By Alan Tripp

Scene: Main Bridge, U.S.S. Excalibur

Consoles exploded, bridge crew lay dying while others fought to either keep the key stations manned or fought to save those dying or to extinguish the flames. 

VADM Ka’nej Hauk’s eyes drifted by a moment to the severed head of the borg drone that lay in the middle of the command well, just feet from the centerseat. 

They had been boarded, crew assimilated, and the ship suffered massive damage with one nacelle already a trail of space debris trailing away in their wake. 

But that was only one moment in time … a tiny glimpse of the grand battle playing out before them. 

And even though Klingon to his fingertips, Hauk was sick of battle.  

His warriors heart had cooled with the loss of too many of those under his command … the loss of too many of his friends. 

Punctuating that thought, the tactical console exploded behind him, showering him with a rain of sparks. 

But Hauk ignored the pain, choosing instead to concentrate on the present moment and how to survive to see the next and the next ones thereafter. 

After a final runthrough of the incoming data stream of the battle surrounding them and status of the Starfleet vessels and their allies, the gruff warrior’s fingers danced across his small tactical console. 

He transmitted final destination commands to the various surviving transporter rooms and cargo bays equipped with operating transporter pads.  

As he rose from his chair, he opened the shipwide comm even as his other hand reached for the hilt of his bloodied sword. 

After all, when fighting the Borg, a good sword cut through their personal shields like butter. 

“All hands, grab your weapons and abandon ship,” he ordered. 

“I repeat, abandon ship,” he continued. “The Excalibur is lost but we can still help our comrades on those other ships by continuing our fight by their side.” 

“Report to transporter rooms, shuttle bays and shuttle pods,” he ordered.”Whatever is closest, but get your asses off this ship posthaste.” 

The channel closed as he kicked the head out of the way. 

“Helm … Set course that large tactical cube forward-starboard, set the autopilot and then come with me.”  

Mere minutes later, the bridge of the Excalibur faded from view as the bridge’s emergency transporter systems beamed what was left of the bridge crew away. 

Another smaller bridge faded into view as they rematerialized. 

Hauk took a deep breath, thankful they had been correct in their assessment. 

A breach along the aft half of the bridge dome cost the Excelsior II-class cruiser it’s command crew who were sucked out into space along with Borg attackers hellbent on assimilation. 

The forcefield had clicked on seconds too late to save the crew, allowing needed air to fill the command center even if the command crew were long gone. 

“Everyone to their stations and give me a situation report,” Hauk ordered. 

He moved down into the command well, settling quickly into the new centerseat  … clicking an open ship’s channel as he did so. 

“This is Vice-Admiral Ka’nej Hauk. … I’m sorry to report Capt. Richards and bridge crew are no more, so I’m assuming direct command over the Timber Wolf. All departments report in to the bridge as to status and combat readiness.” 

As the channel closed, he noted a shadow passing underneath, forming into the familiar form of the massive hull of the shattered U.S.S. Excalibur. 

Her path collided with a pair of Borg spheres, yet she kept going. 

And then an explosion. 

Excalibur pierced the tactical command cube like blade thrust into a body. 

Her dual warp cores went critical, taking the cube with it in a blinding flash. 

“She was a good ship,” Hauk whispered to himself, surprised a tear was welling up in the corners of his eyes.

But he shook that off. Time for it later.

The spreading explosive waves and debris spread quickly outward, consuming remaining Borg vessels in the process. 

Today was a good day to live. 

The warrior flipped open a channel to the fleet. 

“This is VAdm. Hauk,” he stated. 

“I’ve transferred my command and flag to the Timber Wolf and will be coordinating from here. All ships rally to us as able and let’s make the final push to send these bastards back to the hell that spawned them.” 

Respectfully, 

–Alan Tripp

Aka. “Ka’nej Hauk”  

—OUT OF STORY—

Thus ends an era from the past as the flagship of SF Harbour Command goes up in a blaze of glory.

Excalibur was a ship very dear to my heart. May she rest in peace.

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