"Lt Kayhoe, man the engineering station!  Helmsman!  Bring us around to the 
far side of this worthless rock!  NOW!"
   Captain Peiper unlocks his thigh restraints and moves cracked swinging vidcomm 
panel in order to exit the chair.  "Damage report!" he yells as he kneels in front 
of his XO/Ops Officer and closes his now unseeing eyes. The ships security 
detachment guard moves across the smashed bridge on his three legs to assist 
the Captain.
   The COURAGEOUS lurches forward slightly under a minimal amount 
of thrust.  Outpost #1 ever so slowly continues to move under the ship.
  "Captain, the radiation leaks in engineering are getting worse as we apply 
power.  We are killing the damage control and engineering teams down there.  
The thrust we are getting is minimal output... I recommend that we cut power 
and take the main engines off-line.  What are your orders?", asks Kayhoe quietly.  
He knew that this recommendation would very nearly be a death sentance to the ship.
   Wiping the blood from his eye, and placing the small flap of skin back in place 
on his cheek, Peiper silently surveys the heavily damaged bridge and the remainder 
of his bridge crew.  Small gouts of flame danced about in places and the smoke was 
heavy in the air.
   "...13K and turning on a new vector of 14.6 and accelerating... ...ANACORVES, 
ANACORVES, this is the COURAGEOUS, do you copy?... ...on 
decks 6 and 7!  Nothing there, man, nothing there!... ...Satharian frigate designator 
1-7 is targeted..." [eeEEERRRRRRRNnnnnt, eeEEERRRRRRRNnnnnt, eeEEERRRRRRRNnnnnt...]
   The bridge was still a chaos of activity and the crew was valiantly fighting 
for the crippled ship's life.  There is still a chance thought Peiper, still a chance.
   "Sir, another wave of SERPENTs!  Oh shit, sir- they are arming their 
class two assault rockets!..."
   "Countermeasures!  Launch the countermeasures!" shouts Peiper as he runs to 
the weapons station.  "...Two on the... no, make that six, Six on the way..." 
intones Lt McAbee. "Impact in one minute seven seconds... fifty-five seconds..." 
   Stepping over his unconscious Chief-of-the-Ship, he looks in horror as the 
ICM stores display reads empty.
   "Thirty seconds..."
   "Evasive action - maximum accelleration!" says Peiper.
     Again, the ship lurches slightly and a little more G-forces are added.  
It isn't going to be enough,...not by far he thought. 
   "Ten seconds to impact!" says Lt McAbee.
     The wing of SERPENTs breaks off making a run for the planet.  
The familiar vibration of the Laser Cannon firing and the blinding flash on the 
view screen sends a thrill through him.  
   [hmmmm..keeeSHUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNNNN....]
    An instantaneous, perfectly straight, blue line lances across the kilometers 
and envelops one of the fleeing antagonists.  The worm is vaporized instantly.
   "Brace for impact!"

                                    *****

   Having fallen asleep in one of the plush leather chairs in his ready room, 
Captain Peiper bolts up shouting "NO!"  He looks about rapidly and regains, 
slowly, his bearings and his composure.
   He leans back and focuses on a different world slowly spinning past the 
transparisteel viewport.  A beautiful panoramic starfield moves into view 
replacing the colors of the planets atmosphere.  Space is definitely home...
so very beautiful.
   [chirp]
    The desk vidcomm unit beckoned for him.  
   "Voice mode.  ...[beep]...  This is Captain Peiper.  What is it?" 
  "Sir, this is Commander Havoc.  I'm back on board now with the crew members 
injured stationside.  All are recovering in our med-bay now.  Doc will give 
you a full report as soon as she is done with her examinations.  I'm heading 
for the bridge.  Is it still your intent to pull away from the station in an hour?" 
   "Yes.  Did you get any information about what happened?"
   Commander Havoc explains the details he was able to get from Station Security 
and that of the K-Es own security team.  Apparently there were a lot of minor 
injuries and at least three fatalities.  Some of the K-Es crewman were involved 
in the brawling  as well.  The ship has gone to GQ for her usual pre-launch 
inspection and roll calls.  Initial responses show all hands are now back on board.  
A few of them are in med-bay.  
   "Sir, I'll be on the bridge in ten minutes.  Any further orders?"
     "No, not at this time. Come to the ready room when you get in.  Captain 
Peiper out."

                                    *****

   Looking at the reports that were requested earlier, Captain Peiper is relieved 
to see that all of the weapons systems are operating at peak potential and the 
stores list is green-waved in all areas.  This stop cost the UPF a lot of credits, 
but that is part of the price paid for security.
   Scrolling down to the Legion Lieutenant's report, he notes that all are trained 
extensively in zero-G combat and are especially suited to boarding actions.  Good, 
he thought.  That may come in handy soon....
    "Sir.  I have the Section-Alphas on the way up for that staff meeting.  Are you 
prepared?" asks Cmdr Havoc.

-------------------------------------------------------------

What happens next?