Smoke had partially filled the bridge, causing the few remaining conscious crew to cough. The Vigilant rocked from the impact of another enemy beam as another cruiser streamed past the hazy viewscreen. "It's no use, Sir," Lieutenant Bosa admitted from her science console. "Auxiliary power is gone. We're running on batteries."
O'Neill turned from the blown out remains of his navigation console. The right side of his face and arm were badly burned, his uniform melted to his skin. Somehow, despite the pain, he stayed at his post, obviously the result of years of training and experience. "I've got nothing, Sir. My console is completely dead." He was breathing heavy.
The red, flashing alarm lights of the Vigilant and two computer panels were the only things illuminating the bridge. As Bolerov surveyed the remains of his bridge, he came to the inescapable conclusion the fight was over. Thankfully, the auxiliary navigation panel on his command chair could still operate the maneuvering thrusters, but the weapons and shields were gone. Of the ten people stationed on the bridge, only four were still alive. He turned to his communications officer "Lieutenant Curran," he never thought he'd hear himself say this... "alert the crew... abandon ship. All hands, abandon ship."
"Aye, aye, Sir," she answered reluctantly. It had been her home for seven years... so many personal effects from the placed they'd been... so much sentimental value. She pressed the buttons to activate the shipwide communications system.
Just then, another weapons impact rocked the ship. Sparks flew as power conduit tore. The overhead glass housing the lighting system shattered, sending shards of glass everywhere. Unfortunately for Leslie Curran, a support beam broke free from the ceiling crashing down on her seat. She never had time to escape or send the message. The beam pinned her to the floor, crushing her body and the chair she sat on. Captain Bolerov saw the horrific scene and sprang. Holding onto the guard rail with one hand, he lept over it in one jump and straddled the falled beam. Pressing the comm button on the fallen officer's panel, he announced, "All hands abandon ship, I repeat all hands abandon ship!"
His science and navigation officers looked worriedly at him. Bosa had a large gash across her forehead from flying debris. O'Neill looked like he was slowly losing consciousness. He nodded to them with a smile. "That means you... get out." Another shot rocked the ship, blowing out yet another panel on the bridge. Sparks rained from the shorted-out ceiling power junctures.
They slowly stood up. O'Neill already knew the answer, but he had to ask. "Are you coming, Sir?" he staggered towards the escape pod entry door to the rear of the bridge.
Bolerov shook his head. "I'm going to run interference for the rest of you. That Gem'Hadar cruiser had her shields knocked down pretty badly when last we saw. Maybe I ram it and buy you some more time."
Reluctantly, the remainder of the crew boarded an escape pod as the captain raced for the remainder of the navigation console. With a loud 'whoosh', it shot itself into space, leaving only Bolerov, who allowed himself the pride of watching he beloved crew escape. Dropping to one knee, he set course for the nearest cruiser, which had engaged the USS Repulse. Hopefully, he'd be able to ram it, drawing attention to himself... and take out one, last enemy in the process. He engaged the aft thrusters to full power. Andrei squinted at the snowy viewscreen and smiled as the image of the Dominion cruiser grew larger and larger. What he wasn't expecting was another cruiser attacking the Vigilant from behind. He saw it too late to attempt any kind of evasive maneuver. The attack destroyed the thrusters, the impact causing the Vigilant to spin slowly on its X axis. The ship he aimed for moved harmlessly away. The explosion had far worse effects, however. All but the mostly snow-filled viewscreen, turbolift lights and red alert blinking lights were all that remained of the battery power. All other systems were gone, including life support. He coughed and choked for air, the filters no longer working and bridge completely filled with smoke and flames. He'd have to wait for death to take him slowly.
Then, amid the snow and lines of the failing viewscreen, to his horror, he was witness to the worst nightmare a captain could ever see. "No!" he screamed. "No, no, no! Please no! STOP! For the love of got stop!" he screamed at the image before him, but it was too late. He was losing consciousness and full of remorse. As his vision blurred from oxygen depravation and tears, he fell on all fours, feeling pain shoot through his right hand. He held his hand up and turned it over to see a large shard of glass poking into it. Painfully, he removed it...
Andrei Bolerov stared at the shard of broken glass from his vodka bottle still thinking he was on the bridge of the Vigilant. Still on his knees, he looked at the glass and his hand. He coughed again from the smoke that wasn't present. His crew gone, his mission failed, his life already forfeit, he cried once more for the friends he had lost and did what smoke inhalation wouldn't let him do aboard the Vigilant... he raked the shard of glass across his wrist and smiled... he'd finally feel the peace he was looking for.