CHAPTER 8

UNSC AURORA

The Battle at the Colony Ariosa II still raging, with the latest news that Primary Objective has been achieved. Now secondary objective is currently taking place, but don't know for how long. And certainly, Captain Kaloha either. Captain Kaloha observe the USS Queen Victoria as they fire phaser to the ground, giving the forces on the planet a fire support.

"Captain, can you believe this?" ORSA asks the captain. "About what?"

"Their weapons fire, or should I say, their phaser fire." Soon, captain asks her about it. "What about it?"

"Well Captain, my scanner shows that the phaser array fire at 50 gigawatts." ORSA told captain. Captain seems interesting in regards of their weapons. "That is quite an energy."

"Captain, that is low setting. A Very low setting sir. From the Federation database, USS Queen Victoria are able to fire at full capacity of 200.000 terajoules. I think it can knock out a lot of covenant ships."

Captain Kaloha thinks that with such ship carrying a massive firepower, that can make a really powerful weapon against the Covenant. But there's a catch, according to the Federation database they only build 30 ships for this class. Not well enough against the whole covenant fleet.

"This class of ship is certainly powerful, but why they only build 30 of them?" Captain Kaloha asks. "According to this database, Queen Victoria class was built when the Vaktoh War near its conclusion. Maybe that's why they stop at 30 as the war almost finish."

"That's interesting, what is Vaktoh war anyway? How many ships they've got against this nation? Looks like this Federation took quite a beating as they lost a ton of people." Captain Kaloha learning about the Federation history and its latest war.

"Well Captain, this Vaktoh war start at 2390 as per they calender. To put it simply, this Vaktoh Empire is an extreme xenophobic theocratic nation."

"So, it's almost like the Covenant?"Captain Kaloha asks

"That is correct sir, with the exception its only one race, not many."

While talking about the Federation, one of the officers in the bridge informing the captain that a dozen covenant ships are now heading to the Ariosa System. With a dozen ship against two ships in the system, there's no much time left. Captain Kaloha call this system is a lost cause now. He decides to inform USS Queen Victoria.

"Comms, open the communication with the USS Queen Victoria."

"Aye sir, channel is open"

"Captain Claire, our sensors show that a dozen covenant ship are now heading to this system. We need to withdraw now!" Captain Kaloha informing the situation

"I am aware of that Captain; they will arrive within fifteen minutes. Our forces down there just inform us that secondary objective is over. All covenant forces in the planet are wiped out." Captain Claire in response to the Captain Kaloha. Captain Claire pretty much understand the situation and understand the feeling of Captain Kaloha.

"Roger that Captain Claire, we will extract our troops soon. Captain Kaloha out."

As Captain Kaloha terminate the transmission, he ordered the troops on the planet to RTB immediately. But suddenly, ORSA inform Captain about other ships coming to the Ariosa system. For him, time is against him. But the fact will give him the time for a while.

"Scan the incoming ships now!" Captain Kaloha order ORSA to scan the ships, to know who and what is it.

"Captain, according to sensors, its Federation ships sir. 6 ships are now heading to Ariosa II fast."
"Thank God, better than before!"

Captain Kaloha was relief that it was Federation Starship that is coming to the Ariosa II and they coming fast. For him, it's better than nothing, as the covenant forces heading to this system. He hopes though, that their ships are capable to knock the Covenant ship.

USS Queen Victoria

"Captain's log, Stardate 92772.1 at the Ariosa II. It's 17:00 hours and after three hours of fighting, FNIC and JAFO alongside UNSC troops have successfully conducted an operation to eliminate the Covenant Forces that currently attacking the colony, Well, technically that is their secondary objective since the primary one is Eliminate all Federation Database. I guess it will take time to upload the Federation Database to the computer system in Ariosa II. However, I notice the difference in weapons, as the UNSC currently still using the projectile weapon. Old, but efficient. Nothing that we can't handle, but unfortunately that is the beginning of our problem. Our sensor shows a dozen covenant ships are heading to the system. So, I am ordering the FNIC and JAFO to withdraw and return to ship immediately, while the FNIC at Ariosa II will activate the Planetary Shield Generator to protect the inhabitant. Let's hope that this thing work, or millions will die in it." While Captain makes a Captain's log, a sound suddenly appears calling the captain. "Captain, report to the bridge!"

It was Lieutenant Commander Vorik calling her to the bridge, so she come.

"Captain, Federation starships will arrive in this system" Vorik inform the Captain about incoming starships.

"How long?"

Before Vorik answered Captain, ensign Park intervene on the conversation.

"Captain, 6 Starships has just drop out of warp. Its Inquiry (Inquiry Class Assault Cruiser), Defiant (Defiant Class Escort Vessel), Sovereign, Challenger, Vulture (Sovereign Class Assault Cruiser), and Excelsior (Excelsior Class Exploration Cruiser)."

"Excelsior? The same Excelsior classes?" Captain Claire ask Ensign Park to clarify, it was the same class.

