C2P6

Tector-Class Star Destroyer, Justicar

Bridge

"What in the blazes is going on?!" Demanded Himler as officers rushed about. A clone turned towards him, giving him a crisp salute.

"It seems that the Separatists left quite a few traps during their boarding attempt, sir," said the clone grimly as he activated a holo-projector. The projected image was of the Liberator and her sister ships. Multiple blinking red dots were located near her aft reactors. "Buzzer droids were removing the limiters and the safeties on the reactors. It's in a rate of an uncontrollable meltdown, sir. Commander Solo and Captain Fin agree that the ships cannot be saved at the rate power levels are fluctuating."

"They are being evacuated as we speak then?" Said Himler grimly, stroking his thin chin.

"Yes sir," nodded the clone. "Captain Fin and his men have already begun shuttling back to the Justicar with Solo and his people."

"Yes, I can see that," remarked the Admiral, his eyes narrowing. He turned to the communications officer, "Have either the Defender or the Pride reported back?"

The officer looked up from his station nodding. "Yessir, just six minutes ago. No contacts or anomalies as of yet...hold on..."

Eyes flickered to the man as he listened to an incoming message. His eyes had gone wide and his skin paling. "Sir, both the Defender and the Pride have been engaged by enemy contacts! They're reporting a force of sixteen Munificent-Class Frigates and three Lucrehulk-Class Core Ships!"

"That must be their reinforcements," commented his clone aide.

"It takes at least six to seven Separatist frigates to successfully take on one of our star destroyers," murmured Himler aloud. "Even with their extra numbers, they can't take on an entire Tector-Class Star Destroyer! So what are they playing at?"

"Sir, the Defender is taking damage to her shields!" Said the comms officer quickly, "Pride is assisting, but the firepower being directed is too great! They're requesting permission to withdraw back to our position!"

"Granted!" Himler snapped with an ugly glare. "We'll rendevous with them just out of the planet's orbit. What's the evacuation status of the scuttled ships?"

"Almost finished sir."

"Good! I want Captain Fins to-"

SHUNK.

"We've lost main power!" Exclaimed someone in the darkness. Red lights flickered to life as Himler felt his feet leave the floor. "Artificial gravity inoperable! The main computer is offline!"

"What the hell is going on?!" Screamed Himler, grabbing ahold of a computer terminal and tried to access it. Unfortunately, it remained blank and only reflected his expression of rage. "Somebody get down to engineering and find out what the hell is-"

Artificial gravity came back online while he was yelling, sending him falling painfully back onto the floor.

"Auxillary power is online," reported his second in command, the clone ignoring his bloody nose in favor of grabbing ahold of a terminal. "Engineering, what the hell was that?"

"Sir! We have buzz droids all over the frakking power relays! Troopers are running wild, shooting everything!" Yelled a clone from the communications console, his face scrunched up in pain, "I don't know whats going on but - Argh!"

"Secure this section," ordered an unfamiliar voice. "If any resist, shoot them."

"By your command," said a clone trooper's voice.

The last thing the screen showed before shutting off was a hooded head, with only a pair of large bright white eyes staring out of them. Straight at them.

The silence was deafening as all eyes turned to Admiral Himler for orders. The old man's eyes twitched as he completed his choices, which were growing increasingly limited.

"I don't know how those separatist scum managed to sneak in battledroids aboard my ship, but it doesn't matter one bit," ground out the Admiral through clenched teeth.

"All hands to battlestations! We're going to retake this ship, restore the power, and send all these clankers back to the scrapyard where they frakking belong!"

"Yessir!" Chorused his crew.

As the bridge crew set about organizing resistance, Himler turned away and stared out at the battle taking place just minutes away. Whatever the odds, they were suddenly stacked heavily against him. Clenching his thin hands into fists, he knew this was not going to be easy.