Friends in High Places

"We're ready for transwarp on your mark, Sir", said the young helmsman aboard the USS Horizon.

"Engage," said Captain Paris, not without a slight bit of hesitation in his voice and the ship lurched from its previous speed of Warp nine into a conduit that hurled them forward toward Starbase 10 at a speed approximately 250,000 times the speed of light. Not being the true theoretical transwarp that he had experienced one in his life, it was not instantaneous. However, they did arrive in a fraction of the time it would've taken them previously, and in 8 minutes they were sitting between Starbase 10 and the Alsea, about 500 million kilometers away from the Azimuth Horizon. Even at that range, the Anomaly could be seen burning in the distance.

"Set a course for Alsea's position," ordered Paris, but just then a squadron of Klingon ships dropped out of warp in front of them.

"Klingons, Sir," said the Tactical officer. "Two Negh'Var class battle cruisers and half a dozen Birds of Prey."

"Hail them," ordered Captain Paris.

"They're not responding, Sir," said the Tactical officer. "They're charging weapons!"

"Shields," Paris ordered. "Red alert!"

The Birds of Prey began circling, firing their disruptor beams at the large heavy explorer. The ship attempted evasive maneuvers as its massive saucer section, which was slightly bigger than that of a Galaxy-class, and quite similar in shape, away from the direct line of fire.

"Point us in the direction of the Alsea," Paris said to the Helmsman. He turned to the Tactical officer. "Target their engines."

The Horizon had the ability to fire dual phaser beams from all six banks and the Birds of Prey were quickly disabled, although they continued their fire on the large ship.

"Shields at thirty-seven percent," the Tactical officer said. "No damage to our structural integrity."

Just then the bridge shook. A torpedo hit from one of the Negh'Vars slightly penetrated their shields and caused hull damage on the aft ventral hull.

"So they want to play it that way huh," Paris said. "Quantum torpedoes, full spread."

The Tactical officer fired quantum torpedoes from the aft launchers and disabled the attacking Negh'Var's engines as well.

"Get us out of here," he ordered and the ship jumped to warp one.

As it increased, the Helmsman said, "Sir, I'm having trouble getting past warp five."

"Damage?" Paris asked.

"Not sure, Sir. It does look like one of their beams got a lucky shot on our port nacelle."

"Paris to Engineering. What seems to be the problem?"

"They knocked out one of our anti-matter fuel injectors, SIr. We're working on it."

"Fine, Paris out," he replied and then said to the helmsman. "Get us there as fast as you can, Ensign."

"Get me Starbase 10," he then ordered.

"Samji here," said the Fleet Captain's image on the shiny new viewscreen.

"Fleet Captain, we got in a little bit of a scuffle with Klingons. You may have some coming your way, but we slowed them down a bit. They'll have to repair their warp engines first."

"Thanks for the warning, Tom," said Samji. "Minimal damage I hope?"

"We scratched a little paint and are having a few engine problems, but nothing your dedicated corps of Engineers can't polish up when we get back. We're well on our way to see what we can do for the Alsea."

Samji nodded and the viewscreen returned to the stars streaking by as they headed to their new destination a little slower than they had anticipated.

((OOC: Note this has been added in before the beginning since this would've taken place much sooner than the events indicated afterward))

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It was a tense ninety minutes that the ships of Lotus Fleet waited and monitored the Azimuth Horizon's progress. Their ion pulse dispersal had been deployed as much as could be expected and it was as if water was being poured against the flames of the Anomaly while the pulses did their job to seal up the fractured rifts in subspace. The flames that had previously been attracted to the large rifts began to dissipate and thanks to the trilithium probe deployment, the Starfleet officers on the various ships could see that the flames were more show than substance, to their collective relief; like the brilliant light of flames being attracted to kerosene, not incredibly hot like the burning coals of a blacksmith's forge.

They still had to let the fire subside before locking the door, however, so the ships had to remain in place, monitoring the progress, all the while possibly being exposed to attack from all fronts.

