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~ The gathered fleet of Admiral Sligh hung in orbit over the old colony world, calm but for the flights of shuttles running circuits planetside to their frenzied evacuation of civilians below. Aboard his potmarked and tarnished flagship, Josiah Sligh stood like a pintle overlooking the main consoles. The graying beagle's expression was inscrutable as he glanced and tracked the firehose of fleet information and health. It only caught his attention for passing moment when the first report came in.

~ Several kilometers away from the fleet, a ship came out of its faster than light travel into orbit by way of a vibrant explosion of energies and debris. The grav-net of the Black Knight held against the arrival of any hostile fleets to the direct vicinity, disturbing the local warp fields enough to skuttle any ships trying to come out of faster than light with the flagship's reach.

~ One of the operators reported, "Sir! Grav-net strike confirmed. Unable to ascertain ship transponder", a pause to cross-check logs, "None scheduled for arrival." The first mate replied in concert, "Presuming hostile, deploy sensor bouys." Admiral Sligh nodded in silent agreement before motioning to the comms officer. "Open a fleetwide channel broadcast."

~ The admiral addressed the fleet, in the flat tone typical of one who'd been around long enough that there was little left to see that would be worse than that already known, "Make preparations for an emergency fleet jump to faster than light. All non-shuttle craft pull into tight formation about the Black Knight. She will take point and generate the field.", motioning to the comms officer to close the channel.

~ For about fifteen more minutes, the shuttles seemed to buzz up and down from planetside with an increased sense of urgency before the sensor bouys furthest out relayed their recognition of a proper and hostile assault fleet some distance beyond the Black Knight's grav-net range. The first mate looked to Admiral Sligh, who was glancing between the display of evacuation percentage, shuttle fuel levels, projected timelines for the attack, and the local planetary arrangments. He motioned again for a fleetwide channel, "All ships, recall for faster than light jump. No further ships are to go planetside."

~ To the conclusion of the fleetwide broadcast came protest from the commander of the shuttle fleets, "Sir! There are still thousands of civilians down there and plenty of fuel in the shuttles; the shuttles can run full burn and get two more circuits well before the hostile fleet is within engagement range. I'm sending out one more wave."

~ Josiah Sligh's face shifted subtly to one of concern and annoyance. Rather than answering the protest, he motioned to the weapons officer. "Target the lead shuttle in the flight headed planetside.", and to the comms officer he requested another fleetwide broadcast. "I repeat my order. All ships to return to fleet for emergency jump.", motioning the channel closed. He looked to the weapons officer, patiently.

~ She reported, "Target lock confirmed. However, the shuttle's countermeasures won't detect the lock; they won't be aware of your bluff, Sir."

~ Josiah didn't nod, he merely replied, "Fire."

~ The first missile cut through and through the shuttle, failing to find armor or resistance as it dove down into atmosphere. The second appeared to strike some heavy engine component, and the shuttle's debris glittered with heat and plasma. The Admiral turned to the display of flight paths in the fleet.

~ Sligh walked over to the communications console, opening a fleetwide channel. "I repeat my order. All ships to return to fleet for emergency jump." He left the channel on open broadcast, turning to the weapons officer, "Target the lead shuttle in the plant-bound flight."