[Naked Crook]

Meanwhile: Hayes was on the bridge of The King Raven. He was directing and coordinating the military effort to defend The Citadel. Hayes turned when he heard one of the ONI officers call his name. ONI Officer: Sir...I am picking up contacts...lots of them. Sensors indicate that we have multiple Pelicans heading towards Midnight. They are moving at top speed...coming right at us. Hayes: They are sending assault teams in. There is a Trust ship somewhere in this system. They might be using Stealth technology. Those are short range ships...they cannot go that far. Hayes paused. Hayes: Bring point defense weapons online...and begin targeting those Pelicans. We have to take out as many as we can! Signal the fleet...order all deck guns on those Pelicans. Hopefully...we can begin to cut their numbers down. Hayes then turned to Temple. Hayes: Status report on our defensive teams? Temple: We have deployed squads 41, 42, and 43 successfully. Preparing to green light squads 44, 45, and 46. Hayes: Have we heard anything from The Citadel? Temple: A lot of comm chatter. From what we can tell...a single team managed to infultrate the base, and are now wrecking havoc! Hayes scoffed. He was going to issue another order, but he was cut off by HAWK. HAWK: Sir...I have lost contact with The Citadel. Their computer systems are no longer responding! Hayes: Attempt to re-establish. HAWK: Sir...this is not a connection issue. The entire Citadel has gone dark. I cannot communicate with any sub-system. Sir...the defenses around The Citadel could very well be offline! Hayes looked at HAWK. Hayes: WHAT!? Hayes sighed. Hayes: HAWK...I don't care what you have to do...just get those defenses back online! HAWK: But sir...if I cannot... Hayes glared at HAWK. Hayes: HAWK...find a way! Get it done! HAWK: Aye sir...