two steps from hell

"Madeline, what's our current status?"
"Hull at 18% Engines 13% most systems are offline. We are still underfire from Walkabout"
"Thanks"

*******

"Captain. Long range scanners are picking up 3 ships exiting hyperspace"
"Any ID on them? Friend or Foe?"
"3 Dreadnaught class capital ships exiting 1.2km from our location"
"That puts them right beside the eclipse class"
"That is correct"
"Dreadnaught identified Captain. Promise I, Promise II and Promise III"
"What are they doing?"
"Holding position. Not opening fire"
"It's absurd for 3 dreadnaught class to outgun an eclipse. The dreadnaughts are 1km in lengh each, the eclipse, 16!"
"Walkabout's escorts are opening fire on the dreadnaughts"
"Hmm they would hold - for a little, but for how long and why?"
"Long range scanners picking up 2 more class-7 capital ships hypering in"
"Bring the rain. Friend or Foe?"
"Friend, exiting 300 meters from us"
"What? that precise jump? That's not possible!"
"Class-7 ships are the new Missle Cruisers. These two are the only prototypes. None are in production nor will there ever be."
"What information on this Missle Cruisers do you have?"
"Manufactured by Kuat Drives Systems. 7km in length. 4 Missle batteries mounted. 2 at the bow and 2 at the aft. Each battery consisting of 64 warhead launchers interchangable between warhead types. Each cruiser also carries 2 main guns at the bow, almost rivaling the super laser of the Death Star"
"Any ID on these two cruisers?"
"Darkstar and Pneoxian. Captain, both of them are aligning toward the eclipse. The warhead bays are opening. It seems they are going to engage"
" Captain, i suggest you shield your eyes from the glare of the main guns. It can be overwhelming"
"Noted"

"They've open fire. Main guns are full blast and warheads are away. It seems they are firing Ion warheads"
"Ion warheads?"

"The eclipse has lost it's shields under the fire of ion warheads and the main guns Captain. Promise I, Promise II and Promise III are opening fire. They are firing ion blasts at the eclipse's battery control tower."
"Status on the dreadnaughts?"
"85% shields and holding. Maintaining triangular formation over Walkabout's battery control tower."
"Captain the eclipse class is disabled. All it's weapons are offline. It's pulling out. Her escorts are following suit"

"Captain we're receiving hailing frequencines from Darkstar"
"Patch us through"

***********************************

"Thought you needed some help. I brought some friends too!"
"How did you know?"
"You aren't the only one listening on passive distress calls"
"But i didn't transmit any"
"Hold tight, my repair crew are coming on board. Darkstar out"

***********************************

"Madeline did you transmit?"
"Yes Captain"
"Why?"
"Because we won't make it to our next destination given our situation"
"We're programmed to help! Not survive!"
"Destroyed frigates are unable to help captain"
"Point taken"
"Repair and Outfitting droids are approaching sir. Repairs are underway"

***********************************

"Captain, long range scanners are picking up 4 more unidentified ships hypering in"
"What now? Any IFF on them?"
"Friend. Their class is unknown. There are no matches on my database for these ships"
"Run your scans and give me a low down"
"2 main cruiers, each measuring 14km in length. The ships design seems not of any that i can match. 2 more other escorts measuring 10 km in length. Multiple batteries line populate the ship but i am unable to determine the exact count"
"Any ID on them?"
"The two main cruisers are Patriach and Matriach. Their escorts Trust and Faith. They are just holding position 500 meters from us"