"Shields up. Evasive manoeuvres."

Even while giving commands, Captain Sarla's voice is even and calm. A second Bird of Prey uncloaks in the viewscreen as Lt. M'raul brings the Excelsior about. The trade convoy briefly swings across the star field before helm completes its evasive turn and brings the two - now three - renegade vessels back on screen.

"Hightown reports a Romulan warship decloaking behind the convoy, Captain," reports Lt. Cmdr. Ss'surr'n from his position by the sensors and communications.

Sarla nods. "Command Captain Telas to engage the Romulans with the rest of the escort. Excelsior will deal with the Klingons."

She turns to her First Officer. "Options?"

"We were caught by surprise, Captain, but we still outmatch the Birds of Prey. Commander Kinski shouldn't have too much trouble disabling their weapons and engines, and then we can talk to them and see if we can get to the bottom of this."

Shar surveys the bridge and reviews his instruments. "Reports are coming in from the lower decks. Shields are holding. Minor damage on decks eight through ten. This attack could be a diversion. We need to keep an eye on the convoy in case they're trying to separate us from them."

Lieutenant Commander Kinski curses under his breath as another red marker appears on his screen, information filling in on a sidebar as the sensors identify the ship and resolve the dot to a miniature representation of a Romulan ship. He looks up a the main viewscreen and dismisses it. The starfield is very pretty to be sure, but at these distances the Mark I eyeball is sorely outclassed by tactical sensors.

His fingers key in a few more commands and an affirmative beep sounds as the computers affirm their receipt of the tentative commands. He turns to look over his shoulder a the Captain, and speaks up to correct Commander Shar once the XO finishes.

"Captain, I have firing solutions worked out for all three Klingon vessels, and phaser banks are at full power. I can hull two of those ships in ten seconds if you give the word."

Captain Sarla leans back, steepling her fingers before her. "Commander Kinski, disable the Klingon's engines. Our first priority is to keep them away from the convoy. Lt. M'raul, attack pattern gamma. Take us in close."

Kinski's fingers go back to work on the tactical console, relaying orders to the crews controlling the phasers and own in the photon torpedo magazines.

"Aye aye, Captain."

Kinski assigns the targets for the phaser banks, which go to work on the Klingon shields as the Excelsior closes on the Klingons. Once the shields fall, photon torpedoes will easily disable the Klingon engines.

"Ensign Haraldsen, hail the lead Klingon vessel after the first volley." Shar knows that the Klingons will not respond to a hail when they feel in a position of strength, but after their engines are disabled it may be a different story. He continues to monitor events from his console, remaining seated to the Captain's right. Despite the predilections of his people, Shar is calm and affable, but his voice commands respect. "Commander Ss'surr'n, keep watch on the convoy. Make sure no other vessels decloak in their vicinity."

Alex rests his fingers on the console, so as to be ready to execute as soon as the engines are disabled.

"Aye, sir."

His eyes follow the action on the viewscreen.

SPIRIT: Disable Klingon Vessel (Speed). Difficulty: 8 +4 (+2 per additional vessel). Roll: 6. Aspect: 0. Modifiers: +4 (Starship Tactics, Ship-to-Ship Phasers). Result: 10. Partial Success!

Kinski calculates the trajectories as the Excelsior dodges between the Birds of Prey. The phaser banks fire once, twice, three times, scoring hits on all three Klingon vessels. He signals for the photon torpedoes to fire; three points of light appear on the view screen, heading for the Birds of Prey. One ship, then a second, are rocked by explosions in their aft sections as the torpedoes impact the engines. The third torpedo, however, crashes against the third ship's aft shields - still operational after the phaser pass, it seems, and leaves the Bird of Prey shaken, but operational.

The Klingon vessels turn their weapons upon the Excelsior; the disabled ships have difficulty bringing weapons to bear, but the operational ship hits with the full brunt of its forward disruptor cannons. The bridge shakes as the shields absorb the damage; they're holding at 60%.

Ensign Haraldsen hails the disabled vessels; no response.

"No response, sir."

Alex keeps his voice even, ready to try again if asked.

"I can give them another salvo, if you'd like. That should loosen their tongues."

Kinski continues to fire upon the third Klingon ship; as it comes around he focuses whatever phaser banks are facing against the Klingon shields.

"Forward shields are at sixty percent, Captain."

Shar opens a channel to Engineering: "Commander Johnson, see if you can divert power from the aft to the forward shields." He turns to the Captain. "You know how to deal with them, Captain. Are we going to have to destroy one of the ships?"

"Aye Aye, Commander Shar," Lieutenant Commander Johnson responds. Turning to address his Engineering crew, Johnson says "You heard 'em, boys! Divert shield power from aft to forward. Let's hop to it!"

"I am afraid so, Number One." Captain Sarla leans back, gripping the arms of her chair. "Commander Kinski: destroy the remaining Bird of Prey."

SPIRIT: Disable Klingon Shields (Speed). Difficulty: 8. Roll: 7. Aspect: 0. Modifiers: +1 (Ship to Ship Phasers). Result: 8. Success!

Kinski's continued fire has already lowered the remaining ship's shields. Destroying it at this point should be easy.

SPIRIT: Reroute Shields (Ingenuity). Difficulty: 6. Roll: Irrelevant. Aspect: 2. Modifiers: +1 (Starship Shields) + 3 (assistance from Ensign Haraldsen, Starship Power Systems). Total: more than 6. Success!
Once Ensign Haraldsen shifts the ship's power levels, Engineering finds rerouting shield power trivial. Forward shields are back to full power.

Kinski grins, the scarred skin of his face stretches gruesomely around the artificial jaw and monocular cybernetic eye.

"Aye aye, Captain."

Kinski sends a command down to his tactical crew in the torpedo bays, who have been waiting. A salvo of three photon torpedoes targeting the engines and main hull of the Bird of Prey should be more than enough to destroy the ship and send a message to the surviving enemy.

Alex attempts to hail one of the remaining ships, a slight smile on his face. Working with the shields, and having them function, was just fun.