The battle continued on over the Earth. Archer was on the bridge of the Enterprise and just got word from his comm. officer Hoshi saying the Hydra was calling for help. Quickly and decisively he gave the order for Enterprise to alter course and find their equine friends in the fray. The human ship maneuvered carefully through the colliding fleets, which now were meshed together.
The Romulans flew in large formations of seven ships cutting through Starfleet ships with ease. In retaliation the Starfleet ships focus fired on the lead ships. The damage this caused forced the lead Romulan warbird to break formation which shattered the entire squadron together. Enterprise was lucky when one such formation scattered when the lead ship was destroyed. The green birdlike ships flew in every direction while the debris from the lead ship hit the flanking warbirds as well as the Enterprise.
The masses of green metal hit the human ship shaking its very foundation.
The lights flickered all across the ship as power surged through it's frame. On the bridge of Enterprise the alarms blared loudly for all to hear. Archer gripped his chair tightly as if afraid he'd fly out of it at a moments notice. Straightening himself Archer yelled over the alarms to get the attention of his Tactical Officer Reed.
"Malcom! Damage report!" Archer called to him.
"Damage is minimal but I wouldn't recommend we get hit again sir. Hull plating might not last another hit like that." he warned Archer.
"We'll make due. Reinforce the hull plating and ready torpedoes."
Malcom nodded and prepared both torpedo launchers with high yield torpedoes and then reinforced the hull by diverting power from their phase cannons to the hull plating. A common practice for humans but not for many other races. The added power to the hull came no a second too soon. For after power was diverted another warbird came from above the Enterprise and shot the hull. Damage was done but not enough to stop the Enterprise.
Flying past the birdlike ships flew though the fleet easily evading fire as it nimbly maneuvered around the massive Empire and Starfleet ships. Overall the battle was going poorly for Starfleet. Despite their best efforts they were simply outnumbered and stood no chance against the might of the Romulans and the Empire.
Archer was beginning to worry that this was going to be the end of Starfleet. Though they had been lucky so far it seemed luck was finally running out for the human race. He leaned back in his chair and was about to order a long range scan but Malcom yelled saying, "Captain! I found our friends!"
Not missing a beat Archer ran over to his tactical officers station, standing close by and leaning into Malcom's ear. "Pin point their location."
"Aye sir."
"Mr. Mayweather. Let' go find our friends."
And just like that the Enterprise was on course to help their newly appointed allies.
*Hydra*
Sunset was making her way back to the main engineering hub when she came across a zebra in a grey uniform skipping along the hallways happy as can be. She had a long grey and black striped tail and a short spiky mane unlike the traditional Mohawk zebras usually had. On her head bounced what the yellow mare sought.
"Excuse me crewmare!" Sunset called to her.
The zebra stopped midjump suspended for four seconds looking at Sunset who was gawking at her. The zebra fell slowly down to the ship just as it shook and the alarms began blaring again. Sunset fell to the floor hitting her head on the walkway but the zebra managed to stay in place perfectly, keeping her silly smile.
"What can I do for you ma'am?" she asked.
Sunset got up of he floor to dust herself off. "I'm looking for that device on your head. Please relinquish it to me."
"Sure Lieutenant!" the mare said offering the small device. "What do you need it for?"
"I'm going to give it to our enemy." Sunset said darkly.
The zebra cocked her head with a worried look. "If I may be so bold ma'am, why give it to our enemies?"
"Oh I think you'll like what I have in mind. It'll be a blast."
"Oh well, OK! I have to get to engineering. Be careful with that m'am!" the zebra said skipping along down the hallway.
Sunset shivered at the thought of Pinkie Pie and the zebra in the same room. *Scary.* The ship shook again and Sunset quickly ran opposite of the zebra mare and down towards the turbolift. She quickly pressed the call button and waited impatiently as it came down with a *beep!*
Entering the lift Sunset set for the hangar pulling out her communicator.
"Lieutenant Sunset to bridge."
...
"..."
......
"...... ugh. Lieutenant SUNNY SMILES to bridge."
"Lieutenant! Trixie hopes you have your plan in motion! we're getting creamed!" *BOOM!* DEET! DEET!* "See?! Now what 's our plan?"
Sunset scoffed with a grin, not realizing there was a set of eyes behind her. "I got the J-77 power core ma'am. I'm gonna give it to the enemy flagship and blow them sky high with the XO-1 Saber Craft."
There was a brief pause before Trixie's voice replied over the comm. device, "Negative. I need all senior staff on the bridge immediately."
"Bu-but ma'am-'
"No buts, Lieutenant! Get to the bridge immediately! That's an order!"
After the order was given the comm device went silent. Sunset growled smashing the device into the side of the turbolift and destroyed it under her hoof. She panted heavily as she ran her hoof down the side of the shaft. She turned around to see two eyes right in her face and a large toothy grin of white and black.
"HI!"
"GAH!"
She fell over and landed on her head in the lift effectively knocking herself out as the zebra Star Stripe glanced down at the unconscious mare. She took the power core in her mouth and with a whip of her neck flung it into the air and it landed perfectly on her tail.
Sunset glared at the striped zebra mare, who continued to smile at her.
"Wipe that smile off your face."
"Sorry ma'am." the zebra replied. "But I overheard your conversation and might have a solution."
