Chapter One

First topic message reminder :



----Intro post shall arrive later----

--Staging Point--

*The Legion is waiting for them, 150 ships strong. Septimus responds to the hail.* Septimus: Good to see you too, Admiral. Let's skip the pleasantries--every second we waste here gives those bastards more opportunity to escape. Here's the plan.

*He sends the data files over to Roach's ship.* We'll jump in and open fire on the raider fleet. We should catch them completely off-guard and deny them any chance to retreat. While our main ships keep them occupied, commando teams will slip onto their carriers, rouse the civilians, and with their help, take control of the ships. With any luck, we'll have several extremely valuable prizes to study and help both our governments learn how to better fight these things.

*The General allows Roach ample time to examine the files, and then the Legion wheels about.* Alright, Admiral, let's see just how much your reputation precedes you.

*He cuts off the transmission, and shortly afterward the Legion blasts away into FTL.*

Fore Admiral Disayle wrote:--Staging Point--

*The Legion is waiting for them, 150 ships strong. Septimus responds to the hail.* Septimus: Good to see you too, Admiral. Let's skip the pleasantries--every second we waste here gives those bastards more opportunity to escape. Here's the plan.

*He sends the data files over to Roach's ship.* We'll jump in and open fire on the raider fleet. We should catch them completely off-guard and deny them any chance to retreat. While our main ships keep them occupied, commando teams will slip onto their carriers, rouse the civilians, and with their help, take control of the ships. With any luck, we'll have several extremely valuable prizes to study and help both our governments learn how to better fight these things.

*The General allows Roach ample time to examine the files, and then the Legion wheels about.* Alright, Admiral, let's see just how much your reputation precedes you.

*He cuts off the transmission, and shortly afterward the Legion blasts away into FTL.*

The fleet follows behind in hyperspace roach sends commands to his ships preparing optimal formations for likely incursions as he goes.

"This should be fun" Roach mumbles to him self as he lights his pipe.

--Unknown System--

*When the allied navies come out of FTL, they are instantly trapped in a gravity well that grounds all strikecraft and severely restricts their capital ships' ability to maneuver. Moreover, the raider fleet has somehow swelled its numbers to over 400 vessels and has positioned itself at optimal weapon range to the allied fleet. The moment they exit FTL, the raiders open fire on the hapless ships in a withering hail of laser fire like a miniature nova. The Turian ships are particularly vulnerable, given that their kinetic barriers do not deflect laser fire (though their Silaris armor compensates somewhat for this weaknesses). Multiple ships of the Legion are brought down in seconds by the raiders' opening salvo, and with the turians unable to properly aim their main cannons at the hostiles, the Legion is limited to launching disruptor torpedoes at the raiders or firing their Thanix Cannons.*

Septimus: What the--[censored]!! Find the source of that gravity well and adjust mass effect field generators to compensate! HURRY!!

*The turian ships are able to somewhat resist the gravity well's effects through the adjustment of their mass effect fields and a few begin to return fire with their main cannons. Many are still unable to aim, however, and all the Legion's strikecraft are still grounded. The situation further worsens when the Revenants launch their fighter bombers, which subject the Legion to a merciless bombardment of high-yield warheads. There are so many missiles that the Legion's GARDIAN defenses are overwhelmed, and a Hierarchy dreadnought succumbs to the bombardment in a violent explosion.*

"wonderful a trap! Move these lumbering tubs scan for variances in the gravity well and break us free extend your shields around the nearest Turian ship their barriers aren't designed to repel laser fire. And i want those guns firing get me a solid wall of energy down range now!"

And with the word now a massive wave of multicolored energy fills the space between the fleets the shot gun effect smashing several enemy strike craft as the approach and causing enemy capital ships to evade large wave of missiles and torpedoes foll set to high yield detonating in spread further diminishing the enemies strike craft

*With the allies kept busy by their strikecraft, the raiders open fire once again in a blazing laser salvo that sweeps through the fleet like a bright blade of death.*

Septimus: Goddammit, where the hell is that gravity well coming from?!?!

Sensors Officer: Sir! We've found the source--cloaked ship.

Septimus: Destroy it.

*Having located the cruiser generating the gravity well, the Legion pounds it mercilessly with their Thanix Cannons until it explodes. The Legion is now finally able to move and launch its strikecraft, but the damage is already done. Already 1/6th of the Hierarchy ships are destroyed or crippled.*

Septimus: Pull us into firing formation. Increase GARDIAN array fire around all hangars and launch our [censored] strikecraft!!

