Warlord raced through the heavens as fast as her computer systems would allow. Apprehension filled the bridge. Seated next to Commander Kirk was Colonel Prichard, in the guest chair, where Doctor Rass would normally sit. "What's our ETA now, Bristol?" Kirk asked. He wanted to smack himself. He had just asked that question not two minutes earlier.

Tyler did his best to not look annoyed, but this was the fourth time in less than ten minutes the commander had asked. Tyler looked at his panel more out of habit than to glean information. He already knew the count. "We're twenty minutes from the Orias system, Sir." He turned back to his panel.

"Sorry," Kirk replied sheepishly.

"Commander, I have a contact dead ahead," Richards announced. "It's on an intercept course. It'll be on us in less than five minutes."

"Is it one of the Corvettes?" Kirk asked. The command to go to red alert was on his lips, but he held back.

"Hang on," Richards said, analyzing the data being fed to him. "Yes... it's the Manta Ray."

Kirk looked over his shoulder towards Elaine. "Hail them."

After making a number of attempts, she finally put noise on the overhead speaker. "Sorry, Sir. I thought I had the pilot's voice for a moment, but they must still be stuck in the jamming field."

"Keep on it." Kirk ordered. "The field can't be that big."

Just then, the static began to fade. A woman's voice penetrated the noise. "...an you... me? This... eather... Ray."

Kirk stood up. Prichard, normally calm under pressure, looked apprehensive as well. "This is Commander Kirk of the USS Warlord. What's your status?"

"...lord? Thank god. In... system... jammed but Lieut... then... under attack." came the intermittant reply.

As if he could actually see something in the forward viewscreen, Kirk squinted his eyes. "Did you say you came under attack? Who attacked you?" He instinctively raised his voice.

As if providence was commanding the communications, the static cleared instantly. "We were attacked by a Jem'Hadar battlecruiser!" She replied frantically.

The entire bridge was stunned. Kirk sank back into his chair and stared blankly at the screen. Prichard, noticing the lack of response by the bridge crew, stood himself. "Featherly, this is Colonel Prichard. Where's the Sting Ray?"

"Sir, Lieutenant Gannon stayed behind to engage the battlecruiser so we could escape. He's all alone! We have to get them!"

Prichard turned to the seated commander, who was shaking the shock off his consciousness. "Don't worry, Lieutenant. We'll get them back. Won't we, Commander?" Prichard insisted.

Recovering from his numbness, Kirk looked back at Prichard, a determined look on his face. He stood resolute in front of the captain's chair. "Battlestations!" Alarms sounded as the bridge went to an eerie red color. As if turning on a light, the bridge crew jumped to action. Kirk looked back up at the overhead speaker. "Manta Ray, stay where you are. As we pass, fall in behind us."

Showing a bit more confidence in what he saw, Colonel Prichard sat back down.

Kirk tapped his comm badge. Bolerov may not have wanted to be interrupted, but he needed to be on the bridge. Here's hoping he was lucid. "Bridge to Bolerov, come in." There were several seconds of pause as everyone listened for a response. "Captain Bolerov, this is Commander Kirk. We have an emergency."

A groggy, Russian voice finally answered. "Why are we at red alert?"

"Captain," Kirk started quickly, "the Corvettes came under attack by a Jem'Hadar warship."

"I thought we lost contact..." The captain asked semiconsciously.

"Captain," Kirk was trying not to be impatient, "the Manta Ray escaped. We intercepted them en route to the Orias system. We're about nine minutes out. Sir, the Sting Ray is still out there." Nervously, Stephen tapped his foot.

There were several more seconds of quiet before Bolerov spoke again. "Did you say there was a Jem'Hadar ship involved in this?"

"Yes, Sir." Kirk's voice raised, "The Marine ships encountered it while they were investigating the Orias system. According to the pilot of the Manta Ray, they were attacked."

"And we're heading to the Orias system, right?"

For some reason, Kirk didn't dare look at anyone or anything but the viewscreen. He felt... almost... embarassed by this. It wasn't just because of the bridge crew. It was because Prichard was there. There had always been an almost playful animosity between the Marines and other Starfleet personnel. To the Marines, everyone else was, well, a step down... an 'almost' military operation. In the back of his mind, Stephen had wanted to demonstrate that the Warlord was an exception. Bolerov certainly wasn't helping. "Yes, Sir... we are... under your orders."

"Yes, yes," Bolerov replied curtly. With a sigh, he added, "I'll be right there."

Somehow, that statement didn't fill Stephen with much confidence.