Gaila expected that in her final moments, she'd cry. She wasn't big on the whole emotional show and could only count a handful of times she'd actually broken down in tears. But if you couldn't cry when you were faced with certain death, when could you?
The crack in the wall is getting larger and larger with each blast that rocks through the ship. The rest of the fleet have already been destroyed. They were last out of the jump, so they're jump to fall. Her mind calculates that the Farragut will probably be able to take one, maybe two more before it's blown to pieces.
But she's not crying. She raises a hand to her cheek just to make sure but it's dry. Which is surprising because all her friends, everyone that meant anything to her have been blown into tiny pieces and become stardust. All of the regret, everything she didn't do and would never get the chance to. Finding out if Vulcan dicks were green. Figuring out if McCoy and Kirk were more than friends, because she totally had her doubts even if they said no to that threesome. Growing old with Nyota. Serving under Captain Pike.
Instead she found herself thinking about those people who she had so much to say to. Wondering what they'd possibly say in this situation. Kirk would cock that adorable grin and ask her if she thought the angels were going to be hot. She'd tell him if heaven was real, there was no way either of them were headed there. But apparently the devils are gorgeous. Spock would comment with some statistic, or maybe he'd just grab Ny by the hand and hold her tight until nothing could tear them apart. Pike would call her kiddo, say it was an honor. She'd say the same, and she'd mean it. And Nyota... She'd hold Nyota close, and she'd tell her that she'd always wanted to go out with family. Then she'd tell Gaila that they weren't sharing a room in the afterlife.
One more blast rocks the ship, and already Gaila can feel the vibrations from the space outside, tearing its way through what's left.
As the last photon hits, Gaila remembers that as you die, your entire life flashes before your eyes. So she grabs on tight to everything, to the love, the regret, the good times and the bad, and rides on out in a blaze of glory.