*The Turians' own laser turrets briefly spin up their firing rate to clear the space of enemy strikecraft and incoming missiles, and the moment they have a breather, the Legion launches its fighters and interceptors en masse. All the while, the Hierarchy vessels are assembling into a wall formation facing the wall of raider laser fire, and finally returns fire properly, sending a thunderous fusillade from their main Mass Accelerators. This is followed up with a large volley of disruptor torpedoes and, once those have impacted, a powerful spray from their Thanix Cannons. Nearly 50 raider ships explode under the barrage, but the others continue to hammer the Legion.*

As soon as the well drops Roach redeploys his ships so their shields overlap pulling legion vessels into their protective radius Roach watches a several of his gunships wink off his overlay but being able to move the power warrior began to do their job ripping into their enemies scattering their lines the large wave of strike craft from the Free peoples fleet scatters out like bees from a hive fighters tangling up their enemies the capital ships no being able to fire accurately begin to inflict greater damage. And an enemy carrier explodes under a large salvo of Quantum torpedo fired from a sextet of Majestic heavy cruisers. Several Nova class cruiser vanish from Roach's tactical overlay.

"Hold to your courage men do not falter!" Roach barks over an open frequency as a massive wave of fire from the Pyotr the Great obliterates several enemy ships."

--Coruscant--

Siber is just leaning against a wall, a small scratch on his arm from a blaster shot that nearly hit him being his only wound. “…If you stayed there and let me do the fighting it would have been less damaging to the building…” Siber muttered to himself, still listening in on their conversation. He takes the commlink and flips it on, talking to the AI aboard his ship. “I need you to connect with the database, see if you can help our friends here.” “Understood.” The AI replied, connecting to the database as requested, reading the data, seeing what she could do to help.

---

--Aves, wreckage--

“They were more destructive than I imagined… hmm.” Shadow said to himself, watching the carnage from a distance. He sensed outward, feeling the lives that passed on and those that remained. When he was certain that certain individuals still drew breath, he flew over toward what at first the avians thought of as a meteorite or something. As he flew towards it, he disappeared from sight, casting a cloak over himself.

---

--Piram II, Orbit--

“Lara, these drones aren’t exactly being nice, any chance that you can hurry?” Rain’s voice spoke through the comm, a sarcastic tone clearly audible. “These drones aren’t making it easy here either.” Lara replied back, oddly calm. “We’re over the planet, ma’am.” An officer reported. Marion sat there, listening to the reports and orders flying around through the comms. Those comm’s consisting of Dominae on the ground, those being more so being demands, as well as those of the fighter pilots in space, risking their lives once again by her command. She wondered what the price would be this time. She didn’t want to send pilots out to fight, but there wasn’t much of a choice, and they needed that ship intact if at all possible.

“We need a sit-rep, Dominae.” An officer asked through the comms, calmly, as if this were just another day in the park. “I’m only a level above the entrance to the command center now.” Lara replied, still calmly. Marion had to laugh, really, at how calm the lieutenant was and how opposite of that Rain was in this situation. It was unlike either really, but still, quite humerous to her. “And I’m still getting fired upon by about thirty different drones per second...” Rain replied unenthusiastically, and obviously annoyed. “Any chance you co-woah!” There was a series of loud banging noises, like docking clamps detaching off of a newly constructed ship. Following these loud noises came a low, deep, and very loud rumbling noise. “Lara, not to pressure you… BUT HURRY THE HELL UP! THIS SHIP IS MOVING!”

--Aves, Impact Site--

*As the last avian airships fall from the sky, the attacker positions itself directly over the impact site. A small beam projects from its ventral surface onto the object below and begins literally carving a hole in its surface. In moments, a small item floats up through the hole, along the beam, and up to the hostile, where it disappears. The enemy ship fires its engines and prepares to leave, but something inexplicably stops it. The ship bombards a certain area not far from the crashed object with so much firepower that it generates a small mushroom cloud, then fires its engines once more and roars off into the sky, vanishing as quickly as it arrived.*

*A while later, additional avian airships arrive on the scene and dispatch relief/recovery crews, which begin combing the area. Many cut into the shattered hulks that were once proud aerial warships to locate the wounded and the dead, though most of the vessels' corpses are thoroughly gutted and any avians inside them, dead or alive, have most likely been vaporized. The death toll is staggering, and many of the wounded have suffered terrible injuries.*

