[color=gray]	[color=white][i]"Captain! Echo has acquired our firing solution!"[/i][/color] the gunnery chief said from across the bridge.

	Alexis looked over the data that was being fed to her ultra-light's visor. Everything checked out, there wasn't a chance that the WMG would miss. She gave the all clear, [color=white][b]"Fire when ready!"[/b][/color]

	The gunnery chief nodded and quickly punched some things in on his console, [color=white][i]"All units, all units, the WMG is opening fire. Clear the firing line immediately."[/i][/color] only moments laters, he pulled the trigger. The beam shot from the prow of the Lincoln. Unlike the other shots, this one was slim and was dissipating at a much faster rate. But it wouldn't dissipate quick enough to render itself ineffective. The beam missed Gemini II by a close half a kilometer and hit straight in the hull breach of the crippled destroyer.

	The beam didn't pierce through the other end of the ship, but the explosion that followed did. A great lurching sound could be heard through space as the metal creaked and groaned, finally giving way as the destroyer split in half. Secondary explosions lit up on both halves of the destroyer, the rear half detonated and left nothing but a cloud of wreckage. Searing pieces of debris from the rear half slammed into the front portion. Individuals sucked into space were either skewered by debris or the shrapnel just tore right them like a hot knife through butter.

	[color=white][i]"Target destroyed, ma'am!"[/i][/color] the gunnery chief announced, though she always knew already.

	[color=white][b]"Gemini Squadron, you have your window. Withdraw to the Lincoln immediately. Echo, you're done out there, come aboard."[/b][/color] Alexis rounded the holo-display and looked up at Aston in his own suit of ultra-light armor. He nodded back, the two of them started believing they still had a chance in this fight.

	[color=7ea7d8][i]“This is an emergency transmission from ALI-009 to all personnel of the EENS Abraham Lincoln authorized to receive it."[/i][/color]

	Alexis halted and quickly looked at the holo-display. There was a ping on the surface of Jehan as Alice spoke. She gritted her teeth, already getting a good idea on what Alice was doing. [color=white][b]"Shit!"[/b][/color] she cursed out loud, knowing that there was nothing she could do to stop her at the moment.

	[color=7ea7d8][i]"All criteria indicate a Polyphemus contingency: Surrounded by hostile units in Coalition territory. Hostiles demand surrender and threaten kill event. Retaliation is impossible without breaching primary functions. I repeat, a Polyphemus contingency is in progress."[/i][/color]

	[color=white][b]"This isn't the time to be down another pilot."[/b][/color] she spoke in response, but the state Alice was in told Alexis that there wasn't going to be a response.

	[color=7ea7d8][i]"Capture event is imminent. Capture of unit ALI-009 and SOL-110-EX Eagle by Coalition compromises security of the development of ALI series droids and complementary SOL series Mobile Armor Suits. Initiating Odyssey Protocol: Prevent capture event by launch of alternative escape capsule. Upon launch, Eagle will activate private tracking beacon to confirm location to Command. Stand by for further action to assist detained friendlies. Requesting Command to prepare a recovery of this unit and friendlies from Coalition territory upon escape.”[/i][/color]

	The ping on Jehan disappeared and the bridge went silent among the alarms and crewmen hollering in the halls just outside the bridge. [color=white][b]"Godspeed, Alice."[/b][/color] she whispered and looked back to the crew. [color=white][b]"We still have a battle to win!  Helmsman, get us behind that moon!"[/b][/color]

	Alexis turned to face the Adrmial Ardin who was silently watching the entire scenario. She was surprised that he hadn't complained or tried to impose his authority on her. Perhaps he knew this battle was no easy engagement and that his inexperience would lead to an inevitable defeat. Alexis hoped that was the case, that he was at the very least smart enough to defer to a veteran's experience. He looked at the displays almost as if studying, Alexis didn't care as long as he wasn't in the way when she needed to be somewhere.

	[color=white][b]"Sergeant Hark."[/b][/color] Alexis called over the radio.

	[color=firebrick][i]"Captain."[/i][/color] he replied.

	[color=white][b]"Have two platoons ready for deployment on the dark side of the moon. We need a firebase established and fully operational as fast as humanly possible."[/b][/color] Alexis studied the holo-display of Jehan's moon. It was pockmarked with craters and striped with deep chasms. There was a thin atmosphere which gave the moon a small amount of bloom, it'd be perfect to obsure some imagery and masked the troops' movements.

	[color=firebrick][i]"Aye, aye, Captain. Mind if I borrow the 7th for escort duty?"[/i][/color] Hark inquired.

	Alexis looked at the roster and saw just how depleted the team had gotten. But if the Coalition spotted the marines on the moon's surface, just a few MAS units would wipe them out. They needed heavy armor. [color=white][b]"I can spare one pilot, Hark."[/b][/color]

	[color=firebrick][i]"Then lets hope that one pilot still has a lot of fight left. Out."[/i][/color] Hark ended the conversation and  started preparing his marines for deployment.

	Alexis eyed the roster even more, her options were limited. All of them had sustaiend some amount of damage and the best MAS's suited for holding a point were either planetside of Jehan or needed repairs. She took a breath and chose her pilot, [color=white][b]"Lieutenant Williams, this is Captain Marquis. I hate to cut your breather short but you're deploying again in fifteen minutes. I need you to escort dropships as they deploy marines and hardware on Jehan's moon. Once that is complete, hold your position at the firebase and make sure it doesn't fall should it come under attack. I'm counting on you, Williams. Make me proud."[/b][/color][/color]