[color=white][i]"UEE ship,state your business."[/i][/color] the voice said.

Alexis looked over the display and studied the FEZ ships. They were old models, certainly not enough to stand against the Lincoln and its escorts. But they weren't in the FEZ just to fight another battle. [color=white][b]"This is Captain Marquis of the EENS Abraham Lincoln. We seek asylum from battle and request that we dock with-"[/b][/color]

[color=white][i]"Captain! Two jump signatures, incoming! UEE signatures!" [/i][/color] one of the crew interrupted.

Alexis looked hurriedly to the two jump points not far from the Lincoln. She let out a gasp of surprise as the Solace emerged from warp. Then she immediately thought of what this might look like to the overly defensive FEZ. [color=white][b]"Shit..."[/b][/color] she mumbled quiet enough so that only Aston, standing at her side, could hear.

[color=white][i]"FEZ fleet weapons are powering up..!"[/i][/color] the crewman alerted.

[color=white][i]"UEE Ships! What is the meaning of this?!"[/i][/color] Alexis heard from the FEZ security.

Alexis gritted her teeth and spoke in return, [color=white][b]"Stand down."[/b][/color] she said in a calm tone, [color=white][b]"Be advised. We were not aware of any other UEE ships converging on Arias. We are not here to fight."[/b][/color]

The captain looked over to her communications officer, [color=white][b]"Hail the Solace."[/b][/color]

Shortly after, the holographic display changed from the local space to a person. The man was stern and straight backed. He looked like he took regulation way too seriously. The display crackled and blurred, Alexis raised a brow at the comms officer. He responded, [color=white][i]"The comms array took some light damage over Jehan. This is the best we can do, ma'am."[/i][/color]

Alexis nodded to the officer and looked at the blurry hologram, [color=white][b]"Captain Powell, come in."[/b][/color]

[color=yellowgreen][i]"Captain Powell is critically injured, this is his executive officer Adrian Rexer assuming command of the Solace until relieved."[/i][/color] the fuzzy person of display said. He didn't move, his posture was entirely rigid and motionless. Even if Alexis couldn't see Rexer's face, she could easy picture his expression beyond the hologram. Hard and emotionless.

Alexis glanced over to the entrance of the CiC as Ardin walked in. He nodded once to Alexis and looked over the display. She looked back to Rexer, [color=white][b]"What's the status on Cerol? Is the rest of the fleet behind the Solace?"[/b][/color]

[color=yellowgreen][i]"Cerol is lost thanks to the Lincoln's early withdraw. Your MAS pilots would have been crucial to holding the line long enough for the 5th fleet to form a proper defense."[/i][/color] that comment stung Alexis, she didn't show it though, [color=yellowgreen][i]"And the Solace was unable to retreat with the fleet while maintaining the defense of the Agincourt, so we had to warp to somewhere safe."[/i][/color]

It was that moment when Alexis actually wished Ardin would interrupt and explain the reason behind their withdrawal. Apparently Captain Powell didn't feel the need to brief his XO on the Lincoln's sensitive mission and its VIP. Ardin didn't say anything, so Alexis knew she was going to have to take the blame for the retreat. Rexer continued, [color=yellowgreen][i]"To be blunt, Captain Marquis, I am disappointed. Your record suggests you would have managed to turn that no win scenario into something of a chance if you stayed. I get the impression that your record has been embellished."[/i][/color]

Alexis rolled her eyes and spoke, her voice took on a new level of authority, [color=white][b]"I should remind you, Rexer, that you are speaking to a superior officer. Step out of line again and I will petition to have you removed from command of the Solace."[/b][/color]

Aston grinned as he heard that. The rest of the crew remained silent, it wasn't often that the captain took on the full amount of hard ass her rank provided. Ardin stepped onto the platform next to Alexis, Rexer took a step back in the display and bowed his head. [color=yellowgreen][i]"A- admiral! Sir! I didn't realize you were aboard the Lincoln. Reports had you missing in action after the Ulysses fell."[/i][/color]

[color=gold][i]"Well here I am, Commander Rexer. And Captain Marquis is right, you are out of line. Correct yourself. You are neither captain of the Solace nor a peer to Lincoln's commanding officer."[/i][/color] the admiral said. Alexis let out of breath of relief.

Alexis had to admit, even though she wasn't a huge fan of the future emperor, she was glad that he had a liking for her. Ardin glanced sidelong to Alexis and offered her an ambiguous look. Rexer spoke up again, [color=yellowgreen][i]"Yes, sir! My apologies, Captain Marquis. The battle above Cerol has been stressful."[/i][/color]

[color=white]'You don't know the half of it...'[/color] Alexis thought. She simply nodded to Rexer for formality's sake. The communications officer looked up from his terminal again, he had been handling the situation with FEZ security after patching through to the Solace.

[color=white][i]"Captain, the FEZ has granted the Lincoln asylum and orders us to dock to capital bay twelve."[/i][/color] he said.

Rexer looked off to somebody outside of the display and nodded, the Solace and the Agincourt must have been granted permission to dock as well. Ardin spoke up again, [color=gold][i]"XO Rexer, after we have docked, I am coming aboard the Solace. Now that the Solace has arrived, I think that you can be of great use for our mission. I will brief you in person."[/i][/color]

Rexer nodded, [color=yellowgreen][i]"Understood, admiral. Should I be expecting captain Marquis as well?"[/i][/color]

Alexis looked over to Ardin, this wasn't her call. The admiral eyed her momentarily before shaking his head, [color=gold][i]"No. She and her crew have earned a moment's respite. Dismissed, Rexer."[/i][/color]

The man in the hologram nodded and the display returned to a view of the local space. Alexis sighed and looked to the helmsman, [color=white][b]"Take us in to port, helmsman."[/b][/color]

The captain turned to stepped down from the platform but stopped when Ardin took her arm. He leaned closer to her, [color=gold][i]"When there is a chance, I would like to speak to you in private, Alexis."[/i][/color] he whispered. There was something in his tone that Alexis didn't like, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was. She simply nodded and removed herself from the bridge.

Alexis was headed out to find the 7th.