*The Unbroken has crashed in such a manner that its midships area, where Ackbar's cabin is located, is buried deep inside a mountain. Thus, it takes the relief crews some time before they manage to cut through its shattered mass and recover the unconscious Commander. As the prone hawk is borne from the wreckage of his flagship on a stretcher, he comes to his senses with an agonized gasp.*

Ackbar: AHH--featherless!! *He tries to lift his left wing, but it only twitches and throbs, and a screech escapes through his clamped beak. A kiwi medic is called over to examine the hawk. He gently presses his beak against the offending wing, and winces.*

Medic: Sir, I hate to tell you this, but your wing is broken.

Ackbar: You've gotta be kidding... *The medic shakes his head, and Ackbar raises his functional wing to his head.* [censored]...

*The medic looks at strangely.* Medic: What was that, sir?

Ackbar (strained voice): Nothing, nothing. Where...*He tenses as his wing spasms.* Where...is the nestling that was with me?

*The kiwi looks confused.* Medic: Nestling, sir? It was just you in that safety cell.

*Ackbar suddenly sits bolt upright, though the pain from his wing is enough to bring tears to his eyes.* Ackbar: What?! No, no, there was a nestling with me!! I remember it plain as day!

*The medic attempts to restrain him.* Medic: Sir, I need you to stay calm. We have to get your wing tended to. (She turns away) Bring some sedative!

Ackbar: But...no, the nestling...I found him... *The pain is too much and he starts babbling incoherently. A syringe of sedative is brought to the medic and she quickly injects it into his breastbone. Almost instantly, Ackbar stops struggling and begins to drift away to sleep. Before he does so, however, he presses a fluffy down feather into the medic's foot.* Find...him... *The hawk then passes out.*

--Unknown System--

Septimus: We've got them busy now--send in the commandos! We can't keep this up forever!

*Several advanced turian frigates sweep through the battle and blast open the Revenants' hangars to deposit their load of commandos. Nihlus Kryik leads them.*

Nihlus: Alright, troops--don't let anything get in our way!

*The commandos pour out, brushing aside any resistance, and proceed towards where the civilian turians are held captive, bringing along cases of weapons to arm their peopl with.*

*The space battle proceeds apace. The Hierarchy is now down to 110 ships, but it furiously battles on nonetheless. Just as the fight seems to be turning against the allies, a giant beam of energy suddenly comes from the planet below and annihilates a Nightmare-class battleship that was about to destroy one of the Legion's cruisers.*

Septimus: What the--where did that come from?!

Sensors Officer: Evidently, General, from that planet down there.

Septimus: I know that, but who the hell did it?!

Roach sees the energy beam fire a second time and rip through a Bhaalgorn.

"Seems we have an unlikely ally on the surface they have opened a breach in their flank get our bombers through it thin out that battle ship line!"

Bomber craft pour through the break in their flanks pelting several Sanasha vessels with torpedoes widening the gap in their line the bomber return taking heavy losses but adding a tactical opportunity.

William is still ahead of the group, a faint glow emanating from his lightsaber.

Roach wrote:

The Nameless Sith Lord wrote:
In a nearby corridor, three old Mark IV assault droids silent approach the group, their normal blue photoreceptors colored red. They wait as William walks by, and then HK-47. Finally, as Arglev walks by, they pounce into the hallway and surround him. HK-47 swivels around and hits one with his ion blaster, shutting it down immediately.

*arglev flips on his personal shield generator and fires his ion rifle at the nearest droid.*

The second droid shuts down on impact. The third droid tries to pounce at Arglev, but HK-47 fires three shots into it, causing it to shut down and crash to the ground.

"Statement: Situation clear. Let's keep moving." He turns and runs down the hall, as William had gotten far ahead of them during the skirmish.

The Nameless Sith Lord wrote:

Roach wrote:

The Nameless Sith Lord wrote:
In a nearby corridor, three old Mark IV assault droids silent approach the group, their normal blue photoreceptors colored red. They wait as William walks by, and then HK-47. Finally, as Arglev walks by, they pounce into the hallway and surround him. HK-47 swivels around and hits one with his ion blaster, shutting it down immediately.

*arglev flips on his personal shield generator and fires his ion rifle at the nearest droid.*

The second droid shuts down on impact. The third droid tries to pounce at Arglev, but HK-47 fires three shots into it, causing it to shut down and crash to the ground.

