[Kairu]

sh'Kori, th'Zarath's XO, had been monitoring fleet status. She began acknowledging the confirmations coming from the fleet. While the fleet was re-organizing, the Heart of the Aenar went on full lockdown. Security barriers were raised at every junction, redundant shielding around the warp core, sickbay ready with open beds, security teams on standby for any possible boarding parties. Dickerson: "Shields are at 97 percent. Phasers and quantum torpedoes are armed and ready. All stations report green." sh'Kori: "The Magellan and Gallileo have requested permission to retreat. They took heavy damage and lost three of their senior officers and four respectively." th'Zarath nodded at the requests. He knew there was no point in letting an inexperienced crew in a fight this important if they don't feel ready. sh'Kori: "The rest of the fleet is ready. The Lawful Avenger and Michaelangelo are taking us up on both sides and holding positions." th'Zarath: "Switch view to tactical display. I want to see what is going on." The viewscreen had previously shown the Klingon fleet in a live feed, but upon request, it switched to a flat ma0 representing the immediate area, both fleets, the nearby gas giant, and Starbase 97 were all depicted. Unlike the traditional style with emblems depicting everything, th'Zarath made it a point to have changes done. Now, it showed every ship class and general shape with the shorthand name al9ng the length of the icon. The only the computer had trouble with was the Klingon flagship which was quickly resolved with a new icon. th'Zarath was ready and so was the fleet. He was also nervous. He always was before a big anticipated battle. He'd be a fool not to be, but he was the Fleet Admiral. He had to look ready and not show it. He then opened a channel to the fleet. th'Zarath: "This is going to be a very important battle in Federation history. Our names are already etched into time itself just by being here. I know you all have doubts about our victory. Even if we lose, remember why we are here. Remember why we are fighting. The Klingons have been the aggressors from the start. They struck multiple outposts and blindsided us at the beginning. But after the casualty lists they created, we struck back! And struck back we did! That was about 150 years ago! And today, here they are! The aggressors! Pushing into Federation space, making demands to us! Remember what you all fight for! Our homes! Our families! Our mere presence within the cosmos! Our enemy wants to see us enslaved on our hands and knees begging for mercy! We will not take that! Here we stand at a pinnicle spot in history! We lose here! We allow the enemy a stronger, closer spot to Earth and the Core Worlds! We cannot allow this at any cost! So fight hard! Win hard! And remember, we're already heroes, win or lose. th'Zarath out." He then looked around the bridge. His crew seemed inspired by his speech, no doubt his fleet was too. Now let's hope history will not prove him wrong. Meanwhile: Starbase 97 had not calmed down in the least bit. Although the Klingon fleet had stopped bombarding the station for unknown reasons to Pa'aleia, the invaders were far from ceasing. Before the cease fire, the invaders tripled in number. 'Was this starbase so important to die for?' Pa'aleia thought to herself. She wasn't sure, but she sure as Hell wasn't going to let more Federation soldiers die for it. She yelled for another retreat to escape pods. How many hear her was questionable, but the order was given. Pa'aleia however, was going to go and find out. She went back to her former command post and began hacking into the database.