A voice blared through the communications channel, asking for identification. Ferrel picked his speaking horn again. The voice from the star base was accented in a way and so gung-ho that it instantly annoyed him. He punched in a dial code and replied, 

"Hayes, this is Captain Ferrel of the LAS Aurorea Registration Sierra-Bravo-4-3-7-Alpha, a Bulwark Class of the Serpis-Sefaestian Fleet. Intention is diplomatic, as of being hailed by a foreign ship. Over."

Ferrel hooked the brass cone carefully into his console and stood, pulling on his black cap and pacing his way into the red-lit bridge. A sailor gestured to him, and he stared into a round, green screen. It showed three objects moving towards the ship. They were significantly smaller, but the Captain wasn't stupid enough to allow himself to be out-numbered and still imagine he had the upper hand. He snapped his fingers, and a periscope-like tube descended from the ceiling. He grasped the two handles and swung the device over to the left. The grainy image quickly gained resolution as it passed over the three Sonran ships that had pulled up alongside, and blue rings and little ebbs of text flew across his field of vision, highlighting weak points and tidbits of information about the ships. His mouth moved as he ran a few equations in his head. 

"Stabilise the orbit and activate the shields on full capacity."
"Yessir". All along the ship, turquoise sparks rippled along the hard, grey surface of the vessel and there were thousands of little fireballs and glowing lights as space junk and debris was flung away from the dreadnought. The space around it became amazingly clear.

"That's that sorted for the time being. What're the energy levels?"
"I'm getting around....we could withstand 1 hours heavy bombardment, or five, six maybe,  nuclear devices, sir."
"An hour? That should be fine. Signaller?"
"Yessir?"
"Hail the Everlights, will you? And dial sequence for the nearest ships of the...No. Sod that, dial in the rest of the Task Force."
"Aye, sir."

"Kingdom of the Everlight? This is the Aurorae, we intend to be with you shortly, but have encountered, ah, problems with Sonran authorities." an officer whispered in his ear, "and are awaiting the arrival of a qualified diplomat from outside the Naval Service". He nodded to the signaller, who changed channels, taking him through to the 

"Commander Hyriß?"
"Yes, Captain?"
"What is your current position with regards to co-ordinates 44332-33221-49821?"
"Could be there in five minutes."
"Ah, good. And the rest of Sierra Bravo?"
"Fifteen minutes, half an hour sir..."
"Good."
"Oh?"
"Have the rest assemble on that location and engage the equation sent in my last transmission."
"Right-oh, sir. Anything else?"
"Yes, do you still have that diplomatic officer with you? Wossisname, ah, Gretlynn?"
"Of course, sir."
"We're going to need him here, anyway And I'm sending a report through to the Governor-General's Office, this is bigger than us."
"Right you are, sir. Roger, out,"
"Out"

Ferrel was about to stow his radio equipment away, before as a second though, he hailed the ships that had pulled alongside.

"Hello, please identify and keep no closer than 3'000 yards from the ship. Please be advised that military action would be a mistake as we are a registered diplomatic vessel as well as warship. Out." He pressed a second, large button on the console.

...another post, sponsored by Powergen....
Edited 1 time by Charley Feb 21 11 8:32 AM.