Xingyun Cluster, Da Ling Er System, SSV Hamburg, Rear Admiral Julia Hawking, 1330 April 4th 2157:

I gaze out at the wounded enemy Cruisers, the blue of their projections in the CIC almost seeming to accentuate the areas still glowing on their hulls, arcs of blue energy arcing from one point to another, most likely between kinetic barrier emitters, like arcane lightning. 'Not as effective as I hoped, but far better than my fears.' Each of the five ships were scared by the attack, though to different degrees. The two ahead of the other three took the brunt of the damage, dozens of darkened and twisted areas mar their hulls from the distortions caused by the torpedoes and their own overloading barriers, damaging heat dispersal systems and sensors and lasers and broadside guns and maneuvering thrusters. They aren't out of the fight, unfortunately, but they are still in bad shape, and easy targets.

The other three are in far better condition, still marred by torpedo strikes, but far fewer than befell the two ships that tried to defend their sisters. Their barriers are no doubt down in most, if not the majority of areas, but they appear to retain much of their combat capabilities.

I watch in grim fascination as the next wave of my assault, the dozen strong missile salvo, closes in on the enemy, 'will you live past this threat, or is the rest of my day just going to be clean up?' The missiles are met with the broadsides of the enemy Cruisers, dozens of guns between them aiming towards the missiles. Each shot is represented by a glowing bolt on the display, making the attack look like a torpedo run I saw in some WW2 vid a while back, my mind almost overlaying the missiles racing towards the enemy with ancient Swordfish Torpedo Bombers, and the enemy Cruisers with some wet water warship I couldn't remember the name of. The distance closes, 900, 700, 500, 300 kilometers, each change in the number shown in the screen representing the enemy coming just a little closer to destruction. Yet the threat also diminished over that time, 1, 3, 5, 7 missiles, one by one the projectiles were taken out despite their extremely rapid, random movements. By the time lasers begin to rain down upon the missiles, I already know they won't be enough to kill the fleet, perhaps not even a single ship. 'Well, it was worth a try, and some hope never hurt anyone.' All but one of the missiles are destroyed, with the final one striking one of the more damaged Cruisers, renting a large hole in its port side.

I turn my attention towards the sphere still closing on my formation, another similar one also closes with the enemy Cruisers, both crafted by some of the best computers in the Alliance, those on my Cruisers, using the data gathered from the first engagement and the known capabilities of our own ships. They designate the range at which a round launched by one of the Cruisers would have enough chance to hit so as to be worth the heat and power it costs. The one denoting the enemy's effective firing range is larger than the one for our own, though not by too much, luckily. Nonetheless, there will be a 30 second time period where they can shoot at us, but it isn't worth it to fire back.

"Frigates, begin accelerating towards the enemy Cruisers, Cruisers, cut engines, rotate to face the enemy, fire all missile launchers and prepare for direct combat." I hold my breath as the timer in one corner of my display counts down to when they are in range, every second seeming like the tick of a grandfather clock, endlessly imposing.

Soon, however, the timer comes to an end and all within my Squadron prepare for the battle to truly begin. It does not start immediately however, whether due to differing attack beliefs or damage taken during the Fighter attack, they don't begin to fire immediately when it is worth it. In fact, it is almost halfway through the time until we can begin firing until I hear my sensor officer shout "Weapons fire! Eight projectiles bearing down on us." Which comes almost as a relief, the silence having done little to help morale for my crews or myself, just creating a sense of foreboding.

The first shots all miss, of course. Just because it is economical to fire now decent mean hits are common. It takes three full salvoes until a blow is landed, one of the projectiles striking the prow of the Belfast while another strikes the Hamburg, both doing no real damage. I smile when I realize that the Cruiser struck by the missile has remained silent through the entire barrage 'I guess those missiles weren't a waste after all.'

A vicious grin comes upon my face once our own effective range is reached, and I give the order I've known was coming since I was brought to this system by the Marathon's call.

"All ships, open fire."

