This could not fail. Their future depended on it. The mission was all-important. But the Quartona were closing in. The moment had come, to show those lizards what Terrans were made of.<br/><br/>This and other thoughts crossed Admiral Cherenkov's mind, looking out from the windows of his police cutter's bridge, at the heavy battle transport to the starboard. It was one of the few ships capable of independent FTL that were still operational. It that now was carrying their hope of survival. Its mission was twofold: they were to break through the blockading Quartona fleet, and search for assistance. If there was none to be had in their neighbors, the Kyrie, they were to establish a colony, somewhere far from Terra, where these damnable lizards could not find them..<br/><br/>One of the bridge officers spoke up, breaking the Admiral from his darkened thoughts. "Sir, the Quartona fleet, is approaching. ETA is six minutes." the young helmsman indicated, to which the Admiral just nodded. In order for the transports to get away safely, he and his ship, along with a handful of others, would have to hold the Quartona landing fleet off. If they captured the port facilities, they could cut support for the still land bound ships, and their escape would become a pipe dream. Of special interest, was LCR-783, the Refuge, which was on docking ring number 6. Located only a few miles behind his position. Captaining her, was the acting Security One of Earth, as the actual one had been killed on a raid on D.C. They had known exactly where to attack first, for the maximum effect. The Terran forces had been in disarray for hours after the initial strike, allowing the enemy to take up orbital position, from which endless waves of landing craft had spewed forth. The grizzled Admiral chuckled silently, thinking wryly, as how now a Lieutenant commander outranked him. The fortunes of war, make for most strange bedfellows, he thought..<br/><br/>The Admiral pressed a button on his console, bringing up comms for the transport. "Commander! It's now or never!" he said, his eyes riveted to the sensor screen, showing the Quartona fleet approaching. "You have four minutes to get your ship out of here. Move it!" he added, closing the link before any answer was received. There was none needed. He then directed his gaze at his XO, Captain Archer. One of the very few Kyrie that had come to Terra since they had first contact, nearly ten years ago. It had been his, and other military Kyrie on Terra, that had suggested the plan to contact their people for assistance, having recognized their ancient enemies.<br/><br/>"All systems ready, Admiral." Capt. Archer said, knowing just what he was about to ask. "We shall give them hell."