The Battle of Braxus (Part 1)
Posted on Mon Apr 28th, 2025 @ 8:20pm by Captain Maho Takahashi & Captain Shimakaze Zh'gero & Captain Patricia Cooke & Captain Erica Hartmann & Captain Koko Kaga & Captain Violet Bluegarden & Commander Keisuke Takahashi 'K.T.' & Commander Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke & Lieutenant Commander Chrirhc Chihc & Tanaka Miyahara & Commander Ichika Misono & Lieutenant Commander Kurumi Ebisuzawa & Lieutenant Commander Brennyn Scott M.D. & Lieutenant Ami Rori & Lieutenant Moon Ji-hee & Lieutenant JG Jane Sinclair & Captain Mikoto Misaka & Commander Rize Tedeza & Commander Miho Nishizumi
1,433 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Indivisible
Location: Braxus System
The Joint Starfleet-Rheuysian attack fleet dropped out of warp at the edge of the Braxus system. Additional ships such as the Haruna and Akina had joined the fleet in transit, and the Inuto Fleet wasn't far behind. Still, even with an attack force over sixty ships strong, rolling up on the Confederate capital had an undeniable feeling of venturing straight into the briar patch.
Bree had to remind herself not to hold her breath. She was not afraid to admit to herself or anyone else she was anxious, but she also knew the importance of remaining a calm and steady presence in front of others. She was still hoping Maho would continue to lower her emotional walls ever so slightly and she knew keeping herself present, especially in times like this, could facilitate that.
Besides, given what they were about to confront, it didn't hurt having someone with medical expertise on the bridge whose presence didn't automatically scream, 'I'm here in case anyone springs an unintended leak, amniotic or otherwise, or tries to die.'
A flashing light caught Lt. Moon's attention. Ji-hee turned to face center bridge. Adrenaline coursed through her body. She hadn't found herself in a situation quite like this on previous assignments. She tried to calm herself by reassuring herself in the strength of the assembled fleet."Captain, incoming transmission from the bridge."
"On screen:" Maho ordered.
When the viewscreen changed, Maho and everyone on the bridge found themselves staring down the man responsible for everything. Maho noticed the drop in ambient noise levels on the bridge as well as on comms chatter when Miyahara appeared:
"Maho." Miyahara greeted in his usual fatherly tone. "And I see you've brought some friends from the Deep State. Here to join us for the Liberation Day festivities?"
"On the contrary; we're here to bring you in." Maho responded sternly. "Your reign of terror ends here, Senpai. I would suggest making this easy on yourself and the brainwashed Federation Citizens you've turned into your personal sheep and turn yourself in."
Miyahara laughed sinisterly when Maho finished speaking.
"Most unfortunate, indeed:" He said. "Well, you'll just have to be an unexpected addition to the festivities, then. The public execution of some of Crooked Aisaka's henchmen have the people excited enough, but the destruction of an entire deep state assault force will make for quite the impressive fireworks display."
And without another word, the connection was severed. As the viewscreen switched back to the default forward view, multiple Romulan ships could be seen decloaking.
Kurumi's console lit up like a firework display. "He's called in Romulan reinforcements. Several Warbirds, all with weapons and shields charged and ready." She reported. "Looks like he really does want a war..."
"Raise shields," Ichika ordered as the red alet klaxxons began to blare. "All hands to battle stations!"
The Klaxons sounded as the ship went to Red Alert. Kurumi brought the Myogi's weapons online and began targeting enemy ships ready for the order.
Ji-hee monitored the power systems automatically send more energy into shields and weapons. She frantically tapped away at controls in front of her. She worked to shift some of the extra energy charged since her earlier efficiency adjustments now into the forward phasers. To get that power back to Tactical systems, she undid her earlier adjustment that sent power back to the warp core.
Next to her at helm was Jane, fingers at the ready to make the ship dance.
Bree stayed rooted to her spot, resisting the urge to retreat to Sickbay, her customary battle station. However things turned out, she knew she needed to be available to offer support. This confrontation was the culmination of a great deal. Scott just prayed they would prevail.