Xingyun Cluster, Da Ling Er System, PFS Jaxim Vadimos, Vice Admiral Elgos Lilix, 1331 April 4th 2157:

I grimace as the enemy shells rapidly close the distance between my Cruisers and the enemy's Cruisers. They would not hit of course, being far enough out for my ships to dodge with minimal issue, though far greater than it would have at the beginning of the battle. Nonetheless, they add another item to the mountain of them existing now.

I look at the display showing the damage to the Cruisers, which is far too much for my liking. The three Palisis class Cruisers are not too damaged, most of the torpedoes strikes only doing surface damage, hitting important but redundant systems like the DRA strips, RCS thrusters, and lasers. Some less benign damage was caused, the Jaxim's main passive sensor array being one of the most notable casualties, but it is manageable. What is not negligible is the damage done to the two Vernaris class ships, their closer proximity to the attack and inferior defenses causing them to get the majority of torpedo strikes. Much of the equipment on the surfaces of the ships was destroyed in the attack, and some areas with repeated strikes had damage deeper into the ships. The worst of it was on the RCL-054, which was struck by the enemy missile and lost its main gun capacitor, taking both of its main weapons out of the fight.

A glance at the display in front of me shows the next problem for me to deal with, another dozen enemy missiles heading towards my Cruisers rapidly. With the Fighters all destroyed and no Frigates in the formation, which makes me curse turning down the Primarch's offer to help in the search, it falls to the lasers and broadside guns to deal with them. But now that the enemy is in range, the fleet cannot dedicate its resources to the level it did to take out the first salvo.

"Order the RLC-054 to move 100 kilometers ahead of the fleet and divert all main weapon power to the broadside and laser weapons." Using the 054, which has already lost its main weapons, limits the loss in firepower needed to deal with the missiles, and moving it ahead at least gives more time to deal with them.

I now turn to the next threat, the enemy Frigates. They are currently moving towards, which is more concerning then it would normally be. The strange ordnance used by this force has proven to be devastating, and if the Frigates are equipped with them, they may prove a threat greater than they at first appear.

"Order the Bralac Vernic to fire on the Frigates with its main guns. RCL-054 is to assist once the missiles are dealt with" Using one of the Bralac Vernic instead of the RCL-052 is for the best. While the reserve Cruiser is the least powerful of the ships engaged in the gun duel against the enemy Cruisers, it would also be the most vulnerable if it changed orientation. The ship that engages the Frigates will be turned at an angle, even if a narrow one, to the enemy Cruisers, presenting a wider cross section to attack, making it more difficult to dodge attacks. The mostly intact and new Vernic would be able to manage that long enough to deal with the Frigates, but the old and heavily damaged 052? It may be destroyed, which would remove a fifth, now a fourth, of the fleet's firepower from the table.

My gaze never turns from my display, even as my orders are obeyed and I see the ships move on the display, the 054 chagrin ahead with its engines alive with energy, the Vernic tilting away from the battle to strike at the first group of Frigates. It always remains, always studying the battlefield, keeping my mind prepared for anything the battle might bring.

Xingyun Cluster, Da Ling Er System, SSV Bunker Hill, Commander Christina Abel, 1335 April 4th 2157:

I smile as I see another round from my Bunker Hill lance out towards the enemy Cruiser, reaching the point it is too close for the ship to dodge, but it disappears once it strikes the ship's barrier 'Another failed shot, guess not all of them can be penetrating hits.'

The kinetic barriers of the enemy Cruisers, especially the two forwardmost, are riddled with holes where the disruptor torpedoes of the Fighters overloaded their emitters (a few more holes have joined the originals through the penetrating shots of our Cruisers, but they are so few in number compared to the former holes, they are barely worth mentioning). These areas are the only ones where the small main gun of the Bunker Hill and the other Frigates stand a chance of doing any damage, all shielded areas simply stopping the weak projectiles cold.

'If only we could close in with the Cruisers and hit them with our torpedoes, they wouldn't stand a chance.' The intrusive thought comes to me again for what feels like the dozenth time, but is banished when a sudden force begins to pull me to starboard, and I am reminded why that is a hopeless dream.

