The fleet of the Terran Empire seemed to stretch so far and wide that it seemed capable of engulfing the Federation fleet. The Federation fleet moved towards the waiting wall of the Terran Empire. The Peregrine class fighters assumed their positions at the head of the fleet.

Merriell remembered a story from the Dominion war that Miles O'Brien had told him when they were attacking a Dominion fleet to take back Deep Space Nine. O'Brien had told him a poem that he and Bashir had recited right before the attack.

"Cannon to the right of them, cannon to the left of them, cannon in front of them, volleyed and thundered."

"Stormed at with shot and shell, boldly they rode and well, into the Jaws of Death, into the Mouth of Hell…rode the Six Hundred."

Merriell looked back and saw Zofchak smiling. "I talked with O'Brien about that battle too. Plus, that's a poem called The Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred Tennyson. It was about the disastrous charge of the British cavalry against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava in eighteen fifty-four."

"Thanks for the history lesson, Commander." Nycz said.

"No problem, Counselor."

Allensworth opened a channel to the fleet. "Allensworth to all ships. Excelsior and Galaxy wings, drop to half impulse. You too, Ensign."

"Half impulse, sir." Stull said.

"Attack fighters, tactical pattern Omega. Once you've gotten them to break formation split into squadrons and run like hell."

"Attack fighters in Omega formation. Excelsior and Galaxy wings, at half impulse." Merriell said.

"Allensworth to attack fighters. Prepare to engage on my command."

The Peregrine class fighters moved around waiting for the word.

Allensworth's expression tightened. "Attack fighters, full impulse. Fire at will."

The Imperial fleet opens fire on the approaching Federation attack fighters. The first wave of Federation fighters lets loose a barrage of quantum torpedoes at the center of the Imperial lines. Some of the fighters are hit and destroyed, the rest follow Allensworth's plan and break formation, splitting off in all directions.

"Commander Sato, send in the second wave."

"Aye, sir. Second wave on its way. Third and fourth waves on standby."

"Merriell, have Akira units seven and nine move in closer, the fighters need more cover fire. Hoshi, tell Captains Hinton and Tyo to stay alert the Empire may try to outflank us."

The mirror Picard looked at the tactical screen. "Allensworth is a very persistent."

"That's the seventh wave of fighters he's sent into battle." La Forge said.

"What his he planning?" Daniels asked.

"He's trying to get our ships to break formation. He wants to get in to the formation and beat us from within. I plan to make our ships break formation and we'll enclose him."

A wave of attack fighters flew in unleashing a barrage of quantum torpedoes on a Galaxy class ship before they sped away under heavy fire. The saucer section of the ship exploded and the ship lost control and fell from the lines.

A few Akira class ships took off after the attack fighters.

"Sir, a few Akira class ships are breaking formation and going after the fighters." Merriell said.

Allensworth walked up behind Merriell and looked at his console.

"Sir, do you see those Galaxy class ships…" Merriell asked.

"I see them."

"You think they're baiting us?" Sparhawk asked.

Allensworth turned around. "We really don't have a choice. If we want to strike we have to do it now."

"Sato, have Galaxy wings nine four and nine eight engage their counterparts. All other ships fight your way through. Anyone who gets through doesn't stop till they reach Betazed."

The Alexandria along with the rest of the fleet move in formation towards the Empire's lines. Both fleets engage each other. The firing becomes general as both sides unleash their weapons. The ships are so close that every shot seems to find a target.

An Imperial Galaxy class fired its phasers at the incoming ships. All of a sudden a Federation Galaxy class appeared in front of it and fired its phasers, striking multiple spots of its saucer section. Another Galaxy class appeared out from its ally's shadow and opened fire as well on the Imperial starship.

The Alexandria flew past more enemy ships firing at anyone of them that got in its way. It took out two Miranda class ships, a Saber class and a Norway class. The Alexandria was being followed by three of its allies, a Saber, a Centaur class and a Springfield class.

Suddenly, a transphasic torpedo struck the saucer section of the Centaur class and ripped through where the bridge was placed. The ship spun out of control before ultimately exploding. More phaser fire shot from beneath the ships and hit the Saber class. The Saber class tried to move out of the beam's path but the beam stayed on it, ripping through its hull and then in half. The Springfield class starship met its end at the hands of five Miranda class starships. The Springfield was able to take out one of the ships before being destroyed.

"Sir, we just lost the Rhames, the Astris and the Buckner. We have four Imperial Mirandas on us now."

The Alexandria made several sharp, evasive maneuvers and drilled one of the Imperial ships with its photon torpedoes destroying it. The remaining three Imperial Miranda class ships locked onto the Alexandria's tail.

"That's one down." Fulks said.

"Can you shake the other three, Ensign?" Allensworth asked.

"I'm working on it, sir."

"We've lost aft shields. Forward shields down to fifty-three percent." Merriell said.

Sparks erupted from consoles all over the bridge. Smoke poured out conduits.

"Divert auxiliary power to weapons. We're going to fight our way through."

The Alexandria continued to avoid enemy phaser fire. The following Miranda classes couldn't seem to get a clear shot at the Sovereign class.

Suddenly, the three Miranda classes exploded.

"It's the Eleventh fleet, sir. Being led by the Thunderchild."

"Sir," Hoshi said. "We're being hailed by Captain Stork."

"On screen."

"Captain Allensworth, I'm sorry we're late for the party. We were in the Tagra Sector when we heard about the battle."

"I'm just glad you could join the party. Drinks are on me, Captain."

"Good to know. Thunderchild out."

Captain Stork sat down in his command chair. "Now let's give these Imperial bastards something else to shoot at. Lock phasers, and open fire."

More Imperial ships were being destroyed now that the eleventh fleet had arrived. The Alexandria continued firing its weapons at the enemy vessels along with the Thunderchild. Together they destroyed a Galaxy class starship and now that was in front of them was open space.

"Who else made it through?"

"The Thunderchild, Solent, and Katana."

"We can't wait for more ships to get through. Set a course for Betazed, maximum warp."

The four starships leapt into warp heading for Betazed.