-looks apprehensive-

I don't know how people are going to take this.

I'll give you a warning. character death.

Just read it, I'll give my reasons later.

THE FINAL BATTLE

PART I

Daniel sat in his command chair, tapping with agitation on the armrest.

Piastol had returned to the Orion, reasoning that as the Captain, she should be there rather then on the Bridge of the Andromeda.

Daniel had reluctantly agreed. It wouldn't do good for the Orion's crew moral if they went into what would most likely be the most important battle of the War.

"Attention H.M.S Sirius, this is the H.M.S Lynx," A young Commander's voice rang out over the Bridge, "Commander Carlos Meridian reporting in on behalf of Captain Belleza Rodriguez as ordered Admiral Aubrey."
"Excellent Commander," Aubrey's voice crackled over the speakers, "Have you reported into Galcian?"

"Aye sir,"

"Good, you and the Spectres form on my right flank."
Daniel sighed, he had been getting jabbering like this over the speakers since he got here, but Admiral Galcian had ordered all ships kept this frequency open so he could order the ships from the Hydra.

Suddenly a deep voice cut in over all the other chatter, a voice that caused shivers to go down even Daniel's spine.

"Attention Ships of the great and glorious Valuan Empire," the voice proclaimed, "This is Lord Admiral Galcian. Prepare for attack. The Andromeda and the Fourth Fleet will lead, while the Fifth and Third Fleets will flank them. The Hydra will remain here in case any Nasrean ships try to escape,"

"WHAT!" Deloco's high-pitched voice caused Daniel to wince, "WHY DOES MACKENZIE HAVE TO LEAD? I BUILT THESE SHIPS, I SHOULD LEAD!"
"Because Admiral Mackenzie has the most heavily armoured vessels in the fleet," Galcian replied icily, "He will be able to give cover fire as the rest of the fleet gets through the Strait. Am I clear, Admiral Deloco?"
"Yes sir," came the sulky reply.

"Good. All ships, prepare to attack!"

As the Andromeda slowly eased forwards, the rest of the fleet began to follow suit.

Piastol was clenching her armrests so tightly her knuckles were going white.

As the Dannel Strait slowly widened, she gasped at the city below.

It was a perfect hexagon in shape, and almost pure white, like it was made of ice and snow, and there sitting in the middle of it was a beautiful palace, with glass onion shaped roofs and handsome stone towers.

Then the shots came.

Piastol was knocked into consciousness once more as the Orion was knocked about from the first volley.

"REPORT!" She cried over the blaring alarms.

"HEAVY FIRE COMING FROM THE CITY MA'AM!" Her First officer called out.

"WELL STOP TELLING ME WHAT'S HAPPING AND RETURN FIRE!"
the ship shuddered again as more cannon fire smashed into the Orion sending everyone flying.

"Port Secondary Cannons destroyed Ma'am," the Tactical officer called as he dragged himself back into his chair.

"RETURN FIRE!" Piastol called back, "Mr. Atwill," She turned to her Comm. Officer, "Give me a battle field report!"

"Aye Captain," Atwill's hands flew over his console, "The Andromeda's holding her own against a Nasrean frigate, The Leo and the Gemini are trying to draw the City Cannon fire away from us, but I don't think their succeeding."
Another explosion rocked the ship, this time almost bursting through the Bridge wall.

"That much is certain," she muttered, "Continue,"

"The Cancer and the Canis are assisting the Andromeda with her Ship problem and…"
"SIR WE JUST LOST THE MAIN CANNONS! WE'RE SITTING DUCKS!"

Piastol bit her lip.

Another explosion.

"Captain we have no choice," The First officer lay a hand on her shoulder, "We have to abandon ship."

Another, larger explosion rocked the battered ship, causing Piastol to fall back into the First Officer's arms.

"I can't hold her together for much longer Captain!" The Engineer called over the intercom, "I don't know how long she'll stay up!"

Piastol closed her eyes. She then looked through the main port window and saw two Nasrean frigates bear down the Andromeda as the Cancer seemed to pull away while the Canis sank below the clouds in a blaze of fire and smoke.

It was then she knew what to do.

Without a word to her crew, she walked over to the First Officers console and activated the intercom.

"All hands Abandon ship. I repeat. All hands Abandon Ship."
As a new alarm screamed out over the ship, the Bridge officers took one look at each other, before making a runner for the door.

As the First officer got to the door he looked back at his Captain.

"Let's go Ma'am we don't have much time."

Piastol looked back at him, a sad smile on her face.

He had to take one look in her eye to know three things: what she was about to do, who she actually was, and there was nothing he could do to stop her.

He saluted her. "Hail Valua Captain Mendosa," he said formally, "It has been an honour and a privilege."

"No Richard," Piastol smiled as she returned the salute, "The honour was all mine."

The first officer nodded, before running out of the door.

Piastol sighed as she looked around the Bridge, now in shambles and flames.

Knowing she didn't have much time, she fitted the First Officer's earpiece in her ear, before sending a message to Valua on a secure channel.

Then she took the Helm.

Sitting down in the chair in front of the console and praying to the Moons that everybody was out, she plotted a course.

She then walked through the carnage of the Bridge, back to her chair, before settling back, closing her eyes, and waiting for the end to come.

Daniel stared in horror at what he saw.

The Orion, a couple of lifeboats just falling out of the back as she moved again, streamed towards the two frigates, looking like a flaming comet as she went.

Daniel slammed his hand down on the Comm. Console.

"Andromeda to Orion! ORION RESPOND! BREAK OFF ATTACK! THAT'S AN ORDER! PIASTOL! PIAST…"

But he never finished. The Orion crashed into the first Nasrean ship, causing it to collide with the second.

In a spectacular detonation all three ships exploded in a great flash of light, sending the Andromeda flying in the shockwave.

Daniel collapsed to his knees, his eyes wide and disbelieving.

"The…the Orion has been destroyed," The Comm. Officer reported hesitantly.

Daniel didn't reply.

He didn't say anything for two whole minutes. He just sat on his knees, his face pale.

Finally he rose, taking deep, shuddering breaths as he did so.

"Mr. Mizzen," she said slowly as he stumbled towards the Bridge door, "I am no longer fit to command the Fleet. You have the Bridge."
And before anyone could stop him, Admiral Mackenzie walked off the Bridge, the ship shaking as it was hit by cannon fire.

-sigh- , I hope no one kills me after this.
Yes, Piastol is dead. this was one of the hardest chapters I ever wrote. I hate killing off characters, but it was nessisiary in this case.

-sigh-

Anyway, let me know what you think,

Next time, The final battle from the Bridge of the H.M.S. Lynx.