The enemy Cruiser, designated Alpha-3, has been taking pot shots at us, hoping in part to actually destroy us, as the fate of the Panipat, its wreck drifting nearby, reminds me, but its main goal has been keeping us far away from the Cruiser force. So far, it has succeeded. If we move any closer than we are now, the shots of the Cruiser will become far more accurate, and far more dangerous. The Frigates could charge forward anyways, but those few who'd survive the several hundred kilometer gauntlet would simply fall by the guns of the rest of the Cruisers, providing a distraction for our own Cruisers, but at great cost and minimal gain.

So, we must content ourselves by shooting at the Cruisers from afar, hoping the few shots that land will pass through the gaps in the barriers and do significant damage. It is not an entirely forlorn hope, a handful of shots have actually made it through, damaging the enemy Cruisers, though not enough to take any of them out of the fight. 'Yet,' my mind supplies with the hope of glory and victory.

My rumination is interrupted by my communications officer speaking up "Ma'am, the Admiral has ordered all Frigates to focus fire on target Alpha-2." His words bring my attention to the foremost Cruiser in the enemy fleet. It is the most damaged of the enemy Cruisers and in most circumstances, would be our main target throughout the battle in the hope of destroying or mission killing it. However, it has already been crippled in its long range firepower, and the Admiral ordered us earlier to leave it alone and focus on the other ships to weaken the long range firepower of the enemy. Now, however, the position of the vessel makes it a major threat to the approaching missiles, the likely plan of the enemy, making it a priority target again.

Almost immediately after the order is given, I tell my crew to carry it out, and our fire moves from Alpha-1 to Alpha-2. Shot after shot lances out from the Hill's gun alongside those of the other half dozen remaining Frigates, filling the space around the wounded Cruiser with relativistic shells.

It manages to dodge the first few, but the first hit comes quickly, ripping through the hull and causing significant damage to the ship's systems. That shot is quickly followed by another, and another, and another. Alpha-3 understands our goal and starts burning towards us, blazing away all the while with what weapons it can power, but it is too little to save Alpha-2.

In an instant, the massive Cruiser goes up in a massive explosion, likely caused by a strike to one of its antimatter tanks, its pieces going in every direction.

My eyes light up in a sort of dark humor when one of those shards manage to take out a missile 'at least it managed to do part of its job in destruction, not that it will matter much.' The light disappears when I look down at my display, the success cost us, Alpha-3 managed to take out the Savo Island and Naseby while it was closing, and its fire has become far more accurate, grazing the Heligoland Bight. However, its closing of range gives us the opportunity to go for a torpedo run without the fire of supporting fire from the other Cruisers.

I am drawn from my thoughts by my sensor officer "Ma'am, Alpha-3 is increasing acceleration, and it has changed its vector, it's heading towards the missiles. It's now within a thousand kilometers and closing."

My eyes quickly turn towards the Cruiser, proving my officer's words to be reality 'The hell is it doing?!'

Xingyun Cluster, Da Ling Er System, PFS Bralac Vernic, Captain Drasarius Palinar, 1340 April 4th 2157:

I stare at the broken wreck and 11 trajectories show on the display, part of my mind occupied by sorry at the loss of so many lives, another concern over the missiles that have already proven themselves deadly, and a final part overcome with rage at the deaths caused by whoever this dam group is.

Refocusing myself to the situation at hand, I desperately begin to think of a way to take out those missiles; the Cruisers can't take them out, while we're winning the gun duel, such a diversion of power would surely give the enemy the upper hand, potentially losing us the battle. There are no Fighters and Frigates to intercept them, the latter not having been deployed by the Hierarchy and all of the former destroyed or dead in the water.

My mind, not the sharpest in the Hierarchy i'll admit but honed by almost a century of experience, brings up many plans to deal with them, but dismisses them almost as soon as they come into existence, none able to solve the problem coming towards the fleet, which has only the Vernic in the way.

