Editing Epic of the Hugo & the Templar (section)

==Part 1==

Stardate 2407.07.09

(USS Templar – Bridge – CO Captain Henri Li – 14.30)

Henri stared out into the black, his mind finally calm after all the turmoil.  Intelligence said that this would not be a battle he would be walking away from.  But it was what he had to do.  He owed it to the admiral.

“Helm, keep us steady.  Lower the shields.” He said from his station, “Begin launching the fighters.  Quickly before someone spots us.”

“Aye, aye, sir.” responded Planchet, his tactical officer.  “The first squadron is already away.”

“Excellent.  We’re sitting ducks until they’re off,” said Henri, as he kept a watchful eye himself on the screen, searching for any sign that they had been spotted.

“Fleet is reporting that the engagement has already begun,” reported Planchet calmly.

Precious moments ticked by as the Templar deployed her precious cargo.

“Status?” he asked.

“The squadron four is just….,” started Planchet.

Suddenly the ship was rocked from out of nowhere. He watched as a ship flew from above and right past the Templar.

“Get those shields up.  Return fire, evasive maneuvers” he shouted, as he righted himself.

“Sir, it’s the Hugo!” shouted Planchet in surprise.

~What?!?  No!!!~ he thought in horror.

“Open me a channel.” he ordered.  “What are you doing here!”

(USS Hugo – Bridge – CO Captain Eva Kollantai – 14.35)

The Hugo had been observing from quite a distance, the ship, an Akira class was moving into place.  Eva examined her bridge crew for a quick moment.

~LoDona v. Doenitz,~ she thought wryly.  It had taken her a good long while to discern which was worse.  In the end, LoDona had won her allegiance, simply because his plan for the federation seemed the lesser of two evils - at least from the perspective of equality and freedom.

"Move into position to attack.  Pattern alpha- omega-theta." Kollantai commanded.

Seamlessly her crew did as they were ordered. The senior bridge crew had been together for nearly two years, with a few additions and subtractions the last six months or so.  They would stand beside her.  They would fight.  This was their place.  This was hers.

As they approached the ship, Eva recognised it.

"Captain, it's the Templar", exclaimed her tactical officer, Lt. Randall.

Eva nodded.  "Attack procedures stand"

"Aye sir," Randall stated.  He did not question, but Eva knew that any possible simulation they could have run would not have accounted for this.

She watched as the red weaponry intersected with the Templar.  The communications system beeped, an incoming hail.

"On screen"

'=^= What are you doing here? =^='

Eva glanced upon the face of Captain Henri Li, a face that was far from foreign to her.  "I could ask you the same thing," she replied coldly.

(USS Templar – Bridge – CO Captain Henri Li – 14.40)

Henri looked back at Captain Eva Kollantai, his face contorted in rage.
“You know very well why I am here.” he spat out.

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(Posted by Kat and Kaweo)