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The First Guardian's smile had nothing at all to do with happiness, and her Provost tried to<br />
suppress an urge to step away from her.<br />
This time, we're waiting for you though. Come here, Kitty, Mama's got a big surprise for you.<br />
The Bak'ra, if nothing else, were at least quite methodical.<br />
"Com, tight beam communiqué to all ships. Make certain everyone understands that we go on<br />
my order, not a second sooner. All ships to battle stations."<br />
"Yes, Ma'am."<br />
Emily touched the small control panel on the side of her command couch. It was one of the few<br />
physical controls that the couch possessed. The shrill battle alarm snarled to life throughout<br />
North Star followed only moments later <strong>by</strong> the other Imperial vessels.<br />
"Alright people, you all know what to do. Keep your cool, remember what you've been taught<br />
and you'll do fine."<br />
The majority of her command crew was new, she'd had to promote anyone she could to captain<br />
the auxiliary ships, which had been commissioned. The fact that she knew it had been necessary<br />
didn't mean she had to like it. No one liked to go into battle with a mostly untried crew.<br />
"You know, I really wish we had our old team here."<br />
Emily smiled in return and winked at her Provost. Angwar was a good man, and she was glad<br />
she had him as a friend. Pitching her voice low enough so that only he would hear her, she<br />
nodded slightly.<br />
"I know exactly what you mean."<br />
He snorted and went back to his station, making certain that his crash harness was tight. Not that<br />
the harness or the fleet vac suites that they all wore would save them from a direct hit, but it<br />
would save them if all that happened was a loss of pressure.<br />
"Guns, we'll want to engage the moment they enter our powered missile envelope. Rowen, the<br />
second we do, I want full acceleration away from here."<br />
Her Chief Engineer and head of tactical had heard it all before with the rest of her command<br />
staff, but it didn't hurt to make certain they understood. It was going to be close, very close. It<br />
was important that the Bak'ra follow them on the path that Emily had decided upon. Otherwise<br />
they'd have little, if any, clue as to where the Bak'ra would attack from when they reached Sol.<br />
"Ma'am, all Guardians report ready status for phase one."
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