"Well it was captain, the same Excelsior Class, she's old but she is still a beast." Ensign Park answering; for Captain, it was amazing that Excelsior Class still around though. Its already 200 years above for a class of starship in service for Starfleet and she's still like a brand news. Captain guess that USS Excelsior may take a major refit, that's why she looks so new.

"We've got incoming transmission from the Inquiry Captain."

"Put it on screen"

As 6 starships arrive at the Ariosa II, Captain Worf of USS Inquiry contacted the USS Queen Victoria.

"Hello Captain, its been quite some time you know?"

"I'm sure it is, Congratulations though for your promotion as a Captain. Took you a while to get yourself some promotion." Captain Claire know Captain Worf during the Vaktoh War.

"I realize that, anyway our sensor detecting a dozen unknown ships heading to the Ariosa System. Do you know them?" Captain Worf Asks

"Only a few, but one way to put it is they are now trying to wipe us out. And they from other universe, and as you can see, that ship is UNSC Aurora, belong to another universe in which they currently helping us" Captain Claire explain about the covenant. Captain Worf mind about the Covenant surely pisses him off. The blood of the warrior raging in his vein. But he kept for himself, as he prefers to channel it through the covenant.

"What in the name of Kahless?!" Captain Worf displayed changed when Captain Claire shows him the UNSC ship. Certainly, it gives him a chill about the ship.

"Comms, hail them!" Captain orders the communication to open the channel so they can talk alongside Captain Claire.

"This is Captain Kaloha of the UNSC Aurora, to whom am I talking to?" Captain Kaloha usual standard greeting to the unknown.

"Captain Kaloha, may I present to you Captain Worf of the USS Inquiry." Captain Claire introduce him. But Captain Kaloha was not pleased as his time being wasted for get to know you.

"Captain I don't have the time for this, as you can see, covenant ships are heading to this system and they will arrive within five minutes. We talk now, they beat your ship for good." Captain Kaloha explains his irritation for waste of time. Captain Claire and Captain Worf agree that they need to use the time they have to defend the system, otherwise, the inhabitants of Ariosa II will be at risk of glassing

"So, what's the plan?" Captain Worf Asks.

Captain Claire present her plan to all of them.

"We are gonna use what we have now, according to sensor logs and comparing with USNC data, a dozen covenant ship. 8 of them is Ket-pattern battlecruiser, 3 Zanar-pattern light cruiser, and 1 is Varric-pattern heavy cruiser. Whatever they are, they are loaded to punch you up. We need to draw them out from the Ariosa II. Defiant is equid with Cloaking device, so hit them at the back. Captain Kaloha and I will confront them head to head. Try to bring them out of the system. Sovereign, Challenger, and Vulture will hit them starboard side. Just wait on my signal."

"Captain, head to head attack is quite risky. Are you sure your ship is able to sustain continuous damage against 8 vessels?" Captain Kaloha asks whether it will be wise.

"I am sure she does Captain. She is built to fight anyway." Captain Claire response for Captain Kaloha Skepticism.

"ORSA, what do you think?" Captain asks ORSA, the UNSC Aurora Artificial Intelligence.

"Sir, my estimate is 45% that USS Queen Victoria are able to survive head to head but with if we are able to lure them out of the system. Queen Victoria is massive alongside with her maneuverability. I think she will survive."

"What an analysis for an AI" Captain Worf answers with some pessimism.

"Alright gentlemen, go to your position."

Captain Claire terminate the communication with the Captain Worf and Captain Kaloha. She is confident that her ship is able to survive.

UNSC AURORA

"Damn, I love that woman! She's quite a warrior, I think alice will agree with me." Captain Klaoha comment about Captain Claire's plan. He found it quite bold, but he is confident that USS Queen Victoria is able to survive in one piece. But for him though, he is just hoping. His ship was built after the war is over, although with some new technologies, he still does not have full confidence that this ship up to the task.

"ORSA, I want all weapons hot, shields to full. And also, what's the probability that this ship will remain in one piece?"

"Aye Captain, but for one piece, I say its 35% without the Federation. 60% with Federation firepower. One thing about Queen Victoria Phaser Array weapon sir, her maximum fire power is 200.000 Terajoules."

"How can a ship have such power? Even the Infinity class, there's no way that we are able to reach that kind of level." Captain asks about how that ship is able to deliver such power output.

"USS Queen Victoria using a Matter/Antimatter Generator as a way to generate power, since she has dual warp cores, I believe she can, should I say, vaporize a lot of ships. That is my theory."

"Matter/Antimatter Reactor…hmmm… that is something we actually are researching for. Definity that ONI want to know at every given them. But whatever it is, they maybe can become a great ally for us."

"That is the possibility" Orsa answering him.

Suddenly Helm call the Captain.

"Captain, the covenant fleet just arrived the system!"

"All hands, this is the captain, man your stations now! Let's just hope that we made it alive this time."