The Alsea was the first to encounter such a threat as a D'deridex warbird dropped out of warp within sensor range followed by two Valdore warbirds, two Mogaii escorts, and two squadrons of three Birds-of-Prey. The D'deridex hailed the Alsea and identified itself as "Her Royal Empress' Ship, the I.R.W Regalis".

Upon hearing the name, Admiral Tomalak, standing on the upper part of the Alsea's bridge, raised an eyebrow... and then the corner of his mouth. If the Empress herself was here, now, it meant only one thing; she knew, somehow, of the supposed demize of her commanding Admiral and was now compelled to take matters into her own hands.

If it was to avenge his death or to profit from it, her reaction upon seeing him alive and well on the bridge of a Federation starship would be immediately telling. Sela was only half-Romulan and even less self-controled than a Rihansuu, well known throughout two quadrants for her spontaneous, unveiled reactions; her features and tone of voice alone would instantly reveal the truth.

Then he would know exactly what to say.

At a nod from Captain Jureth, the communications officer opened the channel allowing the Romulan woman who was the leader of the entire empire to appear on the viewscreen. The faintest of age lines showed on her otherwise youthful looking face belying her age of sixty-five. Her sunny blond hair, otherwise unheard of among Romulans was due to her human side and a trait passed down from her mother. It was an odd counterbalance against the darkness in her eyes and in her soul. Her brow furrowed in contempt as she stared down the young Bajoran Captain who now had the role of representative to the entire Federation thrust upon him due to unusual circumstances.

"Captain, we are hereby seizing this area of space and the anomaly and starbase within it for the Romulan Empire. I suggest you run back to your starbase and disseminate this information to your Fleet Captain so he has time to prepare and make way for our arrival."

"I am Captain Oseno of the Federation Starship Alsea, and as you well know this is Federation space. Laying claim to it, or firing upon any Federation ships would be considered a violation of the treaty and an act of war. Even with your Klingon friends Your Highness, you can't possibly hope to take the starbase. Now that I've told you what you already know, Your Highness, I have someone here who would like to speak with you."

Jureth turned and nodded to Tomalak "Go ahead Admiral."

The grey-haired Romulan Admiral walked calmly up to the viewscreen, standing beside, but slightly behind the Captain in a show of respect. He addressed his Empress in a pleading tone with arms extended, hoping to calm her murderous mind and bring it back to logic. After so many years the Admiral realized the trait so revered by his cousins from across the stars had its advantages.

"With all due respect, Your Highness," he began, "you do not have all the facts. I consider it my job... my duty, to make sure that my Empress is aware of all such details so that she may make an informed decision. Captain Kheren of the Artemis has provided me with information that leads me to believe that our current plan will indeed result in the destruction of all space, Federation and Romulan, and Klingon, alike."

"Traitor!" seethed Sela with surprise at seeing him alive, "You're the one who murdered your compatriots in the Shavok and defied my wishes. Why should I listen to you when I have already dismissed these so-called 'facts' when they were perpetuated by Starfleet? Our own scientists disagree."

"Again with respect, Empress, our own scientists are blind... or afraid of you." His voice rose in anxiety and frustration, "I can see it with my own eyes that what Starfleet says is a fact... an important one!"

Tomalak calmed himself and continued. "I know you're afraid Empress. After all we've been through, with an anomaly like this already destroying our world, we all are. We're afraid our new home Makar will be next. But if you continue in this course of action, you'll be making worse the very thing you're afraid of... and dooming us all."

"And I am not a traitor, Empress. You of all people should know that it is well within my right to execute a subordinate who disobeys my orders. Despite that fact it was not I who killed him or destroyed our ship. It was he who forced that upon himself."

Sela sat back at this, her temper receding. "We need... time... to deliberate on this."

