From the Begining New Chapter Added (9/12/06)

[Starhawk]

2405.6
“Stand by for warp point jump in five-zero seconds con.” Sarah Pallins voice sang out in her typical beautiful soprano as she sat cross legged in the captain’s chair, it was the middle of the third watch and Pallins couldn’t help but feel the real size of her ship at this time of night when only the bridge and engine room stood fully manned.
“Three-zero seconds con.” She said cheerfully as she took another sip of her coffee, or at least that’s what the navy called it, most of the civilian community wouldn’t touch navy coffee and even navy personnel joked about how it could seal a hull breach or patch a vac suit in an emergency. They were probably right too Sarah thought to herself as she read down the chronometer.
“One Zero seconds con.”

Ten seconds later and the Enterprise Squadron’s GFGs began melding with the brilliant blue swirl of the warp point; the familiar golden glow of GFG interaction was even more wondrous and magnificent then when a single ship made the jump.
The jump it’s self however was unusual for as her ship made that instantaneous transition from warp space to real space only one or two of her crew became nauseated and she herself felt an odd tingle that was actually quite pleasant.
Before she had any time to wonder about this new occurrence a brilliant flash on HMS King Roger brought her mind whirling back into the present, another flash on the destroyer leading the formation instantly brought the experienced commander’s hand slamming down onto the general quarters alarm.

The familiar battle klaxons howled and the GQ alarms joined in nano-seconds later, another flash on Kong Roger made Pallins wince, even more sickening was the stream of debris that floated away from the destroyer, debris that included bodies most of whom were not wearing vac suits.
“Sarah what the hell is going on?” The familiar voice of Captain Ross came behind Pallins and out of trained reflex she instantly stood saluted her superior and walked to her own command console.
“We are under attack sir, I can’t give you further details till our damned computers get over the jump shock.” Her voice was cold and professional but Ross recognized that sickened stress that she attempted to hide and he couldn’t blame her for he too grew sickened as he saw the bodies and wreckage drifting away from multiple hull breaches in King Roger.
“Sensors back on-line ma’am, I mean sir!” Tactical officer Rivera’s voice faltered as he realized his Captain had come onto the bridge….but he valiantly continued “Sir, three Phong Frigates have opened fire on our squadron King Roger and Manticore both ships are showing signs of heavy damage.”
“Thank you tactical, Guns do we have a shot yet!” Ross sat at his station and rubbed his hands together, trying to stop his sweating, his entire squadron had been ambushed and at least one of his ships was out of this fight.
“Gunnery crews have put in targeting coordinates sir, passing it to squadron wide and Firing!” Gunnery Officer Paul’s voice was the calmest on the bridge aside from his CO and the XO, and Ross allowed himself a brief second of appreciation that at least Lieutenant Paul was a combat veteran, the only one currently on the bridge aside from himself and Pallins.
The Frigate Saber and two destroyers still capable of firing Enterprise and Manticore lit space with their fire, each targeting an enemy frigate with a powerful missile volley.
The enemy point defenses nailed three missiles but all the others struck home burning holes in each of the enemy frigates, the highly trained cannon crews of the three Icaran warships soon chimed in with their own fire and within seconds one of the enemy frigates exploded in a brilliant golden eruption and another frigate was put completely out of action.
The third frigate died moments later as another missile volley struck her full on and tore her into multiple fragments and fireballs.

The after action report was not good for the Icaran squadron King Roger and Manticore had both been knocked out of action and were forced to retire to Handar base for repair and re-supply leaving only Enterprise and Saber to carry out their assault on the first Fornax base.