull."

"Harper, take Trance down to cargo bay two and hook up the coil there. Tyr and Beka, you can handle the one in cargo bay five. Rommie, you're with Rev," Dylan ordered, "I'll try to stall Kyn."

"They're contacting us again," Rev said.

"Put him on main viewer," Dylan said, "Tight on me. If I signal you, I want everyone to get to work."

"Your five minutes are up," Kyn said flatly.

"You told us seven," Dylan answered.

"Did I?" Kyn smirked, "So are you going to turn yourselves in so I can go for my morning coffee, or are you going to make this difficult?"

"Can't we discuss this?" Dylan responded, hoping to buy some time, "Neither of us wants a war."

"That's what I expected, I'll..." Kyn stopped and turned to someone off screen, "I'll deal with you in a moment. Don't go anywhere."

"I'm detecting another ship coming out of slipstream. It's huge," Andromeda said as Kyn shut off the comm signal, "It looks like a Magog design, but I've never seen them build anything this big."

"How big?" Dylan asked.

"Approximately... 70 times my volume," Andromeda answered, "It's sending a designation signal. The vessel is called the 'Kapth.'"

"Kapth was the name of a god from one of the ancient Magog religions," Rev added, "He was the chief god of the Rel'ja tribe. He was also the god of war and destruction."

"And it's definately a warship," Andromeda finished, "Very heavily armed and armored."

***

"He went to do what?" Pellings asked, stunned.

"He thought he could make a deal with the Neitzchians," Arinna explained.

"I've always heard High Guard captains were idealistic," Fredricks shook his head.

"I wish I knew where the meeting was going to take place..." Arinna said apologetically.

"Don't worry, we'll find him. Thank you for your help, Preconsul Arinna," Sarah bowed slightly and turned off the comm channel, "Gem, what do you think?"

"They left recently enough," Gemini responded, "I should be able to track them through the slipstream."

"Well, lets get going before the Neitzchians can go through with whatever trap they have planned," Pellings said, "Take us out."

Gemini's avatar sat in the slipstream chair. She would have to guide the ship personally in order to follow Andromeda's trail.

***

"Another ship is coming out of slipstream," Andromeda said.

"Again?" Dylan asked.

"It appears to be... a Ship of The Line," Andromeda answered in disbelief.

"The coils are ready," Harper said, "I don't care if its a luxury cruiseliner, I say we get outta here."

"Just wait a minute," Dylan said slowly.

"This is strange," Andromeda said.

"Tell me about it," Harper answered.

"No, I mean the ship. The hull matches perfectly, but it appears to have some added armaments. I'm definately detecting torpedo tubes of some sort, but I don't recognize most of the additions."

"The Magog and Neitzchian fleets are moving to intercept..." Rev said, "They've surrounded the other vessel, and captured it in a magnetic field similar to the one we're in... They're hailing us."

"Andromeda, I am Captain Sarah Pellings of the Starship Gemini. It's good to see you, Captain Hunt."

"I'd say the same, but considering the situation I'm not sure that would be appropriate."

"You have gotten us into quite a mess. I can't believe you tried to negotiate with Neitzchians on neutral territory," Pellings paused, and she smiled slightly, "You're almost as crazy as I am."

"Captain Pellings," Dylan said, "You seem awefully confident, considering the number of Neitzchian and Magog vessels."

"I have a way to get us out of here," Sarah responded, "Just follow my lead, if you can."

***

"Everything is ready," Reynolds said.

"The Neitzchians aren't happy about being ignored," Gemini added.

"All right," Pellings said, "Ready fractal torpedos. I want a barrage near the Andromeda. We have to force the ships near her to withdraw. Remember, Andromeda can withstand a little collateral damage, but she may be damaged."

"Understood," The weapons officer answered, "Torpedos away."

"The Neitzchians and Magog are moving in," Chen informed them, "Incoming missles, multiple vectors."

"Return fire, conventional weapons only," Pellings ordered.

"What about our surprise?" Fredricks asked.

"We're not close enough. We want to give them as little time as possible."

"The lead ship is at five thousand meters and closing," Chen said hurriedly, "They're probably planning to board us."

"All right," Pellings responded, "Gemini, target the biggest ship within six kilometers."

"Ready," Gemini said.

"Fire the Gauss Cannon," Pellings ordered, her voice strong.

"Rail deployed," Gemini said, "The point field of the cannon has successfully overpowered the general magnetic field created by the enemy vessels. They have sustained no detectable damage."

"Time?" Fredricks asked.

"Charge is already near critical. Arc will occur in 5...4...3...2...1..."

A blast of electricity ripped through the rain of metallic rail fired from the Gaussian weapon. The poweful Neitzchian battleship attempted to pull back from the sharp sting of the pulse, but it was disabled within seconds. Immediately, the other ships began to back away. Some of them turned and fled at full speed. The enemy was in chaos.

"The Andromeda is still caught in the Corak's magnetic field," Gemini said, "Wait, I'm reading an energy buildup inside the ship... They've polarized their hull."

"Andromeda is being thrown back," Chen said.

"They should be far enough away to activate slipstream in six seconds," Gemini calculated.

"Cover them until they can make it out," Pellings said as the Gemini headed for Andromeda's position.

"Andromeda is transiting," Chen said.

"Gemini, get us out of here!" Pellings ordered.

***

"The Gemini is following us," Andromeda informed them as they traversed the slipstream, "Twenty-seven hostiles are in persuit, including the Corak and the Kapth."

"We'll have to leave the slipstream long before we can reach allies capable of repelling that," Tyr stated.

"Gemini has released some sort of pod into the slipstream behind her," Andromeda said, somewhat confused, "...I'm detecting a massive disruption in the slipstream."

"The Neitzchians are being forced into normal space," Dylan watched one of the displays, "Incredible... Beka, return to normal space as soon as we reach Alor."

"No problem," Beka responded as she piloted through the stream.

"Andromeda, are you familiar with the Gemini?" Dylan asked.

"No, there is no mention of that vessel anywhere in my records."

"Tyr, Beka?" Dylan looked at his officers.

"Never heard of it," Beka answered.

"Neither have I," Tyr responded.

---

"Captain Hunt," Pellings said, once Dylan had appeared on the screen, "I was worried about you back there."

"So was I," Dylan gave her an apraising look, "Care to explain what just happened?"

"I'll be happy to give you Gem's life story as soon as we get back to the shipyard, but we should get moving before the Neitzchians figure out where we are."

"Shipyard?" Dylan asked.

"I serve on one of the few to survive the wars."

"We didn't know that any shipyards had survived."

"That's how we've survived so long. Not many people know we're out here. We were built during the war to replace some of the losses. Since the Neitzchians had been hitting the space stations so heavily, the Commonwealth decided to keep our location top secret. So far, only a few Magog and some occasional raiders have ever found us. However, Magog attacks have become more numerous lately, and we need allies. We want to rejoin the Commonwealth."

"Lead the way."