Ami had already made camp in her office in engineering when the klaxons went off, waking her up from the nap she knew she'd need for the coming conflict. Slapping at her desk, which did nothing to turn off the blaring alarms, she sat up and stretched, rubbing her eyes as she got to her feet and blearily stumbled out the door to where the center console had been configured to act as a Damage Control Central. She waved at a crewman that was there monitoring the systems and made a gesture that most of the engineers had gotten to know well and he nodded to her before bustling off to a replicator. Hot chocolate was important, after all.
Ichika turned to Maho. "Captain, seeing as this is your fight, I believe you should give the order."
Nodding, Maho stood up from her seat, but didn't step forward anticipating the sudden motion to follow to throw her off balance.
"All ships:" Maho ordered. "...Fire!"
"Firing phasers," Kurumi responded. The bright orange phasers of the Myogi darted across space and struck one of the enemy ships, bouncing off their shields. "Their shields are holding."
[USS Alita]
"Scramble all fighters!" Misaki ordered. "Let's show these Tal Shiar pricks they picked the wrong fleet to mess with!"
"Aye, sir." Tsuneo nodded. "Ready photon torpedoes and fire phasers!"
As the Alita opened fire, Misaki consulted the formation chart and located the Ermiana's position:
"Alright, Captain Misaka:" Misaki smiled. "Let's see if you can keep up:"
[USS Haruna]
Captain Shimakaze stood on the bridge. When the command came through from the Myogi, her orders were absolute:
"Arm phasers and load photon torpedoes." Shimakaze instructed. "Fire everything we've got. Ops, radio the Akina and instruct them to cover our wing:"
"Aye, Captain:" Visha responded.
"Firing weapons:" Kyhl responded, acknowledging his captain's orders.
[USS Akina]
"Orders from the Myogi to fire, and from the Haruna to cover their wing:" The Ops officer on Akina read.
"Tell Captain Zh'gero her orders are acknowledged." Minna said. "Have our fighters hot and ready to launch."
[USS Europa]
"Myogi has engaged the Enemy, Commander," the Europa's Operations Officer reported. "Other ships are joining in."
"Arm phasers, fire everything we've got!" Commander Rize Tedeza announced. "Instruct our Group Commander to get our birds airborne! I want our Valkyries swarming the enemy!"
"Aye, Captain, radioing the Flight deck now," the Operations Officer nodded.
"Phasers hot, and... Firing!" The Security Officer on watch responded as the Europa opened fire on the Confederate armada.
[USS The Sullivans]
They had discussed it earlier in the trip, that while Captain Bluegarden would be intervening if the need came up, that Commander Onuei would maneuver The Sullivans in the upcoming battle while Violet handled the majority of their flotilla. Shirley was grateful for the endless hours of tactical instruction that she'd been given by this time and while her voice became more shrill at this time, it wasn't out of panic, just excitement tinged with more than a little bit of fear.
"Helm, attack maneuver Flash, keep us tight with Archibald and Vixen. Weps, target the flanking ships on the left, we're going to draw their fire from the main thrust." Shirley Onuei's voice was calm and collected, testament to Captain Violet Bluegarden's teachings.
"Engaging, Commander." The tactical officer pronounced, sending a volley of fire at one of the smaller ships about midway back of the Confederate formation, the two smaller ships breaking off with her and following The Sullivan's lead on targeting. Another group of ships followed them, taking on another of the Elachi in the same region.
"Tic-tac-toe pattern on Torpedoes... Now!" The command came after a pair of volleys, tinging the shields of their target a deeper color even as return fire was absorbed by The Sullivan's own shields, and the six torpedo launchers fired a staggered series of photon torpedoes fractions of a second apart. The first array of three impacted first, the Elachi shield flickering to compensate, then the singleton impacted and the shield visibly collapsed before the last pair impacted the hull, driving deep before exploding the second-tier ship and opening a hole in the Elachi formation. "Next target!"
[USS Akagi]
"All hands, battle stations:" The acerbic Captain Hartmann ordered. "Tactical, prepare to fire weapons."
Erica turned to Commander Barkhorn.
"And if, for some reason, we don't survive this- let it be known that it has been my honor to serve alongside you all."
[USS Kaga]
"I want all fighters ready to move:" Koko ordered. "If the Tal Shiar and Elachi are going to fight dirty, I intend to match them, step for step."
To be continued...
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