"Statement: Situation clear. Let's keep moving." He turns and runs down the hall, as William had gotten far ahead of them during the skirmish.

arglev follows with the group*

"thanks for the save Hk-47. "

HK-47 doesn't respond. He just keeps running, as he sees a hulking B3 Ultra Battle Droid block William's path forward. It attacks him with it's wide-spray plasma cannon, spraying the entire corridor several meters in front of it with molten plasma.

--Aves, battle site--

*Troubled, the medic nevertheless tucks the proffered feather into one of her uniform's pouches and scurries off toward the smoldering wreckage of the Unbroken. Reaching it, she then proceeds into a deep, gaping, jagged hole in its side--the impact of an energy bolt from the mysterious attacker.*

Medic: Blew right through the armor like it was nothing...what in the name of Aves was that thing?!

*The hole continues deep into the ship, tunneling through multiple decks and layers of hull. At its end, a smaller, neater hole has been carved farther into the depths of the Unbroken's corpse. Avians rush into and out of it irregularly, some with cutting tools, others bearing the wounded on stretchers. The kiwi makes her way through the other avians back to Ackbar's cabin, where she takes the downy feather out of her pocket, sniffs it deeply, and then because casting about to find a matching scent. The smells of blood, fear, metal, electricity and nearly a thousand other things threaten to overwhelm her senses, but the medic concentrates and, at length, manages to pick out a similar scent, faint but detectable. She begins to slowly follow it.*

--Unknown System--

*The beam fires once more, this time impacting one of the Revenant-class supercarriers. The allies are able to see it more clearly this time: after battering through its target's shields, the beam appears to literally shred the hapless carrier wherever it touches the ship's hull, until the Sansha ship has been sliced completely in half.*

Septimus: [censored]--REPORT!

Sensors Officer: That carrier didn't have any of our civilians onboard, sir!

Septimus: Good. What's the status of the commando teams?

Bridge Officer: They've succeeded in taking over one of the carriers and have liberated all civilians onboard. The rest are still working on the other two.

Septimus: All ships, keep firing--we have to buy them as much time as we can!!

*With the unexpected help from below, the battle begins to turn in favor of the allies, as the beam continues firing and destroying Sansha ships.*

Roach watches with silent reverence as more of his ships wink off the display.

Roach: Status report?

Dawson: down to sixty eight ships sir but we have the momentum again.

Roach: Good keep pressing them buy our allies all the time they need to rescue their people.

The battle continues to rage as the battered remnants of the Free Peoples Fleet continue to valiantly fight along side their Turian allies.

--Aves--

*The medic continues following Bularr's scent until it abruptly ends just after emerging from another hole in the Unbroken's ruined superstructure. Confused, the kiwi waves her beak in the air, trying to pick the smell again. Her efforts go in vain.*

Medic: What...

--Unknown System--

*The battle proceeds apace, with the Sansha and Blood Raider losses mounting. The beams continue coming from the surface, until a shot accidentally hits one of the Revenant carriers with turian civilians onboard. The beam immediately ceases fire, but the damage is done and the carrier begins to list, falling towards the planet.*

Septimus: [censored]!! Get a line open to our teams on that carrier!

(Seconds later) What's the situation over there?!

Commando Leader: Sir, the ship is going in--orbital stabilizers are compromised!

Septimus: Can you try to land on the planet?

Commando Leader: We can try, sir, but...

Septimus: No buts, soldier!! I gave you an order; we promised the people of Kargul that we'd bring their families back!!

Commando Leader: Very well, sir. We'll do it! (Off-line) Get the civilians out of any key stress points and prepare for a controlled crash-landing!

First Mate: General, I don't mean to question your orders, but that planet below is a volcanic planet...if they land in a volcano or a body of lava--

Septimus: I know the risks, but we have to try. Maybe our friends down there, whoever they are, can help somehow.

Fore Admiral Disayle wrote:--Aves--

*The medic continues following Bularr's scent until it abruptly ends just after emerging from another hole in the Unbroken's ruined superstructure. Confused, the kiwi waves her beak in the air, trying to pick the smell again. Her efforts go in vain.*

Medic: What...

--Unknown System--

*The battle proceeds apace, with the Sansha and Blood Raider losses mounting. The beams continue coming from the surface, until a shot accidentally hits one of the Revenant carriers with turian civilians onboard. The beam immediately ceases fire, but the damage is done and the carrier begins to list, falling towards the planet.*

Septimus: [censored]!! Get a line open to our teams on that carrier!