Then, not wanting to appear weak or complacent, she added, "As for you Captain, I would strongly suggest you do as I say. Do you really believe this is all the ships we will bring? Our previous attempt on your starbase was one of stealth and subterfuge. We will launch on all-out attack this time and here are some things that you 'already know'. Even with five ships your starbase was almost lost in a battle with one borg cube. Your current vessels have already been either decimated or put through battle with at least four different enemies. You will not survive an all-out assault and you are well aware of it. And thanks to our Borg friends you have minimal support in the vicinity. Retreat before it is too late."

And with that, the viewscreen cut out and returned to a view of the Romulan ships either motionless, or like the Birds-of-Prey, circling around their Empress' ship to protect her.

Tomalak barely restrained a sigh as he looked at the screen. Then, he turned to Oseno.

"Captain, I think it is time for me to take my leave of you. The longer I stay on board your ship, the more my compatriots and my Empress might think that I am held hostage... a futile gesture against us, as you well know; we do not take or care for prisonners. But we do care to avenge one of our own, especially if he seemingly sacrificed his life in the line of duty. Time for me to return and further try to defuse this conflict... before both our people suffer irreparably and for no reason."

Jureth nodded "Very well Admiral, you are certainly free to leave, I on the other hand am not. I must maintain my position until we are certain the Azimuth Horizon is contained."

"I would expect nothing less from you. Jolan Tru, Captain..."

With a respectful military bow, Tomalak saluted the Bajoran and followed the security guard that escorted him to the nearest transporter room. Without a word, he stepped onto the transporter pad and waited for the technician to beam him over to the Romulan flagship.

After a moment, the woman behind the console looked at him with a slightly apologetic look.

"I'm sorry, Sir, but I can't raise the Regalis to get transporter authorization; communications are jammed at the source."

The old Rihansuu smiled then.

"Standard procedure in a battle zone, Ensign. Please allow me..."

Tomalak stepped down the transporter pad and went to the console, closely watched by the guards at the door with his escort already reporting everything that was happening to the bridge.

They're not the feeble fools so many of us think they are, thought the Romulan Admiral.

But then again, he had had more direct dealings with the Federation than most officers of the Imperial Navy, and not with the least of them, starting with legendary captain Jean-Luc Picard of the most famous USS Enterprise. He for one certainly knew better... but to see them in action had a sobering effect on him.

No one will ever win any war here today... Today is not the day for the Romulan Star Empire to conquer the galaxy; today is the day to make sure we all continue to live in one.

As he thought so, his fingers tapped a certain command code on the console, one only known to a very few circle of high-ranking commanding officers of the Empire. It was meant to save from capture their most important people from any possible enemy abduction, when ressources were available.

And here, they certainly were.

The code became instantly obsolete the moment it was used... but it did it's one time job perfectly; it went right through Romulan scrambling codes and it would soon be followed by the response program it was planned for.

As Tomalak returned toward the transporter pad, a form shimmered into existence right in the middle of it.

It was Sela herself.

"What the... Tomalak?"

"We need to talk, My Lady Empress,"

And as he said so, Tomalak had stepped up to her and embraced her as the transporter beam caught them again and dematerialized the both of them to send them back to the nearest safe place for them the computer program could detect; to the bridge of the Romulan command vessel.

The Alsea's security detail, led by Ensign Garth Allen, immediately started to react, but before they could move the two Romulans were gone. Allen looked at his teammates, and at the transporter chief who could only shrug her shoulders and shake her head as if to say she had no idea what had just happened. On the bridge the Alsea's computer detected the transport and the console on the command chair began chiming at Jureth.

"Bridge to transporter one, what's going on down there? Is the Admiral safe?"

"Sir, Allen here, we were having trouble transporting the Admiral, he entered a code in the console and a Romulan female beamed in and then they both beamed out."

Jureth could scarcely believe his ears, what had Tomalak done?

"Who was the female Romulan?"

"Not sure Sir, but I think it was their Empress."

Jureth had to consciously prevent his jaw from dropping to the floor in front of the bridge crew. He knew that Admiral Tomalak was bold, and devious, but surely he did not kidnap his own Empress.

