The image of a Dominion battle cruiser streaked across the view screen as it savagely attacked an old-style Constellation class starship. The USS Hood immediately changed course to fall in behind the battle cruiser. "Mr. O'Neill," Bolerov started, "I believe we've found our first target. Keep in formation with the Hood." From the corner of the viewscreen, one could easily see phaser beams and a pair of red torpedoes launch from the underside of the Hood's saucer section. The ordinance impacted the shields of the cruiser, causing them to glow. "Mr. Iieria, you have your target. Fire when locked."
The Deltan female weapons officer complied. "Aye, Sir." The high-pitched chirp of the weapons console confirmed a target lock. Four long rays of red light followed by two red, glowing orbs impacted the top of the Dominion vessel in concert with a similar barrage from the USS Repulse, unseen through the viewscreen because it was on the opposite side of the Hood.
As the Repulse's weapons struck the shields, an elated science officer exclaimed, "The cruiser's shields are failing!" The gray warship broke off its pursuit of the Constellation vessel.
"Excellent work!" Bolerov exclaimed.
"Sir?" Kirk questioned, genuinely concerned, "we haven't done anything yet."
"What?" Bolerov seemed dazed and bewildered... not sure which reality was true.
Commander Richards interrupted, "Sir, they're locking weapons on us."
"We should..." Bolerov started hesitantly.
"Sir," T'Nia began quickly, "the weapons are charged and locked. Shall I fire?"
"Where are we?" Bolerov began, his mind still clouded.
"They're firing!" Richards announced as a series of purple beams shot from the two battle cruisers and straight for what looked like the Warlord's viewscreen.
The klaxons of the Vigilant cried as if the ship itself was in pain. "Where did that come from?" Bolerov asked quickly.
"Another Dominion cruiser," Lieutenant Bosa replied. It's swinging around."
"Is the Hood still following the original battle cruiser?" the captain asked.
"Yes, Sir," O'Neill answered. "It's cripled, but still going evasive."
Bolerov nodded. They would need to get rid of this ship quickly in order for his teammates to defend them against the enemy getting behind them. "Keep firing on the Hood's target."
"Our shields are down to ninety one percent, Sir," T'Nia replied calmly.
"Captain!" Kirk exclaimed. "The Hood isn't here... it's just us. Do you want us to return fire? They're flanking us."
"No Hood?" He was looking straight into Stephen's eyes, but it was as if he didn't recognize him.
Another trio of large, purple beams streaked across the viewscreen and impacted the forward portion of the shields in an explosion of purple light.
"They've locked again... they're firing!" Lieutenant Kelly Bosa's voice was panicked. The bridge of the USS Vigilant rocked with the impact.
Bolerov did his best to remain calm. "Mr. Bosa, where is the attacking Dominion ship?"
"She's high on our six, Sir!" Bosa replied hurriedly.
"Shall I take evasive action?" Lieutenant Commander Aaron O'Neill asked from behind the navigation console.
Bolerov didn't even need time to consider the question. "No," he replied quickly. "Stay with the Hood. Lieutenant Iieria, return fire."
The Deltan tactical officer replied, "Yes, Sir."
"They're firing again!" Richards proclaimed. This was getting ridiculous. Someone had to do something. What was wrong with the captain?
"Captain," Kirk said, grabbing Bolerov on the shoulder. Captain Bolerov was standing, staring more into space than the viewscreen. Stephen spun the captain around and looked straight into his eyes. "Captain... come on... we need you HERE. We're being attacked. Give SOME kind of order!"
Colonel Prichard was about to take matters into his own hands.
"Our shields are down to seventy nine percent," T'Nia announced to anyone who was listening.
The front viewscreen had already begun to fade to white noise as the video relays became more and more damaged. Bolerov surveyed the damaged bridge. Two of his bridge officers were already dead. The entire room was bathed in an eerie red light, made even more morbid by patches of smoke and fire.
"We've lost main power!" Lieutenant Bosa yelled.
"My weapons console is dead," added Lieutenant Iieria calmly.
"Lieutenant Curran, alert the crew... all hands abandon ship."
"Abandon ship?" Kirk stared incredulously at his captain, who obviously wasn't in his right mind. His own mind wrestled with what to do. What he wanted to do seemed the right thing to do... but it was also potential mutiny. He continued shaking the captain, trying to bring him around. "Do you know what you're saying? Are you even here?"
"Who's Lieutenant Curran?" Davies asked. She stared frantically at the scene in front of her wondering if she should comply.
Kirk took a hand off his captain to point to Lieutenant Davies. "Don't issue that order!" Desperately looking for direction, she nodded and sat back in her chair.
"They're firing again," Richards added, almost numb to the situation.
"Shields down to sixty-five percent," T'Nia added. She turned in her seat to look at her friend and superior officer with an intense gaze. Obviously, she expected him to do something.
"For god's sake, Commander," Colonel Prichard stood up, "if you don't do something about this, I will."
Lieutenant Curran turned back to her communications console. Yet another polaron beam impacted the defenseless ship. There was a terrifying explosion directly above them. Curran looked up helplessly as a large section of the ceiling support fell on her. Both she and her chair collapsed under the debris. Blood flowed freely from underneath the pile of metal and plastic. She was gone.
Bolerov's eyes widened as he looked at the communications console where Lieutenant Davies was seated. "Oh, no!" He cried, to the surprise of everyone on the bridge. He quickly wrested free from Stephen's one-handed grasp and ran for the console. Startled, Elaine fell backwards in her chair. Slamming his hand on the console, he screamed out, "All hands, abandon ship! All hands, abandon ship!" He turned around and made a surprising dash for the navigation console. "I'll fly her into the cruiser to buy you some time!"