(Seconds later) What's the situation over there?!

Commando Leader: Sir, the ship is going in--orbital stabilizers are compromised!

Septimus: Can you try to land on the planet?

Commando Leader: We can try, sir, but...

Septimus: No buts, soldier!! I gave you an order; we promised the people of Kargul that we'd bring their families back!!

Commando Leader: Very well, sir. We'll do it! (Off-line) Get the civilians out of any key stress points and prepare for a controlled crash-landing!

First Mate: General, I don't mean to question your orders, but that planet below is a volcanic planet...if they land in a volcano or a body of lava--

Septimus: I know the risks, but we have to try. Maybe our friends down there, whoever they are, can help somehow.

Roach: can we get a transporter lock on that ship?

Dawson: negative too much interference from the planet sir.

Roach: [censored], Keep the pressure on then we cant afford to retreat now.

--Unknown System--

Nihlus: Reroute shield power to ventral and forward surfaces. This is gonna hurt!!

*The crippled Revenant begins its slide into the volcanic world's atmosphere--slowly at first, then faster and faster, building a huge shroud of fire around its massive frame as it succumbs to the planet's gravity. The giant ship soon disappears from visual range underneath a cloud of volcanic ash.*

*The battle overhead continues. Despite having lost all their most powerful ships, the Sansha and Blood Raider forces are still not defeated and continue firing away at the Legion and the Free Peoples' fleet. Some also begin to fire upon the remaining captured Revenants.*

Septimus: Legion--advance! We have to protect those carriers!! Get a comm channel open to those commandos and have them move towards us and turn those drones against the enemy!

*The turian ships, under heavy fire, begin moving forward to surround the Revenants, even as the carriers' inactive fighter-bombers suddenly come back online and begin attacking the Sansha and Blood Raider vessels. Septimus sends a transmission to the Roach.* Admiral Roach, we request your aid so that 100,000 turians don't die!!

Fore Admiral Disayle wrote:--Unknown System--

Nihlus: Reroute shield power to ventral and forward surfaces. This is gonna hurt!!

*The crippled Revenant begins its slide into the volcanic world's atmosphere--slowly at first, then faster and faster, building a huge shroud of fire around its massive frame as it succumbs to the planet's gravity. The giant ship soon disappears from visual range underneath a cloud of volcanic ash.*

*The battle overhead continues. Despite having lost all their most powerful ships, the Sansha and Blood Raider forces are still not defeated and continue firing away at the Legion and the Free Peoples' fleet. Some also begin to fire upon the remaining captured Revenants.*

Septimus: Legion--advance! We have to protect those carriers!! Get a comm channel open to those commandos and have them move towards us and turn those drones against the enemy!

*The turian ships, under heavy fire, begin moving forward to surround the Revenants, even as the carriers' inactive fighter-bombers suddenly come back online and begin attacking the Sansha and Blood Raider vessels. Septimus sends a transmission to the Roach.* Admiral Roach, we request your aid so that 100,000 turians don't die!!

As roach snap another hole in the Sansha battle line he responds to the transmission.

Roach: What do you need me to do?

*An explosion rocks the bridge of Septimus's dreadnought--there is a slight delay before he replies.* Septimus: This is it, Admiral! We need you to move your fleet and defend one of the Revenants we've captured; the Sanshas and Blood Raiders are firing on them! If we don't hurry, a [censored] of our people will die. You have to hurry--the Legion will take care of the other two!

*The Legion takes multiple casualties, but succeeds in forming up around the Revenant, which has only take minor damage. The turian vessels continue their merciless attack on the raiders.*

Fore Admiral Disayle wrote:*An explosion rocks the bridge of Septimus's dreadnought--there is a slight delay before he replies.* Septimus: This is it, Admiral! We need you to move your fleet and defend one of the Revenants we've captured; the Sanshas and Blood Raiders are firing on them! If we don't hurry, a [censored] of our people will die. You have to hurry--the Legion will take care of the other two!

*The Legion takes multiple casualties, but succeeds in forming up around the Revenant, which has only take minor damage. The turian vessels continue their merciless attack on the raiders.*

*Pyotr the Great and its three Strident defense squadron boost forward like daggers through space literally smashing through Blood raider ships that were to slow to get out of the way. Several Heavy cruisers follow breaking up formations of enemy ships as they pass. The heavy cannons of the four massive warships pummel all resistance around the carrier even as the enemy redoubles their efforts like swarms of hornets.