"Mister Wynn, hail the lead Romulan vessel, find out if Admiral Tomalak is aboard."

Wynn attempted to carry out the order, but after a moment shook his head. "I"m sorry Sir, no response, communications to the Romulan ship are being actively jammed."

"Send the request on all channels and all frequencies repeating until we get an answer."

"Aye Sir."

From the command chair he opened a coded channel to the other Federation ships "This is Alsea to all vessels, nobody so much as flinch."

Jureth suddenly had a very bad feeling about all of this.

----

Snowfire was very, very tired. It didn't look like it. In fact, had one looked at most medical readouts that could be taken regarding the young Ilythirii at the particular moment, she would seem perfectly fine. The issue was not so much tiredness of the body - which she was keeping at pay through a stim patch that she knew quite well she was going to pay for later - it was fatigue of the mind. Which was in itself a far more dangerous thing considering the current situation. But she had the entire program done now - and Keladry had quadruple checked it.

The McKenzie had completed its ion pulse run swiftly, and was now only a few minutes out from Starbase 10, where she would have a leading role in quite possibly one of the most complex scientific operations in recent Federation history. And Snowfire was, as aforementioned, tired. Running a quarter of a starship with your mind - and then having to get up not long afterwards and formulate a program with as full a set of redundancies as she could work into it, whilst overseeing the ion pulse operation and just worrying in general was rather stressful. And that combined with worries over power curves and drive equations and...well...not inconsiderable problems with the McKenzie's power conduits after the whole psionic running of the ship thing - which had led to the Science section being forced to rewire half of their systems to route the power shunt through them. And not to mention the lack of skilled personnel aboard this box of a ship following the engagement against the Horizon's Children.

But it was done. Finally. The tensor matrix was set, passive sensors reconfigured to project it across the area where the wormhole would form. The deflector array - even after all the abuse it had been subjected to - was online and ready to fire the magneton pulse. And the active sensors were a push of a button away from a phase-conjugate graviton beam spread that would seal the wormhole after it had formed. She had even managed to fit in a talk with Hughes and the Captain regarding evasive maneuvers if they were forced to take such action. In all honesty, they were lucky there. With the passive sensors acting as the conduit for the tensor matrix, the McKenzie would be able to dip and dance to her heart's content - so long as she ended up with her deflector dish pointing at the right place when the right moment came.

She just hoped it would be enough. It had to be. Because they wouldn't get another chance.

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The Horizon dropped out of warp next to the Alsea just as the Romulan Admiral was beaming back to the Regalis.

"Hail the Alsea," ordered Paris.

If it had been anyone other than a Vulcan manning the Alsea's tactical console when the Horizon appeared on her scopes the shock would have been quite evident. T'Lana, however reported it much like she did everything else, calmly, and dispassionately.

"Captain, there is another ship dropping out of warp, Starfleet records identify it as the USS Horizon Sir, they are hailing."

"Alsea, this is Captain Thomas Paris, of the USS Horizon. I hear you could use some backup."

Being Bajoran, and unlike T'Lana wearing his emotions nearly on his sleeve, there was almost nothing Jureth could do to prevent the shock from creeping into his voice.

"Horizon, this is Captain Oseno Jureth of the Alsea, I don't know where you came from and frankly I don't care. It seems Empress Sela is bent on claiming Starbase Ten for herself, though I think Admiral Tomalak is trying to reason with her I can't be certain. My secondary section is currently firing inverted ion pulses toward the anomaly in support of our primary mission and the rest of us are just hoping the Romulans don't decide they really want to stop us. So, yes we could use some help."

"We've got your back, Captain," responded Paris.

"Prepare to raise shields at the first sign of trouble and target the Birds of Prey," ordered Paris to his bridge crew. "Don't make us look aggressive yet; we don't want to be the ones to start something."

