The men and women of the gunner’s brigade seem unmoved by words.  Instead their eyes train on the fast moving ships that approach and swim around them in the vacuum of space.  Indeed the ships do seem to swim as they twist and move through the debris.  Languid bodies turning with grace in an attempt to angle themselves around the bulk Katarina now uses for cover.  Yet when one slides over the weapons of the Sarangerel lash out with marked improvement.  Lights dim once more as the lance slices through open space, the ship turning slightly to avoid the long beam of light.  Yet as this happens the barrage of cannon fire presses into the ship.  A flicker is felt around the ship as the void shields weaken and fall, overloaded by the sudden force.  Small ruptures can be seen tearing themselves free from the enemy ship as additional salvos strike home before the shields are raised.<br/><br/>All is not well though as the hulk before Katarina sudden jerks and tilts.  Sudden explosions tear across the bulk as one of the ships opened fire with torpedoes to dispel her cover.  Ship alarms light up as the enemy seems intent on flinging the huge things on top of them.  Evasive maneuvers light up on the advance holotank before her, showing her ship and the hulk in detail unknown to most pilots.  Her ship lurches downward and then over, turning like a lumbering whale of legend as the bulk flies past her to leave them staring at the two enemy ships.<br/><br/>For the brave Marines that followed Xanatov there was little respite and celebrating.  Small turret fires aimed at the small gun cutters that breached the span of space.  Murder bots attempted to dislodge and place charge, yet each pass to land was dispelled by the smaller laser fire.  Smoke and fire were quickly put out inside the cabin of the gun cutter, but the point was made that death had loomed closer than ever before for the people of this small craft.<br/><br/>----next Strategic Round----<br/><br/>3 Hull Integrity inflicted on Ship 2.