Roach: Intensify the forward batteries i don't want any thing to get through!

*The Sansha-Blood Raider fleet makes one last gasp, but is unable to face up to the Free Peoples' fury and the Legion's determination. The fleet breaks and begins to retreat. Small wings of the Legion harry the raiders all the way until they warp away, leaving a trail of shattered wreckage scattered all around the volcanic world.*

Septimus: All ships regroup. They'll probably be back before long, and we must away before that happens. Get me a line down to the carrier!

(Seconds later) Nihlus! Status report!!

Nihlus: We've survived the atmospheric re-entry, General, but the ship is heading straight towards a giant lava lake!

*Septimus tenses up.* Septimus: Can you correct your course?!

Nihlus: No, sir! Antigrav generators are gone--there's nothing we can do, General. We're going in.

*Septimus looks around frantically, and then back at the monitors. He clenches his draw.* Septimus: Any chance of survival?

*Nihlus checks the remaining functional sensors.* Nihlus: No, General. There are no support vessels in the carrier's hangar, and its fighter-bomber drones have no means to carry people.

Septimus: ...is there anything else we can do?

Nihlus: No, sir. I'm sorry.

Septimus: ...very well. It's been an honor serving with you, Nihlus.

Nihlus: And you, sir. If I may, I'd like to go speak to the civilians.

Septimus: Yes, Commander. *He cuts the line, and gives a heavy sigh. The bridge of his dreadnought is deathly quiet.*

*Nihlus opens a comm line shipwide.* Nihlus: Brothers, sisters, this is Commander Nihlus Kryik speaking. As you know, we commandos came here to bring you home...but today, that will not happen.

(Pause) Our ride is headed on a crash course straight into a giant lava lake. We will not survive impact. (Pause) We will hit in one minute. Please use the time we have left now wisely. Thank you, and I'm sorry. For the Hierarchy.

*Turian civilians take this moment to find whatever family members they can and be with them in their final moments. Those without family are still invited to be among their people even as they die.*

*Septimus watches the visual representation of the crippled carrier as it gets closer to the magma lake.*

Roach flips open a fleet wide comm line and keys a command on his console https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ftWerL1Wcs&feature=fvst .


Roach: May the grace of the Valar Protect you.

*Septimus closes his eyes as the music plays.*

*The entire fleet holds its breath as the crippled Revenant now plummets towards its doom in the waiting maw of the lava lake. The sea of fire seems to bubble invitingly.*

*Then, a huge lurch suddenly throws Nihlus off his feet, and the entire ship creaks and groans abominably as massive forces play on it. Its plunge slows--gradually at first, then more and more perceptibly until its descent all but halts, just barely skimming the seething magma and melting a part of the ship's armor. As this is happening, swirls of dark blue/violet energy surround it, slowly growing larger and larger, until they become multiple giant rivers cradling the battered carrier, lifting it from certain doom and moving it, slowly but surely, over the sea of fire. Before long, the energy brings the carrier over the magma lake's volcanic-rock shore and then dissipates, allowing the ship to fall with an almighty crunch onto the rough ground.*

*The entire fleet is completely silent.*

Septimus: What...the...[censored]?!?!

Fore Admiral Disayle wrote:*Septimus closes his eyes as the music plays.*

*The entire fleet holds its breath as the crippled Revenant now plummets towards its doom in the waiting maw of the lava lake. The sea of fire seems to bubble invitingly.*

*Then, a huge lurch suddenly throws Nihlus off his feet, and the entire ship creaks and groans abominably as massive forces play on it. Its plunge slows--gradually at first, then more and more perceptibly until its descent all but halts, just barely skimming the seething magma and melting a part of the ship's armor. As this is happening, swirls of dark blue/violet energy surround it, slowly growing larger and larger, until they become multiple giant rivers cradling the battered carrier, lifting it from certain doom and moving it, slowly but surely, over the sea of fire. Before long, the energy brings the carrier over the magma lake's volcanic-rock shore and then dissipates, allowing the ship to fall with an almighty crunch onto the rough ground.*

*The entire fleet is completely silent.*

Septimus: What...the...[censored]?!?!

All is quiet on the bridge a Roach stares mouth agape at the screen.*

Klingon Ensign: By Kahless