At the exact same moment, the same words were uttered by Admiral Tomalak as he addressed the Empress of the Romulan Star Empire, just as they materialized on the pad of the main transport chamber of the IRW Regalis.

"We did not, Admiral; they did! With that... thing out there!" Sela retorted angrily as she promptly freed herself from the taller officer's grasp, then looking at him as he was barely coming to her knee. "You wan't them to finish off what the Hobus catastrophy started?"

Tomalak had a hard time restraining the crooked smile that stretched his thick lips.

"You know as well as I do what exactly caused the Hobus supernova... But I can tell you this, on my sacred Honor as a Rihansuu officer who gave his entire life in the service of the Empire; the Federation has nothing to do with this... destructive anomaly... at least, nothing more than we do. it is a natural phenomenon from another universe that spilled out into ours because of our use of warp drive... theirs... and the Klingons... and ours. And if we interfere in their effort to stop it, it will consume all of space... theirs, the Klingon Empire's... and ours."

For a moment, the blonde half-Romulan looked at him with clear suspicion in her eyes. Then she sighed and motioned for him to follow as she stepped down from the transporter platform and out of the room. She kept silent all the while they walked briskly in the agitated corridors of the huge vessel, frantically preparing itself for battle. The ride in the turbolift was equally silent, until she ordered it to stop and seal itself just before bringing them to the bridge.

"I only accept this as fact because of your oath and your name, Admiral," she then began with some frustration edging her clear voice and making her speak faster as she was known to when upset. "When I heard about the Shavok's destruction, I became convinced of Federation intent to wipe us out. And now you're telling me they actually try to save us all?"

"Your Highness, you know very well that I bear no love for the Federation, professionally and personally. Even History knows it... But I must confess that they came to me with indubitable proof of what I just told you... and with no ill will towards us... even when the Shavok Commander, who's name I will never speak again, went against my orders, attempted to assassinate me with his own hand, and then launched an unprovoked attack against Starfleet. Had he succeeded, the Empire... the entire universe, would be condemned by now."

Sela thought long and hard before she spoke again, this time with much more calm and deliberation.

"And why would he, he who's name is now forever gone, disobey you and go against reason like this? He was one of our most trusted officers, your aide for so many years, a decorated ship commander, a war hero... I can't understand how he, of all people, could suddenly turn into such a mutineer, an assassin and a fool like this..."

"Neither can I. But the fact remains... and now, here we are about to do what he had intended to do; start a war with the Federation that would cripple both our cultures... especially ours as fragile as it is after a catastrophy of our own... and allow a cosmic firestorm to wipe everything that's left afterwards."

Again, the Empress of the Rihansuu thought for a moment. The she sighed.

"We need more time to think this, to plan and to prepare. If the Federation is indeed working to save the universe, as they are so fond of doing, we would truly be fools to interfere... for now. But, Admiral, we can not retreat and loose face like this. And we can't either join with them in this endeavor as if we were but their puppets. Our position in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants is tenuous already; doing one or the other would weaken us severely in the eyes of all our enemies... especially the Klingons. They would see this as a major sign of weakness, enough to launch an attack against us."

It was Tomalak's turn to think for a long moment. Then he nodded.

"You are right, of course, my Empress. But here is what I propose; this anomaly surrounds a wormhole giving access to another universe, a pocket universe acording the Starfleet's own data. The USS Artemis, the ship that showed us the truth and honorably defeated the Shavok in a most Rihansuu way, has even been there once herself and confirmed the existence of this new, uncharted, and unclaimed territory. If, in exchange of a cease fire and us leaving this part of space, we demand from this... Lotus Fleet, a solemn promise to hold a treaty conference about sharing custody of this wormhole access... and equal share of this new universe..."

Sela's hawk-like blue eyes lighted up as a smile stretched her small lips.

"We would maintain a position of strength, guard ourselves against possible treachery and get new ressources for the Empire... all with the help and approval of the Federation! Oh they dare not refuse us this! A proposal of peace and collaboration for the benefit of our imperiled people... but with us as equal partners in control... Oh this would be irresistible to their sensibilties..."

