"See, what we did is we built a Mustang class runabout, the Dreadnaught, with a large torpedo bay attached to it. The bay houses one Fusion Catalyst. The Dreadnaught is capable of remote piloting through Holodeck Two." VonBach explained, "Also, we plan to catch and ride the repulsion wave to aid us in getting out of the blast radius."
"Can you do it?" Starwind asked Talara.
Talara shrugged, "We'll see, won't we?"
"As for the EM pulse, as a precaution, we are cooling the warp reaction massively and re-igniting once we're clear. We found that the Electron Screen wasn't totally effective and helped fry core controls. So if we disable all core related systems-"
"We figure the Electron Screen will provide adequate protection." Bronski explained.
"Risky." Starwind sighed, "Well, carry on." He exited.
"Computer, begin simulation!" The bridge facsimile sprung to life. "On my mark, Edwards." VonBach watched the other ships. "Mark!"
Lights around them fell red and the shuttle flew forward at speeds slightly faster than the fleet. "Sir! Photon Torpedoes, X axis, full spread ready!"
"Fire! Deploy the Dreadnaught!" VonBach ordered.
As the Destiny shot photon torpedoes in all directions, the tiny Dreadnaught runabout deployed a large cannon from its dorsal hull as it sped rapidly forward.
"Approaching target." Talara said, wearing an eyepiece tying her to Holodeck Two.
"Talara, Dreadnaught to all stop, and once Dreadnaught fires, spin us fast and all ahead full." VonBach watched the screen for a moment as a ship fired back on the Normandy, "Edwards, launch the Fusion Catalyst!" As the giant torpedo shot from the shuttle, the Destiny spun at a great speed. "Detonate!" VonBach called. A phaser shot from the Dreadnaught and hit the Catalyst.
Talara averted her glance as the casing of the Catalyst began to break, "All ahead full!"
"Warp Core off-line. Non-essential systems off-line. Electron Screen in place." Bronski reported.
The white sphere began to encompass the fleet.
"Adjust our position to align with the repulsion wave and divert full power to aft shields. All hands, brace for impact!" VonBach yelled.
The white distortion hit them with a jerk of the bridge. Constant shaking of the bridge and flickering of the red emergency lights in place followed the first forceful jolt.
"Shield integrity down to 45." Bronski reported.
"How long 'till we're clear?" VonBach asked.
"About one minute. But we aren't the only ones running." Talara referred to a number of ships trying to escape the blast radius.
"We'll make it!" Edwards cheered.
"23." Bronski called.
"45 seconds."
"Give me more engines, Talara!"
"17."
"I'm giving it everything, sir!"
"14."
"20 seconds!"
"10."
"10 seconds!"
"Cutting too close!" VonBach screamed.
"We're clear!" The shaking stopped at Talara's call.
Bronski sighed with relief, "Shields holding at 2. Warp reaction re-initializing. Disabled systems coming back on-line. It appears the Electron Screen shielded a majority of the EM wave, and I'm taking it off-line."
"Alright, let's lock and load. Once weapons are back up I want all torpedo bays and phasers full-spread. I want those shields back to power, and I want to fly into the heart of what's left. Damage report, Edwards!" VonBach ordered.
"The Catalyst totally destroyed fifteen of the fifty ships, heavily damaged ten more, and the EM wave disabled another ten, meaning we are down to thirteen able ships, which all sustained some damage. As for our ships, the Normandy lost shields, but hull integrity is at full. We sustained major shield damage, and the EM wave fried our long-range comm. array and our section separation system. Also the holo arrays have shorted out. But key systems are unaffected." Edwards reported as he fired the spread, blowing up three more ships, "Make that eighteen wasted and seven heavily damaged."
"Let's waste 'em!" VonBach laughed, "Burn 'em all!"
"Someone's having too much fun." Talara shook her head, "Moving in for an offensive pass."
"Firing all weapons, but the ships capable of doing so are getting weapons locks." Edwards warned.
"Evasive maneuver Talara I initiated." Talara reported.
"Commander," Edwards paused, "Ever heard of the Riker Maneuver?"
"No time to replicate the gasses for it, Jason." VonBach sighed, "Fire at their weapons syst3ms with quantum torpedoes." He paused, "If only we had a second F.C. this would be easier."
"We'd be dead." Talara pointed out.
"But it would be eaiser." Bronski couldn't help but laugh.
"End Simulation. We got the data we needed. Dreadnaught is a viable plan, now all we need is the Catalyst itself."