"And that is?"
"I'll show you!"
The ship shook as the zebra and unicorn waited for the turbolift to reach the hangar bay once there they realized everything was in absolute chaos. Off to the side of the bay was a whole section of the ship missing revealing the blackness of space beyond. The protective shields were up to sustain pressure and life support as ponies ran around like ants trying to get the remaining crafts secure and crates latched in safety. Mechs ran around and Commander Octavia was on a large platform barking orders to everyone with great precision.
Star Stripe skipped down between the ponies and mechs easily avoiding them as she made her way over to one of the large metal crates and opened it while still humming to herself. Sunset had more trouble, not being nearly as nimble as the zebra. She had to dodge the mechs and crew ponies as she made her way over to the zebra who had just finished opening the crate. Inside was a large device that was big enough for a pony to stand on. It was round and only about two hooves high. It had a white panel on top with a large metal ring around it and a small console beside it.
Sunset inspected the device over. "What is this?"
Star Stripe grinned looking at her CO. "It's a long ranged transporter!"
But, transport tech in not allowed to be used on living things! How am I going to get over to the ship and set this core to detonate... oh! You are clever." Sunset gave the zebra a silly grin nudging her shoulder playfully. "I'll have to rethink my opinion of you!"
Sunset placed the core on the panel and ran off to the side pulling a large cable over and attached it to a small circular port on the side of the device. While she secured the cable, Star Stripe ran the other end of the cord over to a mech and attached it to the power core and set the mech to stand by mode. The process took less than ten minutes before she was ready.
Sunset then activated the J-77 power core and set a small explosive fore ten second detonation, and placed both side by side on the transporter. Sunset then activated the transporter and prepared to transport the core to the Haymaker.
"I gotta get to the bridge. Wait for my signal to transport the core and remember to arm it before-hoof!"
"Aye ma'am!" the zebra said with a salute.
Sunset made her way to the bridge. The journey took less than three minutes before she got there. Trixie was livid at this point turning to face her the Captain rushed over to her.
"What happened down there?"
Sunset grinned. "We setup a plan to get the Haymaker and cripple it ma'am."
Trixie's eye twitched as she raised a shaky hoof. "I told you NOT to do anything without my explicit orders." she growled at the mare.
"Captain we aren't going to get anywhere running like this. We have to fight!" Sunset declared grabbing hold to the wall as the Hydra took another hit.
"Shields are down to 10% a'am!"
"Trixie ground her teeth with a disgruntled look. She looked around like she was expecting some miracle to appear before her eyes to save them from their misfortunes. Finding none she sighed taking hold of Sunset's shoulders with her hooves. "Can you get the Haymaker off us?"
Sunset grinned in response. "Yes ma'am. All we need is to get their shields down long enough to transport the bomb onboard and cripple them." Sunset handed over a diagram of the Haymaker. "Assuming this is the Haymaker all we have to do is transport the bomb to these coordinates and we'll successfully cripple them for days."
*Enterprise Bridge*
Archer was getting antsy as the battle continued. Starfleet was losing more ships than the enemy was. It was quickly spiraling out of control and nothing seemed to be working. The enemy fleet was simply too massive for their small fleet to handle. Their tactics were sound but the number of ships made it impossible to make any major difference.
Their efforts to assist the Hydra were proving more fruitful than anything else.
"Captain, the Hydra has taken significant damage." Commander Reed said from his station. "I don't think they'll last much longer."
Archer sighed tapping his chair with a finger nervously drumming it.
"Call in the Dakota tell them to focus on the enemy flagship."
The message was sent and within second a ship smaller than Enterprise broke formation and flew beside the earth ship flying after the Haymaker. Both ship fired phasers on the massive ship damaging it shield to the breaking point. On the Haymaker, Admiral Twilight was fuming at the turning tide of her battle.
The unicorn was rampaging across the bridge of her ship while her officers cowered in fear.
"You are all incompetent!" the unicorn howled at her weapons officer. She then turned to her timid yellow pegasus officer who hid from sight at her approaching. "Where is my backup?! We have an entire fleet over two-hundred and not ONE ship could come to help!?"
"So-sorry Admiral. but the fleet has been ordered to withdraw. I just got the message." the pegasus said hiding.
"UGH! Who sent the message?! I want to know so I can have them shot!"
The pegasus delayed to respond only served to anger the unicorn more until she finally said, "It's from the Empress." Twilight's face went pale. She stumbled backwards into her chair as the rest of the crew on the bridge went silent. The timid pegasus then continued, "She's unhappy with you Admiral. She said and I quote, "The Admirals failure to defeat this realities primitive fleet has displeased me so. I shall take it upon myself to see this realities destruction personally." She paused watching as the Admiral slumped over in her chair burying her face in her booted hooves. "In the meantime all ships are to retreat and rendezvous at the Sol Star. I shall arrive shortly."
Twilight stared at the screen in shock.
Her failure.
And the Empress of the Empire was coming, HERE to salvage what she could not?
Inconceivable.
With her orders clear Admiral Twilight ordered a full scale retreat to the given coordinates and the entire fleet fled towards the Sol Star awaiting their Empress thus leaving the enemy fleet in shock by the sudden retreat but a welcomed one.