'In the way.' An idea comes to my mind, a grim one, but one that I can't dismiss as infeasible as easily as the ones before it. It digs into my mind like a parasite or poison, each moment making it look better than the last, until finally, I make a decision and steel my resolve. "Change vector to intercept with the missiles and initiate maximum acceleration, all non bridge personnel are to evacuate the ship, repeat, all non bridge personnel are to evacuate the ship." My face turns to look at my bridge crew just as their own heads turn to me "I'm not ordering you to stay, spirits, I'm not asking you to stay. You may leave if you wish, I will not hold it against you." My words carry a great weight, one forged over 97 years of service in the navy, '97 years well spent.'

Some of the crew take my offer, rushing towards the escape pods as fast as they safely can, but many do not move, many more than I thought would have. They all have grim but determined faces, resolved to their fates and ready to make the ultimate sacrifice for their brothers and sisters in the fleet.

I watch as the time to impact ticks down on the screen, 24, 23, 22, 21, I look upon my crew for the last time, sorrow, pride, and resolve gleaming in my eyes. 20, 19, 18, 17, my hand strokes the metal of the Vernic, my ship for the last 20 years, a good ship, 'shame it has to end like this old girl'. 16, 15, 14, 13, I can see the missiles shirting their vectors on the display, moving to intercept with the Vernic like a pack of animals racing to their prey. 12, 11, 10, 9 an old hymn I remember my mother teaching me when I was but a boy, not even in basic, comes into my mind, one from far before even the Unification War. 8, 7, 5, 4, 'how did it go again? Oh, yes.' "We march through the night, brothers side by side, knowing that the dawn will be our graves. But we still match on, each step shaking the ground below, as we know our blood will allow our sons to play in the day." I don't notice that the words are echoing throughout the bridge instead of within my mind, nor the solitary tear that falls to the floor.

3, 2, 1, contact.

Xingyun Cluster, Da Ling Er System, SSV Hamburg, Rear Admiral Julia Hawking, 1340 April 4th 2157:

I grimace as the enemy Cruiser is turned to scrap by the fleet's missiles, 'all the missiles' my mind supplies in frustration, 'and the last chance we had.'

I gaze upon the display, taking all the information in and coming back to the same conclusion I reached not too long into the battle, one that was irrevocably confirmed, all hope wiped out the moment that damned ship started moving 'we can't win.' Of course, we could make the enemy hurt, perhaps even take out another Cruiser, but victory in the sense I was hoping for is far out of reach. Five to three odds, the Frigates don't matter much and I would have gladly traded them all for a Wing of Fighters or another Cruiser, was always a tall order, but the simple fact is their ships are pound for pound better than our own, and they each have many more pounds. The Fighters proved a vital helper in the battle, leveling the playing field a massive amount. The effectiveness of the last missile salvo made me believe the next might bring victory in our grasp, but it has proven to be a false hope.

"All ships are to jump and rendezvous behind Qinglong, jump begins in 15 seconds." My words are filled with steel, no emotions leaving my flesh and soul into them, because I know that frustration, sorrow, and worry wouldn't help anyone in this situation, least of all my crew.

As my comm officer dutifully repeats my order across the Squadron, and my crews obey the best they can, I smother all those emotions within myself, replacing them with thoughts and plans and observations, things that can't hurt me, that can't bring the images of a multitude of Alliance corpses to my mind, those I failed, and doesn't fabricate a mission more, those my those who may join them.

Time for the second edition of DeafeningEcho Criticizes The Tactics Of a Character I Have Complete Control Over Cause They're Insecure. At the start of this part of the engagement, most of what Admiral Hawking does is right, but it would have been a good idea for her to, instead of just cutting engines and turning to face the Hierarchy Cruisers, also begin burning towards the enemy to limit the amount of time she was under fire while being unable to respond and getting to a better range quicker to take advantage of the torpedo attack. The more time it takes for the Alliance Cruisers to be able to reliably hit the Hierarchy Cruisers, the more time the Hierarchy Cruisers have to fix the damage done by the torpedo attack, or at least get their barriers into a better state. While a full burn may have taken up too much power, a somewhat low G burn or at least a dash into combat range at full burn would have increased the closing speed of the formations significantly. It also may have been a good idea to have the Frigates charge at the Hierarchy, forcing them to divide their power between broadside guns and their main weapons, instead of harassing them with fire to strike where their shields are down.