Chapter One

"Enemy cruisers dead ahead!"

"How many, Lieutenant Broxon?"

"Four, Captain. Four."

"Communications, advise them of our situation."

"Aye. Captain Piper, they refuse to receive. Subspace hailing frequencies on reverse scramb -- "

"Two more ships, ma'am, bearing point-zero-zero-five and point-zero-fifty. Entering spherical envelope...Captain, they're firing!"

"Raise shields!"

I already knew it was too late. The critical tactical error resulted in my being hurled backward into my command chair -- not a place I felt worthy of. Only my better-than-average...