Tomalak shared her smile.

"And if there is one thing these Starfleet officers, especially their ship captains, can be counted on, is to be true to their words. Believe me, I know... "

"So do I... most annoying sometimes... But This will serve us well."

She turned and, still smiling, reactivated the turbolift.

"Glad to have you back, Admiral."

Tomalak simply bowed to the oh so rare compliment from his Empress.

By the time they reached the bridge, both had wiped out their smiles and, all business, stepped into the vast command center of the Romulan battleship. Everyone stood up as they entered, more than a few with eyes widened in awe at seeing in the flesh one of the most celebrated officers of the Imperial Navy. They even smiled when the Empress herself showed him the right chair of the dual command seating customary of Romulan ships. Up until now, she had seated there alone, the ship commander deferently staying up by her left side since they had left their new capital. The gesture showed not only that Tomalak was received as an honored surviving officer from deep inside enemy territory, but as a genuine hero of the Empire... or about to be confirmed as one.

Sela herself sat with a practiced grace and looked up at the viewscreen before her.

"Open a channel with the Starfleet vessels."

"Your Highness," then said the ship commander standing again at her side, "we are under communication jamming, following your prepared strategic plan of attack. We will open fire in less than one..."

"Belay the attack order," she cut off curtly. "We will now prevail with words, not fire."

"I do not think so, your Highness."

In the instant those words were uttered, the sound of disruptor pistols sliding out of holsters was heard.

Accross the entire bridge, half a dozen officers were aiming their sidearms at the other half. One at the comm station brought her hand to her own; she was instanlty shot, he rentire body disintegrating on her seat.

The ship commander's own pistol was right at the temple of Sela. This close and at maximum setting, the shot would not only kill her, but continue right through her and kill Tomalak in the same instant. And now, his voice was as burning as disruptor fire.

"We have worked too long and hard to get to this moment. You will not spoil it and prevent us from preserving our own space from the threat of your alien universe with your despicable feebleness."

The strange words... the despizing tone of voice... The last time Admiral Tomalak heard such a speech, it had come right before a treacherous blade had come for his life.

"You... you are not Rihansuu!"

Without moving his eyes from the both of them, the ship commander simply smiled as he ordered:

"Proceed with the attack."

Jureth waited tensely aboard the Alsea for the Romulans to do something...anything, and when the first disruptor shots were fired it really came as little surprise. The Alsea rocked, her shields holding, and Jureth's spirits fell slightly. He had hoped that Tomalak could do something to convince Sela to break off her attack, but now the young captain had little choice.

"T'Lana, return fire, focus on disabling their weapons. Computer, execute attack pattern Oseno Alpha One, compensate for loss of secondary section."

Jureth keyed open the secure comm channel "All Federation vessels this is Alsea, we have been fired on by the lead Romulan vessel, and are responding in kind. Weapons free, fire at will. Keep them off our secondary section as long as you can."

The primary and teritary sections of the Alsea, the latter controlled exclusively by computer, swept forward and swooped toward the lead Romulan vessel firing phasers and quantum torpedoes as they did so, and drawing fire from the Birds of Prey. The two sections crossed over and lined up for another run.

The Spectre and Horizon both jumped to life, shields raised and weapons charged. They each took on one of the Valdores that were flanking the lead D'deridex, leaving the lead ship to the Alsea.

"Focus fire on the Valdore," ordered Paris. Their first attack sweep provided considerable damage to the Valdore's weapons and on the return they finished the job, effectively taking the Valdore out of the fight. One squadron of Birds of Prey broke off and headed for the secondary hull of the Alsea that was still engaged in the ion pulse operation.

The Spectre was overwhelmed fighting a Valdore and two Mogaii escorts on all sides, so it was up to the Horizon.

