Before the ships exit from slipstream space colonel Morrel had moved from his position in the staff room up towards the bridge, relieving the current helmsman to take personal command of the vessel. Despite his anxieties towards space flight and, by extension, space combat he was none-the-less an extremely capable space commander. As soon as the marathon-class heavy cruiser decelerated from FTL speeds the allied battlenet came alive with multiple enemy IFF tags. [color=ed1c24]"Colonel there are multiple covenant ships surrounding the planet."[/color] Morrel nodded his response, tone hardened as he gave his next order. [color=0072bc]"Sound general quarters."[/color]

Instantly the lights onboard the ship dimmed, skipping from their usual whites and yellows to dim red in non-essential areas. A warning claxon bellowed throughout the ship, alerting those still in their bunks to the imminent danger. [color=ed1c24][i]"Attention all crew, prepare for battle stations, several Covenant CSS battle cruisers have been detected. Report to team leaders for further orders. I repeat, general quarters has been sounded."[/i][/color] The ships itself became a bed of controlled chaos as crewman rushed to get themselves fitted and moved to their assigned duty stations. It would take a minute or so before the ship was full defensible but until then Morrel fully expected Avalon to be running defense. 

[color=ed1c24]"Colonel we're getting a hail from the covenant battlenet, it looks like they might want to talk."[/color] [color=0072bc]"Negative, kill all external comms. There's to be no evidence this ship ever came here. Our relations with the Sangheili are stressed enough without us killing another hundred thousand of them, even if they are 'heretics'."[/color] Leaning forward to view the three-dimensional projection of Horizon's battlespace on the display before him Morrel lifted a single hand. [color=0072bc]"Target their two frigates for MAC shots."[/color] The covenant frigate was small enough that a single MAC from a ship as large as the Blade's Edge would probably gut it bow to stern. Unfortunately they were likely to have less luck with the heavier cruisers, best to get the small fry out of the way early. [color=0072bc]"Avalon you have my authorization to engage, fire when ready."[/color]