[i]“United Federation Ship Osprey, this is the Andromeda, we copy. We are indeed humans from the planet Earth. We were en route to Saturn with the EDF main fleet to engage the forces of the Comet Empire before our transition through Warp went awry and we found ourselves here. We have no desire for unnecessary conflict, and seek to return as rapidly as possible before the Comet Empire can reach Earth.”[/i]

Bradley had to suppress a couple of confused sneers when listening to the [i]Andromeda[/i]'s reply. The Comet Empire was not a significant militarist faction back in his own galaxy, or at least it wasn't one that the Federation knew of. Still, it was painfully obvious that whoever these people were, they could not possibly be hailing from the same Earth that the humanity of the Federation (and by extension, the Rebels) extended from. It only prompted yet more questions, and even brought forth a handful of somewhat disturbing theories: did all of the unfamiliar ships here end up warping not just through space, but through time, or even dimensions or universes?

The pilot was snapped from his musings by a high-priority comm from Michiel. "Sir, severe problem detected."

"What's going on?"

"Remote hacking attempt-. Successful; all extensive data of the Osprey and components exposed," Michiel blurted out, seeming to multitask on some unnoticeable procedure. Brad had never seen an Engi panic; as quasi-mechanical beings, they seemed to bear no capacity for emotion. But the ship's own Engi seemed to twitching and concentrating as if it were resisting some sort of seizure. 

"Michiel, what are you doing? Calm yourself!"

"Too- strong. Attempting manual remote counter-measure-sure-sur-" The Engi flickered and staggered, apparently undergoing some intense amount of mental strain.

"Michiel!" Bradley shouted in increased anguish, "Michiel, respond!" No response; the Engi was on his own, in some sort of extreme out-of-body experience. In anger and panic, the pilot hailed the sensor station. "Sam, one of those cruisers out there has exposed all of our data, and I just lost Michiel trying to counter it. Trace the vessel that hacked us, now!"

"Shit-... I'm working on it, sir," Sam replied, furiously interfacing with the console to lock on the culprit, identified as the UNSC [i]Icarus[/i]. "I've got a reading on our aggressor, but I can't get in any further. The security aboard is really sophisticated."

Taking in all of the havoc, Brad sent out a high-alert hail to the [i]Andromeda[/i]: "EDF [i]Andromeda[/i], be advised. The [i]Osprey[/i]'s data and security systems have just been compromised by the ship labeled as the UNSC [i]Icarus[/i]. Check your own security systems and be on your guard." From there, Bradley open a sensor camera window to the engineering room, where Michiel stood rattling and unresponsive...

"Sir, all weapons scratch the Artillery Beam are operational. Shall I prepare-"

"No," Bradley cut in. "I'm furious too, but we still need to act smart here. Do not engage our arms unless I give the order." The pilot pointed his vision forlornly out the main viewport, witnessing the Imperial vessels moving ever closer to scanning range among the comprehensive scattering of vessels. It seemed to be an inevitability that confict would lash out any time now...