"Disable their engines!" Paris ordered and the Horizon took off toward the Birds of Prey, firing their dual beam banks at all three of them simultaneously. Two were disabled and adrift before they got in firing range, but one was able to make it to the secondary hull and began firing their plasma weapons at the stationary ship.

"We need to protect the Alsea's secondary hull," Captain Paris ordered. "Take out both his weapons and engines if you can." The Tactical officer nodded and fired all available phaser banks and a high yield quantum torpedo salvo at the Bird of Prey. The weapons and engines were instantly disabled and the final quantum torpedo burst through the shields, taking the port nacelle clean off. The ship veered off toward the Anomaly, and was pulled apart by one of the remaining subspace fractures not yet closed by the ion pulses. The Horizon left it go and began to circle back around toward the main part of the battle.

The Aegis bridge module had backed off to a safe distance when the firefight started on the command of Doctor Nasaro-Myth and was able to oversee the battle from a safe distance. Lieutenant Mrrish helped by giving periodic reports of enemy movements over the secure comm channel that Captain Jureth opened up. Just then she noticed a few sensor echoes in the outskirts.

"Horrizon, watch your six," Mrrish said, and the reason for her call became evident as a Negh'Var along with several Klingon Birds of Prey uncloaked behind her and began firing.

"Aft shields, let's lead them away if we can," Paris ordered. He wanted to give the Lotus Fleet ships as much time as he could to finish their operation.

The Klingon ships took the bait and followed the Horizon more toward the battle, but away from the Anomaly and the secondary hull of the Alsea.

"Shields are holding, Sir, but we won't be able to outlast this assault for long," reported the Horizon's Tactical officer.

"Very well, set a course for the Anomaly. Raise metaphasic shielding and initiate the Pel drive. Let's take advantage of one of the things this ship was specifically built for."

"Let's see how far that Klingon courage extends," Paris said to himself. Thanks to his wife, he was all too familiar with the courage of the race, but also their agonizingly stubborn persistence.

The Alsea's two battling sections maneuvered in and around the battle continuing to make strafing runs at Regalis and making themselves the center of the fight. The bridge rocked and the engineering console showered sparks as the ensign manning it dove for the deck.

"Shields at fifty three percent Captain," T'Lana reported "tertiary section shields at fifty six percent."

"Status on the warbird?"

"It has sustained moderate damage, shields at sixty percent and damage to propulsion and power systems. Their weapons are well shielded Sir."

"Status on the secondary section?"

"They are continuing to fire the ion pulses Sir," T'Lana reported "The Horizon has kept them well protected."

"Keep them focused on us Lieutenant. Computer, attack pattern Oseno Sierra Two." Jureth ordered

The two sections of the Alsea came nearly together as they sliced through the Romulan formation taking phaser shots at the various Valdores, and Birds of Prey and then unloaded a volley of five quantum torpedoes at the Regalis. Before separating again and diving under the massive warship and emerging on the other side. Unfortunately maneuvering at only half impulse was costing the Alsea and allowing the ships surrounding the Regalis to have better firing angles on the Federation ship. The primary section shuddered again under disruptor fire and Jureth knew they couldn't keep this up much longer.

"Alsea to Aegis," Jureth said over the comm channel "What's the status of the anomaly? Are the pulses working?"

"Aye, Captain," reported Nasaro-Myth, after receiving a nod from his science officer. "You may stop when you deem it necessary. The Anomaly appears to be within the acceptable parameters established for Phase three.

"Understood Doctor, Mister Tor, did you hear that?"

"Yes Sir," came the cardassian's reply "We're breaking off now and coming to assist."

"My target Mister Tor, come into formation and fire at will."

The Alsea, with all three pieces in formation once again left the Romulan command ship where it was for the moment and focused on one of the Valdores that had been harassing the Spectre. With her full firepower Lotus Fleet's most powerful ship hit the Valdore hard and punctured her shileds doing daming to her primary hull, and knocking out her power leaving her out of the fight. Jureth then turned his ship back toward the Regalis for another attack run.